The Committee For Public Accountability (CPA), a public interest group has cautioned members of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) to stay clear of any attempt that would be aimed at intimidating legitimate business persons or outfits in Ghana.

Addressing the press Thursday morning, Hon Collins Owusu Amankwah, Executive Chairman of CPA said it has learnt with great concern some irresponsible comments from Raymond Archer, a member of the ORAL that seeks to threaten Mr Daniel Mckorley, Group CEO of McDan Company that he should pray NPP stays in government forever.

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Former Ghana international Asamoah Gyan says the National Democratic Congress (NDC) needs to come clear with their 24-hour economy policy as he believes it’s not a ‘new’ thing. 

According to Gyan, some sectors in the country already run a similar policy urging the newly-voted government to commit to improving it. 

The policy was one of the NDC’s campaign messages and played a strong role in their return to power for the next four years. 

Gyan, in an Instagram live session on Thursday, January 2, questioned the true intentions of the policy.  

“It already exists. Police stations, hospitals, and filling stations already operate on a 24-hour basis,” he said.

“If the government says ‘24-hour economy,’ they should focus on improving it. It’s not a new policy.”

Gyan before deciding to step away from politics was chosen to be part of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign team ahead of the 2024 general elections.

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

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

The Accra High Court has completed hearings on the disputes surrounding four parliamentary constituencies: Tema Central, Okaikwei Central, Techiman South, and Ablekuma North. A ruling on the cases is set for Saturday, January 4, at 12pm after lengthy legal arguments from the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and the Electoral Commission (EC).

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Deputy IGP, Christian Tettey Yohunu

The Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tettey Yohunu, has filed a defamation suit at the Accra High Court against broadcaster Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as Captain Smart, and Media General Limited.

The suit, filed on Thursday, January 2, 2025, alleges that during a radio and TV program on December 27, 2024, Captain Smart made claims that certain elements within the Ghana Armed Forces and some officials of the Ghana Police Service were plotting to destabilise Ghana’s constitutional order through a coup d’état, according to a report by graphic.com.gh.

The court documents further highlight that Captain Smart also alleged that Christian Tettey Yohunu’s appointment as Deputy IGP was politically motivated.

Additionally, Smart claimed that Yohunu had been visiting the homes of National Democratic Congress (NDC) officials while allegedly holding membership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and providing them with money in an attempt to secure his appointment as IGP.

The Deputy IGP is seeking general damages for defamation, along with an injunction to prevent the defendants from making further defamatory statements.

He is also requesting a court order for the defendants to retract the statements and issue unqualified apologies through the media house.

JKB/MA

Watch a compilation of the latest Twi news below:

The outgoing President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, is set to deliver his final State of the Nation Address (SONA).

He will address the nation from Parliament House on Friday, January 3, 2025, ahead of the dissolution of the 8th Parliament.

The President is expected to provide an update on the current state of the country, touching on various sectors of the economy, before handing over office to the newly elected President, John Mahama.

Meanwhile, the 8th Parliament will be dissolved on the night of Monday, January 6, to make way for the inauguration of the 9th Parliament on the same day.

The event will also include the election of the new Speaker of Parliament and its two deputies, who are expected to be sworn into office at midnight.

This is to ensure that the new government, led by John Mahama, can commence work immediately.

Read Also: We’ll transition to the 9th Parliament smoothly – Planning Committee assures

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

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

What’s the context?

Ghana’s incoming president faces dilemma over signing the country’s strict anti-LGBTQ+ bill into force

Ghana’s incoming president, John Mahama, must weigh whether to approve a strict anti-LGBTQ+ bill passed by parliament, but left unsigned by his predecessor, that could jeopardise billions of dollars of financing from international creditors.

Here’s what you need to know.

What does the bill do?

The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill is one of the strictest such measures in Africa.

If it becomes law, LGBTQ+ people in the West African country, already facing discrimination and marginalisation, could also be denied access to jobs, healthcare and housing.

Same-sex relations in Ghana are already punishable by up to three years in jail, but the bill would extend maximum sentences and add a slew of new offences, including identifying as LGBTQ+, or showing support for gay and transgender rights.

What is the status of the bill?

Ghana’s parliament unanimously passed the bill on Feb. 28, but President Nana Akufo-Addo never signed it into law.

Akufo-Addo said he was waiting for the outcome of legal challenges to the bill, but the courts have dismissed three of those and the final case is due to be decided in March.

That means the decision will now be left to Mahama who will be sworn in as president on Jan. 7.

What are the financial implications of the bill?

Ghana’s Finance Ministry said in March that presidential approval of the legislation could lead to the loss of $3.8 billion in World Bank financing over the next five to six years, and derail a $3-billion loan package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Without World Bank and IMF backing for Ghana, other international investors could also withdraw financing.

That would lead to huge financial problems for a country that only managed to restructure its debt last year after nearly two years of not being able to pay its creditors following an earlier financial crisis.

What has the president-elect said about the bill?

In January last year, Mahama said he was against same-sex marriage.

“The faith I have will not allow me to accept a man marrying a man, and a woman marrying a woman,” he said.

In November, he told members of the clergy that being LGBTQ+ was a taboo that Western countries were pressurising African nations to accept in return for financial aid.

During the campaign for December’s general election, Mahama said same-sex relations went against his faith and culture and that he would strengthen laws against LGBTQ+ activities.

But days before the polls, when pressed by the BBC, Mahama would not say outright whether we sign the bill into force.

After his victory, Mahama told a delegation of clergy that “it is our hope that this president will sign the bill. If he doesn’t, it will expire, and the next parliament will have to address it again.”

What is Mahama’s record on LGBTQ+ rights?

As vice-president in 2011, Mahama said it was hard for authorities to address the higher rates of HIV/AIDS amongst men who have sex with men due to the stigma attached to them being open about their sexuality.

There is a very strong cultural hostility towards homosexuality in our society so often people are not willing to own up to their sexual orientation,” he said in an interview at Yale University. “We are trying to educate people to understand that we need to remove the stigma.”

But as president from 2012 to 2016, Mahama maintained Ghana’s prevailing conservative stance.

For instance, when there was uproar after he nominated Nana Oye Lithur, a human rights lawyer who had defended LGBTQ+ rights, as a minister, Mahama reiterated that he does not support gay rights, and that homosexuality is criminal in Ghana.

This story is part of a series supported by Hivos’s Free To Be Me programme.

(Reporting by Pelumi Salako; Editing by Jon Hemming and Sadiya Ansari.)

With the clock ticking toward John Dramani Mahama’s assumption of office on January 7, prominent financial analyst and CEO of Dalex Finance and Leasing Company Limited, Joe Jackson, has sparked a conversation with his advice to the incoming administration.

Jackson’s message, shared on social media, called for a pragmatic approach to governance by refining, rather than discarding, key policies initiated by the outgoing New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

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The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has clarified its response to the devastating fire that engulfed the Kantamanto market, destroying over 100 shops.

According to the GNFS, the close proximity of the shops made it easier for the fire to spread rapidly, resulting in extensive damage.

This explanation comes in response to accusations from some vendors, who claimed that firefighters prioritized dousing the flames in surrounding structures that had not yet been affected, instead of focusing on the burning market.

Addressing these concerns, ADO1 Alex King Nartey of the GNFS explained that the decision was strategic, aimed at preventing the fire from spreading to nearby buildings, as much of the market had already been consumed by the flames.

“Per our evaluation, the fire has destroyed over a hundred stores because many of them were closely situated by each other. So, once the fire catches one, the spread becomes easier. But the good thing is that the salvage is much more than the damage. Because, looking at the other buildings, we have been able to salvage them from the fire.

“It has been a daunting task, especially considering the fact that there isn’t any working fire hydrant here, it was a big problem for us. We had to travel to Frisco or GRA to go and replenish. In the early hours, it was so much of a problem, but when it was morning and the whole place became congested; it became a bigger problem,” he stared.

Traders count their losses after fire ravaged Kantamanto market

The Minister of Finance, , is expected to present a mini-budget for the 2025 Fiscal Year, which would cover three months: January, February, and March 2025 on the Floor of Parliament on Thursday, January 2, 2024 This is after President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in a formal communication to the House, submitted budget estimates for the first quarter of 2025 for the Judiciary and Judicial Service, Audit Service, and Parliament and Parliamentary Service.

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The Deputy Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mr Christian Tettey Yohunu has filed a defamation suit at the Accra High Court against broadcaster Blessed Godsbrain Smart, popularly known as Captain Smart, and Media General Limited.

In the suit filed on Thursday, January 2, 2025, the Deputy IGP stated that Captain Smart during a radio and TV programme on December 27, 2024 had alleged that “some elements within the Ghana Armed Forces and some officials of the Ghana Police Service had intended to destabilize Ghana’s constitutional order by causing a coup d’état.”

According to the court document, Smart had alleged that Mr Christian Tettey Yohunu’s appointment as Deputy IGP was politically motivated and that he participated in meetings aimed at securing the position.

The broadcaster also claimed Yohunu had been visiting the homes of National Democratic Congress (NDC) officials while allegedly holding membership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and paying them monies as a lobby to be appointed as IGP.
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It is based on these statements by Captain Smart that the Deputy IGP is seeking general damages for defamation and an injunction to restrain the defendants from making further defamatory statements.

He is also requesting a court order directing the defendants to retract the statements and render unqualified apologies through three publications on both Onua TV and three radio announcements on Onua FM.

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

Rodri, midfielder for Manchester City

Manchester City midfielder and 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri has responded to Cristiano Ronaldo’s controversial remarks about the Ballon d’Or.

Ronaldo, who was named the Best Middle East Player of the Year at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards on Friday, December 27, 2024, sparked debate among football fans with his comments.

The Portuguese captain claimed that Vinícius Júnior, who won both the Best Player and Best Striker awards on the same night, deserved the Ballon d’Or.

He also described the prestigious award as deceptive.

In response, Rodri expressed his surprise and disappointment over Ronaldo’s remarks.

The midfielder reminded the five-time Ballon d’Or winner that he, too, had benefited from the same voting process.

“Ronaldo saying Vinícius deserved the Ballon d’Or? Well, it was a surprise because he knows better than anyone how this award works and how the winner is chosen,” Rodri said.

“This year, the journalists who vote decided that I should win it. Probably, these same journalists were the ones who, at some point, voted for him to win it. I imagine that back then, he would have agreed,” he added.

This isn’t the first time Rodri has spoken out on the ongoing debate months after receiving the Ballon d’Or.

He had previously addressed Real Madrid’s decision not to attend the award ceremony in November 2024.

Rodri claimed his first Ballon d’Or in December 2024, beating competition from Real Madrid trio Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and Dani Carvajal.

However, he has been sidelined since suffering a knee injury during Manchester City’s game against Arsenal in September 2024.

FKA/MA

A significant shortage of beverages has hit the Oti Region as some spots and bars keep reporting shortages to the disappointment of celebrants of the festive season.

The largest wholesale depot in the regional capital, Abeg God Enterprise site at Dambai, has also recorded shortage of most beverage brands. 

This year’s Christmas and New Year celebrations have brought an unprecedented level of activity to the region, with people transporting crates of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, livestock such as goats, fowls, and pigs, across towns.  

Drinks, an indispensable commodity for the festivities, have been in high demand, making the shortage more noticeable. 

Abeg God Enterprise, known as the biggest beverage supplier in the region, has struggled to meet the demands of customers. Patrons were seen rushing to purchase drinks but left disappointed as shelves ran empty. 

Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), some customers expressed their frustration at the situation. 

“We traveled all the way from Sene East, which is a far distance, only to find out that the drinks we wanted were not available. It’s very disappointing. However, the shop operators assured us that more stock is on the way, so we have no choice but to wait,” one customer said. 

The festive season has also brought a significant influx of visitors to the region, with many long-distance travelers returning home for the holidays, which had added to the bustling atmosphere, as drivers transport people across various towns. 

A source at the depot, who begged for anonymity disclosed that  stock was being replenished as trucks were in transit to refill the void. 

Despite the challenges, the Oti region is enjoying a vibrant and smooth celebration filled with activities such as conventions, musical concerts, football matches, beach outings, pontoon cruises, and street jams. 

The shortage, though inconveniencing had not dampened the festive spirit as residents and visitors alike find alternative ways to atone and celebrate the season. 

Meanwhile, in a related development, the Krachi West Municipality in the Oti region has also faced a significant egg shortage during the 31st December crossover night, leaving many food vendors, especially, indomie sellers, frustrated. 

Speaking to the GNA on New Year’s Eve, several vendors in Kete-Krachi lamented their inability to find eggs for their businesses despite visiting numerous shops in the area. 

“We have roamed every corner of the municipality, going from shop to shop, but couldn’t find any eggs due to the shortage,” one indomie seller expressed in frustration. 

Some of the eggs sellers, in an interview with the GNA attributed the sudden scarcity, to the high demand for eggs during the celebrations, as residents prepared to mark the occasion with various festivities. 

Hajia Raabi, one of the egg sellers, assured vendors that the commodity would be available the next day.

A devastating fire at Kantamanto Market has caused significant damage to numerous stores and houses, but fortunately, no casualties have been reported.Footage from the scene shows thick smoke covering the market, illustrating the chaos caused by the fire.
Despite the destructive nature of the incident, Ghana National Fire Service Public Relations Officer, Alex King Nartey, provided reassurance in live coverage, stating that no casualties have been recorded.“We’re still managing the situation and doing everything

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By Muyid Deen Suleman

Kumasi Jan. 02, GNA – The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has commended Ms Afua Asantewaa Aduonum, a Ghanaian World Guinness Record hopeful, for her exceptional courage and perseverance in pushing the boundaries of Ghana’s musical influence on the global map.

He said Asantewaa’s perseverance to gain world recognition with Ghanaian music had received admiration from all people and needed to be acknowledged.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu gave the recommendation when Ms Asantewaa paid a courtesy call on him at the Manhyia palace in Kumasi.

The visit, which coincided with the first Awukudae celebration of Asanteman, was for the marathon singer to showcase her remarkable dedication, talent and appreciation to the Asantehene, for his gracious reception during her ambitious second attempt to set a Guinness World Record through music, in Kumasi.

Asantewaa’s unwavering determination was evident during her second Guinness World Record attempt held at the Heroes’ Park Annex of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, from December 21 to 26, 2024.

The stadium’s vibrant atmosphere served as a backdrop to her extraordinary musical performance that captivated audiences both locally and internationally.

Her resilience and passion for music not only impressed the Asantehene but also garnered admiration from all who witnessed her groundbreaking efforts.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu praised her for the effort to elevate Ghana’s cultural heritage and urged her not to relent but continue to work hard.

Awaiting confirmation from Guinness World Records on her second attempt, Asantewaa remains a symbol of inspiration to all aspiring musicians and performers across the nation.

She was accompanied to the Manhyia palace by Mr. Kwame Adinkra, a respected radio show host in the Ashanti Region, as well as her supportive husband, Mr. Kofi Owusu Aduonum.

GNA