A new chapter in community healthcare has begun in Berekuso, Akuapim South municipality of the Eastern region, with the commissioning of a modern clinic, thanks to a six-year partnership between FirstBank Ghana and the Rotary Club of Accra Ring Road Central.

The newly built Berekuso Community Clinic replaces an older facility that served the community for nearly 20 years under difficult conditions.

The upgraded clinic comes with improved infrastructure and modern medical equipment, aimed at delivering quality and inclusive healthcare to Berekuso and neighbouring communities.

The commissioning ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Rotary International President-Elect (RIPE) Mario César Martins de Camargo, Rotary District 9104 Governor Florence Maame Hagan, FirstBank Ghana Managing Director and Rotary Past District Governor Victor Yaw Asante, and Rotary Club of Accra Ring Road Central President Albert Bahun Wilson.

Describing the project as “a symbol of compassion and a beacon of hope,” Mr. Camargo said, “We are not merely commissioning a building; we are igniting hope, affirming dignity, and laying the foundation for a healthier, stronger, more empowered community.”

District Governor Hagan said the clinic aligns with Rotary’s focus areas, including maternal and child health, disease prevention, and water sanitation.

She stressed that staff training and integration with the Ghana Health Service would ensure the long-term sustainability of the facility.

FirstBank Ghana’s Managing Director, Victor Yaw Asante, expressed the bank’s pride in being part of such a transformative project, saying, “Our collaboration with the Rotary Club of Accra – Ring Road Central has enabled us to contribute significantly to improving the lives of Ghanaians. This project symbolises our shared commitment to building stronger, healthier communities.”

Rotarian Albert Bahun Wilson added that the new clinic marks a turning point for Berekuso. “This facility represents hope and dignity. It will lay the foundation for a healthier and more empowered community.”

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former GIHOC Distilleries Managing Director, Maxwell Kofi Jumah

National security operatives conducted an early-morning operation at the residence of former GIHOC Distilleries Managing Director, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, in an attempt to recover state-owned vehicles reportedly in his possession.

According to a news report filed by citinewsroom.com on May 15, 2025, the raid occurred at approximately 5:00 am on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

However, the report detailed that, Jumah, a former appointee under former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was not present at the time.

According to further details, the former GIHOC MD is under investigation for alleged financial impropriety during his tenure, including questionable acquisition of state vehicles and mismanagement of company assets.

A letter dated August 1, 2019, from the Board of Directors of GIHOC approved Jumah’s purchase of a Genesis G90 saloon car (registration number GE 86 22-19), in accordance with his Conditions of Service as Managing Director.

Initially valued at over $100,000, the vehicle was sold to him at a significantly reduced price of GH¢ 4,943.11, just 5% of its worth, according to documents signed by the company’s Secretary and Head of Administration, Apea Twumasi-Ankrah.

Further investigations revealed that an independent valuation by the State Transport Corporation had placed the car’s value at GH¢98,862.00. The appraisal, conducted by valuation expert Daniel K Orhin, confirmed the vehicle’s market worth.

Additionally, Jumah is being scrutinized for allegedly retaining two other official vehicles, including an Audi valued at over $60,000, without formal approval from the Board.

Reports indicate that he later instructed security personnel to return the vehicles, one of which had been in his son’s possession. So far, one of the cars has been successfully retrieved and transported back to Accra.

Beyond vehicle-related allegations, concerns have also surfaced regarding financial irregularities at GIHOC under his leadership.

Jumah is accused of inflating staff numbers, placing undue financial strain on the company.

Reports suggest he authorised the sale of company properties in Tema, valued at over $700,000, without the necessary board approvals.

AM/KA

#TheAdutwumFactor! Watch as Yaw Osei Adutwum declares intent to contest NPP flagbearership for 2028

Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor

The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has announced that all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) will now be required to make budgetary allocations to cover their electricity consumption.

He made this statement during a meeting between the Energy Committee and power sector agencies on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

The minister emphasized the need for MDAs to take responsibility for their electricity bills.

“All MDAs are required to pay their electricity bills. They must include this in their budgets. This directive applies to the health sector, education, security agencies, and even the presidency. However, in the health sector, only laboratories, theatres, and wards will be exempted.

“In the education sector, dormitories and restaurants are excluded; only lecture halls are covered. We have categorized these areas, and once Parliament approves the classifications, we will publish them,” he stated.

Some of the apprehended Indian nationals

An intelligence-led operation by National Security and the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has led to the arrest of six Indian nationals for engaging in illegal gold trading activities in Ghana.

Three of the suspects were apprehended in Anyinam in the Eastern Region, while the other three were arrested in Adiembra in the Ashanti Region.

The operation, spearheaded by National Security Coordinator DCOP Abdul Osman, resulted in the seizure of hundreds of gold bars, large sums of Ghana cedis, and money-counting machines.

Speaking at a press briefing on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, held at the National Security Secretariat in Accra, Media Relations Officer for the Ghana GoldBod, Prince Kwame Minkah, confirmed the arrests and assured the public that all involved will face appropriate legal consequences.

According to him, the first group of foreign nationals were arrested before the April 30 deadline set by the GoldBod banning foreign participation in the local gold trade. Therefore, they will be deported rather than prosecuted.

However, the second group, arrested after the May 1 enforcement of the new directive, will face prosecution in court.

“For the latest bust, those involved will face the full rigours of the law. The confiscated items included gold bars, money-counting machines, and cash in cedis. This is a clear warning to all foreigners—local gold trading is exclusively reserved for the Ghana GoldBod,” he stated.

National Security Coordinator DCOP Abdul Osman also disclosed that some Ghanaians were complicit in the scheme, aiding the foreign nationals by registering companies in their names to help them evade taxes and conceal their operations.

He assured that investigations are ongoing and that all Ghanaians found to have played a role in the illegal activities will also be prosecuted.

The Ghana GoldBod had earlier announced a ban on all foreign and unauthorized individual participation in the local gold market, effective May 1, 2025. The agency now holds exclusive authority to regulate and control artisanal and small-scale gold mining in the country.

According to the directive, any foreigner or individual wishing to trade in gold must now apply for approval to purchase or off-take gold directly from the GoldBod.

The First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Mumuni Zakaria, says the central bank is not using up reserves to support the cedi. He insists the recent gains are not artificial.

“If we were that heavy in terms of our support to the market, we would not be doing well with our reserves accumulation,” he said.

He described the market rally as credible and rooted in real confidence, dismissing speculation that the central bank is drawing down its buffers to defend the local currency.

“Unfortunately, if this were the case, market players who are very smart would have seen through it,” Dr. Zakaria said. “The rally would have been short-lived. They wouldn’t trust you.”

He said the central bank has actually been building reserves faster than anticipated.

“We are even accumulating reserves much, much faster than what has been expected,” he said. “And that is why the market really thinks this can be sustained.”

Dr. Zakaria stressed the quality of the reserves. “These are not debt-creating reserves,” he said.

“These are organically accumulated reserves. At the end of April, we had over $10 billion. We expect to hit $11 billion by the end of June.”

He said these figures are far above IMF targets. “The IMF program set a target of three months of import cover. We are now at 3.7 months using IMF metrics,” he said.

“If you include petroleum funds, we’re around 4.7 months. That’s quite a lot.”

He said this performance shows policy innovation.

“We have devised very strategic ways of meeting market demand while still accumulating external buffers,” he explained.

“What we are doing now places more weight on building reserves than on direct market support.”

He told Joy News that the approach has shifted. “This time is different,” Dr. Zakaria said.

He acknowledged that other factors also support the cedi’s strength.

“We’ve had a Staff Level Agreement with the IMF. That sent a strong message globally. It means things are changing.”

He pointed to disinflation. “Inflation dropped from nearly 24% to 21.2%. That’s progress,” he said.

“Fiscal consolidation is also taking shape. Public sector borrowing has slowed sharply compared to last year.”

He said the Bank of Ghana has taken deliberate steps to manage liquidity. “We’ve sterilised three times more than last year,” he said.

“So we’re keeping cedi liquidity tight while still meeting forex demand.”

He said all these efforts work together. “We are not intervening recklessly,” he said. “We’re building confidence, not burning reserves.”

He repeated the central point. “This is not smoke and mirrors,” Dr. Zakaria said. “This is real. And we intend to sustain it.”

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The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has firmly dismissed reports linking it to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd. (SML), stating that it has no dealings, contract, partnership, or relationship whatsoever with the company.

Describing the claims as “completely false,” the Board urged the public to treat such reports with the utmost contempt.

In a statement issued on Thursday, 15 May 2024, GoldBod emphasised its commitment to transparency and responsible governance in Ghana’s gold sector. It also warned against attempts to mislead the public through misinformation.

This clarification comes amid broader confusion surrounding the role of SML in Ghana’s extractive industries.

In a separate but related development, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has also firmly denied reports suggesting that SML has been authorised to resume or expand its revenue assurance role in the upstream petroleum and solid minerals sectors.

According to a press release from the GRA’s Communication and Public Affairs Department, media publications on Wednesday, 14 May 2025—including reports in the Business and Financial Times and Graphic Online—incorrectly stated that SML had launched an expanded oversight mandate.

The GRA clarified that no such directive has been issued. It reiterated that SML’s operations in both the petroleum and solid minerals sectors remain suspended—a decision enacted in April 2024 and still in effect, pending further review.

“GRA has not instructed SML to activate or resume operations under the 2023 Consolidation of Revenue Assurance Services Contract covering those sectors,” the statement read.

Both agencies, GoldBod and the GRA, reaffirmed their dedication to upholding transparency, integrity, and the protection of national interests in the management of Ghana’s natural resource revenues.

The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, on Thursday, May 15, 2025, received the United States Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Virginia Palmer, at his office in Accra.

The visit formed part of Ambassador Palmer’s farewell engagements as she officially announced the end of her tenure in Ghana.

Discussions between the two leaders centred on strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation in areas of mutual interest.

Hon. Muntaka Mubarak commended Ambassador Palmer for her exemplary service and contributions to the Ministry and its agencies, noting the progress achieved under her leadership in U.S.-Ghana relations.

“Ambassador Palmer has been a true partner in our shared mission to promote peace, security, and good governance. Her tenure has seen remarkable collaboration between our two countries, especially within the security sector,” the Minister stated.

Ambassador Palmer, in turn, expressed her appreciation for the productive partnership and reaffirmed the U.S. government’s continued commitment to supporting the Ministry of the Interior and the Government of Ghana.

“It has been an honour to serve in Ghana. The strength of our partnership has been deeply encouraging, and I am confident it will continue to grow stronger,” she said.

The meeting highlighted the enduring relationship between Ghana and the United States, built on mutual respect and shared goals.

Minister Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor

Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor has disclosed that Ghana Water Limited has failed to pay the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for power consumed over the past seven months, resulting in an accumulated debt of approximately GH₵1 billion.

This revelation was made during a meeting with Parliament’s Energy Committee and key stakeholders in the power sector, where the Minister directed ECG to urgently recover the outstanding amount to sustain operations amid growing financial stress in the sector.

“Ghana Water hasn’t paid even GH₵1 for seven months, and it has compounded to GH₵1 billion. The power sector will not be stable if such debts continue. The private sector or ordinary citizens alone cannot shoulder this burden,” Jinapor stated.

He made these comments while responding to complaints from Ghana Water Limited about erratic electricity supply affecting water distribution.

In a related development, the Minister revealed that Karpower, one of Ghana’s key Independent Power Producers (IPPs), has issued a notice of shutdown effective May 18, citing over $400 million in unpaid government debt.

“Karpower has just sent us a letter that by the 18th, they will shut down the plant because we owe them more than $400 million. In total, we owe IPPs about $1.7 billion,” Jinapor added.

These revelations come as Ghana’s energy sector grapples with a deepening liquidity crisis, exacerbated by underreported revenues, ballooning government arrears, and delays in implementing cost-reflective tariffs.

The Minister stressed the urgency of improving revenue recovery, warning that failure to act would further destabilize power generation and supply nationwide.

The Country Director of Amnesty International Ghana has urged Parliament to fast-track the passage of the reintroduced Anti-Witchcraft Bill to outlaw witchcraft accusations and attacks. 

Genevieve Partington said their engagements with relevant stakeholders on the matter, including the Attorney General’s Office, offered hope that once the bill was passed, it would be assented into law. 

Ms Partington made this appeal in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra. 

“I am actually quite happy that this bill, once it is passed, will be signed into law. So far, we have not gotten any pushback from the government. They say if it passes in Parliament, they will sign it,” she added. 

The Anti-Witchcraft Bill aims to criminalise witchcraft accusations to protect vulnerable individuals and strengthen social cohesion.  

Also, it seeks to make it illegal to accuse someone of witchcraft, establish protective measures for victims, and provide a legal pathway for justice. 

Ms Partington called for the Government’s intervention in providing a conducive environment and stay for the victims at the camps, prior to their rehabilitation and reintegration into society. 

She said they faced harsh and inhumane conditions in the camps, adding that many of the women lived without access to basic services such as healthcare, clean water, and sanitation. 

Ms Partington said governments over the years had failed to ensure access to adequate food, safe housing and clean water in the camps. 

She added that the state’s failure to investigate and prosecute “witch attackers” contributed to the recurrence of accusations. 

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Decongestion exercise at the Central Business District in Kumasi

A trader at the Central Business District in Kumasi, in the Ashanti Region, has called on God to destroy the world following an operation by the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) to clear hawkers and traders off pavements.

The frustrated trader, who could not bear the sight of the destruction of traders’ wares and other items during the decongestion exercise, called on the Creator of the universe to end the world.

“God, the country we live in is not of God. Destroy the world so everyone will die because of what the KMA is doing to people. They are just destroying people’s properties,” the trader is heard saying in a video posted on the social media platform X.

In the video members of the KMA Taskforce are seen confiscating some items of the traders and putting them into a big track parked nearby to transport the items.

Since assuming office, the KMA Chief Executive, Richard Ofori Boadi Agyemang, also known as King Zuba, has prioritised the removal of traders operating in unauthorised areas.

Last week, KMA launched a decongestion operation targeting several parts of the Central Business District in an effort to reduce human and vehicular congestion and improve sanitation.

A statement issued by the Assembly listed the affected areas as Adum, Kejetia, Pampaso, Dr. Mensah, the Zoo enclave, Dunkirk, Roman Hill, the area around the Kejetia Market, Adehyeman, and Alarba. The KMA further warned that trading in those locations and other unsanctioned areas will no longer be tolerated.

“God should destroy the world because this our country is no good”

—A trader at Kumasi reacts to the operations of Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly officials as decongestion efforts take full swing in the central business district. pic.twitter.com/lrqlub9htH

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) May 15, 2025

KA

Watch as Agradaa promises to share church money with Sammy Gyamfi if he’s fired

President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled an ambitious package of road infrastructure projects and socio-economic development programmes for the Upper West Region under the government’s Big Push initiative, pledging accelerated growth and improved livelihoods for residents.

Speaking at a durbar at the Wa Jubilee Park as part of his thank-you tour, President Mahama expressed gratitude for the region’s overwhelming support in the 2024 elections.

He assured constituents that their loyalty would be rewarded with tangible development, particularly in the areas of roads, agriculture, education, and youth empowerment

The Upper West Region, long hindered by poor infrastructure and limited economic opportunities, is poised for transformative change under the government’s Big Push agenda.

President Mahama announced a comprehensive plan to rehabilitate the Wa-Tumu-Bolgatanga trunk road, construct new roads along the Techiman-Wenchi-Bole-Wa-Hamile corridor, resurface portions of the Sola-Fufulso road, and upgrade roads in several districts, including Wa East, Nadowli, Daffiama-Bussie-Issa, and Sissala East.

“During the campaign, we travelled on a terrible road network that has become characteristic of the Upper West Region. Work will begin very soon. In a few months, you will see contractors on all these roads,” he said.

Cedi gains, lower prices show economy is stabilising – Mahama

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa will travel to the United States on a working visit next week and will meet U.S. President Donald Trump on May 21, Ramaphosa’s office said in a statement late on Wednesday.

“President Ramaphosa will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington DC to discuss bilateral, regional and global issues of interest,” South Africa’s presidency said.

“The president’s visit to the US provides a platform to reset the strategic relationship between the two countries,” the statement added.

Relations between South Africa and the U.S. have soured significantly since Trump returned to the White House in January.

Trump has cut all U.S. financial assistance to South Africa, citing disapproval of its land reform policy and of its genocide case at the International Court of Justice against Washington’s ally Israel.

This week the Trump administration welcomed 49 white South Africans it has granted refugee status, having deemed them victims of racial discrimination.

South Africa maintains there is no evidence of persecution of white people in the country and Ramaphosa has said the U.S. government “has got the wrong end of the stick”.

The United States is South Africa’s second-largest bilateral trading partner after China.

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Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumu

The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Chairman Wontumi, has claimed that he funded the party’s congress held in Tamale in the Northern Region with GH₵1 billion in 2014.

According to the outspoken politician and businessman, he has always been selfless and remains committed to supporting the party both financially and through other means to ensure the NPP wins the 2028 elections.

Chairman Wontumi, who has declared his intention to contest for the National Chairman position of the party, made this statement during an interview on his media outlet, Wontumi TV, on Thursday, May 15. He stated that his generous contributions to the party are well documented and beyond doubt, adding that he has always supported the party without expecting any rewards.

“If Jake Obetsebi Lamptey were alive, he would have led my campaign. When I was the Bosomtwe Constituency Chairman, I supported both my constituency and the regional party. I also sent money to the national office every month because, at the time, we were in opposition.

“In 2014, I contributed funds at the national level for the Tamale Congress that elected Chairman Afoko and Kwabena Agyepong as National Chairman and General Secretary, respectively. After organizing the Ashanti Regional Congress, I donated GH₵1 billion from the remaining funds to the party. This is something I do regularly—I am a very selfless person.”

He also shared how he personally rented an office building for the regional party for 10 years and later secured a permanent office for them.

Chairman Wontumi further expressed his gratitude to the NPP for the popularity he has gained over the years through his service as Regional Chairman.

#WontumiNews : “I supported the NPP with Ghc1billion in 2014 for the Tamale Congress.I’ve always been selfless and I promise to forge unity in the party ahead of the 2028 elections” -Chairman Wontumi pic.twitter.com/Qqw3NMSznF

— Wontumi Communications (@WontumiTV) May 15, 2025

KA

Watch as Agradaa promises to share church money with Sammy Gyamfi if he’s fired

Tanzanian authorities arrested a senior opposition official as he was departing for a political conference in Belgium, his party said on Tuesday, as fears grow of an escalating crackdown ahead of an October election.

While President Samia Suluhu Hassan, who plans to seek reelection, says the government is committed to respecting human rights, a recent string of high-profile arrests has thrust her record into the spotlight.

Amani Golugwa, a senior member of Tanzania’s main opposition CHADEMA party, was arrested at Julius Nyerere International Airport in the capital Dar es Salaam on Monday, his party wrote on X.

Tanzanian police confirmed his arrest in a post on their Instagram account, writing that Golugwa “has a trend of leaving and returning to the country without following legal procedures.”

“Dar es Salaam police special zone is continuing with the investigation on the matter in collaboration with other security organs,” the post added.

A government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Golugwa had been due to represent his party in Brussels at a forum organised by the International Democracy Union, a grouping of centre-right parties that CHADEMA belongs to and which also counts the British Conservatives and U.S. Republicans as members.

“The IDU strongly condemns the unlawful arrest and assault of CHADEMA’s (Golugwa),” the organisation posted on X. “Silencing opposition voices violates the core of democracy. We call for his immediate release.”

Police arrested Tundu Lissu, CHADEMA’s leader and Tanzania’s main opposition figure, last month.

Lissu, who was shot 16 times in a 2017 attack and came second in the last presidential poll, was subsequently charged with treason over what prosecutors said was a speech calling upon the public to rebel and disrupt the elections.

He had held several rallies in early April under the slogan “No Reforms, No Election”, where CHADEMA demanded significant changes to an electoral process they say favours the ruling party.

Days after Lissu’s arrest, the election commission disqualified CHADEMA from participating in the polls over its refusal to sign a code of conduct.

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Mali’s military government announced on Tuesday that it had dissolved all political parties, approving a recommendation publicised last month that spurred unprecedented protests in the capital, Bamako.

A statement read on state television said the decision had been validated by military leader Assimi Goita, who seized power in the West African country after coups in 2020 and 2021.

Last month, a national conference of political actors in Mali recommended naming Goita as president with a five-year mandate as well as dissolving the parties.

In protests in Bamako on May 3 and May 4, several hundred critics carried placards displaying messages calling for multi-party elections and chanted slogans such as: “Down with dictatorship, long live democracy.” The junta originally committed to holding elections in February 2022.

Ahead of another planned protest on May 9, Mali suspended political activities across the country, forcing the opposition parties to call off their gathering.

Meanwhile, three opposition politicians are feared to have been abducted in recent days, according to party officials and human rights activists, raising fears of mounting repression.

Human Rights Watch said in a statement last week that Abba Alhassane, secretary general of the Convergence for the Development of Mali (CODEM), was arrested by “masked gunmen claiming to be gendarmes” on May 8.

The group also said “unidentified men” seized El Bachir Thiam, leader of the Yelema party, in the town of Kati outside Bamako on the same day.

On Tuesday, a member of CODEM, speaking on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, told Reuters that the party had not heard from Abdoul Karim Traore, a party youth leader, for two days and feared he had been abducted too.

Mali’s security ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.

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A court in Thailand has issued 17 arrest warrants for people connected to the building of a skyscraper that collapsed during an earthquake in March.

The 30-storey tower, being built to house the State Audit Office, was felled when Bangkok felt tremors of a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck neighbouring Myanmar.

Authorities said they had recovered 89 bodies from the rubble of the tower, while seven remain unaccounted for.

Police investigating the cause of the collapse said the warrants were issued to people involved in the design, construction and building supervision of the tower, local media reported.

Police named only one of the individuals as businessman Premchai Karnasuta, a former president of Italian-Thai Development PLC., one of Thailand’s largest construction firms.

Thai media reported on Thursday that investigators had found structural flaws in a lift shaft in the building. Thai authorities are yet to release their findings into the cause of the building’s collapse.

Footage showed high-rise buildings in Bangkok swaying and water falling from rooftop pools onto the streets below resulting from the strong tremors.

Buildings in the Thai capital emerged from the quake largely unscathed except for the State Audit Office – a tower made of blue glass and steel that was situated opposite the Chatuchak market, a popular tourist attraction.

It had been under construction for three years at a cost of more than two billion Thai baht ($59m; £45m) before it was reduced to rubble.

More than 400 workers were at the site when it collapsed, and drones, sniffer dogs, cranes, and excavators were brought in to help with the rescue effort.

The earthquake that hit Myanmar on 28 March caused the deaths of more than 3,000 people and injured more than 4,500, with tremors felt elsewhere, including in Thailand and south-west China.

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Ghana is strategically positioned now to manufacture its own vaccines, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has disclosed.

He said Ghana had established the National Vaccine Institute; hence, the nation was well-placed to produce its own vaccines.

Moreover, other leading pharmaceutical companies in the country had also taken the lead in that respect.

Mr. Akandoh disclosed at a press conference at the Presidency in Accra, during a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama by Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC).

The Africa-CDC Director-General is in the country to sign a data-sharing agreement between Ghana and Africa-CDC.

Mr Akandoh said: “As we all recall during the pandemic, we have countries who looked into our eyes and told us that, look, not until they satisfy their citizens, they were not going to allow the export of vaccines into our country, and therefore I think that we must learn lessons from that to be able to prepare adequately for any future pandemic”.

“We also think that we should be able to build or scale up our primary health care services as we roll out the free primary health care.”

He said the Mahama Cares also needs some kind of collaboration for its sustainability, and it could also be an innovation that could also be emulated by other African countries.

He said the resource support from other partner donors or development partners were dwindling.

“We all know that we have been signalled that by the year 2030, we’ll be exiting Gavi, and therefore there is a need for us to find a sustainable way of financing our vaccines in this country.

This, he said, was one of the ways they could collaborate well with Africa-CDC to ensure that they had sustainable sources of funding for their vaccines, saying “and if we do, then other countries can also emulate same”.

Mr Akandoh said Dr Kaseya’s visit to Ghana and the objectives of the Africa-CDC aligned very well with one of the priorities of the President by putting in place a robust mechanism to have a robust healthcare system to be able to respond promptly to pandemics and to ensure that we have health security in this country.

He said that as a country, they had collaborated so well with Africa-CDC and that they had enjoyed some support from Africa-CDC for some time now.

Highlighting that, Mr Akandoh said Ghana had enjoyed about $2.4 million to strengthen its primary healthcare system.

He said they were at the moment training or had trained about 400 epidemiologists through the Africa-CDC’s assistance.

He said they raised not less than $400,000 to train such people.

He said the Africa-CDC had also assisted Ghana to raise not less than $1.6 million for the procurement and delivery of coaching and IT equipment as a country.

Mr Akandoh said that by the grace of God, Ghana was playing a vital role in terms of health in Africa.

He said the School of Public Health at the University of Ghana was currently serving as the sub-regional centre for training epidemiologists.

Mr Akandoh said the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) was also at the maturity level for what was playing a vital role in promoting continental health security.

He said the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) was one of the strongest health financing schemes within the sub-region, declaring that “other countries are also learning from us”.

“We are leading by example, not only the National Health Insurance Scheme, but at the moment, as you all know, it is His Excellency John Dramani Mahama’s priority area to roll out what we call the Free Primary Healthcare, which we believe that that will catalyze or be a catalyst to arriving at the Universal Health Coverage on time,” the Minister said.

He also mentioned the Mahama Cares (Ghana Medical Trust Fund), which was set-up by the Government as part of efforts to relieve the financial burden of sufferers of chronic diseases (Non-communicable Diseases).

Dr Jean Kaseya, Director-General, Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa-CDC), lauded President John Dramani Mahama’s visionary leadership in transforming Ghana’s health sector.

“I’m so impressed, so impressed by President Mahama. This is why I told him I would come to visit you in Ghana, and I want you, the media to say that someone who came from the African Union, someone who is the leader of health in Africa, is impressed by what Ghana is doing,” Dr Kaseya said.

He underscored the African Union and the Africa-CDC’s commitment to support Ghana and to share the good news and experiences.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Last Tuesday, 6th May, the Supreme Court of Ghana in a 3-2 majority dismissed an application by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, a member of parliament who invited the court to halt the suspension of Ghana’s Chief Justice as effected by the president of the republic, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama.

The decision followed the unanimous ruling of the court dismissing the objection of the lawyer for the applicant against Acting Chief Justice Baffoe-Bonnie from presiding over the injunction application. In an interview after the proceedings, the lawyer asserted that in the constitutional history of the country there has not been any instance of a Chief Justice presiding over proceedings when the matter concerns the Chief Justice. Thus, as an Acting Chief Justice and a direct beneficiary of the issue at hand, he is not supposed to preside over the proceedings.

The process for the removal of the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Getrude Torkornoo was initiated on 25th March where an official communique from the office of Ghana’s president stated that three petitions from different persons have been received by the president seeking for the removal of the chief justice, her Ladyship Getrude Torkornoo.

The communique also stated that the president has upon receiving the petitions, forwarded them to the Council of State to commence the consultation process mandated by article 146 of the 1992 Constitution. By the communique, a lot of issues was raised concerning the constitutionality of the process as initiated by the president.

Two separate writs by Ghanaian citizens Vincent Ekow Assafuah and Ebenezer Osei-Owusu were issued on 27th of March invoking the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, arguing that the process as initiated by the President of Ghana is in clear violation of the constitution, specifically article 146. Former Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame representing his client Vincent Ekow Assafuah argued that there ought to be a notification to the Chief Justice before processes under 146 can be triggered as this is in consonance with all rules of natural justice and constitutionalism.

In addition, the chief justice issued a communication requesting the president and eminent members of the council of state to forward the petitions against her to her and be allowed at least seven days after receipt to respond to same. She argued,

It is the most fundamental percept of the common law and our constitutional dispensation ingrained into the justice delivery process, that no consideration that affects the rights of a defendant can be made unless the defendant has been given notice of the contents of a charge, and an opportunity to respond to them.

Thus, her response together with the evidence in the petition should be obtained before the procedure under article 146(6) can be triggered.

Pursuant to the combined reading of clauses (6) and (7) of article 146, the president is required to appoint a committee acting in consultation with the Council of State to determine the merits when a petition is for the removal of the Chief Justice. Thus, the constitution is silent on obtaining the preliminary response of the Chief Justice and determining a prima facie case before the setup of a committee.

The logical gap of a determination of a prima facie case was presented before the court in the case of Frank Agyei Twum vs. Attorney General & Akwetey [2005-2006] where the plaintiff prayed for reliefs inter alia that the court should construe article 146 (6) concurrently with article 146(3) and 146(4) which requires the establishment of a prima facie case prior to the setting up of a Committee to investigate complaints in a petition against a Justice of the Superior Court because the Chief Justice is first and foremost a Judge of the Superior Court.

Upholding the plaintiff’s averments, the court through Date-Bah JSC (as he was then) declared,

In my view, the objective purpose and spirit of the 1992 Constitution require that a Chief Justice be given the benefit of a prior determination as to whether there is a prima facie case established against him or her, before the President may establish a committee to consider a petition for his or her removal. A comparative examination of the relevant provisions dealing with petitions for the removal of other Superior Court Justices (in articles 146(3) and 146(4)) reveals an omission in the plain language of article 146(6) relating to the impeachment process of the Chief Justice which, in my view, could not have been intended by the framers of the Constitution.

The question that stirred public reactions, including the two suits, was whether or not the president has a mandate to first obtain the Chief Justice’s preliminary response before the determination of a prima facie case.

In response to the Chief Justice’s letter the president gave the Chief Justice 10 days to give her preliminary response to the petition before the establishment of a prima facie case.

Following the establishment of a prima facie case, the president on 29th of April established a 5-member committee in compliance with article 146(6) to inquire into the merits of the petitions. Consequently, the president suspended the Chief Justice pursuant to article 146(10) from office pending the outcome of the committee’s proceedings. It is noteworthy to quote the provision in article 146(1) which deals with the conditions of a removal of a justice of a superior court.

Article 146(1) – A Justice of the Superior Court or a Chairman of the Regional Tribunal shall not be removed from office except for stated misbehaviour or incompetence or on ground of inability to perform the functions of his office arising from infirmity of body or mind.

While the suspension of the Chief Justice has raised many public concerns including a #SaveTheJudiciaryDemonstration, literally the president is following the constitutional requirements under article 146. Ghana lies in wait for both the court’s reasoning in upholding the suspension of the Chief Justice (which is set to be out on 21st May) and for the outcome of the findings of the committee set up to investigate the petitions against the Chief Justice.

Opinions expressed in JURIST Dispatches are solely those of our correspondents in the field and do not necessarily reflect the views of JURIST’s editors, staff, donors or the University of Pittsburgh.

Richmond Rockson, Head of Communications at the Energy Ministry

The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has assured Ghanaians that the country is not on the brink of a power crisis, despite growing concerns over rapidly depleting fuel reserves.

The reassurance comes amid heightened public anxiety about potential power outages and questions surrounding the sustainability of Ghana’s energy supply.

These concerns were sparked by recent comments from Energy Minister John Jinapor, who revealed that the country requires GH₵1 billion to procure emergency liquid fuel for power generation to address current challenges.

However, speaking with Starr News, the Head of Communications at the Energy Ministry, Richmond Rockson, offered clarification, stating that the government has already secured 450,000 barrels of Light Cycle Oil, which is scheduled to arrive on May 16, 2025, to help avert any potential blackouts.

“Procurement has already been made for 450,000 barrels of Light Cycle Oil, and we expect to receive even more. So, there’s no need for panic—measures have indeed been put in place,” Rockson said.

He clarified that the minister’s comments were meant to highlight systemic inefficiencies in the power sector.

“It’s true that we’re facing serious challenges, including a debt of about $3 billion. Additionally, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) experiences under-recovery each month, amounting to approximately GH₵2 billion. When projected annually, this figure rises to nearly GH₵30 billion.”

“The core issue being discussed is inefficiency within the system. One major challenge is that the fuel component is not factored into the tariff structure. As a result, the government must continually intervene financially to maintain power supply—a model that is clearly unsustainable,” he explained.

Rockson added that the Ministry of Finance has made the necessary financial provisions for fuel procurement to ensure Ghanaians are not left in darkness.

“In the interim, the government remains committed to delivering an efficient and stable power supply. But the long-term solution lies in addressing structural inefficiencies—particularly under-recovery and the sector’s growing debt. These issues must be resolved to build a truly sustainable and reliable energy future.”

A Public Opinion Survey conducted by the Office of the President between October and December 2024 showed that social media is the dominant source of information for Ghanaians on government activities and services. 

The Survey showed that the National Identification Authority was the most popular Office of Government Machinery (OGM) with Ghana-Card issuance being frequently accessed service by the public. 

Speaking at an Information Dissemination Session on the 2024 Public Opinion Survey Report in Accra, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff, Office of the President, said by the third quarter of this year, a Performance Ranking Index of all institutions under the Office of Government Machinery would be published. 

She, therefore, urged the OGM agencies to improve their visibility by leveraging digital tools and other social media platforms to sensitise the public about their activities. 

 Nana Oye urged the OGM institutions to ensure functional websites with regular updates and publication of their annual reports, including financial and operational data to improve perception of transparency and trust among the citizens. 

She entreated them to be proactive with the provision of information about their services through public engagements such as townhall meetings and public outreach campaigns. 

It was imperative to invest in staff training to improve customer service, professionalism and responsiveness to the citizens, Madam Bampoe Addo stated. 

The research underscored the need for targeted interventions to address gaps in awareness, transparency, visibility and service delivery. 

Madam Shamima Muslim, the Deputy Government Spokesperson, expressed the conviction that effective implementation of the research recommendations would build public trust, enhance operational efficiency and align services with the needs of Ghanaians. 

The websites of the various OGM Agencies must be user-friendly and interactive, with a mechanism for feedback from the public, she noted. 

Dr Evans Aggrey-Darko, the Head of the Civil Service, entreated management of the various OGM institutions to leverage technology to minimise human interface that often bred corruption. 

He underscored the need for OGM institutions to utilise internal auditors efficiently to prevent financial infractions. 

Some institutions that constitute the Office of Government Machinery are the State Protocol, Council of State, State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), National Population Commission, Ghana Aids Commission, and Millennium Development Authority. 

Others are the Zongo Development Fund, Micro and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), National Centre for Early Warning Secretariat, Ghana News Agency, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and Information Services Department. 

The OGM Agencies are the operating arm of the Presidency that support the Executive branch of government to implement policy interventions for improved service delivery and enhance living standards. 

The research saw more than 1,000 responses from respondents across the 16 regions.  

It used focus group discussions and interviews, as well as online platforms for respondents to answer the questionnaires. 

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The Telecel Ghana Foundation marked Mother’s Day 2025 with a community health outreach in Prampram, Greater Accra region.

It delivered life-saving healthcare interventions through its flagship Healthfest and Rural Ultrasound Scan initiatives.

Held at the Prampram Polyclinic on Friday, 9th May, the initiative directly impacted over 1,000 individuals, providing free ultrasound scans for 314 pregnant women, health screenings for 423 community members, and NHIS registration for 300 people.

As part of Healthfest, beneficiaries were screened for blood pressure, blood glucose, hepatitis B, typhoid, and malaria. Attendees also received free medical consultations, treatments, and access to a full team of doctors, nurses, and pharmacists on-site to provide immediate care.

“Our Connected Health pillar is about bringing quality healthcare to the doorstep of underserved communities,” said Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, Head of Foundation, Sustainability & External Communications.

“This Mother’s Day, we’re not just celebrating women, we’re supporting their wellbeing with actionable care and compassion.”

The Rural Ultrasound Scan initiative addressed a critical gap in maternal healthcare access. For many expectant mothers in rural Ghana, routine scans remain a luxury, often leading to undiagnosed complications and preventable risks.

By offering these services at no cost, the Foundation ensures early detection of potential complications while empowering women with knowledge about their pregnancies. In addition, mothers received welcome packages containing essential baby care items, a thoughtful gesture aimed at easing their motherhood journey.

“I heard about the event from my mother and decided to come,” said Humphrey, a young attendee. “I’ve now been screened and diagnosed, and I’m finally registering for NHIS. It’s been a blessing.”

Another beneficiary, Rebecca Nyame, travelled from Tema Community 25 for antenatal care and returned upon hearing about the event.

“I expected a simple scan, but I received so much more. From medical checks to baby items, Telecel Ghana Foundation made me feel seen.

In partnership with the Ghana Health Service, the event also featured antenatal education sessions focused on maternal nutrition, prenatal care, and self-care practices, reinforcing the Foundation’s holistic approach to maternal health.

These Mother’s Day interventions reflect Telecel Ghana Foundation’s ongoing commitment to creating equitable access to healthcare, one community at a time.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Garfield, Puss in Boots, Aristocats’ Toulouse – cultural icons, maybe, ginger most certainly.

And now scientists across two continents have uncovered the DNA mystery that has given our furry friends, particularly males, their notable colour.

They discovered that ginger cats are missing a section of their genetic code, which means the cells responsible for their skin, eye and fur tone produce lighter colours.

The breakthrough has delighted the scientists and the thousands of cat lovers who originally crowdfunded the research.

The scientists hope that solving the puzzle could also help shed light on whether orange coloured cats are at increased risk of certain health conditions.

It has been known for decades that it is genetics that gives orange tabby cats their distinctive colouring, but exactly where in the genetic code has evaded scientists till now.

Two teams of scientists at Kyushu University in Japan and Stanford University in the US have now revealed the mystery in simultaneous papers published on Thursday.

What the teams found was that in the cells responsible for giving a cat its skin, hair follicles and eyes their colour – melanocytes – one gene, ARHGAP36, was much more active.

Genes are made up of pieces of DNA which give instructions to a cat’s cells, like other living creatures, on how to function.

By comparing the DNA from dozens of cats with and without orange fur, they found that those with ginger colouring had a section of DNA code missing within the ARHGAP36 gene.

Without this DNA, the activity of the ARHGAP36 is not suppressed, i.e. it is more active. The scientists believe that the gene instructs those melanocytes to produce lighter pigment.

Ginger cats mostly male

For decades, scientists have observed that cats with completely ginger colouring are far more likely to be male. This tallies with the fact that the gene is carried on the X chromosome.

Chromosomes are larger sections of DNA, and male cats, like other mammals, have an X and a Y chromosome, which carry different numbers of genes.

As it is a gene only on the X chromosome, in this case controlling the pigment production, then one missing piece of DNA is enough to turn a cat fully ginger.

In comparison, female cats have two X chromosomes, so the DNA needs to be missing in both chromosomes to increase lighter pigment production to the same extent – it means a mixed colouring is more likely.

“These ginger and black patches form because, early in development, one X chromosome in each cell is randomly switched off,” explains Prof Hiroyuki Sasaki, geneticist at Kyushu University.

“As cells divide, this creates areas with different active coat colour genes, resulting in distinct patches.”

Although couched in science, the study originally started off as a passion project for Professor Sasaki.

He had retired from his university post, but as a cat lover said he wanted to continue working to uncover the orange cat gene in the hope it could “contribute to the overcoming of cat diseases”.

He and his team raised 10.6m yen (£55,109) via crowdfunding for the research from thousands of fellow cat lovers across Japan and the world.

One contributor wrote: “We are siblings in the first and third grades of elementary school. We donated with our pocket money. Use it for research on calico cats.”

The ARHGAP36 gene is also active in many other areas of the body, including the brain and hormonal glands, and is considered important for development.

The researchers think it is possible that the DNA mutation in the gene could cause other changes in these parts of the body linked to health conditions or temperament.

The ARHGAP36 gene is found in humans and has been linked to skin cancer and hair loss.

“Many cat owners swear by the idea that different coat colours and patterns are linked with different personalities,” said Prof Sasaki.

“There’s no scientific evidence for this yet, but it’s an intriguing idea and one I’d love to explore further.”

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

 The  Member of Parlia­ment (MP) for Tamale South Constituency in the Northern Region, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, has reaffirmed his commitment to champion­ing more development in his constituency

He said the development of the constituency was dear to his heart and would work assiduous­ly to ensure that it was achieved.

Mr Iddrisu made the state­ment here as part of his thank you tour on Tuesday.

Some of the communities he toured included, Tua, Bagliga, Kootingli Kpanvo and Banvim.

Mr Haruna Iddrisu, who is also the Minister of Education, stated that government would not turn its back against the people of Kootingli.

He indicated that their con­tinued voting for him and NDC as a party would not be taken for granted, stressing that, “The NDC government is a listening government and we will do everything possible to get your developmental problems solve, one after the other.”

Moreover, the MP stated that government was aware of the water challenges in the area and was putting things in place to ensure that the water problems was solved once and for all.

Mr Iddrisu added that every community would get it share of the national cake, hence the need for them to exercise patience for the government which had been in power for barely five months.

He again assured them that given development to the communities was one of his priority and he would continue to support them with the devel­opment they needed.

 FROM YAHAYA NUHU NADAA, KOOTINGLI

When former Bayern Munich and Germany boss Flick arrived at Barcelona, he found a number of players were performing well below expectations.

Experienced stars like Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Frenkie de Jong were low in confidence, simply because of the lack of trust they felt they had from their previous coach, Xavi.

Raphinha would rarely play more than 60 minutes before being replaced, while Lewandowski was made to play with his back to goal in a style alien to him.

In addition, none of the three felt particularly welcome at the club with De Jong rightly convinced that Barcelona wanted to sell him to help alleviate their financial plight.

One of the first things Flick did was to tell the three of them how important they were to his plans. This season Lewandowski is top scorer with 25 goals, while Raphinha has a league tally of 18.

Flick also sensed an established culture where the club’s irrepressible youth was not at the heart of the team, and not given the prominence they believed they merited.

Youngsters had been given their debuts because of financial constraints – and Xavi deserves praise for working under such restrictions – but they wanted more. They wanted to take over the team.

Flick’s approach allowed the likes of Gavi, Yamal, Alejandro Balde (21), and Marc Casado (also 21) to do just that. He helped them find their voices, even going as far as allowing them to pick the dressing-room music.

That trust was repaid a hundred times over and reflected on the pitch with a youthful and carefree – some might even say naive – style of play.

He also always remained very close to those who didn’t play regularly, stressing that with the inevitable injuries all clubs have to face, their time would come.

Flick has asked the club for very little so far, paying money for just Dani Olmo and Pau Victor in the summer and adding no-one in the winter transfer window.

The 60-year-old German also strongly believes no-one knows their fitness better than the players themselves. So, any plans to rest the likes of Yamal or Raphinha are not taken without asking them – again building the trust and his popularity among the team.

He also never allows himself to be influenced by the very powerful and demanding Barcelona media, and has remained honest to his players – an approach severely tested when they lost four games and collected just five points out of a possible 21 before the Christmas break.

So, characteristic of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), a number of names have come up as possible contenders for the party’s Flagbearer for the 2028 Elections. Indeed, the race for the NPP flagbearer begun the very moment former Vice President and 2024 Flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, graciously conceded defeat, within 12 hours of the 2024 election.

Dr Bawumia’s unprecedented early concession earned him and the nation’s democracy deserved respect, but it also marked the beginning of an unavoidable question: who leads the NPP to the 2028 elections? The answer to this question is an open secret and ought not be asked ordinarily, but in a democratic situation, particularly in the NPP, where internal contests have been historically fierce, the question linger.

Former Vice President, Dr Bawumia, gave the strongest hint that he would contest again, and through his subsequent engagements, most notably the recent thank you tour, he has emphatically confirmed he would run.

Dr Bawumia’s declaration of intent, surely, has also been inspired by overwhelming support and encouragement he continues to receive from various stakeholders of the party.

Former contender, Kennedy Agyapong, has also declared that he will contest for the flagbearer again, and so has former education minister, Yaw Osei Adutwum, who announced his intention in a Facebook post and later deleted the post.

Former Energy Minister, Boakye Agyarko will most likely join others like former General Secretary, Kwabena Adjei Agyapong, whose recent comments on radio indicate he may run again.

With all these names, the big questions on the minds of many Ghanaians, particularly, NPP members who will select a Flagbearer are: what does each presidential aspirant bring on board? What is their track record in public service and the impact they have made? Does each of them possess the requisite integrity, respect and track record in public service to win the respect and support of Ghanaians?

Thankfully, almost all of them have been in public service before and their public service records are easily verifiable to ascertain their impacts.

Dr Bawumia In Pole Position

In terms of scrutinising their public service records and making comparative analysis between them, I believe it is not an exercise which should be reinvented. It has already been done, and Dr Bawumia stands in pole position.

The NPP’s 2024 Flagbearership race was largely decided on integrity, hard work and commitment to both party and government, public service impact, originality of ideas, among others. Dr Bawumia emerged the best, when party members considered all these factors in 2024, and I believe, strongly, that he is still ahead of the rest, in ticking the boxes, as far as these factors are concerned.

As undoubtedly the most impactful Vice President in Ghana’s history, Dr Bawumia, any day, presents to the NPP, the best option to lead the party back to government, no matter how long it takes. It makes both common, historical and political sense for the NPP to continue to present Dr. Bawumia, just as the party did with President Kuffuor and Nana Akufo-Addo, and just as the NDC did with Prof. John Evans Atta Mills and John Mahama.

Eventhough Prof. Mills was not as impactful a Vice President as Bawumia was, the NDC, nonetheless, had faith in him, and presented him three times, until he was elected President. The reason the NDC did that was simple: Mills was the most experienced NDC member in terms of public service at the highest level, having been Vice to President Rawlings for 4 years.

For Bawumia to have been a running mate twice, Vice President for 8 years, and Presidential Candidate once, he is undoubtedly the most experienced and most marketed NPP member to continue to lead the party. And in terms of his track record in public service, a man who initiated and spearheaded over 20 impactful public service as Vice President, surely deserves to be supported by his party until he becomes President to do more for mother Ghana.

All the names being presented as contenders have had opportunities in public service, but their records and impacts cannot compare with the exemplary vision Dr Bawumia demonstrates, which continue to earn admiration in the NPP and even beyond. It is interesting that just four months into the administration of the NDC, a number of Bawumia visions implemented by the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government, have become the focus of Ghanaians, as they are still being implemented by the new government.

Dr Bawumia’s impact as Vice President, under the leadership of President Akufo-Addo is unmatched, and it is the reason he is widely appreciated by the rank and file of the NPP. A man who has championed championed the implementation of impactful policies such as:

1. Bank of Ghana Gold Purchase Program

2. Issuance of the Ghana Card.

3. Issuance of a Ghana Card number to new born babies

4. Zipline Medical Drone Delivery – largest in the world

4. National Digital Address System

5. National E-Pharmacy Platform

6. Gold for Oil

7. Paperless Port System

8. Digitization of the renewal of National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) Membership.

9. Universal QR code for easy payments. First in Africa.

10. E-Gates and also no more filling of landing and departure forms at Kotoka Airport

11. Mobile Money Interoperability – number one in Africa

12. Ghana is the only country in Africa to have a 100% access to financial inclusion

13. Increased the proportion of Ghanaians with Tax Identification Numbers from 4% to 85%

14. Zongo Development fund.

15. Motor insurance database.

16. Ghana.Gov Platform

17. Citizens App Data Interoperability System – the only one in Africa

18. Individualized Credit scoring – MyCreditscore

19. Networking of medical records in all teaching, regional and district hospitals

20. Agenda 111 hospitals.

21. Electric Buses for Public Transport

22. Tap and Go payment system for public transport

A number of these policies, surely, will need the brain behind it to successfully implement it for the country, and Dr Bawumia, for what he has demonstrated, deserve a chance to lead a future NPP government.

Surely, there are no presidential aspirants in NPP, who can match Dr Bawumia’s record which the party’s members who vote, appreciate. It is not about promises; it is about what you have done before in public service.

AME

Citi News has gathered that operatives from the national security apparatus stormed the residence of former GIHOC Distilleries Managing Director, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, at around 5:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 15, 2025, in an attempt to recover state vehicles reportedly in his possession.

Mr. Jumah, a former appointee under ex-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, was not present at the time of the operation.

Sources indicate that Mr. Jumah is currently under investigation for alleged financial impropriety during his tenure, including the questionable acquisition of state vehicles and mismanagement of company assets.

A letter dated August 1, 2019, from the Board of Directors of GIHOC approved Mr. Jumah’s purchase of a Genesis G90 saloon car (registration number GE 86 22-19), in accordance with his Conditions of Service as Managing Director.

The vehicle, originally valued at over $100,000, was sold to him at just 5% of its value—GHS 4,943.11—as confirmed in a letter signed by the company’s Secretary and Head of Administration, Apea Twumasi-Ankrah.

The 2018 model vehicle, with a 3,300cc engine and chassis number KMHG34JXJU039991, had a mileage of 38,971 km and a seating capacity of five. A technical inspection assessed key components such as the engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, steering, and electrical systems to be in “good” condition, with no history of prior maintenance.

An independent valuation conducted by the State Transport Corporation placed the car’s value at GHS 98,862.00. The appraisal was completed by Daniel K. Orhin, with certification number 0014073.

Mr. Jumah is also being investigated for allegedly retaining two additional official vehicles—including an Audi valued at over $60,000—without formal approval from the Board.

Reports suggest that he later directed security personnel to return the vehicles, noting that one had been in the possession of his son. As of now, one of the vehicles has been successfully retrieved and transported back to Accra.

Further allegations include claims that Mr. Jumah inflated the staff numbers at GIHOC, placing financial pressure on the company. He is also accused of selling company properties in Tema valued at over $700,000 without proper authorization.

Investigations are ongoing.

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Bobby The Blogger Blog of Thursday, 15 May 2025

Source: Bobby Amoah

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ), in collaboration with STAR Ghana Foundation, has commenced a series of stakeholder engagements with market women in Kumasi and women in agriculture in the Northern Region. These engagements aim to explore the challenges informal sector workers—particularly market traders and peasant farmers—face in accessing credit and social insurance services.

The initiative, part of the second phase of the ‘Action for Voice and Inclusive Development (AVID II)’ Project, is operating under the theme “Bridging the Gap: Financial Accessibility and Social Protection for Informal Sector Traders and Farmers in Ghana.”

These regional dialogues are designed to inform national policy discussions aimed at creating inclusive, practical solutions for some of the country’s most economically active, yet underserved, populations.

To meet the goals of the project, CSJ is conducting a comprehensive baseline assessment to gather firsthand accounts from informal workers—primarily market traders and peasant farmers—on the financial and social protection barriers they encounter.

The findings will feed into the design of a ‘Policy Action Platform (PAP)’ that will bring together key stakeholders, including government agencies, financial institutions, and grassroots representatives, to co-create and commit to sustainable, context-appropriate solutions.

“These engagements are vital in amplifying the voices of women in the informal economy, many of whom have historically been excluded from the financial and social protection systems,” said a CSJ spokesperson. “Our goal is to ensure that inclusive policies are not just discussed in boardrooms, but are shaped by the lived realities of those who need them most.”

The series of regional and national dialogue platforms, to be rolled out in the coming months, are expected to catalyse high-impact reforms that can improve access to microcredit, expand social insurance coverage, and reduce economic vulnerabilities in Ghana’s informal sector.

Although Ghana’s informal sector constitutes a significant portion of the nation’s workforce, with approximately 89% of the employed population engaged in informal employment, women are disproportionately represented.

Available data show that while women comprise 92% of employed women in the informal sector, they often face challenges in accessing financial services.

A recent study highlighted that 65.3% of the labor force operates within the informal sector, yet there is a notable lack of accessibility, quality, and usage of financial services and products among these workers. In terms of social protection, enrollment of informal sector workers in Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) remains low, constituting just over one-third of total enrollees annually.

These figures point to the pressing need for initiatives aimed at enhancing financial inclusion and social insurance coverage for Ghana’s informal sector, particularly for women who are predominantly represented in this segment.

The CSJ-led AVID II project is being delivered with the strong support of partners like the STAR Ghana Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and local community stakeholders, whose shared commitment continues to advance social justice and economic equity across Ghana.

By working directly with those most affected, the AVID II Project seeks to close the inclusion gap and strengthen the resilience of Ghana’s informal workforce—one engagement at a time.

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