TIG Post

Author: Phoebe Martekie Doku

  • Fatal accident on Asuboi Highway leaves 2 dead, 2 injured

    Fatal accident on Asuboi Highway leaves 2 dead, 2 injured

    A road crash involving two cargo trucks at Asuboi on the Accra–Kumasi Highway in the Eastern Region has claimed two lives and left two others injured.

    The crash involved a Hyundai truck with registration number GX 7359-14 and a KIA Rhino with registration number GX 857-16.

    In a related incident, last week, thirteen people were feared dead and several others injured last week after a collision involving three vehicles at Odumase, near Konongo, on the Kumasi-Accra Highway in the Ashanti Region. The vehicles involved were a tomato-laden cargo truck, a passenger bus, and a fuel tanker.

    According to eyewitnesses, the collision occurred after one of the vehicles attempted to overturn. Meanwhile, the injured have subsequently been transported to nearby health facilities for medical attention.

    A fatal road accident involving a Toyota Voxy on the Sefwi Wiawso – Asawinso Highway in the Western North Region has left one person dead and several others have sustained critical injuries on Thursday, July 9.

    According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred after the commercial Toyota Voxy attempted to swerve potholes on the highway. Ghana has reported a surge in the number of fatalities resulting from road crashes this year.

    In June, six people were confirmed dead and 34 others injured in multiple road traffic accidents across the Volta Region on Sunday, June 21.

    The first set of incidents occurred along the Todome stretch near Kpeve on the Peki–Kpeve Road and involved two simultaneous crashes; one of the crashes involved a MAN Diesel TGS truck with registration number GT 9993-18 and a Toyota Camry with registration number GE 735-14.

    The second which occurred involved a Metro Mass Transit bus with registration number AS 4984-09 was travelling from Accra to Dambai. A few weeks ago, a road crash on the Peki–Asikuma Highway in the Volta Region claimed 15 lives and left 25 others injured on Tuesday, June 2.

    The two commercial vehicles, which were carrying a total of 40 passengers, collided, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.“When they got there, they realised that the two vehicles had been involved in a head-on collision. Preliminary investigations at the scene suggest that there were 40 occupants in the two vehicles,” he told Citi News.

    Earlier in May, an accident on the Buipe-Tamale road claimed the lives of four individuals. The fatal crash involved a Sprinter Benz bus traveling from Buipe to Kumasi and a trailer truck at Sawaba No. 2.

    The deceased included two females and two males, two of whom died on the spot. According to the GNFS, the trailer truck fled the scene, leaving behind the victims and wreckage as emergency responders rushed in to manage the situation.

    Meanwhile, 19 passengers are receiving medical attention at the Buipe Government Hospital. Weeks ago, a head-on collision on the Accra-Kumasi Highway claimed the life of an individual on Saturday, March 7. The deceased male, reportedly the owner of a Toyota Voxy, crashed into a parked MAN Diesel truck at Teacher Mantey.

    Detailing the incident on Facebook on Sunday, March 8, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) stated that the Toyota Voxy had badly crashed into the stationary truck prior to the arrival of the rescue team.Weeks ago, eleven (11) persons sustained injuries following a head-on collision at Eduadjei on the Cape Coast-Takoradi Highway.

    The victims, eight males and two females, are receiving medical attention at the Elmina Polyclinic. Per the Central Regional Fire Service’s account, the two vehicles, an Opel Astra (WR 4860-13) traveling from Cape Coast towards Komenda, collided head-on with a Nissan mini bus (CR 1414-23) heading from Takoradi to Cape Coast.

    Meanwhile, officials have yet to ascertain the cause of the accident. The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) recorded one thousand five hundred and four (1,504) deaths, compared to one thousand two hundred and thirty-seven (1,237) fatalities reported in the same period in 2024, representing a 21.58 percent increase in the first half of 2025.

    According to provisional data released by the National Road Safety Authority in collaboration with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), a total of 7,289 road crashes were recorded between January and June this year.

    Per the data, a total of twelve thousand three hundred and fifty-four (12,354) vehicles were involved in these crashes.As a result of these incidents, eight thousand three hundred (8,300) individuals sustained injuries.

    Additionally, one thousand three hundred and one (1,301) pedestrians were knocked down across the country.According to recent data provided by the National Road Safety Authority, on average, eight (8) lives are lost every day due to road crashes.

    Each day, forty (40) road crashes are recorded, and forty-six (46) individuals sustain injuries. Daily, sixty-nine (69) vehicles and motorcycles are involved in road crashes.

    To help combat the rising number of road crashes, the National Road Safety Authority has called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and increased public education.

    The NRSA has emphasized the need for stronger enforcement to curb the alarming trend. The Road Traffic Act 2004, an Act to consolidate and revise the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1952 (No. 55), provides for more comprehensive regulation of road traffic and road use to ensure road safety and address related matters.

    A person who drives a motor vehicle dangerously on a road commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction:(a) where (i) a bodily injury does not occur, or (ii) a minor bodily injury occurs to a person other than the driver, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and not exceeding two hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding nine months, or to both;

    (b) where bodily injury of an aggravated nature occurs to a person other than the driver, to a minimum fine of two hundred penalty units and not exceeding five hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than twelve months and not exceeding two years, or to both;(c) where death occurs, to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years;

    (d) where there is damage to state property, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and payment for the damage caused in an amount determined by the Court.

    The Court may, upon conviction of a person under subsection (1), (a) order the payment of appropriate compensation to an injured person or to the estate of that person, or (b) order the withdrawal of the driver’s license for a period of not less than three years and not more than five years.

    A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years, or to both.

    A person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, that person:

    (a) causes anything to be on or over a road;(b) interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer, or cycle; or(c) interferes, directly or indirectly, with traffic equipment, where it would be obvious to a reasonable person that doing so would be dangerous.

    A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or to both.

    Meanwhile, over one-third of emergency cases at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have been linked to road crashes, according to the facility’s statistics.

    Speaking to the media, Deputy Medical Director of KATH, Dr. Yaw Opare Larbi, noted that road crash victims brought to the emergency unit often do not survive because their injuries are very severe.“A little over 30 per cent of the cases that come to this facility, this Accident and Emergency Unit, are due to accidents, and most of the accidents, a few are domestic, but the majority of them are road traffic accidents.

    “Now in Ghana, we know that our statistics, a lot of our road accidents are from errors, driver errors, pedestrian errors. And then we know that we have some percentage that is attributable to maybe things like faulty vehicles or maybe road conditions, but a lot of the accidents are preventable,” he stated.

  • Youth group issues rejoinder to alleged false caims about Adamus Mining company’s operations in Salman

    Youth group issues rejoinder to alleged false caims about Adamus Mining company’s operations in Salman

    The Youth Movement of Salman & Citizen Advocate Group has issued a strong rejoinder to what it describes as false and misleading information being circulated about the operations of Adamus Mining Company in the Salman area.

    In a statement dated July 18, 2026, the group alleged that some individuals, whom it claims are hired illegal miners (galamsey operators), have been spreading misinformation aimed at tarnishing the image of the mining company and creating unnecessary tension within the community.

    According to the statement, the allegations against Adamus Mining Company are “baseless, malicious, and intended to mislead the public, create unnecessary tension, and undermine the company’s lawful operations and its relationship with host communities.”

    The Youth Movement stated that Adamus Mining Company operates within the legal framework of Ghana and continues to engage local stakeholders through community consultation and development initiatives. It further maintained that the company remains committed to responsible mining practices, environmental stewardship, and peaceful coexistence with surrounding communities.

    The group appealed to the general public, traditional authorities, community members, and the media to disregard what it described as unverified claims and instead rely on information released through official and credible sources.

    Additionally, the statement called on the relevant state security agencies to investigate individuals allegedly spreading misinformation and encouraging illegal mining activities, arguing that such actions pose a threat to peace, public safety, and the rule of law.

    Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and constructive engagement, the Youth Movement of Salman & Citizen Advocate Group emphasized its dedication to promoting truth and supporting the sustainable development of the Salman area.

    The statement was issued through Nana Kwamena Bentum II, Chief of Salman, who also serves as the contact person for the release.

  • Come home and face the law, we beg you father – President Mahama to Ofori-Atta

    Come home and face the law, we beg you father – President Mahama to Ofori-Atta

    Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, has been urged by President John Dramani Mahama to return to Ghana face charges leveled against him.

    During his Resetting Ghana Tour in the Volta Region today, Mr. Mahama dismissed claims that the government is not doing enough to bring Ofori-Atta home to face the law.

    According to him, bringing Ofori-Atta follow international procedures and respect the rights of the individual.

    Mr. Mahama stated that repatriating an individual from another country involves legal processes that must comply with international law and uphold the person’s rights.

    “The person has the right to take a lawyer, go before a judge, and if he doesn’t want to come, he can argue against coming.

    “We are begging you, Father, come back. Your children are calling you to come back,” the President stated.

    The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has weighed in on the debate over whether former Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta can be tried in absentia after being granted permanent residency in the United States (U.S.).

    The Director of Strategy, Research, and Communications at the OSP, Sammy Darko, explained that due process must be followed first as a trial cannot start in someone’s absence unless they have first been officially charged and properly notified through legal procedures.

    He added that, “Trial in absentia is not triggered by the mere filing of charges. It is triggered when a person who has been properly charged and properly notified of the proceedings refuses to come before the court.”

    On the other hand, an Anti-corruption campaigner, Edem Senanu, has stated that the former Finance Minister can still face the law despite his current residency in the U.S.

    While addressing the media on Wednesday, June 17, he explained that the current development does not exempt Ofori-Atta from being extradited should the government decide to pursue legal action against him.

    However, he added that U.S. authorities can still consider the request, depending on whether it meets the legal requirements for extradition under existing international arrangements.

    “It has no bearing, as it were, on the request for extradition that the government applied for. These are two separate, distinct legal initiatives. Resident status should not have any impact on the extradition request and legal process,” he said.

    United States (U.S.) court on Monday, June 15, approved Ghana’s embattled former Finance Minister’s application for permanent residency in the United States.

    The development follows a decision by Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (Form I-485), which was sponsored by his U.S. citizen son. The court considered the petition during proceedings before granting the application.

    But speaking to the media on Tuesday, June 16, Davis Ansah Opoku noted that legal proceedings should still continue against Ofori-Atta, even if he fails to appear before the court.

    “Even a foreigner, somebody who is not of Ghanaian descent, when he commits a crime in our land, the person is punishable by Ghanaian laws. The fact that somebody has gone for American citizenship or has gone for a green card does not mean that we cannot punish the person,” he added.

    Circumstances leading to approval of his petition

    The former Minister’s lawyer, detailing how the petition finally gained the approval of the US court, indicated that the court reviewed the issues surrounding the charges and investigations linked to Mr Ofori Atta back home in Ghana.

    According to reports, the judge raised concerns about how Mr Ofori Atta’s case was handled by Ghana’s Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), particularly when he was declared a fugitive from justice at a time when he was receiving medical treatment in the United States and at a time when his legal representatives were still engaging with investigators in Ghana.

    Evidence was also presented by a witness familiar with international policing and Interpol procedures, who reportedly questioned aspects of the process adopted by the Ghanaian authorities in pursuing the case.

    His securing US citizenship, experts believe, could affect his case in Ghana, particularly with his extradition to face charges levelled against him. Mr Ofori-Atta remains the subject of multiple criminal charges in Ghana arising from decisions taken during his tenure as Finance Minister.

    The substantive criminal matters against the former minister remain under the jurisdiction of Ghana’s courts and are expected to proceed in accordance with Ghanaian law.

    Earlier, it was reported that a United States (U.S.) immigration court is expected to hear the residency bid of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, as well as Ghana’s efforts to secure his return to face criminal charges, on Monday, June 15.

    The hearing is expected to be a virtual session before Judge David A. Gardey at the Annandale Immigration Court in Virginia at 1:00 pm.Ofori-Atta has been in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention since January 2026 over issues related to his immigration status.

    His release follows confirmation by his legal team that he had reunited with his family after leaving custody. Earlier, the US judge presiding over the immigration hearing for Ghana’s former Finance Minister denied his bail application, citing an extradition request from Ghanaian authorities.

    Mr Ofori-Atta was tried on Tuesday, January 20, in a private hearing at his lawyers’ request. He had been in detention since his arrest on 6 January by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Consequently, his lawyers requested bail so that he could be released while his case is pending.

    However, this was rejected by the government lawyers over his extradition links, though the judge, David A. Gardey, didn’t make any final decision on the extradition but noted that no documents were shown in court to prove that an extradition request had actually been submitted.

    “The court cannot act on assertions without proof,” the judge indicated, directing the federal government to file any evidence of an extradition request on or before February 19, 2026. The case has been adjourned to Thursday, April 27, at 1 pm, when the tribunal is expected to hear both the bail application and any documents the government may submit.

    “At the time, Mr Ofori-Atta had to remain in ICE detention. When his detention was first announcedHis detention was first announced on January 7 by his Ghanaian legal representatives, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline & Partners (MPOBB), who said he had been taken into custody a day earlier over concerns about his immigration status.

    “The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as of January 6, 2026, detained the former Minister for Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, regarding the status of his current stay in the United States,” the firm said in a public notice signed by Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, Esq.According to the lawyers, Mr Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a legal process that allows individuals to remain in the US beyond the validity of their visa. Under US law, a change of status by this method is common,” the statement added, stressing that the former minister is “a law-abiding person” and is fully cooperating with ICE.Official records from the US Department of Homeland Security indicate that Mr Ofori-Atta is currently being held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia.

    The development has attracted attention in Ghana, especially given Mr Ofori-Atta’s recent legal and medical history. On January 7, Ken Ofori-Atta’s lawyers, Menka-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners, issued a statement confirming their client’s arrest by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over his immigration status.

    While it was widely reported that he had been detained for overstaying his visa term, the Attorney General’s Department has clarified that his visa was revoked in June last year and he was given up to November 29 to leave the USA; however, he ignored the order, leading to his detention by ICE.

    “ICE will not come for you unless you have visa issues; that is what has happened. In June 2025, his visa was revoked; it’s not an expiration of the Visa. The information we have is that his visa was revoked. So he has been living in America without a visa,” he said on the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, January 10.

  • President Mahama hints at reshuffling to boost government performance

    President Mahama hints at reshuffling to boost government performance

    The government is expected to carry out a reshuffling exercise in the coming days as part of efforts to boost performance.

    President John Dramani Mahama gave the hint while speaking during the Reset Tour and citizens’ engagement in the Volta Region on Friday, July 17.

    According to him, the upcoming exercise will aide reduce the size of government, curb public expenditure and give others the opportunity to serve.

    He noted that, “There’ll be reshuffles and reshuffles and reshuffles, so just stand in readiness. Who knows, your turn will come and you’ll be invited to serve”.

    “We’ve kept it lean and mean and that is how we’re able to cut down some of the waste”.

    In June, President John Dramani Mahama revealed plans to reshuffle ministers and chief executive officers of state institutions after assessing their performance.

    He indicated that the exercise will determine their retention, reassignment, or removal from office. This was contained in a statement issued by the Presidency on Monday, June 8, Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama.

    Part of the statement read, “The increasing trend of Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers of State Institutions, and other public officials participating in and accepting awards from various private organisations… has the potential to undermine the integrity of public service, create misconceptions regarding government performance assessment, and expose the Government to unnecessary public criticism and embarrassment.

    “The findings of this review shall constitute a key basis for decisions relating to retention in office, reassignment of responsibilities, and any future Cabinet or executive restructuring”.

    Earlier this year, a government-led performance assessment found that more than half of the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) fell short of expectations.

    This was made known by the Local Government Minister, Ahmed Ibrahim, at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Monday, April 20.

    Mr Ibrahim explained that out of the 261 assemblies assessed, only 118 met the benchmark, while 143 failed.

    “Because of that, all the donor partners who were supporting Ghana’s decentralisation said if you can’t help yourself, we will not help you. I am happy to announce to you that in 2025, we were able to reset the decentralisation concept of the district assemblies in 2024, and in the assessment, out of the 261 Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies, 143 of them failed and 118 of them passed. The passed mark was 36/100,” he added.

    Last year, President Mahama warned that MMDCEs who do not live up to expectations shall be sacked following the assessment exams.

    “The Minister of Finance is about to release the first quarter of the District Assemblies Common Fund. As I said, 80% of the money is going directly to the regions for you to decide how to use it. So, MMDCEs, you have no excuse.

    “We will send you the guidelines, approved at the last Cabinet meeting, to show how the funds should be disbursed. This will serve as your Key Performance Indicators. Every year, we will assess your performance, and based on that, we will decide whether you stay or go,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the government has pledged a minimum of ₵25 million each to all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies across the country this year.

    The Fund is to support district assemblies in executing their duties in the regions.

    The president made this known at an orientation and training programme held in Accra on Wednesday, June 18.

    “This year, every assembly—from the largest to the smallest—will receive not less than GH₵25 million. The NDC manifesto outlines a bold and people-centred agenda that puts local government at the heart of national development. You are the first line of the economy,” he stated.

    The government earlier announced the distribution of 80% of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) to MMDCEs.

    The remaining 20% of the fund, he noted, will be designated for projects managed by agencies such as the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), ensuring continued support for critical national initiatives.

    In a separate development, President John Dramani Mahama has shared that his government, in the coming years, will allow citizens to elect the next Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).

    He explained that this is to allow citizens to have a direct say in choosing their local leaders. Addressing the MMDCEs during an orientation and training programme on Wednesday, July 18, in Accra, he noted that the upcoming system will be dependent on the recommendations by the National Review Committee established by the government.

    “MMDCEs, you may be the last batch of MMDCEs appointed. The National Review committee is going round and will present its recommendation in August this year, and one of the major items that has come up is the election of the MMDCEs. There is no doubt that Ghanaians want the MMDCEs elected. Those who succeed you might have to go through elections,” he stated.

    President Mahama further called on all MMDCEs to declare their assets by July 15.

    “I wish to remind you that you are among the office holders required to declare your assets, and so I expect that by July 15, all of you will have declared your assets,” he said.

    The legal framework guiding asset declaration is the Public Office Holders (Declaration of Assets and Disqualification) Act, 1998 (Act 550).

    The Act mandates public officials to declare their assets before assuming office, every four years, and at the end of their term, submitting the forms no later than six months after any of these events.

    Importantly, Section 8 of the Act provides that allegations of non-compliance must be referred to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), which is empowered to investigate and take appropriate action.

    President John Dramani Mahama submitted his asset declaration forms to the Auditor General on February 18 and issued a firm order to his appointees to follow suit by March, warning of sanctions for defaulters.

    A report by The Fourth Estate revealed that several high-ranking officials have yet to fulfill their constitutional obligations. Out of 55 ministers and deputy ministers, nine have failed to declare their assets.

    Additionally, eight out of 32 presidential staffers and 37 out of 84 heads of state institutions appointed between January 15 and March 18 had not complied with the president’s directive.

    On May 6, the president sanctioned his appointees who missed the March 31 deadline by directing them to forfeit their three months’ salary, which he noted will be channeled into the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, also known as The MahamaCares, a landmark initiative aimed at providing financial assistance to individuals living with chronic diseases across the country.

    He gave a May 7 ultimatum, emphasizing that any official who fails to meet the deadline will be sacked. As no government official has been relieved of his or her duties, it is believed that all government officials have declared their assets.

    In the meantime, civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates have supported the full publication of asset declarations as a means to promote integrity and accountability.

    Meanwhile, Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has expressed his opposition to the declaration of assets by government officials as mandated by the Public Office Holders Act.

    Justifying his opposition, he indicated such an initiative puts public officers in a position where they expose themselves to unnecessary attention and potential threats against their lives and their loved ones.

    “I do not and I will not add my voice to calls for the publication of assets for public scrutiny. In our experience, it will be unhelpful and would merely subject public officers to inordinate public curiosity and a specter of the real likelihood of reprisals against the assets,” he said.

    To him, fighting corruption effectively in the country requires striking a balance between transparency and the protection of individual rights.

    “In my estimation, publication of who has declared or has not declared his assets in the context of a workable asset verification and treason model would be sufficient to assure the integrity of the asset declaration system,” he added.


  • Accra’s flooding crisis and the war between planning and execution

    Accra’s flooding crisis and the war between planning and execution

    Every rainy season in Ghana arrives with a familiar script. Roads disappear beneath brown water, homes become temporary rivers, businesses count their losses, and officials promise that “measures are being put in place.”

    Then the waters recede, the headlines fade, and so does the urgency—until the next downpour reminds everyone that flooding is not merely a natural disaster. It is the predictable consequence of years of leadership failure, neglect, and unfulfilled promises.

    The issue of flooding is compounded by the sanitation challenges that emerge after floodwaters recede. This is another problem that does not require the gift of premonition to foresee but can be squarely attributed to poor policy engineering and indiscipline.

    The response is usually a call to action, but what action are we being called to, and will this action bring an end to the phenomenon of perennial flooding?

    The problem is known, and so is the solution. Therefore, when this call for action comes, should it be for Ghanaians to engage in clean-up exercises, or should Ghanaians themselves be demanding committed and sustained action towards solving this menace?

    The Auditor-General, in compliance with Article 187(2) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana and Section 13(e) of the Audit Service Act, 2000 (Act 584), prepared a performance audit report on the provision of flood control drains by the Hydrological Services Department of the Ministry of Works and Housing in 2021.

    This report can be found on the Ghana Audit Service website: www.ghaudit.org

    Now, here is why I say our problems are known, and so are the solutions.

    The Auditor-General’s report on flood control lays bare a troubling reality: Ghana’s flood crisis is not simply about heavy rainfall. It is about institutions that have consistently failed to deliver on plans they themselves considered essential.

    Between 2015 and 2019, the Hydrological Services Department (HSD) identified drainage infrastructure as critical to reducing flood risks. The Department planned to construct about 110 kilometres of storm drains and develop retention ponds across major drainage basins to temporarily hold excess stormwater before it overwhelmed communities.

    The results tell a different story.

    By the end of 2019, only 12.2 kilometres of drains had been constructed—just 11.1 percent of the target. Even more alarming, not a single one of the planned retention ponds had been built.

    Apparently, in Ghana, targets are treated less as commitments and more as ambitious suggestions.

    The report notes that the Ministry of Works and Housing and the HSD recognised the scale of the drainage challenge and set annual construction targets of between 20 and 30 kilometres because they believed this was the minimum required to make a tangible impact on flooding. Yet, year after year, implementation lagged far behind what was required.

    Funding constraints undoubtedly played a role. In 2017, for example, the HSD planned to construct 30 kilometres of drains but received a budget ceiling of just GH¢1.66 million—an amount capable of financing only about 1.3 kilometres of drainage works. How can you build metropolitan flood resilience with village-level budgets?

    Yet, the funding story alone does not fully explain the outcome.

    The Auditor-General reports that between 2015 and 2019, GH¢117.7 million was spent on drainage works. Despite this expenditure, flood incidents across the country did not decline. According to National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) statistics cited in the report, flood events steadily increased over the same period, resulting in more deaths and greater destruction of property.

    This raises an uncomfortable question.

    If over one hundred million cedis is spent while floods become more frequent, what exactly improved?

    Perhaps the floods simply failed to appreciate the government’s investment.

    Or perhaps concrete cannot solve a problem when planning, execution, maintenance, and accountability remain permanently under construction.

    Let me not even go into the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project, because the difference between that and the proposed plan by the HSD is the amount of money that has been sunk into it, with little or nothing to show.

    Government must understand that infrastructure does not fail overnight. It fails gradually—through delayed projects, abandoned plans, inadequate funding, poor coordination, and a culture that rewards announcements more than delivery.

    Every flooded classroom, every submerged market, every stranded commuter, and every family forced to salvage belongings from muddy water represents the accumulated cost of decisions postponed and responsibilities neglected.

    The Auditor-General’s findings should not be viewed as historical records gathering dust on office shelves. They are evidence that Ghana’s flood crisis was foreseeable. Authorities knew the extent of the drainage deficit. They identified practical interventions. They established measurable targets. They simply failed to implement them at the scale required.

    The tragedy is not that Ghana experiences heavy rainfall. Many countries do.

    The tragedy is that flooding has become so routine and has unfortunately gained political currency in a heavily polarised society, where public announcements often receive more attention than prevention. Relief items are distributed with remarkable efficiency to gain political traction after disasters, while the infrastructure needed to prevent those disasters struggles to move beyond the drawing board.

    Leadership is measured not by the number of “soap opera” clean-up exercises held after floods, but by whether citizens remain dry when the rains arrive.

    Until planning is matched by execution, budgets by results, and promises by completed infrastructure, Ghanaians will continue to live with a painful annual certainty: the next flood is not a question of if, but when.

    And when it comes, no official statement will be able to dam the waters that years of neglect allowed to rise.

    Source: Nana Tuffour Boateng

    DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of The Independent Media Group.

  • Parts of Kumasi to experience power outages on July 20 for transmission line upgrade

    Parts of Kumasi to experience power outages on July 20 for transmission line upgrade

    Some parts of Kumasi are expected to experience temporary power outages on Monday, July 20, as the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), in partnership with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), begins work to upgrade the Kumasi–Anwomaso transmission line.

    The €9.7 million project, funded by the European Union in collaboration with Agence Française de Développement (AFD), forms part of broader efforts to enhance Ghana’s electricity transmission infrastructure.
    When completed, the 18-kilometer, 161kV transmission line will be upgraded from a single to a double circuit, tripling its current transmission capacity from 330 MVA to over 1,000 MVA.


    Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, the Minister emphasized that the project extends beyond physical infrastructure, describing it as a bold stride towards achieving universal access to stable and affordable electricity.

    “This initiative will reduce voltage drops, improve system reliability, and propel Kumasi status as a strategic power distribution hub,” he said.


    Hon. Jinapor noted that prior to 2025, Ghana’s power sector faced severe challenges, including a shortfall of about 750MW that strained both domestic supply and export commitments.

    However, thanks to coordinated interventions by power sector stakeholders; GRIDCo, ECG, the Energy Commission, and the PURC, the sector has seen significant improvements since he assumed office.


    He further announced that Kumasi is set to emerge as a key power generation zone, with efforts underway to boost its installed capacity beyond 1,000MW. Natural gas, he added, will serve as the primary fuel source in line with Ghana’s energy transition agenda.


    Development Partners Underscore Commitment to Ghana’s Energy Reforms


    EU Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Irchad Razaaly, hailed the transmission project as a testament to the EU’s commitment to Ghana’s energy transition and broader development goals.


    “This is more than just a power project—it represents our shared vision for a resilient and greener energy future,” he said.


    He revealed that the EU’s total investment in Ghana’s grid improvements stand at about €10 million, within a larger €200 million envelope under the Team Europe Global Gateway Strategy.


    Ambassador Razaaly also commended Ghana for implementing critical reforms in the energy sector, and praised GRIDCo’s technical leadership in driving modernization efforts, including integration of SCADA systems and improved telecommunications for real-time grid monitoring.


    Also speaking at the event, Ms. Clémentine Dardy, representing the French Ambassador to Ghana, reaffirmed France’s commitment to Ghana’s energy development.


    “”This project highlights our joint ambition to build a resilient energy sector that fosters industrial growth and energy access for all,” she said.

    AFD’s current investments in Ghana exceed €262 million, focused on bridging urban-rural energy gaps and driving innovation in renewables.


    Ashanti Region Welcomes Critical Energy Investment


    The Ashanti Regional Minister Dr. Frank Amoakohene expressed gratitude for the government’s focus on stabilizing power supply in the region.


    He underscored the importance of reliable electricity to local businesses, trade, and socio-economic development.


    “The significance of this project for our region cannot be overstated. Stable power is essential for development, investment, and daily life,” he noted.


    Toward a Sustainable Energy Future.


    Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor urged sustained collaboration among stakeholders and support from the public, as the government intensifies efforts to transform the energy sector.


    “This is not just about linking two substations, it represents a strategic leap toward energy independence, regional competitiveness, and inclusive national development,” he stated.


    He also outlined complementary initiatives, including digitization of utility services, promotion of electric vehicles and the green transition agenda and expanded private sector participation in electricity distribution. These, he said, are integral to creating a clean, efficient and transparent energy future for Ghana.

  • Customs intercepts GHS100m Tramadol shipment at Accra International Airport, arrests three

    Customs intercepts GHS100m Tramadol shipment at Accra International Airport, arrests three

    The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has seized a consignment containing approximately five million Tramadol tablets valued at an estimated GH¢100 million at the Accra International Airport (AIA) following an intelligence-led operation. Three suspects have also been arrested in connection with the intercepted consignment as investigations continue.

    In a related story, the police in March, arrested nine public officers, including five Customs officials, for their alleged involvement in an undeclared Tramadol consignment at Tema Port, Accra.
    The other four include an officer each from the Narcotics Control Commission, Port Security, the Energy Commission, and the Standards Authority.
    On February 26, the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) seized a shipment allegedly from the United Arab Emirates which had been cleared as water kettles, kitchen blenders, pressing irons, energy-saving bulbs and polypropylene materials.
    Following an intelligence-led tip, Customs officers and the Central Revenue Monitoring Team conducted a joint re-examination on March 1, which revealed that the container actually held 299 cartons containing a total of 146,932,000 tablets of Tramadol Hydrochloride (250mg and 225mg), with a combined weight of 34,847.2 kilograms.
    Recently, government authorities have stepped up efforts to stop the illegal smuggling and sale of prohibited goods, like illegal drugs, across the country. Last week, five officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority Customs Division were removed from their positions for allegedly breaching its code of conduct.
    The officers have been accused of procedural breaches linked to a transit cargo operation bound for Niger.
    According to the Authority, a press statement issued on Tuesday, February 24, indicates that their removal is to allow a probe into discrepancies detected during an enforcement operation with regard to a consignment declared as transit cargo for onward movement to Niger on February 18.
    The Authority added that inconsistencies in documentation and non-compliance with established transit procedures were detected after thorough checks.
    Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has disclosed that the consignment in question was destined for Burkina Faso and was transiting through Ghana.
    However, it failed to reach its intended destination and was instead offloaded in Ghana without the payment of the appropriate taxes and applicable duties.
    Consequently, the OSP disclosed that Ghana has lost an estimated GHS 10.5 million in taxes as a result of the diversion.“The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is investigating suspected corruption involving the diversion of fifty (50) twenty-foot containers of palm oil valued at GHS 25.8 million…. The Office has identified the involvement of some Customs officers,
    “National Security operatives, and clearing agents in a corrupt scheme. The consignment, declared as in transit to Burkina Faso, was unlawfully diverted into the local market without payment of applicable duties and taxes,” the statement noted.
    Though the GRA and the OSP have yet to disclose what was contained in the transit cargo, reports indicate that 18 articulated trucks impounded at the Akanu and Aflao border posts on February 18 were carrying assorted goods, including cooking oil, spaghetti, and tomato paste, and were suspected to be part of a broader transit diversion scheme.
    Transit cargo or trucks are goods destined for landlocked countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, which usually pass through Ghana’s ports before arriving at their destinations due to the absence of seaports in those countries.
    The transit cargo system is very important to Ghana’s trade and revenue monitoring system. Therefore, the country is exposed to revenue leakages and smuggling risks should there be a breach in documentation or enforcement.
    Such practice leaves a dent on Ghana’s reputation within the West African trade corridor.
    Under the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) and GRA guidelines, goods declared as “in transit,” passing through Ghana to another country such as Niger, must follow transit rules, which include mandatory escort to prevent diversion of goods to designated countries to avoid import duties, thereby causing huge losses to the state.
    Preliminary investigations indicated that the consignments could have led to potential revenue losses of GH¢85.3 million, with an immediate revenue exposure estimated at GH¢2.62 million.
    Post-interception examinations in the recent case uncovered material discrepancies in declared unit values, tariff classifications, and weights, which revised the suspended revenue exposure from approximately GH¢2.6 million to over GH¢85 million.

  • 24-Hour Economy: 268 filling stations, 33 firms currently operational – Secretariat

    24-Hour Economy: 268 filling stations, 33 firms currently operational – Secretariat

    A total of 268 filling stations and 33 firms are currently operating under the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative, according to the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat. The revelation is a response to claims that the policy has failed to deliver results.

    The Secretariat stated that the programme is making progress, with early signs of increased investment, expanded round-the-clock services, and enhanced support for industrial operations.

    Part ot the statement read, “The right measure is the investment the Programme mobilises and the production, exports and jobs it generates”.

    In February this year, President John Dramani Mahama assented to the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, 2025, following its approval by Parliament.

    The president approved on Thursday in a brief ceremony held ahead of the 13th Cabinet meeting at Jubilee House.

    The president noted after the signing the Bill, “Cabinet colleagues, I just appended my signature to give assent to the 24-hour Authority Bill. This Bill, which Ghanaians have been waiting for, was one of our flagship strategies for economic transformation”.

    He added that, “Now we must move from strategy to implementation. The business sector is waiting, Ghanaian investors are waiting, foreign investors are waiting”.

    “They want to see the package of incentives that we can afford, so that they can invest more and expand productivity and also create more employment for our young people, and so it’s my pleasure to assent to this Bill today.”

    On Friday, February 6, the House gave the nod after extensive deliberations and debate between the Majority and Minority caucuses.

    During the debate, members of the Minority caucus cautioned that if not carefully implemented, the policy could pose security challenges and cause inconvenience to Ghanaians.

    In response, the Majority caucus argued that the government has put in place adequate regulatory measures to ensure the smooth and effective implementation of the policy.

    The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) adds to the majority who are pessimistic about the success of the government’s 24-hour economy policy.

    AGI has pointed to the increases in utility tariffs. Speaking to Citi News, Greater Accra Regional Chairman of AGI, Tsonam Akpeloo, said businesses that will participate in the programme will run at a loss as they will consume much electricity.

    According to him, “If you’re talking about a 24-hour economy, you’re asking industry to work beyond the usual eight hours and continue through the night. That means higher electricity consumption. The cost of power will increase—possibly doubling what we’ve previously paid.”

    “A 2.5% increase under normal production is one thing, but with extended hours, the actual cost impact will be far greater,” he added.

    About the 24-hour economy

    The government’s 24-hour economy policy, a key promise during President John Mahama’s campaign in 2024, was launched today, Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

    The policy’s objective is to enhance economic productivity by encouraging businesses to operate continuously, creating more job opportunities, boosting revenue generation, and improving service delivery.

    Sectors such as manufacturing, transportation, retail, healthcare, hospitality, and financial services stand to benefit significantly from this model.

    Presenting the policy to the Speaker of Parliament, Kingsford Sumana Alban Bagbin, last year, July, Mr Goosie Tanoh, the Presidential Advisor on the 24-hour economy policy, mentioned the move is to officially inform ‘the people’s representatives’ about the government’s readiness to roll out the programme.

    On some details on the policy, Mr Goosie Tanoh said the programme is expanded into three anchors: “production transformation, supply chain and market efficiency, and human capital development.” The three anchors, according to him, are supported by eight sub-programmes.

    “Roll 24 – which is the agricultural component, Make 24 – which is the manufacturing component, Connect 24 – the supply chain component, Aspire 24 – which is the mindset change, the resetting of the Ghanaian and Ghanaian bureaucracy with a strong and powerful attitude to work and productivity,” he explained.

    According to him, the government was set to include strong digital technology training in the TVET curriculum to train and equip an employable workforce with the requisite skills for employment opportunities.

    Another component, dubbed ‘Show Ghana,’ is also set to focus on an intentional effort and approach by the government to give visibility to Ghana’s rich cultural heritage to the rest of the world, to attract more tourists and increase revenue generation through tourism.

    Speaker Alban Bagbin, in response, mentioned that the team’s arrival had been anticipated and his outfit would call on them for any clarity when the need be, urging the legislation to back the programme.

    Earlier, President John Dramani Mahama stated that the 24-Hour Economy Policy is a long-term goal that will keep the country productive on a 24/7 basis, alongside stabilising the economy through the creation of more jobs.

    According to him, the final draft of the policy has undergone review by him, and he is confident it will realise its objectives.

    Meanwhile, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, noted that the Parliamentary Service will begin operating under the 24-hour economy policy.

    This initiative, according to the Speaker, will enhance national productivity and address unemployment. He made this known during the presentation of the 24-hour economy policy document.

    He bemoaned the lack of time to tackle the numerous tasks in Parliament and expressed optimism in addressing this issue with the 24-hour economy policy.

    “This means they are going to work more hours; they will be reporting at 8:00 a.m. and may be going home at 10:00 p.m. or sometimes 11:00 p.m., particularly those in the official division of the House.

    This will allow more people to work here and will help reduce unemployment. I can assure you that the load of work here is unimaginable,” Bagbin stated.

  • Tribunals Bill, 2026 passed after hours of heated debate in Parliament

    Tribunals Bill, 2026 passed after hours of heated debate in Parliament

    The Tribunals Bill, 2026, has been passed by Parliament following the completion of its third reading and subsequent approval by members of the House. President John Dramani Mahama is expected to give his assent in the coming days before it becomes law.

    The Tribunals Bill therefore seeks to address the lacuna in the legal framework of Ghana regarding tribunals.

    As part of measures to address this lacuna, the Tribunals Bill seeks to establish a clear constitutional and statutory basis for the operation of tribunals within the present democratic system, address the historical stigma associated with public tribunals by emphasising the role of public tribunals in ensuring access to justice and protecting rights of citizens, and to ensure the effective and efficient administration of justice, particularly in cases which require specialised adjudication or expeditious resolution.

    The Bill also seeks to ensure the participation of ordinary citizens in the administration of justice and to show clearly the position of tribunals within the court structure to provide for operational clarity.

    Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has nominated three persons for appointment to the Supreme Court, subject to approval by Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

    They include Court of Appeal Justices Sophia Bernasko-Essah and Amoako Asante, as well as legal practitioner and former Ghana Bar Association President, Tony Forson.


    The nominations were made in consultation with the Judicial Council, in accordance with constitutional requirements. The appointments will raise the number of Supreme Court justices from the current 18 to 21 if approved by the committee.


    President John Dramani Mahama announced the removal of the Chief Justice from office on Monday, September 1, after receiving recommendations from the committee probing petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.
    Having violated Article 146 (9), as mentioned in the Committee’s report and recommendations, President Mahama dismissed Madam Torkonoo not only from her position as Chief Justice but also as a Supreme Court Judge.


    In a statement dated September 1, the Presidency justified the dismissal of Gertrude Torkonoo as in accordance with Article 146 (9) of the 1992 Constitution.


    “NOW THEREFORE, KNOW YE ALL MEN that I, JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA, President of the Republic of Ghana, in pursuance of the said Article 146(9), do hereby REMOVE the said Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from the office of Chief Justice and Justice of the Supreme Court, with effect from the date hereof,” parts of the statement noted.


    According to Article 146 (9), “A Justice of a Superior Court or a Chairman of a Regional Tribunal shall not be removed from office except for stated misbehaviour or incompetence or on grounds of inability to perform the functions of his office arising from infirmity of body or mind.”


    In the case of Madam Torkonoo (Esq), the committee found her guilty of stated misbehaviour, including unlawful expenditure of public funds, abuse of discretionary power, and interference in judicial appointments. These findings were tied not just to her role as Chief Justice, but also to her conduct as a Justice of the Supreme Court.


    Therefore, the committee recommended her complete removal from both roles, and President Mahama was constitutionally obligated to act on that recommendation.


    Outlining the charges against the Chief Justice on unlawful expenditure of public funds, the Committee’s report suggested that, “In the opinion of the committee, the travel expenses which the Chief Justice heaped on the Judicial Service when she travelled on holidays in September 2023, first to Tanzania with her husband and second, to the United States of America with her daughter, together with the payment of per diem to the spouse and daughter of the Chief Justice, constituted unlawful expenditure of public funds.”


    “Those acts… constitute avoidable and reckless dissipation of public funds and, in the view of the committee, to have been occasioned by the overall head of the Judiciary and the Judicial Service, whose duty is to guard public resources allocated by the Government, is caught within the spectrum of stated misbehaviour.”


    According to the Committee, she abused her powers as a Chief Justice in the transfer of one Mr Baiden, adding, “The committee also stated without fear or favour that the Chief Justice unjustifiably breached the provisions in Article 295 (a) and (b) of the Constitution, 1992, in the way and manner that she transferred Mr. Baiden. It said her conduct amounted to misbehaviour.”


    On interference in judicial appointments, the Committee highlighted the Chief Justice’s deliberate actions of bypassing the designated system of selecting Supreme Court Judges. Hence, the Committee labelled her conduct as unacceptable and counted it as misconduct.


    “Justice Torkornoo… cannot lay claim to ignorance of the nomination process and procedure, notwithstanding the fact that the process and procedure are not spelt out in the Constitution but case law”“Therefore, to seek, wittingly, to outwit this known process and procedure for appointing Supreme Court Justices amounts to misbehaviour in the eyes of the Committee and the Committee finds it as such,” excerpts of the Committee report read.


    The committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, includes Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces, and Professor James Sefah Dzisah of the University of Ghana.


    In July, an application for review regarding an ‘abuse of court processes’ by the former Chief Justice was dismissed by the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court.


    The court, presided over by Justice Amoako on Thursday, July 31, revealed that several claims, such as illegal composition of the committee and wrongful conduct of adversarial proceedings, were already before the Supreme Court. Justice Amoako argued that relitigating these issues would result in duplication of litigation and abuse of court processes. As such, such claims were dismissed.


    The judge also dismissed reliefs such as an order of certiorari to quash the committee’s proceedings and nullify its sittings on the basis that the Chief Justice did not receive a fair hearing, on jurisdictional grounds.


    The judicial review application filed on June 9 this year sought nine reliefs, which included a series of declarations that the Article 146 committee set up to probe her removal from office had acted unlawfully.

    She wanted the court to prevent the committee from proceeding with its work without providing her with authenticated copies of the petitions seeking her removal and the subsequent responses.


    The Chief Justice notes that the president’s purported prima facie determination contained no reasons or justification and was entirely devoid of the elements of judicial or quasi-judicial reasoning expected under the Constitution.


    As the proceedings of the Article 146 committee are to be held in-camera in accordance with Article 146(8) of the Constitution, the court noted that it could not inquire into matters raised by the suspended Chief Justice.

    In response, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo proceeded to the ECOWAS Community Court in Abuja, Nigeria, seeking compensation worth $10 million over her suspension from office by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama.

    This forms part of the 10 reliefs being requested. The Chief Justice’s recent suit follows several unsuccessful cases at the Supreme Court this year after her suspension.


    The former Chief Justice wanted the court to ensure she continues to enjoy the paraphernalia and entitlements of her office as the Chief Justice of Ghana pending the hearing and determination of the case.

    The measures are: “That the Republic of Ghana suspend the disciplinary removal from office as Chief Justice process against the Applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the complaint on the merits.” “That Ghana refrains from taking any other measures that may harm the rights claimed by the Applicant and/or aggravate or extend the dispute submitted to the Court, or compromise the implementation of any decision that the Court may render.”


    “Given the urgency of the situation, the Applicant respectfully requests the Court to hold a hearing on this request as soon as possible, and that the President of the Court ask Ghana to act in order to allow any order that the Court may issue on the Request for Assignment of Precautionary Measures to have its appropriate effect.”


    The other reliefs are as follows: “A declaration that the panel instituted by the Respondent (Ghana) to investigate and determine the allegations of misconduct against the Applicant was not constituted to guarantee its independence and impartiality and as such has violated the Applicant’s human right to fair hearing guaranteed by Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”


    “A declaration that the purported suspension of the Applicant as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana by the President of the Respondent State on 22 April 2025, constitutes a violation of her human right to fair, equitable and satisfactory conditions guaranteed by Article 15 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”


    “A declaration that the purported suspension of the Applicant as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana by the President of the Respondent State on 22 April 2025 has exposed her to public ridicule and odium locally and internationally and the said act constitutes a violation of her human right to dignity guaranteed by Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”


    “A declaration that by subjecting the Applicant to an illegal and unfair investigation and trial since April 2025, the Respondent has inflicted injuries on her professional standing and image, thereby exposing her and her family to immeasurable public ridicule.”


    “An order to the Respondent Republic to act immediately to prescribe the rule of procedure to govern the investigation of allegations of misconduct against the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana in conformity with the right to fair hearing guaranteed by the Constitution of Ghana and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”


    “An order directing the Respondent to immediately lift the suspension and restore the Applicant to full office until the conclusion of fair constitutional proceedings.”


    “An order restraining the Respondent from continuing with the purported inquiry for the removal of the Applicant as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana in its current form, until it conforms to fair hearing guarantees.”

    “An award of USD 10 million as compensation for moral and reputational damages suffered by the Applicant as a result of her illegal suspension and unfair investigation, and lastly, ‘Any other relief(s) as the Honourable Court deems just.’”


    On Thursday, August 14, the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association called for the immediate reinstatement of Ghana’s Chief Justice by President John Dramani Mahama and the Executive arm of government.


    “Immediately and without delay, reinstate the Chief Justice of Ghana to her Office, consistent with both the hitherto strong attachment to the rule of law demonstrated by Ghana and also the constitutional duties incumbent upon it.


    “And afford the Chief Justice due and fair process in the investigation and determination of the disciplinary matters brought against her, including but not limited to full and transparent access to that process by her legal representatives,” the group demanded in a joint statement issued on August 14.

  • President Mahama names three new Supreme Court nominees

    President Mahama names three new Supreme Court nominees

    President John Dramani Mahama has nominated three persons for appointment to the Supreme Court, subject to approval by Parliament’s Appointments Committee. They include Court of Appeal Justices Sophia Bernasko-Essah and Amoako Asante, as well as legal practitioner and former Ghana Bar Association President, Tony Forson.

    The nominations were made in consultation with the Judicial Council, in accordance with constitutional requirements. The appointments will raise the number of Supreme Court justices from the current 18 to 21 if approved by the committee. 

    President John Dramani Mahama announced the removal of the Chief Justice from office on Monday, September 1, after receiving recommendations from the committee probing petitions seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo.

    Having violated Article 146 (9), as mentioned in the Committee’s report and recommendations, President Mahama dismissed Madam Torkonoo not only from her position as Chief Justice but also as a Supreme Court Judge.

    In a statement dated September 1, the Presidency justified the dismissal of Gertrude Torkonoo as in accordance with Article 146 (9) of the 1992 Constitution.

    “NOW THEREFORE, KNOW YE ALL MEN that I, JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA, President of the Republic of Ghana, in pursuance of the said Article 146(9), do hereby REMOVE the said Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from the office of Chief Justice and Justice of the Supreme Court, with effect from the date hereof,” parts of the statement noted.

    According to Article 146 (9), “A Justice of a Superior Court or a Chairman of a Regional Tribunal shall not be removed from office except for stated misbehaviour or incompetence or on grounds of inability to perform the functions of his office arising from infirmity of body or mind.”

    In the case of Madam Torkonoo (Esq), the committee found her guilty of stated misbehaviour, including unlawful expenditure of public funds, abuse of discretionary power, and interference in judicial appointments. These findings were tied not just to her role as Chief Justice, but also to her conduct as a Justice of the Supreme Court.

    Therefore, the committee recommended her complete removal from both roles, and President Mahama was constitutionally obligated to act on that recommendation.

    Outlining the charges against the Chief Justice on unlawful expenditure of public funds, the Committee’s report suggested that, “In the opinion of the committee, the travel expenses which the Chief Justice heaped on the Judicial Service when she travelled on holidays in September 2023, first to Tanzania with her husband and second, to the United States of America with her daughter, together with the payment of per diem to the spouse and daughter of the Chief Justice, constituted unlawful expenditure of public funds.”

    “Those acts… constitute avoidable and reckless dissipation of public funds and, in the view of the committee, to have been occasioned by the overall head of the Judiciary and the Judicial Service, whose duty is to guard public resources allocated by the Government, is caught within the spectrum of stated misbehaviour.”

    According to the Committee, she abused her powers as a Chief Justice in the transfer of one Mr Baiden, adding, “The committee also stated without fear or favour that the Chief Justice unjustifiably breached the provisions in Article 295 (a) and (b) of the Constitution, 1992, in the way and manner that she transferred Mr. Baiden. It said her conduct amounted to misbehaviour.”

    On interference in judicial appointments, the Committee highlighted the Chief Justice’s deliberate actions of bypassing the designated system of selecting Supreme Court Judges. Hence, the Committee labelled her conduct as unacceptable and counted it as misconduct.

    “Justice Torkornoo… cannot lay claim to ignorance of the nomination process and procedure, notwithstanding the fact that the process and procedure are not spelt out in the Constitution but case law”“Therefore, to seek, wittingly, to outwit this known process and procedure for appointing Supreme Court Justices amounts to misbehaviour in the eyes of the Committee and the Committee finds it as such,” excerpts of the Committee report read.

    The committee, chaired by Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, includes Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu Asiedu, former Auditor-General Daniel Yaw Domelevo, Major Flora Bazwaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces, and Professor James Sefah Dzisah of the University of Ghana.

    In July, an application for review regarding an ‘abuse of court processes’ by the former Chief Justice was dismissed by the Human Rights Division of the Accra High Court.

    The court, presided over by Justice Amoako on Thursday, July 31, revealed that several claims, such as illegal composition of the committee and wrongful conduct of adversarial proceedings, were already before the Supreme Court. Justice Amoako argued that relitigating these issues would result in duplication of litigation and abuse of court processes. As such, such claims were dismissed.

    The judge also dismissed reliefs such as an order of certiorari to quash the committee’s proceedings and nullify its sittings on the basis that the Chief Justice did not receive a fair hearing, on jurisdictional grounds.

    The judicial review application filed on June 9 this year sought nine reliefs, which included a series of declarations that the Article 146 committee set up to probe her removal from office had acted unlawfully. She wanted the court to prevent the committee from proceeding with its work without providing her with authenticated copies of the petitions seeking her removal and the subsequent responses.

    The Chief Justice notes that the president’s purported prima facie determination contained no reasons or justification and was entirely devoid of the elements of judicial or quasi-judicial reasoning expected under the Constitution.

    As the proceedings of the Article 146 committee are to be held in-camera in accordance with Article 146(8) of the Constitution, the court noted that it could not inquire into matters raised by the suspended Chief Justice.

    In response, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo proceeded to the ECOWAS Community Court in Abuja, Nigeria, seeking compensation worth $10 million over her suspension from office by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama. This forms part of the 10 reliefs being requested.

    The Chief Justice’s recent suit follows several unsuccessful cases at the Supreme Court this year after her suspension.

    The former Chief Justice wanted the court to ensure she continues to enjoy the paraphernalia and entitlements of her office as the Chief Justice of Ghana pending the hearing and determination of the case. The measures are: “That the Republic of Ghana suspend the disciplinary removal from office as Chief Justice process against the Applicant, pending the hearing and determination of the complaint on the merits.” “That Ghana refrains from taking any other measures that may harm the rights claimed by the Applicant and/or aggravate or extend the dispute submitted to the Court, or compromise the implementation of any decision that the Court may render.”

    “Given the urgency of the situation, the Applicant respectfully requests the Court to hold a hearing on this request as soon as possible, and that the President of the Court ask Ghana to act in order to allow any order that the Court may issue on the Request for Assignment of Precautionary Measures to have its appropriate effect.”

    The other reliefs are as follows: “A declaration that the panel instituted by the Respondent (Ghana) to investigate and determine the allegations of misconduct against the Applicant was not constituted to guarantee its independence and impartiality and as such has violated the Applicant’s human right to fair hearing guaranteed by Article 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

    “A declaration that the purported suspension of the Applicant as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana by the President of the Respondent State on 22 April 2025, constitutes a violation of her human right to fair, equitable and satisfactory conditions guaranteed by Article 15 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

    “A declaration that the purported suspension of the Applicant as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana by the President of the Respondent State on 22 April 2025 has exposed her to public ridicule and odium locally and internationally and the said act constitutes a violation of her human right to dignity guaranteed by Article 5 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

    “A declaration that by subjecting the Applicant to an illegal and unfair investigation and trial since April 2025, the Respondent has inflicted injuries on her professional standing and image, thereby exposing her and her family to immeasurable public ridicule.”

    “An order to the Respondent Republic to act immediately to prescribe the rule of procedure to govern the investigation of allegations of misconduct against the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana in conformity with the right to fair hearing guaranteed by the Constitution of Ghana and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

    “An order directing the Respondent to immediately lift the suspension and restore the Applicant to full office until the conclusion of fair constitutional proceedings.”

    “An order restraining the Respondent from continuing with the purported inquiry for the removal of the Applicant as the Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana in its current form, until it conforms to fair hearing guarantees.”

    “An award of USD 10 million as compensation for moral and reputational damages suffered by the Applicant as a result of her illegal suspension and unfair investigation, and lastly, ‘Any other relief(s) as the Honourable Court deems just.’”

    On Thursday, August 14, the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association called for the immediate reinstatement of Ghana’s Chief Justice by President John Dramani Mahama and the Executive arm of government.

    “Immediately and without delay, reinstate the Chief Justice of Ghana to her Office, consistent with both the hitherto strong attachment to the rule of law demonstrated by Ghana and also the constitutional duties incumbent upon it.

    “And afford the Chief Justice due and fair process in the investigation and determination of the disciplinary matters brought against her, including but not limited to full and transparent access to that process by her legal representatives,” the group demanded in a joint statement issued on August 14.

    Additionally, the group asked the government for a proper and impartial investigation of the disciplinary charges against her, with her lawyers given full and transparent access to the proceedings. Also, both groups demanded the establishment of transparent procedural rules to guide the disciplinary process, including a definite timeframe within which the investigative committee must conclude its work and communicate its decision.

  • Emma Ankrah: Stop waiting for closure: Healing doesn’t need permission

    Emma Ankrah: Stop waiting for closure: Healing doesn’t need permission

    We often carry the perception that painful chapters need proper endings, one final conversation, one honest apology, one explanation that finally makes sense of everything, or one final intimate moment with a loved one. But what happens when that conversation or moment never comes?

    What happens when the apology never arrives, the person who hurt us refuses to acknowledge the pain they caused, or the answers we desperately seek remain unanswered?

    Do we remain trapped in the past, waiting for someone else to give us permission to move forward?

    The answer should be no.

    We don’t have to stay trapped, waiting for someone else’s permission to move forward.

    One of the biggest misconceptions about healing is that closure must come from another person. We place our emotional freedom in someone else’s hands, hoping they will say the words that finally release us. But healing cannot depend on someone who may never understand our pain.

    Closure is not always a conversation. Sometimes it is acceptance — the quiet decision to stop letting an old wound run a new season of life. This doesn’t mean the hurt was insignificant. Pain deserves to be acknowledged. But there’s a point where the search for answers costs more than the original wound did.

    Many people spend years waiting for an apology that never comes — checking a phone that stopped ringing months ago, typing a name into a search bar just to see what changed, replaying old conversations and wondering what they could have done differently — while children grow, dreams evolve, opportunities pass. Life does not pause while we wait.

    Forgiveness is often misunderstood. It is not excusing what happened, and it doesn’t mean letting someone back in. It’s refusing to let anger become a permanent resident in your heart.

    Reconciliation is different — it requires two people, accountability, a genuine desire on both sides to rebuild trust. Forgiveness can happen alone. Reconciliation cannot. Sometimes peace means rebuilding. Sometimes it means accepting that a chapter has ended. Both are valid.

    There’s a quiet strength in choosing kindness even when it isn’t returned — a greeting met with silence, a gesture misread. These moments sting, but they reveal something: our actions should be guided by our values, not by other people’s reactions. Maturity isn’t measured by how people treat us. It’s measured by how we respond.

    At some point, everyone must choose: keep waiting for someone else to change, or reclaim responsibility for their own peace. Another person’s silence does not have the power to define your future.

    The person who hurt you may never apologise. The one who disappointed you may never explain. But your life cannot stay suspended because someone else withholds what you need.

    Sometimes closure isn’t found in another person’s words. It’s found the day you delete the number instead of dialing it, or stop rehearsing what you’d say if they finally called — in choosing gratitude over bitterness, growth over regret, peace over the need to be understood.

    The greatest freedom isn’t hearing “I’m sorry.” It’s reaching the point where you no longer need those words to move forward.

    Teaching us that closure is not always a conversation. Sometimes, it is acceptance and it is found in our own decision to let go because healing doesn’t need permission. It begins the moment you choose it.

    DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of The Independent Ghana.

  • A-G withdraws court application challenging Ex-NAFCO CEO’s travel order

    A-G withdraws court application challenging Ex-NAFCO CEO’s travel order

    An application seeking to revoke a court order that allowed former National Food Buffer Stock Company Chief Executive Officer, Hanan Abdul-Wahab to travel abroad has been withdrawn by the Attorney General (A-G). The A-G had earlier applied to the court to remove a travel order placed on the former CEO of the NAFCO restricting his movement.

    However, according to the presiding judge, Justice Francis Apanga Achibonga, the AG’s request could not proceed because the travel restriction they wanted to cancel was no longer in force as it expired on Sunday, 12 July. 

    Mr Abdul-Wahab was released at about 8:00 pm on Wednesday, July 8, with no conditions attached, according to reports. On Saturday, July 4, the Deputy Attorney General (A-G), Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, revealed that Hanan Abdul was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport after he allegedly attempted to empty his frozen account and travel to the United Kingdom (U.K.).

    According to Justice Srem, “it was MR ALUDIBA’s attempt to use false means to empty his frozen bank account with Republic Bank on Thursday which occasioned tonight’s arrest”.

    But Hanan Abdul’s counsel in a press statement has insisted that currently there is no court order freezing the accounts of their client as the “orders made in respect of his earlier prosecution had lapsed”.

    According to the counsel, “Our client arrived at the Accra International Airport when he had neither withdrawn any money nor presented any cheque or document seeking to withdraw any money from the bank. We repeat our demand for the Attorney-General to produce evidence of a cheque, withdrawal note or any means by which our client attempted t o withdraw money from his bank account, or the attempt to do so.

    “We repeat that in any event, there is no valid order of any court of competent jurisdiction freezing our client’s accounts since the earlier freezing orders made in respect of his earlier prosecution had lapsed”.The statement further added, “Our client considers his arrest totally unfair, an abuse of power by the Attorney-General, EOCO and BNI, and a deliberate scheme to disobey the order of the High Court, Accra”.

    Last month, the Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice filed fresh criminal charges against the former NAFCO CEO and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, for allegedly causing financial loss to the state.

    The 20 counts stem from activities allegedly undertaken during Mr. Abdul-Wahab’s tenure as head of the state food management agency. This information, according to CitiNews’ report was contained in court documents filed at the High Court in Accra on Friday, May 15, by the state.

    The couple have been accused of stealing, defrauding by false pretences, abuse of public office for profit, and money laundering. The new development comes days after Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife were briefly freed, following the Attorney-General’s (A-G’s) withdrawal of charges against them.

    Prosecutors allege that Mr. Abdul-Wahab fraudulently obtained GH¢734,400 from NAFCO in 2017. Meanwhile, the couple’s re-arrest received a backlash from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    The government and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO)have been accused of abusing state power and engaging in what the party describes as political intimidation.

    A statement issued on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, and signed by NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, called the re-arrest of the couple a deliberate attempt to infringe on their rights.

    The statement added, “Consistent with EOCO’s perennial disrespect for constitutionally guaranteed rights and due process, lawyers of Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife have been denied access to their clients after more than 24 hours of waiting”.

    According to the party, “They therefore pose no risk that justifies their detention overnight”, adding that the continued detention amounts to an abuse of power and a violation of their fundamental human rights.

    The opposition has demanded the immediate release of Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife, emphasising that “the NDC government must remember that state institutions are temporary custodians of power, not owners of it”.

    On April 29, the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra granted the Office of the Attorney-General (A-G) a final opportunity to justify its decision to involve a lawyer from the EOCO in the ongoing trial of former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and four others.

    This development comes after Justice Francis Achibonga, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, on Wednesday, April 29, expunged the name of the EOCO lawyer, Radiatu Abdulai, from the ongoing trial.

    The judge’s ruling was triggered by counsel for the first accused, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who questioned Radiatu Abdulai’s representation of the Republic. Mr Dame noted that “there has been no due authorisation of the lawyer to prosecute, adding that the Law Officers Act of 1974 (NRCD 279) and the Legal Services Act of 1993 regulated the performance of functions of the Office of the Attorney-General”.

    According to a statement in circulation, Godfred Yeboah Dame who was the former deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice justified that “Per the Law Officers Act, only public officers mandated by an executive instrument and certified to be on a rank equivalent to one of the posts in the Office of the Attorney-General, can appear in court with the Attorney-General or be mandated to prosecute or perform the functions of the A-G”.

    In 2025, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited and his wife were granted bail totaling GHS150 million by the High Court in Accra.

    Hanan had a share of GHS100 million in the bail and was to provide six sureties, four of whom must prove ownership of landed property.His wife, on the other hand, was granted bail in the sum of GHS50 million with four sureties, three of whom must own property within the jurisdiction of the court.

    The duo has pleaded not guilty in the National Food and Buffer Stock Company case. They stand accused of 24 counts, including stealing, defrauding by false pretences, willful misuse of public funds, money laundering, and exploiting public office for personal benefit. The court has directed that the sureties submit copies of their Ghana Cards.

    The court also ordered that the names of the accused persons be added to a stop-list at all entry and exit points in the country, including airports, seaports, and border crossings.

    Until the final determination of the case, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and Faiza Seidu Wuni are required to report to the investigator every Wednesday.

    Abdul-Wahab is standing trial over allegations of large-scale financial misconduct during his time in office. He was arrested on June 25, along with his wife. EOCO granted his wife GHS30 million in bail, while he remained in custody pending fulfillment of his GHS60 million bail condition.

    The arrest, which took place simultaneously in Accra and Tamale, also led to the detention of a third, unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation.

    On Tuesday, July 8, the former NAFCO boss was released from the custody of EOCO after being detained for 14 days. Abdul-Wahab was released after meeting a GHS60 million bail condition backed by two guarantors.

    On June 25, Hanan and his spouse were taken into custody over suspected mismanagement of funds while he led the government agency. His wife was granted bail earlier, set at GHS30 million.

    Earlier reports indicated that Mr. Hanan had met the bail terms; however, he remained in the custody of EOCO, a situation that drew backlash from the opposition New Patriotic Party, which described the terms as harsh and unfair. A third suspect, an unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation, has also been detained.

    Meanwhile, a list of luxury assets belonging to Hanan Abdul-Wahab has been made public by the Attorney General (A-G) and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine.

    His assets include a five-bedroom house at Chain Homes valued at $1.625 million, a three-bedroom house at Cantonments purchased for $600,000, and multiple plots of land in the Airport Development Area valued at $750,000.

    Other properties include a 17-bedroom boutique hotel in Gumani, Tamale, acquired for $250,000; a four-bedroom bungalow at Dzorwulu, Accra, valued at over GHS4.14 million; and a 0.32-acre parcel of government land purchased for GHS307,200.

    The Attorney General disclosed during a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, October 22, as part of the Government Accountability Series.

    He added that the recent development was made possible through collaboration with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), after several properties and bank transactions were traced to Abdul-Wahab.

    But Abdul-Wahab has denied all allegations leveled against him by the Attorney General. In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 22, Mr. Aludiba noted that he has instructed his lawyers to follow up on the allegations.

    “I wish to state, respectfully, that these claims are untrue and do not reflect the facts of the matter. I have no involvement in the issues being referred to, and I find the comments deeply unfortunate.“I look forward to the opportunity to present my side and to have my day in court, where I am confident that the truth will be made clear,” the statement added.

    Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has released a fifty-page report covering investigations and prosecutions carried out between January 1 and July 31 this year.

    The OSP’s Seventh Half-Yearly Report is pursuant to Section 3(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959). The document also outlines key developments in the Office’s operations.According to the OSP, despite resistance from powerful interests, it stayed focused on executing its mandate during this period.

    As such, the Office successfully progressed significant corruption-related investigations to the stage of court proceedings while also initiating new inquiries into suspected acts of corruption.

    “Then again, the Office, as one of three implementing partners of the new National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Strategy and Implementing Plan, is fashioning and moulding anti-corruption structures that would stand the test of time. The task ahead remains formidable. Much more so is our resolve to perform.

    “This reporting period was characterised by the intensification of the Office’s prosecutorial mandate. We advanced high-profile investigations to court and initiated bold inquiries into suspected corruption, often in the face of deep-seated resistance from entrenched interests.

    “Notwithstanding these expected challenges, the Office remains resolute and guided by the rule of law, fairness, firmness, evidence-based action, and the interest of the public. We recognise that the fight against corruption cannot be waged and won only through punitive action and incarceration,” parts of the report read.

    The legislative framework of the Office of the Special Prosecutor mandates the Authority to crack down on corruption, recover assets, and confiscate illicit property.

    “Indeed, the legislative set-up of the Office leans heavily on corruption prevention and asset recovery and disgorgement of tainted property. Consequently, we proceed on sustainable anti-corruption outcomes by pairing enforcement with robust prevention and asset recovery, especially founded on our unique plea bargaining regime.

    “In this spirit, the Office scaled up its preventive mandate through active engagement with public institutions, private sector actors, and civil society, and secured convictions and asset recovery through impactful plea bargaining. We also reckon that the nation’s anti-corruption legal framework requires re-imagination, modernisation, and retooling to address the immense scale and complexity of modern corruption in the context of our social, economic, and political constructs.

    “On this score, the Office has proposed the inclusion of a new chapter in the Constitution dedicated to the fight against corruption through definitive constitutional expression by the institution of proposed concrete measures to effectively and comprehensively suppress and repress corruption in public life as well as in the private sector, chief among which include lifestyle audits, non-conviction-based asset recovery, enhanced asset declaration and verification regime, and reverse onus presumption of corruption as the foundation of both anti-corruption criminal proceedings and civil asset recovery proceedings,” parts of the report added.

  • Body of Ghanaian killed in South Africa arrives home for burial

    Body of Ghanaian killed in South Africa arrives home for burial

    The mortal remains of Ghanaian national Bashiru Isak, who was killed in South Africa during anti-immigration protests across parts of the country, have been flown to Ghana for burial. Mr. Isak’s body arrived at the Accra International Airport on Tuesday, July 14, at 6:40 p.m.

    This information was disclosed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday, July 16 through a press statement.

    The statement added that, “The Government of Ghana renews its demand for justice. We expect expedited investigations, arrests and prosecution. There must be no room for silence or cover-ups in the gruesome killing of Mr. Isak”.

    Bashiru Isak was shot during the recent anti-immigration protests across parts of South Africa. South African citizens intensified protests against foreign nationals residing in the country on Tuesday, June 30.


    Earlier this month, the xenophobic attack in South Africa left a Ghanaian woman battling for her life. Addressing the media on Wednesday, June 3, the High Commissioner said the victim is in intensive medical care after she was assaulted for refusing to pay a group that demanded money from her.


    According to him, the group had earlier requested documents from the woman, which she provided. However, the situation escalated after they ordered her to give them money.


    “There’s a Ghanaian who has been in the ICU until now, beaten to a pulp by these South Africans.When they went to her shop and asked for her documentation, she gave them the documentation. Then they said, ‘Give us money.’ She said, ‘No, but you asked for documentation, and I’ve shown you the documentation,” he added.


    Meanwhile, Ghanaians repatriated from South Africa could face severe legal consequences if they attempt to return to the country. More than 900 Ghanaians have so far been evacuated from South Africa.


    Days ago, the government announced voluntary evacuation programme in response to the rising violent xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.


    Prior to the exercise, the Commission announced the temporary suspension of the repatriation registration exercise to allow it to complete the screening of the growing number of people who have currently registered for the voluntary repatriation.


    In a notice to Ghanaians in South Africa, the Commission released a list of registered evacuees who are set to be airlifted on Sunday to report to the Commission by Saturday, June 6, for briefing, verification and other pre-departure procedures.


    “All individuals scheduled for evacuation on Sunday, 7 June 2026, are required to report to the High Commission on the evening of Saturday, 6 June 2026, for pre-departure arrangements, verification, and briefing”, parts of the notice read.It also admonished that all persons on the list who have changed their minds about returning home should inform the consular by tomorrow, Thursday, June 4, to aid arrangements for other interested persons.


    “Individuals whose names appear on the approved evacuation list but no longer intend to travel are kindly requested to notify the High Commission no later than 12:00 noon on Thursday, 4 June 2026. This will enable other eligible applicants to be accommodated on the flight”, the notice added.


    Luggage requirements and guidelines for parents and guardiansUnder the travel guidelines, each passenger will be permitted to check in two bags, with a maximum weight of 23 kilograms per bag. Any luggage exceeding the stipulated limit will not be accepted.


    Parents and guardians travelling with children have been advised to carry all required travel documents, including consent letters where necessary.


    “Each traveller is entitled to two pieces of checked luggage with a maximum weight of 23kg each. Any baggage exceeding the prescribed weight limit will not be accepted for travel.Parents or guardians travelling with children are required to bring all necessary travel documentation, including consent letters (where applicable), Road-to-Health Cards, and/or child weighing cards.


    “Travellers issued with Emergency Travel Certificates (ETCs) will receive their documents at the airport on the day of departure”, the notice added.

  • 13 feared dead, several injured after road crash on Kumasi-Accra Highway

    13 feared dead, several injured after road crash on Kumasi-Accra Highway

    13 people are feared dead while several others have sustained injuries, following a vehicle collision at Odumase, near Konongo, on the Kumasi-Accra Highway in the Ashanti Region. The fatal crash reportedly involved three vehicles, a cargo truck loaded with tomatoes, a passenger bus and a fuel tanker.

    According to eyewitnesses, the collision occurred after one of the vehicles attempted to overturn. Meanwhile, the injured have subsequently been transported to nearby health facilities for medical attention.

    A fatal road accident involving a Toyota Voxy on the Sefwi Wiawso – Asawinso Highway in the Western North Region has left one person dead and several others have sustained critical injuries on Thursday, July 9.

    According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred after the commercial Toyota Voxy attempted to swerve potholes on the highway. Ghana has reported a surge in the number of fatalities resulting from road crashes this year.

    In June, six people were confirmed dead and 34 others injured in multiple road traffic accidents across the Volta Region on Sunday, June 21.

    The first set of incidents occurred along the Todome stretch near Kpeve on the Peki–Kpeve Road and involved two simultaneous crashes; one of the crashes involved a MAN Diesel TGS truck with registration number GT 9993-18 and a Toyota Camry with registration number GE 735-14.

    The second which occurred involved a Metro Mass Transit bus with registration number AS 4984-09 was travelling from Accra to Dambai. A few weeks ago, a road crash on the Peki–Asikuma Highway in the Volta Region claimed 15 lives and left 25 others injured on Tuesday, June 2.

    The two commercial vehicles, which were carrying a total of 40 passengers, collided, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.“When they got there, they realised that the two vehicles had been involved in a head-on collision. Preliminary investigations at the scene suggest that there were 40 occupants in the two vehicles,” he told Citi News.

    Earlier in May, an accident on the Buipe-Tamale road claimed the lives of four individuals. The fatal crash involved a Sprinter Benz bus traveling from Buipe to Kumasi and a trailer truck at Sawaba No. 2.

    The deceased included two females and two males, two of whom died on the spot. According to the GNFS, the trailer truck fled the scene, leaving behind the victims and wreckage as emergency responders rushed in to manage the situation.

    Meanwhile, 19 passengers are receiving medical attention at the Buipe Government Hospital. Weeks ago, a head-on collision on the Accra-Kumasi Highway claimed the life of an individual on Saturday, March 7. The deceased male, reportedly the owner of a Toyota Voxy, crashed into a parked MAN Diesel truck at Teacher Mantey.

    Detailing the incident on Facebook on Sunday, March 8, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) stated that the Toyota Voxy had badly crashed into the stationary truck prior to the arrival of the rescue team.Weeks ago, eleven (11) persons sustained injuries following a head-on collision at Eduadjei on the Cape Coast-Takoradi Highway.

    The victims, eight males and two females, are receiving medical attention at the Elmina Polyclinic. Per the Central Regional Fire Service’s account, the two vehicles, an Opel Astra (WR 4860-13) traveling from Cape Coast towards Komenda, collided head-on with a Nissan mini bus (CR 1414-23) heading from Takoradi to Cape Coast.

    Meanwhile, officials have yet to ascertain the cause of the accident. The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) recorded one thousand five hundred and four (1,504) deaths, compared to one thousand two hundred and thirty-seven (1,237) fatalities reported in the same period in 2024, representing a 21.58 percent increase in the first half of 2025.

    According to provisional data released by the National Road Safety Authority in collaboration with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), a total of 7,289 road crashes were recorded between January and June this year.

    Per the data, a total of twelve thousand three hundred and fifty-four (12,354) vehicles were involved in these crashes.As a result of these incidents, eight thousand three hundred (8,300) individuals sustained injuries.

    Additionally, one thousand three hundred and one (1,301) pedestrians were knocked down across the country.According to recent data provided by the National Road Safety Authority, on average, eight (8) lives are lost every day due to road crashes.

    Each day, forty (40) road crashes are recorded, and forty-six (46) individuals sustain injuries. Daily, sixty-nine (69) vehicles and motorcycles are involved in road crashes.

    To help combat the rising number of road crashes, the National Road Safety Authority has called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and increased public education.

    The NRSA has emphasized the need for stronger enforcement to curb the alarming trend. The Road Traffic Act 2004, an Act to consolidate and revise the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1952 (No. 55), provides for more comprehensive regulation of road traffic and road use to ensure road safety and address related matters.

    A person who drives a motor vehicle dangerously on a road commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction:(a) where (i) a bodily injury does not occur, or (ii) a minor bodily injury occurs to a person other than the driver, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and not exceeding two hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding nine months, or to both;

    (b) where bodily injury of an aggravated nature occurs to a person other than the driver, to a minimum fine of two hundred penalty units and not exceeding five hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than twelve months and not exceeding two years, or to both;(c) where death occurs, to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years;

    (d) where there is damage to state property, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and payment for the damage caused in an amount determined by the Court.

    The Court may, upon conviction of a person under subsection (1), (a) order the payment of appropriate compensation to an injured person or to the estate of that person, or (b) order the withdrawal of the driver’s license for a period of not less than three years and not more than five years.

    A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years, or to both.

    A person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, that person:

    (a) causes anything to be on or over a road;(b) interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer, or cycle; or(c) interferes, directly or indirectly, with traffic equipment, where it would be obvious to a reasonable person that doing so would be dangerous.

    A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or to both.

    Meanwhile, over one-third of emergency cases at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have been linked to road crashes, according to the facility’s statistics.

    Speaking to the media, Deputy Medical Director of KATH, Dr. Yaw Opare Larbi, noted that road crash victims brought to the emergency unit often do not survive because their injuries are very severe.“A little over 30 per cent of the cases that come to this facility, this Accident and Emergency Unit, are due to accidents, and most of the accidents, a few are domestic, but the majority of them are road traffic accidents.

    “Now in Ghana, we know that our statistics, a lot of our road accidents are from errors, driver errors, pedestrian errors. And then we know that we have some percentage that is attributable to maybe things like faulty vehicles or maybe road conditions, but a lot of the accidents are preventable,” he stated.

  • About 45 people contract HIV every day in Ghana – GHANET

    About 45 people contract HIV every day in Ghana – GHANET

    President of the Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET), Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin, has disclosed that forty-five (45) people contract the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) every day in Ghana.

    Addressing the media on Wednesday, July 15, he explained that women account for approximately 68.5% of new infections, while men make up 31.5%.

    “About 45 people contract HIV every day in Ghana, with women accounting for approximately 68.5% of new infections, while men make up 31.5%.” the president of Ortsin, President of the Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET), shared the figures while emphasizing the continued impact of HIV in Ghana and the need for increased awareness, prevention, and support efforts.

    Meanwhile, a total of 1,145 new HIV infections have been recorded in the Bono Region between January and May, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has disclosed.

    Speaking in an interview on Monday, July 13, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Technical Coordinator of the GAC, Ahmed Ibrahim Bambilla, disclosed that vulnerable groups among the male and female population were recording a rapid increase in HIV infections. As part of efforts to reduce the spread of HIV, Mr Bambilla said the Commission was distributing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

    The Sunyani Municipality recorded the highest number of new infections with 222 cases, followed by the Berekum Municipality with 184 cases. The Jaman South Municipality recorded 126 cases, while Wenchi Municipality registered 119 cases.

    Other recorded cases included Tain District with 112 infections, Dormaa East District with 95, Dormaa Municipal with 71, Sunyani West Municipal with 65, Jaman North District with 60, Dormaa West District with 57, Berekum West District with 27, and Banda District with seven cases.

    Meanwhile, President of the Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET) has called on stakeholders to step in with urgent measures to avert the possible shortage of essential HIV testing commodities.

    Speaking to the media, Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin warned that Ghana could face a shortage of essential HIV testing commodities, including both oral and blood-based test kits, by the end of July.

    According to him, this would undermine the country’s progress toward epidemic control and stall efforts to meet global HIV targets. Thus delaying diagnosis, restrict access to antiretroviral therapy, and increase the risk of new infections. “Shortages mean fewer people can be tested, increasing the risk of undetected HIV infections.” he said.

    Global Fund had been supplying both oral and blood testing kits from 2024 to 2026 following an arrangement with the government of Ghana. As part of the contract, Ghana will take over the supplies after 2026.

    Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), in a statement dated April 2, indicated that it has discovered falsified HIV diagnostic kits being sold in the Ghanaian market, particularly the VISITECT CD4 Advanced Disease test kits used to measure CD4 cell counts in patients with advanced HIV disease.

    According to the FDA, there are counterfeit VISITECT CD4 Advanced Disease test kits with lot number 0001586. They do not meet the required safety standards; hence, the public should stay away from them.

    How to identify the fake kits

    The FDA also pointed out that the counterfeit kits wrongly list Omega Diagnostics Limited as the manufacturer, whereas the genuine VISITECT CD4 kits are produced by AccuBio Limited.

    In addition, authentic VISITECT kits have unique lot numbers, unlike the fake kits that show 0002172, and they include proper product details.The Authority also pointed out clear inconsistencies in the dates printed on the products. It said the falsified kits show incorrect manufacturing dates as well.

    “The Food and Drugs Authority has discovered falsified VISITECT CD4 Advanced Disease test kits on the Ghanaian market. These counterfeit products, bearing lot number 0001586 and wrongly listing Omega Diagnostics Limited as the manufacturer, pose a serious threat to public health. The genuine kits are produced by AccuBio Limited with lot number 0002172. The public and healthcare providers are advised to exercise vigilance and report suspicious products immediately,” the statement indicated.

    The FDA noted that such differences in manufacturer information and dates should serve as warning signs. It advised healthcare providers to pay close attention to these details when handling medical products.

    The FDA warned that the presence of these kits in our markets poses serious risks to public health, consequently warning that wrong results could delay treatment for people living with HIV or cause unnecessary fear for those who receive false-positive outcomes.

    “Your health is too important to risk,” the FDA stated, calling for increased vigilance across the health sector.

    FDA response

    As part of immediate measures, the Authority has directed all hospitals, laboratories, and testing centres to check their stock of VISITECT CD4 test kits. It warned that any kits with lot number 0001586 must be removed from use at once.

    The FDA further instructed that such products should be returned to the nearest FDA office for proper disposal. It also encouraged both health professionals and the public to report any suspected fake medical products through its official channels.

    The Authority said it has begun investigations to trace the source of the falsified kits and ensure those responsible are held accountable. It also urged the public to verify medical products before use to avoid potential harm.Meanwhile, statistics from the AIDS Commission revealed that over three hundred and thirty-four thousand (334,000) Ghanaians were living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

    According to a statement issued on Monday, December 1, Ghana recorded 12,600 AIDS-related deaths in 2024 and over 15,200 new infections.

    Last month, the Commission disclosed alarming statistics regarding the number of individuals living with HIV in the Bono Region. Speaking during the inauguration of the Bono Regional Committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission (RECCOM) in Sunyani on Thursday, November 20, the Regional Technical Coordinator, Ahmed Ibrahim Bambila, revealed that 19,979 residents in the Bono Region are living with HIV and AIDS.

    According to him, 875 new HIV infections have been recorded, highlighting an urgent need for attention and immediate action.

    44 persons contract HIV daily

    The Ghana AIDS Commission revealed that an average of 42 new HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infections were recorded daily among adults and children across the country.

    According to the Commission’s 2024 National and Sub-National HIV Estimates and Projections, a total of 334,721 people were living with HIV in Ghana. Out of this figure, 105,460 were males, representing 31.5 percent, while 229,261 were females, accounting for 68.5 percent.

    The Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regional Technical Coordinator of the GAC, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Bimbilla, who disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, said the data provided crucial insight into the scale of the epidemic and guided effective planning.

    He revealed that 15,290 new HIV infections were recorded in the country, comprising 4,987 males, representing 32.6 percent, and 10,303 females, representing 67.4 percent.

    Mr. Bimbilla also noted that AIDS-related deaths stood at 12,614, consisting of 5,445 males and 7,159 females. He said approximately 229 deaths were prevented each week through the provision of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) services.

    Providing a regional breakdown, he said the North East Region recorded the lowest HIV population with 1,717 cases, while Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern recorded the highest figures of 77,821, 63,159, and 44,792, respectively.

    He added that seven regions, Ahafo, Upper East, Northern, Upper West, Oti, Savannah, and North East, each recorded HIV populations below 10,000.

    According to him, HIV prevalence was highest in the Bono Region with 2.22 percent, followed by the Eastern Region with 2.08 percent and Ahafo with 1.88 percent, while the North East Region recorded the lowest prevalence at 0.43 percent.

    He further indicated that five regions, Oti, Upper East, Savannah, Northern, and North East, recorded prevalence rates below 1.0 percent. Mr Bimbilla stated that the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern regions also recorded the highest number of new HIV infections, with 3,436, 2,997, and 2,019 cases, respectively. In comparison, the North East Region recorded the fewest cases, with 97.

    Eleven regions, including Bono, Volta, Bono East, Western North, Ahafo, Upper East, Northern, Upper West, Oti, Savannah, and North East, recorded fewer than 1,000 new infections.

    Commenting on the trend, Mr. Bimbilla described the decline in HIV prevalence, new infections, and AIDS-related deaths as a positive development, which he attributed to the growing uptake of ART services.

    He expressed optimism that the downward trend would help Ghana achieve epidemic control and urged continued efforts in public education, testing, and access to treatment to sustain progress toward eliminating HIV and AIDS.

  • 144 Ghanaian migrants return home from Libya

    144 Ghanaian migrants return home from Libya

    A total of 144 Ghanaian migrants have returned home from Libya under the Voluntary Humanitarian Return (VHR) Programme, a joint initiative by the Government of Ghana and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

    The Ghanaian returnees arrived at the Accra International Airport on Tuesday, July 14, in two batches. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made this known in a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 15.

    Part of the statement read, “They will also be enrolled in reintegration programmes aimed at supporting their successful return to their communities through livelihood assistance, vocational skills trainin,g and other socio-economic empowerment initiatives, subject to individual assessments.

    Three hundred and twenty-seven (327) Ghanaian nationals stranded in Port Bouët, Côte d’Ivoire, have been brought home by the government.
    According to a statement issued on June 12 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, these individuals were displaced residents who lost their homes and sources of livelihood following a demolition exercise by the Ivorian government within the Port Bouët Municipality in Abidjan.

    The affected individuals arrived safely in Ghana on Thursday, June 11, after the government provided buses and trucks to convey them. Meanwhile, the Ivorian authorities have expressed a desire to compensate the victims, adding, “shall therefore remain actively engaged on the matter to ensure that the promised compensation is received by our affected nationals”.


    The statement further added, “The Ministry further wishes to acknowledge that Ivorian authorities have expressed their desire to compensate the victims of their demolition exercise and shall therefore remain actively engaged on the matter to ensure that the promised compensation is received by our affected nationals”.


    Between March and May this year, the government has evacuated 85 Ghanaians living in Cambodia through the High Commission in Malaysia, which is concurrently accredited to Cambodia. Meanwhile, Ghana is set to receive an additional 76 Ghanaian nationals who have expressed a desire to come back home in the coming days.


    According to the Ministry, “It is worth noting that arrangements are ongoing to equally facilitate the evacuation of an additional seventy-six Ghanaian nationals who are currently in Cambodia and have expressed the desire to return home”.


    It added that “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is working in conjunction with competent authorities in Cambodia to ensure the safe return of these Ghanaians”.


    Weeks ago, the Ministry confirmed that over eight hundred (800) Ghanaians have registered at their Commission in Pretoria for voluntary evacuation due to the worsening xenophobic attacks in South Africa.


    Consequently, “the planned evacuation has been deferred by a few days to enable our High Commission to meet these evacuation conditions”.


    The first batch of 300 Ghanaians in South Africa, amid heightened tensions of xenophobic attacks on foreigners, including Ghanaians, arrived in Ghana on Wednesday, May 27.


    The second batch was also in the country and arrived on Sunday, June 7, following a voluntary evacuation programme in response to the rising violent xenophobic attacks on foreign nationals in South Africa.


    Earlier this month, a Ghanaian national, Emmanuel Asamoah, who was captured in a viral video being harassed by a group of individuals in a xenophobic attack in South Africa, was flown home by the government.


    The viral video showed several other foreign nationals being intimidated by some South African citizens for allegedly taking jobs meant for locals.
    Meanwhile, the leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), Julius Malema, has broken his silence following the evacuation of the first batch of 300 Ghanaians in South Africa.


    In a viral video sighted, the politician noted that the Ghanaian government could have responded to recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa without resorting to the evacuation of citizens.


    According to him, the best approach could have been to pursue stronger diplomatic engagement and protective measures in collaboration with the South African government.

    He added, “The Ghana response was not necessary because it now creates an impression that we are all like that when it is a certain section of our society that needs to be contained by law enforcement”.


    And one Ghanaian lady was saying, “You see, the problem is, and I wouldn’t have taken this option, the problem is we’re being beaten in front of the police, and the police are not doing anything. That’s a problem. And when this opportunity came for me to leave, I left because if the police can’t defend me, it means the state is in agreement with the people who are beating me”.


    “So, we think it was too quick, we will still resolve this, and the president of Ghana should have given us some time to really deal with this matter and we’ll get to the bottom of it. We hope they will come back to their senses”.

    Govt pledges support package for SA repatriates


    Before the planned evacuation, the government announced a support package for Ghanaians being evacuated from South Africa.

    In a statement shared on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ (MoFA) official X (formerly Twitter) account on May 20, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated that returnees would receive a welcome-home financial package, transportation assistance to their destinations across Ghana, and a reintegration allowance.


    The package also included free psychosocial support for those who may have experienced trauma or violence, as well as counselling and medical assistance to aid their recovery.


    In addition, the government indicated that the evacuees would be enrolled in a special database for job and startup opportunities as part of efforts to support their reintegration.


    The Ministry described the intervention as part of the government’s commitment to protecting the welfare of Ghanaian citizens abroad and assisting them during times of crisis, stating that it valued and cherished all Ghanaian citizens.


    The support package was announced ahead of the planned evacuation of the first batch of 300 Ghanaians from South Africa on a special chartered flight.


    The evacuation had been approved by President John Dramani Mahama after Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Anani Quashie, reported growing fears among Ghanaians living in the country amid renewed xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals.


    Is this the first time xenophobic attacks have happened in SA?


    The recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners by South African nations aren’t the first. SA has a history of violent xenophobic attacks dating as far back as 1998.In 1998, three foreign nationals were killed in Johannesburg.


    Two years later, seven more were killed in Cape Town. After a long period of quiet in the attacks, the worst in SA’s history happened in 2008 when sixty‑two (62) people lost their lives, 1,700 were injured, and about 100,000 were displaced nationwide, cementing xenophobia as a recurring national crisis.


    In 2015, violence flared again after inflammatory remarks by the Zulu King. The unrest spread across the country, forcing the government to deploy the military to restore order.By 2019, riots erupted in Durban and Johannesburg, with Nigerian‑owned businesses being specifically targeted.


    More recently, between 2022 and 2025, smaller but persistent flare‑ups were linked to vigilante movements such as Operation Dudula.These included blocking foreigners from accessing health facilities in Gauteng and KwaZulu‑Natal, reflecting how xenophobia had become embedded in everyday life.

  • Dagbon’s ancient governance system and the enduring lesson of leadership continuity

    Dagbon’s ancient governance system and the enduring lesson of leadership continuity

    The passing of a Head of State or a traditional ruler often raises one fundamental question: who exercises authority until a successor is chosen? While modern constitutional democracies answer this through carefully drafted legal provisions, the ancient Kingdom of Dagbon resolved this challenge centuries ago through an elaborate customary governance system designed to prevent any vacuum in leadership.

    Conversations with respected oral historians of Dagbon continue to reveal the remarkable sophistication of the kingdom’s indigenous political institutions. Far from being informal customs, these practices constitute a well-structured governance framework that has sustained one of Africa’s oldest surviving monarchies for more than five centuries.

    A Kingdom Built on Order

    The Kingdom of Dagbon, founded between the 13th and 15th centuries by northern warriors led by the legendary Tohazie, the “Red Hunter,” evolved into one of the most organised traditional states in West Africa. Under the leadership of Naa Gbewaa and later his grandson, Naa Nyagsi, the kingdom consolidated an enduring political structure with clearly defined institutions, succession arrangements and governance traditions that have survived generations.

    Among the most remarkable features of this system is its ability to ensure continuity of authority immediately after the death of a Ya-Naa.

    The First Step: Recognition of the King’s First Son

    According to Dagbon custom, immediately after the burial of a Ya-Naa, the Zohe-Naa confers a traditional title upon the late King’s first son. Depending on the royal gate from which the deceased Ya-Naa hailed, he is installed either as Kampakuya-Na or Bolin-Lana.

    This installation is often misunderstood as the appointment of a Regent. It is not.

    Rather, it is a customary recognition that enables the King’s first son to participate legitimately in his father’s funeral rites. The title grants him recognition before the Ya-Naa’s cabinet and the kingmakers, collectively known in Dagbani as the Yogu-Kpamba, and authorises him to view the body of his late father and participate in consultations concerning the funeral arrangements in accordance with Dagbon tradition.

    Following the installation, he proceeds to the palace to see the remains of the deceased Ya-Naa. Court drummers immediately begin performing traditional appellations in honour of the late King, his ancestors and the newly installed prince. These recitations are more than ceremonial praise; they prepare him emotionally, spiritually and psychologically for the immense responsibility that accompanies the death of his father. The burial rites then proceed at the royal mausoleum, Katini, under the direction of the kingmakers.

    A Kingdom in Mourning

    After the funeral is formally announced, the entire traditional hierarchy enters a period of mourning. Divisional and paramount chiefs remove their traditional hats and replace them with towels tied around their heads, a distinctive symbol of mourning observed throughout Dagbon. This remains the accepted dress code until the Regent is formally installed.

    The Installation of the Regent

    Although the Kampakuya-Na or Bolin-Lana performs important ceremonial responsibilities, he does not immediately inherit the full customary authority of the Ya-Naa.

    That authority is transferred only after the Kuga-Naa, the Chief Kingmaker of Dagbon, formally enskins him as Regent of Dagbon.

    From that moment, the Regent exercises the full customary authority previously vested in the late Ya-Naa. He oversees the affairs of the kingdom, performs all necessary traditional functions and safeguards the institution until the final funeral rites are completed and a new Ya-Naa is selected in accordance with Dagbon’s established succession system.

    His ceremonial attire also changes. He adopts a specially folded circular towel as his official headgear, which similarly becomes the mourning symbol worn by chiefs across Dagbon throughout the regency period.

    This carefully sequenced process has ensured uninterrupted governance within Dagbon for centuries and demonstrates the kingdom’s deliberate institutional approach to political transition.

    Lessons for Constitutional Governance

    The principles underpinning Dagbon’s customary governance bear a striking resemblance to the philosophy of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.

    The Constitution provides clear procedures for presidential succession and guarantees continuity of executive authority whenever the presidency becomes vacant or during transitions between administrations. Institutions are empowered to ensure that the affairs of the state continue without interruption until a President is duly sworn into office.

    Dagbon’s traditional governance operates on a comparable principle: leadership must never be left vacant.

    While the institutions, sources of authority and legal foundations differ, both systems recognise that continuity of leadership is indispensable to peace, stability and orderly governance.

    The comparison demonstrates that African indigenous governance systems developed sophisticated mechanisms for institutional continuity long before the advent of modern constitutional democracies.

    An Enduring Heritage

    For more than 500 years, the Kingdom of Dagbon has preserved an elaborate governance architecture that combines tradition, legitimacy, and institutional stability.

    Its succession arrangements, regency system, and funeral protocols are not merely cultural ceremonies; they are governance mechanisms carefully designed to maintain order during one of the most sensitive moments in the life of the kingdom.

    As Ghana continues to celebrate both its constitutional democracy and its rich traditional institutions, Dagbon’s experience offers an important reminder: indigenous African political systems have long embodied enduring principles of leadership, accountability and continuity that remain relevant to contemporary governance.

    Rather than viewing customary governance and constitutional governance as competing traditions, there is value in recognising how both seek to preserve the same enduring ideals, peace, legitimacy, stability and the uninterrupted exercise of authority in the service of society.

    Source: Hashmin Mohammed/ Chief Zintuhi-Naa 

    DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of The Independent Ghana.

  • Fire destroys several kiosks at Ofankor

    Fire destroys several kiosks at Ofankor

    A fire outbreak has destroyed several kiosks at Ofankor, in the Greater Accra Region, on Wednesday, July 15. Fortunately, personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) arrived at the scene in time to preventing the fire from spreading and causing further damage.

    Meanwhile, the cause of the fire was yet to be established at the time of this report. several goods were destroyed and businesses disrupted after a fire swept through parts of Tudu near the police station in Accra’s Central Business District (CBD) on Wednesday evening, June 3.

    The blaze left traders distressed and stranded, prompting calls for swift government intervention. Meanwhile, Alex King Nartey, an officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, has stated that preliminary investigations suggest an electrical fault may have caused the fire.

    Last year, two shops on the fourth floor of a commercial building at Tudu were gutted by fire. In response the GNFS promptly deployed three fire tenders, successfully bringing the blaze under control and preventing further damage.

    Divisional Officer I (DOI) Alex King Nartey, from the GNFS Public Relations Department, confirmed that while the fire has been successfully controlled, investigations are underway to establish what triggered it.“Due to the timely intervention of our fire tenders here, this whole building has been salvaged from the fire,” he stated.

    No casualties have been reported, but authorities are working to assess the extent of the damage and identify the source of the fire. On Monday night, May 11, at about 11:20 p.m, the intervention of the Ghana National Fire Service saved parts of the Nima Market following a fire outbreak.

    In a brief update shared on its official Facebook page on Tuesday, May 12, the Service noted that the fire destroyed goods and properties belonging to traders.

    The latest incident has once again amplified concerns about the recurring market fires in parts of Accra, with traders repeatedly suffering heavy financial losses.

    Earlier in January, a large fire swept through sections of the Madina Market in Accra, triggering a swift response from the Ghana National Fire Service as efforts continue to contain the blaze.

    The GNFS, in a Facebook update, said fire appliances from the Madina and Legon stations were dispatched to the market shortly after the incident was reported.

    Fire officers are working under difficult conditions to control the flames, with heavy smoke spreading across the busy trading area.While the exact scale of destruction has not yet been determined, early indications point to damage to several stalls and their merchandise.

    In response, traders and nearby residents have been moved away from the affected areas, as security personnel restrict access to parts of the market to enable firefighters to carry out their operations.

    Authorities have not yet established the cause of the fire and will begin investigations once the situation is fully under control. In the same area, an inferno destroyed several makeshift wooden and metal structures used for both commercial and residential purposes at Madina Washing Bay near Redco Flat on Sunday evening, August 3.

    The blaze destroyed utility poles, traders’ wares, personal belongings, and an unspecified number of structures worth several thousand cedis, according to the Ghana National Fire Service. In a Facebook post, the Fire Service noted that while battling the inferno, one of its firefighters sustained a minor leg injury.

    The Ghana National Fire Service noted that it received the distress call at 12:36 hours and responded swiftly, with the first crew from Madina Fire Station arriving within 4 minutes at 12:40 hours to confront the fully developed fire.

    Also, four (4) fire engines from Legon, Abelempke, and GNFS Headquarters joined the operation to contain the blaze.According to the GNFS, thanks to the timely and coordinated efforts, the fire was confined at 13:42 hours and fully brought under control at 13:54 hours.

    Overhaul operations continued until 20:50 hours, with firefighters salvaging multiple adjoining structures and their contents. Investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, according to the Ghana National Fire Service.

    Last month, a fire outbreak occurred at Madina Ritz Junction. It was earlier reported that a 2-month-old baby died as a result of the fire incident. However, GNFS, in a Facebook post on July 17, said that after engaging with some victims, particularly women, they confirmed that no lives were lost.

    “A verification team was dispatched to the scene this morning, and after engaging affected residents, particularly the women, and a Unit Committee Member of the area, the Service can confirm that no lives were lost.”

    “The Fire Service has thus entreated the public and media outlets to “disregard any reports suggesting otherwise, as they are inaccurate and misleading,” adding that it remains firmly committed to public safety, emergency responsiveness, and transparent communication.”

    The fire began after a gas explosion in one of the shops and quickly spread to adjacent containers, consuming everything in its path.

    The incident, which involved multiple wooden structures used for both residential and commercial purposes, was fully contained through the swift and professional response of firefighters from the Madina, Legon, and Abelemkpe Fire Stations.

    An investigation by the Service was launched to ascertain the cause of the fire, which destroyed several properties. It is yet to be reported the cause of the fire.In April this year, a raging fire ripped through the Madina Redco Flats area, reducing more than 150 structures to ashes and claiming the life of a young Nigerian woman.

    The inferno, which began around 11:15 p.m., rapidly spread across 140 wooden kiosks and 20 metal containers that served as homes and business outlets. Though firefighters from the Madina Fire Station arrived on the scene within two minutes, the blaze had already intensified.

    One fatality was recorded—a Nigerian woman affectionately known in the area as Beauty. Believed to be in her early twenties, she was trapped in her room and could not escape. Her charred remains were retrieved and handed over to the Madina Police for preservation and further investigation.

    Last year, about 50 stalls were burnt to ashes after the Madina Market in Accra caught fire. Deputy Director of Operations at the Ghana National Fire Service, D.O.1. Kofi Forson, who engaged the media, recounted the challenges the firefighters faced in quenching the flame.

    “It was not easy for us and there was a lack of access to where the fire was spreading and because it happened in the night, the shops were closed and we had to break through and that made it tedious,” he said.

    In the first half of the year, the Ghana National Fire Service has reported a marginal increase in fire outbreaks. A comparison of data from January to June last year and that of this year’s first six months indicates that Ghana recorded 3,595 fire cases.

    According to the Ghana National Fire Service, that is about 19 more cases than the 3,576 cases recorded during the same time in 2024, a sharp increase in cases representing a 0.53% rise.

    The monthly breakdown of fire cases reported this year is as follows: January (964), February (678), March (619), April (483), May (457), and June (394).

    The Greater Accra Region recorded the highest number of fire incidents, with 628 cases, followed by the Ashanti Region with 581 cases and the Central Region with 408. The North East Region reported the lowest number of incidents—just 10.

    Head of Public Relations at the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Desmond Ackah, revealed that due to their improved and swift response to fire cases, they were able to save over GH¢203 million worth of properties.Fire outbreaks across the country in the first half of 2025 led to the destruction of properties valued at over GH¢188 million.

    Top causes of fire incidents, according to the Ghana National Fire Service, include electrical faults through illegal connections, poor wiring, and overloading of circuits; improper use of electrical appliances, such as overused extension cords and unattended devices.

    Also, unattended cooking, especially with gas, electric, or coal-based stoves. Careless use of naked flames like candles, mosquito coils, lighters, and matches, gas leakages, and poor handling of LPG cylinders are also responsible for fire incidents in the country.

  • Floods: Residents occupying illegal structures in Ga East have until tomorrow to vacate – Assembly

    Floods: Residents occupying illegal structures in Ga East have until tomorrow to vacate – Assembly

    A demolition exercise targeting illegal structures in the Ga East Municipality is expected to be carried out by the Assembly in the coming days. Consequently, residents occupying structures along waterways in parts of the municipality have been given until Thursday, July 16, to vacate the premises.

    According to the Environmental Health Officer for Dome-Kwabenya, Ing. Charles Asabreh Ampomah, occupants of the structures marked for demolition had already been given prior notice. 

    “There are still a lot we are going to do. There is a particular area with a lot of squatters and a choked drain; about 11 people died in that area. As part of efforts to avert future floods, the place has been marked for demolition.

    “We have given them a deadline. By Thursday, they are all supposed to leave the place after which the Assembly will go and conduct the demolition exercise,” he said.

    The upcoming exercise is part of measures to prevent future flooding following recent heavy rains that claimed 11 lives in one of the affected communities. Meanwhile, additional backhoes and other specialised equipment are expected to be procured by the government in the coming days to improve drain desilting and help prevent flooding.

    The specialised equipment will assist the military in removing silt and waste excavated from drains and transport the debris to designated dumping sites. President John Dramani Mahama announced after participating in a nationwide environmental clean-up exercise organised by the government today, July 10.

    According to him, “So we’re going to get some more backhoes for the military so that all the garbage and the silts that we have taken out of the drains, they’ll be able to gather it and go and dump it somewhere”.

    “We also have to get specialised machines like backhoes to take the silts that we have taken out of the drains and put them in a tipper truck to take them away”.

    Also speaking during an inspection of the Alajo drains as part of the National Clean-Up Exercise, President Mahama cautioned the public against dumping unwanted items into drains, warning that such practices contribute to flooding incidents.

    According to him, the National Clean-Up Exercise has come to stay to promote a cleaner environment and encourage citizens to take responsibility for proper sanitation practices.

    “We have to clear the drains. We just worked on this Alajo drain. It’s part of the outdoor stream. And there are two problems in it. There’s silt, and then there’s also plastics and household waste.

    “You find in a drain like this, there are Indian blocks. People discard an Indian block and throw it in the drain. Old furniture, dining tables, everything you can find in that drain.The drains are not garbage instruments. If you want to dispose of something, you know how to dispose of it,” he said.

    The government’s initiative is to help improve sanitation and reduce the risk of future flooding. In a statement issued on Monday, July 6, government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced that Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, have been declared National General Cleaning Days across the seven regions affected by the devastating June 29 floods, following a directive from President John Dramani Mahama.

    Part of the statement read, “This is a critical, nationwide exercise and all citizens are strongly encouraged to fully participate in it. For far too long, indiscriminate littering and plastic pollution have clogged our drainage systems, contributing to devastating, preventable floods that destroy livelihoods and claim precious Ghanaian lives”.

    Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and heads of public institutions in the affected regions have been directed to oversee the exercise.

    Ghana witnessed a series of flooding incidents on Monday, June 29, in parts of the Greater Accra Region and other regions following heavy rains.

    The rains, which started late on Sunday, June 28, left commuters stranded, brought traffic to a standstill, resulted in the deaths of several individuals and destruction of properties.

    While some victims managed to salvage a few belongings, many suffered devastating losses as floodwaters submerged their homes and properties.

    The current death toll from the flooding incidents, as confirmed by the Ghana National Fire Service Public Relations Department, stands at 34. Meanwhile, the Finance Minister has realised a sum of GH¢300 million from the Contingency Fund for individuals affected by the incident following President John Dramani Mahama’s directive.

    The directive forms part of the government’s response to the flooding of parts of Accra and other communities in the southern sector of the country after hours of unusually heavy rainfall.

    In Ghana, the Contingency Fund is a constitutional fund set aside to meet urgent and unforeseen government expenses that cannot wait for the normal budget approval process.

    It is established under Article 177 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.In a statement issued on behalf of the President by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, it was indicated that the GH¢300 million will be divided into two, with portions designated to provide relief and implement measures to mitigate flooding.

    “President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister for Finance to release GHS 300 million from the Contingency Fund to finance urgent flood relief and mitigation efforts.

    GHS 150 million out of the amount will finance urgent relief efforts for flood-affected persons and communities in the southern sector of the country. Another GHS 150 million will be spent on flood mitigation measures aimed at reducing incidents of flooding,” parts of the statement read.

    Also, due to the scale of destruction and the effects of the floods, President Mahama has ordered that additional support be provided by the Ghana Armed Forces and other security services for the rescue operations ongoing across the city.

    “The President has also directed the deployment of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces and Police to work with NADMO and other security services in the rescue and relief operations currently underway across the city,” adding that, “the President earlier today undertook an aerial tour of the flooded areas to assess the full extent of the situation and announced a raft of steps being taken to safeguard residents and prevent further flooding.”

  • 258 arrested from Jan-June in ongoing battle against galamsey – Lands Minister

    258 arrested from Jan-June in ongoing battle against galamsey – Lands Minister

    Two hundred and fifty-eight (258) suspects have been arrested from January to June this year as part of the government’s intensified efforts to combat illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, in Ghana’s forest reserves. This information was disclosed by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, on Wednesday, July 15, while speaking at the Government Accountability Series.

    “Ladies and gentlemen, in our determination to protect our forests from illegal mining activities, the Ministry, working closely with the Forestry Commission and other stakeholders, intensified enforcement operations within forest reserves and these are the results.

    “Just in the last six months, we arrested 258 suspects, demobilized 6 excavators, 1,225 pumping machines were seized, we demobilized 765 Changfan machines, we destroyed 35 tricycles, motorbikes that were seized were 212, structures destroyed 430, and gold detectors that were seized was 40. All these in the forest reserves alone.

    “And I’m happy to say that today I’m not here to tell you about red zones, because we have not had any red zone, which means that government supporting the Forestry Commission is firmly in control of our forests,” he stated.

    Meanwhile, a new scheme has been launched by the Lands Ministry, in collaboration with the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), in the Akyem Kotoku Traditional Area of the Eastern Region.

    While speaking at the launch, the Lands Minister noted that the Cooperative Mining Scheme forms part of the President John Dramani Mahama’s government efforts to eradicate illegal mining, thus promoting sustainable mining practices in the area.

    For years, the country’s efforts to nip the canker in the bud have failed to produce the desired results. Among recent measures taken to protect water bodies from illegal miners is the deployment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).

    During a recent media engagement on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, the Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, Hugh Brown, disclosed that nearly 9,000 hectares of Ghana’s forest reserves have been destroyed by galamsey, with more than 5,200 hectares lost between 2021 and 2024.

    He added, “The military was withdrawn on the 1st of November, and we were left to our own devices. We had to strengthen our rapid response teams quickly, sometimes putting them in situations where they were not well-equipped.

    “We cannot continue protecting forests as we did in the 1920s and 1930s, when forest guards held cutlasses and patrolled boundaries to detect offences. There has been insufficient investment in modern protection measures”.

    In June, NAIMOS warned criminal groups to vacate galamsey areas.As part of efforts to crack down on the canker, thirty-eight (38) individuals were arrested by the Eastern South Regional Police Command for engaging in illegal mining activities at Ntoranang on the outskirts of New Abirem on Friday, February 27.

    Their arrest comes after the police received intelligence about their illegal activities at a palm plantation in the area. The police disclosed that of the 38 arrested, 17 are Burkinabe nationals and 21 are Ghanaians, including 9 juveniles aged 13-17.

    The police destroyed items used by the suspects in their operations; including water pumping machines, power plants, water hoses and makeshift shelters. All 38 suspects will be arraigned before the court on Monday, March 2, for prosecution.

    Months ago, the Commanding Officer of NAIMOS, Colonel Dominic Buah, signaled an imminent and aggressive crackdown on illegal miners.

    “I would like to send this warning to illegal miners, their assignees, and financiers that they are the first or prime enemies of the state, and they will be dealt with as such. There will be no room for them to escape or to hide. NAIMOS will smoke them out very soon. There’s no resting place for them,” he said at a stakeholder engagement at the Jubilee House on October 3, 2025.

    Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has emphasized that his government is not backing down in its fight against the longstanding menace of illegal mining.

    According to the President, the country will soon be cleared of the menace as the government plans to launch a programme in the coming days to reclaim degraded lands.

    He added that youths in affected communities will be employed under the programme, each receiving a monthly stipend of GH₵1,500.

    “We’re restoring degraded lands while creating thousands of jobs for young people in affected communities. I have asked the Minister of Finance to increase the budget allocation so that we can recruit more youth into forest tree planting and the Blue Water Guard to safeguard our water bodies.

    “These youth are to be recruited from affected communities, and they will receive a monthly stipend of GHC1,500. I wish to commend journalists who persist in exposing environmental crime at great personal risk. Your bravery is noted, and it’s patriotic. I wish to assure you, as the President, that I will never give up the fight,” President Mahama said.

    President Mahama made the remarks at the 2025 GJA/KGL National Awards held at the Manhyia Palace on Saturday, November 8.

    Speaking at a stakeholder engagement in Accra on October 3, the President said: “There are new chemicals that have come that allow you to treat water and take out the toxins and the heavy metals. One of them is called dowtine. The people came, and we sent them there. They took samples, tested. We are waiting for them to bring the results back.”

    President Mahama urged patience in the long-running battle against galamsey, noting that declaring a state of emergency alone will not end the menace.

    He said government advisors believe the country can overcome galamsey by adopting best practices in small-scale mining and technologies that neutralize or remove harmful chemicals from water bodies.

    He also pledged to act on calls for a state of emergency if his advisors recommend it.

    “While we are fighting the menace, I am also saying we should uptake technology in order to protect the environment. So yes, let’s fight the illegal mining but at the same time, let’s bring the new technology that will help us protect our environment.

    “Now with the elephant in the room, state of emergency, yes, I have the power to do it, but the president acts on the advice of the National Security Authority, and as at now, this moment, the National Security Authority believes that we can win the fight against galamsey without declaring a state of emergency. I want to assure you that the day they advise me otherwise, that boss, now we need a state of emergency, I won’t hesitate,” he added.

    Despite renewed efforts, the canker continues to wreak havoc. The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat task force narrowly escaped death in a mob assault at Hwidiem in the Ahafo Region on Saturday, November 1, during an operation that resulted in several arrests, including a Burkinabe national.

    Locals were seen in a viral video confronting the NAIMOS team and demanding the release of those arrested. NAIMOS spokesperson Paa Kwesi Schandorf described the attack as “extremely and profoundly disappointing,” saying the officials “survived clearly by the mercy of God. If you look at how they were charged, the rest of the team could have lost their lives.”

  • You lack legal authority over private school graduation events – GNACOPS to GES

    You lack legal authority over private school graduation events – GNACOPS to GES

    The Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) has stated that the Ghana Education Service (GES) lacks the authority to ban graduation ceremonies in private schools across Ghana.  Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, July 15, GNACOPS National Executive Director Enoch Gyetuah, insisted that private institutions are not under the administrative control of the service. 

    He noted that private are still organising graduation activities as the Pre-Tertiary Education Act, 2020 (Act 1049), only allows GES to carry out education policies and managing implementation in public schools, rather than having broad authority over all aspects of education, including private schools.

    “As we speak now, private schools are ongoing, celebrating their graduation ceremonies in a harmonious environment and in accordance with directives issued by the council for the private schools. The Ghana Education Service, as we speak now, is not the administrative body that regulates the entire education in Ghana based on law,” he said.

    He further added, “As I’m talking to you now, last week private schools had their graduation; this week they are going to have [them]. We are doing so in accordance with the directives that we have given to them.” 

    His comments are a reaction to a recent directive by the GES suspending all Senior High School (SHS) “passing-out” ceremonies nationwide. 

    The completion of the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) is customarily marked by final-year students with celebratory events to signify the end of their Senior High School education.

    During the event, some loved ones of the graduates award them with cars, money bouquets. However, the Ministry, in a press statement issued on Saturday, June 20, described the event as counterproductive to its initial purpose.

    According to the Ministry, such events must focus on celebrating academic achievement and personal growth.

    Part of the statement read, “The Ministry strongly condemns any conduct by students, parents, guardians, or other stakeholders that promotes extravagance and detracts from the true purpose of school ceremonies.”

    It added, “The Ministry wishes to emphasize that schools are institutions for learning, character development, discipline, and the nurturing of responsible citizens. Graduation ceremonies are intended to celebrate academic achievement and personal growth and should therefore reflect the values of modesty, dignity, and respect associated with the educational environment.”

    Ghana joined over 1 million students to sit for the exams. According to West African Examinations Council (WAEC), a total of 509,862 candidates sat for this year’s examination nationwide. The candidates comprised of 225,274 males and 284,588 females.

    The 2026 examination process begun earlier with practical and project work in subjects such as Visual Arts and Home Economics.

    2025 WASSCE performance Ghana

    WAEC released the provisional results of the 2025 West African Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) on Saturday, November 29.

    The results show a massive surge in outright failure rates (Grade F9) across all four core subjects compared to the 2024 performance.

    According to the provisional results released by WAEC, the percentage of students who failed Social Studies increased steeply from 9.55% in 2024 to 27.50% in 2025, representing a 188% increase.

    The other core subjects, that is, Integrated Science and English Language, also saw a doubling of their previous failure rates.

    For Integrated Science, the failure rate increased by 8.93%; that is, the 2024 rate was 7.12%, and in 2025 it increased to 16.05%.

    The failure rate for the English Language also rose from 5.88% in 2024 to 12.86% in 2025. Core Mathematics recorded the sharpest decline, with the proportion of candidates who failed rising from 6.10% in 2024 to an alarming 26.77% in 2025, more than four times higher.

    Consequently, only 48.73% of candidates achieved grades A1 to C6, a steep drop from the 66.86% recorded in 2024. In absolute terms, 209,068 candidates passed Core Maths, while 114,872 (26.77%) failed outright with an F9. Put simply, for every four students who sat for the exam, one failed Core Mathematics.

    The core subjects are foundational: English, Mathematics, Integrated Science, and Social Studies are the backbone of Ghana’s education system. Failure in these means students lack the basic skills needed for higher education or employment.

    The failure of core subjects by candidates this year comes with several major concerns, including career opportunities, social consequences, and the likely impact on the country’s economy.

  • Miracles Aboagye insists GHS55m never came up during interrogation at EOCO

    Miracles Aboagye insists GHS55m never came up during interrogation at EOCO

    Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has stated that his detention at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) was not related to the alleged GH¢55 million financial and procurement irregularities.

    According to him, the engagement with EOCO, the purpose of which is yet to be disclosed, was not focused on the allegations of financial misconduct.

    He made the clarification hours after meeting his GH¢50 million bail conditions following four days in EOCO custody.

    “For the records: There was no discussion of any GH¢55 million with me by EOCO. None!!!. I am out. I am unbroken. And I am more ready than ever, ” he stated.

    The bail conditions had attracted widespread public debate, with the NPP describing them as excessive while others argued they reflected the magnitude of the financial allegations under investigation.


    Mr Aboagye is being investigated for his alleged involvement in financial and procurement-related irregularities involving about GH¢55 million during his tenure as Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD).


    A statement noted that the revelation came after the current Executive Secretary of IMCCoD requested further inquiries into a forensic audit conducted into the affairs of the Secretariat between August 1, 2022, and February 2, 2025.

    EOCO added that Miracles Aboagye had previously visited the office prior to his arrest in connection with the ongoing investigations.


    It further stated that it had taken steps to prevent Dennis Miracles Aboagye from leaving the country as part of its operational plan; however, he had already travelled outside Ghana before the agency could execute the measures.


    Miracles Aboagye was arrested together with the former accountant of the Secretariat, Gerald Appiah, by officials from the Ghana Immigration Service and EOCO on Sunday, July 12.


    It continued that while Gerald Appiah has begun refunding some funds linked to the investigation, the recoveries do not conclude the investigations or absolve any suspect of criminal liability.


    EOCO has maintained that its investigations are ongoing and has pledged to conduct them professionally, impartially and in accordance with Ghanaian law while respecting the constitutional rights of all persons involved.


    Earlier remarks by Aboagye’s lead counsel on bail conditions
    Mr Aboagye’s lead counsel, Samuel Atta Akyea, addressing the media, noted that given the stipulated time given to meet them, it is highly impossible to meet them.

    Consequently, the NPP communications member remains in custody. The stipulated timeframe was immediate, overnight on July 13, 2026.

    This is why Aboagye’s lawyers insist the bail conditions are “extremely difficult” and practically impossible to meet.


    “How is he going to be released? How is he going to post the bail bonds? GH¢50 million, three sureties, two to be justified. How can it be met? Where are you going to find properties worth GH¢50 million and finding it tonight?” he questioned.

  • Fuel prices to go up from tomorrow

    Fuel prices to go up from tomorrow

    Effective Thursday, July 16, fuel prices at the pumps will see another reduction, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), Dr Riverson Oppong, has disclosed.

    According to him, current indicators in the international petroleum market, coupled with prevailing economic conditions at home, point to a likely downward adjustment in petroleum prices during the second pricing window of July.

    Speaking on PM EXPRESS Business Edition on July 9, Dr Oppong said the outlook remains favourable even if developments in the Middle East worsen.

    “Even if things should get out of hand, we may keep prices unchanged for the second pricing window of this month,” he stated.

    Dr Oppong explained that the relative stability of the cedi over the past month has also strengthened expectations of a reduction in fuel prices.

    “Another development that has helped with this projection is that the cedi has been fair over the past month, and this could see prices go down by some significant margin,” he added.

    The COMAC CEO also dismissed suggestions that oil marketing companies are often reluctant to pass on price reductions to consumers when market conditions improve.

    He maintained that industry players have consistently adjusted prices whenever circumstances permit and indicated that the expected reduction would not be delayed.

    Touching on the industry’s price floor regime, Dr. Oppong reiterated his support for the recent review undertaken by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), describing it as a decision backed by stakeholders within the sector.

    “This regulatory action has indeed gone a long way to save many players in the industry,” he said.

    Last month, the NPA announced a significant reduction in fuel price floors for the June 16–30 pricing window.

    Under the revised arrangement, the minimum price for petrol was reduced from GH¢15.20 per litre to GH¢13.39 per litre, while diesel’s price floor declined from GH¢15.49 per litre to GH¢15.11 per litre.

    The regulator directed all oil marketing companies to comply with the approved rates, barring them from selling below the established price floors.

    The adjustment came after government ended its intervention programme that had been introduced to cushion consumers against rising global crude oil prices.

    According to COMAC, the reductions recorded during the first pricing window of July were largely driven by declining crude oil prices and lower prices of refined petroleum products on the international market.

    Industry analysts have attributed the drop in crude oil prices to weaker demand from China, increased oil exports from the United States, and continued releases from strategic petroleum reserves by member states of the International Energy Agency (IEA).

  • Yendi schools temporarily closed to mourn Yaa-Naa’s passing

    Yendi schools temporarily closed to mourn Yaa-Naa’s passing

    All public and private schools within the Yendi Municipality have been temporarily shut down by the Ghana Education Service (GES) in honor of the late Overlord of the Dagbon Kingdom, Ndan Yaa-Naa Abukari II.

    The schools are to remain closed until Friday, July 17 to allow teachers and the staff to observe the funeral rites of the late Overlord of the Dagbon Kingdom, Ndan Yaa-Naa Abukari II.

    The Overlord of the Dagbon Kingdom, Ya-Na Abukari II, died at the age of eighty-seven (87) years. The Head of the Dagbon Kingmakers, Kuga Naa Adam Abdulai II announced his passing of the revered traditional ruler on Monday, July 13.

    Meanwhile, details surrounding his passing have not yet been officially disclosed. Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II was the son of Yaa Naa Mahama II, who ruled Dagbon from 1938 until his death on February 6, 1948. Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II ‘s mother, Ayishetu, was a princess from Kulunkpegu, near Chaazaadaanyili in the Northern Region. Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II who was born Bukali in Mion restored the Yendi throne after a 16-year chieftaincy dispute.

    Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II, on Sunday, February 16, paid his first-ever visit to the Jakpa Palace, home of the King and Overlord of Gonja, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I.

    The historic visit underscored the deep-rooted ties between the Dagbon and Gonja kingdoms, reinforcing the spirit of solidarity and cooperation among traditional rulers in northern Ghana. Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II lauded the role of the Yagbon Kingdom in promoting peace and stability in Dagbon, highlighting the importance of such collaborations in preserving harmony.

    “The Yagbon Kingdom has played a crucial role in mediating peace within Dagbon,” he stated, emphasizing the strong historical and cultural connections between the two royal houses.

    Beyond traditional matters, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II also extended his full support to President John Dramani Mahama, acknowledging his dedication to steering the country towards progress and inclusivity.

    Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, in his remarks, pointed out the persistent challenges surrounding chieftaincy succession in Ghana, particularly in the northern regions.

    “Chieftaincy succession remains a significant source of conflict in Ghana, particularly in the five regions of the north,” he noted, stressing the need for continued dialogue and institutional reforms to address these disputes.

    Echoing the significance of the visit, Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Be-Awuribe, described it as a remarkable demonstration of goodwill between the two kingdoms.

    “The move by Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I has ignited that strong passion, and Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II has reciprocated that move to show significant peace and unity among both kingdoms,” he stated.

    The visit was intended to strengthen relations between the Dagbon and Gonja states, fostering closer collaboration in addressing regional development and peacebuilding efforts.

  • Govt to increase NHIS tariffs in August

    Govt to increase NHIS tariffs in August

    Effective August, the government will increase tariff for the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). This information was disclosed by the Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh when he appeared before Parliament’s Assurance Committee. The increment seeks to ease the financial burden on citizens, ensure equal access to healthcare, and reduce illegal fees.

    He noted that the government has detected fraud in the National Health Insurance Scheme system, particularly the illegal charging of co-payments, adding that some suspects have been arrested and are currently facing prosecution. 

    “I’m happy to announce that very soon, we are going to increase the tariffs of the National Health Insurance. I think in August it’s going to start. We have also detected some kind of fraud in the system. We have detected this kind of co-payment, as they call it, which is an illegal payment. We are even prosecuting some of them. We have arrested some, they are under prosecution,” he stated. 

    In 2025, the Authority proposed a 120 per cent increase in service tariffs to help reduce the extra charges patients pay at hospitals for medical care and services. The proposed increase was planned in consultation with a group of independent experts mandated to review tariffs under Sections 33 and 34 of the National Health Insurance Act, which require annual revisions of both medicines and service tariffs.

    Speaking to the media, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NHIA, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe noted,  “Regarding the 120% tariff increase: this is proposed after comprehensive work by a group of experts. The law requires an annual review of service and medicine tariffs (Sections 33 and 34). Although the review was delayed, the proposal is now ready and will go to our board and the Minister of Health for approval. 

    “Once approved, it will be implemented. This is partly to address the problem of illegal fees at hospitals, ensuring health providers are paid realistic tariffs so patients no longer have to pay out-of-pocket”.

    Dr. Bampoe explained that the NHIA is mandated to collect funds, set tariffs, and pay hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies for services provided to insured patients. However, he noted that the Authority plans to move beyond this traditional role and become more of a “strategic health purchasing provider.”

    “But the NHS is more like a spending entity; we do not generate money on our own. So, we are a spending entity. One of the things we’re trying to do is move away from being a claims payment mechanism to a strategic health purchasing provider, which means that we are able to dictate health outcomes because of the financial muscle that the government provides us with.

    We’re able to determine the prices of medicines, the prices of services, and even go on the global stage and provide a platform to discuss what kind of health outcomes we want, as you saw with the ACRA Health Sovereignty Summit that happened on August 5. So it’s an interesting time, and His Excellency the President, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Health have given us the tools to be able to deliver on this mandate,” he said, citing the government’s commitment to ensuring that his outfit can deliver on its mandate.

    As part of its vision to move from just paying claims to becoming a “strategic health purchasing provider,” Dr. Bampoe highlighted that the NHIA also seeks to provide Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under three distinct pillars. Lauding the NHIA for its success in granting health coverage, he revealed that out of over 35 million Ghanaians, the Authority has provided coverage for about 20 million.

    “So essentially, the health insurance scheme was set up in 2003 (Act 650) and amended in 2012 (Act 852), and its primary purpose was to pay claims. But now what we are looking at is getting universal health coverage for all Ghanaians. Universal health coverage has three pillars: population coverage, service coverage, and financial protection. I am proud to say that we are at 20 million in population coverage, which is unprecedented.”

    He noted that while the medicines tariff review has already been completed, the service tariff review, initiated in 2022, took longer due to its comprehensive nature. “There are two types of reviews that we need to do, but this was a really comprehensive one, so I think they could not finish on time, and so it is now that they have finished,” he explained.

    Dr. Bampoe stressed that implementation now depends solely on statutory approvals. “Now it has to go to the Board for them to look at it and give their view on it. It has to go to the Minister of Health to give his assent, and then we will implement it if they all think it is okay,” he stated.

    The NHIA CEO applauded the government for removing the cap on NHIA funds.

    “Regarding funding, we are dependent on the importance the government places on healthcare. I’m proud of His Excellency the President, the Finance Minister, and the Minister of Health because the capping act (Act 947 of 2019) has put a limit on funds coming to the NHIA. The President removed that cap, giving us an extra 3.4–3.5 billion cedis for healthcare.

    We are trying to do three things: shift mindsets in government and across the country to see healthcare as important for development. Healthy people are more productive. Focus on areas where we get the best results, such as Mahama Cares and Free Primary Healthcare. If 40%+ of people are affected by non-communicable diseases, it makes sense to prevent them. Preventive actions include health promotion and screenings. For example, catching prostate cancer early with a PSA test is more cost-effective than treating stage 4 disease. Shift realities. At the Global Fund and UN, programs were comprehensive but expensive. We now aim for solutions that fit our reality, whether that’s a Rolls-Royce, a Toyota VIT, or even a motorbike; the key is to deliver,” he detailed.

    In a related development, the NHIA in early July disbursed an amount of GH¢267.67 million as claims to health facilities across the country.

    The disbursement became possible following approval by Chief Executive Dr. Victor Asare-Bampoe. The total payments made by the NHIA in the past seven months stand at over GH¢1.5 billion.

    Out of the total amount, public health facilities received GH¢120,700,932.62, which constitutes 45 percent of the total.

    Private health facilities have been paid GH¢100,210,906.44, representing 37 percent of the total amount, while mission health facilities have been allotted GH¢446,761,808.96, which makes up 17 percent of the total funds.

  • BoG revokes Zeepay’s e-money licence citing regulatory non-compliance

    BoG revokes Zeepay’s e-money licence citing regulatory non-compliance

    The Dedicated Electronic Money Issuer (DEMI) licence of a financial services company, Zeepay Ghana Limited has been revoked by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) over multiple regulatory breaches and violations of directives issued by the central bank.

    According to the bank in a statement issued on Tuesday July 14, the revocation is in accordance with Section 13 of the Payment Systems and Services Act, 2019 (Act 987).

    The statement added that the company had failed to comply with a directive to deposit sufficient funds into safeguarded accounts to match the value of all the electronic money (e-money) held on behalf of its customers, agents, and merchants.

    In September, the remittance partnership of three Payment Service Providers were suspended for a month by the Bank of Ghana. The suspension affected Flutterwave, Cellulant Ghana, and Halges Financial Technologies.


    Justifying the basis for their suspension, the central bank explained that the affected firms breached guidelines with regard to international money transfer operations and regulatory compliance for Inward Remittance Services for Payment Service Providers, 2023.

    In June, BoG drawn the attention of the general public to Money Transfer Organisations (MTOS) operating within the Remittance and the Ghana Forex Market without approval.

    These MTOs include Ace Money Transfer, Remit Union, Remit Home, Roze Remit, Monty Global. The other five are Nairagram, I-Transfer, Hurupay, Eversend and Izisend.


    Meanwhile, the public, banks, Dedicated Electronic Money Issuer and Enhanced Payment Service Providers (EPSP) have been cautioned to desist from dealing with any of these institutions.


    Approved MTOs have been entreated to terminate their foreign exchange flows through their partner institutions only and to adhere strictly to all the guidelines in respect of their operations.


    Section 3.1 of the Foreign Exchange Act, 2006, Act 723, states that “a person shall not engage in the business of dealing in foreign exchange without a licence issued under this Act.”


    Further, section 15.3 of the Foreign Exchange Act states, “each transfer of foreign exchange to or from Ghana shall be made through a person licensed to carry out the business of money transfers or any other authorised dealer.”


    All market players have been instructed to comply with the directives.
    “Non-compliance will result in severe sanctions including the withdrawal of the licence of the institution in breach,” the BoG added.


    Earlier this month, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) blew the alarm on the operations of Yellow Card Financial Inc., an unapproved digital payment platform.


    According to the central bank in a statement dated June 11, the unlicensed entity is actively promoting itself as a provider of digital payment services, cryptocurrency trading, and cross-border remittance solutions.


    The platform purports to enable users to make payments, send and receive electronic money and stable coins across borders, as well as convert stable coins into local currency.


    These activities, the central bank says, require appropriate licensing from the Bank of Ghana. The Bank of Ghana has also discovered that YellowPay is engaged in an ongoing collaboration with HanyPay, an entity that claims to be licensed by the Africa Diaspora Central Bank (ADCB).


    This partnership reportedly seeks to develop and integrate a new stablecoin, AKL Lumi, into the global financial ecosystem. According to the central bank, this development raises significant regulatory concerns, as HanyPay is neither licensed nor authorized to operate within the jurisdiction of Ghana.


    In 2024, the Popular international money transfer service Taptap Send temporarily suspended its operations in Ghana. This pause raised concerns among users who depend on the platform to send money to loved ones in the country.

    In a statement issued in early November, the company apologized for the inconvenience and emphasized its efforts to restore service promptly.
    The platform explained that its teams are collaborating closely with local partners in Ghana to ensure a seamless reactivation of services.

    While the exact date for resuming transfers has not been disclosed, Taptap Send assured users of its ongoing commitment to delivering “exceptional service.”

    In the interim, Taptap Send reassured its customers that their funds remain fully secure. Money stored in Taptap Send wallets can still be withdrawn to personal bank accounts. The company emphasized that the service interruption is temporary and that all customer funds are safe.


    This pause in operations comes at a crucial time when remittances from the diaspora are vital to Ghana’s economy. Many Ghanaians are eager for a swift resolution, particularly as digital remittances play an increasing role in supporting families and communities.


    Launched in the summer of 2018, Taptap Send enables users to send money quickly and affordably to Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean. With operations in the UK, EU, US, Canada, and UAE, the service supports transfers to countries such as Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Ghana, Cameroon, the Ivory Coast, and several others.

  • 11-year-old dies after drowning at Adenta Aviation

    11-year-old dies after drowning at Adenta Aviation

    The body of an 11-year-old boy has been found at Adenta Aviation in the Greater Accra Region, following a search and recovery operation led by personnel from the Adenta Fire Station. The events that led to the drowning are yet to be disclosed by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS).

    Last year, a six-year-old boy, Godfred Aboagye, in Kasoa Wallantu, tragically lost his life after he drowned in an open water tank storage in a desperate effort to retrieve his football. The incident, which occurred on Monday, December 29, 2025, has left the Kasoa community in grief.

    In a statement, the Ghana National Fire Service disclosed that a specialised rescue team was immediately dispatched to the scene after receiving a distress call at 5:03 p.m.

    According to the statement, signed by Divisional Officer Grade II (DO II) Abdul Wasiu Hudu, the Central Regional PRO of the GNFS, the unfortunate incident could have been prevented if the open pits tank was covered.

    “GNFS strongly cautions parents, guardians, and property owners to ensure that all water storage facilities, tanks, wells, and pits are securely covered, particularly in homes where children are present,” the statement read.

    While Ghana has some drowning prevention initiatives, such as regional lifejacket policies, critical measures like water safety education in schools and community rescue training remain limited.

    The lack of flood risk management strategies further exacerbates the issue. Globally, drowning remains a significant public health issue. The first-ever Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention by the World Health Organization (WHO) details progress made in addressing drowning fatalities worldwide.

    The report notes that the global drowning death rate declined by 38 percent between 2000 and 2021. However, more than 300,000 fatalities were still recorded in 2021, underscoring the severity of the problem.

    In June this year, some seven students from Lawra Senior High School (SHS) lost their lives after the boat they were travelling on capsized on the Black Volta River at Dikpe.

    The unfortunate incident that claimed the lives of five girls and two boys occurred on Saturday, June 14, during a routine morning jogging exercise.Per reports, the group of 10, part of the school’s cadet corps, was attempting to cross in an overloaded boat.

    Three other students were rescued and provided medical care as well as psychological support. According to reports, early morning jogging is a regular activity for the cadet team; however, the rationale behind the group’s attempt to cross the river remains unclear.

    Reacting to the unfortunate incident, the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has instructed that a meeting be convened and its findings reported to him. The Education Ministry has commiserated with the bereaved families as investigations continue.

    “We share in the grief of the affected families and the entire school community. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this extremely difficult time.

    As the Ministry awaits a full report from the Ghana Police Service, we wish to assure Ghanaians that we will continue to do our best to ensure the safety and security of our students,” a statement signed by the Deputy Education Minister, Dr Clement Apaak, read.

    This is not the first time lives, especially those of students, have been lost to drowning on the Black Volta.

    In 2023, some eight students drowned in the Volta Lake in the Sene East District on their way to school. This prompted calls on the government to provide life jackets to pupils and staff in island communities who commute by water.

    Eduwatch Africa called on the Ghana Education Service and other relevant stakeholders to roll out measures to avert such disasters in the future.

    “In the immediate term, we urge the Ghana Education Service (GES) to facilitate the availability of life jackets to all school children and staff who sail to and from school, not only in the Sene East District, but all other ‘island and settler communities’ where children and staff commute by water transport to school.

    “The GES should, in collaboration with the relevant state agencies, facilitate health and safety orientation sessions for all its pupils and staff in island communities,” portions of the group’s statement read.

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) donated 100 life jackets and learning materials to the Atigagorme and Wayokope communities in the Sene East District.

    Then Director-General of GES, Dr Eric Nkansah, said the donation was an interim safety and security measure for school children. Appearing before Parliament on Wednesday, July 2, the Minister responsible for Interior, Honourable Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, revealed a number of measures the government and its agencies will put in place to check the rate of drowning incidents involving students and others in rural areas.

    This follows the recent boat incident along the Black Volta Basin that claimed the lives of seven students of Lawra Senior High School (SHS) on June 14.

    The sector minister noted that there will be regular sensitisation of canoe owners and operators, as well as residents along the Black Volta Basin, and sensitisation of students and identifiable bodies on maritime safety.

    He added that the Ghana Maritime Authority will provide life jackets to canoe operators along the river, conduct regular monitoring of canoe operators to ensure safety on the river, and ensure all canoes are regularly maintained.

  • Miracles Aboagye granted GHS50m bail with three sureties

    Miracles Aboagye granted GHS50m bail with three sureties

    Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide to the NPP’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has been granted bail in the sum of GH¢50 million with three sureties by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). This information was made public by the Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah on Monday, July 13.

    Speaking to the media, he added, “My earlier briefing was GH¢50 million with three sureties. I hope that condition is either met or varied for him to be granted bail”.

    Mr Aboagye is being investigated for his alleged involvement in financial and procurement-related irregularities involving about GH¢55 million during his tenure as Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD).

    The statement noted that the revelation came after the current Executive Secretary of IMCCoD requested further inquiries into a forensic audit conducted into the affairs of the Secretariat between August 1, 2022, and February 2, 2025. EOCO added that Miracles Aboagye had previously visited the office prior to his arrest in connection with the ongoing investigations.

    It further stated that it had taken steps to prevent Dennis Miracles Aboagye from leaving the country as part of its operational plan; however, he had already travelled outside Ghana before the agency could execute the measures.

    Miracles Aboagye was arrested together with the former accountant of the Secretariat, Gerald Appiah, by officials from the Ghana Immigration Service and EOCO on Sunday, July 12.

    According to a post on Facebook by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, Miracles Aboagye was denied access to his lawyers, making his whereabouts unknown.

    “Since then they have denied his lawyers access and his whereabouts is not disclosed with no charges preferred,” the post read.

    This is not the first time an NPP official has been arrested under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration. Currently, the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Wontumi, has been accused of aiding individuals to mine without a proper license at the Samreboi concession.

    Wontumi’s lawyer has noted that there is no evidence to support the galamsey charges levelled against his client.

    Speaking to the media on Friday, October 10, Enoch Afoakwa noted that Chairman Wontumi is unshaken in his insistence on innocence in the face of all galamsey charges.

    He added, “So certainly his position has not changed. He still maintains his innocence. Once he has pleaded not guilty to the various counts that he has been charged with, his presumption of innocence under Article 19(2c) triggers — and that means he is presumed innocent until proven.”

    “When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty to all the several counts of allegations that have been levelled against him. So certainly his position has not changed. He still maintains his innocence. Once he has pleaded not guilty to the various counts that he has been charged with, his presumption of innocence under Article 19(2c) triggers — and that means he is presumed innocent until proven”.

    Chairman Wontumi was released from police custody after spending three nights in detention on Friday, October 10. His release followed the fulfillment of bail requirements totaling GHS25 million, imposed in connection with two separate illegal mining cases currently before the court.On October 7, he was unable to meet the bail conditions set by the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra. In one of the cases, the court granted him GHS15 million bail with two sureties, while in the other, an additional GHS10 million bail was set, also with two sureties—one of whom must justify with landed property.The court further directed Wontumi to report to investigators once every week for the first month and prohibited him from traveling outside the country without explicit approval.



  • Miracles Aboagye under investigation over alleged GHS55m at IMCCoD – EOCO

    Miracles Aboagye under investigation over alleged GHS55m at IMCCoD – EOCO

    The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has explained why it is holding Dennis Miracles Aboagye, Spokesperson for the Bawumia campaign team, in custody.

    In a statement issued on Monday, July 13, EOCO said Mr Aboagye is being investigated for his alleged involvement in financial and procurement-related irregularities involving about GH¢55 million during his tenure as Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation (IMCCoD).

    The statement noted that the revelation came after the current Executive Secretary of IMCCoD requested further inquiries into a forensic audit conducted into the affairs of the Secretariat between August 1, 2022, and February 2, 2025. EOCO added that Miracles Aboagye had previously visited the office prior to his arrest in connection with the ongoing investigations.

    It further stated that it had taken steps to prevent Dennis Miracles Aboagye from leaving the country as part of its operational plan; however, he had already travelled outside Ghana before the agency could execute the measures.

    Miracles Aboagye was arrested together with the former accountant of the Secretariat, Gerald Appiah, by officials from the Ghana Immigration Service and EOCO on Sunday, July 12.


    According to a post on Facebook by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, Miracles Aboagye was denied access to his lawyers, making his whereabouts unknown.


    “Since then they have denied his lawyers access and his whereabouts is not disclosed with no charges preferred,” the post read.

    This is not the first time an NPP official has been arrested under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration. Currently, the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Wontumi, has been accused of aiding individuals to mine without a proper license at the Samreboi concession.


    Wontumi’s lawyer has noted that there is no evidence to support the galamsey charges levelled against his client. Speaking to the media on Friday, October 10, Enoch Afoakwa noted that Chairman Wontumi is unshaken in his insistence on innocence in the face of all galamsey charges.
    He added, “So certainly his position has not changed. He still maintains his innocence. Once he has pleaded not guilty to the various counts that he has been charged with, his presumption of innocence under Article 19(2c) triggers — and that means he is presumed innocent until proven.”
    “When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty to all the several counts of allegations that have been levelled against him. So certainly his position has not changed. He still maintains his innocence. Once he has pleaded not guilty to the various counts that he has been charged with, his presumption of innocence under Article 19(2c) triggers — and that means he is presumed innocent until proven”.
    Chairman Wontumi was released from police custody after spending three nights in detention on Friday, October 10. His release followed the fulfillment of bail requirements totaling GHS25 million, imposed in connection with two separate illegal mining cases currently before the court.
    On October 7, he was unable to meet the bail conditions set by the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra. In one of the cases, the court granted him GHS15 million bail with two sureties, while in the other, an additional GHS10 million bail was set, also with two sureties—one of whom must justify with landed property.
    The court further directed Wontumi to report to investigators once every week for the first month and prohibited him from traveling outside the country without explicit approval.

  • Why cybercrime is becoming everyone’s problem in Ghana

    Why cybercrime is becoming everyone’s problem in Ghana

    Your phone rings.

    The caller introduces himself as a mobile money customer service representative. He tells you there has been suspicious activity on your account and asks you to confirm a one-time password so he can secure your funds. His tone is calm, professional, and convincing. Within minutes, your money is gone.

    Stories like this are becoming increasingly common across Ghana. What once seemed like isolated incidents are now part of a much larger and more worrying trend.

    According to the Cyber Security Authority (CSA), Ghana lost more than GH¢19 million to cybercrime between January and September 2025. During the same period, authorities recorded over 3,200 cybercrime incidents, with online fraud accounting for the largest share of reported cases. Mobile money scams, phishing attacks, fake investment schemes, and online impersonation continue to affect thousands of individuals and businesses across the country.

    Cybercrime is no longer a problem reserved for banks, multinational companies, or government agencies. Today, if you own a smartphone, use mobile money, shop online, browse social media, or send emails, you are a potential target.

    Ghana’s Digital Success Comes with New Challenges

    Ghana’s digital transformation has been remarkable.

    Mobile money and online banking have changed how millions of people send and receive money. Businesses increasingly rely on online platforms to serve customers. Government services continue to move online, making transactions faster and more convenient.

    These innovations have improved financial inclusion and accelerated economic growth.

    Unfortunately, cybercriminals are evolving just as quickly.

    Rather than relying solely on sophisticated hacking tools, many criminals exploit human psychology. They create urgency, impersonate trusted organisations, and manipulate victims into willingly handing over passwords, verification codes, or money.

    Technology is rarely the weakest link; people are.

    The Scams Ghanaians Encounter Every Day

    The average Ghanaian is far more likely to encounter social engineering than a highly technical cyberattack.

    Phishing remains one of the most effective methods used by cybercriminals. Victims receive emails, SMS messages, or WhatsApp links that appear to come from legitimate organisations, directing them to fake websites designed to steal passwords and financial information.

    The Cyber Security Authority has repeatedly warned about fake online shopping websites, fraudulent business listings, and phishing campaigns targeting unsuspecting consumers, particularly during peak shopping periods. Many victims make mobile money payments only to discover that the seller never existed.

    Mobile money fraud also continues to evolve. Criminals pretend to be telecom representatives, customer service agents, online merchants, or even relatives in distress. Their objective is always the same: create panic, build trust quickly, and convince victims to authorise transactions themselves.

    Social media platforms have become another favourite hunting ground. Fake online stores, cloned Facebook profiles, romance scams, and fraudulent investment opportunities have become increasingly sophisticated, often using stolen photographs and AI-generated content to appear authentic.

    Businesses Are Not Immune

    Many people assume only large corporations attract cybercriminals.

    In reality, small and medium-sized businesses are often easier targets because they typically have fewer cybersecurity controls.

    A compromised email account can expose customer information. A ransomware attack can halt business operations. A successful phishing email can redirect company payments to fraudulent accounts.

    For many businesses, the financial loss is only part of the damage. Rebuilding customer trust can take months or even years.

    Awareness Is the Strongest First Line of Defence

    Cybersecurity is often associated with expensive software, firewalls, and sophisticated monitoring systems.

    While these technologies are important, they cannot replace informed users.

    Most successful cyberattacks begin with a simple human decision: clicking an unfamiliar link, downloading an unexpected attachment, sharing a one-time password, or trusting an unsolicited phone call.

    Fortunately, reducing risk does not always require advanced technical knowledge.

    Simple habits can make a significant difference:

    Cybersecurity is not about living in fear. It is about making informed decisions.

    Protecting Ghana’s Digital Future

    Ghana’s digital economy will continue to grow. Artificial intelligence, digital banking, e-commerce, cloud services, and mobile financial technologies will become even more integrated into everyday life.

    This progress should be celebrated.

    However, every new digital opportunity also creates new opportunities for cybercriminals.

    Creating a safer digital environment requires collaboration. Government agencies must continue strengthening enforcement and public education. Businesses should invest in both cybersecurity technologies and employee awareness. Schools should introduce digital safety as part of digital literacy education. Families should openly discuss online scams with children and older relatives who are often targeted.

    Cybersecurity is no longer the responsibility of IT departments alone. It is a national responsibility. Everyone must be responsible.

    As Ghana embraces an increasingly digital future, our greatest defence will not simply be better technology. It will be better-informed people who know how to recognise threats before they become victims.

    Because in today’s connected world, cybersecurity is not just about protecting computers; it is about protecting people.

    The author, Kennedy Bentum Jnr, is a cybersecurity professional and holds a Master of Science in Forensic Accounting from the University of New Haven. (United States of America). He is CompTIA Security+ certified and writes about cybersecurity, cybercrime, fraud prevention, and digital safety.

  • 1,145 tested positive for HIV in Bono Region from Jan to May 2026 – AIDS Commission

    1,145 tested positive for HIV in Bono Region from Jan to May 2026 – AIDS Commission

    A total of 1,145 new HIV infections have been recorded in the Bono Region between January and May, the Ghana AIDS Commission (GAC) has disclosed.

    Speaking in an interview on Monday, July 13, the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Technical Coordinator of the GAC, Ahmed Ibrahim Bambilla, disclosed that vulnerable groups among the male and female population were recording a rapid increase in HIV infections. As part of efforts to reduce the spread of HIV, Mr Bambilla said the Commission was distributing Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).

    The Sunyani Municipality recorded the highest number of new infections with 222 cases, followed by the Berekum Municipality with 184 cases. The Jaman South Municipality recorded 126 cases, while Wenchi Municipality registered 119 cases.

    Other recorded cases included Tain District with 112 infections, Dormaa East District with 95, Dormaa Municipal with 71, Sunyani West Municipal with 65, Jaman North District with 60, Dormaa West District with 57, Berekum West District with 27, and Banda District with seven cases.

    Meanwhile, President of the Ghana HIV and AIDS Network (GHANET) has called on stakeholders to step in with urgent measures to avert the possible shortage of essential HIV testing commodities.

    Speaking to the media, Ernest Amoabeng Ortsin warned that Ghana could face a shortage of essential HIV testing commodities, including both oral and blood-based test kits, by the end of July.

    According to him, this would undermine the country’s progress toward epidemic control and stall efforts to meet global HIV targets. Thus delaying diagnosis, restrict access to antiretroviral therapy, and increase the risk of new infections. “Shortages mean fewer people can be tested, increasing the risk of undetected HIV infections.” he said.

    Global Fund had been supplying both oral and blood testing kits from 2024 to 2026 following an arrangement with the government of Ghana. As part of the contract, Ghana will take over the supplies after 2026.

    Meanwhile, the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), in a statement dated April 2, indicated that it has discovered falsified HIV diagnostic kits being sold in the Ghanaian market, particularly the VISITECT CD4 Advanced Disease test kits used to measure CD4 cell counts in patients with advanced HIV disease.

    According to the FDA, there are counterfeit VISITECT CD4 Advanced Disease test kits with lot number 0001586. They do not meet the required safety standards; hence, the public should stay away from them.

    How to identify the fake kits

    The FDA also pointed out that the counterfeit kits wrongly list Omega Diagnostics Limited as the manufacturer, whereas the genuine VISITECT CD4 kits are produced by AccuBio Limited.

    In addition, authentic VISITECT kits have unique lot numbers, unlike the fake kits that show 0002172, and they include proper product details.The Authority also pointed out clear inconsistencies in the dates printed on the products. It said the falsified kits show incorrect manufacturing dates as well.

    “The Food and Drugs Authority has discovered falsified VISITECT CD4 Advanced Disease test kits on the Ghanaian market. These counterfeit products, bearing lot number 0001586 and wrongly listing Omega Diagnostics Limited as the manufacturer, pose a serious threat to public health. The genuine kits are produced by AccuBio Limited with lot number 0002172. The public and healthcare providers are advised to exercise vigilance and report suspicious products immediately,” the statement indicated.

    The FDA noted that such differences in manufacturer information and dates should serve as warning signs. It advised healthcare providers to pay close attention to these details when handling medical products.

    The FDA warned that the presence of these kits in our markets poses serious risks to public health, consequently warning that wrong results could delay treatment for people living with HIV or cause unnecessary fear for those who receive false-positive outcomes.

    “Your health is too important to risk,” the FDA stated, calling for increased vigilance across the health sector.

    FDA response

    As part of immediate measures, the Authority has directed all hospitals, laboratories, and testing centres to check their stock of VISITECT CD4 test kits. It warned that any kits with lot number 0001586 must be removed from use at once.

    The FDA further instructed that such products should be returned to the nearest FDA office for proper disposal. It also encouraged both health professionals and the public to report any suspected fake medical products through its official channels.

    The Authority said it has begun investigations to trace the source of the falsified kits and ensure those responsible are held accountable. It also urged the public to verify medical products before use to avoid potential harm.Meanwhile, statistics from the AIDS Commission revealed that over three hundred and thirty-four thousand (334,000) Ghanaians were living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

    According to a statement issued on Monday, December 1, Ghana recorded 12,600 AIDS-related deaths in 2024 and over 15,200 new infections.

    Last month, the Commission disclosed alarming statistics regarding the number of individuals living with HIV in the Bono Region. Speaking during the inauguration of the Bono Regional Committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission (RECCOM) in Sunyani on Thursday, November 20, the Regional Technical Coordinator, Ahmed Ibrahim Bambila, revealed that 19,979 residents in the Bono Region are living with HIV and AIDS.

    According to him, 875 new HIV infections have been recorded, highlighting an urgent need for attention and immediate action.

    44 persons contract HIV daily

    The Ghana AIDS Commission revealed that an average of 42 new HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) infections were recorded daily among adults and children across the country.

    According to the Commission’s 2024 National and Sub-National HIV Estimates and Projections, a total of 334,721 people were living with HIV in Ghana. Out of this figure, 105,460 were males, representing 31.5 percent, while 229,261 were females, accounting for 68.5 percent.

    The Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regional Technical Coordinator of the GAC, Mr. Ahmed Ibrahim Bimbilla, who disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, said the data provided crucial insight into the scale of the epidemic and guided effective planning.

    He revealed that 15,290 new HIV infections were recorded in the country, comprising 4,987 males, representing 32.6 percent, and 10,303 females, representing 67.4 percent.

    Mr. Bimbilla also noted that AIDS-related deaths stood at 12,614, consisting of 5,445 males and 7,159 females. He said approximately 229 deaths were prevented each week through the provision of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) services.

    Providing a regional breakdown, he said the North East Region recorded the lowest HIV population with 1,717 cases, while Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern recorded the highest figures of 77,821, 63,159, and 44,792, respectively.

    He added that seven regions, Ahafo, Upper East, Northern, Upper West, Oti, Savannah, and North East, each recorded HIV populations below 10,000.

    According to him, HIV prevalence was highest in the Bono Region with 2.22 percent, followed by the Eastern Region with 2.08 percent and Ahafo with 1.88 percent, while the North East Region recorded the lowest prevalence at 0.43 percent.

    He further indicated that five regions, Oti, Upper East, Savannah, Northern, and North East, recorded prevalence rates below 1.0 percent. Mr Bimbilla stated that the Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern regions also recorded the highest number of new HIV infections, with 3,436, 2,997, and 2,019 cases, respectively. In comparison, the North East Region recorded the fewest cases, with 97.

    Eleven regions, including Bono, Volta, Bono East, Western North, Ahafo, Upper East, Northern, Upper West, Oti, Savannah, and North East, recorded fewer than 1,000 new infections.

    Commenting on the trend, Mr. Bimbilla described the decline in HIV prevalence, new infections, and AIDS-related deaths as a positive development, which he attributed to the growing uptake of ART services.

    He expressed optimism that the downward trend would help Ghana achieve epidemic control and urged continued efforts in public education, testing, and access to treatment to sustain progress toward eliminating HIV and AIDS.

  • Miracles Aboagye’s arrest tied to fraud investigation – Akwatia MP claims

    Miracles Aboagye’s arrest tied to fraud investigation – Akwatia MP claims

    Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia is currently been investigated by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) over alleged fraud-related issues.

    This information was disclosed by the former Executive Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation on Monday, July 13.

    “As the former Executive Secretary for the Inter-Ministerial Coordinating Committee on Decentralisation, he has serious questions to answer that involve fraud. I am not saying he is guilty. He is being interrogated for fraud issues. We must all know that once you have served in a government, you can be called for accountability. You should be invited, and if you refuse, you should be arrested,” he emphasised.

    Mr Aboagye, who is the Communications Director to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2028 presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. Meanwhile, the NPP will today, Monday, July 13, march to the EOCO’s office to protest the arrest of Dennis Miracles Aboagye.


    Officials from the Ghana Immigration Service and EOCO, arrested Mr Aboagye at the airport on Sunday, July 12, according to a post on Facebook by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua. The post alleged that he was denied access to his lawyers, making his whereabouts unknown.


    “Since then they have denied his lawyers access and his whereabouts is not disclosed with no charges preferred,” the statement said.


    This is not the first time an NPP official has been arrested under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration. Currently, the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Wontumi, has been accused of aiding individuals to mine without a proper license at the Samreboi concession.

    Wontumi’s lawyer has noted that there is no evidence to support the galamsey charges levelled against his client. Speaking to the media on Friday, October 10, Enoch Afoakwa noted that Chairman Wontumi is unshaken in his insistence on innocence in the face of all galamsey charges.


    He added, “So certainly his position has not changed. He still maintains his innocence. Once he has pleaded not guilty to the various counts that he has been charged with, his presumption of innocence under Article 19(2c) triggers — and that means he is presumed innocent until proven.”


    “When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty to all the several counts of allegations that have been levelled against him. So certainly his position has not changed. He still maintains his innocence. Once he has pleaded not guilty to the various counts that he has been charged with, his presumption of innocence under Article 19(2c) triggers — and that means he is presumed innocent until proven”.


    Chairman Wontumi was released from police custody after spending three nights in detention on Friday, October 10. His release followed the fulfillment of bail requirements totaling GHS25 million, imposed in connection with two separate illegal mining cases currently before the court.


    On October 7, he was unable to meet the bail conditions set by the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra. In one of the cases, the court granted him GHS15 million bail with two sureties, while in the other, an additional GHS10 million bail was set, also with two sureties—one of whom must justify with landed property.


    The court further directed Wontumi to report to investigators once every week for the first month and prohibited him from traveling outside the country without explicit approval.

  • Dagbon Overlord Ya-Na Abukari II passes on at age 87

    Dagbon Overlord Ya-Na Abukari II passes on at age 87

    The Overlord of the Dagbon Kingdom, Ya-Na Abukari II, has died at the age of eighty-seven (87) years. The Head of the Dagbon Kingmakers, Kuga Naa Adam Abdulai II announced the passing of the revered traditional ruler on Monday, July 13.

    Meanwhile, details surrounding his passing have not yet been officially disclosed. Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II was the son of Yaa Naa Mahama II, who ruled Dagbon from 1938 until his death on February 6, 1948. Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II ‘s mother, Ayishetu, was a princess from Kulunkpegu, near Chaazaadaanyili in the Northern Region. Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II who was born Bukali in Mion restored the Yendi throne after a 16-year chieftaincy dispute.

    Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II, on Sunday, February 16, paid his first-ever visit to the Jakpa Palace, home of the King and Overlord of Gonja, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I.

    The historic visit underscored the deep-rooted ties between the Dagbon and Gonja kingdoms, reinforcing the spirit of solidarity and cooperation among traditional rulers in northern Ghana. Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II lauded the role of the Yagbon Kingdom in promoting peace and stability in Dagbon, highlighting the importance of such collaborations in preserving harmony.

    “The Yagbon Kingdom has played a crucial role in mediating peace within Dagbon,” he stated, emphasizing the strong historical and cultural connections between the two royal houses.

    Beyond traditional matters, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II also extended his full support to President John Dramani Mahama, acknowledging his dedication to steering the country towards progress and inclusivity.

    Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, in his remarks, pointed out the persistent challenges surrounding chieftaincy succession in Ghana, particularly in the northern regions.

    “Chieftaincy succession remains a significant source of conflict in Ghana, particularly in the five regions of the north,” he noted, stressing the need for continued dialogue and institutional reforms to address these disputes.

    Echoing the significance of the visit, Savannah Regional Minister, Salisu Be-Awuribe, described it as a remarkable demonstration of goodwill between the two kingdoms.

    “The move by Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I has ignited that strong passion, and Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II has reciprocated that move to show significant peace and unity among both kingdoms,” he stated.

    The visit was intended to strengthen relations between the Dagbon and Gonja states, fostering closer collaboration in addressing regional development and peacebuilding efforts.

  • NPP marches today over Miracle Aboagye’s arrest

    NPP marches today over Miracle Aboagye’s arrest

    The New Patriotic Party (NPP) will today, Monday, July 13, march to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to protest the arrest of the Spokesperson for the Bawumia campaign team, Dennis Miracles Aboagye.

    Officials from the Ghana Immigration Service and EOCO, arrested Mr Aboagye at the airport on Sunday, July 12, according to a post on Facebook by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua. The post alleged that he was denied access to his lawyers, making his whereabouts unknown.

    “Since then they have denied his lawyers access and his whereabouts is not disclosed with no charges preferred,” the statement said.

    This is not the first an NPP official has been arrested under the President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.

    Currently, the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman Wontumi has been accused of aiding individuals to mine without a proper licence at the Samreboi concession. Wontumi’s lawyer has noted that there is no evidence to support the galamsey charges levelled against his client.

    Speaking to the media on Friday, October 10, Enoch Afoakwa noted that Chairman Wontumi is unshaken in his insistence on innocence in the face of all galamsey charges.

    He added, “So certainly his position has not changed. He still maintains his innocence. Once he has pleaded not guilty to the various counts that he has been charged with, his presumption of innocence under Article 19(2c) triggers — and that means he is presumed innocent until proven.”

    “When he was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty to all the several counts of allegations that have been levelled against him. So certainly his position has not changed. He still maintains his innocence. Once he has pleaded not guilty to the various counts that he has been charged with, his presumption of innocence under Article 19(2c) triggers — and that means he is presumed innocent until proven”.

    Chairman Wontumi, was released from police custody after spending three nights in detention on Friday, October 10.

    His release followed the fulfillment of bail requirements totaling GHS25 million, imposed in connection with two separate illegal mining cases currently before the court.

    On October 7, he was unable to meet the bail conditions set by the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra. In one of the cases, the court granted him GHS15 million bail with two sureties, while in the other, an additional GHS10 million bail was set, also with two sureties—one of whom must justify with landed property.

    The court further directed Wontumi to report to investigators once every week for the first month and prohibited him from traveling outside the country without explicit approval.

  • Why Accra’s current flood strategy may not be future-proof for the city of 2035

    Why Accra’s current flood strategy may not be future-proof for the city of 2035

    Accra’s flood challenge is no longer simply a problem of blocked drains or inadequate culverts. It is becoming a structural consequence of rapid urbanisation, population growth, uncontrolled land conversion, increasing solid waste generation, and the gradual loss of the natural systems that historically protected the city from flooding. 

    The behaviour and discipline of citizens through responsible waste disposal, compliance with land-use regulations, and maintenance of private drainage, amongst others, cannot be overlooked.

    Whilst not a prime contributor in isolation, such behaviours help keep drainage systems functional and reduce the pressures placed on urban flood management infrastructure.

    By 2035, Greater Accra’s population is projected to rise from approximately 5.6 million today to about 6.5 million people, an increase of roughly 900,000 additional residents within a decade. 

    This growth will place enormous pressure on land, housing, infrastructure, and waste management systems. 

    At the same time, daily solid waste generation could rise towards 4,000 tonnes per day, increasing the risks of drain obstruction, pollution of waterways, and reduced effectiveness of existing flood infrastructure.

    Against this background, the current flood mitigation approach, including the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) Project and wetland demolition exercises, must be examined against the scale of the future challenge.

    Construction& Maintenance

    1. Demolition of structures on wetlands does not automatically restore flood protection

    It has been reported by the anti-flood task force that thousands of structures have been constructed on wetlands, waterways, and Ramsar-designated areas. One response has been the removal of buildings from these environmentally sensitive locations.

    However, demolition alone does not restore the original flood protection function of these ecosystems.

    In many cases, wetlands and waterways have already been altered before construction takes place. Land is filled, raised, compacted, and reclaimed before buildings are constructed. When structures are demolished, the following may remain:

    • imported fill material;
    • foundations and concrete slabs;
    • altered soil profiles;
    • blocked natural drainage pathways;
    • reduced water storage capacity.

    Therefore, demolition may remove the visible structure but not necessarily restore the land’s ability to absorb, retain, and slowly release stormwater.

    A wetland that has been physically transformed into urban land cannot simply return to its original condition through demolition alone. Restoration requires engineering, ecological rehabilitation, removal of illegal fill material where feasible, reopening of drainage channels, and long-term protection.

    2. The time gap between demolition and restoration creates a future vulnerability

    Flood restoration projects are often slow because they require significant financial resources, technical studies, land management, and sustained political commitment.

    This creates a major vulnerability.

    If restoration takes several years while Accra’s population continues to grow by approximately 900,000 people over the next decade, pressure on available land will intensify. The same economic and housing pressures that encouraged development on wetlands in the first place will remain.

    Without permanent protection mechanisms, reclaimed flood-prone land may again become attractive for settlement, commercial development, or political intervention.

    3. Weak enforcement creates a risk of repeating the same cycle

    Accra’s flooding problem has historically been worsened by inconsistent enforcement of planning regulations. A demolition programme may initially receive public support, but its long-term success depends on whether future administrations maintain the same commitment.

    Political transitions create risks:

    • enforcement priorities may change;
    • illegal developments may gradually return;
    • communities may wait for political conditions to change before reoccupying restricted areas.

    This creates a cycle where enforcement becomes reactive rather than preventive: demolish after disasters occur, rebuild after attention fades, and repeat the process after the next flood.

    A sustainable flood strategy must therefore move beyond periodic demolition and establish permanent systems of land protection, monitoring, and enforcement.

    4. GARID addresses important problems but may not match the scale of Accra’s future growth

    GARID is a necessary intervention because it improves drainage infrastructure, flood management capacity, solid waste management and resilience in vulnerable communities. However, the projected growth trajectory suggests that it cannot be viewed as a complete solution.

    The challenge is that flood risk is increasing from several directions simultaneously:

    • more people producing more waste;
    • more impermeable surfaces from urban development;
    • greater stormwater runoff;
    • loss of wetlands and natural retention areas;
    • increasing pressure on existing drainage systems.

    A drainage improvement project can increase capacity, but it cannot fully compensate for the continued loss of natural flood buffers or unlimited urban expansion.

    The city could therefore find itself in a situation where upgraded drainage infrastructure is repeatedly overwhelmed because the underlying causes of flooding continue expanding.

    5. Accra needs a metropolitan-scale flood engineering strategy

    The future protection of Accra requires moving from a project-based approach to a comprehensive metropolitan flood management system.

    This should include:

    • restoration and permanent protection of wetlands and waterways;
    • aggressive waste reduction, recycling, and collection expansion;
    • strict land-use controls;
    • expanded stormwater infrastructure;
    • flood forecasting and early warning systems;
    • climate-resilient urban design.

    However, given Accra’s level of urbanisation and limited remaining natural drainage capacity, conventional drainage improvements may not be sufficient on their own.

    Large-scale engineering solutions should therefore be investigated, including underground stormwater conveyance systems, tunnels, retention infrastructure, and other forms of major flood-control engineering used in highly urbanised cities worldwide.

    The principle is simple: as Accra becomes denser, it has less space to manage water naturally above ground. The city may increasingly require engineered systems capable of moving large volumes of stormwater rapidly away from vulnerable urban areas.

    Conclusion

    Accra’s flood problem cannot be solved through demolition alone, nor through drainage upgrades alone. By 2035, the City will be larger, denser, and generating significantly more waste than it does today.

    A strategy based mainly on removing buildings after wetlands have already been reclaimed risks treating the symptoms rather than the causes. Likewise, drainage improvements without addressing urban growth, waste generation, and land-use failures will provide only temporary relief.

    The future flood resilience of Accra requires an integrated approach: protecting the city’s remaining natural flood systems, restoring degraded wetlands where possible, permanently enforcing land-use regulations, expanding waste management capacity, and investing in major engineering solutions capable of managing the runoff generated by a metropolis of 6.5 million.

    The central policy question is therefore not simply “How does Accra remove buildings from flood-prone areas?” 

    “How does Accra redesign itself to safely manage water in a rapidly growing megacity where natural flood protection is declining, and urban pressures are increasing?”

  • Scenes from Day One of the National Clean-Up Exercise

    Scenes from Day One of the National Clean-Up Exercise

    Following the devastating June 29 floods, the government, today, July 10, organised a nationwide General Clean-up Exercise aimed at restoring sanitation conditions, clearing blocked drains.

    The exercise was held across seven flood-affected regions, with government officials, security agencies, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), waste management companies and volunteers joining efforts to clear waste and desilt drainage channels.

    As part of activities marking National Sanitation Day , President John Mahama joined residents and officials for a clean-up exercise at Tse-Addo. Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, also joined residents in the Nungua area for the exercise. Check out some pictures from the scene.

    The exercise is expected to continue on Saturday, July 11.

    Engaging participants during the exercise, President Mahama has called on the public to support the government’s efforts to make the country a clean, safe, and comfortable place. He noted that the indiscriminate disposal of waste is increasing the risk of flooding and undermining efforts to protect communities.


    Speaking during an inspection of the Alajo drains as part of the National Clean-Up Exercise, President Mahama cautioned the public against dumping unwanted items into drains, warning that such practices contribute to flooding incidents.


    According to him, the National Clean-Up Exercise has come to stay to promote a cleaner environment and encourage citizens to take responsibility for proper sanitation practices.


    “We have to clear the drains. We just worked on this Alajo drain. It’s part of the outdoor stream. And there are two problems in it. There’s silt, and then there’s also plastics and household waste.

    “You find in a drain like this, there are Indian blocks. People discard an Indian block and throw it in the drain. Old furniture, dining tables, everything you can find in that drain.The drains are not garbage instruments. If you want to dispose of something, you know how to dispose of it,” he said.


    The government’s initiative is to help improve sanitation and reduce the risk of future flooding. In a statement issued on Monday, July 6, government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced that Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, have been declared National General Cleaning Days across the seven regions affected by the devastating June 29 floods, following a directive from President John Dramani Mahama.


    Part of the statement read, “This is a critical, nationwide exercise and all citizens are strongly encouraged to fully participate in it. For far too long, indiscriminate littering and plastic pollution have clogged our drainage systems, contributing to devastating, preventable floods that destroy livelihoods and claim precious Ghanaian lives”.


    Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and heads of public institutions in the affected regions have been directed to oversee the exercise.


    Ghana witnessed a series of flooding incidents on Monday, June 29, in parts of the Greater Accra Region and other regions following heavy rains.


    The rains, which started late on Sunday, June 28, left commuters stranded, brought traffic to a standstill, resulted in the deaths of several individuals and destruction of properties.


    While some victims managed to salvage a few belongings, many suffered devastating losses as floodwaters submerged their homes and properties.


    The current death toll from the flooding incidents, as confirmed by the Ghana National Fire Service Public Relations Department, stands at 34. Meanwhile, the Finance Minister has realised a sum of GH¢300 million from the Contingency Fund for individuals affected by the incident following President John Dramani Mahama’s directive.


    The directive forms part of the government’s response to the flooding of parts of Accra and other communities in the southern sector of the country after hours of unusually heavy rainfall.


    In Ghana, the Contingency Fund is a constitutional fund set aside to meet urgent and unforeseen government expenses that cannot wait for the normal budget approval process.


    It is established under Article 177 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. In a statement issued on behalf of the President by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, it was indicated that the GH¢300 million will be divided into two, with portions designated to provide relief and implement measures to mitigate flooding.


    “President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister for Finance to release GHS 300 million from the Contingency Fund to finance urgent flood relief and mitigation efforts.


    GHS 150 million out of the amount will finance urgent relief efforts for flood-affected persons and communities in the southern sector of the country. Another GHS 150 million will be spent on flood mitigation measures aimed at reducing incidents of flooding,” parts of the statement read.


    Also, due to the scale of destruction and the effects of the floods, President Mahama has ordered that additional support be provided by the Ghana Armed Forces and other security services for the rescue operations ongoing across the city.


    “The President has also directed the deployment of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces and Police to work with NADMO and other security services in the rescue and relief operations currently underway across the city,” adding that, “the President earlier today undertook an aerial tour of the flooded areas to assess the full extent of the situation and announced a raft of steps being taken to safeguard residents and prevent further flooding.”

  • Gov’t to deploy backhoes for effective drain desilting, flood control

    Gov’t to deploy backhoes for effective drain desilting, flood control

    Additional backhoes and other specialised equipment are expected to be procured by the government in the coming days to improve drain desilting and help prevent flooding.

    The specialised equipment will assist the military in removing silt and waste excavated from drains and transport the debris to designated dumping sites. President John Dramani Mahama announced after participating in a nationwide environmental clean-up exercise organised by the government today, July 10. 

    According to him, “So we’re going to get some more backhoes for the military so that all the garbage and the silts that we have taken out of the drains, they’ll be able to gather it and go and dump it somewhere”. 

    “We also have to get specialised machines like backhoes to take the silts that we have taken out of the drains and put them in a tipper truck to take them away”. 

    Also speaking during an inspection of the Alajo drains as part of the National Clean-Up Exercise, President Mahama cautioned the public against dumping unwanted items into drains, warning that such practices contribute to flooding incidents.

    According to him, the National Clean-Up Exercise has come to stay to promote a cleaner environment and encourage citizens to take responsibility for proper sanitation practices.

    “We have to clear the drains. We just worked on this Alajo drain. It’s part of the outdoor stream. And there are two problems in it. There’s silt, and then there’s also plastics and household waste.

    “You find in a drain like this, there are Indian blocks. People discard an Indian block and throw it in the drain. Old furniture, dining tables, everything you can find in that drain.The drains are not garbage instruments. If you want to dispose of something, you know how to dispose of it,” he said.

    The government’s initiative is to help improve sanitation and reduce the risk of future flooding. In a statement issued on Monday, July 6, government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced that Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, have been declared National General Cleaning Days across the seven regions affected by the devastating June 29 floods, following a directive from President John Dramani Mahama.

    Part of the statement read, “This is a critical, nationwide exercise and all citizens are strongly encouraged to fully participate in it. For far too long, indiscriminate littering and plastic pollution have clogged our drainage systems, contributing to devastating, preventable floods that destroy livelihoods and claim precious Ghanaian lives”.

    Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and heads of public institutions in the affected regions have been directed to oversee the exercise.

    Ghana witnessed a series of flooding incidents on Monday, June 29, in parts of the Greater Accra Region and other regions following heavy rains.

    The rains, which started late on Sunday, June 28, left commuters stranded, brought traffic to a standstill, resulted in the deaths of several individuals and destruction of properties.

    While some victims managed to salvage a few belongings, many suffered devastating losses as floodwaters submerged their homes and properties.

    The current death toll from the flooding incidents, as confirmed by the Ghana National Fire Service Public Relations Department, stands at 34. Meanwhile, the Finance Minister has realised a sum of GH¢300 million from the Contingency Fund for individuals affected by the incident following President John Dramani Mahama’s directive.

    The directive forms part of the government’s response to the flooding of parts of Accra and other communities in the southern sector of the country after hours of unusually heavy rainfall.

    In Ghana, the Contingency Fund is a constitutional fund set aside to meet urgent and unforeseen government expenses that cannot wait for the normal budget approval process.

    It is established under Article 177 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.In a statement issued on behalf of the President by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, it was indicated that the GH¢300 million will be divided into two, with portions designated to provide relief and implement measures to mitigate flooding.

    “President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister for Finance to release GHS 300 million from the Contingency Fund to finance urgent flood relief and mitigation efforts.

    GHS 150 million out of the amount will finance urgent relief efforts for flood-affected persons and communities in the southern sector of the country. Another GHS 150 million will be spent on flood mitigation measures aimed at reducing incidents of flooding,” parts of the statement read.

    Also, due to the scale of destruction and the effects of the floods, President Mahama has ordered that additional support be provided by the Ghana Armed Forces and other security services for the rescue operations ongoing across the city.

    “The President has also directed the deployment of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces and Police to work with NADMO and other security services in the rescue and relief operations currently underway across the city,” adding that, “the President earlier today undertook an aerial tour of the flooded areas to assess the full extent of the situation and announced a raft of steps being taken to safeguard residents and prevent further flooding.”

  • The drains are not garbage instruments – President Mahama

    The drains are not garbage instruments – President Mahama

    President John Dramani Mahama has called on the public to support the government’s efforts to make the country a clean, safe, and comfortable place. He noted that the indiscriminate disposal of waste is increasing the risk of flooding and undermining efforts to protect communities.

    Speaking during an inspection of the Alajo drains as part of the National Clean-Up Exercise, President Mahama cautioned the public against dumping unwanted items into drains, warning that such practices contribute to flooding incidents.

    According to him, the National Clean-Up Exercise has come to stay to promote a cleaner environment and encourage citizens to take responsibility for proper sanitation practices.

    “We have to clear the drains. We just worked on this Alajo drain. It’s part of the outdoor stream. And there are two problems in it. There’s silt, and then there’s also plastics and household waste.

    “You find in a drain like this, there are Indian blocks. People discard an Indian block and throw it in the drain. Old furniture, dining tables, everything you can find in that drain.The drains are not garbage instruments. If you want to dispose of something, you know how to dispose of it,” he said.

    The government’s initiative is to help improve sanitation and reduce the risk of future flooding. In a statement issued on Monday, July 6, government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced that Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, have been declared National General Cleaning Days across the seven regions affected by the devastating June 29 floods, following a directive from President John Dramani Mahama.


    Part of the statement read, “This is a critical, nationwide exercise and all citizens are strongly encouraged to fully participate in it. For far too long, indiscriminate littering and plastic pollution have clogged our drainage systems, contributing to devastating, preventable floods that destroy livelihoods and claim precious Ghanaian lives”.


    Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and heads of public institutions in the affected regions have been directed to oversee the exercise.


    Ghana witnessed a series of flooding incidents on Monday, June 29, in parts of the Greater Accra Region and other regions following heavy rains.


    The rains, which started late on Sunday, June 28, left commuters stranded, brought traffic to a standstill, resulted in the deaths of several individuals and destruction of properties.


    While some victims managed to salvage a few belongings, many suffered devastating losses as floodwaters submerged their homes and properties.


    The current death toll from the flooding incidents, as confirmed by the Ghana National Fire Service Public Relations Department, stands at 34. Meanwhile, the Finance Minister has realised a sum of GH¢300 million from the Contingency Fund for individuals affected by the incident following President John Dramani Mahama’s directive.


    The directive forms part of the government’s response to the flooding of parts of Accra and other communities in the southern sector of the country after hours of unusually heavy rainfall.


    In Ghana, the Contingency Fund is a constitutional fund set aside to meet urgent and unforeseen government expenses that cannot wait for the normal budget approval process.


    It is established under Article 177 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.In a statement issued on behalf of the President by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, it was indicated that the GH¢300 million will be divided into two, with portions designated to provide relief and implement measures to mitigate flooding.


    “President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister for Finance to release GHS 300 million from the Contingency Fund to finance urgent flood relief and mitigation efforts.


    GHS 150 million out of the amount will finance urgent relief efforts for flood-affected persons and communities in the southern sector of the country. Another GHS 150 million will be spent on flood mitigation measures aimed at reducing incidents of flooding,” parts of the statement read.


    Also, due to the scale of destruction and the effects of the floods, President Mahama has ordered that additional support be provided by the Ghana Armed Forces and other security services for the rescue operations ongoing across the city.


    “The President has also directed the deployment of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces and Police to work with NADMO and other security services in the rescue and relief operations currently underway across the city,” adding that, “the President earlier today undertook an aerial tour of the flooded areas to assess the full extent of the situation and announced a raft of steps being taken to safeguard residents and prevent further flooding.”

  • National Day of Cleaning exercise will be continuous – President Mahama

    National Day of Cleaning exercise will be continuous – President Mahama

    President John Dramani Mahama has urged the public to embrace the government’s recently introduced National Day Cleaning initiative by making cleanliness a part of their daily lives.

    According to him, the initiative has come to stay and urged Ghanaians to set a day aside to help tidy up the city. He made the call when he joined residents and officials for a clean-up exercise at Tse-Addo on Friday, July 10, as part of activities marking National Sanitation Day. 

    “I want to use this opportunity to thank all who have come out to help. Clearly, we can see what the cause of our problems is. Look at the plastic and the sand. Let us make sure that after we take all the silt out, we bring enough capacity to transport this to the appropriate place. Let me congratulate all Ghanaians. The turnout has been very good. This will be a continuous exercise.

    “So, this will be a continuous exercise. At least once a month, let us set aside one day for all of us to come out and clean the city. And with the help of the waste management company, we will be able to keep this city clean and free of flood,” he told the press. 

    The government’s initiative is to help improve sanitation and reduce the risk of future flooding. In a statement issued on Monday, July 6, government spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu announced that Friday, July 10, and Saturday, July 11, have been declared National General Cleaning Days across the seven regions affected by the devastating June 29 floods, following a directive from President John Dramani Mahama.

    Part of the statement read, “This is a critical, nationwide exercise and all citizens are strongly encouraged to fully participate in it. For far too long, indiscriminate littering and plastic pollution have clogged our drainage systems, contributing to devastating, preventable floods that destroy livelihoods and claim precious Ghanaian lives”.

    Ministers of State, Chief Executive Officers, Members of Parliament, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and heads of public institutions in the affected regions have been directed to oversee the exercise.

    Ghana witnessed a series of flooding incidents on Monday, June 29, in parts of the Greater Accra Region and other regions following heavy rains.

    The rains, which started late on Sunday, June 28, left commuters stranded, brought traffic to a standstill, resulted in the deaths of several individuals and destruction of properties.

    While some victims managed to salvage a few belongings, many suffered devastating losses as floodwaters submerged their homes and properties.

    The current death toll from the flooding incidents, as confirmed by the Ghana National Fire Service Public Relations Department, stands at 34. Meanwhile, the Finance Minister has realised a sum of GH¢300 million from the Contingency Fund for individuals affected by the incident following President John Dramani Mahama’s directive.

    The directive forms part of the government’s response to the flooding of parts of Accra and other communities in the southern sector of the country after hours of unusually heavy rainfall.

    In Ghana, the Contingency Fund is a constitutional fund set aside to meet urgent and unforeseen government expenses that cannot wait for the normal budget approval process.

    It is established under Article 177 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.In a statement issued on behalf of the President by the Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, it was indicated that the GH¢300 million will be divided into two, with portions designated to provide relief and implement measures to mitigate flooding.

    “President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister for Finance to release GHS 300 million from the Contingency Fund to finance urgent flood relief and mitigation efforts.

    GHS 150 million out of the amount will finance urgent relief efforts for flood-affected persons and communities in the southern sector of the country. Another GHS 150 million will be spent on flood mitigation measures aimed at reducing incidents of flooding,” parts of the statement read.

    Also, due to the scale of destruction and the effects of the floods, President Mahama has ordered that additional support be provided by the Ghana Armed Forces and other security services for the rescue operations ongoing across the city.

    “The President has also directed the deployment of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces and Police to work with NADMO and other security services in the rescue and relief operations currently underway across the city,” adding that, “the President earlier today undertook an aerial tour of the flooded areas to assess the full extent of the situation and announced a raft of steps being taken to safeguard residents and prevent further flooding.”

  • One killed, several hurt after vehicle crashes on Wiawso–Asawinso Highway

    One killed, several hurt after vehicle crashes on Wiawso–Asawinso Highway

    A fatal road accident involving a Toyota Voxy on the Sefwi Wiawso – Asawinso Highway in the Western North Region has left one person dead and several others have sustained critical injuries on Thursday, July 9.

    According to eyewitnesses, the accident occurred after the commercial Toyota Voxy attempted to swerve potholes on the highway. Ghana has reported a surge in the number of fatalities resulting from road crashes this year.

    In June, six people have been confirmed dead and 34 others injured in multiple road traffic accidents across the Volta Region on Sunday, June 21.

    The first set of incidents occurred along the Todome stretch near Kpeve on the Peki–Kpeve Road and involved two simultaneous crashes; one of the crashes involved a MAN Diesel TGS truck with registration number GT 9993-18 and a Toyota Camry with registration number GE 735-14.


    The second which occurred involved a Metro Mass Transit bus with registration number AS 4984-09 was travelling from Accra to Dambai. A few weeks ago, a road crash on the Peki–Asikuma Highway in the Volta Region claimed 15 lives and left 25 others injured on Tuesday, June 2.


    The two commercial vehicles, which were carrying a total of 40 passengers, collided, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries.“When they got there, they realised that the two vehicles had been involved in a head-on collision. Preliminary investigations at the scene suggest that there were 40 occupants in the two vehicles,” he told Citi News.


    Earlier in May, an accident on the Buipe-Tamale road claimed the lives of four individuals. The fatal crash involved a Sprinter Benz bus traveling from Buipe to Kumasi and a trailer truck at Sawaba No. 2.


    The deceased included two females and two males, two of whom died on the spot. According to the GNFS, the trailer truck fled the scene, leaving behind the victims and wreckage as emergency responders rushed in to manage the situation.


    Meanwhile, 19 passengers are receiving medical attention at the Buipe Government Hospital. Weeks ago, a head-on collision on the Accra-Kumasi Highway claimed the life of an individual on Saturday, March 7. The deceased male, reportedly the owner of a Toyota Voxy, crashed into a parked MAN Diesel truck at Teacher Mantey.


    Detailing the incident on Facebook on Sunday, March 8, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) stated that the Toyota Voxy had badly crashed into the stationary truck prior to the arrival of the rescue team.Weeks ago, eleven (11) persons sustained injuries following a head-on collision at Eduadjei on the Cape Coast-Takoradi Highway.


    The victims, eight males and two females, are receiving medical attention at the Elmina Polyclinic. Per the Central Regional Fire Service’s account, the two vehicles, an Opel Astra (WR 4860-13) traveling from Cape Coast towards Komenda, collided head-on with a Nissan mini bus (CR 1414-23) heading from Takoradi to Cape Coast.


    Meanwhile, officials have yet to ascertain the cause of the accident. The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) recorded one thousand five hundred and four (1,504) deaths, compared to one thousand two hundred and thirty-seven (1,237) fatalities reported in the same period in 2024, representing a 21.58 percent increase in the first half of 2025.


    According to provisional data released by the National Road Safety Authority in collaboration with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), a total of 7,289 road crashes were recorded between January and June this year.

    Per the data, a total of twelve thousand three hundred and fifty-four (12,354) vehicles were involved in these crashes.
    As a result of these incidents, eight thousand three hundred (8,300) individuals sustained injuries.

    Additionally, one thousand three hundred and one (1,301) pedestrians were knocked down across the country.According to recent data provided by the National Road Safety Authority, on average, eight (8) lives are lost every day due to road crashes.


    Each day, forty (40) road crashes are recorded, and forty-six (46) individuals sustain injuries. Daily, sixty-nine (69) vehicles and motorcycles are involved in road crashes.

    To help combat the rising number of road crashes, the National Road Safety Authority has called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and increased public education.


    The NRSA has emphasized the need for stronger enforcement to curb the alarming trend. The Road Traffic Act 2004, an Act to consolidate and revise the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1952 (No. 55), provides for more comprehensive regulation of road traffic and road use to ensure road safety and address related matters.


    A person who drives a motor vehicle dangerously on a road commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction:(a) where (i) a bodily injury does not occur, or (ii) a minor bodily injury occurs to a person other than the driver, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and not exceeding two hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding nine months, or to both;


    (b) where bodily injury of an aggravated nature occurs to a person other than the driver, to a minimum fine of two hundred penalty units and not exceeding five hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than twelve months and not exceeding two years, or to both;(c) where death occurs, to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years;


    (d) where there is damage to state property, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and payment for the damage caused in an amount determined by the Court.


    The Court may, upon conviction of a person under subsection (1), (a) order the payment of appropriate compensation to an injured person or to the estate of that person, or (b) order the withdrawal of the driver’s license for a period of not less than three years and not more than five years.


    A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years, or to both.


    A person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, that person:


    (a) causes anything to be on or over a road;(b) interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer, or cycle; or(c) interferes, directly or indirectly, with traffic equipment, where it would be obvious to a reasonable person that doing so would be dangerous.


    A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or to both.


    Meanwhile, over one-third of emergency cases at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have been linked to road crashes, according to the facility’s statistics.


    Speaking to the media, Deputy Medical Director of KATH, Dr. Yaw Opare Larbi, noted that road crash victims brought to the emergency unit often do not survive because their injuries are very severe.
    “A little over 30 per cent of the cases that come to this facility, this Accident and Emergency Unit, are due to accidents, and most of the accidents, a few are domestic, but the majority of them are road traffic accidents.


    “Now in Ghana, we know that our statistics, a lot of our road accidents are from errors, driver errors, pedestrian errors. And then we know that we have some percentage that is attributable to maybe things like faulty vehicles or maybe road conditions, but a lot of the accidents are preventable,” he stated.

  • Over 2k weapons collected, seized under Gun Amnesty Programme to be destroyed

    Over 2k weapons collected, seized under Gun Amnesty Programme to be destroyed

    The Chief of Staff (CoS), Julius Debrah, has disclosed that over 2000 firearms surrendered and seized under the Gun Amnesty Programme (GAP) will be destroyed.

    He made this known while speaking at the National Arms Destruction Ceremony held to commemorate the United Nations Small Arms Destruction Initiative on Thursday, July 9.

    The firearms under destruction include weapons seized during security operations. “It marks the end of voluntary compliance. We have entered the phase of full enforcement of post-gun amnesty measures,” he stressed.

    Firearms are weapons that use gunpowder or explosive force to fire bullets or projectiles through a barrel.

    Earlier this year, NACSA launched a Gun Amnesty Programme aimed at addressing the persistent gun-related violence across the country. The programme disclosed that the Greater Accra Region led in the number of firearms retrieved under the Programme.

    The Executive Secretary of NACSA, Dr Adam Bonaa noted, “The Greater Accra Region is one of the areas where most of the weapons we have collected are coming from. It is currently leading in terms of arms surrendered under the amnesty programme, with the support of the security commanders”.

    Dr Adam Bonaa’s meeting with the Chief Imam forms part of efforts to create awareness of the ongoing programme within the Muslim community. The illegal possession of small arms remains a pressing challenge in the country.

    In September this year, Ghana strengthened its global stance against nuclear weapons. Ghana joined sixty-nine (69) other nations in efforts to reduce and ultimately eradicate dangerous weapons, particularly atomic bombs, from the world.

    The sixty-nine (69) countries that have ratified the treaty are Antigua and Barbuda, Austria, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Central African Republic, Chile, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Lesotho, Liberia, Liechtenstein, and Madagascar.

    The others include Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Mexico, Mongolia, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Niue, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Seychelles, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the State of Palestine, Sudan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

    Announcing the development on Saturday, September 27, via the X platform, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stated that Ghana has officially ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).

    The move, according to the Minister, reflects Ghana’s commitment to supporting global peace and a stable security for the world. The Minister further applauded both the Cabinet and Parliament for their unanimous approval of the treaty.

    He also recalled how Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was a strong advocate of disarmament in 1962, adding that the late President would be proud of this groundbreaking step.

    “Yesterday, Ghana boldly demonstrated to the world that we shall be a Nuclear-Weapon-Free State by depositing our instrument of ratification on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) at the UN. I commend the Ghanaian Cabinet and Parliament for the unanimous ratification.

    As I indicated in my UN address, Ghana has been consistent across all political parties in advocating for total disarmament and creating a new world without nuclear weapons.

    “Ghana’s Founder, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, who convened the 1962 World Without the Bomb conference in Accra, would be absolutely proud of this moment. It was an honour to meet with the inspiring Melissa Parke and Seth Shelden of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). ICAN won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for their groundbreaking work to attain a world without nuclear weapons. We shall triumph and end global impunity,” he wrote.

    Ghana’s final ratification of the TPNW was signed in 2017 and approved by Parliament in July 2025. The country has been instrumental in promoting Africa’s stance as a nuclear-free continent.

    In 2025, U.S. Army Major Kojo Owusu Dartey was sentenced to 70 months in prison and three years of supervised release for smuggling firearms to Ghana and making false statements to federal authorities.

    The 42-year-old, based at Fort Liberty, was found guilty by a jury on April 23, 2024, on charges including conspiracy, illegal firearm dealing, false declarations in court, and exporting firearms without a license.

    According to court records and trial evidence, Dartey orchestrated a firearms smuggling operation by purchasing seven firearms in North Carolina and instructing a U.S. Army Staff Sergeant at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, to buy three more and send them to him.

    He then concealed the weapons inside blue barrels filled with rice and household goods before working with an Army Chief Warrant Officer to smuggle them through the Port of Baltimore, Maryland.

    The barrels were shipped to the Port of Tema, Ghana, where Ghanaian authorities later seized them and alerted the DEA attaché in Ghana and the ATF Baltimore Field Division.

    Dartey was also linked to a 16-defendant marriage fraud scheme involving soldiers at Fort Liberty and foreign nationals from Ghana. He provided information that led to its prosecution but later lied to federal law enforcement and under oath in court about his relationship with a defense witness during the U.S. v. Agyapong trial between June 28 and July 2, 2021.

    His sentencing was announced by Acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina, Daniel Bubar, following an investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), the Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID), and the Department of Commerce’s Office of Export Enforcement. Assistant U.S. Attorney Gabriel J. Diaz prosecuted the case.

    In Ghana, institutions such as the National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons (NACSA) have called on the judiciary to impose stricter punishments on individuals found in possession of unlicensed firearms.

    In 2024, NACSA reported one million illicit pump-action guns, AK-47s, pistols, and locally manufactured arms in circulation in Ghana. The Commission described these figures as a threat to national security.The Head of the National Arms Marking Programme at the time, Mr. Frank Boateng Asumani, stated: “Currently, we have 2.3 million small and light weapons in circulation, out of which 1.2 million are legally registered and the remaining 1.1 million cannot be accounted for.”

    Speaking to The Independent Ghana, the Deputy Director of Policy, Planning, Monitoring, and Evaluation (PPME) at NACSA, Gyebi Asante, stressed the urgent need to review existing laws governing firearms possession to better counter current security challenges.

    “We are advocating for the law to be reviewed to suit the current situation and also be able to align with our current dispensation. It is something we have taken steps to do. Already, we have a proposed Bill, the National Arms Bill, at the Ministry of Interior to look at the document and endorse it.

    “For example, the penal sanction, when you have a law that regulates the possession of arms that can kill, you must have a strong penal sanction that can deter people from going behind the law to buy these weapons, so the law as it is now is not deterrent enough,” he added.

    He emphasized that the current penal sanctions are insufficient to deter illegal arms possession. According to him, the existing law stipulates a maximum jail term of five years or a fine of up to 1,000 penalty units, equating to 12,000 Ghana cedis.

    He added that there is no minimum penalty established, allowing judges to exercise discretion in sentencing. This loophole, he indicated, has led to situations where individuals found guilty of illegal gun possession could potentially pay as little as 100 Ghana cedis or serve a mere two weeks in jail.

    “For example, it says that you can be jailed for not more than five years and you can also be fined for not more than 1,000 penalty units. A penalty unit is 12 Ghana cedis, which makes it 12,000 Ghana cedis, not beyond, but it doesn’t give a minimum.

    “If you are arrested for illegally possessing a gun, the judge uses his discretion and he can decide that go and pay 100 cedis and if you don’t pay, you will go to jail for two weeks because the law does not give you any minimum requirement. We see that as a serious challenge and a gap in the law that must be addressed,” he added.

    Mr. Asante revealed that the Commission has submitted to the Ministry of Interior a proposal to amend the current Arms and Ammunition (Amendment) Act, 1972 (Act 604).

    The National Arms Bill aims to close existing gaps in the law, ultimately working towards a safer environment for all Ghanaians. Additionally, he emphasized the urgent need for the bill to be enacted into law to ensure effective control and regulation of small arms and light weapons (SALW).

    Established by an Act of Parliament in 2007, NACSA’s mandate includes regulating the possession and control of small arms and light weapons, with a particular focus on curbing illegal production, trade, transfer, and cross-border movement of such weapons that contribute to crime and insecurity.

  • Abu Trica extradited to U.S.

    Abu Trica extradited to U.S.

    Embattled Ghanaian national Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, has been extradited to the United States (U.S.) to face allegations of his involvement in an $8 million romance fraud scheme. Abu Trica was reportedly flown out of Ghana on Thursday, July 9, aboard Delta Airlines flight DL 157.

    to face allegations of involvement in a romance fraud scheme

    This development comes at a time when an emergency injunction application to temporarily halt his extradition to the United States is scheduled to be heard today Thursday, July 9.

    The High Court in Accra ordered Abu Trica’s extradition to the United States on Thursday, July 2. “Abu Trica” is standing trial for his alleged involvement in an $8 million romance scam case.


    Abu Trica was initially picked up by Ghanaian security agencies on December 11, 2025, after he was indicted by US prosecutors over claims that he played a role in an extensive online romance scam estimated at more than $8 million.


    Court filings unsealed by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio accuse him of being part of a criminal syndicate that allegedly targeted elderly individuals across the United States beginning in 2023.


    According to prosecutors, members of the group reportedly relied on artificial intelligence tools to generate fictitious identities and form romantic relationships with older victims on social media and dating platforms.


    Investigators contend that the victims were eventually persuaded to part with money and valuable items under false claims, including urgent medical needs, travel-related costs, and supposed investment deals.


    The charges further suggest that Abu Trica facilitated the sharing and movement of funds that were transferred from Ohio to alleged accomplices in Ghana and other jurisdictions.


    The government has warned that more arrests will follow as it intensifies efforts to crack down on cybercrime.


    This was announced by the Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, during a media engagement.


    He made these remarks while addressing the arrest and detention of a popular Snapchat personality, Frederick Kumi, widely known as Abu Trica, revealing the imminence of three more arrests.


    “There are three more we’re picking up in the next few days,” Sam George noted.


    According to the Ningo Prampram MP, his arrest formed part of a broader enforcement effort by state agencies to deal with individuals whose display of sudden wealth raises serious concerns.


    Speaking in an interview, Mr George said the arrest of Abu Trica formed part of a broader enforcement effort by state agencies to deal with individuals whose display of sudden wealth raises serious concerns. He revealed that the Cyber Security Authority had recently picked up a suspect believed to be living a visibly successful lifestyle without a clear source of income.


    “Just yesterday, one of my agencies, the Cyber Security Authority, picked up an individual who is supposed to be successful. There’s no peace with that kind of success,” the minister said.


    Abu Trica’s arrest


    On December 12, it was reported that 31-year-old Ghanaian from Swedru, Frederick Kumi, popularly known as Abu Trica, had been arrested after he allegedly tricked elderly victims in the United States (U.S) into sending him money by pretending to be in a romantic relationship with them. He was arrested in Ghana on Thursday, December 12.


    Kumi has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and a forfeiture specification. He risks being jailed for 20 years.


    According to the indictment, Kumi had been working with a criminal group since 2023, using Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology to create fake profiles and lure victims into online romantic relationships.


    The indictment further added that Abu Trica and his team contacted the elderly individuals through social media and dating platforms, where they requested money or valuables to sort out urgent medical bills, travel expenses, or investment opportunities. The criminal group’s co-conspirators in Ghana then received funds and valuables defrauded from the elderly victims.


    The Attorney General’s Office, Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), Ghana Police Service, Ghana Cyber Security Authority, Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), and the National Intelligence Bureau, among others, aided the U.S. in tracing Abu Trica. Meanwhile, these agencies are working to arrest co-conspirators and recover the defrauded funds.


    In October, four Ghanaian nationals—Isaac Oduro Boateng aka “Kofi Boat,” Inusah Ahmed aka “Pascal,” Derrick Van Yeboah aka “Van,” and Patrick Kwame Asare aka “Borgar”—were charged for their roles in an international criminal organization that stole more than $100 million from victims via romance scams and business email compromises.


    United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, and Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Christopher G. Raia, announced the unsealing of an indictment charging them.


    Boateng, 36; Ahmed, 40; Van Yeboah, 40; and Asare, 39, are charged with one count of wire fraud conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of conspiracy to receive stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison; and one count of receipt of stolen money, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.


    The charges contained in the indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
    Boateng, Ahmed, and Van Yeboah were extradited and arrived in the U.S.

    on August 7 and appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Robert W. Lehrburger. Asare, on the other hand, remains at large. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian.


    “As alleged, Isaac Oduro Boateng, Inusah Ahmed, Derrick Van Yeboah, and Patrick Kwame Asare led and participated in an international fraud ring that engaged in a massive conspiracy to defraud vulnerable people and steal from businesses,” said U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton.


    “Offshore scammers should know that we, the FBI, and our law enforcement partners will work around the world to combat online fraud and bring perpetrators to justice.”


    “The defendants have been brought to the United States to be held accountable for their alleged roles in scamming companies and vulnerable Americans out of over $100 million,” said FBI Assistant Director in Charge Christopher G. Raia.


    “Deceiving businesses using email compromise campaigns and tricking innocent elderly victims through fraudulent companionship in order to exploit their trust and finances is not merely appalling but illegal. The FBI will continue to ensure anyone who preys on companies and vulnerable Americans online is made to face the criminal justice system.”


    The indictment revealed that Boateng, Ahmed, Van Yeboah, and Asare were high-ranking members of a criminal organization based in Ghana that committed romance scams and business email compromises against individuals and businesses located across the U.S.


    Many of the conspiracy’s victims were vulnerable older men and women who were tricked into believing that they were in online romantic relationships with people who were, in fact, fake identities assumed by members of the conspiracy.


    Once members of the conspiracy had gained the trust of their victims, they deceived those victims into sending their money to the enterprise or into helping them launder funds from other victims.


    The conspirators also committed business email compromises to trick and deceive businesses into wiring funds to the enterprise. In total, the conspiracy stole and laundered more than $100 million from dozens of victims.


    After stealing the money, the fraud proceeds were then laundered to West Africa, where they were largely funnelled to individuals called “chairmen,” who directed the activities of other members of the conspiracy. Boateng and Ahmed were considered chairmen of the organization.

  • It’s time to review Ghana’s constitution, presidency wields too much power – Swiss Ambassador

    It’s time to review Ghana’s constitution, presidency wields too much power – Swiss Ambassador


    Outgoing Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Benin and Togo, Simone Giger, has indicated that the concentration of power in Ghana’s presidency must be reviewed to strengthen the country’s democratic institutions.

    According to her, the time has come for aspects of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution to be reviewed to reflect the country’s democratic maturity and address governance challenges that have emerged over the years.

    She added that, “It was a brilliant constitution for the time of the day. But it was also a transitional constitution. You have so many powers vested in the president. It’s very centralized. Everything is in Accra. I really think the next step should be to decentralize power, deconcentrate power, and have proper checks and balances. All the institutions should have a say”.

    Her comments join the growing calls for constitutional reforms to improve accountability within Ghana’s system of governance. President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, December 22 2025, received the Constitutional Review Committee’s final report, which proposes far-reaching reforms to Ghana’s Constitution, including a leaner executive and stronger independent institutions.


    The committee has proposed 10 recommendations, including: extension of electoral terms, separation of Parliament from the Executive, cap on the size of government, reform of state land administration, strengthening independent constitutional bodies, and abolition of the death penalty.


    Others are: election of local government heads, citizen-initiated constitutional amendments, creation of an independent anti-corruption body, and parliamentary eligibility for dual citizens.


    Extension of electoral terms: The Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, has proposed a five-year presidential term, up from the current four-year term, to lower the cost and disruption of elections and give governments more time to implement policies. Separation of Parliament from the Executive: Currently in Ghana, the law allows the President to appoint ministers even if they are serving as Members of Parliament (MPs).

    However, the Committee has raised concerns about this arrangement, stating that it creates conflicts of interest and weakens legislative oversight. Cap on the size of government: The Committee has argued that the large number of ministers of state and their deputies creates inefficiency in the distribution of responsibilities.

    It recommended that all future governments be limited to no more than 57 appointees. Reform of state land administration: It has been suggested that the Lands Commission be mandated to oversee the administration of state lands in an effort to promote transparency and accountability.


    Strengthening independent constitutional bodies: The Committee has also advocated that key constitutional bodies, including the Electoral Commission (EC), have appointments based on qualifications, experience, and competence, not political loyalty.


    Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, has backed a recent proposal by the Constitutional Review Committee calling for an increase in Ghana’s presidential term in office.


    Addressing the media on Tuesday, December 23, Alhassan Suhuyini argued that the four-year term given to Ghanaian presidents restricts the country’s development, as they are unable to deliver long-term policies and fully implement major development projects within the limited time frame.


    “I agree with the thinking that the four-year period has not helped us that much, and it is because of our level of development and the deficit that we have,” he said.


    The Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, has proposed a five-year presidential term, up from the current four-year term, to lower the cost and disruption of elections and give governments more time to implement policies.
    What does Ghana’s 1992 Constitution say about the presidential term?


    Under the Constitution, a President may serve a maximum of two terms, with each term lasting four years. Article 66 of the 1992 Constitution states as follows:


    (1) A person elected as President shall, subject to clause (3) of this article, hold office for a term of four years beginning from the date on which he is sworn in as President.


    (2) A person shall not be elected to hold office as President of Ghana for more than two terms.


    (3) The office of President shall become vacant—(a) on the expiration of the period specified in clause (1) of this article; or(b) if the incumbent dies, resigns from office, or ceases to hold office under article 69 of this Constitution.


    (4) The President may, by writing signed by him and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, resign from his office as President.
    Additionally, the committee has also proposed that Members of Parliament (MPs) should stop doubling as ministers in government.


    However, members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) insist that President Mahama intends to seek a third term.

    Although the President, in late August, reaffirmed his commitment to Ghana’s two-term presidential limit—making it clear that he has no intention of extending his tenure—the Minority contends that the incumbent government is plotting a dubious move to keep President Mahama in power beyond the next term.


    During a bilateral meeting with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as part of his three-day state visit, President Mahama dismissed allegations that his government is plotting to stay beyond the constitutional limit, reiterating that he will not be on the ballot in 2028.


    After months of holding onto these claims, the Minority Caucus staged a protest in Parliament, chanting, “No Third Term, Mahama! We want peace, Mahama,” citing growing calls for a third term for the incumbent President from some members of the NDC, particularly on social media.


    In 2024, the Constitutional Review Consultative Committee, established by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, made a series of significant recommendations aimed at reforming the executive and legislative branches of the Ghanaian government.


    Led by lawyer Clare Kasser-Tee, the committee was tasked with reviewing the 2011 report of the Constitution Review Commission.


    One of the committee’s notable recommendations is capping the number of ministers at 25. In recent years, Ghana has seen a high number of ministers, with the current administration under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo reaching as many as 110 ministers.


    Main candidates in the 2024 presidential election have promised to significantly reduce this number, with President John Mahama proposing 60 ministers and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia suggesting 50.


    Additionally, the committee proposed that the President of Ghana should pay taxes. This recommendation, if implemented, would reflect the principle of equality before the law and align with the rule of law. Currently, Article 68(5) of the constitution exempts the president from paying income tax.

    The committee suggests amending this article so that the president pays taxes on his salary and emoluments, setting an example for the rest of the citizenry.

    This change would also require consequential amendments to the country’s income tax law. The committee also recommended the abolition of Deputy Minister positions. Furthermore, it suggested that ministers should not be Members of Parliament, diverging from the current constitutional mandate that requires the majority of ministers to be lawmakers.


    Another key recommendation is to cap the size of Parliament at 277 members. The proposed amendment to Article 93 of the Constitution states, “There shall be a Parliament of Ghana which shall consist of not more than two hundred and seventy-seven elected members.”


    These recommendations were presented to Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on June 13, 2024, for preliminary suggestions or firm resolve for the review of the 1992 Constitution.

    The event, themed “Building consensus and promoting ownership for the review of the Constitution,” was organized by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.


    The committee’s mandate included reviewing submissions, proposals, and reports from various constitutional review platforms, including the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), the University of Ghana Law School, the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).


    Additionally, the committee is tasked with making recommendations to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and its partners and collaborators, including the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Africa Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Institute of Democratic and Economic Governance (IDEG), and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), among others.
    The proposed reforms aim to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Ghana’s governance structures, promoting accountability, and ensuring a more streamlined and representative government.



  • EOCO releases ex-NAFCO CEO from custody amid ongoing investigations

    EOCO releases ex-NAFCO CEO from custody amid ongoing investigations

    The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has released the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, from custody.

    Mr Abdul-Wahab was released at about 8:00 pm on Wednesday, July 8, with no conditions attached, according to sources. On Saturday, July 4, the Deputy Attorney General (A-G), Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, revealed that Hanan Abdul was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport after he allegedly attempted to empty his frozen account and travel to the United Kingdom (U.K.).


    According to Justice Srem, “it was MR ALUDIBA’s attempt to use false means to empty his frozen bank account with Republic Bank on Thursday which occasioned tonight’s arrest”.


    But Hanan Abdul’s counsel in a press statement has insisted that currently there is no court order freezing the accounts of their client as the “orders made in respect of his earlier prosecution had lapsed”.

    According to the counsel, “Our client arrived at the Accra International Airport when he had neither withdrawn any money nor presented any cheque or document seeking to withdraw any money from the bank. We repeat our demand for the Attorney-General to produce evidence of a cheque, withdrawal note or any means by which our client attempted t o withdraw money from his bank account, or the attempt to do so.


    “We repeat that in any event, there is no valid order of any court of competent jurisdiction freezing our client’s accounts since the earlier freezing orders made in respect of his earlier prosecution had lapsed”.The statement further added, “Our client considers his arrest totally unfair, an abuse of power by the Attorney-General, EOCO and BNI, and a deliberate scheme to disobey the order of the High Court, Accra”.


    Last month, the Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice filed fresh criminal charges against the former NAFCO CEO and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, for allegedly causing financial loss to the state.


    The 20 counts stem from activities allegedly undertaken during Mr. Abdul-Wahab’s tenure as head of the state food management agency. This information, according to CitiNews’ report was contained in court documents filed at the High Court in Accra on Friday, May 15, by the state.


    The couple have been accused of stealing, defrauding by false pretences, abuse of public office for profit, and money laundering. The new development comes days after Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife were briefly freed, following the Attorney-General’s (A-G’s) withdrawal of charges against them.


    Prosecutors allege that Mr. Abdul-Wahab fraudulently obtained GH¢734,400 from NAFCO in 2017. Meanwhile, the couple’s re-arrest received a backlash from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).


    The government and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO)have been accused of abusing state power and engaging in what the party describes as political intimidation.


    A statement issued on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, and signed by NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, called the re-arrest of the couple a deliberate attempt to infringe on their rights.


    The statement added, “Consistent with EOCO’s perennial disrespect for constitutionally guaranteed rights and due process, lawyers of Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife have been denied access to their clients after more than 24 hours of waiting”.

    According to the party, “They therefore pose no risk that justifies their detention overnight”, adding that the continued detention amounts to an abuse of power and a violation of their fundamental human rights.


    The opposition has demanded the immediate release of Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife, emphasising that “the NDC government must remember that state institutions are temporary custodians of power, not owners of it”.


    On April 29, the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra granted the Office of the Attorney-General (A-G) a final opportunity to justify its decision to involve a lawyer from the EOCO in the ongoing trial of former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and four others.


    This development comes after Justice Francis Achibonga, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, on Wednesday, April 29, expunged the name of the EOCO lawyer, Radiatu Abdulai, from the ongoing trial.


    The judge’s ruling was triggered by counsel for the first accused, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who questioned Radiatu Abdulai’s representation of the Republic. Mr Dame noted that “there has been no due authorisation of the lawyer to prosecute, adding that the Law Officers Act of 1974 (NRCD 279) and the Legal Services Act of 1993 regulated the performance of functions of the Office of the Attorney-General”.


    According to a statement in circulation, Godfred Yeboah Dame who was the former deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice justified that “Per the Law Officers Act, only public officers mandated by an executive instrument and certified to be on a rank equivalent to one of the posts in the Office of the Attorney-General, can appear in court with the Attorney-General or be mandated to prosecute or perform the functions of the A-G”.


    In 2025, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited and his wife were granted bail totaling GHS150 million by the High Court in Accra.


    Hanan had a share of GHS100 million in the bail and was to provide six sureties, four of whom must prove ownership of landed property.
    His wife, on the other hand, was granted bail in the sum of GHS50 million with four sureties, three of whom must own property within the jurisdiction of the court.


    The duo has pleaded not guilty in the National Food and Buffer Stock Company case. They stand accused of 24 counts, including stealing, defrauding by false pretences, willful misuse of public funds, money laundering, and exploiting public office for personal benefit. The court has directed that the sureties submit copies of their Ghana Cards.


    The court also ordered that the names of the accused persons be added to a stop-list at all entry and exit points in the country, including airports, seaports, and border crossings.


    Until the final determination of the case, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and Faiza Seidu Wuni are required to report to the investigator every Wednesday.


    Abdul-Wahab is standing trial over allegations of large-scale financial misconduct during his time in office. He was arrested on June 25, along with his wife. EOCO granted his wife GHS30 million in bail, while he remained in custody pending fulfillment of his GHS60 million bail condition.


    The arrest, which took place simultaneously in Accra and Tamale, also led to the detention of a third, unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation.


    On Tuesday, July 8, the former NAFCO boss was released from the custody of EOCO after being detained for 14 days. Abdul-Wahab was released after meeting a GHS60 million bail condition backed by two guarantors.


    On June 25, Hanan and his spouse were taken into custody over suspected mismanagement of funds while he led the government agency. His wife was granted bail earlier, set at GHS30 million.


    Earlier reports indicated that Mr. Hanan had met the bail terms; however, he remained in the custody of EOCO, a situation that drew backlash from the opposition New Patriotic Party, which described the terms as harsh and unfair. A third suspect, an unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation, has also been detained.


    Meanwhile, a list of luxury assets belonging to Hanan Abdul-Wahab has been made public by the Attorney General (A-G) and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine.


    His assets include a five-bedroom house at Chain Homes valued at $1.625 million, a three-bedroom house at Cantonments purchased for $600,000, and multiple plots of land in the Airport Development Area valued at $750,000.


    Other properties include a 17-bedroom boutique hotel in Gumani, Tamale, acquired for $250,000; a four-bedroom bungalow at Dzorwulu, Accra, valued at over GHS4.14 million; and a 0.32-acre parcel of government land purchased for GHS307,200.


    The Attorney General disclosed during a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, October 22, as part of the Government Accountability Series.


    He added that the recent development was made possible through collaboration with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), after several properties and bank transactions were traced to Abdul-Wahab.


    But Abdul-Wahab has denied all allegations leveled against him by the Attorney General. In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 22, Mr. Aludiba noted that he has instructed his lawyers to follow up on the allegations.


    “I wish to state, respectfully, that these claims are untrue and do not reflect the facts of the matter. I have no involvement in the issues being referred to, and I find the comments deeply unfortunate.“I look forward to the opportunity to present my side and to have my day in court, where I am confident that the truth will be made clear,” the statement added.


    Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has released a fifty-page report covering investigations and prosecutions carried out between January 1 and July 31 this year.


    The OSP’s Seventh Half-Yearly Report is pursuant to Section 3(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959). The document also outlines key developments in the Office’s operations.
    According to the OSP, despite resistance from powerful interests, it stayed focused on executing its mandate during this period.

    As such, the Office successfully progressed significant corruption-related investigations to the stage of court proceedings while also initiating new inquiries into suspected acts of corruption.


    “Then again, the Office, as one of three implementing partners of the new National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Strategy and Implementing Plan, is fashioning and moulding anti-corruption structures that would stand the test of time. The task ahead remains formidable. Much more so is our resolve to perform.


    “This reporting period was characterised by the intensification of the Office’s prosecutorial mandate. We advanced high-profile investigations to court and initiated bold inquiries into suspected corruption, often in the face of deep-seated resistance from entrenched interests.


    “Notwithstanding these expected challenges, the Office remains resolute and guided by the rule of law, fairness, firmness, evidence-based action, and the interest of the public. We recognise that the fight against corruption cannot be waged and won only through punitive action and incarceration,” parts of the report read.


    The legislative framework of the Office of the Special Prosecutor mandates the Authority to crack down on corruption, recover assets, and confiscate illicit property.


    “Indeed, the legislative set-up of the Office leans heavily on corruption prevention and asset recovery and disgorgement of tainted property. Consequently, we proceed on sustainable anti-corruption outcomes by pairing enforcement with robust prevention and asset recovery, especially founded on our unique plea bargaining regime.


    “In this spirit, the Office scaled up its preventive mandate through active engagement with public institutions, private sector actors, and civil society, and secured convictions and asset recovery through impactful plea bargaining. We also reckon that the nation’s anti-corruption legal framework requires re-imagination, modernisation, and retooling to address the immense scale and complexity of modern corruption in the context of our social, economic, and political constructs.


    “On this score, the Office has proposed the inclusion of a new chapter in the Constitution dedicated to the fight against corruption through definitive constitutional expression by the institution of proposed concrete measures to effectively and comprehensively suppress and repress corruption in public life as well as in the private sector, chief among which include lifestyle audits, non-conviction-based asset recovery, enhanced asset declaration and verification regime, and reverse onus presumption of corruption as the foundation of both anti-corruption criminal proceedings and civil asset recovery proceedings,” parts of the report added.

  • Fmr NAFCO CEO accused of misleading bank to access frozen funds

    Fmr NAFCO CEO accused of misleading bank to access frozen funds

    The former CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab, allegedly misled the bank by presenting a wrong court order to withdraw frozen funds.

    According to an affidavit filed in court, the application seeks to reverse the earlier decision that allowed Mr. Hanan to travel outside the country.

    The affidavit sworn by EOCO Assistant Staff Officer Radiatu Abdulai indicated that Mr Hanan presented a court ruling which “purported to defreeze the account” in an attempt to convince bank officials.

    “The said ruling was in respect of the court freezing confirmation order of a completely different set of assets, namely, landed properties and not the said bank accounts,” the affidavit states.

    However, after suspecting foul play, the bank officials quickly reached out to the Office of the Attorney General and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).

    All bank accounts belonging to Mr Hanan and his alleged accomplices through two separate freezing orders dated July 14, 2025, and July 28, 2025,

    On Sunday, July 5, the Deputy Attorney General (A-G), Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, announced that the former NAFCO boss, was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport after he allegedly attempted to empty his frozen account and travel to the United Kingdom (U.K.).

    But lawyers of Dr Hanan in a press statement indicated that the Deputy A-G’s claim that their client attempted “to use false means to empty his frozen bank account with Republic Bank …” is simply untrue.

    They added that their client was granted permission by the High Court to travel to the United Kingdom (U.K)for an appointment with his Optican.

    Additionally, they have challenged Dr. Justice Srem-Sai to produce evidence to back his claims, and threatened to institute contempt proceedings against him Attorney-General, the Deputy Attorney-General, and the Director of the BNI for the alleged blatant and wilful violation of a court order.

    Part of the statement read, “Following an application filed by his lawyers, our client, Hanan Abdul-Wahab, was permitted by the High Court presided over by His Lordship Justice Achibonga, Justice of the Court of Appeal (sitting as an additional High Court Judge), to travel for an appointment with his Optician from 4th July to 12thJuly, 2026. This was after the Judge had considered arguments from counsel in the matter including Dr Srem Sai”.



  • Freezing order on Fmr NAFCO boss’ account has lapsed – Lawyers

    Freezing order on Fmr NAFCO boss’ account has lapsed – Lawyers

    Messrs. Dame & Partners, counsel for former National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) CEO Hanan Abdul-Wahab, have once again challenged the Attorney-General’s (A-G) justification for their client’s arrest at the Accra International Airport on July 4.

    On Saturday, July 4, the Deputy Attorney General (A-G), Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, revealed that Hanan Abdul was arrested at the Kotoka International Airport after he allegedly attempted to empty his frozen account and travel to the United Kingdom (U.K.).

    According to Justice Srem, “it was MR ALUDIBA’s attempt to use false means to empty his frozen bank account with Republic Bank on Thursday which occasioned tonight’s arrest”.

    But Hanan Abdul’s counsel in a press statement has insisted that currently there is no court order freezing the accounts of their client as the “orders made in respect of his earlier prosecution had lapsed”.

    According to the counsel, “Our client arrived at the Accra International Airport when he had neither withdrawn any money nor presented any cheque or document seeking to withdraw any money from the bank. We repeat our demand for the Attorney-General to produce evidence of a cheque, withdrawal note or any means by which our client attempted t o withdraw money from his bank account, or the attempt to do so.

    “We repeat that in any event, there is no valid order of any court of competent jurisdiction freezing our client’s accounts since the earlier freezing orders made in respect of his earlier prosecution had lapsed”.

    The statement further added, “Our client considers his arrest totally unfair, an abuse of power by the Attorney-General, EOCO and BNI, and a deliberate scheme to disobey the order of the High Court, Accra”.

    Last month, the Attorney General and the Ministry of Justice filed fesh criminal charges against the former NAFCO CEO and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, for allegedly causing financial loss to the state.

    The 20 counts stem from activities allegedly undertaken during Mr. Abdul-Wahab’s tenure as head of the state food management agency. This information according to CitiNews’ report was contained in court documents filed at the High Court in Accra on Friday, May 15 by the state.

    The couple have been accused of stealing, defrauding by false pretences, abuse of public office for profit, and money laundering. The new development comes days after Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife were briefly freed, following the Attorney-General’s (A-G’s) withdrawal of charges against them.

    Prosecutors allege that Mr. Abdul-Wahab fraudulently obtained GH¢734,400 from NAFCO in 2017. Meanwhile, the couple’s re-arrest received a backlash from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    The government and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO)have been accused of abusing state power and engaging in what the party describes as political intimidation.

    A statement issued on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, and signed by NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, called the re-arrest of the couple a deliberate attempt to infringe on their rights.

    The statement added, “Consistent with EOCO’s perennial disrespect for constitutionally guaranteed rights and due process, lawyers of Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife have been denied access to their clients after more than 24 hours of waiting”.According to the party, “They therefore pose no risk that justifies their detention overnight”, adding that the continued detention amounts to an abuse of power and a violation of their fundamental human rights.

    The opposition has demanded the immediate release of Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife, emphasising that, “the NDC government must remember that state institutions are temporary custodians of power, not owners of it”.

    On April 29, the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra granted the Office of the Attorney-General (A-G) a final opportunity to justify its decision to involve a lawyer from the EOCO in the ongoing trial of former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and four others.

    This development comes after Justice Francis Achibonga, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, on Wednesday, April 29, expunged the name of the EOCO lawyer, Radiatu Abdulai, from the ongoing trial.

    The judge’s ruling was triggered by counsel for the first accused, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who questioned Radiatu Abdulai’s representation of the Republic. Mr Dame noted that “there has been no due authorisation of the lawyer to prosecute, adding that the Law Officers Act of 1974 (NRCD 279) and the Legal Services Act of 1993 regulated the performance of functions of the Office of the Attorney-General”.

    According to a statement in circulation, Godfred Yeboah Dame who was the former deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice justified that “Per the Law Officers Act, only public officers mandated by an executive instrument and certified to be on a rank equivalent to one of the posts in the Office of the Attorney-General, can appear in court with the Attorney-General or be mandated to prosecute or perform the functions of the A-G”.

    In 2025, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited and his wife were granted bail totaling GHS150 million by the High Court in Accra.

    Hanan had a share of GHS100 million in the bail and was to provide six sureties, four of whom must prove ownership of landed property.

    His wife, on the other hand, was granted bail in the sum of GHS50 million with four sureties, three of whom must own property within the jurisdiction of the court.

    The duo have pleaded not guilty in the National Food and Buffer Stock Company case. They stand accused of 24 counts, including stealing, defrauding by false pretences, willful misuse of public funds, money laundering, and exploiting public office for personal benefit. The court has directed that the sureties submit copies of their Ghana Cards.

    The court also ordered that the names of the accused persons be added to a stop-list at all entry and exit points in the country, including airports, seaports, and border crossings.

    Until the final determination of the case, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and Faiza Seidu Wuni are required to report to the investigator every Wednesday.

    Abdul-Wahab is standing trial over allegations of large-scale financial misconduct during his time in office. He was arrested on June 25, along with his wife. EOCO granted his wife GHS30 million in bail, while he remained in custody pending fulfillment of his GHS60 million bail condition.

    The arrest, which took place simultaneously in Accra and Tamale, also led to the detention of a third, unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation.

    On Tuesday, July 8, the former NAFCO boss was released from the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after being detained for 14 days. Abdul-Wahab was released after meeting a GHS60 million bail condition backed by two guarantors.

    On June 25, Hanan and his spouse were taken into custody over suspected mismanagement of funds while he led the government agency. His wife was granted bail earlier, set at GHS30 million.

    Earlier reports indicated that Mr. Hanan had met the bail terms; however, he remained in the custody of EOCO, a situation that drew backlash from the opposition New Patriotic Party, which described the terms as harsh and unfair. A third suspect, an unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation, has also been detained.

    Meanwhile, a list of luxury assets belonging to Hanan Abdul-Wahab has been made public by the Attorney General (A-G) and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine.

    His assets include a five-bedroom house at Chain Homes valued at $1.625 million, a three-bedroom house at Cantonments purchased for $600,000, and multiple plots of land in the Airport Development Area valued at $750,000.

    Other properties include a 17-bedroom boutique hotel in Gumani, Tamale, acquired for $250,000; a four-bedroom bungalow at Dzorwulu, Accra, valued at over GHS4.14 million; and a 0.32-acre parcel of government land purchased for GHS307,200.

    The Attorney General disclosed during a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, October 22, as part of the Government Accountability Series.

    He added that the recent development was made possible through collaboration with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), after several properties and bank transactions were traced to Abdul-Wahab.

    But Abdul-Wahab has denied all allegations leveled against him by the Attorney General. In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 22, Mr. Aludiba noted that he has instructed his lawyers to follow up on the allegations.

    “I wish to state, respectfully, that these claims are untrue and do not reflect the facts of the matter. I have no involvement in the issues being referred to, and I find the comments deeply unfortunate.“I look forward to the opportunity to present my side and to have my day in court, where I am confident that the truth will be made clear,” the statement added.

    Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has released a fifty-page report covering investigations and prosecutions carried out between January 1 and July 31 this year.

    The OSP’s Seventh Half-Yearly Report is pursuant to Section 3(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959). The document also outlines key developments in the Office’s operations.

    According to the OSP, despite resistance from powerful interests, it stayed focused on executing its mandate during this period. As such, the Office successfully progressed significant corruption-related investigations to the stage of court proceedings while also initiating new inquiries into suspected acts of corruption.

    “Then again, the Office, as one of three implementing partners of the new National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Strategy and Implementing Plan, is fashioning and moulding anti-corruption structures that would stand the test of time. The task ahead remains formidable. Much more so is our resolve to perform.

    “This reporting period was characterised by the intensification of the Office’s prosecutorial mandate. We advanced high-profile investigations to court and initiated bold inquiries into suspected corruption, often in the face of deep-seated resistance from entrenched interests.

    “Notwithstanding these expected challenges, the Office remains resolute and guided by the rule of law, fairness, firmness, evidence-based action, and the interest of the public. We recognise that the fight against corruption cannot be waged and won only through punitive action and incarceration,” parts of the report read.

    The legislative framework of the Office of the Special Prosecutor mandates the Authority to crack down on corruption, recover assets, and confiscate illicit property.

    “Indeed, the legislative set-up of the Office leans heavily on corruption prevention and asset recovery and disgorgement of tainted property. Consequently, we proceed on sustainable anti-corruption outcomes by pairing enforcement with robust prevention and asset recovery, especially founded on our unique plea bargaining regime.

    “In this spirit, the Office scaled up its preventive mandate through active engagement with public institutions, private sector actors, and civil society, and secured convictions and asset recovery through impactful plea bargaining. We also reckon that the nation’s anti-corruption legal framework requires re-imagination, modernisation, and retooling to address the immense scale and complexity of modern corruption in the context of our social, economic, and political constructs.

    “On this score, the Office has proposed the inclusion of a new chapter in the Constitution dedicated to the fight against corruption through definitive constitutional expression by the institution of proposed concrete measures to effectively and comprehensively suppress and repress corruption in public life as well as in the private sector, chief among which include lifestyle audits, non-conviction-based asset recovery, enhanced asset declaration and verification regime, and reverse onus presumption of corruption as the foundation of both anti-corruption criminal proceedings and civil asset recovery proceedings,” parts of the report added.

  • HIV-positive applicants can join security services – Ghana AIDS Commission

    HIV-positive applicants can join security services – Ghana AIDS Commission

    The Ghana AIDS Commission has argued that applicants who have tested positive for HIV are eligible to be employed in the security agencies.

    The Ghana AIDS Commission has maintained that applicants who test positive for HIV are eligible for employment in the security agencies.

    Addressing the media on Wednesday, July 8, the Director of Policy Planning at the Ghana AIDS Commission, John Eliasu Mahama, noted that HIV positive applicants should not be denied employment opportunities nor discriminated in against based on their health status.

    According to him, persons living with HIV are protected under Section 32 of the Ghana AIDS Commission Act, 2016 (Act 938). Therefore, disqualifying such persons from employment based on their HIV status is unlawful. Section 32 of the Ghana AIDS Commission Act, 2016 (Act 938) protects the right to work for individuals with actual or perceived HIV status. It prohibits workplace discrimination and makes stigmatization, termination, or denial of employment based solely on HIV status a criminal offense.

    “The HIV status of a person shall not constitute a reason to refuse employment to that person, except where an employer can show that the employment in question requires that the employee must be in a particular state of health or medical or clinical condition,” he said.

    His clarification was in response to a recent report by the Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak indicating that about 1,300 applicants out of the over 100,000 who participated in the recent security service recruitment mandatory medical screening tested positive for HIV.

    He made the revelation during an appearance before the Government Assurance Committee of Parliament on Tuesday, July 7.

    Explaining why applicants who fail the medical screening stage of security service recruitment exercises do not receive their medical results directly, the Minister said the decision is guided by international medical protocols, particularly in cases involving sensitive health conditions such as HIV, hepatitis B, and other serious diagnoses that require professional counselling before disclosure.

    According to him, individuals who do not meet the medical requirements are provided with a means of contacting the recruitment authorities if they wish to know the reason for their disqualification. Once they make contact, they are taken through the necessary counselling process before any medical findings are discussed.

    “I remember the recent recruitment we had. I think about 1,300 also were on HIV. Can you imagine sending somebody a result telling the person that you have HIV? That’s not the procedure. The person has to go through some orientation,” he said.

    Mr Muntaka indicated that the screening process uncovered a range of health conditions among applicants, including HIV, hepatitis B, heart-related ailments, mental health conditions, complications from previous major surgeries, and drug-related issues.

    He noted that many of the identified conditions are manageable or treatable, making it important for affected persons to seek medical attention and improve their chances of qualifying in future recruitment exercises.

    “Some of the things that we realised are treatable. People need to know and then also get treatment so that, in subsequent recruitment, they could join,” he stated.

    The Minister therefore encouraged unsuccessful applicants to take advantage of the channels provided to obtain information about their medical status, stressing that some may be living with health conditions they are unaware of.

    “It may be something minor, it may be something major. Whichever it is, if you get to know, it will be of great interest to you,” he said.

    He further revealed that more than 100,000 applicants progressed to the medical screening stage after completing the aptitude test component of the recruitment process.

    Addressing concerns over whether applicants who tested positive for HIV had been informed, Mr Muntaka said the government had deliberately avoided directly communicating such results without counselling. Instead, affected individuals were allowed to voluntarily seek clarification regarding their disqualification.

    “We provided contact for people to call who were interested in knowing why they failed… We are obliged to give them the results, but we can’t send them to you on the phone,” he explained.

    Some members of the committee, however, suggested that authorities should consider a more proactive counselling approach for applicants diagnosed with HIV, arguing that early awareness could support timely treatment and help reduce transmission risks.

    In response, the Minister maintained that the current system safeguards applicants from receiving life-changing medical information without the necessary psychological and professional support, adding that it conforms to internationally accepted procedures for communicating diagnoses such as HIV and hepatitis B.

    Meanwhile, over 6000 prospective applicants have missed the opportunity to become security personnel in Ghana after failing the medical screening as part of the requirements in the recruitment process.

    During an interview with Accra-based Pan African TV on Saturday, May 23, the Interior Minister, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, indicated that the disqualified applicants were disqualified in the medical screening stage of the ongoing security services recruitment exercise after testing positive for drug use or being diagnosed with mental health conditions.

    According to him, his outfit introduced these extra examinations due to long-standing concerns about the mental health of the security personnel in the country. However, following the screening (drug testing and mental health assessments), more than 4,000 applicants failed the drug tests, while about 2,000 others were disqualified on mental health grounds.

    “We have over 100,000 people who have gone through the medicals. Because of the large numbers and because of what we have observed within the services, we introduced additional checks, including mental health assessments and drug tests. Interestingly, over 4,000 people failed the drug test, and we have over 2,000 who also failed due to mental health conditions,” he said.

    Mr Muntaka noted that the outcome of the screening highlights the importance of strengthening recruitment procedures to ensure that only qualified and medically fit individuals are enlisted into the security services.


  • TrustGH flags 3000 phones linked to scammers

    TrustGH flags 3000 phones linked to scammers

    TrustGH (trustgh.com), Ghana’s first public database for scam phone numbers, has recorded over 3,000 reports of suspicious numbers since its launch, the company announced today.

    The reported numbers have been linked to a wide range of fraudulent activity, including e-commerce fraud, investment and job scams, romance scams, impersonation, and recruitment fraud.


    TrustGH allows members of the public to report suspicious phone numbers, which are then checked against international scam-detection parameters.

    Each number is assigned a risk score ranging from 0% to 100%, indicating the likelihood that it is linked to fraudulent activity.

    To date, more than half of all numbers reported to the platform have received a risk score of 100%, confirming a very high likelihood of scam involvement.

    Reports submitted to TrustGH originate from a variety of sources, including TikTok, Facebook, WhatsApp, Google Business profiles, phone calls, SMS messages, and fake
    websites.

    TikTok accounts for the largest share of reported cases, at roughly 50%, followed by SMS and WhatsApp messages.


    Notably, more than 90% of reported scam cases involved aLempts to demand mobile money payment or gain access to vicEms’ mobile money accounts.

    Investigators have also found
    that many scammers create fake pages that closely mimic legitimate businesses across social media platforms in order to defraud unsuspecting individuals of significant sums of money.


    “These numbers show just how widespread and organized scam acEvity has become in Ghana, parEcularly on social media,” a TrustGH spokesperson said.

    “Our goal is to give the
    public a reliable, data-driven way to verify a number before they engage with it, so they can protect themselves and their money.”


    TrustGH is a licensed plaJorm and works closely with the Cybersecurity Authority and the Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service to combat scam acEvity and support ongoing investigations into reported numbers.


    TrustGH is urging the public to verify any unfamiliar phone number on trustgh.com before making payments, sharing personal information, or engaging in business transactions, and to report suspicious numbers to help strengthen the platform’s database.

    Read the statement below;

    TrustGH press releaseDownload
  • Yutong Bus catches fire on Mankessim–Accra Highway, no casualties reported

    Yutong Bus catches fire on Mankessim–Accra Highway, no casualties reported

    A Yutong passenger bus was destroyed after it caught fire on the Mankessim–Accra highway in the Central Region on Wednesday, July 8. The fire, which broke out at about 4:34 a.m., was brought under control and completely extinguished by the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) at 7:12 a.m.

    Although the passengers lost their belongings and commercial goods, they managed to escape before the bus was engulfed in flames. The incident was confirmed by the Ghana National Fire Service in a Facebook post.

    Last month a fire that swept through six self-contained apartments in a compound house at Aboabo in the Asokore Mampong Municipality of the Ashanti Region left 15 homeless.


    The blaze was already well-developed by the time the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) arrived. However, the occupants managed to escape unhurt before the flames engulfed the apartments.


    Speaking to the media, the Ashanti Regional Fire Commander, ACFO II Peter Tetteh, stated that preliminary assessments indicate the fire started in one of the rooms and quickly spread to adjoining apartments.


    The incident is the latest in a series of fire outbreaks that have caused significant losses across the country. In a similar incident, several goods were destroyed and businesses disrupted after a fire swept through parts of Tudu near the police station in Accra’s Central Business District (CBD) on Wednesday evening, June 3.


    The blaze left traders distressed and stranded, prompting calls for swift government intervention. Meanwhile, Alex King Nartey, an officer of the Ghana National Fire Service, has stated that preliminary investigations suggest an electrical fault may have caused the fire.


    Last year, two shops on the fourth floor of a commercial building at Tudu were gutted by fire. In response the GNFS promptly deployed three fire tenders, successfully bringing the blaze under control and preventing further damage.


    Divisional Officer I (DOI) Alex King Nartey, from the GNFS Public Relations Department, confirmed that while the fire has been successfully controlled, investigations are underway to establish what triggered it.“Due to the timely intervention of our fire tenders here, this whole building has been salvaged from the fire,” he stated.


    No casualties have been reported, but authorities are working to assess the extent of the damage and identify the source of the fire. On Monday night, May 11, at about 11:20 p.m, the intervention of the Ghana National Fire Service saved parts of the Nima Market following a fire outbreak.


    In a brief update shared on its official Facebook page on Tuesday, May 12, the Service noted that the fire destroyed goods and properties belonging to traders.

    The latest incident has once again amplified concerns about the recurring market fires in parts of Accra, with traders repeatedly suffering heavy financial losses.

    Earlier in January, a large fire swept through sections of the Madina Market in Accra, triggering a swift response from the Ghana National Fire Service as efforts continue to contain the blaze.


    The GNFS, in a Facebook update, said fire appliances from the Madina and Legon stations were dispatched to the market shortly after the incident was reported.

    Fire officers are working under difficult conditions to control the flames, with heavy smoke spreading across the busy trading area.
    While the exact scale of destruction has not yet been determined, early indications point to damage to several stalls and their merchandise.

    In response, traders and nearby residents have been moved away from the affected areas, as security personnel restrict access to parts of the market to enable firefighters to carry out their operations.


    Authorities have not yet established the cause of the fire and will begin investigations once the situation is fully under control. In the same area, an inferno destroyed several makeshift wooden and metal structures used for both commercial and residential purposes at Madina Washing Bay near Redco Flat on Sunday evening, August 3.


    The blaze destroyed utility poles, traders’ wares, personal belongings, and an unspecified number of structures worth several thousand cedis, according to the Ghana National Fire Service. In a Facebook post, the Fire Service noted that while battling the inferno, one of its firefighters sustained a minor leg injury.


    The Ghana National Fire Service noted that it received the distress call at 12:36 hours and responded swiftly, with the first crew from Madina Fire Station arriving within 4 minutes at 12:40 hours to confront the fully developed fire.

    Also, four (4) fire engines from Legon, Abelempke, and GNFS Headquarters joined the operation to contain the blaze.
    According to the GNFS, thanks to the timely and coordinated efforts, the fire was confined at 13:42 hours and fully brought under control at 13:54 hours.

    Overhaul operations continued until 20:50 hours, with firefighters salvaging multiple adjoining structures and their contents. Investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, according to the Ghana National Fire Service.


    Last month, a fire outbreak occurred at Madina Ritz Junction. It was earlier reported that a 2-month-old baby died as a result of the fire incident. However, GNFS, in a Facebook post on July 17, said that after engaging with some victims, particularly women, they confirmed that no lives were lost.

    “A verification team was dispatched to the scene this morning, and after engaging affected residents, particularly the women, and a Unit Committee Member of the area, the Service can confirm that no lives were lost.”

    “The Fire Service has thus entreated the public and media outlets to “disregard any reports suggesting otherwise, as they are inaccurate and misleading,” adding that it remains firmly committed to public safety, emergency responsiveness, and transparent communication.”


    The fire began after a gas explosion in one of the shops and quickly spread to adjacent containers, consuming everything in its path.

    The incident, which involved multiple wooden structures used for both residential and commercial purposes, was fully contained through the swift and professional response of firefighters from the Madina, Legon, and Abelemkpe Fire Stations.


    An investigation by the Service was launched to ascertain the cause of the fire, which destroyed several properties. It is yet to be reported the cause of the fire.In April this year, a raging fire ripped through the Madina Redco Flats area, reducing more than 150 structures to ashes and claiming the life of a young Nigerian woman.


    The inferno, which began around 11:15 p.m., rapidly spread across 140 wooden kiosks and 20 metal containers that served as homes and business outlets. Though firefighters from the Madina Fire Station arrived on the scene within two minutes, the blaze had already intensified.


    One fatality was recorded—a Nigerian woman affectionately known in the area as Beauty. Believed to be in her early twenties, she was trapped in her room and could not escape. Her charred remains were retrieved and handed over to the Madina Police for preservation and further investigation.


    Last year, about 50 stalls were burnt to ashes after the Madina Market in Accra caught fire. Deputy Director of Operations at the Ghana National Fire Service, D.O.1. Kofi Forson, who engaged the media, recounted the challenges the firefighters faced in quenching the flame.


    “It was not easy for us and there was a lack of access to where the fire was spreading and because it happened in the night, the shops were closed and we had to break through and that made it tedious,” he said.


    In the first half of the year, the Ghana National Fire Service has reported a marginal increase in fire outbreaks. A comparison of data from January to June last year and that of this year’s first six months indicates that Ghana recorded 3,595 fire cases.


    According to the Ghana National Fire Service, that is about 19 more cases than the 3,576 cases recorded during the same time in 2024, a sharp increase in cases representing a 0.53% rise.

    The monthly breakdown of fire cases reported this year is as follows: January (964), February (678), March (619), April (483), May (457), and June (394).

    The Greater Accra Region recorded the highest number of fire incidents, with 628 cases, followed by the Ashanti Region with 581 cases and the Central Region with 408. The North East Region reported the lowest number of incidents—just 10.


    Head of Public Relations at the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Desmond Ackah, revealed that due to their improved and swift response to fire cases, they were able to save over GH¢203 million worth of properties.Fire outbreaks across the country in the first half of 2025 led to the destruction of properties valued at over GH¢188 million.


    Top causes of fire incidents, according to the Ghana National Fire Service, include electrical faults through illegal connections, poor wiring, and overloading of circuits; improper use of electrical appliances, such as overused extension cords and unattended devices.


    Also, unattended cooking, especially with gas, electric, or coal-based stoves. Careless use of naked flames like candles, mosquito coils, lighters, and matches, gas leakages, and poor handling of LPG cylinders are also responsible for fire incidents in the country.

  • Aboboya operators are undermining govt’s sanitation efforts – Chamber for Local Governance

    Aboboya operators are undermining govt’s sanitation efforts – Chamber for Local Governance

    President of the Chamber for Local Governance, Richard Fiadomor, has noted that despite the government’s efforts to eradicate filth in the country’s capital, Accra, illegal waste dumping continues to pose a major challenge.

    Addressing the media on Wednesday, July 8, Richard Fiadomor mentioned the activities of tricycle operators, popularly known as “Aboboya,” as a contributing factor to the increasing number of illegal waste-dumping sites in Accra and other major cities.

    According to him these individuals dump waste at unauthorised locations instead of designated disposal sites.

    “Some citizens who have used the services of these franchise companies have now ‘quote and unquote’ fallen in love with these Aboboya operators who are undercutting the prices of their services far less than the fee chosen resolution that has been approved by the assembly. So what do we see? We have seen that much of the waste is carried by these Aboboya collectors; unfortunately, they do not have what it takes to go to the long distances where some of the landfill sites are located.

    “They take the waste, sometimes they find their way in the night when you and I are asleep, and they dump it anywhere and go back. Some citizens have decided to use the services of the Aboboya collectors, and once they’re doing that, they are paying less…. they are okay with it. Those Aboboya people are now the ones creating the problems,” he added.


    The illegal disposal of waste has contributed to flooding incidents in Accra and some other regions.Ghana witnessed a series of flooding incidents on Monday, June 29, in parts of the Greater Accra Region and other regions following heavy rains.

    The rains, which started late on Sunday, June 28, left commuters stranded, brought traffic to a standstill, resulted in the deaths of several individuals, and the destruction of properties.

    While some victims managed to salvage a few belongings, many suffered devastating losses as floodwaters submerged their homes and properties.

    The current death toll from the flooding incidents, as confirmed by the Ghana National Fire Service Public Relations Department, stands at 34.

    The concerns have also heightened following recent flooding incidents in Accra, where several waste materials were seen being carried through floodwaters, raising questions about the impact of poor sanitation practices on public health and urban safety.

    Meanwhile, a report shared by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) last year revealed a worrying statistic: about two million two hundred thousand households in the country face poor sanitation, overcrowding, and unsafe housing conditions.


    Speaking at the launch of the report, the New Slums and Informal Settlements Thematic Report, on Monday, June 30, the Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, noted that these individuals have established their homes in slums and informal settlements.


    According to him, nearly one in three city dwellers in Ghana, representing about 4.8 million people, live in slums. He emphasised that other countries experience even higher rates of slum habitation, particularly within the sub-Saharan African region.


    “Roughly 30.8 per cent of the urban population, or 4.8 million people, are living in slums, a ratio that exceeds the global average of 24.7 per cent but is lower than the sub-Saharan Africa average of 53.9 per cent.


    “Additionally, 46.1 per cent of urban households, or over 2.2 million households, are living in slum conditions. That means nearly one in every two urban households is facing one or more of the four deprivations,” he added.


    He indicated that many households in urban areas are living in environments that do not support proper housing and urban development.


    The data revealed that the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions are heavily challenged by slum conditions, with Greater Accra recording 52.5 per cent and the Ashanti Region 51.8 per cent. The report noted that most of these dwellers live in rented accommodation.

    The other regions reported significantly lower proportions, highlighting a stark regional disparity.


    “The Northern Region (4.2 per cent), followed by Savannah (3.6 per cent) and Oti (1.1 per cent), recorded the highest extreme slum intensities. By extreme slum intensity, we mean the proportion of neighbourhoods that exhibit all four slum characteristics in the region.


    “But even in more developed regions like Greater Accra and Ashanti, over half of slum households live in rented accommodation,” parts of the report read.


    The Service described the findings as alarming and called for a collaborative national effort to address the growing housing and sanitation challenges.


    To check the rise in slum communities, the GSS called on local government authorities to implement targeted strategies within districts and municipalities.


    In February this year, the Member of Parliament for Ahanta West, Mavis Kuukua Bissue, noted that sanitation issues, homelessness, and the proliferation of slums remain critical challenges undermining the health, dignity, and economic potential of citizens, particularly the youth.
    She cited inadequate housing, economic hardship, unemployment, poverty, and rapid rural-urban migration as contributory factors to the expansion of slums, homelessness, and streetism.


    These challenges, she said, have also given rise to improper and indiscriminate waste disposal practices and the poor sanitation situation in the country.


    “We cannot continue to downplay the severity of this challenge, seeing the very danger it poses to our survival as a people,” she noted.


    Honourable Bissue proposed a national dialogue on rural-urban migration and economic empowerment, deliberations on housing and urbanisation strategies for rural communities, a national drive on proper waste segregation and disposal, public-private partnerships, the provision of labelled litter bins in designated areas and public spaces, and the strict enforcement of sanitation laws, among others.