Dr Mahamudu Bawumia is a former Vice President of Ghana

Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has expressed his profound sorrow following the tragic military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of two ministers and six others at the Adansi area in the Ashanti Region on Wednesday, August 8, 2025.

In a statement on his Facebook page Dr Bawumia stated that he had personally communicated his condolences to President John Dramani Mahama, describing the incident as a devastating national loss.

“A while ago, I communicated to the President of the Republic, John Dramani Mahama, my deepest condolences following the heart-wrenching news of the loss of two of our nation’s Ministers and six others in a helicopter crash earlier today,” he said.

Dr Bawumia added that the deceased had died in active service to the country and deserved to be remembered for their dedication and sacrifice.

“The fallen men paid the ultimate price in the service of our motherland, leaving a shocked nation in pain. I know most of the deceased personally and equally feel a sense of loss to see their demise under such horrid circumstances”, he wrote.

The crash claimed the lives of several key figures, including Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence, and Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister of

Environment, Science, Technology alongside senior security personnel and flight crew.

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A while ago, I communicated to the President of the Republic, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, my deepest condolences following the heart-wrenching news of the loss of two of our nation’s Ministers and six others in a helicopter crash earlier today.

The fallen men paid the ultimate… pic.twitter.com/EMTHDdJPYd

— Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia (@MBawumia) August 6, 2025

JKB/

Presidency confirms death of Dr Omane Boamah, Dr Ibrahim Murtala, six others in helicopter crash

ACCRA, Ghana — A military helicopter crashed in Ghana on Wednesday, killing all eight people on board, including the West African country’s defense and environment ministers and two other top officials, the government said.

The crash was one of Ghana’s worst air disasters in more than a decade.

The Ghanaian military said the helicopter took off in the morning from the capital, Accra, and was heading northwest into the interior toward the gold-mining area of Obuasi in the Ashanti region when it went off the radar. The wreckage was later found in the Adansi area of Ashanti.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and the military said an investigation was underway.

Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were killed, as well as Samuel Sarpong, vice chair of the National Democratic Congress ruling party; Muniru Mohammed, a top national security adviser; and the four crew members.

Mourners gathered at Boamah’s residence, as well as at the party’s headquarters, and Ghana’s government described the crash as a “national tragedy.”

State media reported that the aircraft was a Z-9 helicopter that is often used for transport and medical evacuation.

An online video of the crash site shows debris on fire in a forest as some people circle around to help.

In May 2014, a service helicopter crashed off Ghana, killing at least three people. In 2012, a cargo plane overran the runway in Accra, the capital, and crashed into a bus full of passengers, killing at least 10 people.

As Ghana intensifies efforts to fortify its financial ecosystem and build a resilient economic future, one Ghanaian expert is making global waves for harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to transform financial decision-making — particularly for startups and investment institutions.

Sylvester Asan Ninsin, a seasoned financial analytics expert, has emerged as a leading advocate for AI-driven financial transformation. With career spanning roles in Ghana and the United States, Ninsin is using predictive modelling, data science, and machine learning to empower startups, improve transparency, and build robust economic infrastructure.

“I believe data isn’t just for diagnosis, it’s a tool for designing financial futures that are resilient, inclusive, and intelligent,” Ninsin said in an interview.

From his beginnings in Takoradi through his academic journey at the University of Cape Coast and later at Western Illinois University, Ninsin has built a reputation for turning complex data into real-world financial solutions. At Enterprise Life Ghana, he restructured internal performance metrics and developed predictive tools that improved customer retention by over 45%.

His subsequent work at ARCCU Financial Ltd saw him implement AI-assisted forecasting systems that slashed resource wastage by 45% and improved capital deployment strategies, especially for rural small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Speaking to the media, Ninsin said that Ghanaian startups frequently collapse due to poor access to financial data and weak risk modelling but believed these vulnerabilities can be addressed with the right data-driven strategies.

“Startups don’t just need capital — they need vision powered by data,” he said. “Predictive analytics allows them to anticipate downturns, avoid revenue traps, and confidently court investors.”

His AI models integrate credit scoring, customer behaviour clustering, and macroeconomic sentiment data to guide decision-making. These are now being piloted to support Ghanaian agritech and fintech ventures, in line with national programs such as Ghana CARES “Obaatan Pa”, the YouStart Initiative, and MASLOC’s risk management.

Ninsin is also a prolific academic whose peer-reviewed research spans Bayesian modelling in macroeconomic shocks, AI-backed credit scoring, and trade finance risk mitigation.

His recent publications include “Transforming Risk Assessment in Insurance and Trade Finance Through InsurTech and Predictive Analytics”, “Strategic Role of Trade Credit Insurance in Facilitating Export Growth during International Trade Volatility”, and “Advanced Bayesian Hierarchical Models for Cross-Asset Risk Attribution and Predictive Portfolio Drawdown”

“Every paper I write, every model I build, is designed to answer one question: How can data reduce financial fragility?” he said.

His work is already informing research by international think tanks focused on post-COVID debt management and sovereign wealth strategies in Africa.

Based in the United States, Ninsin is also developing AI systems for real-time fraud detection and transaction monitoring. Using neural networks and anomaly detection, these models aim to protect financial institutions from fraud and non-compliance, especially in high-volume systems such as Ghana’s mobile money and remittance services.

“Speed is security. AI offers the fastest guardrails for fraud prevention and compliance,” he said.

These innovations are particularly relevant for regulatory bodies like the Bank of Ghana and their digital sandbox initiative, as well as efforts to introduce blockchain-based audits in the public sector.

For his contributions, Ninsin was awarded the 2025 Global Recognition Award for ethical data modelling. He was also featured in The US Times as a thought leader in “Financial Foresight and Predictive Innovation.”

Earlier in his career, he won the 2nd Runner-Up National Sales Excellence Award at Enterprise Life and is a proud member of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) and the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE).

Beyond accolades, Ninsin mentors Ghanaian students in data science and finance through the Global Mentorship Initiative and reviews academic work for journals like IJRISS and JEI.

Ninsin’s AI tools have the potential to transform several sectors in Ghana, including, credit scoring for microfinance lenders, AI-driven budgeting for metropolitan assemblies, predictive resource planning for NHIS claims, real-time fraud detection for national e-payment platforms.

“The real power of AI isn’t automation — it’s amplification,” he said. “It amplifies insight, trust, and speed — and that’s what Ghana’s financial future needs.”

As Ghana positions itself as a hub for fintech innovation and youth-led enterprise, experts like Sylvester Asan Ninsin are proving that smart, data-powered strategies can bridge the gap between potential and prosperity.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is a former President of Ghana

Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed sorrow following the tragic military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of several high-ranking government officials and military personnel.

In a post on his Facebook page on Wednesday, August 8, 2025, the former President described the incident as a national tragedy that has shaken the country.

“The entire nation is profoundly shocked and saddened by the tragic news of the military helicopter crash that has led to the passing of Hon Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Hon Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central and Minister for Environment and Science; Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Dr. Samuel Sarpong, National Vice Chairman of the ruling NDC; Samuel Aboagye; Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala; Flight Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu; and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region, as announced by the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, Julius Debrah, this afternoon,” he said.

The former President noted that he had spoken to and extended his condolences to the President John Dramani Mahama.

“I condole with our gallant men and women of the Ghana Air Force at this troubling time and salute their indispensable role in the public life of our country. I also extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.

“May they find peaceful rest in the Bosom of the Almighty, until the Last Day of the Resurrection, when we shall all meet again”, he wrote.

The Ghana Air Force helicopter went down in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region during what authorities described as an official mission.

At an emergency press briefing at the Presidency, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah announced that defence minister Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah and the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation were among those killed.

Other victims include former Ashanti Regional Minister Samuel Sarpong; Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, former Member of Parliament; and Dr Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress. (NDC)

The crew members were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Mane-Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

“The President and the government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country. All flags are to fly at half-mast until further notice,” Debrah said.

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Presidency confirms death of Dr Omane Boamah, Dr Ibrahim Murtala, six others in helicopter crash

The US Open men’s and women’s singles winners will get $5m (£3.7m) each as part of a total pot of $90m (£67.4m) in prize money, which the tournament says is “the largest purse in tennis history”.

The amount for the eventual singles champions is a 39% increase on 2024 when it was $3.6m (£2.8m), while the total purse has gone up 20% from the $75m (£57.8m) awarded last year.

In comparison, the total prize money at Wimbledon this year was £53.5m, with the men’s and women’s singles winners getting £3m apiece.

Players who are knocked out in the first round at the US Open will get $110,000 (£82,400), which is an increase of 10%.

Earlier this year, the top 20 men’s and women’s players sent a letter to the four Grand Slams asking for a greater share of the revenue generated by the major tournaments.

“The US Open has made a deliberate and concerted effort to ensure double-digit percentage increases from 2024 in all rounds of all events for all players, while at the same time significantly increasing the percentage of prize money for athletes playing deep into the singles draws,” said a statement, external from the tournament organisers.

The pot of money on offer in men’s and women’s doubles at the US Open this year will be $4.78m (£3.6m) – an increase of 23% from 2024.

The tournament said that “for the first time ever” the winners of the men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles would get $1m (£749,000) in prize money per team.

The US Open will also be providing $5m (£3.7m) in support for costs, including travel and expenses, for players in the main draw, while the prize money for the men’s and women’s qualifying tournaments will rise by 10% to $8m (£6m).

The 2025 US Open at Flushing Meadows runs from 24 August until 7 September.

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A prominent supporters group of Spanish La Liga club Villarreal has voiced strong opposition to the club’s signing of Ghana international Thomas Partey, citing ongoing rape charges against the midfielder.

Partey joined Villarreal on a reported two-year deal following the expiration of his contract with English Premier League side Arsenal. The move marks a return to Spain for the 31-year-old, who previously played for Atletico Madrid before making a £45 million switch to Arsenal in 2020.

While Villarreal see Partey as a major reinforcement, especially after his performances in the 2024-25 season which earned him the 2025 Ghana Footballer of the Year award, his legal troubles in the UK have sparked backlash.

During his time at Arsenal, Partey was charged by the London Metropolitan Police with five counts of rape involving two women and one count of sexual assault involving another. He made his first court appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in August and was granted conditional bail, allowing him to continue his football career.

However, César Peña, president of the Villarreal Supporters Club in Villafranca de Barros, Extremadura, told The Athletic:

“My personal opinion is the same as that expressed by most fans on social media; I would not agree to sign a player accused of such serious crimes and I would understand if the fans booed the player on the pitch. I hope the club takes the fans’ opinion into account, as I believe this is not just a matter of improving the squad.”

Per the terms of his bail, Partey must notify London Police of any permanent change of address or international travel. His signing continues to divide opinions, casting a shadow over what was meant to be a high-profile return to Spanish football.

The Lands and Natural Resources Ministry has joined a grieving nation in mourning the tragic loss of eight prominent Ghanaians who perished in a military helicopter crash in Adansi Akrofuom, Ashanti Region.

Describing the event as a devastating blow to the country, the Ministry expressed its deepest condolences to the families, friends, and colleagues of the victims—eight men whose service to Ghana was as distinguished as it was selfless.

Among the deceased were:

1. Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence
2. Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed (MP), Minister for Environment, Science and Technology
3. Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator and former Minister for Food and Agriculture
4. Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress
5. Mr. Samuel Aboagye, former Parliamentary Candidate
6. Squadron Leader Peter Baafemi Anala
7. Flying Officer Manaen Twum Ampadu
8. Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah

These individuals were en route to the Black Park in Obuasi to attend the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP)—a key initiative aimed at transforming Ghana’s small-scale mining sector—when the tragedy occurred.

In a statement signed by the Ministry’s Director of Communications, Ama Mawusi Mawuenyefia, the Ministry highlighted the immense loss, particularly the absence of Cabinet Ministers Dr. Omane Boamah and Dr. Murtala Mohammed, who were scheduled to deliver solidarity messages at the event.

“Their commitment to national development and their unwavering support for responsible mining will forever be remembered,” the statement read.

The Ministry called the crash a painful interruption of a journey rooted in hope, service, and progress, and urged the nation to draw strength from the enduring legacy of the departed.

“In this moment of profound sorrow, we pray that the Almighty grant eternal rest to the departed souls and comfort the families and loved ones of the deceased, as well as the general public,” the statement concluded.

The memory of these fallen patriots, the Ministry said, will forever live on in the hearts of Ghanaians—and in the nation they so diligently served.

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Najanious Blog Blog of Wednesday, 6 August 2025

Source: Justice Nyaabire Adongo

The Circuit Court in Tarkwa, presided over by Hathia Ama Manu, has sentenced Augustine Alavi, a 20-year-old miner, to 15 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for defiling his friend’s eight-year-old sister.

Alavi, who pleaded guilty to the charge of defilement, was said to have sexually assaulted the victim in an uncompleted classroom.

Police Detective Chief Inspector Adams Mumuni, prosecuting, told the court that the complainant is the victim’s mother, while Alavi is a friend of the victim’s elder brother, and they all reside in the same vicinity in Asankragwa in the Western Region.

He said on May 4, 2025, around 9:00 pm, the victim, who had just closed from evening class, was on her way home when she met Alavi, and he asked her to follow him to the All-Saint Preparatory School compound to show her something.

Prosecution said the victim followed Alavi because she knew him, and when they got to the school’s premises, he lured her into one of the uncompleted classrooms and defiled her on some wooden planks parked on the floor.

Detective Chief Inspector Mumuni said that after the act, Alavi instructed the victim to discard her pants as it was stained, and she complied, and he further warned her not to tell anyone.

He said as they were heading to their respective homes when they met the complainant who was searching for the victim, and she narrated all that happened to her.

According to the prosecutor, the complainant, with the aid of some residents, nabbed Alavi at the Asankragwa police station and lodged an official complaint, and he was re-arrested and detained for investigation.

He said a medical form was issued to the complainant on behalf of the victim for medical examination and report.

Detective Chief Inspector Mumuni said the form endorsed by a medical officer was returned to the police on May 5, 2025, indicating that the victim had been defiled.

The prosecutor said Alavi admitted the offence in the presence of an independent witness, led the police to the scene, and recounted how he committed the offence.

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A 34-year-old Okada rider, Maharaj Suleman, has been remanded into police custody by the Asante Abuakwa Circuit Court in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality for allegedly abducting a 13-year-old girl.

His plea was not taken, and he is expected to reappear in court on August 15, 2025.

Presenting the facts, Police Detective Chief Inspector Samuel Kyei Baffour told the court, presided over by Mr. Jephthah Appau, that the complainant, the victim’s father, resides at Kunsu in the Ahafo Ano South West District with his children.

On March 14, the complainant sent his 13-year-old daughter and her eight-year-old brother to gather leaves for feeding rabbits.

On their way back, they encountered the accused riding a tricycle.

The prosecution said the accused picked up both children, dropped off the younger boy at Kunsu, and proceeded to take the girl to Mankranso.

Two days later, a witness spotted the girl at Nimfourkrom near Mankranso. Upon questioning, the girl revealed that the accused had taken her there.

The witness then informed the complainant, who reported the matter to the Mankranso Police, leading to the arrest of the accused.

In his caution statement, Suleman admitted to the act. He was subsequently charged and arraigned before the court.

The prosecution said investigations are ongoing.

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The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has arrested a man for the unlawful possession of a foreign pistol and ammunition.

Osman Abdul Majeed, the suspect, was apprehended on July 29, 2025, at the Tweapease Police Barrier near Obuasi in the Ashanti Region during a routine vehicle search operation.

A press release said: “He was on board a Toyota minibus travelling from Kumasi to Tarkwa when officers discovered an unregistered Bruni Model 92 pistol concealed in his backpack.”

The weapon was loaded with three rounds of live 9mm ammunition.

During interrogation, Majeed stated that the firearm was handed to him in Tamale by one Awal, who instructed him to deliver it to an individual in Tarkwa, the release said.

“He was also unable to produce any documentation authorising possession or transport of the weapon,” it said.

The suspect is currently in police custody and will be put before the court to face justice, the release added.

Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing to trace the origin of the weapon, identify and arrest all persons connected to the case.

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play videoThe crash involved a Z-9 helicopter belonging to the Ghana Armed Forces and occurred on August 6

The mortal remains of Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence, and Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, have arrived in Accra from Kumasi aboard a Ghana Armed Forces aircraft.

They were accompanied by the remains of senior security personnel and flight crew who also perished in the tragic helicopter crash.

The crash involved a Z-9 helicopter belonging to the Ghana Armed Forces and occurred on August 6, 2025, claiming the lives of all onboard.

Other victims of the crash include the Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Mohammed Muniru Limuna; former Central Regional Minister, Samuel Sarpong; and Samuel Aboagye, a former parliamentary candidate.

The helicopter’s crew members were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Malin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

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By Morkporkpor Anku

Accra, Aug. 6, GNA- Dr Akwasi Opong-Fosu, Governance and Public Policy Analyst, says Ghana cannot afford to descend into ethnic or partisan trenches.

He said leadership must rise above tribalism and parochialism and national identity must trump party, religion, or ethnicity.

Dr Opong-Fosu was speaking at the Crossfire Governance and leadership Public lectures Series in Accra.

The event was on the theme: “Conversation on Resetting the Nation.”

He said the Reset Agenda, as articulated and led by President John Dramani Mahama, was now a national project.

It is aimed at renewal of institutions, restoration of values, belief systems, and citizen engagement.

He said the Agenda was a deliberate shift from a broken status quo toward a people-centred, ethical, and developmental state.

The Governace Expert said Ghana needed visionary leaders with integrity, conviction, and compassion in the public space, including political, traditional, religious, business, and civil society to transform the nation.

He said governments must engage, listen, and act, adding that the Reset had called for open and accountable government, decentralisation of power, and economic policy design shaped by citizens’ realities.

“We called for a neutral, efficient, and accountable public sector free from political manipulation and grounded in performance and integrity,” he added.

He said it must include reform of procurement, political financing, asset declaration, and strong enforcement mechanisms.

Dr Opong-Fosu said economic policies must empower the poor, support the vulnerable, and promote broad-based wealth creation.

He said division based on ethnicity and partisanship had torn the country’s fabric and the Reset must embrace equity, fairness, and unity as its moral and strategic compass.

He said education must cultivate civic-minded, creative, and critical-thinking citizens and the curricula should reflect the country’s development needs and national identity.

“I have proposed a National Institutional Renewal Commission (NIRC) designed to restructure and revitalize state institutions, unethical conduct, and restore trust,” he added.

Dr Opong-Fosu said the government and citizens must co-author a new compact anchored in rights, duties, transparency, and accountability and “we cannot reset Ghana without independent watchdogs.”

The Governance Expert said the media and civil society must be guardians of accountability not accomplices of self-serving leadership and politics of individualism, materialism and impunity.

GNA

Christian Akorlie

Dr Johnson Asiama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, has launched the Bank of Ghana Chair in Finance and Economics at the University of Ghana with a call for rigorous dialogue and collaboration to shape transformative economic ideas.

He said the Chair was inaugurated as a strategic investment in Ghana’s intellectual and policy future and a clear signal of the Central Bank’s long-term commitment to knowledge, to research, and to the nurturing of a new generation of thinkers who will shape the financial architecture of tomorrow.

The Chair represents a strategic partnership between the Bank of Ghana and the University of Ghana to advance economic thought and policy.

It aims to foster knowledge development, bridge policy and academia gap, and mentor future economists and policymakers.

Addressing the theme: “From Cowries to Crypto” Dr Asiama traced Ghana’s monetary evolution from barter and cowries to colonial currencies, the Ghana Cedi, and now digital finance.

He emphasized the role of trust in monetary systems and the importance of adapting to technological changes.

Dr Asiama highlighted Ghana’s leadership in mobile money and the e-Cedi pilot, as well as upcoming regulations for Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs).

On Challenges and Opportunities in African Monetary Policy, the Governor said Inflation stabilization progress in Africa had been challenged by global shocks, including COVID-19, Ukraine war, and climate change.

Ghana, for instance, faced severe inflation and currency depreciation in 2022 but rebounded in 2025 due to disciplined policy and IMF support.

He emphasized the need for credible institutions and agile, intelligence-driven central banks.

He said rising bank investments in government securities was crowding out private sector credit and called on banks to re-evaluate models and support productive lending.

He said an era of persistently high interest rates cannot be sustained and urged banks to begin re-evaluating their business models, not only to protect margins, but to serve the broader economy.

“Our banking sector must become a catalyst for growth, with more targeted and productive lending to Ghanaian enterprises,” he said.

He urged transparency in exchange rate regimes to avoid credibility gaps.

Touching on the role of Universities, Dr Asiama said

Universities were vital for policy innovation and critique.

He said the Chair should foster collaboration on inflation modeling, digital currencies, and financial inclusion.

On the future of the BoG–UG Partnership, the Governor said there were plans for the conduct of joint research initiatives, policy labs with real time data,

Curriculum development in central banking and macroprudential policy.

He announced the Governor’s Future Leaders Fellowship to support top graduates with global exposure and national impact.

He charged Professor Alagidede to help push the frontiers of monetary research while encouraging the students to engage actively in national economic discourse and policymaking.

“Let today mark the beginning of a new intellectual journey, one that will echo far beyond these walls, into policy chambers, financial institutions, and the hearts of young economists still finding their voice,” Dr Asiama said.

Delivering his inaugural lecture, Professor Yegandi Imhotep Paul Alagidede, Bank of Ghana Chair in Finance and Economics, at the University of Ghana, critiqued Africa’s monetary history and called for a radical reimagining of its financial future.

Speaking on the topic “From Cowries to Crypto: The Long Arc of Monetary Policy in Africa” Prof Alagidede said inflation targeting in Africa was ineffective because it was structural and not demand-driven.

“Inflation targeting in Africa is often described as a sound monetary framework—a promise to stabilise prices, anchor expectations, and instil credibility. Yet when applied to African economies, this imported model begins to look more like theatre than theory,” he said.

He proposed a monetary system built on Resource-Based Monetary Sovereignty (RBMS) rooted in real resources—gold, cocoa, energy, and labour.

“Unlike traditional fiat systems, this model anchors liquidity in measurable physical realities—gold mined ethically, cocoa harvested by real hands, and solar credits produced by Africa’s radiant sun,” he said.

The Endogenous Resource-Backed Currency (ERBC) operates flexibly, adjusting to productive capacity while protecting against speculative shocks, he said.

In essence, it converts Africa’s resources into financial instruments without passing through foreign capital bottlenecks.

He called for the amendment of the Bank of Ghana Act to support developmental finance enabling the central bank to support strategic sectors via resource-backed frameworks.

Also, launch of a resource-backed digital cedi (dCedi) beginning with gold and cocoa, and expanding to include solar, shea nut, and verified land value.

Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, said the partnership between the University of Ghana and the Bank of Ghana underscored the shared aspiration to produce knowledge that was both locally grounded and globally resonant.

She said the establishment of the Bank of Ghana Chair demonstrated a profound recognition by both institutions of the imperative requirement for scholarly work that was relevant to the African context.

This Chair extends beyond funding; it requires us all to reassess the fundamentals of economic research, policy advice, and capacity development. Essentially, this initiative aims to establish a link between rigorous academic investigation and policymaking that actively promotes industry growth, job creation, and widespread development,”

Prof Amfo added.

The Council of State has extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Government and people of Ghana, Parliament, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the leadership and membership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), following the tragic military helicopter crash that claimed eight lives on Wednesday, August 6, 2025.

The crash resulted in the loss of several high-ranking officials, including two Cabinet Ministers, Minister for Defence Dr. Edward Omane Boamah and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, who also served as Member of Parliament for Tamale Central.

Also among the deceased were Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Dr. Samuel Sarpong, NDC National Vice Chairman Samuel Aboagye, and three members of the Ghana Air Force: Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flight Officer Manaen Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Council, Rt. Hon. Edward Doe Adjaho, the Council paid tribute to the victims, describing them as individuals who served the nation with commitment and integrity.

“The Council of State extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, the Government and people of Ghana, Parliament of Ghana, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the leadership and membership of the NDC. We share in the grief and mourn the loss of these patriotic individuals who served our country with honour, diligence, and devotion and paid the ultimate price in the course of duty,” the statement read.

The Council further called for national reflection and solidarity during this period of mourning.

“At this moment of national mourning, we call on all Ghanaians to unite in prayer and solidarity, and to uphold the values of service and sacrifice that these fallen heroes embodied.”

“May their souls rest in perfect peace, and may their families find strength and comfort during this difficult time,” it added.

Read the full statement below; 

Mahama declares three days of national mourning over helicopter crash

Music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs, who is to be sentenced in October for his conviction on prostitution-related charges, is seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump, one of his lawyers said Tuesday.

“It’s my understanding that we’ve reached out and had conversations in reference to a pardon,” Nicole Westmoreland told CNN in an interview.

Trump has indicated, however, that he is unlikely to grant a pardon to the 55-year-old Combs.

“I was very friendly with him. I got along with him great, and he seemed like a nice guy,” Trump said in an interview on Friday with Newsmax.

“I didn’t know him well, but when I ran for office, he was very hostile.”

Asked if that meant he was not inclined to pardon Combs, Trump said: “I would say so, yeah.”

A New York jury found Combs guilty last month of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution, each of which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

He was acquitted of racketeering and sex trafficking charges after a marathon trial in which he was accused of harrowing abuse.

Sentencing has been set for October 3.

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Ghana’s Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed were among the eight people killed in a helicopter crash on Wednesday.

What we know so far

Everyone on the military Z9 helicopter was killed in the accident in Ghana’s central Ashanti region, a government spokesperson said.

The Ghanaian Armed Forces said the air force helicopter took off in the morning from the capital, Accra, and was heading northwest into the interior toward the gold-mining area of Obuasi in Ashanti when it went off the radar.

The wreckage was later found in the forested Adansi area of Ashanti.

Three other officials, including the vice chair of the ruling National Democratic Congress party, Samuel Sarpong, were killed alongside three Ghana Air Force crew members.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and the armed forces said they had launched an investigation.

Ghana news site My Joy Online reported a strong security presence of military and police at the crash site.

Ghanaian media reported that the helicopter was on its way to an event on illegal mining, a major environmental issue in the west African country.

Ghana declares three days of mourning

“The president and government extend our condolences and sympathies to the families of our comrades and the servicemen who died in service to the country,” said President John Dramani Mahama’s chief of staff.

Mahama declared three days of mourning and had canceled his official activities for the day, the spokesperson said.

Mourners gathered at the Boamah’s residence as well as at the party’s headquarters, and Ghana’s government described the crash as a “national tragedy.”

Mahama was “down, down emotionally,” Haruna Iddrisu, Ghana’s education minister, told reporters outside the presidency after news broke of the crash.

Muhammed, the environment minister, was at the helm as the country battles a scourge of illegal, informal gold mining that has ravaged farmlands and contaminated water.

A medical doctor by training, Boamah’s career in government included stints as communications minister during Mahama’s previous 2012-2017 tenure. Before that, he served as the deputy environment minister.

Edited by: Sean Sinico

Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of eight individuals, including his former schoolmate and senior, Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah.

In a heartfelt tribute shared on Wednesday, Dr. Agyemang mourned the devastating loss and reflected on the ultimate sacrifice made by public servants who dedicate their lives to the nation.

The crash, which occurred earlier in the day in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region, involved a Ghana Air Force Z-9 helicopter en route to Obuasi. It claimed the lives of high-ranking officials including Dr. Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed.

Reports suggest the officials were on a mission related to the ongoing fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Dr. Agyemang described the moment as a “great national loss,” emphasizing the dangers that often accompany public service.

“This painful moment reminds us of the quiet risks borne each day by those who serve our country. Their sacrifice, though often unseen, is real, and in this instance, ultimate,” he wrote.

He called on Ghanaians and the government to honour the memory of the fallen not only with tributes but through decisive action against the menace they were confronting.

“If these gallant men were on their way to confront the scourge of illegal mining, then the fight against galamsey must now assume the same urgency with which we respond to death itself,” he urged. “We owe them more than tributes; we owe them commitment and action.”

The tribute concluded with a solemn prayer for the repose of their souls and a call for national reflection.

This message adds to a growing wave of condolences and tributes pouring in from political leaders, civil society actors, and citizens across the country as Ghana mourns one of its deadliest military aviation disasters in recent memory.

The Africa Future Leaders Institute of Global Affairs (AFLIGA) is set to host the inaugural edition of its Thought Leadership Series on Wednesday, August 7, 2025, at its International Secretariat in Accra. 

Themed “Rethinking African Female Leadership Development: Lessons from Indigenous African Leadership Constructed Practices”, the event seeks to spark a continental dialogue on reclaiming and reimagining traditional African leadership models to inform modern leadership development—particularly for women.
Drawing from pre-colonial African systems where women played prominent roles in political and spiritual leadership, the event will critically examine how such indigenous models can inspire culturally authentic, gender-inclusive leadership frameworks today.

Reviving African Leadership traditions
Pre-colonial African societies once boasted diverse leadership systems—ranging from centralised kingdoms to decentralised chiefdoms—many of which integrated women into governance structures. In the Ashanti Empire, for instance, queen mothers not only co-ruled with kings but also selected successors to the throne. Similar examples of female regents and priestesses existed across Nigeria and other parts of the continent.

“Feminine leadership was once integral to African political and spiritual life. Our challenge today is to examine how those indigenous systems can be revitalised and adapted for contemporary governance,” said an AFLIGA spokesperson.
The event comes at a time when women’s representation in African leadership remains disproportionately low. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU, 2025), women hold only 14.5 per cent of parliamentary seats in Ghana—a figure that has remained largely stagnant for a decade. In Kenya, women occupy 23.3 per cent of the National Assembly, still below the one-third constitutional gender quota.

While progress has been made in tertiary education—with South Africa’s 2022 Gender Parity Index indicating a 141:100 female-to-male ratio in enrollment—the gains have not translated into equal leadership roles in politics and corporate governance. Recent data from Boardroom Africa shows that in 2024, women held only 24 per cent of board seats in listed companies in Ghana, a slight decline from the previous year.

Objectives and format
The Thought Leadership Series aims to provide a platform for rethinking leadership development by engaging scholars, traditional leaders, civil society actors, and policymakers in critical reflection.
Key objectives include:
•    Reframing dominant leadership narratives through a gender lens.
•    Showcasing traditional female leadership roles such as queen mothers and spiritual leaders.
•    Developing practical, culturally grounded leadership frameworks for use in institutions, training, and mentorship programmes.
•    Encouraging cross-sector collaboration to influence policy and institutional reform.
The event will feature:
•    A keynote address by a distinguished scholar in indigenous knowledge and leadership.
•    A panel discussion with academics, practitioners, a traditional leader, and a gender policy expert.
•    An interactive dialogue with a curated audience of youth leaders, policymakers, academics, and media professionals.
•    Post-event documentation and dissemination through AFLIGA’s platforms.

Restoring African Agency in leadership development
According to AFLIGA, modern leadership development has been dominated by Eurocentric, hierarchical models that often conflict with Africa’s collectivist cultures. These models tend to marginalise women and ignore community-based leadership traditions rooted in moral authority, relational stewardship, and participatory governance.

“The Ubuntu ethos—grounded in shared responsibility and reconciliation—offers powerful tools for inclusive leadership. It’s time we critically engage and adapt these indigenous systems to today’s realities,” AFLIGA noted.
The initiative seeks to bridge historical insight and modern needs, catalysing a shift from imported leadership paradigms to Afrocentric models that reflect Africa’s cultural, political, and social contexts.

Anticipated outcomes
The inaugural edition is expected to:
•    Raise awareness of indigenous African leadership values that empowered women.
•    Provide critical insights into applying African philosophies such as Ubuntu to leadership training.
•    Document practical case studies and propose new frameworks for gender-responsive leadership.
•    Influence continental policy dialogue through a position paper on culturally grounded leadership development.

About AFLIGA and the Thought Leadership Series
AFLIGA is a pan-African think tank focused on women and youth empowerment. The Thought Leadership Series is a multidisciplinary platform designed to provoke critical thinking and shape strategic responses to Africa’s most pressing leadership and development challenges.

Each edition addresses core themes such as leadership and governance, gender equity, cultural identity, peace and security, and economic transformation. Future sessions will explore topics including youth innovation, continental trade, and indigenous knowledge systems.

By promoting inclusive, resilient, and culturally rooted leadership approaches, AFLIGA aims to contribute to the emergence of a new generation of ethical and competent African leaders.

By Edward Acquah

Accra, Aug. 6, GNA – The Reverend Father Dogli Memorial Technical Institute in the Oti Region has been adjudged the best performing school at the southern sector STEM Plastic Waste Competition for Catholic Senior High Schools in Ghana.

The St. Gregory Senior High School emerged second at a competitive contest in Accra, where the students pitched innovative products made from plastic waste and ideas to address the challenges posed by plastic waste.

The other competing schools were St. Catherine Catholic Girls Senior High School, St. Michael Senior High School, and St. Margaret Mary Senior High Technical School.

Organised by the Catholic Education Unit, the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and other partners, the competition created a platform for the students to develop innovative projects to tackle the plastic waste menace.

Among the products presented were plastic greenhouse, bags, baskets, raincoat, flower vase, bricks, umbrella, and materials for interior and exterior decoration.

Dr Joseph Agyapong Darmoe, Programmes Director, KAS, described the innovations as “surprising” and praised their desire to find solution to the plastic waste challenge.

He said the rate at which plastic waste was polluting the ocean was “scary” and challenged the youth to explore innovative ways and create products to help address the issue sustainably.

“We produce an average of 840,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste annually. This is more than the cocoa we produce and that is scary,” he said.

Mr Darmoe touched on the opportunity the contest created to help transform society and expressed confidence that it would ignite interest in finding solution to societal problems.

Mr Francis Batadjan, the General Manager of Catholic Schools, Ghana, said the contest was not just a competition but a “wake up call” to improve the management of plastic waste in the country.

He encouraged the students to explore more innovative ideas and contribute to managing the menace in their communities.

Madam Berthy Buah, Regional STEM Coordinator, Ghana Education Service, said the purpose of STEM education was to empower students to be observant and sensitive to the environment and find solutions to problems.

She said the introduction of STEM in environmental management would engender a sense of ownership among students in protecting the environment.

Plastic waste management is a major challenge in Ghana. Plastics are indiscriminately disposed into drains and water bodies, resulting in perennial floods across the country.

According to the Ghana Plastic Waste Management Policy Document, some 120 companies manufacture over 52,000 tonnes of various plastics and related products per year.

According to the latest report published by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), 88 per cent of marine species were affected by severe contamination of plastic in the ocean.

The burning of plastics, which is a wide-spread activity in Ghana, also releases toxic substances into the atmosphere and contributes to climate change.

GNA

Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe