NPP supporters at a rally

A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) communication team, Richard Suapim Jr, has admitted that the party fell short of expectations and is now facing the consequences of its actions.

In the 2024 presidential elections, Mahama decisively defeated his main opponent, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia with an impressive 56.55% of the total valid votes cast. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia secured 41.61%. Reflecting on the significance of his win, the 2024 election was the largest endorsements ever given to any president in Ghana’s history.

Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Deide Tettey, he acknowledged that many appointees exhibited arrogance and failed to address critical issues, a situation that has contributed to the party’s fall during the 2024 presidential elections.

“After the elections, we have come to realize that Ghanaians expected much from us. Some of the things we thought were not going to happen actually happened. Most of our appointees were very arrogant, and we did not actually call a spade a spade. Now we are paying for it,” Suapim stated.

According to him, the party has now recognized the need to reconnect with the ordinary Ghanaian and acknowledge past mistakes. He emphasized that issuing an apology is crucial in regaining the trust of the electorate.

“It is about time we go out there to say sorry to the ordinary Ghanaian. The General Secretary has made mention of that. We have noticed that ‘sorry’ is what we have to do,” he added.

Meanwhile, you can also watch the latest compilation of Twi news below:

Ekuoba Gyasi, a private legal practitioner, has emphasised the importance of Ghana having strict regulations in place for how contempt is dealt with in our law courts.

He stated that it was necessary to regulate the manner in which the court was granted discretion in dealing with contempt issues.

He asserted there is the need to bring finality to this matter, especially when judges are allowed to use their discretion in determining the level of contempt.

Mr. Gyasi noted that although there are case laws to determine how contempt is dealt with, some judges can decide to depart from that.

He believes the Supreme Court would have to deal with it or the country must find ways to regulate it.

The lawyer was speaking with Sir Richie on ‘As it is in Ghana’ on Rainbow Radio 92.4FM, UK, and Rainbow Radio 87.5FM, Ghana.

“We need to look at how we can regulate the discretion exercised by our courts in connection with contempt cases. If a judge decides to treat contempt as a criminal case or civil or handle it as he or she pleases, we need to bring finality to some of these things. Even though there are case laws that tell how contempt should be handled, another judge can decide that this is how I want it to be done. So the Supreme Court would have to finally settle on this thing or we have proper regulation.”

He explained that “in the prosecution or adjudication of all criminal cases, reference is made to the Criminal and Other Offences Act or any other law with prescribed punishment explicitly captured, but contempt is not in any of our law books. There is no stated punishment that can be prescribed. It is the discretion of the court. We need to take a look at this and ensure we do not leave it to the discretion of the judge.”

He was responding to the decision by the Koforidua High Court to hold Akwatia Member of Parliament Ernest Kumi in contempt of court.

Mr. Gyasi said the judge can use the discretion in handing the MP a jail term because we have no sanctions prescribed in our law books.

“For every crime you commit, when convicted, you may be sentenced to a minimum of two years or a maximum of four years, but when it comes to contempt, we do not have those strict regulations that provide some guidelines. So, as a nation, we must regulate that aspect of the law,” he said.

Meanwhile, you can also watch the latest compilation of Twi news below:

Ghana is grappling with a worsening cholera outbreak, which has now spread from the Greater Accra Region to Central, Western, Ashanti, and Eastern regions.

As of February 16, the country has reported over 6,100 cases and 51 deaths, placing immense pressure on the nation’s healthcare system.

Dr Douglas Amponsah, Medical Superintendent of Winneba Government Hospital, shared the challenges healthcare workers face.

“People have to go to the theatre, and we have to take care of them. Last week, I single-handedly handled more than 20 cases. I had to step up because my officers were occupied managing cholera cases in the wards.” 

Despite the severity, intensified response efforts, such as vaccinations, enhanced surveillance, and public awareness campaigns, are beginning to show promising results.

Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh noted, “Although the situation in the Central Region remains concerning, new cholera cases are declining. Hard-hit districts like Agona West and Effutu are now seeing a reduction in infections.” 

The government ramped up surveillance, rapid diagnosis, and environmental assessments to combat the outbreak. To further control the spread, cholera treatment centres have been set up, and nearly 854,000 people in high-risk areas have received oral vaccines.

Cholera, which spreads through contaminated water and food, thrives in poor sanitation conditions. In response, public awareness campaigns stress preventive measures like improved hygiene and sanitation.

Although the number of cases is declining, experts warn that sustained efforts are crucial to prevent future outbreaks.

The Committee to Protect Journalists urged Ghanaian authorities Thursday to investigate the attack on five journalists who covered the elections in the southern Ashanti Region.

The attack occurred at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council while the journalists were covering electoral officers counting votes. It was reportedly triggered by the defeat of National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, forcing the electoral commission to suspend the process. The journalists reported that they were covering the vote-counting process when at least 14 unidentified men attacked electoral officials, destroyed ballot papers, assaulted the reporters by hitting and slapping them, confiscated their phones, and deleted their footage. The GhanaWeb’s Asahnti Regional Correspondent, Gideon Nana Peprah, who was also attacked, recounted his harrowing experience:

Built men from nowhere just stormed the place. They stormed the grounds where the electoral officers were doing the sorting and counting. Suddenly, they started scattering everything — the ballots, the prepared ballot papers, and the tally sheets. Then, at some point, they even started attacking themselves, which left us confused as to what was happening

Following this incident, the Ghana Police Service issued a statement that they were tracking the “thugs” that disrupted the election and committed violence against the journalists. According to the public statement, the police were reviewing all available footage to identify and arrest the perpetrators.

Angela Quintal, the head of CPJ’s Africa program in New York, stated that journalists’ critical democratic role in reporting elections is too often jeopardized with impunity in Ghana. She further said that “Ghanaian authorities must find out who was behind the assault on five journalists and electoral officers in Ashanti Region and ensure those responsible are ultimately held to account.”

By Michael Foli Jackidy 

Agortime (V/R), Feb. 22, GNA – Ms. Vicentia Leyo Sename, aspiring District Chief Executive (DCE) for Agortime-Ziope, is planning to deploy water tankers to supply potable water to communities affected by the recent contamination of the Tordze River.   

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Ms. Leyo explained that the water supply initiative is a temporary measure aimed at sustaining residents until a medium to long-term solution is provided.  

She also emphasised the need for comprehensive testing of the river to determine when it would be safe for use again.   

She noted that the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr. Charles Agbeve, and the Volta Regional Minister, Mr. James Gunu had also initiated water distribution efforts, which commenced on Wednesday, February 19, 2025.   

“I feel deeply for the people affected by the contamination of the river. I am aware that both the MP and the Regional Minister are already distributing water, but I will also ensure that additional water tankers are deployed to the affected areas. This will ensure that from today, through the weekend, and beyond, the people will have access to clean water,” Ms. Leyo stated.   

She explained that while discussions were at an advanced stage to find a permanent solution to the ongoing water crisis, immediate action was needed to address the short-term challenges.   

The contamination of the Tordze River, a tributary of the Volta River, was caused by an agrochemical spill following a truck accident at Tove in the Republic of Togo. This was confirmed by the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) in a press release.   

Ms. Leyo urged residents to adhere to safety guidelines and avoid using the river until official tests confirm that the water is safe for consumption.   

“The safety of our people is the top priority. I urge everyone to comply with directives and refrain from using the river for now to prevent any health risks,” she added.   

She also revealed that the Chief of Agortime had taken steps to conduct an independent water quality test, and the community was awaiting the results to determine the next course of action.   

For decades, residents of Agortime-Ziope have struggled with access to potable water, making them heavily dependent on the Tordze River for drinking, farming, and other daily needs.  

The recent contamination has exacerbated the situation, raising urgent concerns about the need for a sustainable water supply system in the district.   

Ms. Leyo reaffirmed her commitment to working with stakeholders to secure a lasting solution to the water crisis and improve access to clean water for all. 

GNA 

For instance, he said, “some appointments and transfers to and from Catholic schools without recourse to the Church leave the Church wondering whether there exists a partnership.”

The GCBC Vice President also expressed the Catholic Church’s concerns about “the dissemination of information on educational matters without reaching out to a major stakeholder in education such as the Catholic Church.”

“Since Catholic schools are an extension of the Church’s faith, the Church wishes to humbly appeal to His Excellency, the President of the Republic to consider posting newly recruited teachers who are Catholics to Catholic schools to keep the Catholic faith alive in Catholic schools so that we do not lose our identity in our own schools,” Bishop Kofi said.

He went on to fault the exclusion of “the Mission/Unit representatives of the Church on the Ghana Education Council”, which he said was “withdrawn in the revised Education Act approved by the 8th Parliament of the 4th Republic.”

“Let us all seize this opportunity to remind ourselves about the Memorandum of Understanding that exists between the government of Ghana and the Mission/Unit schools for effective collaboration and unity of purpose in the delivery of desired educational outcomes,” he said. 

The Ghanaian Catholic Bishop, who has been at the helm of Ho Diocese since his Episcopal Consecration in October 2015 said that the Catholic Church expects to receive a formal policy directive from the committee regarding the partnership between Mission/Unit schools and the government in the management and delivery of quality education.

The two-day education forum that concluded on February 19 took place in Ho in Ghana’s Volta region under the theme, “Transforming Education for a Sustainable Future”.

In his address, Bishop Kofi of Ho Diocese said that education is universally recognized as the foundation of economic growth and development, as well as a powerful catalyst for positive social transformation.

“The importance of education to an economy cannot be overemphasized, especially in this 4th industrial revolution. Hence, the need to do everything possible under the sun to continuously make it relevant to the changing needs of society,” the Vice President of GCBC said.

He commended Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, for convening the Forum to assess the current education system and provide recommendations, noting that the initiative aligns with the Catholic Church’s upcoming Second Education Forum, scheduled for March 10–15.

A Frenchman has appealed to two thieves who used his stolen credit card to purchase a jackpot-winning scratch card to come forward, promising to split the €500,000 (£413,664) prize with them.

Introducing himself as Jean-David E, the man told RTL radio that since the money would otherwise be seized by the authorities, he is looking to strike a deal with the thieves.

“Without me, they would not have won, but without them, I would not have bought this ticket. I want to offer them to share the winnings,” the Toulouse resident said.

No one has so far come forward with the winning ticket, which has been blocked by Française des Jeux (FDJ), the operator of France’s national lottery, according to Jean-David.

Jean-David discovered that his backpack containing his wallet had been stolen from his car parked in central Toulouse on 3 February.

After calling his bank to block his credit card, he discovered that €52.50 (£43.47) had been spent via a contactless payment at Tabac des Thermes, a nearby corner shop.

Jean-David went to the shop to see if the staff had seen anything suspicious or if any of his belongings had been abandoned at the shop.

“My client spoke to the cashier and discovered that two men who appeared to be homeless used his credit card to purchase cigarettes and several scratch cards”, Jean-David’s lawyer, Pierre Debuisson told the BBC.

The two men told the cashier that they had won the €500,000 jackpot on one of the cards and that they were planning on going to FDJ to claim their winnings.

The cashier found the two men’s behaviour suspicious as they were unable to enter the PIN of one of the cards they attempted to purchase with, according to Jean-David.

After his conversation with the cashier, Jean-David contacted the local police who in turn reached out to the FDJ to alert the games company.

According to Jean-Davide, the police are now likely to seize the winnings, and should the thieves approach the FDJ themselves, they are likely to be arrested.

Scratch card winners have 30 days from the date of purchase to claim their winnings, and the deadline is fast approaching for Jean-Davide and his unlikely collaborators.

His lawyer Mr Debuisson proposed an amnesty: “My client was very happy to have his credit card stolen in these circumstances and so is not looking to prosecute. This is also a miraculous opportunity for these two men to build a new life for themselves.”

“Unless they contact my lawyer, the ticket is unusable. So why not settle amicably and do fifty-fifty?,” 40-year-old Jean-David told RTL.

“For that amount of money, I’m ready to come to an agreement”, he added, explaining that he would use his share of the winnings – €250,000 (£206,988) – to help pay off his mortgage.

The FDJ and Toulouse police have been approached for comment.

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Eighty-two-year-old technocrat-turned-politician, Sir Emmanuel Ojo, speaks to TUNDE OYEKOLA about his education in Nigeria and Ghana, and why he left politics, among other issues

Can you lead us through your background?

I’m Sir Emmanuel Adebisi Ojo. I was born in Ghana (formerly known as the Gold Coast) on 16th February 1943, which means I turned 82 on 16th February this year. I received my education in both Nigeria and Ghana. I started schooling in Ghana and then returned to Nigeria to continue my education. In Nigeria, I did my primary education at St. Michael’s Primary School, Okuku, in Odo Otin Local Government Area of Osun State. I then went to Modern (Secondary) School, also in Okuku. It was while I was in Modern School that I had to leave and went back to Ghana, where I attended middle school at Kumasi Catholic School, Konongo, in the Ashanti region.

I completed a significant part of my education in Ghana. I later came back to Nigeria, but something happened that I don’t usually want to talk about. It is a family matter, so I had to be sent back to Ghana to continue my middle school and tertiary education. I still speak the Ghanaian language fluently because I was born there. I studied and worked there, and I have many friends in Ghana, some of whom are still alive, while others have passed away.

What were your parents doing in Ghana?

My parents were traders in Ghana because trading was very lucrative there at the time. Ghanaians were not particularly skilled traders then, but today I think trading has become a global endeavour. Back then, they were petty traders, and they were proud of it. They made a good living from it.

Was your father a polygamist?

Oh yes, my father married two women. You see, I am the second child of my parents, the eldest being a woman. After me, there were no other male children; there were about five other females. So, my father had to marry another woman because he wanted a male child. Unfortunately, the second wife only had female children as well, but later, my father had two boys.

For a long time, I was the only male child of my parents. I was so pampered that, if not for the grace of God, I might not have amounted to anything in life because I was spoilt as the only male child in the family.

Did you think that was why they sent you to Nigeria to live with your uncle?

Yes, that was probably the reason my father sent me to stay with his elder brother in Nigeria, so that I wouldn’t be spoilt. Unfortunately, something unfortunate happened, and I was sent back to Ghana while I was still in school in Nigeria.

Were your parents still in Ghana when you went back there?

Yes, my parents were still in Ghana. My father had sent me to Nigeria to stay with his elder brother. I don’t want to go into details about what happened, as it’s a family matter. After my tertiary education, I worked in Ghana during the Aliens Compliance Order, which forced all foreign nationals to leave Ghana. My parents returned to Nigeria, but I stayed in Ghana. Later, I came back to Nigeria to start a new life, and by God’s grace, I didn’t find it difficult to secure a job.

Where did you work in Ghana?

I studied Economics and Marketing, so I worked with Nestlé Ghana. I also worked with Ashanti Goldfields Corporation. It was at Ashanti Goldfields Corporation that I resigned to return to Nigeria. I briefly worked with 7Up Bottling Company for about two and a half to three months. Then I moved to the Nigerian Bottling Company, brewers of Coca-Cola.

About six months later, I received a better offer from a company called Brian Munro in Apapa. I was appointed Marketing Manager at Brian Munro and served there for several years. I worked in Benin, Kano, and I spent several years in Kano as the Northern Area Manager. After that, I resigned to establish my own business in Ilorin.

I started as a merchandise operator, distributing goods for Brian Munro. When I retired from Brian Munro, the organisation rewarded me with a franchise for their products and a van. So, I began distributing for Brian Munro here, along with many other companies. As a merchandise operator, I distributed anything that came my way. However, calamity struck, and I lost everything, but I didn’t give up.

What was the nature of the calamity?

It was an accident. My vehicle had an accident near Sagamu. A brand-new truck I had bought was involved in the accident. This, combined with a marital problem, caused me to lose everything, but I didn’t give up. I considered myself like a centipede—an insect that, even when stamped on, keeps moving. So, to the glory of God, after bouncing back, I ventured into the tourism and hotel business because I had lost everything in my distribution trade.

Can you remember a remarkable event that shaped your life?

An unfortunate incident occurred when I was sent back to Ghana. Someone attempted to use me for a ritual, but, by God’s grace, it was revealed through a young girl, and my parents were informed. This experience stayed in my mind, and I resolved that if I was meant to be used for a ritual and the person failed to kill me, then I must strive to succeed in life. I am proud to say that I am now one of the leading figures in the hospitality business in Kwara State.

You’ve experienced life in both Nigeria and Ghana. Can you compare the two?

Now I can say I am proud of my country, but for many years, I was very proud of Ghana for several reasons. In Ghana, there is a lot of decorum, and people are disciplined. You don’t see people rushing at bus stops, but when I came to Nigeria, especially Lagos, people were rushing and struggling to get on buses.

In Ghana, public toilets were available everywhere. Within eight, nine, or twelve houses, you would find a public toilet and a public bathroom where anyone could bathe. Water was available in every village in Ghana. I trusted Ghana so much. However, despite the current economic situation—which is a global issue—I have come to enjoy life in Nigeria. But Ghanaians are much more disciplined.

What about education in both countries?

Education in Ghana is not vastly different from what we have in Nigeria. I wouldn’t rate one country’s system higher than the other. The main difference lies in the intonation of the people in each country.

You have had experience working in both the public and private sectors. Can you share your experience in these sectors?

I’ve worked in both private and government establishments. There was a time when I joined politics because, as they say, everyone is a political animal. I was interested in politics, and, fortunately, my community invited me to a contest because of the little things I had been doing for people. During the zero-party era in the IBB regime, I was invited to contest for councillorship in my ward in the Odo Otin Local Government Area.

I contested and won by a landslide. I became one of the councillors and was appointed the vice chairman of the council in charge of economic planning. After completing my tenure as councillor, I continued in politics. I was later elected chairman of the defunct National Republican Congress, one of the two registered political parties at the time. I served as the chairman of my party in my local government and later in Osun State.

I served as state chairman in Osun State, and even before the creation of Osun, I was the chairman in Oyo State. After that, during Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s tenure as the governor of Osun State, I was appointed chairman of the Civil Service Commission.

Why did you quit politics?

I’m sorry to say, but people go into politics to embezzle public funds. It’s not an ideal thing to do, and I don’t believe in it. I can tell you that this is the main reason I decided not to continue in politics. There’s no way you can be in politics without stealing public funds, because if you don’t have the intention to embezzle money, people will push you into it. They will pressurise you to support and sponsor them or fund their events, whether it’s a naming ceremony, wedding, or hospital bills.

Some people will rely on you for everything, but your salary won’t cover it. Therefore, you must find ways to cut corners, which I am not willing to do. I believe in hard work, so that’s why I tactically withdrew from politics to focus on my business. I don’t envy politicians.

Can you compare the standard of living in those days with today’s standard?

You don’t need to compare lives. I remember years ago when I bought a brand-new vehicle for N2,600. At one point, I bought a brand-new vehicle for N3,600. Not everyone could afford a car then. You could buy a brand-new car from Peugeot Automobile Nigeria Limited for N3,600. When I came to Ilorin, I wanted to buy a Peugeot 504 GL, but I couldn’t get it from my friend, Mr. Osuji, who was the representative of PAN, so I bought it from a local dealer for N5,000.

You’ve clocked 82 years and look young. What’s the secret?

I do everything in moderation. Whatever I do, I do it moderately. I don’t indulge in excess or extremes. Even food, like I told you, I take pap in the morning, and a solid meal in the afternoon, but not too much. For several years now, I haven’t eaten red meat because I know it’s not good for my body.

I haven’t taken milk for years, and if I do, it’s skimmed milk, not full cream. I don’t take sugar, and if I must, I ensure it’s pure honey. There are many things I abstain from. Everything I do is in moderation.

How do you worship your God?

When it comes to being close to one’s Creator, I believe in God and God alone. That’s one of the reasons I decided not to continue in politics—I don’t believe in consulting anyone like a marabout, babalawo, Alfa, or prophet. I’ve never visited any. I believe in God alone.

Whenever I kneel and pray, and if I can fast, there is nothing I’ve asked for that I haven’t received from God. So, I truly believe in God.

How did you meet your wife?

I wouldn’t want to say how I met my first wife; I had to divorce. It’s unfortunate, and it’s not a story I like telling, but it happened. The woman I am married to now, I met through a friend of a friend. When I first met her, I couldn’t compare her beauty to my former wife’s. But because the hand of the Lord is always with me, that very night I met her, I had a dream and realised that this would be my woman. Today, I believe she’s the most beautiful and loving woman, and I have the best wife any man can boast of.

How do you relax?

When I was young, I was a member of the Boy Scouts, and we used to go camping in the bush. I also played football, but I can’t do that anymore. As I grew older, it became difficult for me to relax. But at some point, I couldn’t sleep, no matter how much I tried. I took a lot of drugs, and although it worked initially, it eventually stopped working. One day, I knelt and prayed, saying, “God, you said you give sleep to those whom you love, and I know you love me because I love you. Why am I not sleeping?”

God told me that if I wanted to sleep, I should break my day. I thought about it and realised I had to break my day. I tried it the very next day. By 4 o’clock, I lay down and fell asleep. I woke up around 6:30pm, and it felt like magic. I felt healthy. That night, I went to bed again and fell asleep without the need for drugs. Since then, for about nine years, I’ve had my siesta from 4pm to 6:30pm every day.