The Zongo Youth Movement, a Muslim advocacy group, has issued a strong caution to New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful Kennedy Agyapong, urging him to keep his campaign away from Zongo and Muslim communities following controversial remarks attributed to a member of his campaign team.

The group is calling for a formal apology to the Muslim community and Ghanaians at large, emphasising that political campaigns must not undermine national unity or religious coexistence.

The concern stems from comments allegedly made by Dr. Stephen Amoah, popularly known as Sticka, suggesting that the NPP lost the 2024 elections due to the Islamic faith of former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Speaking to Citi News, Public Relations Officer of the Zongo Youth Movement, Abdullai Ali, condemned the remarks as divisive and contrary to Ghana’s legacy of religious tolerance. He demanded a public apology from both Dr. Amoah and Kennedy Agyapong.

“It is not unfair to associate these remarks with Kennedy Agyapong’s camp. After the comments were made, no one from his team came forward to disown or condemn them. In fact, some members defended the claim on TV and radio using misleading data,” he stated.

Ali added that a clear dissociation by Agyapong from Dr. Amoah’s comments would have shifted accountability. “If Kennedy Agyapong had issued a statement distancing himself from the remarks, we would have focused only on Dr. Amoah. But the silence from his camp speaks volumes.”

Gyampo denies interference in OSP probe, clarifies contact with Special Prosecutor

A Tunisian court on Friday handed down a 22‑year prison sentence in absentia to former President Moncef Marzouki, a fierce critic of President Kais Saied, on charges of undermining state security, raising the opposition’s fears of an escalating crackdown against critics.

Marzouki, who was president from 2011 to 2014, accuses Saied of establishing an authoritarian regime after dismissing parliament and ruling by decree since he seized almost all powers in 2011.

Saied defends his actions as necessary steps to stabilise Tunisia.

This is the third ruling against Marzouki, after a court ruled last year to imprison him for eight years and four years before that in various other cases.

Commenting on the ruling, Marzouki said from his exile in Paris: “I say to these judges: your rulings are invalid, and you are invalid … you will be tried soon”.

“Democracy will return”, he added.

Earlier on Friday, another court sentenced Sahbi Atig, a senior official in Ennahda, the country’s main opposition party, to 15 years in prison on charges of money laundering, his lawyer said.

The 15-year sentence was shorter than some sentences handed down recently. In April, a court sentenced a string of opposition leaders, businessmen and lawyers to prison terms of up to 66 years, on conspiracy charges.

Most of the leaders of political parties in Tunisia are in prison, including Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Constitutional Party, and Rached Ghannouchi, the head of Ennahda – two of Saied’s most prominent opponents.

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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.

Some notable attendees at the inauguration

The Acting Commissioner of Insurance, Dr Abiba Zakariah, has called on insurance companies in Ghana to design inclusive products that serve all demographics, especially those in the informal sector.

Speaking at the inauguration of the newly constructed Insurance House in Kanda, Accra, Dr Zakariah emphasised the pivotal role of insurance in national development.

“The insurance industry must rise to the task. We cannot build a resilient financial sector without including the majority of our working population, market women, farmers, artisans, who remain largely uninsured,” she said.

Dr Zakariah, who served as Guest Speaker, stressed that insurance should be made accessible to all segments of society.

“No one should be left behind in terms of financial protection, inclusion, and security. The collective effort that brought this building to life must now reflect in how we serve the public,” she added.

The President of the Ghana Insurers Association (GIA) and Managing Director of Ghana Re PLC, Seth Aklasi, hailed the project as a landmark achievement for the industry.

“The Insurance House is more than a building, it’s a symbol of unity, resilience, and progress. It stands as a fiscal commitment to the growth and transformation of our sector,” Aklasi stated.

He described the facility as a hub where “ideas will flourish, partnerships will be forged, and the relevance of insurance will be elevated as a national priority.”

Also speaking at the ceremony, Benjamin Yamoah, Chairman of the Ghana National Bureau of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme and Managing Director of Activa International Insurance, lauded the vision behind bringing insurance institutions under one roof.

“This is not just a space for administrative work, it should become a space of real transformation. The energy in this building must translate into action,” he urged.

The three-storey, ultra-modern facility with a basement, located in Kanda, was designed and constructed by Spektra Global, a prominent Ghanaian architectural and construction firm.

Company representatives gave a brief history of the project, highlighting the challenges and milestones along the way.

Additionally, Goodwill messages were delivered by Presidents and Representatives of the Insurance Brokers Association of Ghana (IBAG), the Chartered Insurance Institute of Ghana (CIIG), the Actuarialy Society of Ghana (ASG), the West Africa Insurance Companies Association (WAICA), and the Ghana Insurance College (GIC).

The dedication of the facility was performed by the immediate past Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo.

Special recognition plaques were awarded to past GIA presidents and key figures who played instrumental roles in realizing the dream of Insurance House. These included Nana Agyei Duku, Max Kobina, Wilson Tei, Emmanuel Mahama Baba, and others.

Notable guests at the event included former Commissioners of Insurance, Josephine Jennifer Amoah and Prof. Dr Justice Yaw Ofori, as well as the MCE and Assembly Members of Ayawaso East Constituency, and Godfred Abulbire, General Secretary of the GPRTU.

The historic event was moderated by the NIC’s Head of Public Relations, Mawuli Zogbenu, who kept the program lively and informative.

See pictures below:

ID/MA

NPP Flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong

Outspoken politician and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, has assured Ghanaians that he will no longer allow provocations to derail his focus.

He stated emphatically that his political maturity and leadership vision are now firmly rooted in calmness and strategic thinking.

Addressing a group of party members—reportedly delegates—in a video shared on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), the former Assin Central Member of Parliament said that while his political opponents often make it their mission to provoke him into anger, he is no longer falling for such tactics.

“They deliberately speak to provoke me to anger so that I will go ballistic, but that will not happen,” he asserted. “We now know how to cure their mischief. They don’t have anything to say to bring me down. All they ever say is that ‘as for Ken Agyapong, he easily gets angry,’ but I will not be provoked.”

Known for his fiery personality and blunt rhetoric, Agyapong acknowledged that he has previously been criticized for his temper, but insists those days are behind him.

“You will not hear me throwing tantrums. That will not happen. Even if someone speaks ill of me deliberately to provoke me, I will not respond—because I have turned a deaf ear.”

The maverick politician, who has built a successful business empire in media, real estate, and agriculture, redirected the focus of his comments toward national development and economic empowerment.

He emphasized that what the country needs now is not mere talk, but actionable ideas that will translate into jobs and economic stability.

“What we are looking for is someone who has ideas,” Agyapong said. “If I can create employment as a private individual, imagine what I can do as president.”

Agyapong’s remarks have sparked conversations among political watchers, many of whom view his recent posture as a strategic recalibration aimed at positioning himself for future national leadership.

“We want someone with ideas. If I can create employment as a private individual, imagine what I can do as president” — Kennedy Agyapong charges supporters to throw their weight behind him pic.twitter.com/DVnkyA2CpY

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) June 22, 2025

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The Ghana Police Service has arrested a suspect in connection with a burglary and theft incident at Kasoa Nyanyano in the Central Region. 

The suspect, identified as Ibrahim Abubakar Sadiq, was captured on a Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) camera during the burglary. 

He was subsequently arrested on June 16, 2025, from his hideout at Agbogbloshie, a suburb of Accra, wearing the same attire he used during the operation. 

A press release copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) on Saturday said preliminary investigations revealed that Sadiq stole an iPhone 14 Pro Max, valued at GH¢9,000, a Barclays Bank ATM card, a UK driver’s license, and a cash amount of £2,000. 

Upon interrogation, the suspect admitted to the offence and disclosed that he sold the iPhone 14 Pro Max to an unknown buyer at Agbogbloshie for GH¢2,000. 

Police say Sadiq is currently in custody, assisting with investigations and will be arraigned. 

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.

Acting Chief of NPA, Acting Chief Executive

The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has assured Ghanaians that the country has enough fuel reserves to last beyond two months, despite ongoing global uncertainties.

Speaking during a briefing with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy at Senchi on Saturday, Mr. Tameklo disclosed that Ghana currently has over 200 million litres of petrol and 150 million litres of diesel in reserve.

“I can assure the good people of Ghana that we have enough stock to last us beyond two months, and with all the ongoing efforts, we are confident that there will be no supply disruptions,” he stated.

He further indicated that vessels loaded with petroleum products were already in Ghanaian waters and that Nigeria’s Dangote refinery was producing substantial volumes of petrol and diesel, which would further support national demand.

The 17-member Energy Committee, chaired by Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, is on a sector-wide engagement to assess the operations, challenges, and plans of key players in the energy industry.

Addressing concerns about the GH₵1 fuel levy, Mr. Tameklo noted that the Ministry of Finance and the Ghana Revenue Authority were closely monitoring global developments before making a decision.

He explained that the government was assessing the potential impact of the Israel-Iran conflict, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz—a critical global shipping route.

“At this stage, there is no significant disruption in the Strait of Hormuz. We are confident that if conditions remain stable, the government will communicate a decision on the levy’s implementation soon,” he added.

Mr. Tameklo clarified that initial plans to roll out the policy on June 16, 2025, were delayed due to consultations with stakeholders, including the Chamber of Bulk Oil Distributors, and a last-minute intervention by the Minister of Finance.

He emphasised that the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies would also be engaged before the policy is rolled out to ensure transparency and consensus.

Responding to calls by the Minority in Parliament for the repeal of the Energy Sector Levies Act (ESLA), Mr. Tameklo said the demand lacked a viable alternative to fund essential liquid fuel supplies.

“We still need liquid fuel to keep our lights on. If the Minority has a workable alternative, I believe President John Dramani Mahama—a listening president—would consider it,” he said.

He emphasised that the President was committed to ensuring energy stability, noting that recent interventions, including efforts to stabilise the exchange rate, had already resulted in a GH₵4 drop in petroleum prices—a direct benefit to consumers.

On the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict, Mr. Tameklo maintained that while initial tensions were high, global diplomatic efforts were underway to de-escalate the situation.

“It’s early days yet, but the major powers involved in global diplomacy are engaging the key actors. There is optimism that negotiations will prevail,” he said.

Mr. Tameklo reaffirmed the government’s commitment to maintaining a stable fuel supply, controlling prices, and keeping industries and homes powered as the country continues to monitor international developments.