Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, The Asantehene, has instructed the Bantamahene, Baffour Asare Owusu Amankwatia VI, to within one week, recover and surrender the stolen Asare Bediako deity at Adanwomase, to the Asanteman Sumankwaahene.

The deity, one of the sacred shrines of the people of Adanwomase in the Kwabre East Municipality, is reported to have been stolen from its sacred place in the town by one of the rival factions vying for its possession and control.

When the issue was first brought before the court of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu charged the Bantamahen, to work with the affected chiefs and people in the area to look for the deity, retrieve it and hand it over to the Sumankwaahene.

However, at the Kumasi Traditional Council meeting at the Manhyia palace on March 13, 2025, the Bantamahene, who is believed to be a supporter of the faction, which recently had custody of the deity, disclosed that, efforts to reclaim the stolen deity had proven futile.

When asked by the Traditional Council about the whereabouts of the deity, Baffour Amankwatia said: “We conducted a thorough search throughout the community, but the deity was nowhere to be found.

“We even sought assistance from the authorities, but to no avail.”

This, however, did not go down well with the chiefs and the Asantehene, who later found out that the Bantamahene had neglected the task assigned to him and renege on his duties.

He was subsequently found in contempt and penalized to slaughter eight rams.

“Before he presents his report on Monday, he must retrieve Asare Bediako from its current location and hand it over to the Sumankwaahene,” Otumfuo Osei Tutu, decreed.

The Kumasi Traditional Council is reviewing a report of the committee set up to investigate on the competing claims of ownership of the Asare Bediako deity and the Adanwomase stool.

Three factions, represented by Madam Akua Kyem, Opanyin Kwadwo Yadieya, and Opanyin Yaw Gyamfi, respectively, have laid claim to the deity.

Madam Akua Kyem asserted that her ancestors, who belonged to the Aduana clan, migrated from Denkyira to Asante with the deity and dwelt with Bantama Gyaase (an Aduana clan) at Abuakwa Asonomaso.

During their stay there, the deity, through its mystical powers, rendered assistance to numerous individuals in need and those afflicted with ailments until one day, it mysteriously vanished.

Nevertheless, through spiritual consultations, they were informed of its whereabouts and cautioned against relocating it once found.

According to her testimony in the committee’s report, the deity was eventually discovered at Adanwomase, prompting her forebears to resettle in that vicinity.

She recounted how the deity cured the sick and provided breakthroughs to all who sought its intervention, including the forefathers of Opanyin Kwadwo Yadieya, who were afflicted with leprosy.

She further narrated that when the Adanwomase stool became vacant, the family of Opanyin Yadieya petitioned to assume control, a request that was granted.

Since then, they have laid claim to ownership, she added.

The committee’s findings established that the legitimate custodians of the deity and the community were the descendants of Madam Akua Kyem, based on her detailed recollection of historical events related to the deity.

Her compelling evidence was corroborated by Bantama Gyaasehene and the Wawase traditional priest.

“Although all three claimants purportedly visited Bantama Gyaase upon migrating to Asante from Denkyira, she was the only one to have Bantama Gyaasehene as a witness, and his testimony aligned with hers”, the report indicated

Conversely, the family lineage of the other claimants, as well as some of their narratives, were deemed dubious and conflicting.

Consequently, the committee’s verdict was unanimous in favor of Madam Akua Kyem.

All segments of the Council concurred with the inquiry’s outcome.

A prior committee had been established by the Asantehene to investigate this dispute, yielding a similar result.

While the Asantehene upheld the committee’s findings, the Bantamahene persisted in asserting that the deity rightfully belonged to Opanyin Kwadwo Yadieya’s family.

He contended that, he had summoned the deity from the heavens and bestowed it upon his supposed sister.

However, according to Asante tradition, Bantamahene had no sister.

Exhibiting great patience, the Asantehene commissioned a second committee to reassess the case.

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The chaos-inducing “aboboyaa” have become a scourge on Ghana’s urban landscapes, endangering lives and undermining the very fabric of the country’s transportation infrastructure. These ubiquitous three-wheeled vehicles, often overloaded and driven recklessly, have become a symbol of the government’s failure to address the pressing need for comprehensive regulation in the face of a growing informal economy.

As the cacophony of horns and the reckless weaving of aboboyaa clog the streets of Accra and other major cities, the time for half-measures and political hesitation has long passed. The authorities must now take decisive action to tame this menace, ensuring that operators are properly licensed, adhere to traffic regulations, and prioritize the safety of all road users.

The economic importance of the aboboyaa cannot be ignored. These tricycles provide essential transport services, serving as cargo carriers, garbage collectors, and makeshift taxis for the country’s marginalized communities. They offer a vital lifeline for many young Ghanaians seeking financial independence. Nevertheless, this economic benefit cannot come at the cost of public safety and the smooth functioning of our urban centers.

As the number of aboboyaa has climbed sharply, the consequences have become increasingly dire. Reckless driving, disregard for traffic rules, and chronic congestion have become the norm, with the vehicles often lacking basic safety features and regularly overloaded. This has led to a surge in “unnecessary accidents,” as described by transportation expert Mr. Joseph K. Horgle, Chief Executive Officer of J.K. Horgle Transport & Co. Ltd., and a growing sense of frustration among the public.

The regulatory void surrounding the tricycles has only aggravated the problem. Past attempts to impose restrictions have faced fierce resistance from operators, underscoring the complex and multifaceted nature of this issue. Yet, the authorities can no longer afford to be paralyzed by this challenge; the time for action is now.

The solution lies in a comprehensive and strictly enforced regulatory framework that delicately balances the economic realities of the operators with the paramount need for public safety. This framework must go beyond piecemeal solutions and embrace a holistic and integrated approach, according to Mr. Horgle.

At the heart of this framework must be a mandatory registration and licensing system for all aboboyaa operators. This would establish a clear record of qualifications, making it easier to identify and penalize those who engage in reckless or illegal activities. Rigorous training and testing on traffic laws, safe driving practices, and vehicle maintenance would ensure that operators are equipped with the knowledge and skills to navigate the roads safely.

Together with this, the authorities must set and enforce minimum safety standards for the aboboyaa. Mandatory installation of adequate lighting systems, functional brakes, and durable tires, coupled with regular inspections, would help mitigate the inherent risks associated with these vehicles. Anyone that fails to meet these requirements should be swiftly removed from the roads until necessary repairs or upgrades are completed, said Mr. Horgle, who is also a road safety crusader.

To address the issue of unrestricted movement in congested urban areas, the expert recommends implementing a system of designated routes and zones for aboboyaa operations. This strategic zoning he said, can help manage traffic flow, reduce congestion, and separate these tricycles from faster-moving vehicles or vulnerable pedestrian traffic, thereby improving overall safety.

Mr. Horgle emphasized that effective enforcement is crucial to the success of any regulatory framework, stressing that traffic police must be empowered and equipped to enforce traffic laws and regulations, with a laser-like focus on speeding, reckless driving, overloading, and non-compliance with designated routes. Visible and proactive enforcement can serve as a powerful deterrent, sending a clear message that irresponsible behavior will not be tolerated.

Alongside strict enforcement, comprehensive public education campaigns are essential in promoting safety and fostering a culture of responsibility on Ghana’s roads. These campaigns should target both aboboyaa operators and the general public, raising awareness of the inherent risks and emphasizing the importance of adhering to traffic laws and regulations, including the use of helmets.

Recognizing the potential challenges faced by operators in meeting new regulatory requirements, the authorities must also provide robust alternative livelihood programmes. These programmes should offer a safety net, providing vocational training, access to small business loans, and assistance with finding alternative employment.

The development and implementation of this regulatory framework must involve meaningful and sustained engagement with all relevant stakeholders, including operators, community leaders, transport unions, and civil society organizations. This will help build consensus, promote a sense of ownership, and ensure that the regulations are practical and sustainable in the long run, according to Mr. Horgle.

The time for hesitation and political inaction has passed. Ghana’s urban centres can no longer afford to be held hostage by the chaos-inducing aboboyaa. The authorities must take decisive action, taming this menace through comprehensive regulation that prioritizes public safety while acknowledging the economic realities of the operators. Only then can Ghana’s cities truly thrive, offering safe and efficient transportation for all.

By Innocent Samuel Appiah

The Executive Chairman of the McDan Group, Daniel McKorley, has revealed that financial struggles in the early stages of his life influenced his decision to marry late.

According to him, he witnessed how some men were mistreated by their wives due to their inability to meet financial obligations, which made him hesitant about marriage.

The prominent businessman stated that these experiences instilled fear in him, leading him to focus on building his business and securing financial stability before considering marriage.

“I couldn’t marry early because I was afraid of chop money. I grew up in an environment where men physically abused women over chop money, and women verbally abused men for the same reason. So, the institution of marriage was scary for me,” he said while speaking at the 2025 edition of the OCH Hangouts at the ICGC New Temple in East Legon.

McDan also recounted how his ex-girlfriend, Dorothy, left him due to his obsession with business and his inability to spend quality time with her.

“She [Dorothy] left me because I could not make enough time for her. I was always the first to work and the last to leave. Anytime I visited, we would be having a conversation, and I would fall asleep,” he recalled.

He further shared how, even after achieving financial success, he remained driven to accomplish more.

“When I made my first million dollars, I was driving a Fiat Ritmo. I had a million dollars in my account, but the car I drove would break down every two kilometers due to diesel issues. But still, I didn’t feel like I had enough,” he said.

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SB/MA

The government, through the 2025 budget statement and economic policy is projecting to increase revenue to GH¢223.8 billion and expend GH¢269.1billion this year.

The government’s expected GH¢269.1 billion expenditure for 2025, which leaves a deficit of GH¢45.3 billion for the 2025 financial year is also higher than the programmed GH¢226.7 billion expenditure for 2024.

Presenting the budget to Parliament on Tuesday, March 11, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Minister of Finance, said the government would explore both domestic and external sources to close the deficit gap.

The projected total revenue and grants of GH¢223.8 billion for 2025 (representing 17.2 per cent of Gross Domestic Product, GDP) is a 45.8 per cent increase from the GH¢153.5 billion recorded by the Ghana Revenue Authority in 2024.

“Foreign financing will include a provision for financing from IMF-ECF programme disbursements of $720 million and World Bank Development Policy Operation (DPO) funding of $600 million,” he said.

“The residual Net Domestic Financing will amount to GH¢36.9 billion (2.6% of GDP), representing 65.0 per cent of the total financing for 2025. This is expected to be sourced from the issuances of debt at the short end of the domestic market,” he added.

The Minister outlined some fiscal policy objectives to support the economic transformation and ensure macroeconomic stability, including rationalising government expenditure and eliminating wasteful expenditure.

The government has also planned to optimise domestic revenue mobilisation through the broadening of the tax base, increasing non-tax revenue collection, adopting enhanced tax compliance measures, and modernisation of tax administration through digital technology.

Increasing the share of domestic capital expenditure to spur economic growth and job creation, reducing public debt to sustainable levels and adopting prudent debt management practices to support debt sustainability, were also part of the fiscal policy measures.

Again, the government has planned to reduce the fiscal deficit progressively in accordance with an amended Fiscal Responsibility Act to promote fiscal and debt sustainability and restore confidence in Ghana’s economy.

At a post-budget press conference on Thursday, March 13, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, former Finance Minister, and a Ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, raised concerns about the budget.

He said the economy inherited by the John Mahama government was one with a strong revenue performance and expenditure controls and could not produce elevated fiscal outturns.

He stated that the fiscal deficit on commitment basis of 7.6 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and primary deficit of 3.6 per cent of GDP, presented by the Minister of Finance, for example, was inaccurate.

Dr Amin Adam cautioned the government about financial reporting, which has the potential to derail the country’s sustainability efforts, and any subsequent sanctions by the international financial institutions.

“The Ghanaian people can recall that in the past, Ghana was fined $39 million for misreporting economic data to the IMF due to wrong data submitted by the NDC government led by former President Rawlings,” he said.

“We wish to advise the Minister for Finance to tread cautiously in order not to derail our march to sustainable debt levels… the 2025 budget must be re-examined with full transparency to ensure that our fiscal policies are credible and sustainable,” he said.

Source: GNA

Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo and John Mahama

The National Organizer of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), Yaw Asani Tano, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to relieve Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo and some judges he claims are affiliated with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of their duties.

According to him, if the president fails to take action, his efforts to fight corruption within the NPP will not materialize.

Speaking in an interview on Neat FM on March 13, 2025, Asani Tano asserted that any corruption-related cases involving NPP members that reach the courts would not yield favourable outcomes under the current judiciary.

“If John Dramani Mahama doesn’t change Maame Torkornoo and her people, nothing good will come out of cases involving NPP officials.

“I am telling you, if John Dramani Mahama doesn’t sack Araba Esaaba Torkornoo and certain judges, his fight against corrupt NPP officials won’t succeed. He should be bold and either change them or balance the judiciary,” he stated.

His comments follow ongoing legal battles between some high-profile individuals and the Office of the Special Prosecutor over allegations of corruption.

AM/KA

Meanwhile, catch the first in the series of our special episodes on Forgotten Forts on People and Places on GhanaWeb TV below. This episode focuses on Fort Amsterdam at Abandze:

The price of gold has hit the $3,000 per ounce mark for the first time as demand for the precious metal surges amid economic uncertainty over the impact of a global trade war.

Gold touched a record $3,004.86 per ounce on Friday, with prices having risen by 14% since the start of 2025.

Gold is seen as a safer asset for investors and is often sought after in times of economic instability.

The escalating trade war between the US and many of its largest trading partners has unsettled financial markets and raised concerns about the impact on economies and consumers across the world.

The introduction of tariffs, which are taxes charged on businesses importing goods from overseas, has fuelled fears of price inflation, which has driven investors to gold.

When tariffs are imposed on goods, businesses face extra costs, which could be passed on through the price tags of the products sold to consumers – increasing the cost of living.

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump threatened a 200% tariff on any alcohol coming to the US from the European Union (EU) in the latest twist of the trade war.

The announcement was in response to the EU’s plans for a 50% tax on imports of US-produced whiskey as part of the bloc’s first retaliation to Trump’s blanket tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports to the US from any country.

The US president has also raised levies on Chinese imports into the US to at least 20%.

“In a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty and ongoing tariff changes, appetite for gold remains strong,” said Suki Cooper, a precious metals analyst at Standard Chartered.

Victoria Hasler, head of fund research at Hargreaves Lansdown, suggested there were two main drivers behind the gold price at present.

“Between Trump’s tariffs and social media comments and the ongoing tensions in both the Middle East and Russia/Ukraine, uncertainty is high and seems to be rising,” she said.

“Markets hate uncertainty. This dynamic has helped to drive the gold price to new highs.”

The second big driver was central banks buying up gold, Ms Hasler said, but the exact reasons for this were difficult to determine. “It’s probably safe to assume that at least part of the reason is a desire to diversify reserves away from US dollars.

“Both of the above drivers remain intact and I can’t see them diminishing in the near future.”

Peaks and troughs of the gold price have occurred at some of the key moments in economic history. At the outbreak of the global financial crisis in 2007, investors bought gold as a haven asset, which led to a rise in its price.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, cited World Gold Council figures, which showed central banks had added some 1,045 tonnes of gold to their reserves last year – the third year in a row more than 1,000 tonnes had been bought.

He said we were in an “era in which gold is really starting to shine”.

Since the metal dipped below $1,200 an ounce in late 2018, Mr Mould said prices had “marched inexorably higher”, driven by several factors including the Covid pandemic and higher government deficits pushing investors to “warm to gold once more”.

“Quite which of these issues is now the main driver of gold’s renaissance is hard to divine, especially as Donald Trump’s tariffs are prompting a debate about how inflationary (or stagflationary) they may prove to be, and how effective they may be at funding the new US President’s hoped-for tax cuts,” he said.

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