President Akufo-Addo has appointed Lawyer Abdulai Bashiru Dapilah has as the Deputy Executive Director of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
His appointment, which, takes effect from July 20, 2023, in a letter signed by Nana Bediatuo Asante, Secretary to the President, revealed that it is pursuant to Section 13(1) and (2) of the Economic and Organised Crime Office Act 2010(act 804).
Lawyer Abdulai Bashiru Dapilah succeeds Charles Nana Antwi who attained the mandatory retirement age earlier this month after working with EOCO since 2017.
The new appointee until his elevation was the head of the Organised Crime Unit of EOCO since 2018.
Profile
Lawyer Abdulai Bashiru Dapilah joined EOCO in August 1998 as Assistant Controller/Assistant Staff Officer and rose through the ranks until his current position.
He is a product of the Ghana Law School, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), University of Ghana, Legon, T.I. Ahmaddiyya Secondary School in Kumasi and the Wa Secondary School.
Research experience
Presentation on Setting up an Intelligence Unit for a Small/Medium Size Organisation, FBI National Academy, June 2018.
Presentation on Prevention and Control of Economic Crime in Ghana, FBI Re-trainer Program, Zambia, September 2019
Presentation on Response of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to the government’s Anti-Corruption Policies under the Fourth Republic of Ghana. Institute of Distance Learning (IDL), KNUST, August 2011.
Presentation on Purview of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) Act 2010, Act 804, KNUST, 2012.
Career development
Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Nigeria in the Fight Against Cyber Crime and Serious Crimes – Abuja, Nigeria, June 2023.
4th Global Conference on Transnational Vehicle Organised Crime, Lyon, France, May – June, 2023
The 13th Regional Conference and AGM of Heads of Anti- Corruption Agencies in Commonwealth Africa, Seychelles, May 2023
FBI National Academy Re-trainer Program, Zambia, September 2019
FBI National Academy March to June 2018, United States of America.
International Law Enforcement Academy, April 2017, Botswana.
Financial Crime Scenes and Electronic Evidence, U.S. Embassy, Accra, December 2011, Accra.
Course on Banking and Finance for Financial Crime Investigation, Accra, 2010
Accounting and Finance for Non-Finance Managers, Accra, November, 2007
Training in Assets Recovery, Serious Fraud Investigation and Prosecution, (SFO, UK) London, December, 2006
Advanced Course in Financial Crime Investigation, by CID, Ghana Police Service Training School, July 2006, Accra.
Investigative Interviewing and Investigation Management by Crown Agents – GIMPA / Accra, March 2001 etc.
Committees served on
Committee on Law Enforcement Agencies and Banking Communities (COCLAP), Bank of Ghana.
Revenue Assurance Compliance Enforcement (RACE), Ministry of Finance.
Import Declaration Forms Audit Committee (IDF), Ghana Revenue Authority.
Inter-Agency Committee on Illicit Financial Flows Committee, Ministry of Finance.
Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa, GIABA.
United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
President Akufo-Addo has stated that the profound impact of the late literary icon, Ama Ata Aidoo‘s absence will be enduring and irreplaceable.
At her memorial service, attended by prominent figures in the literary and cultural spheres, Aidoo’s contributions to literature are honored.
During the burial service at the State House in Accra, President Akufo-Addo pays tribute to Aidoo’s unmatched talent and describes her as a literary icon whose words resonated worldwide. He acknowledges her groundbreaking works and ability to address complex social issues through captivating narratives.
The President highlights Aidoo’s advocacy for social justice, women’s empowerment, and African identity, praising her contributions to Ghana’s development and the African continent.
Aidoo, a renowned feminist and academic, passed away at the age of 81 after a brief illness. President Akufo-Addo expresses gratitude for her mentorship of young talents and cherishes their longstanding friendship.
He concludes by stating that Ama Ata Aidoo’s literary brilliance, indomitable spirit, and unwavering commitment to advancing African literature and culture will be deeply missed by Ghanaians and the world.
The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) leadership visited President Akufo-Addo at Jubilee House on August 19, 2021.
It’s easy to assume what could be the main topic of discusion, corruption. The President is quite knowledgeable about the topic, which helped him win in 2016 in part. His campaign was based mostly on accusations of mismanagement and corruption against the previous John Mahama administration.
However, many Ghanaians believe that, after six years in office, President Akufo-Addo’s high rhetoric on combating corruption, including assertions that he had adopted Investigative Journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas’s approach, was nothing more than empty platitudes. Even more concerning, many individuals believe that corruption has gotten worse under his administration, according to Transparency International’s corruption perception index.
Since taking office as president, Akufo-Addo has been observed to be lowering his vociferous rhetoric on the issue of corruption. Fact-Check The Fourth Estate, a sister investigative journalism source in Ghana, discovered that during the president’s two consecutive State of the Nation Addresses (in January 2021 and March 2021) he avoided mentioning corruption. In reality, Akufo-Addo avoided using any words related to corruption or graft in a combined speech from the two speeches that was approximately 13,000 words long. It was the first time a president had done that in 13 years.
The argument that President Akufo-Addo has funded accountability or anti-corruption agencies more than any other government will undoubtedly come up whenever he decides to discuss corruption.
He reiterated that when he spoke to the GACC’s leadership on the Jubilee House floor.
“I don’t think that any government has mobilised resources to give the opportunity for anti-corruption agencies of the state to function as efficiently as this government has done. It is a matter of record,” Akufo-Addo said.
This assertion has been Akufo-Addo’s defense against criticism that he made greater promises in the battle against corruption but delivered worse results for more than six years. After a year in office, he first stated this at the 2018 State of the Nation Addresses (SONA):
“I believe it bears repeating here that, thanks to these boring figures, for the first time in a long while, we have been able to provide better budgetary support to the constitutionally-mandated institutions that hold government accountable, i.e. Auditor-General, Parliament, Judiciary, Ministry of Justice, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and the Police,” he said
In both the 2019 and 2020 SONAs, President Akufo-Addo reiterated the assertion. He said that in 2021, his government had more than doubled the funding expenditures to anti-corruption organizations.
“That is why, within two years of being in office, we more than doubled funding for accountability institutions of state, like CHRAJ, EOCO, the Judiciary and the Auditor General,” Akufo-Addo said.
On Saturday, 8th July 2023, President Akufo-Addo embarked on a journey from Ghana to lead the Ghanaian delegation at the 63rd Ordinary Session of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government, taking place in Bissau, the capital of Guinea Bissau.
During this gathering, the Heads of State will engage in discussions regarding the withdrawal of MINUSMA from Mali, the progress of the ECOWAS Single Currency Programme, and the political challenges faced by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Guinea.
Accompanying President Akufo-Addo are Hon. Albert Kan Dapaah, the Minister for National Security, as well as officials from the Presidency and the Foreign Ministry.
The President is scheduled to return to Ghana on Sunday, 9th July 2023. In his absence, Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia will assume the responsibilities of acting President, as mandated by Article 60(8) of the Constitution.
President Akufo-Addo inaugurated the renovated Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra on July 4, 2023.
To showcase the facility to the public, a musical concert called the ‘Re-ignition Concert’ is scheduled for July 7, 2023, featuring performances by Samini, Kofi Kinaata, the High School Band, and others.
The event, hosted by Merqury Quaye, will commence at 8 pm and is free of charge.
President Akufo-Addo stated that 6,000 frontline workers will be available to assist visitors at the memorial park.
The renovation was necessary as the park had not been refurbished since its opening in 1992, under the late Jerry John Rawlings.
In his address, the President highlighted that the park has not only been renovated but also modernized to honor Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President and a pivotal figure in the country’s independence.
“The Park now has facilities including a presidential library, receptive facility, mini-amphitheater, restaurant, freedom wall, and a digitalised payment and access system. The mausoleum has also been fully refurbished, with the tombstone upgraded, and the museum expanded with an audiovisual tunnel. There is also an upgraded VVIP lounge, expanded recreational area, a modernized gift shop, and a fountain area with synchronised audiovisuals, the first of its kind in West Africa,” he said.
The President continued, “The thirty million cedi (GH¢30million) modernised Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park is in line with plans by Government to make the Park one of the best tourism and heritage attractions in West Africa. As the outstanding pan-Africanist of his generation, the burial site of Dr. Nkrumah must be appropriate to his status and exceptional contribution to the liberation of Africa from colonialism and imperialism.”
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, which attracted some ninety thousand visitors annually before the renovation, is now expected to attract over one million tourists annually.
Chief of Amoah Apagya in the Afigya Kwabere South District of the Ashanti Region, Apagyahene Nana Owusu Peprah II, has accused government of sabotaging his community in terms of development over claims he supports the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The Chief has also accused the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s government of tagging him as a member of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) for which reason no development comes to the area.
According to him, his community Apagya has been deprived of development because politicians in the region say he is a member of the NDC so they are not going to make his people enjoy their share of the national cake.
“In my own hometown Mpintin where I was born, the community is lit beautifully. They distributed street lights in all communities around but they said Nana is an NDC so they won’t give him some”, Nana Owusu Preprah II lamented
“They lied to me that, they ignored my community because the road is not tarred but let me ask, are the roads in those communities with street lights tarred? They just hate me. Anytime I ask for the developmental project they don’t give me, but God is on my side”, he added.
Nana Owusu Preprah II vented his frustrations days ago while addressing people of his community at a ceremony held to commission a newly constructed water project.
He earnestly pleaded with the authorities of the Afigya Kwabere South District to prioritize the improvement of the road connecting Kodie, Apagya, and nearby communities, urging them to refrain from engaging in political games.
The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Ayawaso Central Municipal Assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Ababio Quaye, has tendered his resignation due to health reasons.
In a letter dated July 2, 2023, addressed to President Akufo-Addo, the MCE explained that the nature of his illness has hindered him from fulfilling his duties effectively.
He stated that he requires extended medical treatment and a period of rest and recovery.
Alhaji Quaye expressed his belief that it would be in the best interest of the municipality for someone else to serve in his position.
He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve the government and contribute to the progress of the Ayawaso Central Constituency.
Schools at risk of closure if Free Senior High School Program’s food suppliers go unpaid by end of the week, according to Builsa South MP, Dr Clement Apaak.
He emphasized that the suppliers’ inability to continue food provision without payment.
Dr Apaak, a member of the parliamentary select committee on Education, has urged President Akufo-Addo to prioritize settling the owed arrears for the suppliers’ business sustainability.
“I truly don’t understand what the problem is, we have been told that even with the IMF programme critical sectors like education and health and indeed social intervention programmes are protected, so if that is the case why has the government failed to release money so that the Buffer Stock Food suppliers will be paid?
“From what I know, the amount owed them is not even in excess of GHS300 million. So what has the government been doing with the money that Parliament has been approving year in and year out to finance the Free SHS policy?
“The President ought to step up to the plate and do the needful so that we don’t have schools closed down by the end of this week if nothing is done. If nothing is done by the end of this week, mark my words, schools will be closed down because the suppliers are no longer in a position to supply food,” Dr Apaak said on Ghana Tonight on TV3 Tuesday, July 4.
Food Suppliers, currently staging a protest at the NAFCO premises, claim that they are owed two years’ worth of arrears.
The National Food Suppliers Association spokesperson, Koku Amedume, expressed their predicament, explaining that the unpaid arrears have caused immense pressure as they had taken loans from banks to fulfill their obligations to the Buffer Stock.
During an appearance on the Ghana Tonight Show with Alfred Ocansey on TV3, Amedume revealed that the suppliers, who even spent the night at NAFCO, find more comfort staying on the premises rather than returning to their homes due to the mounting pressure.
Furthermore, they are deeply concerned about the accumulating interest on the loans, resulting from NAFCO’s failure to make payments.
“The pressure on us at home is massive. Most of these people go to contract loans from banks with huge interests with the sole aim of supporting their business and engaging in this supply business.“Buffer stock had taken supplies from them for two years, for two years we have not been paid,” he said.
The renovated Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park has been opened to the public today, July 4, 2023, following its commissioning by President Akufo-Addo.
Situated on Accra’s former polo grounds, where Ghana’s independence was proclaimed, the park has been a popular attraction since 1992, attracting approximately 98,000 visitors annually and ranking among Ghana’s top 10 visited sites.
Over time, the park suffered from a lack of significant renovations, resulting in issues such as malfunctioning fountains, leaky roofs in the museum, and inadequate restroom and VIP lounge facilities.
Recognizing tourism’s importance for national development, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo designated it a key factor for social advancement. In 2018, he secured a $40 million loan from the World Bank to improve the tourism environment and develop sites and destinations.
With the recent renovations, the park is set to provide an enhanced and more memorable experience for tourists and history enthusiasts worldwide.
In July 2022, the Minister of Tourism, Arts, and Culture initiated a $3.5 million rehabilitation and redevelopment project for the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. The aim was to preserve its historical value, increase visitor capacity, and improve service delivery.
President Akufo-Addo has inaugurated phase three of the Five Districts Water Supply Project in Adaklu, Volta Region.
The project, costing €11.5 million and funded by Raiffeisen Bank International AG of Austria, will provide clean and safe water to 89,150 people in 95 communities.
The project includes the construction of concrete tanks, a water booster station, and water pipelines.
The government’s commitment is to ensure adequate and reliable water services across all regions of the country.
“We are also committed to ensuring that we practice safe sanitation and hygiene by the year 2030, in line with the attainment of the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our strategic goal is to use a multi-faceted approach, with emphasis on governance and sector institutional strengthening, to accelerate access to equitable WASH services throughout Ghana,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo highlighted the progress made by his government in providing clean water and sanitation for all.
He mentioned the commissioning of completed projects under the Water Supply Improvement Project and the Sustainable Rural Water and Sanitation Project, which have benefited various regions in the country.
These projects include the construction of piped water supply systems, support for latrine construction, and hygiene education.
The Rural Communities and Small Towns Water Supply Project is also underway, aiming to improve water delivery in multiple regions. The project is currently 17% complete and will benefit a population of approximately 282,000.
Urban Communities – “Water for All”
Touching on the “Water for All” Agenda in urban communities, President stated that the Keta Water Supply Project, being implemented by the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources through the Ghana Water Company Limited, would also improve the reliability and sustainability of water supply to a beneficiary population of some 422,160 in Keta and surrounding communities, at an estimated cost of €85,112,854.
Works under this Project, he indicated, are expected to be completed by December 2024.
Additionally, the Wenchi Water Project, being constructed at a cost of €39 million involves the construction of a new water treatment facility, and the rehabilitation of the existing ground water system to meet current and future water requirements of the community until 2045.
“The Project is expected to serve some 101,870 people living within Wenchi and its environs,” he said
On the Sekondi-Takoradi Water Supply Project, which would cost some €70 million, and which would serve a beneficiary population of some 1.4 million within Sekondi-Takoradi communities, President Akufo-Addo stated that the project is expected to be completed by September 2025.
“The feasibility studies for the proposed Sogakope-Lome Transboundary Water Supply Project are ninety-eight percent (98%) complete, and funding would be sought to achieve sustainable improvement to access to drinking water for four million consumers in the Project area. In Ghana, the Project beneficiaries will include the Southern Volta area, more specifically the Municipal/Districts of Keta, Ketu South, Ketu North, South Tongu and Akatsi South,” he added.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) through a directive issued by its Communication Directorate, has cautioned its members nationwide entrusted with the task of advocating for and promoting the government’s policies and projects to avoid engaging in personal attacks against Dormaahene, Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II.
The directive highlights the party’s commitment to maintaining a respectful discourse and focusing on policy-related discussions rather than targeting the individual personality of the esteemed leader.
This is after the respected chief who’s also a sitting High Court Judge called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Attorney General Godfred Dame to discontinue the criminal trial of the newly elected Assin North Member of Parliament, James Gyakye Quayson.
Speaking at the 10th Anniversary Lecture in honour of Prof. John Evan Atta Mills, the Dormaahene called on the President to intervene in the prosecution while the Attorney General and Minister for Justice files a nolle prosequi.
James Gyakye Quayson is facing trial for perjury at the High Court in Accra. He is facing charges of forgery and perjury about certain alleged offences in the run-up to the 2020 Assin North parliamentary election.
He has pleaded not guilty to five counts of forgery of passport or travel certificate, knowingly making a false statutory declaration, perjury and false declaration for office.
It is the case of the prosecution that Mr Quayson allegedly made a false statement to the Passport Office that he did not hold a passport to another country when he applied for a Ghanaian Passport.
In addition, the prosecution has accused Mr Quayson of making a false declaration to the Electoral Commission (EC) to the effect that he (Quayson) did not owe any allegiance to a foreign country when he filed to contest as a candidate for the Assin North seat in 2020.
However, speaking at the Bono, Bono East, Ahafo and Western North regional version of the Professor John Evans Atta Mills Commemorative Lecture in Sunyani on Saturday, July 1, 2023, the Dormaahene appealed for the A-G to drop the criminal charges against Quayson.
“As a matter of urgency, I [Dormaahene] am appealing to the President of the Republic [Akufo-Addo], if he has any role to play, that trial should be aborted, and the Attorney-General should as a matter of urgency file a Nolle Prosequi to end that particular decision” and abort the criminal case against Mr Quayson”, the Dormaahene said.
Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II insisted that it was needless for the AG to continue the case, after the chiefs and people of the Assin North constituency re-elected Quayson to be their MP, adding that continuing with the criminal trial was an insult to Ghanaians and the people of Assin North.
“I’m saying so because if we continue with this case, we’ll be insulting Ghanaians, especially people of Assin North. I don’t see the benefit that accrues to the country by continuing with the prosecution. Now that Gyakye Quayson has been re-elected, if he’s hauled before the court how can he effectively discharge his duty as a Member of Parliament? If he’s not allowed to help in formulating good laws to ensure the development of the country, how can he be blamed? It is on this plane that I appeal to the President, Mr President, you know I love you, but this matter cannot go on. Attorney General, you are a son of the Bono soil, please go through your laws and have a second look at this case.”
The public lecture was organised on the theme: “The man John Evans Atta Mills – 10 years on”.
Various speakers at the lecture described the late Prof Mills as a unifier, peacemaker, truthful, God-fearing man, humble, tolerant, listener, patient and selfless among others.
As part of the lecture, a 24-book page titled “Atta Mills Speaks to the World” was launched.
The book captured Prof Mills’ statements at the 64th, 65th and 66th General Assembly of the United Nations, during his term as President.
NPP communicators speaking note 03.07.2023
In view of the debate which has risen from the lecture, the New Patriotic Party communication directorate has told their communicators to respect the legal views of the Dormaahene even though they disagree with him.
A speaking note on 03.07.2023 sent across communications platforms of the party reads;
“Communicators should not attack the personality of the Chief though, we disagree with his call for the President to intervene or interfere with the independent work of the judiciary. 2. In the interest of equality before the law and the independence of the judiciary it will be better to allow the case to run its course. 3. The prosecution may determine whether to proceed or not; file a nolle prosequi or not if it becomes unavoidably clear that it does not have the evidence to advance the case. 4. Communicators should call on Ghanaians to support the Courts to do their work independently.”
President Akufo-Addo has stated that government is determined to achieve the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which focuses on providing access to water and sanitation for all.
He made this commitment during the inauguration of phase three of the five districts water project in Adaklu, Volta Region.
The project has successfully provided clean drinking water to a population of over 89,000 individuals residing in the Adaklu, Agotime-Ziope, and Central Tongu districts.
President Akufo-Addo emphasized the government’s dedication to ensuring that the lack of safe water in rural areas of Ghana becomes a thing of the past.
“Regarding SDG 6 with demands that we provide clean water and sanitation for all, the Akufo-Addo government has made significant improvement towards this objective.”
“You may recall at a ceremony in the Ho West District on the same day I cut the sod for the commencement of five districts’ water project, I commissioned completed projects under the water supply improvements project of the Ghana Spain Debt Swap Development Programme implemented by the Community of Water Sanitation Agency (CWSA) at a total cost of $3.7 million,” he stated.
Minister for Works and Housing, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has asserted that the government of President Akufo-Addo has committed more funds to tackling the perennial challenge of flooding and building resilience of communities than any other government in the country’s history.
The Minister said this is evident in the implementation of the comprehensive flood control and management programme that commenced between 2018 and 2020 under the National Flood Control Programmes (NFCP).
The Programme, has since seen the government committed GHC 450 million, making it the most substantial investment from a government to address flooding challenges in the country.
In a statement to Parliament on Thursday on measures being undertaken by the sector Ministry to address the perennial flooding, Asenso-Boakye stated that the government’s commitments to tackling the menace under the programme resulted in initiating 384 desilting projects and the commencement of the construction of 202 drainage channels.
“To date, 370 desilting projects, representing 96% have been completed and 84 drainage channel construction projects representing 42% have been completed, with the remaining 118 at various stages of completion”the Minister disclosed.
The impact of the investments, the sector Minister noted has been the mitigation of flood hazards in beneficiary communities such as Kuntunse Satellite, Achimota Mile 7, Katamanso, Mamprobi, Abeka-Ayigbe Town, Labadi Olympia, Nungua (United Church Area), Haatso, Madina Firestone, Madina Mayehot, Madina Redco, Madina Oblogo, Dome Crossing, Weija GEICEL, Kasoa Iron City, Kasoa Obom, Nsuoano stream in Ngleshie Amanfrom and Ashaiman.
“Other flood hot spots that are benefiting from the 2020 Programme include Kasoa Millennium City, Adenta Sakora, Nsakyi, Ablekuma, Dawhyenya Dome Railway Crossing, New Legon, Adenta, Sango and Naapladjor Drains, Kakum River, Birim River, Leprosarium Drain, Densu River, Korkordjor River, Owabi River, Sefwi Wiaso and Aboabo Drain.”
Asenso-Boakye indicated that the increasing risk of flooding in some parts of the country is largely due to improper solid waste disposal, disregard for planning rules and regulation, and rapid urbanization compounded by the adverse effect of climate change.
This, the Minister noted, has resulted in flooding in other urban centres, such as, Kumasi, Sekondi-Takoradi, Koforidua and Tamale that did not use to experience flooding.
The sector Minister also mentioned that the government, in partnership with the World Bank and under the Greater Accra Resilience and Integrated Development (GARID), is investing about $200 million towards reducing flood risks and addressing solid waste management challenges in the Odaw Drainage Basin.
The project, which is jointly being implemented by the Ministries of Works and Housing, Sanitation and Water Resources and Local Government, Decentralisation, and Rural Development, has already provided financial assistance to 17 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Odaw Catchment area for desilting key drainage channels within their respective jurisdictions.
“The procurement process for the dredging of the Odaw drainage channel, drainage improvement works at Achimota, Nima and community upgrades in Alogboshie and Akweteyman are almost completed. Construction is expected to commence in the third quarter of this year, following the implementation of the Resettlement Action Plan,” the Minister indicated.
President Akufo-Addo says Ghana’s belief in religious tolerance, harmony, and co-existence is iconic.
That enviable record, he said, ought to be maintained to deepen social cohesion and stability at all times.
“This country continues to be a haven of peace in the stormy waters of West Africa,” he noted while addressing the national celebration of the Eid-ul-Adha, at Independence Square, Accra.
Eid al-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice) is the most important Islamic holiday that commemorates the willingness of the Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to God’s command.
It is marked by the slaughtering of livestock, and distributing part of the meat to the poor.
The holiday begins on the 10th day of the Islamic lunar month of Dhul-Hijja, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage.
In Ghana, the Muslim community commemorated the day with the President and his Vice, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, assisting the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharabutu, to slaughter a lamb at Independence Square.
The sacred ceremony was characterised by prayers by the Muslim community for God’s guidance and blessings as the nation sought to overcome its development challenges.
President Nana Akufo-Addo reminded the people that Ghana’s constitution guaranteed the freedom of religion, therefore, it behooved the citizenry to respect each other’s beliefs and practices.
“As long as I remain the President, I commit to every religious tradition the opportunity to practise its faith within the bounds of the law,” he noted.
On Hajj, he stressed the need for the pilgrims to uphold the cardinal principles that underpinned the holy journey to Mecca as well as their safe flight back home.
“I was a bit disappointed to hear that from a president who is a lawyer”, Mr Quayson told journalists after his re-election in Tuesday’s by-election.
He said, “the good people of Assin North have demonstrated that they have a conscience and they believe in me and I have a vision to execute”.
Mr. Quayson polled 17,245 votes representing 57.56 per cent of the total valid votes.
He beat his archrival Charles Opoku of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) who polled 12,630 votes representing 42.15 per cent of the total votes.
A third candidate, Bernice Enyonam Sefenu, of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), polled 87 votes (0.29%).
Crowning the NPP’s campaigning in the lead-up to the by-election, President Akufo-Addo told the constituents of Assin North: “It is crucial for us to exercise our voting rights responsibly,” adding: “We should not support or vote for individuals who are entangled in legal controversies that may eventually lead them to face imprisonment”.
“We need someone who can come and help you. Someone who will work in your interest. I heard Gyakye Quayson say that, ‘Even in prison, you people will vote for him’. Can he work from jail? We vote for people to go to parliament to work. How can he work from prison? So, don’t vote for someone who will end up in jail. Vote for someone who can work to improve your lives”, the president urged the Assin North voters.
The by-election was conducted after the Supreme Court declared Mr Quayson’s 2020 election victory as null and void with reason that he held Canadian citizenship in addition to his Ghanaian citizenship, as of the time of filing to run for office in the 2020 polls.
After his by-election victory, Mr Quayson said: “I stood for justice and development and I still haven’t swayed, and I will continue to pursue the same agenda because that is the mandate Assin North has given me and this is a victory not just for me but for the people of Ghana and hopefully, one day, we will pursue a good direction of justice and also to realise that politics is not about sharing money to people to get a vote.”
He noted: “Democracy is about development, and we are going to set this trend along to make sure that people who are represented get a fair share of the national cake and how to develop their communities”.
President Akufo-Addo has urged Ghanaians to continue to support the government’s mandate in the ongoing efforts to revive the economy.
He reiterated that his government will honour promises made to revive the economy.
Speaking at the Eid-ul-Adha celebration, President Akufo-Addo expressed confidence in his government’s ability to bring about significant progress in the country.
“Muslim faithful, fellow Ghanaians, in the spirit of Eid, I asked you to continue to support the government, your government to deliver the needed progress and prosperity that we all seek.”
He also affirmed his promise to bring the economy back to life.
“I said in the height of the Covid-19 pandemic that we do not know how to bring back lives, but we know how to bring the economy. I stand by those words. We’re working to restore the economy to full health and Inshallah, we shall do so.”
In a related development, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, has prayed that Allah bestows wisdom on the leaders of Bawku in the Upper East Region to ensure that the conflict in the community is resolved amicably.
Speaking at the Eid-al-Adha celebration on June 28, he said the protracted conflict was a major concern since it has the ability to derail the peace the country has enjoyed.
Saying a prayer through his aide, he said “On this special occasion, I commit the whole nation to the care of Allah. Allah has kept order in our country and given us peace.
“We ask him to enhance peace and harmony. The situation in Bawku is of concern to us. We ask Almighty Allah to bring his peace to Bawku.”
Assin Central MP, Kennedy Agyapong, has asserted that the Assin North constituency will not see any development under the leadership of Gyakye Quayson, especially with President Akufo-Addo still in office.
Addressing Assin North Constituents ahead of the by-election scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, 2023, he contended that Gyakye Quayson cannot facilitate any development in the area for two reasons: since he is standing trial over his Canadian citizenship brouhaha and also because President Akufo-Addo is still in power.
“President Akufo-Addo is still the President and will remain the President for the next 18 months so if you make a mistake to vote for Gyakye Quayson you’ll experience two things; first he’s standing trial in and cannot report to Parliament and the Constituency frequently and secondly, he doesn’t have any direct access to the President to fight for or implement developmental projects,” Mr Agyapong told the Constituents.
He, therefore, entreated the gathering to vote for the NPP since voting for the NDC will only be a waste of votes.
Assin North is gearing up for a by-election scheduled for June 27, 2023, following a court ruling that Parliament should expunge the records of Mr Gyakye Quayson from its records.
Mr Quayson has been dragged to Court over claims he bears a Canadian citizenship in addition to his Ghanaian citizenship. This is against the laws of the state since the Constituency clearly prohibits persons who intend to contest in any national election from holding dual citizenship.
As it stands now, his fate is yet to be decided by the Court, however, he is optimistic his Constituents will re-elect him to represent them in Parliament.
MP for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, has asserted that President Akufo-Addo missed an opportunity to legalise LGBTQ+ rights during his early days in office. He argues that if the President had intentions to support the cause, he would have done so in 2017.
Ghana, like many African nations, faces ongoing debates and challenges concerning LGBTQ+ rights. The issue remains deeply divisive, with traditional values often clashing with more progressive perspectives.
Kennedy Agyapong, known for his outspoken nature, made the headlines with his assertion that President Akufo-Addo’s failure to act on this matter during his early presidency implies a lack of commitment to the cause.
“If Akufo-Addo wanted to do this in 2017, the NPP had 169 seats against NDC’s106 seats, if he intended to promote gay or lesbianism he would have done so at that time”, he said.
He went on to state that John Mahama on the other hand has a bosom friend who is a renowned gay activist by name Andrew Solomon and they have even shared a bed before.
“I am surprised that Mahama sat on the same bed and wrote a book for Andrew Solomon but comes here to Assin to say that if you vote for Charles Opoku as Parliamentarian, the laws would be changed at Parliament to promote same sex marriage”, he wondered.
He emphasized that the people of Assin abhor gay and lesbians activities.
South Dayi MP and Minority Chief Whip, Rockson Nelson Dafeamekpor, has blamed the Supreme Court for stalled development in the Assin North Constituency.
In a tweet, he told President Akufo-Addo that Assin North has not witnessed the needed development because the deposed Member of Parliament James Gyakye Quayson was stopped by the court from holding himself as an MP which affected his move to develop the constituency.
Mr Dafeamekpor indicated that if the constituency has not witnessed the required development, the President and government should be held accountable, not the opposition party.
“Assin North voted for Nana Addo and an NPP MP in 2016 yet both couldn’t develop Assin North by 2020.
“NDC MP wins in 2021 and immediately the Court stops him from working. Meanwhile, Nana Addo remains President yet he blames the injuncted NDC MP for not developing Assin North. Excuse promax,” Mr Dafeamekpor tweeted in reaction to President Akufo-Addo campaign message to Assin Nortn residents ahead of the byelection on Tuesday, June 27.
Meanwhile, President Nana Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has told constituents in Assin North not to vote for a candidate who is standing trial in court during the by-election.
Assin North voted 4 Nana Addo & an NPP MP in 2016 yet both couldn’t develop Assin North by 2020.
NDC MP wins in 2021 & immediately the Court stops him from working. Meanwhile Nana Addo remains Prez yet he blames the injuncted NDC MP for not developing Assin North. Excuse promax
— Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Esq. MP. (@etsedafeamekpor) June 26, 2023
Addressing a gathering in the constituency on Sunday, June 25, he said for the constituency to witness the needed development, a candidate with legal issues should not be voted for.
“They say even if Gyakye Quayson is in jail they will vote for him, are we going to vote for someone who is going to prison?
“What benefits will the people derive from voting for such a person? We want someone when he is voted for can come to me and plan how to develop the constituency.”
But former President John Dramani Mahama told him that the facts of the cases involving Adamu Sakande, the late Bawku Member of Parliament who was sentenced to two years imprisonment after he was found guilty of false declaration of office, perjury, and deposed Assin North lawmaker James Gyakye Quayson who is also standing trial for the same charges, are not the same.
Mr Mahama also told a gathering in the constituency on Sunday that “Don’t deceive the people of Assin North to believe that the two situations are the same.
“Adamu Sakande went to prison because he lied and concealed his passport. Gyakye Quayson has not hidden his passport. Prior to voting for him in 2020 Canada had accepted that he was no longer a Canadian citizen, what crime has he done?”
PresidentAkufo-Addo is set to inaugurate the inaugural Africa Energy Technology Conference (AETC) in Accra.
The conference aims to delve into innovative and cost-effective energy technologies that can contribute to Ghana’s economic advancement.
The event, slated for August 8th to 10th, 2023, is being organised by the Africa Energy Technology Centre (AETC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, will attract captains of industry, policymakers, researchers, and innovators across Africa.
At the media launch in Accra, Mr Herbert Krapa, a Deputy Minister ofEnergy, said the AETC Conference would offer the opportunity to energy stakeholders to find ways to leverage technology towards accelerating Africa’s economic and industrial growth.
He said about 600 million people on the continent did not have access to electricity, hence it was imperative to explore efficient, affordable and resilient energy technology to meet the electricity needs of the populace.
Mr Krapa said, in Ghana, the Government was diversifying energy sector by including renewable energy and nuclear energy as well as distributing cooked stoves and 350,000 solar bulbs to off-grid communities across the country.
The three-day conference is on the theme: “Africa at the Forefront of Energy Technology and Policy Integration in a Just Energy Transition.”
It aims to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation in the field of energy technology within the African continent.
It would also serve as a platform for stakeholders to engage in insightful discussions, exchange ideas, and explore sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the energy sector in Africa.
There would be an exhibition session, keynote speeches, panel discussions, interactive workshops, investment platforms and technology showcase.
Mr Thomas Manu, Board Chair of the Africa Energy Technology Centre, in an address read on his behalf, said the conference would enable stakeholders to adopt homegrown energy technology and other technologies to address Ghana and Africa’s energy requirements.
He cautioned that adopting any energy technology should not cause loss of jobs and adversely affect the economies of African countries.
Ms Emelia Akumah, the Founder and President of AETC, in her opening remarks, said some renowned energy experts and thought leaders would address a wide range of topics, including oil and gas, renewable energy, clean technologies, energy access, policy frameworks, deal rooms, and the role of innovation in driving Africa’s energy transition.
She said: “We are thrilled to host the AETC Africa Energy Technology Conference in partnership with the Ministry of Energy, Ghana”.
She believed that the conference would provide a unique avenue for stakeholders to share knowledge and explore innovative solutions that could propel Africa to the forefront of energy technology and policy integration.
“Our aim is to facilitate a just and equitable energy transition that prioritizes sustainability, inclusivity, and economic growth for the African continent,” she added.
Participants will have the opportunity to network, forge partnerships, and gain valuable insights from leading experts, fostering collaboration and driving the transformation of Africa’s energy landscape.
With Africa poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of energy, the AETC promises to be a significant milestone in accelerating Africa’s energy transition journey, Ms Akumah stated.
President Akufo-Addo is set to inaugurate the inaugural Africa Energy Technology Conference (AETC) in Accra. The conference aims to delve into efficient and affordable energy technologies that can contribute to expediting the economic growth of the country.
The event, slated for August 8th to 10th, 2023, is being organised by the Africa Energy Technology Centre (AETC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy, will attract captains of industry, policymakers, researchers, and innovators across Africa.
At the media launch in Accra, Mr Herbert Krapa, a Deputy Minister of Energy, said the AETC Conference would offer the opportunity to energy stakeholders to find ways to leverage technology towards accelerating Africa’s economic and industrial growth.
He said about 600 million people on the continent did not have access to electricity, hence it was imperative to explore efficient, affordable and resilient energy technology to meet the electricity needs of the populace.
Mr Krapa said, in Ghana, the Government was diversifying energy sector by including renewable energy and nuclear energy as well as distributing cooked stoves and 350,000 solar bulbs to off-grid communities across the country.
The three-day conference is on the theme: “Africa at the Forefront of Energy Technology and Policy Integration in a Just Energy Transition.”
It aims to foster collaboration, knowledge sharing, and innovation in the field of energy technology within the African continent.
It would also serve as a platform for stakeholders to engage in insightful discussions, exchange ideas, and explore sustainable solutions to the challenges facing the energy sector in Africa.
There would be an exhibition session, keynote speeches, panel discussions, interactive workshops, investment platforms and technology showcase.
Mr Thomas Manu, Board Chair of the Africa Energy Technology Centre, in an address read on his behalf, said the conference would enable stakeholders to adopt homegrown energy technology and other technologies to address Ghana and Africa’s energy requirements.
He cautioned that adopting any energy technology should not cause loss of jobs and adversely affect the economies of African countries.
Ms Emelia Akumah, the Founder and President of AETC, in her opening remarks, said some renowned energy experts and thought leaders would address a wide range of topics, including oil and gas, renewable energy, clean technologies, energy access, policy frameworks, deal rooms, and the role of innovation in driving Africa’s energy transition.
She said: “We are thrilled to host the AETC Africa Energy Technology Conference in partnership with the Ministry of Energy, Ghana”.
She believed that the conference would provide a unique avenue for stakeholders to share knowledge and explore innovative solutions that could propel Africa to the forefront of energy technology and policy integration.
“Our aim is to facilitate a just and equitable energy transition that prioritizes sustainability, inclusivity, and economic growth for the African continent,” she added.
Participants will have the opportunity to network, forge partnerships, and gain valuable insights from leading experts, fostering collaboration and driving the transformation of Africa’s energy landscape.
With Africa poised to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of energy, the AETC promises to be a significant milestone in accelerating Africa’s energy transition journey, Akumah stated.
The fourth accused in the trial over the alleged plot to overthrow the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government, has denied the charges brought against him. Maintaining his innocence, Johannes Zikpi, firmly stated that he never conspired with anyone to remove the president from office.
According to a report filed by the Chronicle newspaper on June 21, 2023, during the proceedings at the Accra High Court, which featured a panel of three justices including Afia Serwaa Asare-Botwe, Hafisata Amaleboba, and Stephen Oppong; Zikpi addressed the accusations leveled against him, refuting his involvement in the said plot.
The report further revealed that the accused contended that the prosecution’s claim of his involvement in a conspiracy to overthrow the government was entirely false, emphasizing that he was not acquainted with seven of the accused individuals.
In his testimony, the accused clarified that his association with the late Dr. Frederick MacPalm stemmed from his relationship with one Col. Samuel Kodzo Gamali, a senior military officer.
Zikpi further asserted that he had known the colonel since 2015, and it was he who introduced him to Dr. MacPalm in 2018 to assist with the treatment of his high blood pressure.
According to him, their connection was solely that of a doctor and patient, with no ulterior motives.
Furthermore, Johannes Zikpi strongly denied the prosecution’s claim that he was tasked with acquiring a communication jamming device to disrupt radio broadcasts.
He stated unequivocally, “I did not perform any role in terms of planning or providing any support for a coup plot, as alleged by the prosecution. I did not propose the procurement of Gota phones to any of the accused individuals to facilitate covert communication, contrary to their claims,” the newspaper quoted him to have said in court.
However, Zikpi informed the court that Dr. MacPalm had approached him in the past, seeking assistance with his telephone communication problems at the hospital and as a result, the deceased had asked him if he knew someone who could help him acquire a Gota phone to improve his network reception.
He explained that in response, he reached out to a colleague named Sergeant Ghartey, asking for assistance in purchasing the phone, however, Sgt. Ghartey clarified that Gota phones were strictly for security services personnel, thus ending the matter.
The report further revealed that Zikpi denied having sent a message to Dr. MacPalm on March 9, 2019.
Background
Dr. Mac-Palm together with two others; Ezor Kafui and Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu, were on Friday, September 20, 2019, picked up by a joint team from the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and the Criminal Investigative Department (CID) for plotting a coup against the presidency with the intent to destabilize the country.
The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, in a press release, revealed how state agencies detected and foiled a planned attack on the Jubilee House leading to the retrieval of several arms, explosive devices, and ammunition from Alajo and Bawaleshie in Accra and Dodowa respectfully.
Following the alleged coup attempt, the three accused persons were arraigned before the Kaneshie District Court and slapped with five charges.
Some of the charges they’re faced with are conspiracy to commit crimes; to wit manufacturing of arms and ammunition without lawful authority, possessing explosives and firearms without lawful excuse, and manufacture of firearms without lawful authority.
But reacting to the charges after court proceedings, Dr. Mac-Palm (now deceased) while being escorted by the BNI to his vehicle shouted by pleading innocent to the charges leveled against him.
According to him, he knows the truth will definitely come out for him to be vindicated so he is not in any way bothered about the whole issue.
However, the Kaneshie District Court presided over by the magistrate, Rosemond Dodua Agyiri, remanded them into BNI custody and ordered that family members and lawyers be allowed to visit the accused persons at the time.
Meanwhile, the leading suspect Dr. Frederick Mac-Palm is dead. According to information available concerning his death, he was said to have collapsed in the late hours of Saturday, March 25, 2023, and was later confirmed dead upon arrival at the hospital.
Member of Parliament (MP) for Takoradi Constituency, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has indicated that Ghana’s economic fortunes were improving after setbacks from the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war.
He said promises made to Ghanaians during the 2020 election campaign were carefully pursued by President Akufo-Addo and his capable teams through innovation, hard work, and good policies.
He said it was evidenced by the numerous projects such as Hospitals, roads, and factories that have sprouted across the country.
Darko-Mensah who doubles as the Western Regional Minister said this during a community engagement at the Amanful Electoral Area to discuss the current economic conditions in the country.
He indicated the Western Region was benefiting from many roads being built across the region, citing the Tarkwa-Agona Ahanta road and the Sekondi-Takoradi roads as examples.
Emmanuel Avevor, an NPP communicator, said President Akufo – Addo’s government was committed to providing the Western Region with the needed resources to enhance development in the Region.
He mentioned that the Region was benefitting from eleven (11) Hospitals which he noted were at various stages of completion.
Prince Arthur, Assembly Member for the Area, praised the MP for his unwavering support for the residents of Amanful.
The event was the fifth in a series, as communities like New Takoradi, Essikafo-Ambantem No. 2, and Zenith Electoral Areas have already been visited by the MP.
In a recently released memoir, renowned Ghanaian actress and movie producer Yvonne Nelson has expressed her regret over a photograph she took with President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo during his election victory in 2016.
Yvonne Nelson, known for her outspoken nature, claimed that the president had not lived up to the expectations in terms of general governance and economic management.
The memoir reveals that Yvonne Nelson and her friends visited the then president-elect Akufo-Addo to extend their congratulations shortly after the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its candidate emerged victorious in the 2016 elections.
According to her, the opposition won the election because, at that time, the nation was grappling with a severe power crisis, known as “dumsor,” which had resulted in significant job losses and adversely impacted small-scale enterprises heavily reliant on electricity.
She spoke about her involvement in the 2015 #DumsorMustStop protest before adding: “A year later, the opposition NPP and its candidate won the 2016 election. The power crisis and its effects were a major sin of the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC). Dumsor had resulted in job losses and dealt a deadly blow to the small-scale enterprises that depended on electricity but could not afford alternative sources of power. Even though the NDC administration resolved the crises at a huge cost and through shady procurement deals, the victims of dumsor, corruption, and mismanagement could not forgive the party at the presidential and parliamentary polls.
“The NPP, led by Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, won massively in both the presidential and parliamentary elections. Some friends and I went to congratulate the president-elect, Nana Akufo-Addo, with whom we took a photograph. It is a photograph I regret taking.”
She added that Nana Akufo-Addo, who was presented as an incorruptible leader and the antidote to corruption in the public sector and political space, has fallen short of expectations. “He was said to be incorruptible, and Ghanaians thought he was going to be the antidote to mass stealing at the highest level, which is euphemized as corruption. Unfortunately for Ghana and those who trusted in him, he has turned out to be a monumental disappointment whose government’s unbridled borrowing, corruption, and reckless spending plunged the nation into economic dumsor,” she wrote in her book dubbed “I Am Not Yvonne Nelson.”
In her book, Yvonne Nelson, among other disclosures, revealed that she was contacted by a person close to the president to become the parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the Ayawso West Wuogon Constituency in the 2020 general elections.
Acclaimed actress and film producer Yvonne Nelson has asserted that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, despite the promising image he projected during his time in opposition, ultimately proved to be a letdown.
The actress in her memoir said, Nana Akufo-Addo, who was presented as an incorruptible leader and the antidote to corruption in the public sector and political space, has fallen short of expectations. “He was said to be incorruptible, and Ghanaians thought he was going to be the antidote to mass stealing at the highest level, which is euphemized as corruption. Unfortunately for Ghana and those who trusted in him, he has turned out to be a monumental disappointment whose government’s unbridled borrowing, corruption, and reckless spending plunged the nation into economic dumsor,” she wrote in her book dubbed “I Am Not Yvonne Nelson.”
Yvonne Nelson’s activism is deemed by many political critics as very important in President Akufo-Addo’s eventual first-term election in 2016 after he had failed on two consecutive occasions.
The actress and movie producer, aside from being critical of the then National Democratic Congress government led by John Dramani Mahama, was a lead organizer of the famous ‘Dumsor Vigil’ on May 16, 2015.
The event was a public protest led mainly by people in the entertainment and arts industry with the aim of putting pressure on the government to end the energy crisis that was confronting the nation at the time.
However, since the election of the NPP into power in 2016 and their re-election in 2020, Yvonne Nelson, whose activities were deemed crucial to the NDC being voted out of office, has become critical of President Akufo-Addo’s government.
In her newly released book, Yvonne Nelson, among other disclosures, revealed that she was contacted by a person close to the president to become the parliamentary candidate of the New Patriotic Party for the Ayawso West Wuogon Constituency in the 2020 general elections.
While some critics have sought to associate her with the president and the NPP, the actress, in her book, while noting her disappointment in Akufo-Addo’s governance, emphasized that she “certainly does not wish to associate with a politician who is projected as one thing but becomes the polar opposite of that when elected into office.”
About the book
“I Am Not Yvonne Nelson” is an explosive and riveting account of a young woman who sets out to discover herself but finds out that she has been living with a false identity.
The drama and twists and turns of this moving story have all the markings of a spellbinding movie script, except that the protagonist, who is an actor, is contending with a reality that intermittently soaks her pillow with tears.
Uncharacteristic of an autobiography, the author comes to her audience stark naked. The book opens the door widely into the life of the author and exposes the good, the bad, and the ugly sides, not only of her life but also of the make-believe world of celebrities.
The launch was graced by many industry stalwarts, businessmen, and politicians, including John Dumelo, Adjetey Anang, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and Becca. Also present were media personalities, including Manasseh Azure Awuni, Sammy Forson, and GhanaWeb Entertainment Editor Abrantepa Benefo Buabeng.
The Spokesperson for Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr Gideon Boako, has rejected the claims that President Nana Akufo-Addo and his government have failed Ghanaians.
He said the President had not delivered on all his promises to Ghanaians, but he had done better than the previous government with his transformative policies that boosted Ghana’s economy.
“I admit that President Akufo-Addo and the NPP government haven’t done everything we promised to do and we haven’t also brought Heaven to Ghana, but we have performed far better than our political opponents,” he said on Peace FM’s ‘Kokrokoo’ programme.
“I do not accept that false narrative that the NPP has failed . . . If the economy has failed, then we, the NPP, don’t have to even go into the elections in 2024 . . . the economy has not failed,” he stressed.
Dr Gideon Boako urged, first, NPP delegates to vote overwhelmingly for the Vice President to become their flagbearer and, second, all Ghanaian voters to elect him President of Ghana.
From June 8 to 15, an IMF staff team led by Stéphane Roudet visited Ghana as part of its regular interaction with Ghanaian authorities and other stakeholders.
The discussions focused on recent economic developments and implementation of the Fund-supported programme approved on May 17, 2023.
At the conclusion of the visit, Mr Roudet issued a statement saying: “During the visit, we discussed recent macroeconomic developments”.
“Against a complex global economic backdrop, the Ghanaian economy is showing signs of stabilisation, with softening inflation, an increase in international reserves, and a less volatile exchange rate”, he observed.
He reported: “We also took stock of the authorities’ progress in meeting key commitments under the Fund-supported programme“, noting: “These will be formally assessed in the context of the first review of the Extended Credit Facility arrangement, which is expected to be undertaken in the Autumn”.
Mr Roudet pointed out that in discussing the progress on the debt restructuring operations, “we reiterated that timely restructuring agreements with creditors are essential to secure the expected benefits of the Fund-supported programme”.
He said: “IMF staff held meetings with President Akufo-Addo, Vice President Bawumia, Finance Minister Ofori-Atta, and Bank of Ghana Governor Addison, and their teams, as well as representatives from various government agencies, the Parliament’s Finance Committee, the private sector, and civil society”.
He said the staff “would like to express their gratitude to the Ghanaian authorities and other stakeholders for their constructive engagement and support during this mission”.
President Akufo-Addohas presented letters of commission to six new envoys, instructing them to promote investments for Ghana’s economic recovery agenda.
The six, all career diplomats, include the immediate past Director of State Protocol, Mr Samuel Yao Kumah, High Commissioner to Australia, Ms Doris Adzo Denyo Brese, Ambassador to the Czech Republic, and Mr Mohammed Habib Iddris, Ambassador to Kuwait.
The others were Mr Kingsford Amoako, Ambassador to Liberia, Mr Mark Michael Entsie, Ambassador to Libya and Mr Alex Wiredu Adu, Ambassador to Niger.
At a ceremony at the Jubilee House, Accra, President Akufo-Addo, after administering the Oaths of Allegiance, Secrecy, and the official oath, congratulated the envoys on their well-deserved appointments.
With their over two decades of experience in the foreign service, he said he was confident that they would make Ghana proud.
The President told the envoys that their appointments had come at a particularly important moment, where all countries, including Ghana, are working to return themselves to a state of normalcy, following the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, whose effects were worsened by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He said the two events had brought to the fore the need for nations to strengthen and deepen alliances and cooperation because “no country can afford to go it alone…we either succeed together or perish together.”
“And this is where your work as High Commissioner and ambassadors would be needed most,” he stressed.
President Akufo-Addo saidGhana had begun the process of reviving its economy with the three-billion-dollar facility secured from the International Monetary Fund, to repair the country’s public finances that had taken a severe hit in very recent times.
“Whilst we continue to work on the medium to long-term structural changes that are the heart of our goal of creating a Ghana Beyond Aid, I am confident that with determination, hard work, unity and the proverbial Ghanaian sense of enterprise, we would succeed, we would make it and indeed, this too shall pass.
The President told the envoys that his administration’s unprecedented flagship initiative, the GH¢100 billion post-COVID-19 Ghana CARES Obaatanpa Programme geared to stabilise, revitalise and transform Ghana’s economy, must be the pivot around which they engaged the rest of the world.
They should, therefore, familiarise themselves with the objectives of the Programme, because they represented “our surest way out of the pandemic and would thrust Ghana back onto the path of progress and prosperity.”
“Each one of you must help and contribute to the success of the programme by facilitating amongst other things, as much foreign investment into the country as you can,” he implored.
President Akufo-Addo asked them to work with their host governments and multilateral stakeholders in the fight against armed conflicts, terrorism and violent extremism, the threats of climate change, and the illicit flow of funds from Africa.
He urged them to always promote the image of Ghana, whose reputation amongst the comity of nations continued to be high.
“You represent a country that as a result of the commendable conduct of the Ghanaian people, is regarded as one of the most stable on the African continent. It is a functioning democracy, governed by the rule of law, and respect for individual liberties, human rights, and the principles of democratic accountability.
“We are regarded as a beacon of democracy in Africa, you are the most visible symbol of our country out there. In all your actions, you must jealously guard our country’s image… I am confident this is a charge you would keep,” he said.
High Commissioner Kumah on behalf of his colleagues thanked the President for the opportunity to serve the country and for the confidence reposed in them.
“President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has found it worthy and pleasing to appoint us as High Commissioner and Ambassadors. We are, therefore, deeply grateful to him for the appointment to serve this great nation.
“We pledge to do the utmost that merits the trust and confidence that the President of the Republic has reposed in us. In so doing, we will be guided by our core mandate to promote and protect the interest of Ghana and her nationals abroad to the best of our abilities so help us God,” he pledged.
President Nana Akufo-Addo is upbeat about the prospects of Ghana’s industrialisation drive following the Government’s massive investment in energy infrastructure.
He said countries seeking to industrialise in the 21st Century must aspire for a stable, efficient and affordable power supply.
President Nana Akufo-Addo, who was inaugurating the Accra Central Bulk Supply Point (BSP), at Adabraka, in the Greater Accra Region, explained that “electricity is no longer a luxury, but a necessity in this age”.
In view of this, he noted that the country was working assiduously to achieve universal access to electrification by 2025.
The US$40 million BSP project is a Japan-funded facility through its external technical agency, the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The project was conceived, following the decision to construct a BSP in proximity to the Accra Central Business District (CBD), and involves the construction of a 161/34.5 Kilovolt (kV) substation in a single bus configuration.
President Nana Akufo-Addo explained that the initiative was informed by the fact that the electricity load in the CBD was growing at a higher rate than the system average of 10 per cent per annum.
The Accra CBD has in recent times seen an upsurge in commercial and industrial activities, scaling up the power demands.
The President lauded the Japanese Government for assisting the country to build a vibrant energy sector, adding that, it was needed for rapid socio-economic growth.
The facility is the fourth major bulk power supply point to be inaugurated in the last 18 months, reinforcing Ghana’s determination to reduce to the barest minimum transmission and distribution losses.
“We are committed to keep the power on,” President Nana Akufo-Addo assured.
He was optimistic that the erratic power supply that marred the country’s socio-economic development some years ago would be a thing of the past given the Government’s bid to invest in energy infrastructure.
The Minister of Energy, Dr. Mathew Opoku-Prempeh said the country had worked hard to stabilise power supply, and commended the Nana Akufo-Addo-led Administration for its investment in the energy sector.
Mr. Mochizuki Hisanobu, the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, said his country cherished its long-standing partnership with the West African country and pledged Japan’s continuous support to Ghana.
The Ranking Member of the Lands and Forestry Committee of Parliament, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has called out what he describes as the non-commitment of the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government towards the fight against illegal mining.
According to him, it comes to the Members of Parliament on the Minority side of the House as a surprise that Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, who put in everything to produce a report on the illegal activity, is being targeted.
He explained that what the government should have been doing with the former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, is to treat him as an informant, and not as a culprit.
“A few days ago, we heard news about the arrest of Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, Nana Addo’s former Minister for Environment, Science and Technology. We find the arrest awkward and unimpressive because rather than working with the prof to get to the roots of the problem, he was seen as a culprit and not an informant.
“It creates the impression that this arrest is meant to becloud the accusation of government’s involvement, either directly or indirectly,” he stated.
Dr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo was speaking during a press conference in parliament when he made the comments.
He added that the government is showing very little commitment to the fight against the menace of galamsey, adding that if it was, it would have responded to the NDC’s request for an investigation into the IMCIM report.
He stressed that what the Nana Akufo-Addo government needs to do to show its resolve to this fight, is to go beyond the arrest of Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.
“In April this year, in response to revelations from the report on the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, and the involvement of key NPP operatives in the galamsey industry, we did a press conference to request an investigation into the report.
“To date, we do not know how far the government has gone with this exercise, except for the brazen arrest of the man who threw all he has to reveal the hidden truth in the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining.
We believe that if government wants to demonstrate seriousness on the fight against galamsey, it must go beyond the arrest of Prof Frimpong-Boateng. It should go wider by ensuring the arrest of government and Jubilee appointees at the heart of government,” he stated.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has since taken over the investigations into the report of the IMCIM, led by Prof Frimpong-Boateng.
President Akufo-Addo has reassured the nation that Ghana will never experience the return of “Dumsor,” a term used to describe the erratic power supply that plagued the country in previous years.
According to the president, under his government, electricity is no longer a privilege in Ghana like it was before he came to power.
Akufo-Addo, who made these remarks at the commissioning of a 161-kilovolt GRIDCo, Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Bulk Power Supply Point, could not help but jab his predecessor, John Dramani Mahama, who he accused of being responsible for ‘dumsor’.
“Our daily lives, from simple things such as charging our mobile phones, and keeping our electrical appliances working, to operating our offices and businesses, are run by electric power.
“Electricity is no longer a luxury but rather a necessity in this day and age, and we must commit ourselves to working hard to ensure that we achieve universal coverage in this country in order to spur on rapid rates of economic growth,”
“… I wish to reassure you all that my government will continue to work towards “Keeping the Lights on”, in spite of the global dynamics of energy pricing, because the alternative is not an option. We are not going back to dumsor, we leave that to President Mahama,” he said.
On the 161-kilovolt GRIDCo, ECG Bulk Power Supply Point, which was constructed under the Project for the Reinforcement of Power Supply to Accra Central, Akufo Addo said that it (the supply point) would help ensure the heart of the nation, Accra, keeps beating.
“It is evident that the execution of the Accra Central BSP project is consistent with the country’s power needs and development, with a GDP growth rate of up to fifteen per cent (15%) around the time of project preparation,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo continued, “The project we are commissioning today is a one hundred and sixty-one kilo-Volt Bulk Supply Point, which delivers on the government’s commitment to “Keep the Lights On”. It also guarantees stable, reliable and regular supply of electricity for the busy and bustling Accra Central Business District and surrounding areas.”
About Accra Central Bulk Supply Point:
This Bulk Supply Point is a gas-insulated sub-station, which is GRIDCo’s first sub-station with such technology. This is an innovation in technology applied in areas where spaces are significantly limited, thus large capacity switchgear and transformers, which are compact, can be installed.
The benefits of this Accra Central Bulk Supply Point, amongst many others, are to reduce transmission and distribution losses, ensure high reliability of electricity supply, and ensure a high level of personnel safety.
With the operationalisation of the Accra Central BSP, power voltages have become stable (protecting valuable equipment), power supply reliability has improved, and, with this, efficiency has been restored, reducing system losses as required by the regulator, Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).
In an effort to stop deforestation and address climate change, President Akufo-Addo launched the annual Green Ghana Day project in 2021.
With nationwide support, the initiative aims to restore Ghana’s lost forest cover and contribute to global efforts in mitigating climate change.
As part of this ambitious afforestation programme, Compassion International Ghana (CIGH) and its partners joined forces in 2022, distributing over 18,000 seedlings for planting on Green Ghana Day. Now, a year later, CIGH has taken the opportunity to reflect on the impact of these seedlings and unveiled a comprehensive monitoring tool, revealing the survival of 8,030 trees out of the 16,670 seedlings planted.
In a distinguished gathering at theAfienya District Policedurbar, attended by prominent community stakeholders such as Nene Tetteh Afutu III, Chief of Afienya; Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Nana Ofori, District Police Commander of Afienya; Reverend Raymond Afutu Nartey of Immanuel Methodist, Afienya; and Chief Imam of Afienya, Imam Amadu Rufai Alhassan, the National Director of Compassion International Ghana, Kobina Yeboah Okyere, emphasized the importance of effectively monitoring tree planting exercises undertaken on Green Ghana Day.
He urged that such monitoring becomes an integral part of the initiative to ensure the achievement of its afforestation goals. Furthermore, He disclosed Compassion Ghana’s mission to plant a tree for each participant enrolled in their programme, which currently stands at over 97,000 individuals.
District Police Commander, Chief Superintendent Emmanuel Nana Ofori, commended Compassion International Ghana and its church partners for their initiative in monitoring the planted trees. He encouraged the adoption of this mechanism to ensure accountability in future tree-planting exercises. The dignitaries present at the durbar, after delivering their remarks, actively participated by planting additional seedlings and monitoring those sown a year ago at the same venue.
Compassion International Ghana is a Christ-centered organization dedicated to transformative child advocacy and holistic child development, encompassing physical, cognitive, socio-emotional, and spiritual aspects. Their focus lies particularly on ‘releasing children from poverty in Jesus’ name’.
Through their church partners and global sponsors, Compassion Ghana aims to break the cycle of hardship by equipping children with the skills and resources necessary to improve their social standing and benefit their communities.
Operating as part of the global brand Compassion International, headquartered in Colorado Springs, United States, Compassion Ghana stands committed to their mission of creating lasting positive change in the lives of Ghanaian children.
As the Green Ghana Day initiative continues to gain momentum, the call for comprehensive monitoring of tree-planting exercises echoes through the words of the National Director of Compassion International Ghana. With the survival of 8,030 trees as evidence of progress, it is clear that effective monitoring should become the norm to ensure the initiative’s success in enhancing afforestation coverage and combating climate change.
The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council (GARCC) has dismissed reports suggesting that President Nana Akufo-Addo scolded Henry Quartey, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Friday, June 9 ‘Green Ghana’ event in Accra.
There have been various interpretations of a viral video that emerged from the event, which appeared to show the President expressing disapproval of an incident at the event to Mr Quartey when the National Anthem was played.
President Akufo-Addo was the Special Guest of Honour at the event, which marked the 2023 national tree planting exercise, at the University of Ghana campus.
In a statement signed and issued by the Acting Chief Director of GARCC, Mrs Jemima Lomotey the Council explained that the President had directed the Regional Minister to take prompt action regarding some invited guests who chose to remain seated and disregard the National Anthem that was played before the start of the programme.
“The President and all others had been up on their feet in patriotic reverence to the National Anthem. Acting on the President’s directive, the Regional Minister promptly approached the individuals concerned and gave them the necessary information and guidance.
“It is important to emphasise that the Regional Minister sat alongside H.E. the President throughout the entire event, exemplifying their harmonious collaboration,” it said.
The Council said it felt compelled to clarify issues following what it described as unfortunate interpretations of the video.
“We, therefore, urge the public and all well-meaning persons to disregard the contemptuous spin to the video, which appears crafted to create unwarranted public disaffection,” it said.
Meanwhile, in a related development, Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw, the Chief of Mempeasem in Accra, who also graced the event, has apologised to the nation for not standing up to observe the National Anthem at the event.
In a statement, the Chief explained that he was not feeling well on the day, hence his inability to be on his feet when the national anthem was played.
President Akufo-Addo has expressed his determination to continue being a dependable and trustworthy partner to the Judiciary even as a new Chief Justice has been appointed.
He made the pledge during the swearing-in of the newly appointed Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
“I want to assure Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo that just as I did with her predecessor, I will be a dependable and trustworthy partner of the judiciary,” he said. The President, during the address noted that this is to ensure that: “the Executive and the Judiciary work together in the spirit of mutual respect to consolidate the tenets of good governance for the benefit of the Ghanaian people.”
Justice Gertrude Trokonoo was sworn into office as the 15th Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana today, June 12, 2023, by President Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, with dignitaries including Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in attendance.
She was nominated in April 2023 to succeed Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, who retired from the position on May 24.
Her swearing in followed the official approval of her nomination as the Chief Justice of Ghana by Parliament.
Parliament’s decision also came after the Appointments Committee unanimously endorsed her candidacy following her vetting on May 26, 2023.
Addressing the gathering and Ghanaians during her swearing-in ceremony, President Akufo-Addo expressed confidence in the Chief Justice.
He emphasised the importance of a strong and independent judiciary as a cornerstone of a thriving democracy. He acknowledged the vital role played by the judiciary in upholding the rule of law, safeguarding justice, and protecting the rights of all citizens and expressed the hope that the Chief Justice will execute her duties with diligence in order to ensure a strong Justice system.
Furthermore, the President expressed his unwavering commitment to supporting the judiciary in its quest for excellence and efficiency.
“I congratulate her warmly on her appointment and I wish her the best of luck and Godspeed in the discharge of her duties of her high office,” he said.
In an unexpected turn of events, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of Ghana found himself in the midst of controversy as he displayed an uncharacteristic rage during a public ceremony on Friday, June 9, 2023.
The incident, captured by the media, happened during a ceremony held in commemoration of the Green Ghana Day.
On Friday, June 9, 2023, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was captured flying into a rage at a public ceremony.
The president, during a ceremony at the Green Ghana Day event held at the University of Ghana, was captured reacting furiously and instructing the Greater Accra Regional Minister to take some action.
However, a graphic.com.gh report has revealed the actual reason behind the incident.
According to the report by Graphic’s presidential correspondent, Donald Dapatem, the president’s fury was ignited by a decision by the Chief and elders of Mempeasem, who were present at the event, to refuse to stand for the national anthem.
Nii Torgbor Obodai Ampaw and his elders, contrary to protocol, refused to stand to the tune of the national anthem by the Ghana Armed Forces Band immediately after the arrival of the president.
This was after the MC for the event, Kafui Dey, had announced that the gathering stands for the anthem.
Inaudible for the most part of his rage, President Akufo-Addo is heard telling the regional minister to “go and tell him…, stand up…”
Henry Quartey, who, on the orders of the president, walked out of the frame in the video, is said to have approached Nii Torgbor and his entourage and held a brief discussion.
The aftermath of the discussion, according to the report, was followed by the brisk participation of the chief and his elders in all the events at the ceremony, including standing upright for a subsequent national anthem, which was played to mark the end of the event.
It is, however, not known what prompted the initial refusal of the chief and his elders to stand for the national anthem.
Green Ghana Day was introduced in 2021 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as part of an aggressive national afforestation/reforestation program to restore the lost forest cover of Ghana and to contribute to the global effort to mitigate climate change.
Annually, the event has seen millions of trees planted across the country.
The 2023 edition was marked under the theme “Mobilizing for a Greener Future” and targeted the planting of some 10 million trees.
Seedling contractors in Ashanti Region are demanding GH¢28 million Ghana cedis from government for supplying seedlings for Green Ghana Daycelebrations in 2021 and 2022.
This was contained in a report by citinewsroom.com.
The association reportedly tried various interactions with the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Forestry Commission, but despite numerous guarantees that the government would pay them, each one turned out to be ineffective.
The Secretary of the Ashanti Region Seedlings Contractors Association, Gloria Amponsah, who spoke to the media house, called onPresident Akufo-Addo to ensure the members are paid.
“I want to plead with the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and the President that we have done our part, so they should pay us. Because if you don’t pay us, how can we go into another project?” she said.
Earlier today, June 9, 2023, the 2023 edition of the Green Ghana Day was held to plant trees.
The government, this year aimed to plant 10 million trees nationwide.
The Minority Caucus in Parliamenthas warned the government against using Green Ghana Day celebrations as platforms for corruption.
According to members of the caucus, such programmes in the past, have been used to siphon money from the state and the taxpayer.
Green Ghana Day is an initiative launched in March 2021 by President Akufo-Addothrough the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources aimed at planting trees across the country.
The maiden edition was held on June 11, 2021, where an estimated seven million tree seedlings were planted across the nation.
According to an account made by the president, 85% of trees planted during the maiden edition were successful.
In the second edition of the project, the president announced government’s plan to plant an additional 20 million trees in support of the Green Ghana Project in 2022.
But speaking in Parliament on June 9 to mark the third edition of Green Ghana Day, the Deputy Ranking Member on the Lands and Forestry Committee, Alhassan Suhuyini raised the concern that government has not been transparent in accounting for the monies that go into the project.
Mr Suhuyini said “The President in 2022, in his State of the Nation Address (SONA), revealed to this House that they had successfully planted 7 million trees, 2 million more than was initially planned to be planted. However, the Minister, weeks earlier, in an answer to a question in this same house, reported that only about 4.89 million trees were planted.
“Mr Speaker the question therefore is, how many trees indeed were planted and how much did we throw at the plantation of these trees?” he interrogated.
Furthermore, Mr. Suhuyini stated that parliament should ensure that this initiative does not become an institution that siphons taxpayer funds, as climate finance must be optimised for impact and effectiveness.
Additionally, he stressed that the ultimate way to ensure the aforementioned is for parliament to ensure that, “strategies are put in place to change finance and to ensure that finance that is meant for climate change and its mitigation and its adaptation are not misapplied and also give us [Ghanaians] less optimal value.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Samuel Abu Jinapor provided an update on the two previous Green Ghana editions to the House.
He claimed that the success rate of the planting done in 2021 amounted to an excess of 80%, whereas that of the planting done in 2022 was an excess of 70%.
The Minister also reiterated that Green Ghana Day is one of the efforts made by government to replenish Ghana’s depleted forest cover and support the world’s efforts to halt climate change.
The Municipal Chief Executive of Keta, Emmanuel Gemegah, has been accused by some youth in the area of abusing his authority in the sale of premix fuel.
The youth say that the MCE has shrouded the sale and distribution of the commodity in secrecy.
In a press statement issued on Wednesday, June 7, the youth group said that the MCE’s actions are affecting the fisherfolk, their families, and the entire municipality.
They called on President Akufo-Addoand the Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture to immediately investigate and take the necessary measures to curb the situation.
The Concerned Youth have also threatened to stage a mammoth protest if the appropriate authorities ignore their concerns.
The statement said: “It is obvious that in Ghana, fish and fisheries are integral parts of livelihood, culture, and heritage in all coastal-fishing communities, and this makes important contributions to the socio-economic development and well-being of the people, especially the people of Keta Municipal Assembly.”
“However, the sale of consignments to fisherfolk in the Keta Municipal Assembly (KeMA) of the Volta Region has been bedevilled with improprieties and lack of transparency and accountability, and abuse of power by various MCEs, and it is worst under the leadership of Hon. Emmanuel Gemegah.” MCE rejects allegations
Meanwhile, the MCE, in an interview, denied the allegations.
He said that the youth smuggle the product to neighbouring countries without giving it to the intended fisherfolk.
“It is not true,” he said. “I was not in town and I only returned to town yesterday. But they forwarded their press release to me.”
“What I can say is that, I have information that some premix fuel will be arriving this morning. I have only worked against them smuggling the premix fuel to neighbouring countries and hoarding same. That is my only crime.”
Justice Gertrude Torkornoo has officially been approved by parliament as Ghana’s Chief Justice.
The decision came after the Appointments Committee of Parliament unanimously endorsed her candidacy following her vetting on May 26, 2023.
President Akufo-Addonominated Justice Torkornoo in April 2023 to succeed Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, who retired from the position on May 24.
During the debate on the committee’s report before her confirmation by the house, Governs Kwame Aybodza, the Minority Chief Whip, urged Justice Torkornoo to surpass the performance of her predecessor, Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, as he left behind a legacy of miscarriages of justice.
The Minority had initially suspended its consensus approval of the Chief Justice nominee, pending the full judgment of the Supreme Court on the dual citizenship case involving James Gyakye Quayson, the former Member of Parliament for Assin North.
Addressing the media on Tuesday, June 6, the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga said although the minority caucus disagrees with the ruling of the apex court, it will not withhold its approval of the Chief Justice nominee.
“Thankfully, the reasoning in the James Gyakye Quaysoncase has been delivered by the Supreme Court earlier than 7th June. This has afforded us the opportunity to review the reasoning. The nominee for the post of Chief Justice (Justice Gertrude Araba Essaba Torkornoo) told the whole world that she is a textualist in her preferred approach to interpreting the Constitution of Ghana 1992.”
Below is the full profile of Justice Torkornoo
Full name: JUSTICE GERTRUDE ARABA ESAABA SACKEY TORKORNOO
Supreme Court, Judicial Service of Ghana
Date of Birth – 11th September 1962.
Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo (Mrs ) joined the Judicial Service in 2004 as one of the first Justices of the Commercial Division of the High Court. She has been active in the core reform agenda and activities of the Judiciary and the Judicial Service of Ghana (JSG) since 2005.
The organs through which these reforms have been implemented have included the specialized divisions of the High Court, the Judicial Training Institute, administrative committees set up to ensure the implementation of the automation and digitalization of court work and administration of JSG, the streamlining of alternative dispute settlement mechanisms in justice delivery, and communication channels between the Judiciary and its stakeholders.
Leadership Profile
The leadership roles Justice Sackey Torkornoo has played in ensuring the achievement of judicial reforms include being vice chair of the E-Justice Oversight and Implementation Committee (E-Justice OC) from its inception in 2019 and chair of the E-Justice OC since August 2021.
She has served as a member of the faculty and Governing Board of the Judicial Training Institute, vice chair of the Internship and Clerkship Committee of the Judiciary since 2012, Supervising Judge of the Commercial Division of the High Court since 2013, member and chair of the E-Judgment Committee since 2010, member and chair of the Publications and Editorial Committee of the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana since 2006, and member and chair of various ad-hoc committees needed for the smooth administration of the work of JSG.
Justice Sackey Torkornoo has served as a judicial leader in the development and oversight of several reform projects of the Judiciary involving the European Union, USAID, DFID, and collaborations with other African countries. She has also been a member of the Law Reform Commission since 2016.
E-JUSTICE Oversight and Implementation Committee
The leadership requirements of this Committee include liaising with all external stakeholders in the provision and sustainability of the infrastructure of the E-Justice, setting up and overseeing the activities of all staff, Judges and committees involved in managing the infrastructure, ensuring cultural change from the use of manual systems to operating in the virtual realm and planning for the progressive achievement of electronic justice delivery nationwide.
Currently, her work as chair of E-Justice includes ensuring the streamlining into efficiency, the use of the Ghana Case Tracking system commenced as part of the Security Governance Initiative implemented by the Judicial Service of Ghana, Ghana Police Service, Economic and Organised Crimes Office, Ghana Prisons Service, National Signals Bureau, and Ministry of Justice and Office of the Attorney General. This work is being supervised by the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization.
The E-Justice Oversight Committee has also conducted a close examination of the High Court Civil Procedure Rules CI 47, the District Court Civil Procedure Rules CI 59, and the Criminal and Other Offences Act Act 29 to ensure that all rules that govern judicial proceedings allow for easy implementation of E-Justice. The outcomes of that work will be presented to both the Rules of Court Committee for statutory reforms, and to the Ministry of Communications and Digitalization for incorporation into the scope of works for the next phase of E-Justice deployment.
Supervision of the Commercial Division of High Court
As Supervising Judge of commercial courts since 2013, Justice Sackey Torkornoo has set the agenda for and chaired the meetings and programs of the Users Committee of the Commercial Courts. She has quietly ensured the sustenance of a keen culture of efficiency in the commercial division of the High Court nationwide through leadership initiatives such as ‘brown bag learning sessions’ for Judges of the court, consistent meetings with staff and leadership of the court, engagements with external service operators such as process servers, valuers, auctioneers and the Users Committee of the court and presentation of policy briefs to Chief Justices on needed reforms in commercial justice delivery as well as the administrative needs of the court.
Justice Sackey Torkornoo presided over the implementation of the Business Environment Engineering Project (BEEP) funded by the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom.
Her leadership directions in that project ignited and provided the Ministry of Trade and Industry with guidance on the introduction of Users Committees into other institutions that participated in the BEEP project. The BEEP project further influenced the active development of the Business Environment Reforms being streamlined into national institutions by the MOTI.
She serves as chair of the Technical Working Group on ‘Enforcing Contracts’ set up to steer change in the business law environment. Outcomes of the work of the BEEP project within the Judiciary included the design of necessary reforms in the monitoring and evaluation of data collection currently being implemented by the Judiciary, the design of necessary reforms in the post-judgment and execution part of justice delivery, and reforms in streamlining of ADR in commercial justice delivery in Circuit and High Courts that led to the passage of High Court (Civil Procedure) Amendment Rules 2020, CI 133.
Judicial Training
As part of the faculty of the Judicial Training Institute since 2005 and a board member of the JTI since 2018, Justice Sackey Torkornoo has actively participated in initiatives to enhance the learning of Judges through awareness of distinctions between judicial skills, the social context of judicial work and core black letter law. This work has included being a trainer of trainers, the development of a curriculum for teaching Judicial Ethics, a manual for training in Judicial Ethics, and the lacing of applications of ethical principles into the daily routines of Judges. Through being a constant trainer in Judicial Ethics, she has worked to motivate Judges to aspire to excellence through the development of research and writing skills, case and courtroom management, as well as the application of judicial ethics in their work and private lives.
Learning Resources
After assuming the chair of the Editorial Committee for the Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana in 2009, Justice Sackey Torkornoo led the publication of an annual magazine for Judges, ensuring that issues pertinent to the development of competence in the judicial career and the discharge of the Judiciary’s constitutional mandate were brought to the fore in this magazine. She has also chaired the E-Judgment Committee responsible for developing electronic research resources for Judges since 2012 and has achieved the current creation of an e-judgment research resource with key-word search-ability properties for Judges.
In her work as vice chair of the Internship and Clerkship Program, Justice Sackey Torkornoo has actively participated in the smooth administration of the internship and clerkship program run jointly with law faculties, law firms, the Judiciary, the Ghana Bar Association and the Ghana School of Law since 2012.
Awards
In 2010, Justice Sackey Torkornoo became the first awardee of a scholarship by the International Association of Women Judges, after a global selection process. She undertook and excelled in an LLM in Intellectual Property, International Law and Internet Law at the Golden Gate University, San Francisco where her thesis on reforming Ghana’s Copyright Law relating to Folklore and Art was published as the lead article in the University’s Annual Survey on Comparative and International Law.
In 2015, she was awarded the Women of Excellence Award in Judicial Integrity under the auspices of Ministry for Gender, Child and Social Protection.
In 2016, she was made a Fellow of the Ghana Institute of Construction.
While not compromising on the quality of her courtroom work and judgment writing, Justice Sackey Torkornoo has become noted for excellence in administrative leadership, continuing study, teaching, writing, and the judicial ethics of competence, diligence and integrity. She has served under and worked closely with four Chief Justices namely Chief Justice George Kingsley Acquah (decd), Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood (Rtd), Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo (Rtd) and Chief Justice Anin Yeboah.
She was promoted to the Court of Appeal in October 2012 and to the Supreme Court in December 2019.
CURRICULUM VITAE
JUDICIAL WORK
Dec 2019 – date: Justice of the Supreme Court of Ghana, with responsibility for constitutional cases, final appeals over chieftaincy cases, supervisory jurisdiction over superior courts, final appellate jurisdiction in the judicial hierarchy, and presidential election petitions. Panel member in the 2021 presidential election petition.
OCT 2012 – APRIL 2019: Justice of Court of Appeal, Ghana with responsibility for hearing and determining appeals from High Courts. Sat on the court of appeal panels in Kumasi (Oct 2015- July 2017), and Tamale (Oct 2017 to December 2019).
Averaging two judgments a month, she assisted with and wrote more than 180 well-researched appellate judgments on substantive law, legal philosophies, rules of procedure & equity, delivered with a focus on doing substantial justice and avoiding miscarriage of justice.
MAY 2004 – OCT 2012: Justice of High Court, Ghana and Judge / Neutral with responsibility for court-assisted mediation & negotiation in pre-trial settlement conferences.
During the period, she wrote more than 150 well-researched judgments delivered after the adjudication of commercial disputes; and more than 350 disputes were resolved and un-appealable decisions were recorded after mediated settlements.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND SUPPORT WORK IN JUDICIARY
Chair, E-Justice Committee – Leading the planning of automation of all levels of courts, procurement and incorporation of the use of electronic resources and software in the work of Judicial Service
Supervising Judge – With oversight responsibility for the smooth running of Commercial Divisions of High Courts since 2013.
Chair, ‘Enforcing Contracts’ Subgroup of the Business Regulatory Reform Program – A program for designing and implementing interventions to ensure efficient enforcement of contracts with funds from the World Bank and executed under the auspices of the Ministry for Trade and Industry.
Chair, The Business Environment Enablement Program – Multimillion pound sterling project for reforming commercial justice delivery implemented by the Judiciary with funds from DFID, United Kingdom between 2015 and 2020.
Chair, E-Judgment Committee – Planning and implementation of electronic library resources for the Judiciary and Judicial Officers since 2015.
Vice-Chair – Internship and Clerkship Program for the Judiciary.
Faculty Member – Judicial Training Institute – facilitating learning in Judicial Ethics, Judgment Writing, Case Management, Courtroom Communication, and Commercial Law.
Member – Governing Board of Judicial Training Institute – Responsible for planning and monitoring training programs and learning resources for the Judiciary and Judicial Service staff.
Member, Editorial Committee of Association of Magistrates & Judges of Ghana – Responsible for leading the publication of Journals, Newsletters & Magazines for the Judicial Service and the Judiciary.
Member – Committee responsible for the development of the Judicial Charter and other written resources for the Judiciary.
Chaired interview panels for the engagement of senior officers of the Judicial Service.
Chaired various committees for procurement of equipment and construction services for the Judicial Service.
PRE-JUDICIARY WORK EXPERIENCE
1997-2004 Managing Partner, Sozo Law Consult – Law Firm providing consultancy services for business ventures, project planning and supervision, advocacy in litigation, arbitration and negotiations;
Chief Executive of SLC Law Forum – A Publishing, Training & Research Support Service for Business Law (subsidiary of Sozo Law Consult). Organized several training programs in Commercial Law topics and legal skills such as negotiation of project contracts for the business community. Undertook consultancy services for the Business Law Division of the Ministry of Justice. Led the publication of A Handbook on Business Law, and the annual publication of Legislative Watch;
1994-1996 – Director, Fugar & Co, Accra Responsible for assisting with the management of the law firm and its project initiatives while continuing to work as solicitor and barrister
1987-1994 – Associate, Fugar & Co, Accra
Working as Solicitor engaged in the negotiation & drafting of commercial agreements, project documentation; company secretarial services; Barrister assisting with or leading litigation in all levels of courts
During this period, she also worked as:
External Solicitor for City of Tema – Giving legal advice on Administrative Law issues for the Tema Municipal Assembly; commencing and defending legal actions against TMA; leading the negotiation of development projects for the municipality.
Facilitator in Construction Law and Project Management Training Programs for the Ministry of Roads & Highways, Ghana Institute of Engineers, Ghana Institution of Architects, Ghana Institute of Construction.
Awards:
1989 – Received award from the International Bar Association for the top essay in a global essay competition on international law considerations in project contracts organized to assist with increasing knowledge of lawyers in construction and project contracts. The prize included cash and working in the Construction Law Department of Nabarro Nathanson, a top 20 law firm in London, UK
Academic Research, Articles, Publications
‘The Doctrine of Sovereignty in International relations v. The doctrine of Sanctity of Contracts – The case of renegotiating the Ghana Valco Agreement’.
International Business Lawyer Dec 1989
‘Human Rights, Indigenous Rights, Minority Rights, Looking at the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through the lens of tribal groups in Ghana’.
Research Paper on International Human Rights submitted as part of an LLM Requirement; Golden Gate University 2011.
‘Nuremberg, Congo, and Libya, Has Might Remained Right Or Right has become Might; A Look at the International Commitment to peaceful resolution of Conflicts.
Research Paper on Peaceful Settlement of Disputes Between Nations submitted as part of an LLM Requirement; Golden Gate University 2011.
‘Fitting Square Pegs in Round Holes – The Vexed Question Of Harmonizing International Legal Regulation Of Traditional Cultural Expressions in Intellectual Property Law’
Research Paper presented at Fulbright Symposium on International Law Developments, Golden Gate University, San Francisco, 2011
Creating Capital from Culture, Rethinking the Provisions on Expressions of Folklore in Ghana’s Copyright Law
Volume XV111, Spring 2012; Annual Survey of International & Comparative Law, Golden Gate University School of Law
Considerations (Non-Considerations) of International Law in Domestic Decisions of the Superior Courts In Ghana
Judicial Journal, 2014
‘The Case for Prioritization of Commercial Justice Reforms in Africa: Lessons from Ghana’ –
Paper delivered at Conference on Administration of Commercial Justice in Africa – Arusha, TANZANIA, September 2007
‘A review of Remedies in Intellectual Property Cases under Civil Procedure Rules 2004 CI 47’ –
Presented at Conference on ‘Reviewing the Scope of Intellectual Property laws in Ghana’ – WIPO/Judicial Service of Ghana, June 2008
Judicial Ethics Training Manual (Chief Editor), 2009
‘Can we thrive in a virtual world’
Presented at ‘2022 Bench/Bar/Faculty Lectures in Ghana April 2022
Several articles on the tension between interest rates and debt sustainability, other commercial law subjects, judicial ethics and leadership published in the Judicial Journal (now The Bench) between 2009 and 2022
EDUCATION
2010-11 – LLM, Intellectual Property Law – Golden Gate University San Francisco, USA
2001 – P.G.Dip, International Law & Organizations for Development, Institute of Social Studies (now part of Erasmus University), The Hague, Netherlands
1986 – Professional Certificate in Law, Ghana School of Law
1984 – BA- Law & Sociology, University of Ghana
1980 – GCE A Level, Achimota School, Accra
1978 – GCE O Level, Wesley Girls’ High School, Cape Coast
Other Trainings and Presentations
2022 Technology and the Courts – Singapore
2022 Navigating Presidential Petitions, the Law and Remedies. (Seminar organized in preparation for the 2022 Kenyan elections) Mombasa, Kenya
2018 Ghana’s Strategic Plan In Combatting Pharmaceutical Crimes – West Africa Regional Training Center of US Embassy, Accra
2017 Trends in Intellectual Property Litigation – WIPO, Geneva
Commercial Justice and Legal Ethics – Law Society of Zimbabwe
2016 Managing Electoral Petitions -Judicial Training Institute, Ghana
2010 Auditing Systems of Justice Delivery – Malawi
2008 a. Diplomatic Immunity
Judicial Case Management – Judicial Training Institute, Ghana
2007 a. Judicial Ethics
Labor Law Access to Justice – Judicial Training Institute, Ghana
2007 Facilitating Judicial Education–National Judicial Inst, Canada in collaboration with Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute, Ottawa, Canada
Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights -Global Intellectual Property Academy, Virginia, USA
2006 a. Mining Law – Environmental Protection Agency
Electoral Laws – Judicial Training Institute
2005 a. Finance and Accounting for Judges – Judicial Training Institute
2005 b. Fighting Counterfeit Medicines in Sub-Saharan Africa South Africa, Johannesburg, South Africa
Mediation and Arbitration, International Law Institute Washington
2004 a. Legal Integration in West & Central Africa – The OHADA module, Dakar, Senegal
Development of Commercial Courts- RIPA International, UK
2003 Program for Advanced Leadership, Haggai Institute, Hawaii
2000 Legal Issues in Structuring Public Private Partnership Projects – Institute of Public Private Partnerships, Washington, DC
1998 Alternative Dispute Resolution’; University of Ghana, LECIA
1997 ADR & Conflict Management; University of Ghana, LECIA
1995 International Construction Contracts; The Study Group, Oxford, UK
OTHER INTERESTS
Writing Poetry, Plays and Fiction, Evangelism
Books and Plays
Gertrude Torkornoo (Ed.) ‘Business in Ghana – A handbook on laws and regulations’ 1st Edition – 2000; 2nd Edition – 2003 (Published by SLC Law Forum)
Gertrude Torkornoo (Ed) ‘Legislative Watch’ (A research tool on the laws amended, reviewed and newly passed in Ghana) – From 1997 (Updated annually until 2002; now being developed as an electronic resource) (Published by SLC Law Forum)
Gertrude Torkornoo 2010, ‘The Child and the Rainbow’ – Anthology of Poetry printed by Combert Impressions
Gertrude Torkornoo 2010, ‘The Wise Still Hear the Birds’ – Anthology of Poetry printed by Combert Impressions
Plays – Blood & Roses (2016); The Richest King (2017); A Day For Rain (2018) (Written for Radio)
Memberships
2018 – present: Member, Governing Council, Central University 2016 – present: Member, Law Reform Commission of Ghana 2016 – present: Fellow, Ghana Institute of Construction 2010 – present: Member, International Association of Women Judges 2007 – present: Fellow, Commonwealth Judicial Educators Institute, Canada 2005 – present: Faculty member, Haggai Institute for Advanced Leadership, Singapore/Thailand and Hawaii, USA 2004 – present: Member, Association of Magistrates and Judges of Ghana 1992 – present: Executive Board Member, Aglow Fellowship International, Tema 1991 – Council Member, Theovision International
Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo is married to Mr. Francis Torkornoo, a Pharmacist, and has four daughters and three grandchildren.
Former Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo, has taken a swipe at his ‘enemies’ in a cryptic song for trying to ‘pull him down’.
In a viral video, the former Auditor-General, feeling vindicated, sang along the lines of a song in his local dialect, Ewe, claiming that although he had sought peace, his enemies attempted to undermine his efforts at every turn.
“I wanted a place of peace for us to inhabit but the enemies say ‘no.’ They stood up against me. Including my own; they all stood against me. They laughed with me; their teeth white like snow. But within them is something different (domelevo).
“As for me, I am gone. As long as the Lord lives, the truth will prevail. What’s within them (stomach) is different even though they bare their white teeth with laughter. As for me, I am gone. As long as the Lord lives, the truth shall prevail,” he added.
This comes after the Supreme Court ruling which described President Akufo-Addo’s 2020 directive for Mr Domelevo to proceed on a forced leave.
Former environment minister, Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng has been slapped with a defamation suit by a member of President Akufo-Addo’s security team, Edmund Kwadwo Koda, alias Captain Koda.
Captain Koda, via a writ dated June 5, 2023; alleged that the former minister had made defamatory statements about him in a recently leaked report on illegal small-scale mining (i.e. galamsey).
Point 7 of his suit read: “The Defendant alleged that the said report, which contains defamatory words against the plaintiff, was presented to the Presidency sometime in March 2021, and sane was received by the Chief of Staff.”
Captain Koda is seeking among other reliefs, damages to the tune of five million Ghana cedis as well as an apology and retraction of the portions of the report deemed injurious to him.
The suit quoted portions of the said report before proceeding to state how injurious the claims against him were.
The suit read: “In their natural and ordinary meaning, the words complained of meant and were understood to mean that:
a. Plaintiff is a saboteur of the President’s initiatives and policies especially the President’s fight directed at illegal mining,
b. Plaintiff is disloyal to the President and only pretends to have his interests at heart,
c. Plaintiff is against the current government’s fight to combat illegal mining,
d. Plaintiff is an obstruction to the fight against illegal mining,
e. That Plaintiff acts with impunity without recourse to law and authority,
f. That Plaintiff obstructs the discharge of justice in general and particularly in the fight against illegal mining,
g. That Plaintiff is unpatriotic and a traitor.
Reliefs sought:
The Plaintiff claims against the Defendant the following reliefs:
a) Five Million Ghana Cedis (GHS 5,000,000.00) being damages for defamation contained in the report authored by the Defendant dated 19th March, 2023 and more particularized in paragraphs 6 and 9 of this statement of claim.
b) An apology and retraction of the statements complained of particularly as stated in paragraph paragraphs 6 and 9 of the Statement of Claim with the same prominence as the impugned report and its subsequent publications.
c) An order directed at Defendant to cause to be removed from the said report and on all electronic platforms and archives records of the impugned publication against Plaintiff.
d) Perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant whether by himself, his servants, agents or assigns from repeating and/or writing similar or other malicious statements against the Plaintiff in any
e) Cost inclusive of legal fees.
What did Frimpong-Boateng report say about Capt. Koda?
“….About two years ago the attention of the IMCIM’s task force was drawn to a site that had been degraded and the tailings from there were directed in the Birim River near Anyinam.
“The task force impounded two excavators and deposited them at the police station in Anyinam. Frantic telephone calls were received from Capt. Koda of the Presidential security detail, who asked for the excavators to be released.
“He informed the task force that the owner of the concession, Hon. George Kwame Aboagye, the MP for Asene Akroso Manso is his brother.”
The Ada Traditional Council (ATC) has appealed to the government to clamp down on the activities of illegal salt miners to protect the Ada Songor Salt Project.
The Council said the situation had far-reaching implications for the health of the Songor Lagoon, the viability of the project and the socio-economic development of the area.
Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, Paramount Chief of Ada Traditional Area made the appeal during a call on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the Jubilee House, Accra, on Monday.
He was at the head of a delegation of Chiefs and Queen Mothers to apprise the President on matters relating to the general development of the Ada Traditional Area.
Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, who is also the President of the ATC told President Akufo-Addo that since the government granted the license for commercial investment in the salt project, the area had seen progress in the development and commercial production of the mineral in the Songor concession.
He said since the inception of activities in 2021 by Electrochem Ghana Limited, the investor in the project, Songor had seen “a massive facelift and revamping to the admiration of all well-meaning people of Ada and Ghana as a whole.”
Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III thanked the President for the “bold” decision that led to the granting of the concession amid the controversies that surrounded the Songor Lagoon, saying, “There is hope for Ghana’s salt industry.”
“Salt production has increased tremendously both in quantity and quality as Electrochem is revamping the national asset to produce 1,000,000 metric tons of first-rate salt per annum to serve both the local and export market.
“We are very hopeful that the efforts made so far will lead to further improvements in the salt industry in Ada and contribute to the national economy,” he said.
Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III, however, noted that while the Ada Songor salt industry was seeing positive development, there was a need for State intervention to boost the project.
He said the activities of illegal salt miners were a serious hindrance to the progress of the work on the project and a threat to the investors’ operation in the concession.
Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III described the situation as unacceptable to the people of Ada and appealed to the President to use his office to support the traditional area to curb the menace of illegal salt mining.
“The harm this illegal salt mining activity poses to the Songor Lagoon is far-reaching. Creating the enabling environment for the operations is critical if the current progress is to be sustained.
“We, therefore, call on the Minerals Commission and related agencies to take the necessary steps to evacuate illegal operators. We do not think this should be left to the company or the traditional leaders alone.
“Your excellency, help us have the state security agencies act swiftly to curb and bring to order those in the Ada traditional area who have taken the law into their own hands and have total disregard for the law,” he said.
Nene Abram Kabu Akuaku III assured the President of the commitment of the chiefs and people of the Ada traditional area to ensure that the Songor salt project was successful.
“We are not going to turn back the clock of progress. We will offer our unflinching support to all efforts by your administration and the investor, to ensure that the investment is sustained,” he said.
On his part, President Akufo-Addowas happy that the chiefs and people of Ada had realized the enormous benefits to be had from the Songor Lagoon salt project.
He pointed out that the benefits of the project, which transcended the Ada area, had the potential to make a major contribution to the economic fortunes of the country.
The President cited Nigeria’s export of salt from Brazil to meet its one-million-ton market demand and said the development of the Songor project was in the interest of Ghana.
He urged the chiefs to lend the needed support to the investors in the project.
On the request for state security for the project, President Akufo-Addo assured the traditional council that he would take the matter up with the security agencies to ensure that “miscreants, people who do not have the welfare of the community at heart, but only their individual pockets are brought to book and disciplined.”
He said that illegal salt mining, like all other forms of illegal mining, must be curbed to protect the environment.
The President accepted a request by the chiefs to visit the project site and to participate in the annual Asafotufiami festival of the area that comes off on August 3, 2023.
President Akufo-Addo has commiserated with the family of the late Prof Ama Ata Aidoo, following her demise.
In a series of tweets shared on Friday, June 2, 2023, the president said that he was devastated after hearing the news of Ama Ata Aidoo‘s death.
He described Ama Ata Aidoo as one of the outstanding writers Ghana and the African continent has had.
“I heard of the news of the death of Ama Ata Aidoo with sadness and sorrow. I extend my deepest sympathies and condolences to her children and family on their great loss.
“She was my contemporary at the University of Ghana, someone with whom I enjoyed friendly and productive relations. Ama Ata Aidoo was a big Ghanaian, and one of the outstanding writers of her generation.
“Through her work, she made a tremendous contribution to the development of our country and continent, and expressed so many of our feelings about our fate as Ghanaians and, indeed, as Africans,” parts of the tweet read.
Renowned Ghanaian writer, Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo, sadly passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, May 31, 2023.
The family of the esteemed literary icon announced her demise.
Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo, known for her exceptional contributions to African literature, bid farewell after a brief illness.
Her passing leaves a void in the literary world, as she touched the hearts and minds of readers worldwide with her insightful and thought-provoking works.
The acclaimed writer, born on March 23, 1942, in Abeadzi Kyiakor, Ghana, achieved international recognition for her novel “Our Sister Killjoy” and her play “Anowa.”
Prof. Aidoo’s literary prowess extended beyond the boundaries of fiction, encompassing poetry, drama, and essays.
Her works tackled diverse themes, including gender roles, African identity, and post-colonialism, resonating with readers across generations.
Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo’s contributions to the literary landscape have been widely celebrated, earning her numerous accolades throughout her career.
She received the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize for Best Book in Africa for her novel “Changes” in 1992.
Additionally, she was honoured with the prestigious Ghanatta Award for Literature in 2018, recognizing her enduring impact on Ghanaian and African literature.
Beyond her writing, Prof. Aidoo was an educator and advocate for women’s empowerment.
She served as a lecturer at the University of Cape Coast in Ghana and was actively involved in promoting education and the arts in her country.
As news of her passing spreads, tributes pour in from fellow writers, scholars, and admirers of her work. Many recognize Prof Ama Ata Aidoo as a trailblazer who fearlessly challenged societal norms and opened doors for African women writers.
Her literary legacy will continue to inspire and shape the literary landscape for years to come.
The family of Prof. Aidoo requests privacy during this time of mourning, as they prepare to bid their final farewell to a beloved relative and celebrate the indelible mark she left on the world of literature.
Concerned University of Education Winneba (UEW) staff members have stated that chairman of the governing council, Nana Ofori Ansah I, must be quickly ousted or the university will be in disaster.
Speaking to the media, the Convener for the Concerned Staff of UEW, Professor George Kankam Senior, accused the Governing Council Chairman of blatantly going against the tenets of the university.
Professor Kankam claimed that Nana Ofori Ansah I has been dabbling in double standards by attempting to nominate someone who was not shortlisted for the position of vice chancellor.
“Nana Ofori Ansah I’s council is trying to plunge the university into chaos… Nana Ofori Ansah I is pushing for Professor Stephen Mitchual to be the vice chancellor though he was not shortlisted. As a governing chair, are you not exhibiting double standards?” he asked.
Professor Kankam Senior alleged that Nana Ofori Ansah I is only pursuing his own personal interests and not working in the best interests of the university. He added that they will send a letter to the President Akufo-Addo, requesting for Nana Ofori Ansah I’s removal.
“When Nana Ofori Ansah I came, he openly told us that he did not have thorough knowledge about university management and administration. We thought that was even good for him to be frank about it. So we thought that having said that, he was going to learn. But that is not the case. We are asking for his removal. We are following it up to send a letter to the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. We are in the university, and we want UEW to be developed. We don’t want the university to be run for people’s personal interests,” he stated.
In a statement, the Concerned Staff of the University of Education Winnebaargued that the “actions and inactions of the Chairman of the Governing Council, Nana Ofori Ansah I, whose continuous autocratic tendencies, coupled with his arbitrary disregard for laid down procedures in the running of the University, has led to heightened tension in the University, which can explode at any moment.”
At a brief meeting on May 30, 2023, at Jubilee House in Accra, President Akufo-Addo received highest honor in international diplomatic circles from the World Federation of Consuls’ Internationale des Corps et Associations Consulaires (FICAC).
President Akufo-Addo received the FICAC Gold Star award for his contribution to the growth and sustenance of peace, democracy, stability, freedoms and his invaluable support to the Honorary Consuls in Ghana.
The award described by the President of FICAC, Nikolaos K. Margaropoulos, as the highest distinction award by the World Consular Federation, is conferred only on incumbent Heads of State and is recognized by royal decree in Belgium; it has recognition by the United States ECOSOG with special status, by the Organisation of American States and the European Union.
The President joins the elite and prestigious league of world leaders like Herman Van Rompuy, then President of the European Council, Prince Albert II of Monaco, the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Slovenia, Philippines, and Turkey.
This honour has also been received by Pope Benedict and Pope Francis, who conventionally does not receive awards from any government or organization, yet offered FICAC the distinct honour of private audiences and capped it off by receiving the Gold Star award.
Receiving the award, President Akufo-Addo said, “This is a really distinguished collection of people from the entire globe who are here this afternoon, and I want to thank you very much for your presence and also our compatriots for proposing Accra as a respectable venue for the holding of your maiden Pan-African conference. That is why it is important that Ghanaians should be everywhere.”
The President said, “The work that Consuls do, in my own country and all over the world, is important. Unfortunately, it’s not everywhere where we can have a formal diplomatic presence, and therefore you fill in that gap.”
“It’s a gap that allows countries to be able to engage and trade, investment education exchanges and exchanges that are important to every state and the consular corps here in Ghana has been particularly active and very productive for the Ghanaian state and people. We appreciate it and are grateful to you.”
President Akufo-Addocommended them on the work they are doing with the Women in Diplomacy committee and conveyed his profound gratitude for the honour.
“There is very little that I can say other than a big Thank you. I am very honoured by the prize. I thank you very much for this; most considerate of you; it will help to focus my mind on the work that we are doing and continue to support the Consular Corps here in Ghana so that we can promote good relations between your countries of accreditation,” he added.
Established in Copenhagen in October 1982, FICAC was birthed out of the necessity to bring together Consular Associations or Corps from all over the world to share experience and co-ordinate efforts to enhance the status and effectiveness of the Consul which is the oldest institution serving international bilateral relations.
In order to protect the ocean’s ability to regenerate,President Akufo-Addohas called on African countries to enhance their domestically defined contributions and adaptation strategies.
This would ensure that the ocean continues to deliver substantial economic, environmental, and social value for the continents’ development.
The President made the call when he opened the National Blue Economy Summit (NBES) in Accra on Wednesday.
The summit is on the theme “Our Ocean’s Health, Our Prosperity, Our Planet’s Security.” It brought together blue economy experts to brainstorm and drive policy on the marine ecosystem.
The objective of the two-day summit is to reverse marine pollution and enhance the management and restoration of the marine and coastal ecosystem of the nation.
It also aims to mobilise transformative ocean action to achieve the United Nations(UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Blue economy refers to the sustainable use of coastal and marine resources for economic growth and improved livelihoods and jobs.
President Akufo-Addo explained that the health of the planet and the health of the peoples of the world are linked to the health of oceans, which are now under pressure from unsustainable fishing practices, pollution, marine debris, habitat loss, ocean acidification and climate change.
He told the gathering that the ocean, the lifeblood of the planet, generated half of the world’s oxygen supply, drove the global economy through transport trade, and provided food and sustenance, mineral resources, energy, employment, and livelihoods, as well as cultural recreation value for billions of people around the world.
“The consequences of neglecting the ocean are dire not just for the millions of people who depend on it for their livelihoods, but also for the health of our planet.
“There is therefore the need to preserve and protect the ocean and all its resources…We need to take decisive actions now to safeguard the ocean’s capacity to regenerate and continue to deliver substantial economic, environmental and social value for our development.”
President Akufo-Addo noted that in Ghana’s instance, its coastal exclusive economic zone stretches 218,00 square kilometres, and is home to over 7.5 million people.
Sadly, Ghana’s coastal and marine resources face significant threats in the form of biodiversity loss, pollution, ocean dumping, overfishing, illegal and unreported and unregulated fishing, piracy, and trafficking.
Those threats, the President said, “are avoidable” and the inability to deal with them held consequences for the livelihoods of many people, affecting food security prospects, critical infrastructure, important ecosystems and the security and stability of the entire African region.
“Like many other coastal African countries, the blue economy provides us with food, employment, and income. For instance, some 10 per cent of Ghana’s workforce is employed in the fishing sector which also accounts for 4.5 per cent of the country’s GDP.
“Additionally, 70 per cent of Ghana’s trade is carried by sea through the ports of Tema and Takoradi. We are well positioned to benefit from the ocean resources if sustainably managed,” he said.
The President thus proposed a five-point agenda for urgent action at the country and continental levels to protect the ocean, the planet, and the wellbeing of all.
He said the continent must prioritise sustainable management of its oceans by establishing and enforcing robust regulations to prevent overfishing and promote responsible fishing practices.
“We must collaborate closely with our international partners as well to establish marine protected areas, safeguarding critical habitats and promoting biodiversity conservation.”
Secondly, the President suggested that Africa deepens strategic partnerships and build a progressive coalition led by the private sector, academia, civil society organisations and community leaders, for enhanced ocean health and the accelerated development of communities.
He said the Continent must be deliberate in ensuring greater and smarter investments into ocean action.
President Akufo-Addo also urged investment in research and technological advancements and innovation to navigate the challenges to the blue economy to pave the way for a brighter future.
He also called for international cooperation, the sharing of data and research findings and collaboration on joint projects.
“We must recognize the interconnectivity of our global community and the need for international collaboration. The challenges facing the ocean transcend borders and no single nation can tackle them alone…We can leverage the collective wisdom and expertise of nations worldwide.
“Together, we can drive innovation, develop sustainable solutions, and address the pressing issues that threaten the ocean. The ocean is the life source of our planet, a healthy ocean, human wellbeing, and sustainable ocean management are inseparably interconnected,” he stressed.
He urged participants at the summit to, as a matter of urgency, propose policies that would help Ghana and the rest of the African continent protect its oceans and marine life.
President Akufo-Addo’s administration is allegedly the worst in Ghana’s history, according to veteran media personality, Kwasi Kyei Darkwah, often known as KKD.
According to him, Ghana is at the worst place ever under Akufo-Addo since its independence because all the economic indicators under his watch are at unprecedented levels.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, KKD added that the current government is also the worst when it comes to nepotism, favouritism and corruption.
“Right now, our hope is in the IMF, I don’t know which ‘38-year-old boy’ is going to tell us what to do… my point is who leaves his house at Ridge and goes to somebody’s house at Kaneshie to say ‘Charlie things are not going well in my home, come and manage my home for me for the next 3 to 5 years’.
“Who does that and still says we are brilliant? And even worse you get Gabby writing things like ‘the alternative is scary’. Dude, you are the worst… this is not about NPP, NDC, CPP, or whatever. This is the worst government we have ever had in this country. The worst ever! Look at all the metrics,” he said.
The veteran journalist explained that the Akufo-Addo government is the worst because of corruption, bad decisions, nepotism and poor policies.
Former Auditor-General, Daniel Yaw Domelevo, has revealed that he has yet to receive all of his retirement benefits since being unconstitutionally removed from office in 2020.
Mr. Domelevo was compelled by the presidency to take a 169-day leave of absence in 2020, citing accumulated leave days that he had not taken.
However, the Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday, May 31, that the president’s actions were unconstitutional.
In response to this development, Mr. Domelevo expressed his vigilance regarding the payment of his retirement package.
He stated, “I have not received all of my benefits yet. What I saw last week Friday was a letter from the Ministry of Finance stating that they were paying me a differential gratuity and that the money had been deposited into my account. I asked, how can you pay me the differential when I have not seen the original amount?”
Mr. Domelevo shared his concerns during an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM.
His statement underscores the lingering issue of unresolved retirement benefits owed to him, raising questions about the proper and timely settlement of his dues.
Former Auditor-General, Daniel Yao Domelevo has expressed his delight over the Supreme Court ruling against President Akufo-Addo’s 2020 directive for him to proceed on forced leave.
He said he feels vindicated following the ruling of the Apex Court.
“I felt vindicated when the decision came,” he said, adding that: “if you remember, when I wrote to the office of the President to draw their attention to the unconstitutionality or the unlawfulness of the directive from the President, I was told it is because I’m not a lawyer, I don’t appreciate the Law but I’m happy that those in whose bosom resides the interpretation of the Constitution and the Laws of this country have affirmed my position. So that makes me happy.”
Domelevo added that what brings him greater joy is that his case will serve as a guiding precedent for the country, prompting a collective effort to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.
“What makes me more happy is that from now onward, there are going to be several Auditor-Generals to come, and several presidents to come and they will not be a repeat of what happened in 2022, any Auditor-General or I believe even Independent Constitution Office holders,” he added.
Asked by the interviewer if he felt he had been denied justice given the period the incident happened and the time a verdict had been passed, he responded in the negative.
“I don’t feel that way [that I have been denied justice] because I don’t think anyone knows about justice being delayed, justice being denied more than the Supreme Court. It is the Apex Court of the country so they should know better. They may have reasons why it has taken this long so I will not like to say that I have been denied justice,” he said.
“But to be very honest with you, it’s better late than never and it is going to guide us going forward. So people should worry that it did not come quickly enough for me to continue doing the work,” he added.
Recall that in 2020, President Akufo-Addo directed Mr Domelevo to proceed on forced leave.
In a letter dated June 29, 2020, and signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, the President justified the decision with sections 20(1) and 31 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), which apply to all workers, including public office holders such as the Auditor-General. Mr Domelevo’s leave was further extended after the first deadline was due.
The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and eight other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who described the move as an affront to the independence of the office took up the matter and sought legal redress for the former Auditor-General at the Supreme Court after several unattended appeals to the President.
After hearing the case, the Supreme Court ruled that the move was unconstitutional.
The Court said the decision by President Nana Akufo-Addo against Daniel Yao Domelevo in 2020 to take his 169 working days of accumulated leave was null and void.
In a fervent plea directed at President Akufo-Addo, Ghana’s former Auditor General, Mr Yao Domelevo, has taken a bold stand against what he perceives as a repeated violation of the country’s laws.
His appeal comes as a resolute call for adherence to the rule of law and a plea for accountability at the highest levels of leadership, following the Supreme Court’s ruling that the directive for Mr Domelevo to proceed on forced leave as issued in 2020 by President Akufo-Addo was unconstitutional.
Although Mr Domelevo admitted that he was happy about the ruling of the Apex Court, he was also saddened by the fact that the President was the perpetrator of this violation.
“The long and short of it is that today we are at the point where we know who is wrong and who is not wrong. But let me tell you one thing that saddens me about this decision; it’s the fact that this is the highest office of the land -the Office of the President- which is at the forefront of violating the Constitution, of violating the laws of the country,” he said in an interview with JoyNews.
With passion and conviction, Mr Domelevo, thus, appealed to the President to halt these transgressions and restore the integrity of his office as well as Ghana’s legal system .
“I’d like to plead with the office to desist from this so that we see the office of the President as the one which is at the forefront of enforcing or upholding the Laws of the country. It should not be said that in a day, the Supreme Court has decided on two cases and in all these cases, the Presidency was wrong.I don’t think it augurs well. So it is my wish and prayer that going forward care will be taken,” he said.
The Supreme Court of Ghana, on May 31, 2023, declared as unconstitutional the 2020 directive by President Akufo-Addo, for the former Auditor-General to proceed on forced leave.
In a letter dated June 29, 2020, and signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, the President justified the decision with sections 20(1) and 31 of the Labour Act, 2003 (Act 651), which apply to all workers, including public office holders such as the Auditor-General. Mr Domelevo’s leave was further extended after the first deadline was due.
The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) and eight other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) who described the move as an affront to the independence of the office took up the matter and sought legal redress for the former Auditor-General at the Supreme Court after several unattended appeals to the President.
After hearing the case, the Supreme Court ruled that the move was unconstitutional.
The Court said the decision by President Nana Akufo-Addo against Daniel Yao Domelevo in 2020 to take his 169 working days of accumulated leave was null and void.
