Dr. Randy Abbey and President John Mahama

A leading communicator of the National Democratic Congress, Kojo Yeboah, has criticized President John Dramani Mahama for appointing Dr. Randy Abbey as Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, questioning his suitability for the role.

In a scathing remark, Yeboah mocked the appointment, claiming Dr. Abbey can barely distinguish between a cassava stick and a cocoa tree, implying that he lacks a farming background.

On Tuesday, January 21, 2025, Dr. Abbey, who also serves as Chairman of the Black Stars Management Committee, was appointed CEO of COCOBOD by President Mahama as part of his administration’s efforts to reset the country’s economic trajectory.

However, during an interview with TV XYZ, Yeboah, while acknowledging the quality of Mahama’s ministerial appointees, criticized the decision to make Dr. Abbey the head of COCOBOD.

“People applauded the president when he started appointing his ministers because they were very competent, but the appointment of CEOs didn’t sit well with many,” he said.

He further questioned Dr. Abbey’s credibility and political alignment.

“Did you see any NDC member as part of Randy Abbey’s entourage when he went to COCOBOD? Someone who can’t distinguish between a cassava stick and a cocoa tree has been put in charge of COCOBOD,” Yeboah remarked.

He also accused Mahama of sidelining loyal NDC members in favor of individuals who did not contribute to his electoral victory.

“Why is he appointing outsiders over the NDC members who fought for his victory? Have you seen anyone from the Zongo caucus appointed?” he quizzed.

Also, watch as Afenyo-Markin exposes NPP appointees pretending to be NDC to maintain positions

FKA/EK

The newly sworn-in Foreign Affairs Minister, Samual Okudzeto Ablakwa has made full disclosure about his tenancy at Airport Hills in Accra.

Speaking exclusively on The KeyPoints, he said although the Chairman of the Appointments Committee overruled a question regarding his tenancy status at Airport Hills, he offered to write to the managers of the facility to disclose the real ownership and details of the tenancy agreement.

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By Kekeli K. Blamey

Battor (V/R), Feb. 08, GNA – Many constituents of North Tongu were overjoyed when their Member of Parliament, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, was sworn into office as the new Foreign Minister at the Presidency. 

The atmosphere in the constituency was filled with joy and high hopes as the people of North Tongu believed that Mr Ablakwa’s leadership and expertise would bring immense benefits to the country.  

They expressed their heartfelt gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama for appointing their Member of Parliament (MP) into this revered office. 

“We praise the President’s wise decision, acknowledging our MP’s exceptional qualities and dedication to serving the nation,” said a constituent. 

The new Foreign Affairs Minister, in his Facebook post pledged to serve the nation with integrity, innovation, dynamism, love for country, and deep respect for the Ghanaian people. 

“I am ready to serve with integrity, innovation, dynamism, love for country and deep respect for the Ghanaian people. Our strategic national interest shall always reign supreme. I will not disappoint President Mahama and the good people of Ghana,” he said. 

As Foreign Minister, Mr Ablakwa will play a pivotal role in promoting Ghana’s foreign policy objectives and strengthening the country’s relationships with other nations.  

GNA  

Kofi Ofosu Nkansah is the former Chief Executive Officer of NEIP

The former Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, has expressed solidarity with members of the ruling National Democratic Congress party for ousting appointees from the previous government.

According to him, there is no justification for an appointee of the former New Patriotic Party government to remain in office after their appointing authority has left and handed over to a new government.

In a Facebook post on February 6, 2025, Ofosu Nkansah questioned the yet-to-resign Akufo-Addo appointees, asking whether they would have been given the opportunity to serve had the NDC appointees in opposition failed or refused to leave office.

“I support NDC foot soldiers chasing out any NPP appointee who is refusing to leave office. If NDC appointees had not left, would we have gotten opportunities to also serve?” he quizzed.

Ofosu Nkansah further referenced how, even during the NPP’s time in government, some appointees were removed from office or reshuffled to manage other sectors.

He expressed concern over why some individuals are finding it difficult to resign, thereby subjecting themselves to controversy and ridicule.

“Even in the same government, the president can appoint you today and remove you tomorrow so what’s the point in resisting the president’s directive?” he added.

His comments follow the recent controversy surrounding the termination of the appointment of SIC MD Hollistar Duah-Yentumi, who, in turn, refused to hand over to her successor, James Agyenim-Boateng, appointed by President John Dramani Mahama.

Duah-Yentumi also filed a lawsuit against the state institution and James Agyenim-Boateng, accusing them of wrongful termination. However, she has since withdrawn the lawsuit.

Read his post below:

MAG/EK

Also, watch as Afenyo-Markin exposes NPP appointees pretending to be NDC to maintain positions

Minister of Foreign Affairs and North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and North Tongu MP, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has outrightly denied accusations that he owns a residence at Airport Hills which he allegedly registered under his sister’s name.

During a TV3 interview on February 8, 2025, he urged his critics to substantiate their claims with evidence.

Ablakwa, who emphasised his compliance with the Assets Declaration Act, provided proof that the property in question is actually owned by a Jordanian named Husni Altheebeh.

“…Husni Altheebeh, our landlord is a Jordanian,” he clarified, presenting a copy of his tenancy agreement from the estate managers of Airport Hills.

“I challenge them to put out that evidence that shows that the East Legon Hills residence belongs to me and that I’ve put it in my sister’s name. That’s absolutely untrue. That property doesn’t belong to me,” he retorted.

Sworn into office on February 7, Ablakwa also explained that MPs receive rent allowances as part of their service terms which puts him in a position to afford rent for the residence.

“What they failed to tell the Ghanaian people is that MPs receive rent allowance,” he pointed out.

He clarified that his residence at Airport Hills is legally covered by his rent allowance, a common practice for MPs without official government accommodations.

Ablakwa criticized the spread of misinformation aimed at tarnishing his reputation, emphasizing the need for factual discourse in politics.

“It is important that we focus on facts and not allow misinformation to mislead the public,” he stated.

Reaffirming his commitment to transparency and accountability, he encouraged the public to seek the truth and resist being misled by baseless accusations.

“I have always upheld transparency, and I will continue to serve with honesty and dedication,” he concluded.

Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa says Hon. Afenyo Markin and the minority lied about his rented apartment at Airport Hills and insisted he rents and does not own the property. So how much do MPs earn and rent allowance can cater for such apartment for 8 years and counting. Eiii Tie… pic.twitter.com/MZVgEyUoi5

— CHARLOTTE NICOLE 🕊 (@charllycolegh) February 8, 2025

Airport Hills Management Clears the Air: Releases Proof of Ablakwa’s Rental Agreement Amid Property Ownership Claims. pic.twitter.com/qT5l1RhVw2

— KALYJAY (@gyaigyimii) February 8, 2025

EK

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has disclosed that the passport office has over 75,000 unclaimed passports in its possession.

According to him, after taking over office, he intends to audit the passports and reach out to persons who own them.

He intends to introduce a courier service that will be used to deliver these passports after they have been able to reach the owners of the passports.

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Reverend Dr. Kwesi Owusu Bi was rejected for the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry position

In Ghana’s Fourth Republican history, it is rare for ministerial nominees to be rejected by the Appointments Committee and denied a potential ministerial position.

For such an occurrence to take place, the reasons behind it must be of significant concern—possibly unpardonable or too serious to be overlooked by the committee, which holds the mandate to assess and determine the expertise and capabilities of nominees in handling and executing their roles, should they be appointed.

However, Reverend Dr. Kwesi Owusu Bi made history as the only nominee to be outrightly rejected by the committee.

In 2007, Dr. Owusu Bi was nominated by then-President John Agyekum Kufuor as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry-designate.

However, his nomination faced rejection by the Appointments Committee by a majority vote, chaired by Freddie Blay and including members such as Alban Bagbin.

The committee cited inconsistencies in his statements and falsehoods in his submissions, particularly concerning a specific housing project, as the reasons for his rejection.

The charge stemmed from controversy surrounding GH¢30 million allocated to him by the Upper Denkyira District Assembly as part of payment for the construction of a teachers’ bungalow in one of the towns within the district, as reported at the time by The Chronicle.

In its investigation, the committee found that the nominee was not truthful in his claims that he had refunded the money after being unable to undertake the project.

Read the original article published on GhanaWeb in 2007 on Dr. Owusu Bi’s account of what transpired

Reverend Dr. Kwesi Owusu Bi, whose nomination as Deputy Minister was blocked by the Appointments Committee of Parliament has observed that the Committee did not treat him fairly because he told the truth and nothing but the truth, when he appeared before it.

The Freddie Blay Chaired Appointments Committee disqualified the nominee on the grounds that he was not consistent and truthful in his submissions before the Committee during his vetting and therefore could not be cleared to handle a deputy Ministerial position.

The Minority leader, Hon. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin was blunt in his submission on the disqualification of the nominee when he said, “we need to know the kind of pastor we are dealing with.”

In an interview with The Chronicle yesterday the Reverend Minister of God who was on the verge of assuming additional position as Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and PSI could not resist pouring out his frustration and disappointment following his disqualification by the Committee.

“If I say I was able to sleep on the day my disqualification was announced, I will be telling lies. I could not sleep because I could not understand why I was disqualified after I have told the Committee the truth on all matters,” the Reverend Minister ranted and consistently mentioned the minority leader in his submission giving clues to his conviction that Hon. Bagbin could have been a major cause of his disqualification.

It is believed that what caused the disqualification of the nominee was a controversy over some ¢30million that was given to him by the Upper Denkyira District Assembly as part of payment for the construction of a teacher’s bungalow in one of the towns in the District.

The nominee was questioned whether he actually received that said amount and whether he returned the money to the Assembly after the project could not be executed. He told the Committee that he returned the money of his own volition, but the Committee later submitted that the nominee had not been truthful to it on the issue.

Another matter was whether the nominee had ever been an Assembly and Presiding Member of the Assembly and the Committee thought that his responses to these issues were inconsistent.

Rev. Owusu Bi, however, declared he could not understand what the Committee expected from him, especially on the GH¢30million issue. He said he after taking the money for research into how the building project could be executed, the research later failed and he refunded the money.

“When you take money for research and the research fails you are not even required to refund the money. A lot of people have received monies for research into a cure for HIV/AIDS but so far no cure has been obtained, do those researchers have to refund the monies they received for the research? But even in my case, I did not keep the money but refunded it so I don’t know what the Committee required from me on this matter,” the disqualified nominee fumed.

“I was asked whether I have been a Presiding Member before and I said no, but when you read a publication in the Graphic it says that the Committee claims that its investigations later revealed that I had been a Presiding Member before, but that is not true,” Reverend Owusu Bi further charged.

Asked whether he would appeal against the decision of the Appointments Committee, the disqualified nominee said he was not conversant with the procedures and noted that if he got himself well informed about what options were opened to him, he would then take a decision.

“You see I have to consult with a few people then I will know what decision to take. Sometimes if you rush in taking certain decisions, you may be perceived as challenging authority,” he stated.

He told The Chronicle that he would be holding a Press conference tomorrow at the Ayeduase School park near the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi to let the public know that he did not lie to the Committee and also establish his innocence as a man of God.

Though he did not want to reveal the details of what he would be telling the press tomorrow, he told the paper that he would prove that what he told the Committee was just the truth and nothing else.

“The Committee refused to take what I said as the truth and rather relied on information from other sources to say that I was not truthful in my submissions, but now that I can prove that I told the truth I must let the world not the I did not lie so that at least I clear myself.”

MAG/EK

Also, watch as Afenyo-Markin exposes NPP appointees pretending to be NDC to maintain positions

According to GhanaWeb. As Ghanaians eagerly anticipate the formation of President John Mahama’s new government, speculation is rife regarding the potential appointment of Alan Kyerematen, a prominent political figure and former Minister of Trade and Industry. Kyerematen, known for his leadership within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and founder of the Movement for Change, could be poised for a significant role, though the exact nature of his involvement remains uncertain.

During his inauguration, President Mahama emphasized a commitment to inclusivity and collaboration, which has fueled expectations surrounding Kyerematen’s potential role in the cabinet. “Today marks the beginning of an era full of fresh possibilities and change as we honour a new government,” Mahama stated, underscoring his vision for a united Ghana. He further noted that, alongside his running mate Nana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, they are prepared to drive development forward through a shared commitment to an inclusive governance model.

Despite the challenges of reconciling past political affiliations, many are hopeful that Kyerematen may play a pivotal role in Mahama’s administration. Although it seems unlikely he would be one of the 60 ministers in Mahama’s cabinet, there is considerable speculation that he could still wield significant influence within the government.

Kyerematen was among the first to extend his congratulations to Mahama following the president’s electoral victory in December, a gesture that hinted at a possible collaborative future. Shortly after the election, he presented the “Great Transformational Plan” (GTP) to the president-elect, a detailed document containing strategic recommendations aimed at advancing the government’s agenda.

Before resigning to run for the presidency, Kyerematen served as Ghana’s Minister of Trade and Industry under President Akufo-Addo. His experience also extends to the international stage, where he held the position of trade counsellor at the African Trade Policy Centre (ATPC) in Addis Ababa, working under the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA).

As the new government takes shape, all eyes will be on Mahama’s cabinet selections and the potential roles that may be offered to influential figures like Kyerematen. His political acumen and extensive experience could play a crucial role in shaping policies that align with Mahama’s vision for a prosperous and inclusive Ghana.

With the announcement of nominations expected soon, Ghanaians are left to wonder: will Alan Kyerematen emerge as a key player in this new political landscape, or will the opportunity slip away? Only time will tell as the nation watches the unfolding developments with keen interest.

Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande

The Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mustapha Gbande, has stated that Ghanaians would still be happy even if President John Dramani Mahama and his ministers fail to deliver on their promises.

According to him, the main priority was to remove former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s administration, which he claims brought hardship upon Ghanaians.

Speaking in an interview on UTV on February 7, 2025, Gbande asserted that the mere exit of the previous government has brought joy to Ghanaians.

“If today, Mustapha does not get an appointment, I am still happy because we have been able to remove the thieves. If President Mahama and his ministers sleep on the job without doing anything, Ghanaians would still be happy because we have sacked those who brought hardship,” he stated.

He continued,” If President Akufo-Addo was in power, by now there would have been hardship… but we will work for Ghana.”

Gbande also addressed concerns about political appointments under Mahama’s administration. He emphasized that the president cannot satisfy everyone when it comes to appointments.

“His Excellency John Dramani Mahama cannot even satisfy his family members when it comes to appointments, let alone the entire party. Now, what they have offered me may not be what I expected, but this is what the President said he could give me.

“If you like it, accept it; if not, that’s your choice. In politics, when you win power and positions are shared, some people will get opportunities while others may not,” he explained.

He further acknowledged the difficulty of accommodating all party members, highlighting that Mahama has over 7,000 appointments to distribute, yet the party has over 100,000 competent people.

“Everybody will get something, but President Mahama has only about 7,000 positions to share, while we are talking about over 100,000 competent people. It is inevitable that some will feel left out,” he added.

AM/

You can also watch the latest episode of Everyday People on GhanaWeb TV below:

These chilling photos capture the harrowing realities inside the “hell on Earth” jails in El Salvador – where Donald Trump is set to send the US’ violent criminals.

Dozens of inmates are crammed into cells in the prisons in the Central American country. Sentences range from 60 to more than 1,000 years for those incarcerated at Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT), the newest of the jails there.

One of the world’s biggest prisons, with a 40,000 capacity (equivalent to almost half the UK’s current prison population), CECOT was built two years ago. It now houses many thousands of the worst of the worst gangsters. In that timeframe, more than 200 prisoners have died in the slammer, it is thought.

For 23-and-a-half hours of the day, the men in CECOT are obliged to squat on mattress-less metal bunks, stacked four-storeys high, like shelves in a B&Q store. They are allowed to speak only in whispers.

The three meals a day are always rice and beans, pasta and a boiled egg. Their water is rationed by the guards who hand it to them and they use a communal lavatory. They are only permitted to scuttle out of their cages, shackled hand and foot with heads bowed low, for a small number of reasons.

David Jones became the first British journalist to visit CECOT and, in a chilling first-person piece for Mail Online, the reporter recounts his experience. He wrote: “Having visited the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay and the Robben Island prison where Nelson Mandela was held, the system at CECOT certainly seems harsher. Terrorists held in ‘Gitmo’ are at least afforded some privileges and can undergo rehabilitation programs.

“They have access to books and writing materials, can interact with one another, exercise in the fresh air, communicate with family members, and look forward to occasional visits. In CECOT none of those things are permitted. The sole aim is subjugation.

“They are evacuated when the guards charge into the module brandishing machine guns to stage a ‘forced intervention’ and search their bunks. While this clean sweep takes place they must crouch on the floor in perfect rows, with their legs wrapped tightly around the man in front of them and their head pressed against his bare back, forming a human jigsaw puzzle. Anyone who spoils the pattern by fidgeting receives a sharp baton jab to the ribs.

“Shut away in this void, in a subtropical volcanic valley two hours from the capital, San Salvador, with no wifi or mobile signals, these men have effectively ceased to exist. They are the living dead.”

By 2015, El Salvador was the world’s murder capital, with 106 killings for every 100,000 of its six million population: a rate more than 100 times higher than Britain’s. However, El Salvador now has one of the lowest murder rates, projecting a ratio of less than one per 100,000 this year.

Prisons like CECOT are, it is said, serving their purpose then. Mr Trump’s intention to send criminals of all nationalities to the jails, though, has divided opinion. El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele “has agreed to the most unprecedented, extraordinary, extraordinary migratory agreement anywhere in the world.”

The US leader believes the move will help make both countries “stronger, safer, and more prosperous” but little El Salvador, on the Pacific coast, has a population of just six million – a tiny fraction of the approximate 334 million living in the US.