As Ghana approached its presidential and parliamentary elections on December 7, 2024, the then-presidential candidate (now president-elect), H.E. John Dramani Mahama, released a document titled Mahama’s First 120 Days Social Contract with the People of Ghana. This document followed the publication of The Resetting Ghana: Jobs, Prosperity, and Accountability Manifesto of the NDC (2024).

The ninth item in the twenty-six-point document focuses on education. It proposes convening a national consultative conference to build consensus on the necessary improvements to the sector. While this plan to engage in a national dialogue about education is refreshing, it is crucial to acknowledge that education encompasses several levels: Early Childhood Education (ECE), Primary Education (PE), Junior High School (JHS), Free Senior High School (SHS), Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), and Tertiary Education (undergraduate, postgraduate, and professional education). Thus, the national conversation must address each phase of education in its unique context rather than treating education as a monolithic sector.

In this context, I resonate with provision 5.1.1 of the NDC’s 2024 Manifesto, which promises to introduce the Bright Beginnings Initiative to revive and repurpose early childhood education (ECE) for the well-being of Ghanaian children, facilitating seamless integration into continuous schooling and lifelong learning. The manifesto outlines an eleven key targets for achieving this initiative:

1. Initiate a policy to integrate early childhood education into basic education with appropriate infrastructure support.
2. Establish a Department for Early Childhood Development under the Ministry of Education to promote ECE.
3. Launch a National Edu-Care Programme (NEP) to create early learning facilities in workplaces for working parents.
4. Create Ghana Pre-schools Online (GPO) to enhance literacy and numeracy for nursery and kindergarten children using multimedia tools.
5. Review early childhood curricula to develop a value-based curriculum emphasizing psychomotor skills and basic life skills.
6. Significantly improve the pupil-to-textbook ratio.Invest in comprehensive professional development programs for early childhood educators.
7. Institutionalize and promote the use of first languages (L1) as the medium of instruction in early education.
8. Incorporate indigenous knowledge, traditions, and stories into teaching materials to make learning meaningful.
9. Promote digital content for supplementary early childhood learning materials.
10. Introduce courses in tertiary institutions to train early childhood facilitators.
11. While I may not have full access to the data or rationale underpinning these targets, I urge the Consultative Conference on Education to explore and build consensus on what constitutes “quality” in early childhood education and other phases of education. The definition of “quality” will serve as the foundation for the initiative’s success.Defining ‘Quality’ in ECE
12. ‘Quality’ in early childhood education can vary significantly depending on stakeholders—children, parents, teachers, government, and researchers. It is imperative for the government to lead by defining its vision of ‘quality’ in ECE and its practical implementation.

Without a clear purpose and desired outcomes for the Bright Beginnings Initiative, the program risks failure.

Perspectives on Quality

1. School Readiness:
   This perspective focuses on ensuring children acquire specific knowledge, understanding and skills before entering Primary One. Currently, the Ghana Education Service’s vision for school readiness lacks alignment with implementation strategies. If this vision is to anchor the Bright Beginnings Initiative, drastic changes in strategy are needed. For instance, UNESCO’s 2022 report highlighted that 80% of Ghanaian children fail to acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills by the end of primary school. Addressing school readiness is crucial to reversing this trend.

2. Structural Quality:
Structural quality involves measurable factors such as class size, teacher qualifications, teacher-to-child ratios, government funding, and curriculum design. Legislation should cap the number of children per teacher and guarantee minimum attendance hours for all children. Funding should extend to private ECE settings for families that opt for private education. Attendance compliance must also be enforced through legislation.

3. Process Quality:
This focuses on children’s everyday experiences, including social, emotional, physical, and instructional interactions. Ghana must develop culturally specific tools to measure teaching effectiveness and learning environments. Globally, tools like the Environmental Rating Scale (ERS) and Sustained Shared Thinking and Emotional Well-being Scale (SSTEW) assess these aspects. Ghana’s Bright Beginnings Initiative should include the development of such tools.

4. Reflexivity Quality:
Reflexivity quality emphasizes continuous reflection and improvement by practitioners. Teachers’ ongoing dialogue about theory and practice enhances learning experiences. National policies must include robust induction programs for ECE teachers and continuous professional development. Field-based ECE coordinators should visit settings to demonstrate best practices.

5. Regulatory Regime:
Regulatory regimes set quality standards for ECE settings. Ghana’s current regulatory framework excludes ECE settings from oversight. Reforming the National School Inspectorate Authority (NaSIA) to include ECE and ensuring qualified coordinators manage the sector are critical steps.

Conclusion
Quality in ECE has many facets. Ghana must reflect on these perspectives in its national policies to maximize the benefits of early childhood education for children and the country’s future. I look forward to the Consultative Conference on Education and the implementation of the Bright Beginnings Initiative under the leadership of the new government.

By: Komla Zafa Dartey (EYP, England)

SE25 South London, England.

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To enhance transparency and professionalism in the recruitment processes of Ghana’s security services, Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak has inaugurated a seven-member committee.

The committee has been tasked with reviewing the recruitment procedures for the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and other related agencies.

Addressing the gathering during the inauguration, the Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to building strong, professional, and accountable security agencies.

He noted that ensuring a fair and transparent recruitment process is a critical component of achieving this vision, as it directly affects the credibility and effectiveness of the country’s security forces.

“The integrity of these processes directly impacts the credibility of our security agencies. The government is determined to ensure that recruitment practices align with our national security needs and uphold the highest standards of professionalism and fairness,” he stated.

The committee’s work comes in response to concerns raised regarding the fairness, efficiency, and transparency of the 2024 recruitment processes for these agencies.

The Ministry of the Interior, which oversees recruitment into key security institutions, aims to address these concerns through a comprehensive review to ensure alignment with best practices.

The committee will assess the transparency, fairness, and integrity of the recruitment procedures, evaluate compliance with due process, and propose measures to enhance accountability and efficiency in the recruitment system.

The final report, due within two weeks, will include findings, challenges, and recommendations for both procedural and institutional reforms.

The committee’s work will also guide future recruitment practices to ensure they are in line with the country’s security objectives.

The committee is made up of seasoned professionals in the fields of security administration, public service, and law, including Yaw Akrasi Sarpong as chairperson. Other distinguished members, such as former police and prison officers, legal experts, and public servants, include:

• Bright Oduro (COP Rtd.)
• Eric Afari (DCOI Rtd.)
• Ben Lartey (DDP Rtd.)
• Lawyer Elsie Appau
• Paa Kwesi Adutwum (DCFO Rtd.)
• Alexander Twum-Barimah Esq. — Secretary

The government has pledged its full support to the committee, offering the necessary logistical and financial resources, including office space, access to relevant documents, and funding for consultations and research.

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.

Dr. Johnson Asiamah is the Acting BoG Governor

The Centre for Democratic Movement has condemned President John Dramani Mahama’s appointment of Dr. Johnson Asiamah as Acting Governor of the Bank of Ghana.

According to the group, the appointment violates constitutional principles, weakens financial oversight, and undermines public confidence in Ghana’s banking system.

A press release by the movement noted unresolved allegations related to Dr. Asiamah’s role in Ghana’s financial sector crisis as a basis for its concerns about transparency and accountability.

Dr. Asiamah was charged alongside nine individuals in connection with the collapse of some banks, facing charges such as fraudulent breach of trust, money laundering, conspiracy to commit a crime, and violations of the Bank of Ghana Act.

“Ghana, as a member of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), is obligated to promote integrity and accountability in public office. Article 7 of UNCAC mandates state parties to establish merit-based and transparent selection processes for public officials in positions of financial responsibility,” parts of the release read.

The group asserted that by appointing Dr. Asiamah without fully addressing concerns about his past actions, Ghana is failing to meet these international obligations.

“Similarly, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog against financial crimes, emphasizes that leadership in central banks should be free from ethical controversies to ensure sound financial governance. Several countries, including the United States and the United Kingdom, have clear guidelines prohibiting the appointment of officials with unresolved financial misconduct allegations to key economic institutions,” they added.

The group asserts that restoring trust in Ghana’s financial institutions requires merit-based appointments.

It added that, therefore, if the government fails to take urgent action, CDM “will have no choice but to petition key international bodies and donor institutions”, including:

• The European Union Representative in Ghana

• The International Monetary Fund (IMF)

• The World Bank

• The Chinese Embassy

• The U.S. Embassy

• Other major diplomatic missions and financial institutions.

SSD/AE

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The Director General of the National Service Authority (NSA), Felix Gyamfi, has announced that prospective graduates without a valid Ghana Card will not be eligible for national service registration.

He explained that this measure is part of efforts to eliminate ghost names from the Authority’s payroll.

Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, February 13, 2025, Mr Gyamfi stated: “If you do not have a valid Ghana card ID, you will not be allowed into our system.

“If you are a prospective graduate and you do not have a valid Ghana Card to register, you will not be allowed to do national service. So, these are some of the pathways to take away the ghost names.”

He accused the previous management of failing to implement the necessary checks and policies designed to eliminate ghost names from the National Service Authority’s (NSA) payroll.

“This was a leadership problem. This was a situation where the checks that were put in place to save the taxpayers money was supposed to have kicked in and it didn’t kick in.”

A recent headcount of active National Service personnel, initiated by the Minister for Finance as a prerequisite for clearing outstanding allowance arrears from August 2024, uncovered over 81,885 suspected ghost names on the NSA payroll.

Ofori-Atta is not a fugitive, OSP got it wrong – NPP

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By Prince Acquah  

Cape Coast, Feb 13, GNA – The Central Regional Environmental Health Office has cautioned families who lose their relatives to cholera to bury them immediately to protect the community. 

The office cautioned that the bodies of cholera casualties were highly infectious and could lead to an epidemic if not handled properly.  

Mr Emmanuel Owusu Ashia, a Regional Environmental Health Officer in charge of Hygiene Promotion, entreated families to collaborate with environmental health officers to bury the deceased without delay.  

“When somebody dies of cholera, we shouldn’t wait for one or two weeks. They must be buried quickly.  

“When a family loses a relative through cholera, they should contact the environmental health division to help them with the disinfection of the body before burial. That is done to prevent the rest of the family from contracting the disease,” he said.   

Mr Ashia issued the caution when he facilitated a training session on risk communication for some 30 health officers in the Cape Coast Metropolis in the wake of the cholera outbreak.  

The training was organised by the Cape Coast Metropolitan Health Directorate as part of practical measures to combat the cholera outbreak.  

Cape Coast has so far recorded six confirmed cases and two suspected cases of cholera, all of which are being managed by the Cape Coast Metro Hospital.  

Mr Ashia warned that cholera was very deadly and entreated the public to practice frequent handwashing and consume only treated water to prevent the disease.  

For his part, Mr Samuel Kwabena Ofosu, the Cape Coast Metro Director of Health Services, clarified that nobody had died of cholera in Cape Coast yet as speculated by a section of the media.  

He said the test results of a person who showed symptoms of cholera and later died came out negative.  

Mr Ofosu gave assurance of the commitment of the Directorate to fight the outbreak head-on, explaining the essence of the workshop.  

He announced that five different teams had been constituted and deployed to various areas to educate and sensitise the people, carry out disinfections in communities where cases had been recorded and undertake contact tracing.  

“Because of our history with cholera outbreak within the Metropolis, we don’t want to take any chance. We want to as soon as possible, control the disease so that it doesn’t travel beyond our capacity,” he added.  

GNA  

Ghana is on the verge of a major power crisis as Karpowership, the operator of the Aboadze floating power plant, has warned it may shut down operations over an outstanding $379 million debt owed by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

The warning was issued during a February 10, 2025, meeting between Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor and Karpowership officials.

The ballooning energy sector debt, which has now surpassed $3 billion, continues to threaten the country’s power supply and economic stability.

Acknowledging the urgency of the situation, Minister Jinapor urged Karpowership to delay any drastic action while the new administration seeks payment solutions.

“We acknowledge the severity of the situation and are committed to finding a sustainable solution to address the financial obligations. We appeal to our partners to bear with us as we navigate these challenges,” Jinapor stated.

However, analysts warn that if Karpowership follows through with its shutdown threat, Ghana could experience prolonged power outages—disrupting industries, businesses, and households nationwide.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has repeatedly flagged Ghana’s energy sector debt as a critical risk to economic stability. The organization has urged the government to implement urgent reforms, including:

• Cost-cutting measures to reduce operational inefficiencies.
• Improved revenue collection to ensure financial sustainability.
• Restructuring power agreements to prevent further debt accumulation.

Without these interventions, the IMF warns that Ghana’s energy sector could collapse under financial strain, leading to widespread power shortages.

If Karpowership suspends electricity supply, Ghana could return to an era of “dumsor”—the persistent power outages that previously crippled businesses and households.

Court discharges Kwesi Nyantakyi after five-year legal battle

Acting Chief Executive of the VRA, Ing. Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo with a delegation from SOVRAE

The Society of Volta River Authority Engineers (SOVRAE) has pledged its unwavering support to the Acting Chief Executive of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Ing. Edward Ekow Obeng-Kenzo, in his mission to lead the authority to greater heights.

This was conveyed in a speech delivered by the President of SOVRAE, Ing. Samuel Yeboah, during a visit by the society’s executive members to the VRA headquarters in Accra to congratulate Ing. Obeng-Kenzo on his appointment.

The over 200-member society, which works across various sectors of VRA operations, has committed to contributing its knowledge, expertise, and experience to help the Acting CEO achieve his vision for the organisation.

“We are here primarily to congratulate you on your appointment. We pledge our support and pray that you become one of the best leaders of the authority,” Ing. Yeboah stated in a report by citinewsroom.com.

In response, Ing. Obeng-Kenzo expressed his gratitude to the society for their congratulatory message and their commitment to supporting the authority’s progress.

He emphasised that a key part of his strategy is to build a skilled workforce across all disciplines, which will involve training and retooling staff at all levels.

The Acting CEO further urged SOVRAE members to utilize their professional expertise to provide insights and recommendations on improving the authority’s processes and operations.

He also encouraged them to prepare presentations, papers, and observations for publication at both national and international forums.

The meeting was attended by SOVRAE President Ing. Samuel Yeboah, Immediate Past Vice President Ing. Kwabena Asare, Assistant Secretary Alice Ama Erwuah, Director of Corporate Strategy Clement Boakye, and Manager of the Office of the CEO Nana Yaw Anane Binfoh.

ID/MA

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By Philip Tengzu  

Nadowli, (UW/R), Feb. 13, GNA – Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, has indicated that the Meningitis situation in the Upper West Region is under control, urging concerted efforts of stakeholders to arrest the menace. 

He said while the government and health-sector stakeholders put in stringent efforts to contain the situation, members of the communities needed to play their part by reporting early to the health facilities when they developed Meningitis symptoms for early detection, management, and treatment.  

The Minister stated that no death had been recorded within the last week, saying, “I am excited that the situation is under control.” 

Mr Akandoh said this in Wa during a working visit to the region to ascertain the Meningitis situation.  

He was accompanied by the Acting Director General of the Ghana Health Service, Professor Dr. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, and some staff of his Ministry and the Ghana Health Service.  

The region had so far recorded 94 suspected cases of Meningitis from eight districts and municipalities, 20 confirmed cases, and 14 deaths, with the Nadowl-Kaleo District and Nandom Municipality being the epicenters of the disease.  

Mr Akandoh assured the continuous commitment of the government to fighting the menace and that a rapid response team had been deployed to the region to support the health systems, including staff training on the disease’s management. 

He observed that financial constraints contributed to delayed reporting to the facility with Meningitis symptoms – stiffness of the neck, coughing, and sneezing, among others.  

He said as part of efforts to arrest the situation, the government announced free treatment of people in the affected districts with active health insurance cards and showing those symptoms. 

The minister also presented boxes of antibiotics to the Nadowli-Kaleo Health Directorate for Meningitis treatment and management.   

He interacted with health staff at the Regional and Nadowli-Kaleo District Health Directorates, and the Nadowli District Hospital as well as health personnel at the Upper West Regional Hospital and the Nadowli District Hospital. 

The Minister acknowledged the sacrificial services of the health staff and appealed to them to give “their all” to the fight against Meningitis, saying, “If we all put our heads together we can create a strong health system in the country.” 

“We will continue to do our best to encourage you (health staff) to have a smooth running of the facilities to be able to contain the situation. What is very important is that the number of deaths is drastically reducing,” he explained. 

Mr Akandoh cautioned the health staff against negative attitudes towards patients at the facilities, urging those culpable to desist from that act to avoid being punished. 

The team also visited the Queen of Peace Senior High School in Nadowli where Meningitis had been recorded to interact with the school management on preventing and helping to control the disease.  

GNA 

The Government Statistician, Professor Samuel Kobina Annim, has underscored the importance of strategic partnerships, particularly with telecommunications stakeholders, to enhance the use of data in policy-making for national development.

Speaking during an interview on the sideline of a stakeholder engagement meeting in Accra today, Professor Annim emphasised the progress made in leveraging telecom data to track internal mobility in Ghana and its potential impact on policy decisions.

“This can be used in so many respects, and what we’ve demonstrated today is to give a better understanding of how that affects internal mobility in Ghana,” he stated.

“As you are all aware, the Ghana Statistical Service has computed population projections from 2022 to 2025. These population projections would be static over this period, but it’s important we appreciate the internal mobilities that frequently happen on a monthly basis throughout the year and inform policymakers on how these mobilities influence the decisions that they take,” he added.

The stakeholder meeting, focused on advancing statistics through partnerships, brought together representatives from Ghana and the United Kingdom to explore technical collaboration for improved data-driven policy decisions.

The Chief Statistician and Deputy Director for the Centre for Data Analysis in the UK, Ms Sian Rasdale, highlighted the critical role of partnerships in enhancing data usage.

“The way that we’re able to do more with data and be better with data and get the right data in the right place at the right time, is by really building partnerships and exploiting the whole range of data that is available for the UK Government. Partnerships like this are exactly the way that we want to be delivering and, in particular, those partnerships that are working across all of the UK’s assets,” she noted.

The Deputy Director for Health and International Partnerships at the UK’s Office for National Statistics, Dr James Tucker, expressed enthusiasm about the strengthening and expansion of collaboration with Ghana.

“I look forward to extending our partnership with Ghana Statistical Service, which has been so fantastic over the last six or seven years, and some of the work that you’re doing is just hugely innovative. This work with mobile phone data, it’s truly world-class,” Dr Tucker stated.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ghana Statistical Service and the UK’s Office for National Statistics.

This agreement is expected to enhance technical cooperation and improve data accessibility, ensuring better-informed policy decisions for Ghana’s socio-economic development.

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has assured the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta will make himself available for investigations.

Ofori-Atta has been in the U.S. for medical treatment since early 2025 after notifying the Chief of Staff.

On February 12, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) officially named him a suspect in four high-profile corruption investigations, including cases related to the National Cathedral project and Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML). The OSP also stated that the raid on his residence was staged.

During a press briefing, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng declared Ofori-Atta a wanted person, urging him to return immediately for questioning. He warned that failure to comply could lead to legal measures to compel his return.

Addressing Parliament on Thursday, February 13, Afenyo-Markin stated: “On February 13 morning, I had an extensive engagement with Ken Ofori-Atta. He’s traumatized by the labelling of this adjective [fugitive] described to his person. But he still knows that his God is with him. He is undergoing some medical procedures.

“Within a reasonable time, I’m sure he will come. I will also engage the Office of the Special Prosecutor, engage constructively, and assure him and his office that if there was any miscommunication, I, the leader of the Minority, am assuring him that the man will make himself available.

“He left the country with permission, he would come, and if there’s anything that has to be investigated, he will make himself available.”

Liberian president suspends hundreds of officials over asset declaration failure

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Davis Ansah Opoku (OPK), the Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, has cautioned the Minister for Communications, Samuel Nartey George, against compromising the independence of the National Communications Authority (NCA) through a selective frequency audit.

Speaking in Parliament, OPK reminded members that the NCA is an independent regulatory body established under Section 9 of the Electronic Communications Act 2008 (Act 775). He emphasised that the Act explicitly states:

*”Except as otherwise provided in this Act, the Authority shall not be subject to the direction or control of any person or authority in performing its functions.”*

He stressed that the Minister lacks the legal authority to instruct the NCA to audit or revoke frequency authorisations. Any such review, he insisted, must be initiated by the NCA itself through due process, rather than being influenced by ministerial directives.

Beyond the issue of independence, OPK also questioned the rationale behind the Minister’s directive to audit only those frequency authorisations granted in the past 60 days.

He argued that if the goal were truly transparency and regulatory compliance, the audit should cover all frequency allocations rather than focusing on a narrow and arbitrary timeframe, which could be politically motivated.

*”Radio is the heartbeat of our democracy. It serves as a platform for people to express their views on issues that affect them—a practice that has sustained our democracy,”* OPK stated.

He warned that selective audits or revocation of frequency authorisations could be perceived as attempts to suppress press freedom and control media narratives.

He urged the Minister to uphold the NCA’s independence and allow the regulatory body to execute its mandate without unnecessary political interference.

Reaffirming radio’s vital role in Ghana’s democracy, OPK stressed that media freedom must be safeguarded at all costs.

He called on Parliament to ensure that regulatory institutions operate with transparency and fairness, guaranteeing that all Ghanaians have unrestricted access to diverse and independent media voices.

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.