The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has officially commissioned the Yamoransa Model (YM) Lab 14 in Kaleo in the Nadowli-Kaleo District in the Upper West Region to advance Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Bagbin commended the efforts of all stakeholders involved in the project, including the Helping Africa Foundation, IMPLEMENTERS, TECHAiDE, the Ghana Education Service, and the Nadowli-Kaleo District Assembly.
“This facility is a game-changer for education in our district. It will equip our students with modern technological skills and ensure they are not left behind in this digital era,” he stated.
Kafui Prebbie, Group CEO of Prebbie Group, provided an overview of the project while highlighting the success of the Yamoransa Model Labs, which have impacted over 390,000 students across Ghana, Gambia, and Liberia.
He described YM Lab 14 as “the most modern of its kind, featuring state-of-the-art EduLab facilities, robotics equipment, and a solar-powered infrastructure.”
John Baptist Kula, the Deputy Director of Education for Nadowli-Kaleo District, praised the initiative as a historic milestone for education in the region.
“Yamoransa Lab 14 is the first of its kind in the northern sector and the Upper West Region. Its presence in Kaleo means schools around here will benefit immensely. You can already see my schoolchildren and teachers eager to engage with this facility,” he remarked.
He further outlined measures put in place to ensure the sustainability of the lab, stating that “we have already trained some teachers who will manage the facility, and we have also set up a committee comprising the district assembly, Ghana Education Service, traditional leaders, and other key stakeholders. This committee will oversee the lab’s operations, ensuring it serves its intended purpose of improving education in the district.”
He expressed confidence that the project would significantly enhance learning outcomes, particularly in STEAM subjects, and help address declining educational standards.
However, Mr. Kula also highlighted a major challenge facing education in the district which includes low girls’ enrollment due to early labor migration. “Many girls abandon school to engage in activities like cashew harvesting and petty trading. This remains a serious issue,” he lamented.
He emphasized the importance of community engagement, noting that “we are meeting with parents, teachers, and community leaders to discourage this trend. This lab will not only benefit boys but also serve as a tool to inspire girls to stay in school and pursue learning.”
Speaking about the new lab, Ziita Angataar, a student of Kaleo SHTS, expressed his excitement: “I’m very grateful for this lab. I think it will enable us to learn a lot about technology. With this facility, we can create robots and cars and even explore human-like innovations. Without this lab, I don’t think I would have had this opportunity.”
Another student also praised the initiative, highlighting how it will benefit students of all ages.
“This lab will help people to learn, grow, and connect with the entire world. Today, everything is about technology, and if you don’t understand it, you are left behind. But with this lab, everything is possible. It is extraordinary, unlike other labs, and we truly appreciate the Speaker of Parliament for this great achievement.”
Couple arrested for chaining and abandoning nine-year-old son in Bush
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Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai has told the court that Angela Adjei Boateng, the wife of embattled former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene attempted to destroy evidence.
According to the Deputy Attorney General, Angela Adjei Boateng attempted to destroy evidence by carting suspected currency bills into suitcases on the night she was notified of the arrest of her husband.
Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has revealed that some ECG staff have been colluding with customs officials to sell containers containing vital electrical materials once they arrive at the port.
More than 1,000 containers belonging to ECG have been reported missing, sparking an urgent investigation and a state security operation to identify those responsible.
Several Chinese nationals have already been arrested in connection with the scandal.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament, Mr Afenyo-Markin, who previously served as the chairman of the ECG board, says the situation is not new.
The MP said he saw similar development when he was board chairman and called for decisive action to address the issue.
He urged the government to adopt a non-partisan approach and focus on eradicating corruption rather than making the scandal a political battleground.
“How can containers that have already arrived at the port be said to be missing?” Mr Afenyo-Markin questioned.
“The truth is, when these containers arrive, customs officials collude with others to sell them. These containers, which contain cables and materials urgently needed by ECG, are sold off after the supplier has been paid, only to be resold back to ECG. Are we pretending we don’t know this is happening?” he added.
Mr Afenyo-Markin stressed that the issue was not new, but a long-standing problem. He warned that a partisan approach would only perpetuate the cycle of corruption and called for a united effort to root out corruption in the public sector.
“If we continue to approach this as an NPP versus NDC issue, we are doomed. Whether the NPP or the NDC is in power, the same problems will arise, and the perpetrators will remain entrenched in the system,” he said.
He also raised concerns about the impact of the corruption on local businesses, accusing the government of favouring foreign businesses while Ghanaian businesses continue to struggle.
“Today, Ghanaian businesses can’t rest under the new government, while foreign businesses continue to survive because their ambassadors are there to protect them,” he added.
In response to Afenyo-Markin’s claims, the Minister of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, denied that the containers went missing under the current government, asserting that the issue originated during the previous NPP administration.
“There are well-known facts about this case, which are already in the public domain,” Mr. Ofosu said.
“The incidents occurred during the NPP’s time in government, not under the current administration. Since this issue became public, there has been an attempt to distort the facts and make it seem like this is a new development under this government. I have the report here in front of me, and it will be submitted as evidence,” he emphasized.
Mr. Ofosu also criticised the Minority for calling for a reinvestigation, arguing that the issue had already been thoroughly investigated under the previous administration.
“We are not reinventing the wheel here,” he said. “The investigation has already been conducted, and the report exists. The call for a new investigation seems like an attempt to divert attention from the real issues.”
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Dominic Ntiwul is the MP of the Bimbilla constituency
In the past few days, the country has been gripped by news of the missing cables and containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Following a declaration by Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah, Chairman of the investigative committee, an external audit revealed that only 1,134 of the reported 2,491 uncleared ECG containers were accounted for.
Amidst the controversy, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, affirmed that investigations would commence once the findings were presented to him.
He also revealed that forty ECG containers, previously reported missing, had been located in a warehouse belonging to an Indian national in Kpone, in the Greater Accra Region.
This situation has sparked widespread outrage among citizens and key officials.
Adding to the growing concerns, several Members of Parliament (MPs), including the MP for the Bimbilla constituency, Dominic Ntiwul, expressed their frustrations during parliamentary proceedings.
Ntiwul urged the government to take immediate action against those responsible.
“This is a major security breach, and we shouldn’t take it lightly. This is a serious scandal. How much did we borrow from the IMF? Look at the amount of money involved in this matter. The government must make this a priority. The people involved should be identified and punished, they are saboteurs of Ghana,” he said.
The former Defence Minister also called on his colleagues to focus on justice rather than allowing political affiliations to overshadow the issue.
“Don’t let this turn into a political battle between NPP and NDC. We will not allow that to happen. Whenever there is a major scandal and people are being punished, it turns into an NPP vs. NDC debate, and the real culprits escape accountability,” he added.
Look – every society, every nation, every civilisation, has always been structured around its capacity to organise complexity, to control chaos and to secure its own future.
That has been true from the earliest hunter-gatherer tribes to the great empires of the modern age. But now, we are facing something fundamentally different – the rise of artificial intelligence as the dominant organising force of governance and power.
This isn’t a trivial shift. It’s not just about convenience or automation. It’s about the very foundation of political structure, the very essence of governance.
In the coming decades, AI won’t simply be a tool that governments use – it will be the primary driver of decision-making, economic structuring, military strategy and even the control of public perception. That’s not science fiction. That’s happening now.
The AI state: how governance will change
Nations have traditionally projected power through four main avenues:
Military force – the ability to defend and extend influence through physical might.
Diplomatic negotiation – the ability to forge alliances, secure trade and manage global relationships.
Intelligence operations – the ability to gather and process information to maintain security.
Information control – the ability to manage public perception and shape narratives.
What’s happening now, in real time, is the complete transformation of all four of these areas under the dominion of artificial intelligence.
AI-driven policy and governance
Governments have always struggled with inefficiency. Bureaucracies bloat. Decision-making gets bogged down by conflicting interests and human error. AI removes these inefficiencies, allowing real-time optimisation of policy and economic management. Nations that harness AI will govern with precision, responding instantly to shifts in markets, security threats and public needs.
AI warfare and autonomous defence
The battlefield is no longer purely physical. AI will decide strategy, deploy cyber defences and even operate autonomous weapons systems. The question isn’t whether this will happen – it already is. The US and China are in an arms race for AI-driven military superiority. Those who lag behind in AI-powered warfare will no longer have meaningful sovereignty over their own security.
AI and diplomatic supremacy
Diplomacy is about leverage. It’s about knowing what the other side wants before they do. AI-driven predictive analytics will give governments an unprecedented ability to anticipate political shifts, economic downturns and even social movements. AI will craft negotiation strategies, optimise trade agreements and even pre-emptively shape geopolitical alliances. The nations with the most powerful AI will set the terms of global engagement.
The AI information war: control or be controlled
This is something people don’t fully appreciate yet: the true battlefield of the 21st century is information. Whoever controls AI-driven media controls reality. Deepfakes, algorithmic propaganda and AI-generated narratives will determine elections, destabilise governments and manipulate entire populations. If a country cannot defend itself against AI-driven disinformation, it ceases to be an autonomous entity.
What Ghana must do – now, not later
If Ghana, and by extension the developing world, wants to avoid being an AI colony of the great powers, it must act decisively. The decisions made in the next five to ten years will determine whether Ghana is a participant in the AI future – or a subject of it.
Establish a national AI authority
You need a centralised body dedicated to AI strategy. Not a bureaucracy that exists for the sake of existing, but a real strategic command centre that co-ordinates AI policy across defence, economy, infrastructure and governance.
Train and educate AI talent at scale
You need people who understand AI at a fundamental level. Not just end-users, not just consumers, but engineers, researchers and policymakers who can develop Ghana’s own AI frameworks. Without that, you’re buying your intelligence from someone else – and they can turn it off whenever they please.
Build AI-powered cyber defence
This is non-negotiable. AI-driven cyber warfare is already here. If Ghana does not develop AI-based cybersecurity, its infrastructure, finances and national security will be perpetually vulnerable to external manipulation.
Leverage AI for economic independence
The future of economic competition is AI-driven. Agriculture, trade, manufacturing – all will be dominated by predictive AI models. If Ghana integrates AI into its industries now, it will maintain economic sovereignty. If not, it will merely be a marketplace for AI-driven multinational corporations.
Use AI for strategic diplomacy
Ghana needs to anticipate the AI-driven world order and position itself accordingly. This means forging AI partnerships, ensuring data sovereignty and leveraging AI for diplomatic intelligence. The alternative is being left out of the future altogether.
The AI future is a war for sovereignty
This isn’t just about technology. It’s about power. It’s about who decides the rules of the future. In the next decade, AI will determine which nations rise, which decline and which become permanently subservient to AI superpowers.
The question Ghana – and every developing country – must ask is: Do we want to shape the future, or do we want it to be shaped for us? Because there is no neutral ground in the AI age. There is only control, or being controlled.
Dr Augustine Blay
The writer is a seasoned leader and innovator with over 25 years of experience in digitalisation, leadership and policy analysis. He has played pivotal roles in shaping Ghana’s digital landscape – serving as executive secretary to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, directing the digital campaign for Dr Bawumia’s presidential bid, and co-chairing the New Patriotic Party’s manifesto committee on digitalisation.
A dedicated writer and advocate for Africa’s digital transformation, Dr Blay explores the intersection of technology, policy and economic development to craft compelling arguments for a unified digital Africa. Inspired by the legacies of Kwame Nkrumah, Simon Perez, Steve Jobs, Kofi Busia and Dr J B Danquah, he champions innovative reforms in telecommunications, finance and digital identity to reduce data costs, empower entrepreneurs and unite the continent’s digital markets under a cohesive framework – paving the way for a prosperous future for all Africans.
In a shocking turn of events, officials from Ghana’s National Security have uncovered a sophisticated operation involving the illegal melting of high-tension cables owned by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). The cables, integral to the nation’s power distribution network, were reportedly being transformed into aluminum poles and exported to international markets.
The investigation began after ECG officials reported missing cables, which are not only critical for maintaining electricity supply but are also a significant investment. Preliminary findings suggest that the operation was systematic, with stolen cables collected from various locations across the country and transported to clandestine facilities where they were illegally processed.
The operation appears to have been orchestrated by an organized crime syndicate, operating with impunity for some time. National Security sources indicate that the cables were meticulously stripped of insulation, then melted down to extract aluminum—a material that holds substantial value in international markets. The syndicate reportedly falsified export documentation, claiming the aluminum was sourced from legitimate suppliers.
“This operation poses a significant threat not just to ECG but to the nation’s entire power infrastructure,” said a spokesperson for the National Security agency. “We are not only losing valuable resources; we are compromising the safety and reliability of our power supply.”
In response to these alarming discoveries, the government has vowed to implement stronger protective measures to secure electricity distribution assets. Authorities are now prioritizing collaborations with local and international law enforcement agencies to trace the syndicate’s networks and stop the ongoing illegal activities.
Officials are appealing to the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities related to high-tension cables or electrical infrastructure. Furthermore, National Security encourages community support in safeguarding these vital assets, emphasizing that protecting the nation’s infrastructure is a collective responsibility.
As investigations proceed, the advocates reiterate the importance of cooperation among stakeholders to thwart such criminal activities that endanger national assets and public safety. The ECG has called for an urgent assessment of its infrastructure to identify any vulnerable points that could be targeted in the future, underscoring the private sector’s crucial role in helping to secure these critical resources.
With mounting concern regarding energy security and national infrastructure, the unfolding situation highlights the urgent need for vigilance, intervention, and solidarity among all citizens to protect the nation’s resources.
The Ranking Member onf the Foreign Affairs Committee and Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has called on Ghana to take a leadership role in promoting democracy in the Sahel region.
He emphasised that as a nation built on democratic principles, Ghana must uphold and advocate for democratic governance in its engagements with neighboring countries, particularly Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.
Abu Jinapor made these remarks in Parliament on March 28, 2025, while seconding the motion for the approval of the budget estimate for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
Citing Article 40 of Ghana’s constitution, which mandates the government to promote democratic governance in its foreign relations, he stressed the need for Ghana to remain steadfast in this commitment, especially as Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger are currently under military rule.
“While we urge the Foreign Ministry to pursue the objective of regional integration, it is vital that we do not overlook the principles of democratic governance.
“We must work towards restoring democracy in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, with the ultimate goal of ensuring that all of West Africa and Africa at large are governed based on democratic practices,” he noted.
Abu Jinapor further underscored the importance of democracy as the foundation of governance and urged the government to play a proactive role in restoring constitutional rule in the Sahel.
He emphasised that ensuring the will of the people is reflected in governance structures across the region is crucial for long-term stability and development.
Expressing his support for the motion before the House, he urged Parliament to adopt the report endorsing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget, highlighting the significance of Ghana’s role in the international community.
“With these few words, I lend my support to the motion and ask that this House adopts this report, supporting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so that ultimately, Ghana’s flag will fly high in the community of nations,” he concluded.
His remarks reaffirm Ghana’s commitment to democratic values and serve as a call to action for the government to prioritise democracy in its foreign policy engagements with the Sahel region.
Media personality Oheneyere Gifty Anti has recounted the struggles she faced in her journey to motherhood.
In a video shared on Instagram on March 28, 2025, Gifty Anti revealed that she attempted In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) four times, but all attempts were unsuccessful.
“I had always been someone who loves children. My greatest fear was not having children of my own, either through adoption or technology. I was in a stable relationship and tried several times to have a child, but it didn’t happen. I tried IVF four times, and it still didn’t work. From Ghana to London, and at one point, I was told it wouldn’t happen,” she said.
Oheneyere Gifty Anti further shared how she eventually conceived at the age of 46.
She explained that despite doctors in the UK telling her she wouldn’t be able to conceive, she became pregnant during her fifth attempt.
“I finally got pregnant at 46. My cousin in the USA insisted that I come over because of my age, knowing that I would need to be on bed rest… He wasn’t comfortable with me staying here [in Ghana]. I was told it wasn’t possible, but it was a doctor here in Ghana who treated me and encouraged me to try again, and that’s how I got pregnant.
“It was through a different surgery, there was a growth on my stomach. When the doctor checked, it wasn’t anything cancerous,” she recounted.
Watch the video below:
Meanwhile, watch GhanaWeb’s tour of Fort Victoria and the Cape Coast Lighthouse below:
A series of letters have revealed inconsistencies regarding Prof. Amin Alhassan’s reappointment as Director-General of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC).
This raises questions about the legitimacy of his continued tenure without confirmation from the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, and financial clearance from the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
Three letters originating from three key entities—the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, the National Media Commission (NMC), and GBC itself—are at the centre of the debacle.
These letters reveal contrasting timelines for Prof. Alhassan’s renewed contract, raising concerns about the validity of his continued tenure.
In a letter dated March 11, 2025, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department raised serious concerns regarding the financial clearance for the Director-General’s new contract, stating that Prof. Alhassan’s salary and related allowances as the Director-General of GBC have been suspended.
The Department further emphasised the necessity for retrospective financial clearance from October 2, 2023, “to avoid the issue of unearned salaries arising” and announced the suspension of the Director-General’s salary from March 2025.
Signed by Kwasi Agyei, the Controller and Accountant-General, the letter stated: “Section 25(5) of the Public Financial Management Act (Act 921), 2016 states as follows: ‘A commitment in respect of staff recruitment shall, subject to financial clearance by the Minister, be within the limits set by Parliament under Section 21 (5) (e) (ix).'”
“In this respect, financial clearance is required for this new contract for four years, commencing on 2nd October 2023 and ending in September 2027, to enable the processing of the payment of salary and related allowances to the Director-General.
“It is important to note that the financial clearance to be sought for the Director-General of Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) should take retrospective effect from 2nd October 2023 to avoid the issue of unearned salaries arising.
“In the interim, the Department is suspending the payment of salary of the Director-General from March 2025. The need for financial clearance for such appointments has always been the practice.”
Adding to the confusion is a letter addressed to the Board Chairman by the National Media Commission (NMC) Executive Secretary George Sarpong, who insists that Prof. Alhassan’s appointment was renewed on February 26, 2024.
“As you are aware, on 26th February 2024, the Commission renewed the appointment of Prof. Amin Alhassan as Director-General of GBC.” The NMC letter also acknowledged: “Even though this was announced at the event to introduce the new Board of the Corporation on August 13, 2024, recent media publications suggest that some employees remain unaware of the renewal.”
This statement reveals a delay in the internal communication of the supposed reappointment. The Commission, therefore, asked the Board to take immediate steps to communicate the renewal to all staff and assured its readiness to provide any necessary clarification.
This raises the question of whether a renewal in 2024 can align with a claim of a contract that supposedly commenced in October 2023.
It will be recalled that the unionised staff of GBC has reiterated their demand for the immediate removal of the Director-General, arguing that he no longer aligns with the aspirations of both the workers and the corporation.
At a press conference on March 20, 2025, the Chairman of the GBC Local Union, Sam Nat Kevor, declared Prof Amin Alhassan “persona non grata” at GBC.
He acknowledged the broadcaster’s strategic role in national security but emphasised that workers had lost confidence in both Prof. Alhassan and the NMC.
Kevor stressed that the Director-General’s tenure officially ended on October 1, 2023, yet the NMC had kept him in office for 17 months without formally updating staff or the public on his status.
He further stated that since November 21, 2023, the union, through its mother union, the Public Sector Workers Union (PSWU), had written to the NMC and the Office of the President, seeking clarification on the Director-General’s position.
In response, the NMC, in a letter dated December 11, 2023, stated that it was in the process of determining GBC’s leadership, citing Article 168 of the 1992 Constitution, which empowers the Commission to appoint the Board and Chief Executives of state-owned media in consultation with the President.
In a sharp rebuttal to media reports questioning the legitimacy of Prof Alhassan’s tenure, GBC’s Corporate Affairs Department issued a rejoinder stating that his initial appointment “elapsed on 1st October 2023” and that the NMC renewed his term effective 2nd October 2023.
The rejoinder, signed by Deputy Director Stephanie Baka in response to The Herald newspaper, which had been on the matter, dismissed claims of worker dissent as “falsehood” but failed to address the contradictory timelines in the NMC and the Accountant-General’s letters.
The inconsistencies raise critical questions: Why does the NMC claim a February 2024 renewal while the Accountant-General references an October 2023 start date?
Why was financial clearance not secured before salary payments began, leading to a suspension in March 2025?
The Controller and Accountant-General’s letter underscores that “financial clearance for such appointments has always been the practice,” implying procedural breaches.
Meanwhile, the NMC’s silence on the backdated contract and the GBC’s insistence on a seamless renewal without addressing the financial irregularities, deepen the controversy.
As scrutiny intensifies, workers and observers demand clarity on whether Prof Alhassan’s reappointment followed due process or was retroactively approved to conceal administrative lapses.
“In the interim, the Controller and Accountant-General’s Department is suspending the payment of salary of the Director-General from March 2025,” the Accountant-General’s letter declared, casting doubt on the legality of payments made since October 2023.
With state institutions providing conflicting accounts, the GBC saga highlights systemic gaps in public sector appointments and the urgent need for transparency.
The leadership of Kantamanto Market have cut ties with GUCDA over several factors
In a significant development within Ghana’s used clothing industry, the leadership of Kantamanto Market has announced its decision to break away from the Ghana Used Clothing Dealers Association (GUCDA), citing disagreements over representation, revenue management, and policy implementation.
The decision, disclosed in a statement released on Monday, March 25, 2025, follows growing tensions between Kantamanto Market leaders and GUCDA, the body representing importers of used clothing in Ghana.
Market leaders argue that GUCDA has failed to adequately represent their interests and has not provided sufficient benefits to their members.
According to the statement, signed by Market Manager Adutwum Atta Manu on behalf of Kantamanto’s 13-section leadership, the traders have officially distanced themselves from GUCDA and other external industry groups.
The leadership now claims full authority over the representation of shoe sellers, retailers, upcyclers, and other traders operating within the market.
“We are now independent of GUCDA, the importers’ association, and any other body within the used clothing industry,” the statement read, rejecting any external authority over Kantamanto’s affairs.
One of the key grievances outlined by the market leadership is the alleged lack of transparency in GUCDA’s revenue management.
Leaders claim that funds generated from the used clothing trade have not been accounted for in a transparent and equitable manner, fueling dissatisfaction among market traders.
The recent fire disaster at Kantamanto Market has further strengthened the resolve of market leaders to establish a more centralized and accountable governance structure.
The leadership emphasised that moving forward, all communications with government agencies, corporate organizations, and the media will be handled directly through their internal leadership.
In light of this separation, Kantamanto Market leaders have announced plans to form an independent association dedicated to promoting the interests of used clothing traders within the market.
The new body is expected to advocate for better policies, improved working conditions, and increased economic opportunities for traders.
Market Manager Adutwum Atta Manu also extended gratitude to the Government of Ghana, corporate entities, and individuals who provided support in the aftermath of the fire disaster.
This split is expected to reshape the dynamics of Ghana’s used clothing industry, with traders and industry stakeholders keenly watching the potential impact of Kantamanto Market’s decision.
Meanwhile, when contacted for a response, the leadership of GUCDA declined to comment, stating that internal consultations on the matter were still ongoing.
Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr are planning to table an offer worth €84 million to sign Ghanaian forward Mohammed Kudus in the summer transfer window.
According to United Kingdom-based (UK) sports journalist Ben Jacobs, Kudus is one of the key players the Saudi Pro League clubs are targeting.
It was indicated that official club-to-club contact or with the player has not begun, as they are studying the best way to approach the deal, given that the player is not out of contract yet.
Reports suggest that the Black Stars player is willing and looking forward to leaving the Hammers at the end of the 2024/2025 season.
Despite his struggles, Kudus helped the Black Stars thrash Chad 5-0 and defeat Madagascar 3-0, scoring in the latter match.
After 24 Premier League appearances in the 2024/2025 season, he has netted three times and provided one assist for West Ham United, working diligently to enhance his performance.
Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians applaud Black Stars for excellent performances against Chad, Madagascar
Wetin some pipo describe as fight between di judiciary and di executive for Ghana don heat up ova di last few days.
Dis na afta goment tok tok pesin announce say three pipo don file separate petitions to di president say make im sack di chief justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Inside one statement, tok tok pesin oga Felix Kwakye Ofosu tok say “di president don forward di three petitions to di council of state to begin consultation process as di constitution tok for article 146.”
Dis don already begin to cause kasala among di citizens – as some pipo dey support di fact say make dem sack di chief justice sake of “stated misbehaviour and incompetence,” odas say make di present no sack am.
But between wen di president go receive petition to remove di chief justice and when di process go end, fit take many months.
So far details for dis three petitions no dey public as some sabi pipo argue say to publish dis petition for media fit to affect di process wia e fit to “undermine di trust and image of di Supreme Court.”
But dis no be di first time di chief justice Gertrude Torkornoo don dey face petition to remove am.
Di chief justice survive don petition to remove her before
On 17 December 2024, one law professor bin petition di president at di time, Nana Akufo-Addo say make im sack di chief justice.
According to Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, di chief justice don “misconduct herserf wia she also be incompetent.”
Di petitioner bin tok say e dey necessary to remove di chief justice to ” preserve di integrity and public confidence for di kontris judicial system.”
But wetin be some of di reasons why im wan make di president sack di CJ?
– Professor Asare say di time wey di CJ bin write letter to di president say make im appoint 5 appeal court judges to di Supreme Court without consulting di judicial council, she breach di law.
Di petitioner tok say dis decision by di CJ “don amount to misconduct and incompetence.”
Im also accuse di chief justice say she dey interfere wit “duly constituted panels for some cases without explanation.”
But di day bifor dem go swear-in new president John Mahama as president, Nana Akufo-Addo bin dismiss di petition to sack di chief justice.
Di president add say “di pesin submit di petition without supporting evidence.”
“Di allegation say di chief justice reconstitute panels and oda breaches no get beta evidence wey di petitioner fail to provide any factual basis for dis claim,” oga Richard Arhin bin tok for di statement.
Di presidency also bin explain say “wetin di CJ do for im administrative function na consistent wit di law and established practices.”
Na so di president throway di petition at di time on 6 January 2024.
Bifor di 17 December petition, some sabi pipo bin tok dis mata say dem for comot di CJ.
Pressure don mount on top di president around July 2024 say make im sack justice Gertrude Torkornoo.
Dis na afta im write letter to di president say make im appoint 5 specific judges of di court of appeal to di Supreme Court.
Di CJ explain for dat letter to di president say make im appoint dis judges sake of di court get overload of cases.
Already at di time, Ghana bin get fifteen Supreme Court judges, wia di five new judges go make di total number twenty.
Meanwhile according to di kontri constitution, di minimum number of Supreme Court judges gatz be nine including di Chief Justice, per article 128 (1).
Chief justice defence in 2024
During one women leadership conference for Accra on 15 November 2024, chief justice Gertrude Torkornoo explain how she dey kamkpe despite say pipo dey chook mouth for her matter.
“Pipo bin dey tok say oh you don try, you dey hold body for dis kasala, how you dey do am. But I bin realise say wetin hold me down na di assurance of competence.”
CJ Torkonoo add say “I neva take any decision as chief justice or president of di panel of di Supreme Court wey neva dey according to di knowledge of law.”
“No matter di noise wey pipo dey make, di law na di law, and di only answer I fit to give for all dis wahala na di legal answer, unless we dey want sometin else,” di chief justice tok di conference dat day.
Wetin di law tok about removal of chief justice
To sack chief justice for Ghana, di constitution (article 146) provide di process wia di mata gat to go through.
First, di president go receive petition from any citizen of di kontri – wey get reason why dem gat to remove di CJ.
Afta di president receive dis petition, im go consult di council of state wia dem go check if wetin dem call “prima facie” dey for di mata or not
Prima facie na di establishment of case of wrongdoing for any mata.
If dem no find dis prima facie case against di chief justice; or if dem find say di CJ no get any case to answer, na so di president go dismiss di petition.
If di council of state find say prima facie case dey, or dem find say di CJ per di petition, get questions to answer, dem go form one committee to hear di mata.
Dis committee go get two Supreme Court judges and three oda pipo wey no be members of di council of state, wey no be MPs, wey no be lawyers, na so dem go investigate di mata.
Wetin di committee go find for dia investigation; dem go present to di recommendation to di president.
Di president gat to stand by wetin dis committee go recommend.
If dem find say di evidence against di CJ no dey strong, dem go advise di president say make im dismiss di petition.
But if dem establish and confam say di CJ dey involve for wrongdoing, dem go recommend to di president say make im sack am.
Oda chief justices wey pipo don file petition for dia sacking
Since di fourth republic in 1993, many pipo don file petition say make dem sack various chief justices till now.
But none of dis petition bin succeed; sake of either di president or head of state at di time no gree sake of di evidence against dis judges no be enough or di case against dis pipo no get merit.
.In 2002, one Francis Dzanku Assase Kofi file petition say make dey remove di CJ Edward Kwame Wiredu sake of
– im lie under oath about im date of birth
– deceive parliament during im vetting so say im go extend im tenure as CJ
– im commit perjury as im provide fale informate to public officer
Dis petition neva succeed.
In 2006, anoda pesin Bright Akwetey bin petition den President John Kufour say make im sack chief justice George Kingsley Acquah sake of
– judicial interference (im don tok judges how make dem rule on specific cases)
– abuse of office (im misuse im authority for judicial matters
– im victimize judges
Dis petition also neva succeed.
Between 2007 – 2017, two pipo file petition say make dem sack di chief justice Georgina Theodora Wood.
Di first petitioner na “citizens of La – home and abroad.
Dem tok say make di president comot di CJ sake of “im no handle land cases wey relate to di pipo of Ga-Dangme proper.”
Dem tok say di CJ no handle di matter “fairly.”
Di second petitioner na Ernest Lartey wey tok say make dem remove di CJ sake of wetin im tok say “na stated misbehaviour.”
Dis two petitions also bin dey dismissed.
.For 2018, one pressure group ASEPA bin petition president Akufo -Addo to remove CJ Sophia Akuffo.
Di petitioner oga Mensah Thompson tok say di CJ dey “incompetent.”
Na so dat petition also dey dismissed.
For 2021, di same pressure group ASEPA bin file anoda petition say make dem remove chief justice Kwasi Annin Yeboah ova allegations say im collect $5m bribe from one lawyer wey im case bin dey di Supreme Court.
Dis petition also bin dey dismissed afta di committee tok say dem no establish any “prima facie” against di CJ.
Di chief justice write to president Mahama
Inside one letter wia di chief justice write to di president, she ask for copies of di petitions against her.
She tok say she wan see di petitions and respond to di allegations bifor di council of state go establish whether prima facie case dey or not.
Inside di letter on 27 March, justice Gertrude Torkornoo tok say “I bin dey humbly ask di president and di council of state say make dem forward di petitions to me and give me at least 7 days to respond.”
“Dis response go form part of di material wey una go use to do di consultation bifor una go set up committee of inquiry for dis matter,” she tok.
As di chief justice bin dey request for di petition for one side, two oda pipo don carry di matter to court.
Why di two pipo carry di removal of di CJ matter to court
One member of Parliament oga Vincent Assafuah bin sue di kontri attorney general for di Supreme Court.
Im don dey challenge di constitutional process wey involve di removal of di chief justice.
For dis suit, oga Vincent Assafuah tok say di president gat to notify di chief justice about any petition against dem bifor im go refer am to di council of state.
Im tok inside di suits say “to fail to notify di CJ about any petition against dem, don dey amount to interference wit di independence of di judiciary.”
“Dis fair life affect di fundamental rights to fair hearing as article 23 and 296 bin dey tok, wia dis go make di consultation process by di council of state, null, void and of no effect.”
Anoda pesin, oga Ebenezer Osei-Wusu bin also take legal action against di president and di council of state to halt di process to remove di chief justice.
Inside im suit, di plaintiff tok say di president don “overstep im authority when im forward di three petitions for remove di chief justice, to di council of state.”
According to oga Osei-Wusu, di president first gat to determine di prima facie case against di chief justice and to provide di CJ wit copies of di petition bifor im go refere to di council of state.
Di plaintiff among oda tins wan make di Supreme Court “set aside di decision of di president to consult wit di council of state on top di three petitions against di CJ.”
Since di goment tok tok pesin bin announce say dem forward three petitions for di removal of di CJ to di council of state, many pipo bin dey tok dia own
Sabi pipo explain say di president neva do anything wrong say im forward di petition to di council of state.
One ogbonge lawyer Thaddeus Sory bin chook mouth for dis wahala.
Im tok say make pipo no interfere for di process.
“If di constitution tok say wia di petition na for di removal of di chief justice, di president gat to act in consultation wit di council of state, how dis tin na unconstitutional as di president bin refer di petitions to di council of state.?”
Im argue say for one case Agyei-Twun v Attorney general & Akwetey, di Supreme Court rule say “prima facie gat to first be established against di chief justice bifor dem go set up committee to investigate di petition.”
“But for dat case, di court neva specify how dem gat to determine di prima facie case, but wetin dey certain na for di president to act in consultation wit di council of state.”
As all dis legal wahala dey happun, pipo dey wait to see how tins go end.
Di chief justice gat to select di panel wey go hear di injunction application against di process to remove her.
Sabi pipo say dis na conflict of interest, dem want make she recuse herserf or make she bin resign altogether.
Whether di Supreme Court on 2 April go give order say make di President stop di process for di removal of di CJ or not, time go tell.
For di meantime, di council of state already don begin dia consultation ova di three petitions for di removal of her ladyship justice Gertrude Torkonoo.
ASEPA bin petition president Akufo-Addo to sack CJ Sophia Akuffo in 2018 but dat petition neva succeed
Di chief justice bin survive one attempt to remove her in 2024
Former president Akufo-Addo bin throway di first petition to remove di chief justice Gertrude Torkonoo on 6 January 2025
Since di fourth republic, none of di petitions to remove di kontris chief justice bin succeed
Dem petition di former president Akufo-Addo to sack CJ Kwasi Anin Yeboah in 2021 ova allegation of bribery but dat petition also neva succeed
Energy Minister John Jinapor has revealed alarming financial mismanagement at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), highlighting a pattern of massive overspending that has severely impacted the company’s resources.
According to the Minister, ECG’s planned procurement in 2014 was GH¢1.397 billion, but actual spending soared to GH¢8.2 billion by the end of the year.
The founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), Akua Donkor, will be laid to rest on Saturday, March 29, in a final farewell to a woman whose influence on Ghanaian politics and her passionate advocacy for farmers and women will long be remembered.
The burial ceremony will take place in her hometown of Ejuratia, where the final rites will be conducted from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Family, friends, political allies, and members of the public are expected to gather to honour her remarkable life and legacy.
Akua Donkor, who passed away on Tuesday, October 28, 2024, at the Ridge Hospital in Accra, leaves behind a profound legacy in Ghanaian politics.
Known for her efforts to champion the causes of farmers and women, she was a fearless and spirited voice in Ghana’s political landscape.
Throughout her career, she was a staunch advocate for the rights of marginalized groups, particularly the rural farming communities, and for ensuring that the voices of women were heard at the highest levels of decision-making.
As the founder and leader of the Ghana Freedom Party, Akua Donkor carved out a unique and bold space for herself in a political arena often dominated by larger, more established parties.
She became a figure of both admiration and controversy, known for her unwavering stance on issues that mattered most to the ordinary Ghanaian.
Throughout her life, she maintained a reputation for being outspoken, direct, and unapologetically true to her beliefs, characteristics that made her both a formidable force and a beloved figure among her supporters.
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Dr. Toni Aubynn, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), has terminated the appointments of three staff members who were due for confirmation at the end of March 2025.
The affected individuals—Emmanuel Aboagye Wiafe, Manager for Communications and Corporate Affairs; Emma Abakah, Business Manager at the office of the CEO; and Kwabena Debrah, Deputy Director of Operations and Technical—were employed in October 2024 and had completed their six-month probation period.
Reports suggest that Dr. Aubynn has already recruited replacements for the dismissed officers.
This decision has sparked conversations within PHDC, particularly as Dr. Aubynn had earlier emphasized the importance of teamwork in achieving the corporation’s goals.
Upon assuming office, he addressed the staff, underscoring the need for collaboration to elevate the institution and solidify Ghana’s position as a key player in West Africa’s petroleum sector.
PHDC is a strategic initiative aimed at transforming Ghana into a major petroleum hub. The corporation aligns with the government’s vision under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to maximize Africa’s oil and gas resources beyond crude oil exports.
The PHDC project seeks to establish an integrated oil and gas infrastructure in Ghana’s Western Region, facilitating the monetization of resources for the production of essential by-products such as plastics, fertilizers, and industrial chemicals.
The project, approved in 2019 under the leadership of then-Energy Minister John Peter Amewu, is valued at an estimated $60 billion. It is expected to be funded by the private sector and implemented in phases over a decade.
Located in the Domunli enclave in Jomoro Municipality, the hub is envisioned to house three refineries, five petrochemical plants, jetties, storage tanks, gas infrastructure, and other facilities. The government’s role includes providing land, tax incentives, and essential infrastructure to support investors.
The recent staff terminations within PHDC highlight ongoing internal restructuring under Dr. Aubynn’s leadership, raising questions about the corporation’s strategic direction and its approach to achieving Ghana’s energy ambitions.
Accra, March 28, GNA – The fourth edition of the Ghana Venture Capital and Private Equity Association’s annual conference has been launched in Accra.
The conference aims to unlock local institutional investor capital and position Ghana as a hub for Africa’s venture capital and private equity investment by fostering policy reforms, strategic partnerships, and actionable solutions.
A statement issued by the Ghana Venture Capital Assocation (GVCA) in Accra said the conference would drive national development through financing for growth-stage startups and mid-sized businesses.
Scheduled for April 24-25, 2025, at the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City in Accra, the theme will be: “Domestic Capital Mobilisation in an Evolving Investment Landscape.”
The conference will address a critical issue for African economies: “how to unlock local pools of capital to drive growth, resilience, and self-reliance,” the statement noted.
The statement explained that, amid global market uncertainties, there’s never been a more crucial time to harness Ghana’s domestic financial resources.
“The conference will serve as a clarion call to investors, policymakers, regulators, and thought leaders to explore Ghana’s SME growth financing potential and alternative asset allocations by institutional investors,” it added.
At the launch, Amma Gyampo, GVCA’s new Chief Executive Officer, described the conference as a strategic opportunity to unlock local private capital, build investor confidence, and diversify Ghana’s economy.
“GVCA’s key messages are diversification and lowering barriers to domestic capital mobilisation for job creation and economic development,” she said. “Capital markets and over-reliance on debt have contributed to our current woes; enabling a globally competitive private equity industry makes sense.”
The GVCA Annual Conference 2025 is the flagship event for GVCA members, pension funds, investment banks, fund managers, policymakers, and ecosystem players committed to positioning Ghana as a hub for Venture Capital and Private Equity in Africa.
Attracting over 350 industry leaders last year, this year’s event will convene government officials, private equity and venture capital leaders, policymakers, DFIs, corporate trustees, and venture-backed entrepreneurs.
Speakers include Dr. Alhassan Andani, Dr. Sangu Delle, Bright Simons, Dr. James Avedzi, Mr. Andrew Takyi-Appiah, Mr. Simon Madjie, Mr. Matthew Boadi Adjei, Hamdiya Ismaila, Jerry Parkes, Michael Abbey, Percival Ampomah, Sam Yeboah, Kwabena Boamah, NanaAma Dowuona, and Barbara Ghansah.
The statement guaranteed deal-flow opportunities to pair high-potential investment targets with partners seeking to establish and enhance strategic partnerships.
“High-level policy dialogues will also take place through interactive panels, bridging the gap between local capital needs and regulatory infrastructure,” it added.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Ghana has raised the policy rate by 100 basis points, increasing it from 27% to 28%.
This decision follows a reduction in the prime rate from 29% to 27% in September 2024.
Since last year, the Bank of Ghana has reduced rates by a total of 300 basis points, with the key rate expected to reach 23% by the end of the year.
Announcing the new rate, the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Johnson Asiama, stated that the increase is aimed at addressing inflationary pressures in the economy.
The decision was made following a majority vote by the committee.
Dr. Asiama noted that business and consumer confidence has improved significantly in a short period.
He attributed this to timely interventions, such as the Gold for Reserves program and negotiations with the IMF, which have fostered a more favorable business and consumer environment.
He also mentioned that the Central Bank is actively working to monitor undercapitalised banks and restore their solvency.
“By a majority decision, for the first time, the committee decided to raise the monetary policy rate by 100 basis points to 28 percent. This is meant to anchor the disinflation process. As inflation becomes firmly anchored, and as we observe the next inflation readings and see declines, the committee will reassess the scope for a gradual easing in the policy stance,” he stated.
SP/MA
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President John Dramani Mahama has assured Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo that due process will be strictly followed in handling petitions seeking her removal.
In a letter dated Thursday, March 28, 2025, President Mahama emphasized that Justice Torkornoo would have a fair opportunity to respond to the allegations.
The letter, signed by Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, stated: “His Excellency wishes to assure you that due process will be followed in handling this matter and that you will be given a full and fair opportunity to be heard.”
This assurance follows President Mahama’s decision to forward three petitions to the Council of State for consultation, in line with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
In response, Chief Justice Torkornoo requested copies of the petitions to prepare her defense, seeking a seven-day period to review the documents before any committee of inquiry is established.
To facilitate the process, President Mahama has asked the Chief Justice to submit a preliminary response within ten days of receiving the letter. This step is intended to support further consultations between the President and the Council of State.
Click here to read the full statement by the Presidency
Couple arrested for chaining and abandoning nine-year-old son in Bush
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A school bus transporting 62 students, staff, and parents from Ben Kunadu SDA Basic School in Asante Akyem for an excursion to Akosombo has somersaulted.
According to reports the school bus somersaulted several times after the driver was descending a hill lost control on the Adukrom-Somanya highway in the Eastern Region, leaving two people a parent and a student dead on the spot.
In 2018, Ghana overtook South Africa to become Africa’s largest gold producer.
South Africa, the world’s largest producer of the metal until it lost the position in 2008, has all but dropped out of the big leagues today.
Of the different reasons often cited for Ghana’s feat, two stand out. First, the sheer amount of acreage converted to gold mining in the last few decades (remember that nearly 24% of the country’s landmass bears gold ores); and, second, the rapid surge of small, informal, and artisanal producers. Nearly 90% of new mining activity in recent years has been driven by this group of producers.
To understand the full impact of small-scale mining in Ghana’s gold sector, it helps to remember that between 1960 and 1972, Ghana was always in the top four or five producers in the world until a series of botched nationalisations saw the country drop out from the top five. Even so, Ghana will remain in the top ten list until 1978. The country’s return to the big leagues was greatly helped by the legalisation of small-scale and artisanal mining in the late 1980s. By 1991, small-scale and artisanal miners controlled 5% of national production. Three decades on, their share stands at 35%. A dramatic illustration of the diverging trends between Ghana and South Africa is to be found in data showing that there are 200 times more women engaged in small-scale and artisanal mining in Ghana than in South Africa.
While Ghana owes much of its return to the top ten list of global gold producers to the role of small-scale and artisanal miners and their relentless conversion of the country’s gold-bearing landmass to mining, elite opinion has soured against their conduct in recent times due to mounting environmental and, in a secondary sense, security problems.
One can simplify the situation as follows:
Underinvestment in new sophisticated technologies, techniques, and capabilities, key factors in stimulating mining output, in the 1970s caused Ghana’s elimination from the top gold production ranks. Said underinvestment was caused by a poorly thought through nationalisation strategy, which was in itself a response to a woeful lack of meaningful Ghanaian presence in the sector (until nationalisation commenced in the 1960s, 90% of mine ownership was in the hands of foreigners).
The growth of small-scale mining in the 1990s was turbocharged by the influx of Chinese hand-me-down technologies in the 2000s leading to both an expansion of output and the accompanying environmental calamity. The sunny side of the Chinese capital and technological intervention, perhaps, is the growing presence of the Ghanaian private sector in the gold industry and the return of Ghana as a significant global player.
Analysing this history, what strategic challenge should a policymaker frame? The new NDC-led government of Ghana has concluded that multiple strands of the challenge can be addressed with a new form of nationalisation, one that focuses on the trading, marketing, and logistics segment of the value chain and on the small-scale sector in particular as opposed to the emphasis on the ownership of large-scale mines in the 1960s and 1970s.
Leading the charge for the new government is the Gold Board (GoldBod), an under-construction state-owned enterprise to be charged with the responsibility of upgrading the sophistication of the small-scale gold sector and with control of the sector’s entire value chain, from domestic trading to export infrastructure.
Working with a 60-day timeline that analysts like this author have described as arbitrary and rushed, the government has already submitted a draft law to Parliament for ratification. The law will collapse the existing state-owned precious minerals marketing corporation (PMMC), absorb its functions into the Gold Board, and add on certain roles currently performed by the Minerals Commission, a regulatory agency, thereby mimicking Cocobod, the state-owned corporation established in 1947 with an identical mission in the cocoa sector.
The policy intent in setting up the new entity is to eliminate gold smuggling and illegal trading claimed to be depriving the country of 70% to 80% of the small-scale gold sector’s proceeds. Furthermore, considerable investment shall be made into the sector to upgrade capacity, output, and compliance.
To properly discuss a policy move as momentous as the Gold Board, a country deserves a detailed policy document covering all key elements of the proposal, strategy, and political economy justifications. Unfortunately, such a document has not been forthcoming. Instead, the focus has been on aligning stakeholders around the legal text in the draft law.
One has to concede, nevertheless, that compared to the previous government, the current administration has made a far greater effort at consultation, generally speaking, and with particular regard to the whole Gold Board business. Early versions of draft provisions in the proposed law have been circulating in Accra’s policy circles for a while now and the Chief Executive in-waiting of the Gold Board has shown a willingness to dialogue with critics and engage the public at large.
Still, the haste with which the whole affair is proceeding raises serious concerns. In the absence of sufficient information about the exact operational mechanics of the proposed entity, this brief essay will limit itself to the draft law as presented to Parliament; what can be deduced from the draft to shed light on the upcoming entity’s operational plans; and on comments that the Gold Board’s incoming leadership has made in the press so far.
Putting GoldBod under the spotlight
1. The decision to mix regulatory (including granting GoldBod its own security force in the form of “inspectors” with search and detain/seizure powers), business development, sectoral transformation, and trading functions in a single organisation as set out in the draft Gold Board law is rather curious.
In recent years, a certain technocratic consensus has developed against this practice leading to the creation of standalone regulatory agencies to oversee matters once bundled with commercial activities within the mandate of certain state institutions and state-owned enterprises.
In this regard, one can cite the cases of the Petroleum Commission and the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC); the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA) and the Social Security & National Insurance Trust (SSNIT); and other such instances of regulatory functions being squeezed out of super-parastatals into a standalone, dedicated, purely regulatory agency.
In fact, elite commentators like to cite the continued bundling of Cocobod’s commercial and regulatory objectives as an anomaly, one that was allowed to persist despite the push in the late 1980s across Africa to unbundle national commodity monopolies (see the case of coffee in Uganda). There may well be sound reasons for going against the grain in the case of gold but none have so far been provided.
2. The government’s concern, as expressed in the memorandum to the draft law submitted to the Ghanaian parliament, appears to be what it calls “fragmentation” in the regulatory architecture.
How and why “fragmentation” per se is the problem is not explained. The charge of fragmentation appears to be explained merely by the fact that different entities undertake activities that somehow touch the gold sector. The general understanding though has always been that the Minerals Commission currently oversees all regulatory matters in the gold mining sector and by law ought to be responsible for licensing while the PMMC focuses on its specialised technical competences in the areas of assaying and testing, as well as its own trading, processing and related commercial activities. An objective analyst might thus view the split of functions as coherent and purposeful rather than fragmenting.
2. Even if the government has compelling reasons in its bid to create a combined regulator-trader in the gold sector, a super-parastatal in other words, the causes for concern about such hybrids remain and would need to be addressed in the entity’s structure. The draft law’s approach is to create tribunals and dispute resolution committees (DRCs) to provide aggrieved industry players with an avenue for redress. Unfortunately, the current provisions render the independence of these bodies somewhat suspect. The DRC is to be appointed by the same Board of Directors whose decisions industry players may find injurious.
The appellate mechanism if one is unsatisfied with a determination by the DRC is a tribunal to be set up on ad hoc basis on the authority of the Minister responsible for the sector. The tribunal’s rules of procedure are, however, to be determined by the Board of Directors of the same Gold Board whose actions may have injured the complaining parties.
No doubt this entire arrangement borrows profusely from recent practices, such as for instance the setup of the Electronic Communications Tribunal (ECT) in the telecommunications sector. But, at least, in the case of the ECT, the tribunal composition has been delegated to the relatively neutral Chair of the Public Services Commission rather than the Board of Directors of the National Communications Authority (NCA), against whose decisions complainants may appeal to the ECT. This is so despite the fact that the NCA, unlike the Gold Board, does not have commercial interests that may conflict with those of industry complainants.
It would be helpful to understand why even the pretence of impartiality and independence in respect of adjudicatory bodies created to scrutinise the Gold Board’s (GoldBod’s) actions has been dispensed with in the draft law.
3. The legislative surgery used to create the regulatory-commercial hybrid of the GoldBod is itself suspect. It starts with the repeal of the Kimberley Process requirement in section 6 and 97 of the Minerals & Mining Act (Act 703). It is then stipulated in a consequential amendment (section 78 of the draft law) that the reference to the “Minister” in the Kimberley Process Certificate Act (Act 652 of 2003) must now be read to mean a reference to the Gold Board.
On a surface reading, something simple and benign has happened. The current law makes the Minister of Mines responsible for issuing certificates attesting that diamonds being exported from Ghana did not originate in conflict or other undesirable zones. In practice, however, he has normally delegated this function to the PMMC, which thus serves as the Kimberley Process Authority in Ghana. The draft Gold Board law hence merely streamlines the procedure by making the Gold Board the ultimate authority without the ministerial veneer.
The problem with this arrangement is that in inheriting the PMMC’s trading functions along with regulatory schemes such as Kimberley, Ghana is sustaining a conflict of interest whereby a trading entity purports to certify its own supply chain. In most countries worldwide, the Kimberley Process Authority tends to be a pure governmental entity such as the Diamond Office in the Ministry of Mines in Botswana or the Namibia Exporting Authority. No surprises then that Ghanaian Kimberley certificates routinely get flagged and that Ghana was one of the first countries to be put on probation at the Plenary Meeting of the Kimberley Process as far back as 2007. Rather than consolidate the conflicts of interest inherent in the regulatory-commercial structure, shouldn’t the country consider a different path forward to bolster independent certification of its precious minerals supply chains?
4. The legislative surgery veered into even more contentious cavities. Sections 6, 97, and 104 of the Mining Law (Act 703) are to be repealed in their entirety. A close reading would show that the goal is to hollow out the licensing functions of the Minerals Commission and transfer them wholesale to the new Gold Board, presumably with a mass transfer of the public servants there who specialise in licensing-related due diligence to the Gold Board.
The problem here is that those sections cover all minerals whilst the mandate of the Gold Board has been specifically restricted to precious minerals. Parliament needs to scrutinise this arrangement carefully as it implies the total emasculation of the Minerals Commission to perform certain critical functions in relation to non-precious minerals.
One wonders why, instead of this blunt cross-revocation approach, the decision wasn’t made to amend Act 703 instead to remove precious minerals from the purview of the Minerals Commission. With the country aggressively promoting investment into green and industrial minerals, for instance, it would be problematic to disable the primary agency responsible for those sectors in a hurried effort to bolster a new kid on the block.
5. Besides the untidiness of the regulatory-commercial combo model, there is also the concern of saddling the Gold Board with certain specialised roles of a highly risky nature. The most critical such role on this list is the sector-financing mandate.
In effect, the Gold Board is expected to become a massive Fund Manager in the mining sector, originating and assessing credit opportunities; structuring lending and, perhaps, equity transactions; and handling all the risk and compliance monitoring that comes with these roles. We have been told in recent weeks that such investing activities have landed the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), which is supposed to have experts in such areas, in serious losses. Without being provided any details and informed as to how the government intends to prevent the reoccurrence of such problems going forward, the burden has simply been shifted to a greenhorn operator by name of the Gold Board.
It is absolutely critical that an operational manual be developed and presented as part of supplementary material to Parliament.
Such a manual should cover all the specialised functions expected to be managed by the Gold Board which might entail serious operational and financial risk. In particular, the credit origination and assessment standards and procedures that will be applied in seeking to finance small-scale mining companies must attain the sophistication level of a tier one commercial bank in Ghana and the corresponding personnel and infrastructure must be available before the GoldBod is permitted to commence operations.
6. The GoldBod’s own ability to borrow would also require elaborate guidelines. Its power to design and execute forwards, hedges, collateralisation, securitisation, and a host of financial transactions to finance its trading, logistical, lending, and sector-development functions should be carefully circumscribed by regulations. The said regulations must be presented in draft form for the benefit of the current committees tasked to review the primary GoldBod draft law in order to shed more light on the adequacy of relevant provisions.
I freely admit that this country has more often than desired passed various laws to set up institutions without proceeding to pass their operational regulations soon thereafter. Sometimes, years have elapsed before such regulations come into operation. Take the disability laws, for instance. The disability policy was created in 2000. It was however not enforced with the excuse that it had no legal backing. Thus, in 2006, an Act was passed by Parliament. The statute was also, however, not enforced for the lack of regulations. Meanwhile, the government was busily ratifying all manner of international treaties on the disability subject. Eventually, the law was declared outmoded and a draft amendment bill is now expected to be passed this year. In the 20 years that the law has been theoretically operational, no regulations have ever been passed. I argue that it is precisely because of this legislative culture in Ghana that, considering the degree of risk involved in the GoldBod’s operations, the draft law should not be passed without the concurrent provision to lawmakers of draft regulations. The amounts of money being talked about strongly suggest that the nation cannot afford to brook such laxity.
7. Among the reasons why an operational manual is critical in determining the adequacy of the provisions in the draft law is the haziness of the proposed business model of the GoldBod. From what the country has been told so far, the GoldBod’s primary commercial logic is as a physical gold, or bullion, trader. It will license aggregators to work with small-scale miners across the country to mobilise large volumes of raw gold (so-called “dore gold” that, typically, has pure gold content of between 50% to 80% after crude refining at the small-mine level). Aggregators will then confirm the level of gold purity and pay producers accordingly. GoldBod will validate this purity through its own testing before paying aggregators. It will then arrange for further refining according to the terms of the deals it cuts with brokers.
In recent commentary, the upcoming CEO of the GoldBod has suggested that it will try and refine purchased gold in local refineries to a purity range (between 95% and 99%) that should enhance export trading, in Ghanaian refineries. GoldBod would then sell onwards to brokers, take their money, and recycle it back into trading, logistics, assaying/testing etc, and, of course, overheads.
Even a junior high student can easily see so many points at which this model could break. Without tight rules and procedures, Cocobod-scale debts could easily be created. Critically, the final margins along this complex chain of commercial activities must cover the GoldBod’s cost of capital. Here are a number of specific matters that Parliament must endeavour to obtain clear and cogent written assurances on.
A. There are reports that about ten aggregators are already being identified and primed to play the apex role in the new framework. The operational manual must detail the exact due diligence framework for selecting aggregators. The regulations should be super-clear as to what standards an applicant for an aggregator license must meet to qualify for and retain such a license.
B. In the same manner that in the capital markets, the Ghana Fixed Income Market authorities publish the trading volume of licensed dealers in government securities, there should be total transparency about the trading volumes of these entities and their purchasing history, including the specific small scale mines from which they aggregate their gold holdings.
C. The government must explain how it will settle on refineries to participate in the aggregation scheme. In the absence of global certification, the Standards Authority and private certification specialists must be invited to work together to bolster the local certification schemes for all eligible refineries. These details must be specified in the operational manual and referenced in the regulations. The government must also tell us about the status of the shady partially state-owned gold refinery.
D. As a physical gold dealer of globally-uncertified gold (i.e. gold lacking LMBA or COMEX certification) operating in the over-the-counter markets, considerable variability and volatility in trading returns are all but guaranteed. A fascinating case study is that of Primera Gold in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Primera entered into a kind of joint venture with the DRC to do exactly what GoldBod aims to do in Ghana. In the end, the model didn’t work out. Even though Primera configured its sourcing, refining and trading setup such that it could sell its gold for as high as ~$64,500 per kilogram (whilst competitors like Kibali Gold were fetching as low as ~$46,200 per kilogram), the model could still not be sustained.
Apart from the usual policy dysfunction and public-private-partnership (PPP) challenges in the mining context of many countries, one main reason why aggregation like what GoldBod is attempting to do usually fails, as it did in the DRC case, is marginal efficiency. Informal buyers and dealers have low costs because they can cut corners and sell at lower prices to international brokers. Competing with them on both ends of the chain can be extremely tough. Extraordinary skill is required to time when to buy and when to sell. Any misstep would lead to losses. The specific trading strategy for the GoldBod would always be partially confidential. However, its loss-prevention strategy must be properly documented. The government must fully disclose the results of the recent trading experience of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) and account for the reported losses. It should then clearly explain to us, through parliament and the press, how the GoldBod expects to avoid such losses.
8. In light of the discussion above, it is safe to say that the GoldBod’s promise to invest over $250 million at fixed weekly intervals into sourcing and trading gold is hopelessly naive. It seems bereft of commercial instinct and insight. The whole point of gold trading is effective timing and volume management. Knowing when to buy at the best price and sell at the best price and using the right set of hedging and simple derivative instruments to smooth the inevitable bumps is what makes commodity trading so edgy and skill-demanding.
A trading strategy based on feeding some trading channel with fixed amounts of gold at fixed intervals is likely to be massively exploited by more skillful counterparties. At any rate, there are significant variabilities across all the activities discussed above that will ensure that such a robotic revolving working capital model would be impossible to sustain. Loss periods would lead to ablated working capital requiring interim and bridge financing, which would take time to arrange; and shifts in market sentiment can lead to considerable variation in demand from counterparties requiring the search for new channels, which all take time.
9. At any rate, finding over 3.1 tons every week (~160 tons a year) of gold in the small-scale sector and turning it all around within a week, as is being promised by the upcoming leadership of the GoldBod, is a fantastical proposition. It is important to emphasise that the government does not intend to force the large, corporate-owned, mines to sell more than the current agreed quota to it. In any event, the production curve of the large mines is, at any rate, highly steady, at around 90 to 100 tons of gold. The small mines, the prime focus of the GoldBod, can barely sell more than 30 to 35 tons of gold per year. Increasing this volume by 5x, as the GoldBod’s proponents say they will do, would take a total miracle.
10. I am not deaf to the earnest claims of GoldBod proponents that large amounts of gold are being smuggled out of Ghana and that GoldBod shall stop all of the smuggling. The truth however is that putting a halt to the smuggling of a commodity so valuable that just a kilogram costs nearly $100,000 is a very tall order if economic incentives to smuggle exist. Countries like Japan, South Korea, and China, with vastly greater enforcement resources than Ghana, have fought a losing battle against gold smuggling for decades. So long as GoldBod’s costs shall always be higher than informal and criminal aggregators, these actors shall succeed in buying some gold from some small-scale miners willing to take the risk for a higher margin.
11. At any rate, the most lavish estimate of the amount of gold being smuggled out of Ghana suggest that the figure is about 1.2 tons per week valued at $1.2 billion per year. This figure assumes that all the gold leaving through such clandestine means is of the 24 carat grade, which is highly unlikely. But even admitting this figure as true only gives you $24 million a week as the amount the GoldBod could conceivably mop up. The truth however is that there has been no accounting as to how much of this amount emanates from illegal small-scale mining, i.e. galamsey. The government cannot risk the reputation of GoldBod by cornering galamsey gold. In short, far more realistic financial projections are required for GoldBod than have been forthcoming so far considering that its predecessor, the PMMC, could hardly generate $3 million per year in trading value. On top of that, despite its small trading book, PMMC consistently wallowed in debts.
12. The central government has pledged to capitalise the GoldBod with $279 million. So far, the government has refused to disclose the financial terms of this transaction. The interest rate, grace period, and duration/tenor of the facility have not been revealed.
The nature of budget execution is such that funds are released in tranches, which is yet another reason why the $250 million in trading value per week figure is completely unrealistic. It is important to bear in mind that the predecessor of the GoldBod, the PMMC, had only a tiny sliver of the infrastructure in place to handle aggregation. So much so that when the Bank of Ghana (BoG) initially tried to rely on it to mobilise gold for forex, oil, and other objectives it didn’t work out and the BoG had to look elsewhere.
The sheer scale of the bureaucracy, security arrangements, and antifraud mechanisms, that would have to be implemented to safeguard against both physical losses (buying agents colluding with testing officers to underdeclare or overdeclare both gold and cash imprest etc.) and financial losses would entail the spending of millions of dollars by the remnants of an organisation that lacks the track record and capacity for operating at the proposed scale.
Controls within the government will thus slow disbursements to GoldBod as it seeks to comply with elaborate rules for drawing on government’s funds, meeting procurement rules, and complying with the audit and control regimes. It would be wise to set expectations carefully in order not to blow up the organisation’s credibility with counterparties before it has even consolidated its brand.
13. Failure to jealously guard the reputation of the GoldBod by setting realistic volume targets and by phasing in the transition would be catastrophic. The current proposed transition plan is to abruptly eliminate the existing trading networks comprising of dozens of licensees offering multiple services and to replace it in one go with a highly restrictive licensing regime limiting players to narrow functions (e.g. forcing companies to obtain separate licenses for trading, storage, transport etc.)
This approach, unless modified, would naturally lead to small-scale gold producers avoiding the GoldBod like a plague. As rational business people, small-scale gold producers shall anticipate performance failures and delays in payment etc. and slow sales to the GoldBod until confidence is restored.
Note that under the draft law, even artisanal goldsmiths would now be operating illegally if they fail to obtain a license from GoldBod.
It is however not clear if dentists who work with gold fillings, and the use of gold in various implants and goldleaf in design contexts, including in integrated circuitry, would now also be covered by the licensing regime, especially under section 26(3)(b) of the law.
14. Anticipating the challenge of producer discomfort with the new regime, the draft GoldBod law seeks to outlaw “hoarding”, thereby, presumably, eliminating an instrument that small-scale miners might wield as a negotiation tool. Unfortunately, the provision is badly drafted and would thus be either unenforceable or repressive. Gold is a perfectly legitimate asset to hold as a store of value. Differentiating among gold storage for long-term investment purposes, sensible commercial physical-hedges, and “hoarding”, a non-technical term, is likely to lead to abuses of discretion by the GoldBod.
15. Another power GoldBod wants to be given, under section 39 of the draft law, is the discretion to approve or reject mergers and acquisitions in the industry across all segments of the value chain. So, if one runs a gold bullion van entity and wants to buy another small entity with a warehousing chain, GoldBod has to approve. GoldBod thus wants powers normally reserved to securities, specialised-technical, financial, and antitrust regulators. Quite apart from needing to build the requisite competence from scratch to mount these intrusive inquiries into the effects of prospective mergers and acquisitions, the absence of detailed regulations on the criteria to be adopted for evaluating the propriety of commercial transactions would most likely lead to serious arbitrariness and confusion, and may well limit investment into the sector.
16. Another curious provision is the decision to exempt the GoldBod from taxes even though its predecessor, PMMC, did pay tax. There is nothing in the Finance Minister’s memorandum explaining this decision.
17. As a physical gold/bullion trader, GoldBod shall not be operating in highly standardised exchanges (such as those for gold futures). Its contracts of a derivative nature would thus lack the liquidity inherent in an exchange setting. Where it is likely to lose money on certain open positions due to sudden shifts in gold pricing and other unfavourable market swings (even in the spot market), its bankers would need to step in with margin finance and other measures. Unfortunately, no consortium of banks has been approached to design any such backstops. The central government is assumed to be providing open-ended, standing, guarantees to support this wild march into the unknown. A formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) between whichever unit of the government (finance ministry?) shall be acting as the spine for this greenhorn state trader is necessary. And a draft of that MOU is required by parliament of Ghana in order to assess adequacy in relation to the scope of operating commitments anticipated in the draft GoldBod law. The maximal extent of leverage allowed in any such margin-financed trading positions must be specified in the operational manual and referenced in the regulations.
18. Finally, whilst I want to express some appreciation for the new spirit of consultation being exhibited by this government in general, and the upcoming leadership of the GoldBod in particular, there is still a tendency to omit critical information about the baseline against which new measures are being proposed.
Before the government can create a viable improvement over PMMC, MIIF’s gold sector investment function, Bank of Ghana’s gold desk, Mineral Commission’s licensing role, and all the other cross-government undertakings that have been cleaved and welded together to give GoldBod a mandate, a proper government position paper is needed. It must describe to satisfactory detail what the challenges, gaps, and weaknesses have been and how the GoldBod, through its draft operational manual, seeks to transcend them.
In my modest view, such would be the minimal requirement for sound consultations with the civil society sector.
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Ghana has raised the policy rate by 100 basis points, increasing it from 27% to 28%.
This decision follows a reduction in the prime rate from 29% to 27% in September 2024.
Since last year, the Bank of Ghana has reduced rates by a total of 300 basis points, with the key rate expected to reach 23% by the end of the year.
Announcing the new rate, the Governor of the Central Bank, Dr. Johnson Asiama, stated that the increase is aimed at addressing inflationary pressures in the economy.
The decision was made following a majority vote by the committee.
Dr. Asiama noted that business and consumer confidence has improved significantly in a short period.
He attributed this to timely interventions, such as the Gold for Reserves program and negotiations with the IMF, which have fostered a more favorable business and consumer environment.
He also mentioned that the Central Bank is actively working to monitor undercapitalised banks and restore their solvency.
“By a majority decision, for the first time, the committee decided to raise the monetary policy rate by 100 basis points to 28 percent. This is meant to anchor the disinflation process. As inflation becomes firmly anchored, and as we observe the next inflation readings and see declines, the committee will reassess the scope for a gradual easing in the policy stance,” he stated.
SP/MA
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Ghanaian artiste Trigmatic has urged musicians in the country to seek legal assistance when signing contracts.
Speaking at the African Music Business Dialogue and Music Showcase ’25 at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum on March 28, 2025, Trigmatic emphasised that artistes should not be stingy when it comes to securing their careers.
He stressed the importance of considering the long-term implications of contracts to avoid future regrets.
“When they send you that 40-page contract and you know you can’t read it, get a lawyer and stop being stingy. Lawyers don’t just speak English, they also love money.
“You need to understand the role you are playing when working on a project and charge accordingly. Also, think long-term when signing contracts. If you sign a contract where a commercial will run for an extended period, you will continue earning royalties whenever it airs. That way, you won’t become a burden to your family,” he explained.
Trigmatic also advised artistes to avoid a sense of entitlement in the music industry and plan for retirement to prevent financial struggles in old age.
“Some of us have dropped out of school, and that is a bad decision. But since that is the path you’ve chosen, your survival depends on it.
“One of the most profitable areas in the music industry is synchronization. Sometimes, while watching television, pay attention to what they are doing, create a sound bite, and sell it to them.
“There are many ways to earn money in this industry. Using this method can serve as your retirement plan. There is no documentary without music, so why should an artiste be poor? It’s because we often make poor decisions. As I said, you shouldn’t feel entitled, it’s not anybody’s responsibility to take care of you,” he added.
Meanwhile, watch GhanaWeb’s tour of Fort Victoria and the Cape Coast Lighthouse below:
play videoNii Bruku showcasing some of the beaded bracelet
Have you ever wondered what the hand beads you own truly signify, and especially when you wear them, do you know exactly what they mean?
In a fascinating interview with Etsey Atisu on Ghanaweb TV, Nii Ashitey Bruku, an elder of the Teshie Stool, shared his understanding of wearing beads, while delving into some of the rich cultural significance behind this ornament.
According to Nii Bruku, the wrist on which the bracelet is worn holds profound meaning, with the right wrist symbolising royalty, while the left wrist with beads on it is just for fashion.
Nii Bruku also explained that beaded bracelets worn on the right hand have historical and cultural importance, representing identity, royalty, and serving as a reminder of significant moments.
“These bracelets worn on the right are more than mere accessories; they are cultural artifacts that tell stories, represent beliefs, and connect people to their heritage,” Nii Bruku said.
He further stated that the simplest of traditions hold profound meaning and significance.
Find out the full details in his interview with GhanaWeb TV below:
MRA/AE
Watch as Ras Mubarak, Alan’s running mate, engage in ‘dirty’ social media feud over Ama Pratt’s appointment
Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. Abdulai John Jinapor, has vowed to ensure that all 1,300 missing containers of consignments belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) are fully accounted for.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on March 28, 2025 following the discovery of some missing containers and the subsequent arrest of foreign nationals, the minister reaffirmed his commitment to putting an end to the illegal sale of ECG consignments through dubious means.
“As Minister for Energy and Green Transition, my vision is simple: I want all 1,346 containers accounted for. Whatever it takes, I will ensure that those containers are returned to their rightful place,” he told the House.
The minister refuted claims of inconsistency in his statements on the matter, insisting that he has the president’s full backing to oversee the full recovery of the missing containers.
“Yesterday, when President Mahama called me, his message was simple; ‘Jinapor, you have my full backing; go full throttle.’ And that is exactly what we are doing. We’ve already arrested some Chinese nationals, and we are on the trail of some Indian nationals who have fled,” he stated.
According to the minister, this situation has been occurring for years.
“This is a House of records, so I am being very cautious. I’ve received numerous briefings, and I am beginning to identify those behind this. This has been going on for years, but I will put a stop to it, immediately.
“And, Mr. Speaker, it will not only stop; we will retrieve the missing containers and materials, prosecute the perpetrators, and recover the lost funds,” he declared.
A recent investigation revealed that over 1,300 ECG containers meant for clearance at Tema Port were missing.
An audit found only 1,134 of 2,491 reported containers, exposing procurement irregularities such as unlicensed contracts and the discontinuation of a clearance fund.
Minister of Energy John Jinapor launched a criminal probe, leading to the discovery of 40 containers in Kpone and the arrest of 19 suspects, including Chinese and Ghanaian nationals.
Some cables were found at a Shai Hills smelter, where they had been melted for export since 2019.
GA/MA
Also watch Kade MP addresses shortcomings of 2025 budget and current developments within NPP
The Black Stars ended the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on a high note, securing impressive wins against Chad and Madagascar on March 21 and March 24, 2025, respectively.
The matches showcased moments of brilliance and key performances that have solidified Ghana’s position at the top of the standings.
Beyond their performance, a touching display of respect during the Black Stars’ game against Chad at the Accra Sports Stadium has resurfaced, featuring young talent Jerry Afriyie’s selfless gesture toward Kamaldeen Sulemana.
In a video circulating on Facebook, Sulemana, after warming up, approaches the bench but finds no available seat. Sensing the situation, Afriyie graciously offers his seat to the Southampton forward and sits on the floor instead.
Afriyie’s actions have drawn widespread praise from fans, who have commended him for his humility and respect toward his senior teammate.
Both Afriyie and Sulemana had the opportunity to feature in the Black Stars’ 5-0 victory over Chad, though they remained unused substitutes against Madagascar.
Watch the video of the incident below:
FKA/MA
Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians applaud Black Stars for excellent performances against Chad, Madagascar<\b>
Di Kano state Police Command don cancel Salah Durbar, wey be festival wey dem dey do during Muslim Eid celebration for Kano, Northern Nigeria for dis year.
Dem announce dis one for press briefing wey Kano Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Adamu Bakori, do for Bompai Police Headquarters on Friday.
CP Bakori tok say dem take di decision afta dem check and analyse di security situation for di state, especially as tension dey rise and uncertainty dey around di Durbar activities, particularly wit di wahala wey fit happun if dem allow am.
“As part of our collective effort to maintain peace and security, we don place ban on all Durbar activities for di whole state during the 2025 Eid-El-Fitr Sallah celebrations.”
E still add say, “Dis decision come afta consultation wit di security stakeholders based on strong intelligence report wey show say some pipo don recruit miscreants and dem sponsor plan to use Durbar as way to cause trouble and scatter public peace.”
E advise all worshippers make dem do dia normal Eid prayers for di places wey dem suppose do am, just as dem dey do am before, sake of say di police don already arrange enough security to make sure say everywia dey safe.
Even for di last Eid-el-Kabir wey pipo sabi as big Salah, dem still cancel di Salah Durbar, and many pipo believe say e get connection wit di Emir wahala for Kano, afta di state Govnor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, dethrone Aminu Ado Bayero from im throne.
Salah Durbar na big tradition wey thousands of people dey attend for royal horse parade for Kano, and e don dey happun for more dan 200 years. But dis year same as last year, di three-day Durbar, wey be horse parading ceremony, don dey cancelled.
Ghanaian rapper, Edem, has revealed the lengthy both himself and former Last Two stablemate, Sarkodie, have gone to support themselves throughout their careers.
In an interview on Onua Fm with Felicia Osei, the rapper born Denning Hotor noted two pivotal moments when both he and Sarkodie had to sacrifice everything to provide help to the other.
Accra, March 28, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has given Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo 10 days to respond to three petitions calling for her removal from office.
The Chief Justice had earlier written to the President requesting copies of the petitions.
In response, Dr Callistus Mahama, Executive Secretary to the President, said in a letter that she must submit her preliminary response within 10 days.
This would help the President consult with the Council of State.
The President assured the Chief Justice that due process would be followed and that she would have a fair opportunity to present her case.
The President received three petitions from individuals asking for the Chief Justice’s removal.
Two petitions were dated 14th February 2025, and the third was dated 17th March 2025.
He attached copies of these petitions in his response to the Chief Justice.
On 24th March 2025, the President wrote to the Chairman of the Council of State, forwarding the petitions.
He informed the Council that, as required under Article 146(6), he planned to seek the Chief Justice’s initial response.
On 27th March 2025, the Chairman of the Council of State agreed to the President’s request.
Copies of the Chairman’s letters were also attached to the President’s reply to the Chief Justice.
The President was advised that, based on the case of Frank Agyei Twum v Attorney General and Bright Akwetey [2005-2006] SCGLR 732, confidentiality applies to proceedings under Article 146.
This includes all related documents and materials.
However, the President expressed disappointment that the Chief Justice’s letter to him, dated 27th March 2025, was circulating on social media before he could read it.
Reports indicate that her letter was shared as an attachment to another letter she sent to the President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges, and the President of the Ghana Bar Association.
Due to this, the President’s office marked each page of its response as “restricted.”
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has called for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address the increasing cases of teenage pregnancy in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region.
According to the Education Directorate, despite the ongoing Back to School campaign, a significant number of teenage mothers do not return to school after childbirth.
Many face stigmatization from their peers, while others lack caregivers to look after their babies, making it difficult for them to continue their education.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of The Influential Conference, an event organized to educate teenage girls in the municipality, the Lower Manya Krobo Director of Education, Samuel Kwasi Tettey, expressed concern over the rising school dropout rate among teenage mothers.
“The reason why our girls are not rising to the top is because of teenage pregnancy. It is very rampant here, and it is affecting their education. Many of them drop out of school. Some become mothers and do not return. Even though we have the Back to School campaign, certain barriers are preventing them from coming back.
“They fear being laughed at, and some have no one to take care of their children. This is making it difficult for them to progress academically to the highest levels their abilities allow. Our objective is to educate them, their parents, and all stakeholders involved in addressing teenage pregnancy. Together, we must put all hands on deck to support the growth and development of the girl child,” he noted.
Nana Debrah Bekoe Isaac, Founder and CEO of As I Grow Foundation, a non-governmental organization leading a campaign to educate teenage girls in rural communities, has called on the government to demonstrate greater commitment to tackling teenage pregnancy, which he describes as a growing social challenge.
“Teenage pregnancy has become a canker in this country, and even the international community is working hard to address it. As frontline advocates against teenage pregnancy, we are here to provide guidance, direction, and support for these young girls.
“As I Grow Foundation, our goal is to assist the education directorate in fighting this issue so that, in the end, our children can continue their education and careers and achieve their dreams and aspirations,” he stated
President John Mahama has directed the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo to submit a preliminary response to removal petitions against her within 10 days, even as it condemned the unauthorised leakage of confidential documents related to the case.
This development follows the submission of three separate petitions – two dated February 14, 2025, and a third from March 17, 2025 – all calling for the Chief Justice’s removal from office.
In an official communication signed by Secretary to the President Callistus Mahama, the Presidency outlined the next steps in this unprecedented constitutional process.
“His Excellency wishes to assure the Chief Justice that due process will be followed in handling this matter,” Mahama stated, emphasising that the judicial leader would receive “a full and fair opportunity to be heard.”
The letter reveals the delicate nature of these proceedings, noting that the President had already consulted with the Council of State, chaired by former Speaker Doe Adjaho, as required by Article 146(6) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
This consultation occurred on March 24, with the Council providing its response just three days later on March 27.
However, the proceedings have been marred by controversy following the unauthorised circulation of confidential documents.
The Presidency expressed profound disappointment that the Chief Justice’s March 27 correspondence had appeared on social media platforms before official channels could properly process it.
“We are constrained to mark each page of the attachments as ‘restricted’,” President Mahama declared, referencing the Supreme Court’s precedent in the Frank Agyei Twum v. Attorney-General case which establishes strict confidentiality for such proceedings.
Processes were already in motion to get responses from the Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo, to three petitions seeking her removal from office, according to details of a letter from the presidency to the Chief Justice.
The President had received the petitions and forwarded them to the Council of State for consultations as required under Article 146(6) of the Constitution.
According to the President, in forwarding the petitions on March 24, the Chairman of the Council of State was duly notified to make available the petitions to the Chief Justice for her responses.
This explanation comes after the Chief Justice wrote a letter to the President on March 27, requesting access to the petitions to enable her to respond appropriately.
Before the Chief Justice’s letter, a lawsuit had been filed by a New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament challenging the procedure by which the president was handling the petitions.
The basis of the suit was that the Chief Justice ought to be heard and notified about the petitions before the President and the Council of State commenced any process. The hearing of that case has been set for April 2nd by the Supreme Court.
A letter dated Friday, March 28, and signed by Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, revealed that on March 24, 2025, the President forwarded the petitions to Doe Adjaho, Chairman of the Council of State, as part of the constitutional consultation process required under Article 146(6).
“Following receipt of these petitions, on 24th March 2025, His Excellency wrote to the Chairman of the Council of State forwarding the petitions and informing Council that, in accordance with the consultation process required under Article 146(6), he intends, as an initial step, to send the petitions to you for your preliminary comments or response. On 27th March 2025, His Excellency received responses from the Chairman of the Council of State consenting to this request. Copies of these letters are also attached,” an excerpt of the President’s letter to the Chief Justice read.
The petitions for her removal were submitted by three individuals on February 14 and March 17, 2025, alleging misconduct and abuse of power.
President John Mahama has now given the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo 10 days to submit a preliminary response to the three petitions demanding her removal from office.
However, the President expressed disappointment that the Chief Justice’s letter requesting the petitions was widely circulated online before it reached his desk.
“His Excellency, however, notes with disappointment that your letter of 27th March 2025 addressed to him was circulating on social media even before he could review its contents.”
“The letter was reportedly shared as an attachment to another letter you wrote to the President of the Supreme Court, the President of the Association of Magistrates and Judges, and the President of the Ghana Bar Association.”
As a result of the leak, the Office of the President has decided to mark each page of the attached documents as ‘restricted’, reinforcing concerns about the confidentiality of official correspondence.
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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.
Angela Adjei-Boateng, is the wife of Adu-Boahene, former Director-General of NSB
The Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem Sai, has revealed in court that Angela Adjei-Boateng, the wife of Kwabena Adu-Boahene, the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), attempted to destroy evidence.
According to Srem Sai, upon receiving notification of her husband’s arrest at Kotoka International Airport (KIA) by state security officials, Angela allegedly attempted to destroy evidence by packing suspected currency bills into suitcases, myjoyonline.com reports.
Citing this action, Justice Srem Sai argued that the two suspects should not be granted permission to travel, stating that they posed a flight risk and were under investigation for the possible possession of foreign passports in addition to their Ghanaian passports.
Adu-Boahene and his legal team appeared before the Accra Human Rights Court on Friday, March 28, 2025, for a bail review hearing.
The legal team, led by Samuel Atta Akyea, sought the court’s intervention to review the bail conditions set by the Attorney General and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), requesting a reduction in the amounts.
This request followed the initial bail amounts of GH¢120 million and GH¢80 million for the two suspects, totaling GH¢200 million.
The court granted the request, reducing the bail condition to GH¢80 million with two sureties, one of whom must be justified.
The bail conditions for Angela Adjei-Boateng remain at GH¢80 million, also with two sureties to be justified.
Additionally, both suspects are required to report to EOCO three times a week. They have also been restricted from traveling and can only do so with the express permission of EOCO.
The two are standing trial for alleged embezzlement of state funds.
MAG/MA
Watch as Ras Mubarak, Alan’s running mate, engage in ‘dirty’ social media feud over Ama Pratt’s appointment
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), a pioneering organisation dedicated to promoting media development and freedom of expression in West Africa, has launched a strategy document on Gender Equality in the Media in Ghana on March 27, 2025 in Accra.
The strategy document is part of the Equal Voices Project implemented by the MFWA in partnership with Canal France International (CFI) to strengthen the capacities of media personnel and promote better gender representation through editorial and organisational policies.
The Cooperation Attaché of the French Embassy, Marine Hayem, stated that media is the cornerstone of the society and plays a critical role in the democratic process, so the achievement of gender parity in a news media organisation is vital for ensuring that women’s voices and stories are equally represented.
“When women’s voices are heard equally, it means the concerns of half of the population are correctly addressed,” she explained.
She pointed out that equal voices are needed to challenge stereotypes and promote a more gender-inclusive society. She noted that the launch of the strategy document marks yet another milestone within the media sector, as it is a collective effort from numerous media outlets, policy makers and other stakeholders.
“Today’s launch of the strategy document for gender equality in media, it marks another key milestone within the media sector. I think that the strategy document represents a very collective efforts from the media associations, the policy makers and other important stakeholders,” she stated.
According to her, what sets the strategy document apart is its practical and realistic approach, outlining steps, timelines, and actions to achieve its objectives. She also explained the onus of the implementation of the contents of the document lies on the active involvement of all stakeholders.
In a speech read on behalf of the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfour, commended the MFWA and the CFI on the “Equal Voices Project”, and expressed happiness at being associated with the project, especially as they were a part of the four strategic dialogues and validation meetings. He explained that even with the progress the media landscape in Ghana has made over the years, female representation is still quite low. He also explained that the lack of representation perpetuates gender stereotypes and biases, reinforcing harmful gender norms, limiting the diversity of perspectives and ideas, which only leads to a lack of nuance and informed reporting.
He also highlighted steps to be followed by media houses to bridge the gap.
He urged that media houses promote capacity-building workshops, and training programmes for journalists to recognise and understand the issues and challenges with biases, in order to promote a more inclusive and nuanced reportage.
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Ted News Ghana Blog of Friday, 28 March 2025
Source: TEDDY VAVA GAWUGA
British filmmaker and actor Idris Elba has proposed a partnership with the Ghanaian government to develop a modern film and creative hub on a portion of coastal land near Osu Castle in Accra.
The project aims to:
✅ Train and create job opportunities for Ghanaian creatives.
✅ Revitalize the local film industry and amplify African storytelling.
✅ Attract international filmmakers and boost Ghana’s position as a key player in the global entertainment scene.
Elba Meets President Mahama
Currently in Ghana, Elba visited President John Mahama at the Jubilee House, where he reiterated his commitment to strengthening Africa’s film industry and fostering local talent.
A Game-Changer for Ghana’s Creative Industry
This initiative, if realized, will serve as a world-class production center—providing cutting-edge facilities, skills training, and a platform for both emerging and established creatives.
Hearts of Oak have been hit with sad news following the death of their former Public Relations Officer Muheeb Saeed.
The cause of his death is currently, unknown with the family and Hearts of Oak yet to officially announce his passing. Saeed played a pivotal role in shaping the club’s communication and public relations strategies during his spell with the phobians.
He assumed the communication role in 2012 before stepping down from the role in 2015 with Opare Addo taking over the helms.
Hearts of Oak supporters remember Saeed for his professionalism, dedication, and passionate advocacy for the club.
Ghanaian stand-up comedian DKB (L) and former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta
Ghanaian stand-up comedian Derrick Kobina Bonney (DKB) has cautioned former Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta following his recent lawsuit against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
It may be recalled that in February 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng declared the former finance minister a fugitive from justice and a wanted person.
However, on March 27, 2025, lawyers for Ken Ofori-Atta filed a lawsuit against the OSP, seeking a court order to prevent the office from labeling or referring to him as a ‘wanted person.’
Additionally, his legal representatives argue that displaying Ofori-Atta’s pictures and name on the OSP’s wanted persons list on social media violates the principles of administrative justice.
Amid what appears to be an ongoing back-and-forth between the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the former Minister of Finance, DKB, in an X post on March 27, 2025, ‘warned’ Ofori-Atta to tread carefully with his actions.
“Legal gymnastics, be careful you don’t end up breaking your own neck,” he said.
Read the post below:
Legal gymnastics, be careful you don’t end up breaking your own neck. 😂 😂 https://t.co/yBBvKTItbV
Frank Asare, National Coordinator of the National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), has stated that skills training can transform the lives of young people in illegal mining areas.
According to him, this initiative is part of the government’s broader efforts to provide sustainable alternative livelihoods for those affected by the mining sector’s sanitisation.
NAELP has already achieved impressive results, with 80,000 people securing jobs in reforestation efforts.
He noted that the program has launched the E-Jobs4All project, which focuses on providing entrepreneurship and job opportunities for youth in mining regions.
“By offering skills training and alternative livelihoods, NAELP is helping to reduce the allure of illegal mining and promote economic growth and development in affected communities,” he stated.
This holistic approach addresses the root causes of illegal mining while providing young people with a brighter, more sustainable future.
Asare disclosed this in an interview with adomonline.com, reiterating that the E-Jobs4All project aims to create job opportunities and support entrepreneurship among youth in mining regions.
He emphasised that this approach directly tackles the root causes of illegal mining while offering young people viable and sustainable career paths.
MRA/MA
Watch as Ras Mubarak, Alan’s running mate, engage in ‘dirty’ social media feud over Ama Pratt’s appointment
Kwabena Adu-Boahene is a former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau
The Accra High Court has reduced the bail conditions for former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), Kwabena Adu-Boahene, from GH¢120 million to GH¢80 million.
However, his wife, Angela Adjei Boateng, still faces bail set at GH¢80 million, with two sureties required to be justified.
Both individuals are mandated to report to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) three times a week.
Additionally, their travel has been restricted, requiring express permission from EOCO for any trips.
The couple had been in custody following an EOCO investigation into allegations of embezzlement, fraud, and illicit financial transactions.
Adu-Boahene, who served as NSB Director-General from 2017 until February 2025, is accused of diverting millions of Ghanaian cedis in state funds into personal accounts.
Reacting to the court’s ruling, the couple’s legal representative, Samuel Atta Akyea, expressed optimism that his clients would successfully meet the revised bail conditions.
SP/MA
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Samuel Anim Addo, the manager of former Black Stars skipper Asamoah Gyan, has weighed in on the displeasure of the Ayew family to Black Stars head coach Otto Addo’s explanation for omitting Andre Dede Ayew from the Black Stars.
Anim Addo, responding to the statement by Fiifi Tackie who is the spokesperson of the Ayew family, shared a cryptic post on social media.
In the post, the Chief Executive Officer of Young Apostles wrote: “NO CONDITION IS PERMANENT.”
Fiifi Tackie, the spokesperson of the Ayew family, labelled Otto Addo’s recent comments about Dede as disrespectful.
“Such remarks are not only disrespectful to Ayew but also undermine his sacrifices and the pride he has brought to Ghanaian football. Coach Addo’s comments are unprofessional and unbecoming of someone in his position,” Fiifi Tackie said.
Meanwhile, Otto Addo, justifying his decision to exclude Dede Ayew from the Black Stars squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Madagascar, stated that the player’s performances do not meet his expectations and that other players are currently ahead of him.
“For Andre [Dede Ayew], the team is always open, and I am watching. If we need him, we will call him. At the moment, I see others ahead of him,” he said.
Andre Ayew has not played for the Black Stars since 2023 when he featured in a 3-0 win over Liberia in an international friendly.”
EE/EK
Meanwhile, watch as Ghanaians applaud Black Stars for excellent performances against Chad, Madagascar<\b>
Sudan’s military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, (C), is greeted by soldiers
The Sudanese army has claimed to have cleared Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighters from the capital Khartoum, nearly two years after losing the capital to the paramilitary group.
“Our forces today have … forcibly cleansed the last pockets of the remnants of the Daglo terrorist militia in Khartoum locality,” military spokesman Nabil Abdullah said in a statement late on Thursday, using the government’s term for the RSF, led by Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, which have been battling the military since April 2023.
The announcement came after army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Wednesday declared the capital “free” from the RSF while standing inside the newly reclaimed presidential palace.
The army, after suffering a string of defeats for a year and a half, launched a counteroffensive that steadily pushed through central Sudan towards the capital.
Al Jazeera’s Hiba Morgan, reporting from Khartoum, said the army was able to take full control of the city after retaking its southern Jebel Awliya area.
“That is where Jebel Awliya Bridge lies, and it’s from there the RSF fighters have been escaping the capital … going westwards towards Darfur,” she said.
With the army now taking control of Khartoum city and Jebel Awliya, Morgan said RSF fighters have “nowhere to go” and do not have the means to resupply themselves to fight the Sudanese armed forces.
According to army sources who spoke to Al Jazeera, there were still areas in Khartoum where RSF fighters were “holed up” in residential buildings, unable to leave because they were afraid of being captured, Morgan added.
However, the RSF pledged there would be “no retreat and no surrender”, saying its forces had only repositioned.
“We will deliver crushing defeats to the enemy on all fronts,” it said in a statement, its first direct comment since the army’s offensive began in Khartoum this week.
Blue Nile battle
Hours after al-Burhan walked back into the presidential palace for the first time in two years, the RSF announced a “military alliance” with a rebel group controlling large swaths of South Kordofan and parts of Blue Nile state near the Ethiopian border.
The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North, led by Abdelaziz al-Hilu, had clashed with both sides before signing a political charter with the RSF last month to establish a rival government.
On Thursday evening, witnesses in the Blue Nile state capital Damazin reported that both its airport and the nearby Roseires Dam came under drone attack by the paramilitaries and their allies for the first time in the war.
The army’s 4th Infantry Division in Damazin said in a statement on Friday that its air defences intercepted the drones.
The war has killed tens of thousands, displaced more than 12 million and created the “biggest humanitarian crisis ever recorded”, according to the International Rescue Committee.
It has also split Africa’s third-largest country in two, with the army holding the north and east, and the RSF controlling parts of the south and nearly all of the vast western region of Darfur.
A Ghanaian man has set social media ablaze afterunveiling his astonishing savings from multiple susu boxes, a traditional method of money-saving. The viral video, which has sparked debate online, shows the man pouring out heaps of coins and currency notes, leaving many amazed and others questioning the impact of hoarding cash.
According to YEN, In the trending video shared on X by @eddie_wrt, the man proudly displayed five large susu boxes he had used to save money over time. As he opened them, an overwhelming pile of Ghanaian cedi coins and notes spilled onto the floor. Using his foot to measure the depth, he expressed amazement at the sheer amount he had managed to accumulate.
The video also captured a child in the background, pleading to stay home from school to witness the count. “Since it’s Friday, you can stay and go to school on Monday,” the man casually responded, further adding a personal touch to the moment.
The viral footage has drawn mixed reactions from social media users. While many applauded the man’s financial discipline, others raised concerns about the impact of hoarding large amounts of coins.
One user, @RealN3n3, noted the struggles businesses face due to the scarcity of small change:
“The struggle to get coins for change is real! Traders and transport mates face this challenge daily, leading to constant heated arguments with passengers. But the bigger question is, how can one person hoard such a huge amount of coins? This is affecting everyone!”
Another user, @Fr3meTyga, questioned the legality of the act:
“Why are they not arresting people like these? Coins wey we need for simple business transactions, one person pack all for room. Many more are there that we don’t know.”
However, others defended the man’s right to save money however he chooses. @patriot_gh argued:
“He cannot be arrested. That is his money. Period.”
Similarly, @Your_Blackness dismissed concerns about legality, stating:
“This is so legal!!! There’s no law that prohibits traditional saving. I’ll wait, show me one and we would be using that against Cecilia Dapaah.”
While debates continue online, the man’s savings journey has undoubtedly captured national attention, reigniting conversations on financial literacy, saving habits, and the unintended effects of bulk cash storage on daily transactions.
In a startling revelation that has sent shockwaves through the energy sector, Ghana’s Minister for Energy, John Jinapor, disclosed significant procurement breaches amounting to GH¢7.3 billion at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for the year 2023. During a press conference on Friday, Jinapor outlined the findings of a comprehensive audit that has raised serious concerns about financial irregularities within the state-owned utility provider.
The Minister emphasized that the breaches, which encompass over-invoicing, contract manipulation, and fraudulent procurement practices, not only threaten the financial integrity of the ECG but also undermine public trust in the institution. “These revelations are alarming and unacceptable. We must restore accountability and transparency in our procurement processes to ensure that public funds are used effectively for the benefit of Ghanaians,” he stated.
Jinapor’s announcement comes at a critical time when the ECG is under scrutiny for its operational inefficiencies and rising debts. The Minister outlined specific instances of misconduct, including contracts awarded without proper bidding procedures and inflated costs associated with equipment and service providers. “This level of malpractice cannot be tolerated,” he asserted, vowing to implement strict measures to address these issues.
As part of the crackdown, the Energy Minister announced the establishment of a special task force dedicated to investigating the procurement breaches. This task force will be empowered to review contracts, audit financial transactions, and hold accountable those responsible for any wrongdoing. “We are committed to ensuring that those involved in these corrupt practices face the full force of the law,” Jinapor warned.
In response to the Minister’s revelations, many industry stakeholders have expressed support for the initiative, highlighting the need for reform within the ECG. “This is a much-needed step towards ensuring that our energy sector operates with integrity. We must eliminate corruption to enhance service delivery and protect consumer interests,” commented a representative from the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce.
The Minister’s announcement has also garnered attention from civil society organizations advocating for transparency and accountability in public institutions. They have called for ongoing vigilance and engagement from the public to support the government’s efforts in combating procurement fraud.
As the investigation unfolds, the broader implications of these findings could lead to significant changes in procurement policies across governmental agencies. The focus will be on creating a more transparent framework that minimizes the risk of future breaches and enhances public confidence in the management of state resources.
In conclusion, Minister John Jinapor’s revelation of the GH¢7.3 billion procurement breaches at ECG marks a pivotal moment in Ghana’s ongoing fight against corruption. With a commitment to reform and accountability, the Energy Ministry is poised to take decisive action to restore integrity within one of the country’s most critical sectors. As the nation watches closely, the success of these initiatives will be crucial in determining the future of the ECG and its ability to effectively serve the public.
Lovely and trendy Igbo styles every woman can recreate.
News Hub Creator1h
Lovely and trendy Igbo styles offer women the opportunity to embrace cultural elegance while staying fashionable. These outfits blend tradition with modern fashion trends, making them suitable for various occasions. One of the most popular styles is the George wrapper and blouse, which exudes sophistication and is often worn for celebrations and formal gatherings. The richness of the George fabric, combined with intricate embroidery, enhances its luxurious appeal, making it a preferred choice for elegant looks.
For women who prefer a more structured outfit, the Peplum blouse and wrapper combination provides a flattering silhouette that accentuates femininity. The peplum design adds a modern touch while maintaining the cultural essence of the attire. Lace materials are commonly used in this style, as they introduce a refined and glamorous feel suitable for weddings and special events. The versatility of this outfit allows it to be styled with statement jewelry and stylish head wraps, creating a regal appearance.
Another fashionable Igbo style that women can recreate is the maxi gown made from Ankara or lace fabric. This outfit offers a blend of comfort and sophistication, making it ideal for both formal and casual occasions. The flowing nature of maxi gowns ensures ease of movement while maintaining an elegant look. Additionally, off-shoulder and corset-style dresses inspired by Igbo fashion provide a bold and stylish option for women who love to make a statement. These designs highlight femininity while embracing cultural influences, making them perfect for trendy women.
By recreating these beautiful Igbo styles, women can showcase their heritage while keeping up with evolving fashion trends. The variety of fabrics, designs, and embellishments ensures that every woman can find a style that complements her personality. These outfits guarantee a graceful and fashionable appearance for any occasion.
The Awutu Bereku District Police Command has arrested a couple for allegedly chaining and abandoning their nine-year-old son in a bush at Gomoa Nkwantanan.
While the motive behind the act remains unclear, Citi News sources indicate the boy was punished for his alleged stubbornness.
James Mensah, a resident of Nkwantanan who rescued the child, recounted finding him in chains, abandoned without food for two days.
“I met the boy in the bush with a chain on his leg. I questioned why he had a chain on his leg, and he said his father chained him and left him in the bush to die. I then reported to the Awutu Bereku Police Station. The father was invited by the police and has since been detained pending investigation,” an eyewitness stated.
According to reports, the suspects, Bismark Odoi, 35, and Saviour Arthur, 33, went into hiding after the incident but were later apprehended by the police to assist with investigations.
The boy revealed that his punishment stemmed from arriving late to school.
“I didn’t go to school early, and my father met me and questioned why. I explained to him, but he insisted on punishing me. So he put a chain on my leg and took me to a bush nearby, leaving me there for two days. I spent two days in the bush chained to a tree,” the boy recounted.
The police are currently investigating the case.
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The Energy Minister John Jinapor and the National Intelligence Bureau Managing Director have toured the Shai Hills aluminium smelters after the National Security bust over missing ECG containers at Tema Port.
In the video shared by JOYNEWS, John Jinapor was captured interacting with a man who stated, that when the Chinese men heard they were coming brought out the wooden pallet to be burnt to hide the evidence but they were able to recover some evidence.
The Ghana Cedi depreciated by 5.3% against the US dollar in the first quarter of 2025. This is according to the Bank of Ghana’s Summary of Economic and Financial data for the period ending March 2025.
The cedi’s losses were particularly pronounced in January (5.3%) and February (3.9%), reflecting ongoing pressures on the exchange rate.
Against the euro, the cedi weakened 9.2%, closing the quarter at GH¢16.75 per euro. It also fell 8.2% against the British pound, trading at GH¢20.03 per pound by the end of March.
However, in a positive development, the local currency gained 0.31% week-on-week in the retail market last week, appreciating to GH¢15.90 per dollar at the mid-rate.
This improvement has helped narrow its year-to-date loss to 2.36%.
Speaking at a recent press opening of the 123rd Monetary Policy Meetings, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiama, unveiled a set of measures aimed at stabilizing the Ghanaian cedi, as the currency faces continued pressure against major foreign currencies.
These include tightening monetary policy to control inflation, enhancing foreign exchange reserves and structural reforms to address exchange rate misalignment.
Dr. Asiama stressed the need for monetary and fiscal coordination, inflation control, and structural reforms to restore confidence in the cedi.
Market Reactions and Outlook
Despite the cedi depreciating 5.3% against the US dollar in Q1 2025, recent weeks have seen a slight recovery, with the local currency gaining 0.31% against the dollar in the retail market.
Analysts believe that clear policy direction and investor confidence will be crucial in determining the cedi’s trajectory in the coming months.
Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Vice President of Ghana, has termed the hosting of an Iftar at the Flagstaff House as a gesture of inclusivity.
Iftar is the fast-breaking evening meal of Muslims during Ramadan at the time of adhan (call to prayer) of the Maghrib prayer.
In a post on her official ‘X’ account, Prof Naana Opoku-Agyemang stressed that the event formed part of the government’s promise to uphold an all-encompassing governance, which demonstrates an appreciation for all religions.
“This gathering reaffirmed our national commitment to harmony, unity, and inclusive governance. As we observe this period of prayer, sacrifice, and charity, may we continue to uphold the values of compassion, solidarity, and service to humanity,” the post dated March 27, 2025, read.
The event was graced by the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, whose wisdom and leadership continues to inspire peace and cohesion in the country, the post added.
A video which accompanied the post on ‘X’ captured high profile politicians and religious leaders, including President John Dramani Mahama, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, among others.
The Presidency hosted an Iftar at the Flagstaff House. We came together with members of the Muslim community in a moment of reflection during this sacred month of Ramadan.
The event was graced by the presence of the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, whose wisdom… pic.twitter.com/4F20r9Dvql
🇬🇭 WATCH: President Mahama hosts the Chief Imam and the Muslim community at the Presidency for Iftar, sharing in the sacred moment of breaking fast. #CitiNewsroompic.twitter.com/A2yMCH02Km
Ghanaian international Alidu Seidu has opened up about his challenging upbringing, revealing how football saved him from a life of crime and violence.
Born and raised in Kumasi, Seidu left Ghana in 2019 to join Ivorian club JMG Abidjan before moving to French side Clermont Foot in 2020. He later signed for Stade Rennais in January 2024.
In an interview with French media outfit, Ouest-France, the 24-year-old defender opened up about his past on the streets of Ghana where he engaged in theft, vandalism and small-time trafficking.
“We walked the streets with knives or machetes; I committed thefts, vandalism, and small-time trafficking,” Seidu admitted.
“My mother was always crying, and sometimes I ran away at night to avoid my father punishing me.”
With his life seemingly headed in the wrong direction, Seidu reveals that his uncle’s intervention led to him getting involved in football which ultimately proved to be life-changing.
“Fortunately, my uncle was there and pushed me towards football because he knew I had something. He always supported me, and football saved my life,” he said.
Seidu also recalled a life-threatening incident where he was hospitalized after being attacked with a machete, forcing him to have a different view of life.
“I lost a lot of blood; I couldn’t speak, and everyone thought I was going to die, It puts things into perspective” he told Ouest-France
He further stressed that “I’m still lucky to have become a professional player, to be here. I always try to turn the negative side into something positive; it’s in my character.”
Despite being sidelined from the Ghana national team since November 2024 due to an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, the defender has made 15 appearances for the Black Stars since his debut in June 2022, scoring one goal.
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In effect, the Gold Board is expected to become a massive Fund Manager in the mining sector, originating and assessing credit opportunities; structuring lending and, perhaps, equity transactions; and handling all the risk and compliance monitoring that comes with these roles. We have been told in recent weeks that such investing activities have landed the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), which is supposed to have experts in such areas, in serious losses. Without being provided any details and informed as to how the government intends to prevent the reoccurrence of such problems going forward, the burden has simply been shifted to a greenhorn operator by name of the Gold Board.
Lovely and trendy Igbo styles offer women the opportunity to embrace cultural elegance while staying fashionable. These outfits blend tradition with modern fashion trends, making them suitable for various occasions. One of the most popular styles is the George wrapper and blouse, which exudes sophistication and is often worn for celebrations and formal gatherings. The richness of the George fabric, combined with intricate embroidery, enhances its luxurious appeal, making it a preferred choice for elegant looks.
For women who prefer a more structured outfit, the Peplum blouse and wrapper combination provides a flattering silhouette that accentuates femininity. The peplum design adds a modern touch while maintaining the cultural essence of the attire. Lace materials are commonly used in this style, as they introduce a refined and glamorous feel suitable for weddings and special events. The versatility of this outfit allows it to be styled with statement jewelry and stylish head wraps, creating a regal appearance.
