The New Patriotic Party (NPP), along with four other political parties, has officially notified the Ghana Police Service of their plans to stage a demonstration on May 5 against President John Mahama’s decision to suspend Chief Justice Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkonoo.

The suspension followed the establishment of a prima facie case after three separate petitions were filed calling for her removal. However, the political parties involved have strongly condemned the decision, calling it a direct attack on the independence of the judiciary.

Speaking to JoyNews, NPP Director of Communications Richard Ahiagba expressed the party’s concerns, stating that the suspension undermines judicial independence and is a politically motivated move aimed at weakening the judiciary.

“All of us are united, the five political parties are united in leading this demonstration. The indications we are getting are that other political parties are warming up to join. In the coming days, you will see that the number of parties supporting this will increase.

“This is a call for all Ghanaians to come out and demonstrate against the President’s move to remove the Chief Justice, which we find to be against the constitution, egregious, and a political attempt to subjugate the judiciary,” he said.

Mr Ahiagba confirmed that the demonstration would begin at 7 am on May 5, starting from a park opposite the Supreme Court, before proceeding through Parliament House and ending at the Jubilee House, where the petition will be submitted to President Mahama or a representative.

He added, “We went to the registry, we submitted our notice for the demonstration on the 5th. Our request is for the police to provide security, and we have every intention to make it a peaceful demonstration. Their role is to support us and ensure that the demonstration goes on peacefully, without any disruption to public order.”

He also emphasised that this demonstration is about defending Ghana’s democracy. “Ultimately, we see this as an effort aimed at destroying our democracy, and we will not stand for it.”

Mr Ahiagba addressed the withdrawal of the Ghana Union Movement (GUM) from the protest. He accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) of plotting to disrupt the upcoming demonstration by influencing participants to withdraw.

“I’m not sure any political party worth its salt would want to withdraw from a legitimate demonstration. If you go back in our history, in May 1992, when the ban on political party activities was lifted, this country came alive. Now, when we have the chance to preserve our democracy, it’s strange for any political party to say they won’t be part of it,” he said.

He suggested that the NDC might be behind efforts to weaken the resolve of participating parties.

“We know about efforts to water down our resolve. We know about efforts by the government to weaken our front. But we urge the leadership of GUM to stand strong and stand for democracy. If you don’t have democracy, you don’t have a political party. So, they should reconsider their position,” he said.

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Ghanaian businesses urged to take advantage of AfCFTA

The Associate Director and Head of Transfer Pricing at LIMA Partners, Ernest Amosah, has outlined some key sectors in Ghana that are ripe for cross-border investment under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).

According to him, the AfCFTA has created opportunities for new businesses by reducing tariffs on items imported under the GTI framework of AfCFTA, provided the imported items meet product-specific rules of origin.

He added that the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), an AU infrastructure developed in collaboration with the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), complements trading under the AfCFTA and has greatly benefited businesses engaged in AfCFTA transactions.

Speaking during a webinar organised by LIMA Partners on the theme “Unlocking Opportunities Across Africa: Harnessing AfCFTA for Business Growth,” held on April 25, 2025, Amosah listed the key sectors as follows:

– Processed Cocoa

– Pharmaceuticals

– Cashew (Processed $ In-shel)

-Aluminium Products

– Horticultural Products

– Iron and Steel Products

– Oil Seeds (Processed)

– Automobiles and Vehicles

– Fish & Fishery Products,

– Garments and Textiles

– Apparel

– Industrial Salt

– Natural Rubber Sheets

– Petro-Chemicals

– Articles of Plastic

– Industrial Starch

– Services

– Oil Palm

As part of his presentation, Amosah noted that Ghana was the first country, together with Kenya, to deposit its instrument of ratification with the AU Commission.

Additionally, Ghana was selected in 2020 to host the permanent Secretariat of the AfCFTA.

Ghana has developed the National AfCFTA Policy, Action Plan, and National Export Development Strategy to operationalise the implementation of AfCFTA protocols.

“Ghana’s implementation of AfCFTA involves key institutions including the Inter- Ministerial Coordination Committee, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and Ghana Investment Promotion Center, all of which play specific roles,” he said.

SSD/MA

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Two assembly members in Jomoro Municipality confirmed dead

Two assembly members in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region have been confirmed dead after being knocked down by a 4×4 vehicle.

The incident occurred at Nyamenle Kwame on the deplorable Nuba-Tikobo Number One road on Saturday, April 26, 2025, around 5 p.m.

The deceased assembly members are Ransford Nana Otu Darko of the Elubo West Electoral Area and Francis Armoh of the Alaboale Electoral Area.

According to some assembly members who spoke to GhanaWeb’s Western Regional Correspondent, Daniel Kaku, on condition of anonymity, the two were returning to Elubo on a private motorbike after attending a meeting at Nawule in Jomoro when they were struck by a 4×4 vehicle traveling from the Samenye barrier toward Tikobo Number One.

They claimed that the driver of the vehicle veered off his path after swerving to avoid a pothole and crashed into the assembly members, killing them instantly.

Following the incident, the driver reportedly turned himself in to the police.

The bodies have since been deposited at a private morgue in Nyamenle Kwame for preservation and autopsy.

Some residents of Jomoro have described the incident as tragic and unprecedented, and they have called on the police to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that the driver is held accountable.

Matilda Asante-Asiedu is new Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Matilda Asante-Asiedu as the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana.

The appointment, made in accordance with Section 17 of the Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612) as amended, was announced in a statement issued by the Presidency on Monday, April 28, 2025 and signed Spokesperson to the President for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.

Matilda Asante-Asiedu is a Chartered Banker and an accomplished corporate leader. Before her appointment, she served as the Group Head of Retail Banking at Access Bank Ghana PLC.

She brings a rich academic and professional background to her new role. Asante-Asiedu holds an MBA in Marketing from GIMPA Business School (2021) and an MA in Journalism Studies from Cardiff University (2005).

She also holds diplomas in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (1997) and in Politics and Public Affairs Reporting from the International Institute of Journalism in Berlin (2000).

Additionally, she is a Chartered Executive Banker, having attained her certification from the Chartered Institute of Bankers Ghana (CIB-Ghana) in 2024.

Matilda Asante-Asiedu has further enhanced her expertise by undertaking executive programmes at prestigious institutions, including Said Business School at Oxford University (2023), the Wharton School (2015), and Marquette University’s Les Aspin Center (2003), among others.

MA

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Kofi Adams is the Minister of Sports and Recreation

Ghana’s Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has expressed support for the President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku, suggesting that, despite the chaos often surrounding the country’s football scene, Okraku has been doing a commendable job.

Speaking on Asempa FM, Adams acknowledged that Ghana’s football system has faced numerous challenges but insisted that, under Okraku’s leadership, significant wrongs have been corrected.

“As challenging as the [Ghana] football system has been, Kurt Okraku has not done badly. In these circumstances, he has managed to right many wrongs,” Adams said.

The Minister’s comments come at a time when the GFA is facing heavy criticism from fans, particularly due to the poor performances of the Black Stars and the struggles of the once-popular Ghana Premier League.

Adams’ endorsement of Okraku is likely to raise eyebrows among those who believe the state of football in the country continues to deteriorate.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, April 26, 2025, Okraku achieved a significant milestone within African football’s leadership structure by becoming the 2nd Vice-President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

His appointment was confirmed during CAF’s Executive Committee meeting held in Accra. In his new role, Okraku will play a key part in developing major strategies and driving reforms aimed at advancing the future of African football.

FKA/MA

Watch highlights of Ghana U15 boys’ 3-0 victory over Algeria

President John Mahama has stated that many young Ghanaians have aspirations that must be supported, a commitment reflected in the government’s Adwumawura programme, which aims to help realise those ambitions.

According to him, “Across Ghana, from our bustling cities to our quiet rural communities, young men and women nurture big dreams. They have powerful ideas, and they possess an unstoppable drive to build better lives for themselves. However, these dreams deserve more than just applause; they deserve action, they deserve opportunity, and they deserve committed support.”

The President added, “It is with this conviction that I made a bold promise ahead of the 2024 election: to prioritise the welfare, economic empowerment, and development of our youth through carefully crafted interventions, including the Adwumawura programme.”

He made these remarks in Kumasi on Monday, 28th April, where he officially launched the initiative.

Mr Mahama described the programme as being just another policy initiative, but as “a declaration of faith in the extraordinary potential of our Ghanaian youth.”

He emphasised that the programme represents the government’s “commitment to nurturing their ideas into thriving enterprises that will drive our nation’s progress.”

The Adwumawura programme is an initiative under the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP).

It is designed to provide start-up capital to young entrepreneurs, offer financial support to existing but struggling ventures, and deliver coaching services to business owners.

The government aims to create 10,000 youth-led businesses each year over a four-year period.

The President expressed optimism that the initiative would help close the unemployment gap and stimulate economic growth through the development of indigenous businesses.

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President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Mrs. Matilda Asante-Asiedu as the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, according to a statement released on Monday, April 28, 2025.

The appointment is in accordance with Section 17 of the Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612) as amended.

Mrs. Asante-Asiedu is a Chartered Banker with a strong background in corporate leadership. She previously served as Group Head, Retail Banking at Access Bank Ghana PLC.

Her educational qualifications include an MBA in Marketing from GIMPA Business School (2021), an MA in Journalism Studies from Cardiff University (2005), and diplomas in Journalism (Ghana Institute of Journalism, 1997) and Politics and Public Affairs Reporting (International Institute of Journalism, Berlin, 2000). She also holds the designation of Chartered Executive Banker (CIB-Ghana, 2024).

Read Also: Bank of Ghana does not expect to declare a loss this year – Dr Asiama

Additionally, Mrs. Asante-Asiedu has participated in executive programs at several institutions, including Said Business School at Oxford University (2023), Wharton School (2015), and Marquette University’s Les Aspin Centre (2003).

The announcement was made by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications.

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Cash theft was the most common crime perpetrated, with 274 staff (75%) implicated in 2024

The recent Bank of Ghana (BOG) 2024 Fraud Report reveals that the number of staff involved in fraud at Banks and Specialised Deposit-Taking Institutions (SDIs) increased by 33%, from 274 in 2023 to 365 in 2024.

Cash theft was the most common crime perpetrated, with 274 staff (75%) implicated in 2024, which is up from 211 (77%) in 2023. Although the percentage declined slightly, the actual number rose.

Concerns are being raised due to the consistent and steady increase in staff involvement in fraudulent activities within these financial institutions. In total, 155 staff were dismissed by Banks and SDIs. Of these dismissals, 83 staff (54%) were due to cash theft related fraud.Financial literacy courses

The report notes that only 155 staff, representing 43% of the 365 staff involved in fraudulent activities, were dismissed. This suggests that other implicated staff may be exonerated or given lesser punishments. The difficulty in recovering potential losses due to prolonged legal proceedings also leads institutions to stop pursuing cases.

To address this issue, the BOG has issued directives to Banks and SDIs. These include strengthening internal controls and staff due diligence mechanisms during recruitment, reinforcing continuous in-house training on professional conduct, and ensuring the prosecution of culprits to act as a deterrent. Banks and SDIs are also required to strengthen disciplinary policies and foster a culture of zero tolerance for fraud.

Aside from the directives from the BoG to the Banks and SDIs, e-Crime Bureau strongly recommends that financial institutions urgently implement comprehensive digital monitoring solutions that leverage artificial intelligence to detect unusual employee behavior patterns in real-time.Financial literacy courses

Furthermore, organisations should establish independent whistleblower channels managed by third parties to overcome the cultural barriers that often prevent colleagues from reporting suspicious activities, as peer reluctance to report misconduct remains a significant blind spot in existing fraud prevention frameworks.

Financial institutions must additionally put internal control mechanisms to the test in order to establish their levels of adequacy to prevent, detect and respond to activities that result in the fraud occurrence. This will inform the required amendments to address new modus operandi being adopted by employees.

Banks must develop comprehensive awareness engagement programmes for clients which will enable them understand the levels of risk exposure through the sharing of regular cyber/financial crimes intelligence on the potential loopholes that could result in human compromises that will to the fraud.

Overall, this report is coming at a crucial point that should stair a broader industry collaboration and a deeper assessment of the regulatory regimes that exist in tackling insider related fraud that clearly have a potential of destabilizing the gains being made in other critical aspects of the financial system.

By Christopher Tetteh

Goaso, (Ahafo), April 28, GNA – Dr James Ankomah, the Medical Superintendent of the Goaso Municipal Hospital, has appealed for new refrigerators at the facility’s mortuary for body preservation.

He said all the refrigerators at the mortuary were obsolete experiencing mal-functioning and consistent repair works.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Goaso, the regional capital, Dr Ankomah said the mortuary required new refrigerators as soon as possible, saying “our refrigerators are too old to preserve bodies”.

He said the frequent repairs works on the refrigerators were draining the coffers of the hospital, worrying that “sometimes we have spent not less GHC30,000 for repairs”.

“The mortuary is even too old, and we need a new facility to preserve the bodies well”, Dr Ankomah stated.

GNA

DEN/CA

On Thursday, May 1, 2025, Ghana will once again observe May Day as a statutory public holiday. As is customary, many workers will leave their offices by noon on Wednesday, with some not returning until the following Monday. This pattern, common for holidays falling on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, results in significant productivity losses.

These midweek holidays disrupt workflows, as employees often extend their time off by traveling or taking additional unofficial leave, effectively turning a single holiday into a multi-day break. To address this challenge, we should consider realigning our public holidays to fall on Mondays, fostering long weekends that boost both economic activity and worker well-being while minimizing disruptions to productivity.

The Economic Cost of Midweek Holidays

The problem of midweek holidays is not unique to May Day. When holidays like Founder’s Day, Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, or Constitutional Day fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, some employees may take the adjacent Monday or Friday off, creating an extended break. For instance, a Tuesday holiday might prompt workers to leave early on Monday or not return until Wednesday, while a Thursday holiday could lead to absences stretching into the following Monday.

This behaviour, while understandable, reduces productive hours, disrupts business operations, and strains economic output. Public holidays falling midweek can reduce GDP contribution from sectors like manufacturing and services by up to 2% for the affected week, as businesses face lower output and increased absenteeism.

Economic Benefits

Beyond boosting productivity, realigning holidays to Mondays offers social and economic benefits. Long weekends provide workers with opportunities for rest, family time, and travel, improving mental health and work-life balance. Studies from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest that extended weekends reduce workplace stress and burnout, potentially lowering healthcare costs.

Economically, the tourism sector could see significant gains, as Ghanaians are more likely to visit local attractions or hometowns during long weekends. For instance, a 2023 study by the Ghana Tourism Authority found that domestic tourism spending increased by 12% during three-day weekends compared to single-day holidays. This additional revenue could support small businesses and create jobs in rural areas

Learning from Global Practices

Several countries have successfully addressed this issue by scheduling public holidays on Mondays, creating long weekends that benefit both workers and the economy. In the United States, holidays like Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Martin Luther King Jr. Day are fixed on Mondays, ensuring minimal disruption to the workweek. Similarly, Canada observes holidays such as Victoria Day and Canada Day on Mondays when they do not fall on their exact dates. The United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand also adopt this approach for holidays like Bank Holidays and Anzac Day. Research from the OECD shows that long weekends encourage domestic tourism and consumer spending, with countries like Australia seeing a 5-7% increase in retail and hospitality revenue during such periods. For Ghana, aligning holidays with Mondays could stimulate demand in tourism, retail, and transportation sectors, as workers use the extended weekend to travel or engage in leisure activities.

Balancing Tradition and Flexibility

Not all holidays can or should be shifted. Fixed-date holidays tied to cultural, religious, or historical significance—such as New Year’s Day, Independence Day, Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Good Friday, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and Farmers’ Day—must remain on their designated dates to preserve their meaning. However, other holidays, including Constitutional Day, May Day, Republic Day, Founder’s Day, and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, are more flexible and could be realigned to Mondays without losing their significance.

For example, Constitutional Day, currently observed on January 7, could be moved to the second Monday in January. May Day could become the first Monday in May, Founder’s Day the first Monday in August, and Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day the third Monday in September. Such changes would create predictable long weekends, reducing the likelihood of employees taking additional days off and ensuring a more consistent workweek.

Way forward

To implement this reform, Parliament could amend the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 986) to designate specific Mondays for these movable holidays. The precedent already exists: Farmers’ Day is fixed as the first Friday in December, demonstrating that holidays can be scheduled for consistency. A similar approach could be applied to other holidays, with clear guidelines ensuring that fixed-date holidays remain untouched.
the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture could promote domestic tourism packages tied to these long weekends, maximizing economic impact.

NB: The writer is an economist, lawyer, and a public policy advocate. He is the West Africa Regional Director of CUTS International. He can be contacted via email: [email protected] or www.cuts-accra.org

The stand-off between Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, Ronen Bar, has further intensified, with each man accusing the other of lies or inaccuracies in sworn depositions.

Netanyahu announced the dismissal of Bar last month, but the attorney general and the opposition have appealed against the move to the Supreme Court, which has effectively frozen it for now.

On Sunday, Netanyahu issued an affidavit for the court, in which he described Bar as a liar.

It followed an affidavit from Bar a few days earlier, in which he had accused the prime minister of demanding personal loyalty and ordering the Shin Bet to spy on anti-government protesters.

The confrontation has further exposed the deepening rifts in Israeli politics and society between the right-wing and hardliners supporting Netanyahu and the more liberal elements in the country, who took to the streets to protest against the government’s moves to curb the powers of the judiciary for many months before the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attacks that sparked the Gaza war.

It centres on Netanyahu’s insistence that he fired the Shin Bet head for professional failures.

Bar has countered by saying that his dismissal was motivated by political and personal considerations.

In his affidavit last week, the spy chief said that it was “clear” that if there were to be a constitutional crisis, Netanyahu would expect him to obey the prime minister and not the courts.

He also said Netanyahu had put pressure on him to use the Shin Bet to spy on Israelis leading or providing financial support to anti-government protests.

Many in Israel reacted with alarm, saying it was evidence of what appeared to be an unprecedented effort to overstep the powers of the domestic intelligence agency.

Now in his affidavit, which functions as a form of rebuttal, Netanyahu in his turn excoriated the Shin Bet head.

“The accusation according to which I allegedly demanded action against innocent civilians, or against a non-violent and legitimate protest during the protests of 2023, is an absolute lie,” he said.

Netanyahu also trained his sights on the security failures in the lead-up to and during the 7 October attacks, saying that Bar bore “massive and direct responsibility” for them and had “failed in his role as chief of Shin Bet and lost the confidence of the entire Israeli government as far as his ability to continue to manage the organisation”.

Bar immediately responded in kind in a statement, saying Netanyahu’s affidavit was “full of inaccuracies, biased quotes and half-truths aimed at taking things out of context and changing reality”.

To make its ruling on the dismissal of Bar, the Supreme Court may have to make a choice between which of the two conflicting affidavits it deems to be more credible.

Or the court may seek to defuse the crisis to some extent by finding a mechanism and a date by which Bar might agree to step down,

But the issues which have been exposed in the fierce recriminations between the two men have once again focused attention on the increasing bitterness between opposed sections of Israeli society.

These have been further exacerbated by the ever-growing fault line between those who support Netanyahu and his hard-line government in wanting to continue the war in Gaza to eliminate Hamas at all costs, and those who believe the fate of the living Israeli hostages still being held by Hamas must be put first, even if it means ending the war.

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Flag of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)

Political scientist, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante, has reinforced the view that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) defeat in the 2024 general elections was primarily due to economic mismanagement and the arrogance of power.

His remarks follow admissions by the NPP’s 2024 Presidential Candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, who recently outlined several reasons for the party’s electoral loss.

Speaking during the launch of his nationwide ‘Thank You Tour’ at the Takoradi Technical University, Dr Bawumia cited the high cost of living, the refusal to reshuffle government officials, the controversial E-Levy, the domestic debt exchange programme (DDEP), and internal divisions as key factors.

He also dismissed claims that religious biases were the primary cause of the defeat.

Reacting on the Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, Dr Asah-Asante said the factors mentioned by Dr Bawumia were long known to the public and had been consistently highlighted by political analysts.

He emphasised that the NPP’s defeat was rooted in widespread indiscipline in managing the economy, coupled with an unwillingness to heed advice.

According to him, the economy was problematic, which needed to be fixed, but the NPP ignored all calls.

Dr Asah-Asante stressed that in Ghanaian politics, the economy remains the number one factor influencing voter behaviour.

He said, “I think those who are saying that this was really, they were spoken to about this and they all advised along fell on their deaf ears, they are right. Right, in the sense that these were things that we pointed out. That there’s a problem about the economy, they said, no, everybody is facing economic problems, and that let’s even look at Russia and Ukraine.”

They attributed every problem to Russia and Ukraine. What is even laughable is the fact that they forgot or they refused to admit that some of the problems, even though I can see that, yes, you still have some of the problems attributed to a Russian-Ukraine crisis.”

“But what about the one that they themselves caused? That one, they were not honest to admit that. So they pushed everything to Russia and Ukraine, and people were telling them about the way they mismanaged the economy. The way they were indisciplined with their financial dealings. The way they were not ready to accept ideas in the area of economics, and the rest of them,” he said.

He continued: “And what I think now, I mean, the reality has gone on there now. There’s always a reward and punishment, and when they give you what is good and you refuse, you are punished. When you make use of it, you are rewarded. And that is going to help you to champion your cause. That’s it. All that Dr Bawumia is saying, we know already. And people like us saw that and we started talking about it.”

Dr Asah-Asante noted, “If you look at my conversation, I’ve always said that if you read the literature about voter choices, things that influence voters in this country, there are a number of them. And number one is the economy. Irrespective of somebody’s political ideology, political inclination and whatever they believe in, the economy is paramount to every Ghanaian voter. So when the economy goes down, it’s going to affect everybody. And people vote, number one, based on what?

“Because, when the economy improves, it influences every part of the Ghanaian political space. It rubs off on everybody and improves the lives of everybody. So once you allow the economy to slip through your fingers, you are gone, and you are oblivious to that fact. Most of the things you said were basically things which are economic in nature. So it tells you that the economy was problematic. They needed to fix that. They forgot about that.”