The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has once again declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a wanted person after he failed to appear in person before the office as directed.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, in a stern notice issued on Monday, June 2, stated that its patience with Mr. Ofori-Atta has run out, following what it describes as repeated delays and noncompliance with ongoing criminal proceedings against him.
“This office has always requested his attendance, and we have indicated clearly to him that we are unwilling to waive it. If we were amenable to taking any statement from Ken Ofori-Atta in absentia, we would have done so in February, and not waited till June 2, 2025.
“We want him here physically, and we insist on it. A suspect in a criminal investigation does not pick and choose how the investigative body conducts its investigations and the methods suitable to him and his convenience. We will not countenance this conduct, not in this case.”
This development comes after Mr. Ofori-Atta reportedly requested a virtual session, citing medical reasons. His legal team had earlier submitted documentation to the OSP and the Human Rights Court, explaining that he was undergoing treatment abroad and unable to travel.
However, the OSP maintains that Mr. Ofori-Atta must appear in person to respond to ongoing investigations related to alleged financial misconduct, including money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.
The declaration reinstates Mr. Ofori-Atta on the list of wanted persons and opens the door for further international enforcement actions, including a possible INTERPOL Red Notice.
More details soon…
OSP’s rejection of Ofori-Atta’s health concerns ‘unfair’- Frank Davies
Accra, June 02, GNA – A new war is unfolding across Africa. It is not fought only with guns and drones, but with ideas, alliances, and resolve.
At its centre stands Ghana — no longer a silent observer, but a key player in a fast-changing global security equation.
“Terrorist networks affiliated with ISIS and al-Qaida are thriving…One of the terrorists’ new objectives is gaining access to West Africa coasts,” warns U.S. Marine Corps General Michael Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
The warning comes not with sirens, but with the calm authority of a seasoned commander. Yet the urgency in General Langley’s voice was unmistakable.
From his post in Nairobi, where the Africa Chiefs of Defense Conference had just concluded, the U.S. AFRICOM chief looked squarely at the threat facing the continent — and the world.
Africa’s coastlines, once seen as trade gateways and economic lifelines, are now being eyed by terrorist networks as launchpads for transnational crime and global reach. And in that shadowy race for control, Ghana is no longer a bystander — it is a bulwark.
What is unfolding is not just a battle of arms, but a contest of wills, governance, and vision. Ghana’s position as a regional peace anchor is being tested by the creeping chaos from the north — by militants who move faster than borders can hold and who exploit every weakness, from poverty to political instability.
But in this fight, something remarkable is happening: the frontline is not folding — it is holding. And increasingly, it is African-led.
“African militaries are taking on security challenges head-on. They continue to step up and take control of their own futures.” General Langley says during a digital press briefing.
Ghana on the frontline
As instability deepens in the Sahel — with Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger struggling to contain extremist violence — Ghana and its fellow Gulf of Guinea nations are being drawn into the vortex. But rather than folding under pressure, these nations are standing firm.
“Our coastal partners – Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, and Benin – are fighting fiercely along their northern borders to prevent terrorist expansion and U.S. AFRICOM is standing with them.” General Langley states.
Ghana has long been seen as a beacon of democratic stability in West Africa. Now, that credibility is being tested on the security front.
The growing threat from the Sahel’s jihadist groups is not theoretical. These groups are expanding, regrouping, and seeking new financial lifelines.
General Langley explains that the coastlines are becoming prime targets. “If they secure access to the coastline, they can finance their operations through smuggling, human trafficking, and arms trading.
This puts not just African nations at risk, but also increases the chance of threats reaching the U.S. shores.”
Ghana’s location, leadership, and proactive stance in regional defense collaborations have made it a keystone partner in AFRICOM’s evolving strategy — one centred not on foreign-led interventions, but African command and control.
From assistance to partnership
General Langley’s remarks reflects a dramatic shift in how the United States engages African militaries.
Gone is the era of dependency and donor-recipient dynamics. In its place, AFRICOM now champions a doctrine of readiness, regional leadership, and self-sufficiency.
“We’re always stronger when we stand together.” Gen. Langley remarks, and adds, “But all these exercises… are no longer about dependence. It’s about progressing to independent operations.”
Exercises like African Lion, Flintlock, and Justified Accord — along with maritime drills such as Obangame Express — are now structured to foster operational autonomy among African forces. Ghana has often served as a host or key contributor to these engagements.
Gen. Langley notes, “These exercises are about building interoperability among nations…So crisis response and command-level leadership can be driven from within African militaries.”
This year’s Justified Accord, co-hosted by Kenya, Djibouti, and Tanzania, brought together over 1,300 troops from 20 nations.
The goal was not just joint maneuvers, but to sharpen real-world readiness, leadership coordination, and crisis management — a model Gen. Langley believes Ghana is well placed to replicate and expand.
AFRICOM’s strategy aligns well with Ghana’s own approach: Investing in professional military education, building intelligence capacity, and maintaining close civil-military relations.
“AFRICOM’s aim is to support African nations in building the self-reliance needed to confront terrorism and insurgency by assisting in building strong, capable military and security forces.” Gen. Langley emphasised.
Security beyond the battlefield
In perhaps the most telling moment of the briefing, Langley shifted the conversation from weapons to people.
“Security is rooted in the strength of communities,” he stresses and that “Militaries must therefore be deeply integrated into society writ large to ensure safety and prosperity.”
He shared his experience in Kibera, Nairobi, where he met with SHOFCO — a grassroots organisation led by Dr. Kennedy Odede that empowers communities through education, health services, and women’s leadership.
Operating in over 40 counties, SHOFCO is proof, Langley says, that real security begins with social stability.
“That’s the model of how real security starts at the ground level – with the people,” he adds.
The message resonates in Ghana, where community-led initiatives, religious networks, and civic organisations have played a quiet but powerful role in fostering peace, especially in border regions.
For AFRICOM, these local actors are no longer side players — they are central to long-term peacebuilding.
Gen. Langley’s reference to a “whole-of-society” approach signals a broader philosophy: that stability doesn’t come from foreign bases or firepower alone, but from education, inclusion, and trusted local institutions.
Strategic tensions and African sovereignty
While AFRICOM’s recalibration favours cooperation, it also comes with strategic caution.
General Langley acknowledged the evolving geopolitical landscape influencing Africa’s security environment, highlighting the importance of strategic engagement on the continent.
He notes, “One of my key directives from Secretary Hegseth is to ensure a balanced approach to military engagement in Africa, mindful of the increasing presence of global powers, including China.”
Gen. Langley adds, “While the U.S. remains committed to fostering transparent and mutually respectful partnerships, it is essential to work collaboratively with all stakeholders to promote sustainable development and long-term stability across the region.”
Careful not to frame the conversation as a zero-sum rivalry, General Langley, instead, implied that African nations — Ghana among them — must retain the sovereign right to choose partnerships that prioritize sustainability, transparency, and mutual respect.
His tone throughout the press briefing was clear: AFRICOM does not seek to dominate, but to stand beside. “It’s about empowering African nations to solve African problems, not just through handouts but through trusted cooperation.”
The power of youth
The briefing concluded on a hopeful note — one anchored not in military metrics, but in human potential, as Gen. Langley spoke of young Africans shaping their future through innovation, not insurgency.
“In Algeria, I met with a youth robotics team applying technology to solve local problems. In Gabon, I saw students enrolled in STEM programmes planning their projects for the future. That is proof that African innovation will be a force of stability.”
He recounted conversations with cadets at Morocco’s military academy and meetings with aspiring leaders in Mauritania and Nigeria. Their passion, he says, is the most powerful counterweight to extremism — and the best bet for Africa’s stability.
For Ghana, where innovation hubs and youth-led civic movements are growing, this is fertile ground for collaboration.
Ghana’s strategic moment
As General Langley prepares to step down — with a successor expected soon — his final message to African partners was filled with both urgency and trust.
“A safe and stable and prosperous Africa is not a charitable goal,” he declares and states that, “It is a strategic necessity for the United States and for our African partners.”
In that vision, Ghana’s role is pivotal. The country is no longer just a reliable partner — it is emerging as a model of military professionalism, democratic stability, and regional responsibility.
As terrorist networks adapt, borders shift, and global power dynamics evolve, Ghana is being asked not only to hold the line — but to lead it.
“AFRICOM will continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with African partners into the future. And I am excited to see Africa’s emerging leaders drive progress not just across the continent but across the world.” Gen. Langley acknowledges.
The battle for Africa’s future will not be decided in Washington or Beijing. It will be shaped by the choices, capabilities, and convictions of its own people — and Ghana, now more than ever, is poised to help shape that destiny.
Imane Khelif has been banned by the World Boxing Federation
Algerian Olympic gold medalist, Imane Khelif, has been barred from competing in the female category at World Boxing events until she undergoes a mandatory sex test, according to the sport’s global governing body.
The 26-year-old recently made history by winning gold at the Paris 2024 Olympics, competing under the eligibility rules of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which state that an athlete is eligible to compete in the women’s division if their passport identifies them as female.
However, World Boxing Federation, the new organisation recognised by the IOC in place of the stripped International Boxing Association (IBA), are enforcing their gender eligibility regulations.
They have confirmed that Khelif must now undergo medical testing before she can take part in any of their sanctioned female competitions.
Khelif was previously disqualified from the 2023 IBA World Championships after reportedly failing gender eligibility tests under the IBA’s rules.
She was later cleared by the IOC to compete in Paris, where she won Algeria’s first Olympic boxing gold.
The discrepancy between the IOC’s standards and those of World Boxing highlights an ongoing divide in how sporting bodies handle sex and gender classification — an issue expected to remain in focus after the Paris Games.
World Boxing has not released details on the timeline for Khelif’s eligibility review, and the boxer has yet to publicly respond to the new decision.
Watch the story below:
FKA/AE
Meanwhile, watch as Eleven Wonders beat RTU 2-1 in the Division One League play-off final
The choir members during a visit to one of the wards
Voices in Worship, the youth choir of Royalhouse Chapel International, Ahenfie, has discharged 17 mothers and their babies from the Weija Municipal Hospital under its flagship initiative dubbed, “Baba Project.”
The choir covered medical bills totaling GH¢23,000, enabling their discharge and supported a 48-year-old woman, who lost her womb due to pregnancy complications, with an amount of GH¢1,500 as medical bills to aid her recovery.
The choir also shared a time of fellowship with the beneficiaries through prayers and sharing of the word of God.
Pastor-in-Charge of Voices In Worship, Rev. Albert Nii Tettey Ayittey, speaking with the media said the project, with considerable backing from the church’s founder and leader, the Apostle General, Rev. Sam Korankye Ankrah, and his wife, Rev. Mrs. Rita Korankye-Ankrah, seeks to bring relief to mothers who have been kept in hospitals due to unpaid bills.
“The project, initiated in 2011 and now in its 14th year, aims to bring Christ, provide financial assistance, and highlight facility needs to attract support,” he said.
He, however, said that the choir was able to provide support to about 50 percent of its target, indicating that moving forward, the choir will expand its efforts to address all the cases they identify at the hospital.
“We realised that almost every year we have never had zero incidents before, we go in and we come back with something that we are unable to attend. So what we are going to do is that now we know the full complement with regards to the problems in that place, so we are going to start now so that we’ll enter in and make sure that we leave the place, covering everybody,” he stated.
He used the opportunity to thank the church and the members of the choir for supporting the vision. “Well, for this amount of money being raised by these young people, I cannot but to express my sincere appreciation to them,” he said.
Medical Superintendent of the Weija Municipal Hospital, Dr. David Kwabena Okoh, said the maternity department, which serves a large catchment area, faces significant challenges including unpaid bills by patients.
“Non-payment of bills is a significant problem, with patients needing essential items like diapers and sanitary towels. The department relies on donations and support from organisations like Royalhouse Chapel to clear bills and maintain essential supplies,” he said.
He also called for additional support from philanthropists, organisations, and corporate entities to improve facilities and provide medical equipment to enhance care for mothers and newborns.
President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, played a key role in persuading him to accept the role of running mate to the late President John Evans Atta Mills ahead of the 2008 general elections.
Speaking at the Jubilee House in Accra on Monday, June 2, when the Asantehene paid a courtesy call on him, Mahama recounted how he initially declined multiple approaches from the Mills campaign team to become the vice-presidential candidate, explaining that he had intended to step away from active politics.
“The first time Prof. Mills sent Baffoe-Bonnie of blessed memory, and a team to tell me he wanted me to be his running mate, I said no. I had already made up my mind to leave politics,” Mahama said.
He added that even after additional pressure from key party stalwarts, including Ato Ahwoi, Totobi Quakyi, and Kwamena Ahwoi, he still refused the offer.
However, things took a decisive turn after a call from Manhyia Palace.
“One day, while I was in Accra, I got a call that Otumfuo wanted to see me in Manhyia. Who was I to refuse?” Mahama narrated. “When I arrived, he asked, ‘Are you the one refusing to be Prof. Mills’ running mate? You can’t do that. When your country calls you, you must respond.’”
Otumfuo, drawing from his own experience of being called to lead the Asante Kingdom, stressed the importance of answering the national call to duty. He even assured Mahama that he would personally deliver his final decision to President Mills, who was then in South Africa.
“Otumfuo said, ‘I promised President Mills that I would speak to you. When I return to Accra, I want your final answer.’ And when he came back, I told him I had agreed—though I made it clear I was willing to serve for only one term,” Mahama recounted.
Mahama’s eventual acceptance paved the way for his selection as Mills’ running mate in the 2008 elections, a partnership that led to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) winning power.
“So yes, Otumfuo was instrumental in me becoming Prof. Mills’ running mate, and everything after that became history. Your Majesty, thank you very much and I truly appreciate your friendship,” Mahama said.
Mental health influences every aspect of our lives—from how we think and feel to how we connect with others and navigate challenges. Yet in Ghana, mental health remains one of the most overlooked areas of public well-being. The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes mental health as a basic human right and an essential foundation for thriving communities. Still, over 2.3 million Ghanaians live with mental health conditions, often with little or no access to proper care.
VINT & Aletheia Attorneys and Consultants, a top-tier law firm ranked by Legal 500 and IFLR1000, has stepped into this gap with a purpose-driven CSR initiative: The Wholesome Mind. The initiative is designed to foster awareness, encourage dialogue, and inspire action in support of mental well-being.
A Movement in Motion: From Awareness to Impact
The Wholesome Mind began in 2024 with a powerful summit focused on Mental Health in the Workplace, organized in collaboration with major mental health institutions. The summit sparked vital conversations among professionals, employers, and advocates about building healthier, more supportive environments.
This October, the initiative expands into its next chapter: The Wholesome Mind Xperience—an immersive, community-centered event under the theme: Mental Health in Our Community: Children and Adults. Attendees will experience a blend of expert-led discussions, wellness activities, and reflective spaces aimed at strengthening emotional resilience at every stage of life.
More than an event, the Xperience marks the beginning of a larger movement—one that goes beyond raising awareness to delivering real, measurable change.
The Xperience Project Launch: A Bold Step Toward Restoring Dignity
A major highlight of this year’s Wholesome Mind Xperience is the official launch of The Xperience Project—a nationwide initiative focused on renovating the Special Ward at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital.
Demonstrating its commitment, VINT & Aletheia has provided initial seed funding to jumpstart the campaign. Now, the firm is calling on individuals, corporate bodies, development partners, and the Ghanaian diaspora to be part of this transformative journey.
The vision is to create a space that offers dignity, comfort, and healing—one that truly honors the humanity of every patient. This goes beyond a fundraising effort; it’s a call to collectively reshape the landscape of mental health care in Ghana.
Together, we are redefining what support looks like—where mental health is not only spoken about, but actively respected, resourced, and protected.
For Media Inquiries or Partnership Opportunities, please contact VINT & Aletheia Attorneys and Consultants via 0302 964 498 or email [email protected]. Visit our website (VINT & Aletheia Attorneys & Consultants.) to learn more and follow updates on the Xperience.
I am a 23-year-old woman currently dating a 49-year-old man. We’ve been together for over five years. Throughout this time, I have never cheated on him or considered being with anyone else.
It’s not that I don’t sometimes wish to date someone younger or even marry someone closer to my age, but this man supported me through senior high school and has continued to support me financially throughout university. I’m now in my final year.
He waited until I finished SHS before we became intimate. He provides for me generously, I never lack anything. He was previously married but is now divorced with three children, whom he never involves me with.
Now, he’s planning to marry me after I graduate, but I don’t want that. I feel like I don’t have a choice.
Early in our relationship, he made me swear an oath using eggs and other ritual items which he tied together in a pot. He later told me he threw the items into the sea. He said that if I ever leave him or cheat, I will go mad.
My parents know him, but they don’t know about this oath. Every time I consider seeing someone else, I remember the swearing, and I retreat because I’m terrified of going mad.
Despite all he provides, I’m not happy. I have money saved and a future ahead of me, but I’m unsure if it’s worth the risk. I want to be free and explore.
I want to enjoy intimacy, experiment, and feel passion, things I can’t do with him. He is much older and very limited sexually. He doesn’t satisfy me, and everything is restricted to the bedroom.
The painful truth is, I don’t love him. I don’t even have feelings for him anymore. So how can I marry someone I don’t love? I feel stuck and confused.
I want to move on with my life, but I’m haunted by fear, what if I leave and something terrible happens, like he said?
I now regret agreeing to that oath. I thought it was a joke until I saw the items he used tied up in a pot.
Please, I just want to be happy. I want to live and enjoy my youth like my friends. But I feel trapped. What should I do?
I’m deeply sad and desperate for help.
FG/EB
Also, watch an exclusive interview with Ayisi on the latest edition of Talkertainment below:
Joseph Nelson, Western Regional Minister, has warned against human activities encroaching on the land belonging to Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) at its treatment site at Daboase in the Wassa East District.
Consequently, the Minister has ordered Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) to urgently demarcate the buffer zone at the Daboase treatment plant site to halt these negative human activities threatening the land within the demarcated area.
The move, he says, aims at protecting the seventy million euro (£70m) water expansion project currently being undertaken to supply twenty two (22) million gallons of water per day to Sekondi-Takoradi and its surrounding communities.
According to the Minister, despite the visible encroachment taking place, landowners are claiming to know virtually nothing about these bizarre development.
The Minister gave the warning during his familiarization visit to the Daboase treatment plant.
Following revelations about the encroachment activities, he immediately directed Ghana Water Company Limited to quickly demarcate buffer zones around the enclave urgently.
This move, he said follows claims of ignorance by the landowners around the affected areas.
The Minister also instructed local chiefs in the area to halt any planned activities within the designated zones.
“The chiefs who sold land within the buffer zone claim ignorance, stating they didn’t know it was a restricted area. To prevent further encroachment, I suggest installing signposts to clearly mark the buffer zone as a no-go area.
If ignored, the law should take its course. I urge the District Chief Executive to address this issue with the chiefs.
He emphasized that their actions are illegal and threaten the water supply for the metropolis and its surrounding communities.
“We will ensure they understand that the development of the project won’t be allowed despite clearing already done” he warned.
The Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources and GWCL launched a seventy million Euro water Expansion Project in Sekondi-Takoradi in May 2022.
Austrian firm Strabag was contracted to build a 22 million gallons per day Daboase water treatment plant.
During the Western Regional Minister’s visit, Strabag reported 86% completion, with an expected finishing date of November 7, 2025.
Vlad Falup, Project Manager for Strabag Engineering, explained that, “All main structures are complete. We’re currently working on the high-lift pumping station, which houses the pumps that will transport water to Inchaban and other pumping stations.
The mechanical equipment is in place, and though the tanks are underground with structures above, we are confident we will finish by November 7, 2025”.
Gideon Asare Annor, Western Regional Manager in charge of production at Ghana Water Company Limited, is worried about the development.
“As you can see, the buffer zone has been completely encroached upon, which means, this river will likely dry up faster than usual during the dry season.
This would render our 22 million gallons per day treatment plant idle, which would be unfortunate.
The encroachment is evident, especially since the area is prone to erosion.
Ideally, the buffer zone should start further up to prevent runoff and protect the water source,” he stressed.
The Daboase water treatment plant was built in the late 1960s with a capacity of six million gallons supply day, and the Inchaban plant, with four million gallons daily but they all struggle now to meet demand for Sekondi-Takoradi and all its surrounding areas.
Interestingly, climate change, avoidable human activities, including Illegal mining, have increased water turbidity, therefore reducing production from 6 million gallons per day to just above 16,000 gallons per day.
The water supply is further threatened by encroachment around the buffer zones protecting the water source, especially during the dry season.
Watch as Afenyo-Markin raises concerns over human rights abuses concerning Wontumi’s arrest:
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has re-declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta wanted effective Monday, June 2, 2025.
The declaration follows Mr. Ofori-Atta’s failure to honour the OSP’s invitation for interrogation, violating an earlier agreement.
Addressing a press conference, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, stated that his patience with Mr. Ofori-Atta has run out, citing repeated delays and non-compliance on the part of the latter.
“We want him here physically. We have indulged him for long, and it ends here,” he stated.
The former minister was initially expected to appear before the OSP today as part of efforts to resolve his legal issues with the office.
However, he requested a virtual session, citing medical reasons.
A member of his legal team, Frank Davies, had explained that Mr. Ofori-Atta will not be physically present in Ghana as earlier agreed, and his legal team has officially communicated this to the OSP.
Mr. Davies added that relevant medical documents have been submitted to the OSP, and the development has also been brought to the attention of the Human Rights Court.
But Mr. Agyebeng has stated that no medical report has been presented to the office.
The immediate implication of this re-declaration is severe. Mr. Ofori-Atta now faces the full force of the OSP’s mandate, which includes pursuing his return to Ghana by all lawful means.
The threat of an INTERPOL Red Notice means he could be arrested in any of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries, significantly curtailing his international movement.
On February 12, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng declared Mr. Ofori-Atta wanted in connection with four high-profile corruption investigations. The OSP further described him as a fugitive from justice.
However, Mr. Ofori-Atta maintains that the declaration was unlawful and is currently seeking redress through the courts.
He filed a motion on March 15, 2025, seeking to restrain the OSP from branding him a “wanted person” and a “fugitive,” and is also asking the court to compel the OSP to delete all related statements from its social media platforms.
The motion is being contested by the OSP and is scheduled for a ruling at the Accra High Court on June 18.
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to completing key health infrastructure projects in the Ashanti Region, notably the long-delayed maternity block at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi.
He made the pledge on Monday, June 2, when the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, led a delegation of eminent chiefs to pay a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House.
Work on the new project started in February 2021 after the old block was demolished.
The five-storey facility, set to feature modern theatres and specialised wards including paediatric neurology, haematology, cardiology, and respiratory care, will serve as a one-stop centre for comprehensive maternal, newborn, and child healthcare.
It will also contain a Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, a Mother and Baby Unit, and a dedicated Paediatric Renal Unit.
In his address, President Mahama also assured the continuation and completion of the Sewua and Afari Military Hospitals, which have suffered setbacks in recent years.
“In the Health Sector, we will continue and complete the Sewua and Afari Military Hospitals. We will also continue and complete the KATH maternity and children blocks,” he stated.
He further noted that the Ashanti Region would feature prominently under his administration’s ambitious infrastructure drive, known as the ‘Big Push’ Agenda.
Wontumi withdraws motion to review GH¢50m bail conditions
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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) base was sent into celebration following the extraordinary intervention of Dr. Bryan Acheampong, who stepped in to provide a GH¢50 million surety towards the release of embattled Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Bosiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
Chairman Wontumi was detained by the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) and faced a mammoth GHS50 million bail condition with sureties.
The Miss Natural Beauty Ghana pageant is back for its second edition, continuing its mission to promote self-love, health, and the celebration of natural beauty among African women.
Organised by Kente Business Journal, a media company based in Ghana and Seattle, the pageant first launched in 2023 and has quickly grown into a powerful platform for women of African descent.
At the official launch held on May 30, 2025, pageant director Md.Grace Ayishetu Hamidu-Musah emphasized the purpose behind the initiative.
“Miss Natural Beauty Africa is a competition that is meant to challenge women, especially of African descent, to accept themselves to accept their natural being as they are. Being natural doesn’t mean you don’t take care of yourself. In fact, we are here to educate and empower women to live healthy and confident lives, naturally,” she said.
Alongside the 2025 launch, organizers also unveiled the Miss Natural Beauty Africa magazine, a new platform that will share inspiring stories, beauty tips, and content around natural living and wellness.
Contestants from the 2023 edition shared how the pageant helped transform their outlook and lifestyle.
One of the contestants, Ama Agyeiwaa Amofa, who was plus-sized, took the education seriously. She changed her eating habits, started exercising, and experienced a transformation in her health.
Another person emphasized that appreciating yourself means taking care of yourself and understanding what is good for you, rather than simply following what everyone else is doing.
Obenewaa Agyekum, winner of Miss Natural Beauty Ghana 2023, joined other past winners at the launch to reflect on their journeys and how the experience boosted their confidence and self-awareness.
Registration for the 2025 edition opened on May 30 and will close on July 31. Auditions will take place in August, and the main event will run through to December. The grand finale is scheduled for December 28, aligning with Ghana’s “December in GH” season, which draws visitors from around the world.
Looking ahead, Ms. Musa shared the broader vision, “Our vision is to expand to all African countries and also include Africans living in the diaspora. We’re looking to a future where we can hold Miss Natural Beauty Nigeria, Miss Natural Beauty Kenya, Miss Natural Beauty South Africa, and many more. We believe that when you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”
President John Dramani Mahama spoke during the opening of the Mining Summit
President John Dramani Mahama has noted that the Ghana Gold Board initiative has generated $2.7 billion for the Ghanaian economy in four months of its operation.
The GoldBod was formed in 2025 to oversee, regulate and undertake the buying, selling, assaying, refining, exporting and other related activities in respect of Gold and other precious minerals in Ghana.
According to President Mahama, the Goldbod is expected to raise more in the coming years.
Speaking at the Global Mining Summit on June 2, the President noted that “The Goldbod, a key plank in my administration’s strategy to reform the gold mining sector and ensure maximum benefit for Ghanaians for our gold resources, has taken off. In its short existence, it has sanitised the gold sector, ensuring maximum returns from our gold export.”
Also speaking at the summit, Otumfuo lauded the efforts of the CEO of the Goldbod, Sammy Gyamfi, in redefining Ghana’s gold sector.
He noted that Ghana’s longstanding challenge has not been the lack of natural resources, but rather the inability to fully capitalise on them in the competitive global market.
“Probably the most costly effect of illicit mining to me is the distraction from the real challenge we face, which is how we maximise the benefits of our noble heritage. We have to be true to ourselves and admit that we have not done a good job of representing and protecting ourselves in the competitive global market,” Otumfuo stated.
In his remarks, the Asantehene praised Sammy Gyamfi for his leadership at GoldBod, noting that his efforts are helping shift the national focus from reactive responses to illegal mining toward proactive strategies that secure long-term value from Ghana’s mineral wealth.
“Sammy, I thank you very much on this one,” Otumfuo said.
Players of Nations FC and Holy Stars during the game
One of the penalty decisions awarded to Basake Holy Stars against Nations FC has gone viral, following a chaotic end to their Ghana Premier League clash on Sunday, June 1, 2025.
The incident occurred at the Crosby Awuah Memorial Park, where league leaders, Nations FC, walked off the pitch in protest after a second penalty was awarded against them in the second half.
The first had been converted in the 32nd minute to give Holy Stars a 1-0 lead.
After the second spot-kick was awarded and scored, Nations FC players and staff refused to continue.
Backed by their owner, Dr Kwame Kyei, the team left the pitch and boarded their bus back to Abrankese, effectively abandoning the match.
Earlier, the game had been delayed by 30 minutes after Nations FC raised concerns about the number of security personnel present.
The Ghana Football Association (GFA), according to JoySports, made a head count that confirmed that more than the required 70 officers were on duty, prompting the game to begin.
In a post-match statement, Nations FC claimed two of their directors, Dr Kwame Kyei and Dr Divine Kyei Boadu were attacked during the game and cited safety concerns for their decision to leave.
The GFA is expected to launch an investigation into the incident.
Watch the video of the penalty below:
FKA/AE
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Dr. Francis Adomako, the Ashanti Regional Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called for the release of the party’s Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, who remains in the custody of the Economic and Organised Office (EOCO).
His demand comes after Chairman Wontumi’s legal team formally withdrew a motion that sought a review of his GH¢50 million bail condition. The motion, originally filed at the High Court in Accra on May 30, 2025, was slated for hearing on Tuesday, June 3. However, it was withdrawn a day earlier on Monday, June 2.
Chairman Wontumi had challenged the bail terms imposed by EOCO, describing them as excessive and obstructive to his release. His lawyers argued that the conditions had already been satisfied.
Speaking on Citi Prime News with Charles Owusu Kumi on Monday, June 2, Dr. Adomako questioned why Wontumi remained in EOCO custody despite meeting the bail requirements and withdrawing the motion.
“We don’t know what is keeping our regional chairman in EOCO,” he said. “They are making things too complicated. They demanded huge bail conditions, which have been satisfied. The bail review application has been withdrawn. What is left again? All that we want to see is that they have released our chairman; other than that, we’re not leaving.”
Wontumi is currently under investigation by the Economic and Organised Office (EOCO) over alleged money laundering, fraud, and other financial crimes. He was arrested and granted bail by EOCO on May 28, 2025, to the tune of GH¢50 million with two justified sureties.
Although his legal team initially struggled to meet the bail conditions, his lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi confirmed on Friday, May 30, that Wontumi had fully complied with all requirements, including securing the two sureties.
However, a new legal challenge has delayed his release. “We encountered some difficulties which will be sorted out on Monday, June 2. We will work towards the desired results. I will stay out of politics and the theatrics and do what is within the law,” Appiah-Kubi said.
The embattled NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman on Monday, June 2, withdrew his legal challenge to the bail conditions imposed on him by the Economic and Organised Office (EOCO) in a bid to fast-track his release.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has refused the legal team of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta’s request for a virtual session for a probe into allegations of financial loss to the state.
Ken Ofori-Atta was expected to appear before the Office of Special Prosecutor (OSP) today; however, that was not possible as sources reported deterioration in his health.
The floods were caused by prolonged heavy rain since the end of May, NDTV and other Indian media outlets reported on Monday.
Assam and six other states in the world’s most populous country have been particularly hard hit. Weather authorities expected further heavy rainfall until the middle of this week.
The floodwaters inundated numerous roads and fields, damaging or destroying bridges and houses. Tens of thousands of people spent the nights in emergency shelters.
The full extent of the damage was initially unclear. According to the PTI news agency, at least eight people were found dead in Assam after floods and landslides.
In the state of Arunachal Pradesh, a vehicle was hit by sliding earth and debris on a motorway, according to The Indian Express newspaper. All seven occupants, who belonged to two families, were killed.
The monsoon season began earlier than usual in parts of India this year.
Flooding and mudslides are not uncommon during the rainy season, which usually lasts until September. The rain is vital for plant life and agriculture, but it can also be life-threatening for humans.
Media personality, MzGee has shared an advice with people who overshare their dreams
Ghanaian media personality, MzGee, has advised people, especially those in competitive spaces, to be cautious about who they share their dreams and plans with, revealing how past betrayals forced her to retreat from open-hearted conversations — even with people she once considered close.
Speaking on her latest Gee O’Clock show, the award-winning broadcaster reflected on how her habit of openly discussing her aspirations was met with ridicule, backstabbing, and even idea theft by those she trusted.
“I used to talk a lot… telling people I want to do this, I want to be that… but people don’t really care. Some are only listening to mock you or steal your ideas,” she said.
MzGee emphasised that not everyone deserves access to people’s inner worlds. Instead, she said she has learned to direct her hopes and desires to God or a trusted partner — someone who is “tried and tested.”
She described how months of praying for clarity revealed “frenemies” in her life — people who were friendly in person but undermined her behind closed doors.
“They know everything about you, yet they’re masterminding your downfall,” she shared.
The media personality also encouraged listeners to replace self-doubt with positive affirmations, sharing her own experience of speaking life into her dreams — even when the path was unclear.
“Some things I said to myself in the mirror years ago are unfolding now. Just speak it, believe it, and trust the process,” she said.
MzGee concluded with a message on kindness and self-worth, urging her audience to celebrate even small wins and to be genuinely happy for others.
“Some of the greatest help I’ve received came from strangers. I believe it’s just the kindness I’ve shown others coming back to me,” she said.
OSP Kissi Agyebeng has declared Ken Ofori-Atta (R) a fugitive of the law for the second time
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has re-declared former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive for failing to voluntarily submit himself for trial.
During a press briefing on June 2, 2025, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, stated that Ofori-Atta’s conduct demonstrated a lack of cooperation with the ongoing investigation.
Despite repeated invitations, the former minister has refused to appear before the OSP, with his legal team requesting extensions citing medical reasons.
However, the OSP dismissed the medical justification, noting that the submitted doctor’s letter lacked a detailed medical report confirming his inability to attend.
“He has not produced a single medical report except that five-line document,” Agyebeng said.
The OSP accused Ofori-Atta of acting in bad faith, emphasizing that suspects cannot dictate the terms of an investigation.
“A suspect does not pick and choose how an investigative authority conducts its work,” Agyebeng stated.
The OSP has now re-entered Ofori-Atta’s name on its wanted list and initiated processes for an Interpol Red Notice to secure his arrest and extradition.
“We will no longer accommodate him. His conduct is unacceptable and a blatant disregard for law enforcement,” Agyebeng declared.
Background
Ken Ofori-Atta is currently under investigation for five major issues during his tenure.
This includes the contractual arrangements related to petroleum and minerals revenue assurance between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Also, the termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC), procurement procedures and financial transactions linked to the National Cathedral project, a Ministry of Health contract for the purchase and maintenance of 307 ambulances with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.
It also entails the handling and disbursement of funds from the Tax P-Fund Account of the GRA.
In January 2025, the OSP formally notified Ken Ofori-Atta that he should appear in person on February 10, 2025.
His lawyers informed the OSP that he was abroad indefinitely for medical reasons and offered to represent him in his absence.
The OSP rejected the claim of indefinite absence and demanded a firm return date, warning of legal consequences if he failed to comply. It also reminded that legal representatives cannot respond to criminal charges on behalf of clients.
On February 10, 2025, his lawyers submitted a doctor’s note stating he was undergoing tests and possibly surgery, with no clear return date.
Two days later, the OSP declared Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice and acted on an arrest warrant.
On February 18, 2025, Ken Ofori-Atta appealed to the OSP to remove his name from the wanted list and provided a definite return date in May 2025.
The OSP accepted his assurance and subsequently took his name off the list.
In March 2025, the former Minister of Finance filed a lawsuit against the Special Prosecutor, seeking compensation for what he described as an unlawful declaration of him as wanted and requested the removal of related publications from the OSP’s social media channels.
The High Court in Accra (Human Rights Court) heard an interim application on March 28, 2025, in which Ken Ofori-Atta sought to bar the OSP from declaring him wanted again.
Following these legal proceedings, the OSP gave a final deadline of June 2, 2025, for Ken Ofori-Atta to report in person to its headquarters.
The final funeral rites of the Central Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Robert Kutin Junior, have been held.
The solemn ceremony took place on Saturday, May 31, 2025, at Assin Jakai in the Central Region.
A host of dignitaries attended to pay their last respects, including former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo; former Chief of Staff, Akosua Frema Osei Opare; former Vice President and NPP 2024 Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; and former Manhyia South MP and NPP 2024 Running Mate, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh.
Also in attendance were NPP General Secretary, Justin Frimpong Kodua, and National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, along with several other party officials and sympathizers.
Robert Kutin Junior, who also served as the former Board Chairman of the Ghana Maritime Authority (GMA), passed away on December 22, 2024, after battling an undisclosed illness for several months.
In 2022, he retained his position as Central Regional Chairman after defeating Joseph Kobina Essibu in the party’s regional elections.
The late Kutin Junior is remembered for his dedication to party service and his influence in regional political affairs.
Despite’s Son Saahene Osei Switches To A Mature Look As He Grows Thick Afro Hairstyle With Beard
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Saahene Osei, the youngest son of Ghanaian business mogul Osei Kwame Despite, is gaining fresh attention on social media after debuting a more mature and stylish appearance. Known for his fashion-forward style and luxurious lifestyle, Saahene recently surprised fans with a new look—sporting a thick afro hairstyle complemented by a neatly groomed beard.
The transformation marks a noticeable shift from his previously clean-cut and youthful appearance. In new photos shared online, the young socialite appeared confident and poised, exuding a sense of maturity that has impressed many of his followers. His fresh look has sparked discussions across various platforms, with fans praising his evolving sense of fashion and personal growth.
Saahene, who has long been admired for his polished presence at high-profile events, now seems to be embracing a more laid-back yet classy image. Many have described his current style as a perfect blend of modern African identity and youthful confidence.
His new appearance has also drawn comparisons to popular Ghanaian and international celebrities known for embracing natural hair and grooming trends. While some fans are surprised by the change, others believe it reflects his journey into adulthood and self-expression.
As the son of one of Ghana’s most successful businessmen, Saahene continues to inspire admiration—not only for his privileged background but also for the way he carries himself with elegance, confidence, and now, a new mature charm.
President John Dramani Mahama has announced the commencement of a feasibility study and design for the new Accra-Kumasi Expressway, a key infrastructure project set to transform Ghana’s transportation landscape.
Speaking during a courtesy call by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II at the Jubilee House, President Mahama revealed that the government plans to begin work on this major project early next year, under the Big Push Infrastructure Programme.
“I am happy to report to you that we will soon undertake a feasibility study and design of the new Accra-Kumasi expressway,” the President said.
He added: “We hope to be able to cut the sod early next year for work on this transformational project to commence.”
The project aims to improve connectivity between the nation’s two largest cities—Accra and Kumasi. The expressway is expected to reduce travel time, enhance road safety, and stimulate economic activity along the corridor.
This project forms part of the government’s broader agenda to invest in major infrastructural developments nationwide, signaling a renewed commitment to modernizing Ghana’s road network and boosting regional development.
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The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is providing updates on four ongoing investigations, including the matter involving former Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta.
The legal team of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta has requested a virtual session with the Office of the Special Prosecutor for a probe into allegations of financial loss to the state.
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has firmly rejected a request by former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta to participate in investigations via video conferencing, insisting that the former minister must present himself physically to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Addressing journalists on Monday, June 2, Mr. Agyebeng dismissed the request as inappropriate and out of step with the seriousness of the ongoing corruption probe.
“This office has always requested his attendance, and we have indicated clearly to him that we are unwilling to waive it. If we were amenable to taking any statement from Ken Ofori-Atta in absentia, we would have done so in February, and not waited till June 2, 2025.
“We want him here physically, and we insist on it. A suspect in a criminal investigation does not pick and choose how the investigative body conducts its investigations and the methods suitable to him and his convenience. We will not countenance this conduct, not in this case.”
This comes amid a deepening standoff between the OSP and Mr. Ofori-Atta, who has repeatedly failed to honour summons over corruption allegations. Kissi Agyebeng revealed that his office had triggered processes for the issuance of an INTERPOL red notice and formally requested extradition to secure Ofori-Atta’s arrest and return to Ghana.
The former minister was previously removed from the OSP’s wanted list following a temporary agreement but has since been declared a fugitive again after failing to appear before investigators by the June 2 deadline.
Key Issues Under Investigation
Petroleum and Minerals Revenue Assurance – Contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Electricity Company Contract Termination – Termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC).
National Cathedral Project – Procurement procedures and financial transactions related to the National Cathedral.
Ambulance Procurement – A Ministry of Health contract with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited for the purchase and maintenance of 307 ambulances.
GRA Tax P-Fund Management – Handling and disbursement of funds from the Tax P-Fund Account of the GRA.
Timeline of Events
January 2025 The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) officially notified Mr. Ofori-Atta that he was a suspect in five separate cases and requested his appearance on 10 February 2025.
31 January 2025 His lawyers informed the OSP that he was abroad indefinitely for medical reasons and offered to represent him in his absence.
5 February 2025 The OSP rejected the claim of indefinite absence and demanded a firm return date by 10 February 2025, warning of legal consequences. It also reminded that legal representatives cannot respond to criminal charges on behalf of clients.
10 February 2025 His lawyers submitted a doctor’s note (not addressed to any specific party), indicating he was undergoing tests and possibly surgery, with no clear return date.
12 February 2025 With no further cooperation, the OSP declared Mr. Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice, acting on an arrest warrant.
18 February 2025 Mr. Ofori-Atta appealed to the OSP for removal from the ‘Wanted List’ and, for the first time, provided a definite return date in May 2025. The OSP accepted this assurance and removed his name from the list.
Legal Challenge
March 2025 Mr. Ofori-Atta filed a lawsuit against the OSP and the Special Prosecutor, seeking compensation for what he described as an unlawful declaration of him as wanted. He also requested the removal of related content from the OSP’s social media platforms.
28 March 2025 The Human Rights Court heard an interim application from Mr. Ofori-Atta, asking the court to restrain the OSP from declaring him wanted again.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II made the statement at the Mining in Motion Summit
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has noted that his son’s resolve to engage in mining was inspired by Ibrahim Mahama and Sir Sam Jonah.
According to him, the two businessmen, who have played major roles in the mining sector, trained his son.
Speaking at the official opening of the Mining in Motion Summit in Accra on June 2, 2025, Otumfuo emphasised the millionaires’ roles in his son’s choice.
“My son, who is organising this Mining in Motion, was trained by his uncle, Sam Jonah, and his brother, Ibrahim Mahama. They trained him, looked after his school and everything. And then I see the reason why he’s into mining is that Ibrahim influenced his job,” he said.
He also noted that Ghana’s longstanding challenge in Ghana has not been the lack of natural resources, but rather the inability to fully capitalise on them in the competitive global market.
“Probably the most costly effect of illicit mining to me is the distraction from the real challenge we face, which is how we maximise the benefits of our noble heritage. We have to be true to ourselves and admit that we have not done a good job of representing and protecting ourselves in the competitive global market,” the Asantehene stated.
In his remarks, the Asantehene praised Sammy Gyamfi for his work at the Ghana GoldBod, noting that his efforts are helping shift the focus from reactive responses to illegal mining toward proactive strategies that secure long-term value from Ghana’s mineral wealth.
The Paramount Chief of the Sagnarigu Traditional Area and a former Ambassador to Senegal, Naa Ambassador Yakubu Abdulai, has chastised the state for its failure to fight against the trafficking of illicit drugs and abuse.
“The state has not been very responsible in the fight against illicit drugs trafficking and abuse,” he stated.
Addressing participants at the Savana Signatures stakeholder engagement forum under the theme “Strengthening Multi-Stakeholder Solutions for a Substance-Free Northern Ghana,” he indicated that the state has remained silent even though task forces have been formed to help fight the menace.
“With the outrage in Tamale and around leading to the formation of task forces, the state remain silent when it should have taken advantage of intelligence and active participation to fight the menace, and in some cases the state even seems opposing the fight that has been taken by the task forces,” he added.
According to him, the public, traditional leaders, and communities are ready to provide intelligence of the traffickers, traders, depots and consumers to authorities to help curb the menace.
“Recent statements by public officials and the Regional Security Council gives me hope that the state is finally waking up. This is not the time for long speeches but action,” he stated.
Naa Ambassador Yakubu Abdulai, lamented about the capture of state institutions which prevent the illicit drugs from entering into to the country.
“The disaster in recent times about illicit drugs in our various communities is the failure of our institutions that permits the entry of these drugs from our borders, the custody and distribution in our region and country at large,” he stressed.
He urged parents to take responsibility of their wards.
“At night you see children about 10 years walking around, which is a serious concern, and that can negatively impact their education,” he pointed out.
He commended Savana Signatures for organising the stakeholder engagement aimed to deepen collaboration among key actors working to prevent and address substance abuse in the region, especially by the youth.
“We thank you for all the efforts you are putting in to make sure that our communities and country at large become a better place to live in,” he stated.
The Savana Signatures stakeholder engagement brought together diverse actors from the Ghana Health Service, Ghana Education Service, Narcotics Control Commission, law enforcement agencies, media, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, and youth groups.
The Executive Director of Savana Signatures, Dr. Stephen Agbenyo, called for the support of the media and urged them to advocate for reforms to help fight the illicit drug menace in the country, to ensure that the borders are well protected.
He assured that Savana Signatures will continue with the campaign and even go beyond the Senior High Schools to the tertiary institutions, as well as the out of school youth.
The Acting Administrator of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Dr. Sofo Tanko Rashid-Computer, has issued a formal notice indicating that the government has shifted its focus to the recovery of all looted state funds as part of a broader anti-corruption drive.
Dr. Rashid-Computer emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to restoring public trust and ensuring accountability in the management of national resources.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has accepted the plea bargain proposal by Andy Thomas Owusu, the second accused in the corruption-related case involving Charles Bissue, a former Secretary of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM).
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng revealed this during a press briefing on Monday, June 2, 2025.
“Andy Thomas Owusu, the second accused, has since negotiated a plea bargain with the OSP, which has been filed in court. The processes in respect of the plea bargain, which are restitutive and reparative in nature, would be concluded in court in the coming days,” he explained.
The Special Prosecutor accepted Andy Thomas Owusu’s offer of restitution and reparation to the Republic on the following considerations in accordance with section 71(4) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959): i. The history of Mr. Owusu with respect to criminal activity. ii. The level of cooperation Mr. Owusu exhibited during the investigation. iii. The likelihood of obtaining a conviction if the case proceeds to trial. iv. The probable effect on witnesses of a trial. v. The need to avoid delay in the disposition of other pending cases.
Prior to this, the Accra High Court had granted a one-week adjournment on May 29 in the significant corruption prosecution to allow completion of the plea bargain.
State prosecutors had informed Justice Kwame Asante’s court that substantive discussions were underway with legal representatives for businessman Andy Thomas Owusu, who faces multiple corruption-related charges alongside former government official Charles Bissue, to complete the process.
Background
The two are standing trial over their alleged involvement in 15 criminal charges filed by the OSP.
The charges were filed at the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra on April 28, alleging that between January and February 2019, Mr Bissue, while serving as Secretary of the defunct Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), corruptly accepted bribes totalling GH₵35,000 from one Benjamin Adjapong, directly and through Owusu, to fast-track the renewal of an expired mining licence for a mining company, ORR Resources Enterprise, without proper documentation.
In return, Bissue allegedly issued fraudulent permits and stickers declaring ORR Resources compliant with mining laws.
It is in relation to the widely publicised ‘Galamsey Fraud’ investigation, as documented in the 2019 Tiger Eye P.I. report.
Even though Mr Bissue was initially cleared by the previous government, the OSP reopened the case and has proceeded with criminal prosecutions.
The IMCIM, established in 2017 to combat illegal mining (galamsey), was dissolved in 2021 after corruption scandals, including Bissue’s alleged involvement in misappropriating excavators and gold nuggets.
In November 2024, the Human Rights Court dismissed the final in a series of suits filed by Charles Bissue aimed at preventing the Office of the Special Prosecutor from arresting, investigating, or charging him.
Mr Bissue had previously obtained a 10-day ex parte injunction restraining the OSP from arresting him, alleging that the warrant issued was unlawfully procured and intended to harass him.
He also sought a declaration that a notice marking him as wanted was void.
In its judgement, the court found Bissue’s claims entirely unfounded, stating there was no evidence to support his allegations. The central question was whether an arrest warrant had indeed been issued by the Kaneshie District Court for OSP against Bissue.
The court ruled that it was Bissue’s responsibility to provide proof of such a warrant, which he failed to do.
The judge concluded that no warrant had been issued and dismissed the claim as a figment of the imagination of Bissue and awarded costs of GHC10,000 against him.
This ruling cleared the path for the OSP to continue its investigations into Mr Bissue’s involvement with the defunct IMCIM and, in another separate case, pursue charges related to allegations of corruption as depicted in the Tiger Eye P.I. documentary Galamsey Fraud Part 1.
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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.
The Accra-based volunteer group will be given a special tribute
Ghana’s grassroots environmental champions, the Bus Stop Boys, are set to receive an international recognition at the 2025 Carnival of Cultures in Berlin, where they will be honoured by the Berlin team.
Scheduled from June 6 to 9, 2025, the annual multicultural festival in Germany’s capital will feature a special tribute to the Accra-based volunteer group during the grand parade on June 8.
Known for their tireless efforts to clean, green, and protect public spaces, particularly bus stops and neglected corners of Ghana’s capital, the Bus Stop Boys have progressed into a symbol of environmental activism.
Fatimah Adamu Slice, CEO of Ghana Carnival Berlin, explained the motivation behind this year’s focus, “The Bus Stop Boys embody community service at its purest.
Their impact is visible, their passion is inspiring, and we believe they deserve to be honoured on a world stage. This tribute is our way of saying: We see you, Ghana sees you, and now the world will too.”
The Ghanaian float will pulse with the energy of traditional drums, bold Kente fabrics, Adinkra symbols, and Afrobeat performances.
This year, it will spotlight environmental stewardship and the power of grassroots action, using the story of the Bus Stop Boys to inspire global audiences.
Ghana Carnival Berlin has, in recent years, used its platform to promote sustainability and responsible tourism.
In 2024, the team began supporting clean-up initiatives back home and advocating for the use of biodegradable materials in public events.
The tribute will serve not only as a celebration but also a call to action, reminding the world that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they care for their communities.
Founded by a group of young volunteers in Accra, the Bus Stop Boys are widely respected for transforming neglected public spaces into cleaner, greener environments. Their tools are brooms, paint, and plants, their motivation is love for the country.
The Carnival of Cultures
Held annually in Berlin since 1996, the Carnival of Cultures draws hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world to celebrate diversity, inclusion, and the arts.
The four-day event features parades, performances, food, and advocacy, making it a perfect stage for spotlighting global changemakers like the Bus Stop Boys.
The Special Prosecutor is addressing the press on Ofori-Atta and other cases.
Ken Ofori-Atta is currently under investigation for five major issues during his tenure.
This includes the contractual arrangements related to petroleum and minerals revenue assurance between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Also, the termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC), procurement procedures and financial transactions linked to the National Cathedral project, a Ministry of Health contract for the purchase and maintenance of 307 ambulances with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.
It also entails the handling and disbursement of funds from the Tax P-Fund Account of the GRA.
In January 2025, the OSP formally notified Ken Ofori-Atta that he should appear in person on February 10, 2025.
His lawyers informed the OSP that he was abroad indefinitely for medical reasons and offered to represent him in his absence.
The OSP rejected the claim of indefinite absence and demanded a firm return date, warning of legal consequences if he failed to comply. It also reminded that legal representatives cannot respond to criminal charges on behalf of clients.
On February 10, 2025, his lawyers submitted a doctor’s note stating he was undergoing tests and possibly surgery, with no clear return date.
Two days later, the OSP declared Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice and acted on an arrest warrant.
On February 18, 2025, Ken Ofori-Atta appealed to the OSP to remove his name from the wanted list and provided a definite return date in May 2025.
The OSP accepted his assurance and subsequently took his name off the list.
In March 2025, the former Minister of Finance filed a lawsuit against the Special Prosecutor, seeking compensation for what he described as an unlawful declaration of him as wanted and requested the removal of related publications from the OSP’s social media channels.
The High Court in Accra (Human Rights Court) heard an interim application on March 28, 2025, in which Ken Ofori-Atta sought to bar the OSP from declaring him wanted again.
Following these legal proceedings, the OSP gave a final deadline of June 2, 2025, for Ken Ofori-Atta to report in person to its headquarters.
Diminutive Kumawood actor, Don Little said that he is ready to ensure Ashanti Regional Chairman on the ticket of the NPP, Chairman Wontumi is granted a bail.
The actor made his intention known in a self-recorded video that has flown across social media platforms.
Don Little stated that even though he is not in Ghana, he had reached out to the NIB to ensure that Chairman Wontumi is treated very well.
Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has defended the GH¢50 million bail imposed on the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.
According to him, the amount is not excessive considering the nature of the allegations against Wontumi, including fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to the state.
Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Mr. Kpebu explained that since the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has not disclosed the specific amount of money involved in the alleged fraud, it is difficult to argue that the GH¢50 million bail is excessive.
“I don’t think the GH¢50 million bail condition is too excessive. We can fault EOCO for not coming out clearly with the amount involved in the alleged fraud. If they had, maybe we would realise that the GH¢50 million is even small,” he said.
He added that EOCO should have been more transparent with the financial details of the charges to help the public better understand the rationale behind the bail amount.
“To me, that’s where EOCO erred. They should have told us exactly how much money is at stake in all these fraud allegations and other allegations,” he stressed.
Mr. Kpebu expressed surprise that some members of the public are calling the bail excessive when, in his view, the nature of the allegations suggests the amount could be justified.
“I’m even shocked people are making noise that the GH¢50 million is too much. Wontumi has done a lot of things – although most of them are grapevine talk – but the charges are plenty,” he said.
He further noted that Wontumi is not the only person in Ghana’s legal history to have received such a high bail amount.
Meanwhile, Chairman Wontumi’s legal team has withdrawn a motion filed on May 30, 2025, seeking a variation of the bail conditions.
The motion was scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, June 3, but was formally withdrawn on Monday, June 2.
Wontumi had initially challenged the GH¢50 million bail set by EOCO, arguing through his lawyers that the amount was excessive and could frustrate his release.
However, his lead counsel, Andy Appiah-Kubi, has since confirmed that all documentation for the two justified sureties has now been completed.
Picture yourself gliding into a room, heads turning, whispers trailing in your wake—not because of ostentation, but because your ensemble radiates an effortless, almost aristocratic elegance. The secret? It’s all in the colours you choose. In British fashion, where subtlety reigns supreme, the right palette can transform your appearance into one that screams wealth without saying a word. This guide unveils four impeccable colour combinations that project affluence, rooted in the psychology of hues and the timeless finesse of British style. From Mayfair boardrooms to Cotswolds galas, these combinations will ensure you look positively plutocratic.
Understanding the Psychology of Colour
Colours wield a silent power, shaping how others perceive you. Certain shades—deep navy, emerald green, burgundy, gold, black, ivory, and soft cream—are synonymous with luxury, conjuring images of grand estates, bespoke tailoring, and rare gems.
Navy exudes stability and authority, the hallmark of a seasoned tycoon. Gold and metallics hint at prestige, evoking heirlooms passed down through generations.
2025-06-02T09:03:02+00:00
Nations FC have threatened to quit Ghana football entirely after walking off the pitch during a crucial Premier League match against Holy Stars, with club officials declaring they’re “not interested in Ghana football anymore” following controversial penalty decisions. Details of ongoing controversy…
2025-06-02T15:34:35+00:00
Barcelona have opened talks with Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey over a free transfer this summer, with manager Hansi Flick reportedly a “big admirer” of the Ghanaian international whose contract expires in June amid stalled renewal negotiations. Details of potential transfer…
Jewel tones like emerald or ruby suggest exclusivity, while black and ivory offer timeless sophistication. By harnessing these hues, you can craft an image that feels both commanding and cultivated, as if you’ve just stepped out of a Bentley.
Luxury Colours That Make You Look Rich
Below are four carefully selected colour combinations, each designed to make you look as though you’ve inherited a country pile or two:
1. Monochromatic Elegance
The monochromatic approach—using varying shades of a single colour—epitomises understated sophistication. Imagine a navy suit paired with a lighter blue shirt and a deeper navy tie, or a cascade of greys from a charcoal overcoat to a dove-grey scarf. This combination works because it creates a seamless, polished look that suggests confidence and meticulous attention to detail, much like a Savile Row regular.
To master it, choose luxurious fabrics like fine wool, silk, or cashmere, and introduce subtle textures—think herringbone or a faint check—to add depth without disrupting the harmony. A monochromatic outfit in a rich hue like navy or charcoal is the sartorial equivalent of a perfectly aged whisky: refined, timeless, and effortlessly impressive.
2. Neutral Tones with Metallic Accents
Pairing neutral tones—black, white, beige, or ivory—with delicate touches of gold or silver is a foolproof way to channel quiet luxury. Picture a crisp white silk blouse with gold earrings or a black tuxedo accented by silver cufflinks. Neutrals are the cornerstone of classic British style, offering versatility and an air of eternal chic, while metallics add a whisper of opulence, reminiscent of a ducal tiara or the gleam of a vintage Rolls-Royce.
The key is restraint: keep metallics minimal—a gold watch, a silver clutch, or a single statement ring. A beige cashmere trench over a white dress, finished with a delicate gold chain, will have you looking like you’ve just strolled out of Claridge’s. Ensure impeccable tailoring to elevate the neutrals from mundane to magnificent.
3. Rich Jewel Tones
Deep, vibrant hues like emerald green, gold, sapphire blue, or ruby red evoke the lustre of precious gems, instantly signalling wealth and exclusivity. Imagine an emerald blazer with a burgundy pocket square or a sapphire evening dress paired with amethyst accessories. These colours work because they’re bold yet refined, suggesting rare silks and the grandeur of a stately home’s drawing room.
To pull this off, balance one dominant jewel tone with a subtler counterpart—pair a ruby red velvet skirt with a cream silk blouse, for instance, to avoid overwhelming the senses. Keep accessories minimal and complementary, and let the richness of the hues do the talking.
This combination shines at evening events, where its vibrancy commands attention without veering into garishness.
4. Classic Black and White
The high-contrast duo of black and white is the ultimate emblem of formal elegance, as iconic as a London black cab or a Buckingham Palace banquet. Think of a black evening gown with a white pearl necklace or a sharply tailored black suit with a crisp white shirt. This combination exudes authority and old-money charm, making it ideal for Ascot, a charity ball, or any occasion demanding gravitas.
Its success lies in its simplicity and versatility, but quality is non-negotiable—only the finest materials and tailoring will do. Add a single luxurious accent, like a diamond brooch or a silk pocket square, to elevate the look without cluttering its clean lines. Black and white is your sartorial trump card, always ready to play.
To truly embody wealth, your colours must be complemented by impeccable execution. Luxurious fabrics like silk, cashmere, or fine wool are non-negotiable; a polyester navy suit will fool no one. Tailoring is equally critical—ill-fitting clothes undermine even the richest palette, so invest in bespoke or expertly altered garments for a sleek silhouette. Accessories should be understated yet exquisite: a Mulberry leather bag, a classic Rolex, or a pair of pearl studs will whisper affluence. Finally, consider the occasion—neutrals with metallics suit daytime business, jewel tones dazzle at evening soirees, and black and white is your versatile ally for any formal event.
Pitfalls to Dodge
Overusing Bright Colours
Neon or overly vibrant hues can scream “nouveau riche” rather than refined wealth. Stick to muted or deep tones like burgundy or navy to maintain an air of sophistication. Bright colours, if used at all, should be accents, not the main event.
Clashing Patterns
Mixing loud prints with your luxe palette is a recipe for disaster. A subtle pinstripe or houndstooth can add interest, but pairing leopard print with polka dots is a frightful faux pas. Keep patterns minimal and complementary to preserve elegance.
Skimping on Quality
No matter how perfect your colour choices, low-grade fabrics or shoddy accessories will betray you. A cheap watch or a poorly made bag can unravel the illusion of wealth faster than you can say “high street.” Invest in quality over quantity.
Ignoring Seasonal Nuances
Colours should harmonise with the season to look effortlessly chic. Opt for lighter neutrals like ivory or beige in summer, reserving richer tones like burgundy or emerald for winter. This subtle adaptation keeps your look fresh and considered.
Looking rich isn’t about splashing out on logos or piling on bling; it’s about wielding colour with precision to project refinement and gravitas. By embracing monochromatic elegance, neutral-metallic pairings, jewel tones, or the classic black-and-white duo, you can craft a wardrobe that speaks of old-money charm. Prioritise quality fabrics, flawless tailoring, and understated accessories, and you’ll soon find yourself turning heads at every occasion—from a City boardroom to a countryside gala.
Accra, June 02, GNA-President Mahama has announced that the Government will track excavators to know whether they were being used for illegal mining or not and change the permitting regime, as the country had more excavators than in the whole of Africa.
“We are going to change the permitting regime. You will not be allowed to import an excavator or put it on a ship unless you get a permit before you can ship an excavator. Mining cannot be sustainable unless it is also responsible,” the President said.
“As Africa’s largest gold producer and a country with diverse mineral resources, Ghana has become a model for sustainable ASM development, driving economic growth and improving the livelihoods of local communities”.
The President made the disclosure in his remarks at the opening of the 2025 Global Mining Summit (Mining in Motion Summit), an initiative of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene.
The two-day Summit on the theme “Sustainable Mining and Local Growth – Leveraging Resources for Global Impact”, shines a spotlight on Ghana’s Artisanal and Small-scale Mining (ASM) sector.
It aims to promote responsible and innovative ASM practices, policy reforms and international collaboration in Ghana.
He said environmental degradation; water pollution and community displacement were not inevitable by-products of mining; stating that they were the consequences of poor governance and enforcement.
He said the Government was strengthening environmental, social and governance frameworks across the mining sector, which would include banning toxic chemicals in gold processing, like mercury, mandating site rehabilitation, and so it means that small-scale miners and medium-scale mining must also have rehabilitation clauses in their permits to reclaim the land, enforcing community development agreements, and promoting renewable energy use in our mining sector.
President Mahama said true policy and regulation would ensure that every ounce of gold or gramme of lithium mined in Ghana left with a positive green footprint.
He said the world was transitioning; stating that the use of fossil fuels was waning, and clean energy was rising and with this comes a surge in demand for critical minerals like lithium, graphite, nickel and other rare earth minerals.
“Ghana is ready to play a central role. We’re establishing policy, legal and investment frameworks to explore and develop critical mineral reserves, build refining and battery manufacturing capacity, attract ethical long-term investors, promote local content and technology transfer.”
President Mahama said in this new global order, their mineral wealth was not just a national asset but a strategic geopolitical resource.
He said the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), a key plank in his administration’s strategy to reform the gold mining sector and ensure maximum benefits for Ghanaians from their gold resources, had taken off, noting that in its short existence, it had sanitized the gold sector, ensuring maximum returns from their gold exports.
He said Ghana’s gold exports, through the PMMC/Goldbod, earn the country $2.7 billion between January and April.
This figure, the President said was expected to increase exponentially throughout the year and the Goldbod was not only about exporting gold, and that it would soon roll out a track and trace system to ensure that Ghana’s gold exports were procured from environmentally sustainable sources.
He said the Goldbod would work to train artisanal and small-scale miners in responsible and sustainable mining practices.
The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, in collaboration with the Gold Board, is also soon to launch, in cooperation with the private sector, an ambitious project to reclaim 10,000 hectares of mined outlands.
He said the future of mining was not national, stating that it was continental and the African Continental Free Trade Area provided them with an unparalleled opportunity to retain value within Africa, establish regional supply chains, create joint refining and research institutions, and strengthen intra-African investment flows.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene said corruption and political miscalculations were major factors behind the failure of the fight against illegal mining (galamsey) in the country.
Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has advised government appointees under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration to stay focused and honour the trust placed in them by both the president and the Ghanaian people.
During a courtesy call at Jubilee House on Monday, June 2, Otumfuo stressed the importance of integrity, humility, and dedication in their roles, warning that their performance would directly reflect on President Mahama and the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC).
“Don’t lose sight of your responsibilities. Ghanaians have entrusted the country to President John Mahama. He, in turn, has entrusted and assigned responsibilities to you because he trusts you—so do not fail him,” the Asantehene declared.
He highlighted the president’s clear stance against corruption and urged appointees to align with this vision.
“He has already made it clear: if you are here to loot, there is no place for that in his government. But if you support him diligently, Ghanaians will recognise his performance, and it will bring honour to the NDC and to Ghana as a whole,” Otumfuo cautioned.
The traditional ruler called on the officials to embrace their roles sincerely and with humility, noting that their commitment would shape the legacy of the administration.
“Focus on your duties with truth and humility,” he advised.
Otumfuo’s visit underscores his ongoing efforts to promote accountability, national development, and responsible governance as Ghana looks ahead under President Mahama’s leadership.
Goldbod initiative has earned Ghana $2.7bn in four months – Mahama
Dr Rashid Tanko-Computer is the Acting CEO of GIFEC
The Acting CEO of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC), Dr Rashid Tanko-Computer, has accused former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, of avoiding accountability in an ongoing investigation by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
Speaking on Newday on TV3 on June 2, 2025, he alleged that Ofori-Atta is playing hide-and-seek with the OSP.
“Look, this gentleman has been doing hide and seek. He’s doing hide and seek,” Dr Tanko-Computer stated.
Dr Tanko-Computer also claimed that there is no health issue preventing Ofori-Atta from heeding the calls of the OSP, saying, “My brother, who told you this man is not well? The man is well. He’s hearty. There’s nothing wrong. He’s just doing hide and seek. He knows the enormity of the crimes that OSP is investigating.
“He knows his lawyers have advised him accordingly. Counsel is here, he will tell you that these things they have mentioned, the alleged crimes perpetrated by him, if the state should get prosecution on this, the man cannot run away from conviction. So, they know. So, they are doing this hide-and-seek.”
He also criticiSed calls for Ken Ofori-Atta to be interviewed virtually, describing it as a ploy to evade justice.
“Today, see what they are saying, that they should interview him through virtual means. Can you imagine this? Can you imagine this kind of hide-and-seek strategy they have adopted? And we are saying that it is not going to help anybody,” Dr Tanko-Computer said.
Dr Tanko Computer also rallied for support for John Dramani Mahama, praising him for his renewed anti-corruption stance, saying that the president learned from his previous administration and is now focused on recovering stolen public funds.
He warned that any appointees under Mahama’s current administration who misappropriate state funds and resources would face the wrath of the law.
“Let’s support His Excellency John Dramani Mahama in his quest to fight corruption in this country. He has the benefit of hindsight. He was a former president. He’s been there before. He saw it all.
“The modus operandi he used from 2013 to 2016, maybe didn’t help the situation very well. Now, he has come back and he has sat down, looked at it critically, and said ‘No, let’s rather go in to recover the loot. And let me warn my appointees. If you dip your hand in state coffers, I’ll come after you.’ And that is what has been operated.”
He continued; “And that is why for the past five months, getting to six months in his government, no single scandal has rocked any of the agencies, ministries, or departments because of the warning he has given to all appointees. And everybody is living based on that kind of warning. And making sure that the resources put before you are for the good people of this country.”
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is empowering journalists in Ghana to militate against Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs), as Ghana is estimated to lose at least US$ 3 billion annually through worrying trends.
Africa is reported to lose at least 50 million dollars through the illegal activities as political actors and a complex network of syndicates siphon funds across African borders through money laundering, tax evasion, transfer pricing and other forms of corrupt and business scandals.
The illicit act continues to plunge the continent into inequalities, vulnerability, conflicts and multidimensional poverty.
Ashanti Regional Director of the Economic and Organized Crimes Office (EOCO), Edward Cudjoe is worried over the growing illegal operations which impede national and continental growth.
“The extent of illicit financial flows is getting bigger and Ghana is no exception. We are losing billions of dollars through illicit financial flows. It denies countries the funds that they could have ordinarily used for development,” he warned.
Addressing journalists at a two-day intensive workshop in Kumasi, Mr. Cudjoe emphasized the critical need for journalists to widen their investigative skills in exposing the means through which monies illicitly exit offshore.
“As integral partners in dealing with crime, it is always important that we get to those who inform the public to set the tone and to raise discussions on illicit financial flows. This training is to aid the journalists understand IFFs and to know what to look out for so they can tell the story. What these stories do is that they expose and block the channels through which funds flow out of the jurisdiction,” he emphasized.
Role of Journalists
The training exposed journalists to in-depth understanding of illicit financial flows, progressive taxation and related offenses.
It expanded on the legal and regulatory regimes for addressing IFFs, and the sophistry of methodologies adopted by offenders.
Through a series of comprehensive theoretical and practical sessions, the training afforded participants the opportunity to learn about international organizations at the forefront of the fight against illicit financial flows.
As the country grapples with various tax regimes, particularly regressive ones, many individuals and businesses are compelled to reluctantly honour their tax obligations.
They are forced to engage in various unlawful conducts including tax evasion, tax avoidance and tax fraud.
On the heels of this disturbing trend, the journalists were further trained on progressive taxation to appreciate Ghana’s taxation laws.
Executive Director for Green Tax Youth Africa, Nii Addo is advocating reduction on the reliance on regressive taxes which bring about tax injustices.
“Taxes must be fair, sustainable and equitable in order not to overburden the poor, vulnerable and marginalized in society. Government must rely more on taxes like corporate taxes that are progressive rather than on regressive taxes levied on everyone regardless,” he noted.
MFWA Strategic Partnership
Programs assistant – Media for democracy and Good Governance with the Media Foundation for West Africa, Paul Gozo explained that the initiative was a timely response to the growing menace of Illicit Financial Flows and the global discourse surrounding progressive taxation.
“While illicit financial flows were thriving, we realized the media did not have the capacity, the training and the technical know-how to do stories on these critical issues. So the plan is to train 80 journalists on how to spot IFFs and issues of progressive taxation so that we can adequately report on it; get the issues to the fore and then see how we can curb it going forward,” he said.
The project forms part of ‘Strategic Partnership Initiative for Ghana and West Africa’ – a project funded by Oxfam Ghana and the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA).
The Special Prosecutor has again declared Ofori-Atta wanted and a fugitive
The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has re-declared a former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, a wanted person and a fugitive.
According to the SP, Ofori-Atta’s conduct shows that he is failing to voluntarily submit himself for trial.
He noted that the medical letter sent by his doctors did not include a detailed medical report to show his medical condition.
The SP added that it cannot decide when he wants to appear, hence the decision to re-declare him a fugitive.
“He has not produced a single medical report except that five-line medical report,” the SP said during a press conference on June 2, 2025.
Agyebeng said the former minister has acted in bad faith, adding that due to this, “he has been re-entered as a wanted person and declared a fugitive.”
Background
Ken Ofori-Atta is currently under investigation for five major issues during his tenure.
This includes the contractual arrangements related to petroleum and minerals revenue assurance between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).
Also, the termination of a contract between the Electricity Company of Ghana and Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology (BXC), procurement procedures and financial transactions linked to the National Cathedral project, a Ministry of Health contract for the purchase and maintenance of 307 ambulances with Service Ghana Auto Group Limited.
It also entails the handling and disbursement of funds from the Tax P-Fund Account of the GRA.
In January 2025, the OSP formally notified Ken Ofori-Atta that he should appear in person on February 10, 2025.
His lawyers informed the OSP that he was abroad indefinitely for medical reasons and offered to represent him in his absence.
The OSP rejected the claim of indefinite absence and demanded a firm return date, warning of legal consequences if he failed to comply. It also reminded that legal representatives cannot respond to criminal charges on behalf of clients.
On February 10, 2025, his lawyers submitted a doctor’s note stating he was undergoing tests and possibly surgery, with no clear return date.
Two days later, the OSP declared Ken Ofori-Atta a fugitive from justice and acted on an arrest warrant.
On February 18, 2025, Ken Ofori-Atta appealed to the OSP to remove his name from the wanted list and provided a definite return date in May 2025.
The OSP accepted his assurance and subsequently took his name off the list.
In March 2025, the former Minister of Finance filed a lawsuit against the Special Prosecutor, seeking compensation for what he described as an unlawful declaration of him as wanted and requested the removal of related publications from the OSP’s social media channels.
The High Court in Accra (Human Rights Court) heard an interim application on March 28, 2025, in which Ken Ofori-Atta sought to bar the OSP from declaring him wanted again.
Following these legal proceedings, the OSP gave a final deadline of June 2, 2025, for Ken Ofori-Atta to report in person to its headquarters.
Paris Saint-Germain waited decades for a night like Saturday, May 31, 2025. They tried everything. Broke the bank. Bought the biggest names. Neymar. Messi. Mbappé.
They built a global brand, turned Parc des Princes into a theatre of spectacle, but still couldn’t get their hands on the Champions League trophy.
Until now. Until Munich; a city where dreams often rewrite the rules, and football forgets the odds.
This wasn’t just a final; it was a statement.
A 5–0 thrashing of Inter Milan in the Champions League final gave PSG the biggest winning margin in the history of the competition’s showpiece.
A display of power and purpose from a PSG side that looked nothing like the glitzy, chaotic, star-chasing machine of old.
This was a team. A unit and right in the middle of it all, Desire Doué, a 19-year-old French talent who didn’t just play in the final; he owned it.
Two goals. One assist and the kind of performance that instantly etches a teenager into football folklore.
By the time he walked off the pitch, substituted to a roar of admiration, PSG fans knew they’d seen a new era born.
The victory is historic in multiple ways. Not only is it PSG’s first Champions League title, but the win also makes them the fifth club to clinch their maiden European crown in Munich, joining a distinguished lineage of dreamers turned champions: Nottingham Forest (1979), Marseille (1993), Borussia Dortmund (1997), and Chelsea (2012).
Munich: The city of firsts
There’s something about this place. This city doesn’t just host finals. It stages fables.
Think back to 1979. A certain Nottingham Forest side, managed by the unorthodox genius Brian Clough, shocked Europe.
Written off after drawing Liverpool in the first round, Forest made the final and beat Malmö at the Olympiastadion.
The only goal? Scored by Trevor Francis, England’s first £1 million man, playing in Europe for the first time. Where? Munich.
Fast-forward to 1993. Marseille met AC Milan; the giants of the era. Fabien Barthez stood tall in goal. Basile Boli, a warrior who moments earlier had asked to be subbed due to injury, stayed on and headed in the winner.
Marseille became the first French team to win the Champions League. Where? Munich.
Then came Dortmund in 1997. Facing Juventus, the defending champions and heavy favourites. But on their 100th European Cup game, the Black and Yellows stunned the world with a 3–1 win.
Where? You guessed it – Munich.
And who can forget Chelsea in 2012? In Bayern Munich’s stadium, outplayed, outclassed, but never out of belief. Didier Drogba’s late equaliser.
Petr Čech’s heroics. The penalty shootout. Munich, once again, said: “Anything is possible.”
Paris arrive
PSG now joins this sacred list. The club that chased the Champions League with chequebooks and chaos, finally found peace in the one place that keeps gifting firsts – Munich.
This time, no ego wars. No last-minute collapses. Just a ruthless, balanced team led by Luis Enrique, who’s shifted the club from Galacticos to graft.
A team where a teenager like Doué can shine because the system lets him. A team that plays like it believes, not like it’s trying to justify its cost.
And as the final whistle blew, the ghosts of Barcelona 2017, of Bayern 2020, of missed chances and empty promises, all faded.
The trophy that Messi couldn’t deliver; Neymar couldn’t, Mbappé tried and left. But now, it’s real. PSG have done it. And they did it their way.
So, here we are again. Munich. Another night. Another new name on the trophy.
This city doesn’t care how long you’ve waited, how many times you’ve failed, or what your critics say. Munich just needed one thing: belief, and finally, PSG had it.
Their miracle came. Just like Forest, like Marseille, Dortmund, Chelsea.
Because in Munich, if you dare to believe, you just might be rewarded forever.
You can also catch the latest news in Twi on GhanaWeb TV below:
The Minority Caucus in Parliament has issued a one-week ultimatum to GHOne TV, seeking clarification regarding the station’s decision to feature Dr. Ann Sansa Daly as the host of the medical television programme ‘Health and Life with Dr. Daly’, which aired on the network.
This comes in the wake of President John Dramani Mahama’s recent decision to revoke Dr. Daly’s appointment as a Board Member of the National Health Insurance Authority, amid emerging concerns about her medical credentials.
In a letter signed by the Ranking Member of the Health Committee, Dr. Nana Ayew Afriyie, the Minority Caucus raised questions about the vetting process GHOne TV conducted prior to granting Dr. Daly a platform to host a health-focused programme.
The caucus also questioned the investigations and background checks GHOne TV conducted before engaging her, as well as the documents she submitted to verify her qualifications as a health practitioner.
The minority also seeks answers on the basis on which the station approved and aired a program offering medical advice and information to the public.
The Minority Caucus is further demanding what corrective measures GHOne TV intends to take in light of the potential for misinformation or professional misconduct arising from this matter.
“The Ghanaian public rely heavily on the credibility of media houses in shaping their public knowledge on health and wellness issues. Therefore, it is important that individuals given such platforms are thoroughly vetted and meet legal and professional standards,” the letter reads.
Ofori-Atta not resisting OSP, facing medical travel complications – Ibrahim Adjei
Lincoln Edochie, one of the sons of legendary actor Pete Edochie, has remarried privately.
The former actor, who was previously married to Amaka Paula Lincoln-Edochie, got married in May 2025 to a woman named Yinka Theisen.
Yinka is based in the US and has grown children of her own. Her youngest child is a high school graduate.
Dele Momodu took to Instagram to celebrate the newlyweds.
Yinka herself celebrated Linc and revealed how they went from just friends to lovers.
Moments following their wedding announcement, Yinka hinted at a “cross fire” from a certain “woman scorned”, but she did not elaborate.
Linc is the immediate older brother of Yul Edochie. Just months ago, after Linc urged Yul to keep his marriage off social media, Yul blasted him and told him that he kept his own marriage off social media, yet still divorced.
President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that the introduction of the Goldbod initiative has significantly improved Ghana’s gold sector, generating $2.7 billion in revenue between January and April through exports managed by the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) and Goldbod.
He indicated that the figure is expected to rise steadily over the course of the year.
Speaking at the Global Mining Summit on Monday, June 2, the President underscored the importance of the initiative in his administration’s efforts to reform the gold mining industry.
“The Goldbod, a key plank in my administration strategy to reform the gold mining sector and ensure maximum benefit for Ghanaians for our gold resources, has taken off. In its short existence, it has sanitised the gold sector, ensuring maximum returns from our gold export,” President Mahama stated.
He added:
“Ghana’s gold export earns the country 2.7 billion. Ghana’s gold export through the PMMC and Goldbod earns the country 2.7 billion dollars between January and April, and this figure is expected to increase exponentially throughout the year.”
The Goldbod initiative forms part of a broader strategy aimed at curbing illegal mining, increasing transparency in gold trade, and ensuring that Ghana maximises revenue from its mineral resources.
President Mahama noted that the reforms have not only boosted earnings but also enhanced institutional oversight across the gold mining value chain.
SeamlessHR, Africa’s leading end-to-end HR technology company, has reiterated its long-term commitment to the Ghanaian market following its participation at two of the country’s notable business and human capital development events, the Ghana CEO Summit held on May 26, and the HR Focus Fusion held on May 30 in Accra.
As part of its broader African expansion strategy, SeamlessHR’s participation marks a significant step in deepening its engagement with Ghana’s corporate leadership and human capital development ecosystem. The company’s exhibitions at both events featured its full suite of digital HR and payroll solutions, built to support businesses in managing their people operations more efficiently while driving workforce productivity and sustainable growth.
The Ghana CEO Summit convened executives of various industries, senior government officials, and thought leaders for dialogue on economic resilience and the role of private sector innovation in shaping Ghana’s future. SeamlessHR’s participation provided an opportunity to engage directly with C-level executives from leading organisations such as MTN Ghana, Japan Motors, KGL Group, Zenith Bank, and others.
The HR Focus Fusion, offered a platform for HR professionals and industry experts to explore the future of work, the role of technology in human capital management, and actionable strategies for driving workforce productivity. Representatives from organisations such as Telcel Ghana, Ecobank, IPMC Ghana, among others gained insights on how SeamlessHR’s technology empowers HR teams to build resilient and high-performing workforces across the continent.
Speaking on the importance of these engagements, Chidi Orji, Director at SeamlessHR, stated, “Our presence at the Ghana CEO Summit and HR Focus Conference is necessary. Ghana remains one of the most promising and dynamic markets on the continent. We are excited to partner with forward-looking organisations here to build stronger, more productive workforces. Our conversations with business leaders in Accra confirmed what we’ve always believed, that African businesses deserve tailored technology that reflects their realities, ambitions, and growth paths. We are here to help unlock that potential.”
SeamlessHR’s technology is already trusted by hundreds of organisations across 20+ African countries and has been recognised for its impact in streamlining HR processes, increasing workforce productivity, ensuring compliance, and improving employee experience.
With a growing client base in Ghana including respected brands like Kasapreko and Star Assurance Group Limited, SeamlessHR is investing in local partnerships, customer support infrastructure, and talent to better serve organisations across the country. As Ghana steadily positions itself as a leading hub for economic growth and industrial advancement in West Africa, SeamlessHR is poised to play a pivotal role in supporting organisations to scale effectively through smart, African-built HR technology.
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, among others, will be affected by the strike by the jurors
Jurors serving at the Accra High Court have declared an indefinite strike effective Monday, June 2, 2025, in protest over the non-payment of their allowances for the past eight months.
The jurors say repeated efforts to have their arrears paid have yielded no results, forcing them to withdraw their services.
They claim their allowances have been in arrears since October 2024, despite several appeals to the Judicial Service.
Speaking to TV3’s News Central on June 2, 2025, one of the affected jurors, Justice Opoku, disclosed that they had taken the matter through the appropriate channels without any success.
“We have exhausted all the avenues. We wrote to the Judicial Secretary; we talked to them, it did not materialise. We spoke to the Director of Finance, it didn’t work. Then later, we went to the Office of the Acting Chief Justice,” Opoku said.
He confirmed that the group had officially informed the Acting Chief Justice of their intention to strike.
Opoku added that they are left with no option than to declare a strike.
“Since the money is not coming forth, we have no other option than to strike,” he stated.
According to Opoku, none of the jurors earns more than GH¢2,500 per month, and the prolonged delay in payments has significantly affected their livelihoods.
The strike action is expected to disrupt court proceedings, especially criminal trials that require jury participation.
It remains unclear how long the strike will last or when the government will address the concerns raised by the jurors.
Officials from the Judicial Service have, however, yet to issue a formal response to the strike as of the time of filing this report.
MRA/AE
You can also catch the latest news in Twi on GhanaWeb TV below:
Pipo wey dey some villages for Maru Local Goment Area for Zamfara State, northwest Nigeria, don tok say na 20 pipo die as bandits attack dem, and Nigerian army jet wey come fight di bandits drop airstrike wey kill pipo.
Di villagers tok say di bandits carry more dan 50 pipo from di village wey dey work for farm, but di army jet wey come help, mistakenly kill some local vigilante wey dey try fight di bandits.
Pipo for Mani area of Maru Local goment tok say di bandits wey ride come wit motorbike attack dem for afternoon wen dem dey farm.
Dem tok say as di bandits reach, dem begin shoot anyhow and carry some pipo comot.
One pesin wey no wan make dem call im name tell BBC Hausa say dem dey go help di pipo wey bandits attack wen di army jet come, but di jet begin shoot dem and kill some.
Di man tok say, “Di bandits carry 50 pipo but as di army jet see us dey go help, e fly low begin shoot. Eviribodi run for im life and even us wey dey alive na God save us, sake say we lie down for ground.”
“We lie down like say dem shoot us too, and wen di jet comot, we stand up run go save ourself.”
Anoda pesin wey tok to BBC beg goment make dem help dem well well becos di bandits tok say dem go come back again.
E tok say, “We dey beg goment make dem send more security come protect us. But make di security pipo sabi say sometimes dem dey mistakenly kill our pipo, make dem dey check well befor dem act.”
“We tell security afta di attack, but na so di jet just come kill our vigilante pipo.”
Up till now, Nigerian army neva tok anytin about wetin happun.
For January 2025, Nigerian army jet mistakenly kill 16 pipo, including vigilante and farmers, for Tungar Kara village for Zamfara State becos dem tink say na bandits.
Still for December 2024, anoda airstrike kill 10 civilians for Sokoto State, and di state govnor tok say na mistake wey affect innocent pipo.
The energy and excitement generated by the unorthodox pro-people policies of Burkinabe revolutionary leader, Captain Ibrahim Traore, invoke parallels with Ghana’s June 4 ‘revolution’, which will be marked in Accra this week.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC), which won the December 2024 elections, will celebrate its first June 4 anniversary back in power, but without the presence of its charismatic founder, Flt-Lt Jerry John (JJ) Rawlings, who died in 2020.
After an abortive May 15 coup, JJ Rawlings burst onto Ghana’s political stage on June 4, 1979 demanding “nothing less than a revolution”.
Like Rawlings who overthrew military leader General Fred Akuffo in a ‘housecleaning exercise’ in 1979, Traore overthrew military Burkinabe leader, Lt-Col Paul-Henri Damiba.
Like Rawlings, who was 32 on June 4 and 34 at the time of his ‘second coming’ on December 31, 1982, Traore came to power in September 2022 at age 34 and at 37 today is the world’s youngest leader.
But unlike Rawlings, Traore has not faced the frustrations of an economic squeeze or the exigencies of an International Monetary Fund (IMF) austerity programme and the subsequent political fall-out with ideological allies that dampened the revolutionary fervour in Ghana in the early 1980s.
Traore is widely admired for his bold vision, practical action and principled leadership. Turning down assistance from the IMF, Traore, who studied geology at the University of Ouagadougou, established the country’s first gold refinery. It has the capacity to process 400 kg of gold a day.
This enabled Burkina Faso to pay off its debts and redefine its relationship with international moneylenders. Traore quit the CFA zone and distanced the country from its former colonial master, France.
Together with Mali and Niger, he pulled Burkina Faso out of the Economic Community of West African States and formed an alternative regional cooperation arrangement, the Alliance of Sahel States.
He has beefed up national security and introduced sweeping initiatives to improve health care, maternal mortality and access to food, housing and economic opportunities.
The determination with which Traore has introduced these epoch-defining changes raises the question why the massive popularity enjoyed by JJ Rawlings after June 4 did not translate into similar actions in Ghana, especially given the abundance of gold here.
According to NDC stalwart, Fritz Baffour: “At that time, the mindset was not on gold, which was run by the aristocracy in England, who would find ways to offset any plans.”
He added: “It’s only now we realise that if we had backed up our currency with gold, we could have created a new paradigm.”
Baffour describes Traore’s actions as a “signpost and a revelation of what Ghana always had in its hands.”
A member of the NDC Regional Council of Elders, Baffour is a former MP and Minister of Information under former president John Evans Atta-Mills.
President Traore’s pan-Africanist credentials and respect for the close relationship between Rawlings and revolutionary Burkinabe leader, Thomas Sankara, who came to power in 1983 and was assassinated in 1987, have seen him draw closer to Ghana since the NDC returned to power.
Traore attended President Mahama’s inauguration in Accra in January. In May, he invited the Rawlings family to Ouagadougou for the naming of a street to honour the late Ghanaian former President.
Traore himself has faced a series of assassination attempts, the latest in April, and US criticism of his leadership.
On April 3, in remarks to the US Senate, AFRICOM chief, General Michael Langley, accused President Traore of misusing Burkina Faso’s gold reserves for his own personal protection and said the US should help Burkina Faso in its fight against terrorism.
Established in 2007, AFRICOM, the United States Africa Command, is a unified combatant command of the US Department of Defence responsible for military operations and activities in Africa.
But Langley’s remarks were seen as rooted in a colonial attitude of superiority. They prompted a backlash in Africa and sparked a worldwide protest movement centred on the organisation of “March for Traore” events.
Former President J.J. Rawlings
The global marches come amid fears that Traore could suffer a similar fate to pan-African heroes who were toppled or brutally murdered after being seen as a threat to the world order.
These include Patrice Lumumba of the Congo, Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, Thomas Sankara of Burkina Faso and Muammar Gaddafi of Libya.
Two such marches have been held in Accra, drawing the interest of a broad spectrum of people including political activists, youth leaders and major celebrities.
Reggie Rockstone, known as the father of hiplife music, shared the reason for his support for the Traore Global March with the Graphic’s Your Ghana, My Ghana.
“If Traore gets taken out, the big question ‘what do we do now?’ becomes a very deadly question,” Rockstone said.
“They’re testing us to see how far they can push us. If they take him out and we do nothing, there will be scary times ahead.”
Rockstone urged his social media followers to replace their profile pictures with images of Traore and, with his wife, Dr Zilla Limann, launched a new line of Traore’s iconic t-shirts.
Rockstone, who developed through hiplife music the art of “rap in your own language”, believes it is important to use celebrity status to develop consciousness about the continent.
“We’ve got the young ones oblivious of what’s taking place.
They’re distracted by social media,” he said.
Rockstone defines himself as a pan-Africanist influenced by the Nkrumaism of his father, renowned fashion designer, Ricci Saint Osei, and the Black Panther activism of his years lived in New York.
Another person drawn to the march was Akua Manfo, a pan-Africanist writer and social media personality popularly known as Blakofe. She explains that she was in the market on Inauguration Day when she overheard two young boys excitedly recounting the stir created by Traore during President Mahama’s inauguration.
“Traore is a living Sankara,” says Blakofe, who has dedicated her life to keeping Sankara’s vision alive through her writings and activism.
When she saw a flyer advertising the first “Walk with Traore” march in April, she jumped at the opportunity to make the march a success and help organise a second march on Africa Day on May 25.
A lead organiser of the Africa Day march for Traore was Ernesto Yeboah, Commander in Chief of the Economic Fighters League, which models itself on the Economic Freedom Fighters movement led by Julius Malema in South Africa.
But the Ghanaian context is very different from the South African one and getting people out on the streets is difficult, Yeboah says. He says this is not just because of religion but also education.
“In Ghana, our textbooks still talk about the benefits of slavery and colonialism and the whole population is subjected to this kind of thinking and training,” Yeboah says.
He contrasts this with education in the former settler economies of East and Southern Africa, which emphasises the Mau Mau tradition, brutal racial and apartheid oppression, mass mobilisation and the revolutionary roots of democracy.
Given this context, getting 500 people out to march on a Sunday was a success that speaks to the Traore effect.
But Ghana is still haunted by the ghosts of June 4 and its successor would-be revolution, December 31.
Traore’s rising status as a global icon committed to a plan that uplifts his people first and foremost may help Ghanaians to reassess where we went wrong in failing to fuel our own revolution in the 1980s.
Pivotal figures have gone too soon. But an open and sincere debate by others who were there at the time could help bring healing and lay some of the ghosts to rest.
The author is a journalist and economic historian specialising in economic development
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