The Osu Mantse, Notse Nii Nortey Owuo IV, has endorsed the 2025 Absa Black Star marathon, underlining its significance in fostering healthy living and community welfare.

The Osu Mantse threw his support behind this year’s event when a group from Absa Bank Ghana and the Black Star Marathon Foundation paid him a courtesy call at the Osu Palace to formally invite him to the marathon.

This year’s marathon, set for Saturday, July 26, 2025, would feature a 42.2km race with a wheelchair event in both the men’s and women’s races, as well as a 10km run, walk, and jog.

The event, which is on the theme “Your Story Matters”, would begin and end at Independence Square in Accra.

During the meeting, Notse Nii Nortey Owuo IV thanked the organisers for their respect and formality in seeking the blessing of traditional authorities.

He praised the marathon as a positive step towards enhancing community health and encouraged all Ghanaians to participate and support this vital cause.

Mr Richard Doe – Sallah of Absa Bank Ghana, speaking on behalf of the organisers, highlighted the broader vision behind the marathon.

“We came here this morning to invite Osu Mantse and his subjects to join us in this very important marathon that is going to happen on their land,” he said.

“It is also a way of saying that we recognise the fact that we are having this event on your land, and we want you and the whole traditional area to be part of this important international marathon.”

He emphasised that the event aligns with Absa’s corporate mission to make a positive and inclusive impact on society.

“The marathon itself is geared towards supporting healthy living and lifestyle, and also addressing critical health issues like kidney disease,” he added.

Also present was Naa Adokarley Mettle Tutu of the Black Star Marathon Foundation, who reiterated the health-focused goals of the event.

“We are on a mission to promote good health, vitality, tourism, and awareness of kidney disease, which has become a major concern in Ghana. We want the entire community and traditional leadership to stand with us in this national effort for wellness and transformation,” said Naa Adorkarley.

The prize pool for this year’s marathon has been increased, with the total exceeding GH¢132,400.

Both the men’s and women’s marathon winners will receive GH¢15,000 each, with special prizes allocated for other categories. Registration for the event is currently open and will close on Monday, June 30, 2025.  

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The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), in collaboration with the African American Association of Ghana (AAAG), has commemorated the 2025 edition of the Juneteenth Festival in Accra to strengthen the bond between Ghana and the Diaspora. 

Juneteenth is a holiday celebrated on June 19 to commemorate the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States.  

The holiday was first observed in Texas, where on that date in 1865, in the aftermath of the Civil War, enslaved people were declared free under the terms of the 1862 Emancipation Proclamation. 

It is to celebrate freedom, resilience, identity, and the enduring bonds between Africa and its Diaspora.

Mrs Maame Efua Houadjeto, the Chief Executive Officer, GTA, said the event marked a moment of deep cultural resonance and historical remembrance, and a call to reflection, unity, and forward movement for the global African family.  

She said this year’s festival, under the vision and leadership of the AAAG, brought to the forefront the power of cultural expression as a tool for healing and unification. 

“Music, art, dance, and shared storytelling serve as bridges that reconnect us to our roots and strengthen our future,” Mrs Houadjeto said. 

As Ghana continued to position itself as the Gateway to the African Homeland, the GTA remained deeply committed to fostering relations with the Diaspora, she said.  

“Through initiatives such as the ‘Year of Return’, ‘Beyond the Return’, and our active participation in events like this, the GTA affirms its dedication to reconnection, cultural celebration, and collective progress.” 

Mrs Houadjeto said the GTA was proud to support this year’s Juneteenth Festival, assuring that the support was not only symbolic, but strategic and intentional.  

“It is rooted in our belief that reconnecting with the Diaspora is vital to Ghana’s sociocultural and economic transformation,” she said. 

She noted that the return of the Diaspora reaffirmed the unbreakable ties that bound Ghana and the diaspora, saying: “Together, we will continue to tell our story, build our legacy, and shape our collective destiny.” 

Mr Maurice Cheetham, the Vice President, AAAG, said Juneteenth was the day that the President of the United States in 1863 announced that slaves were free in the southern states. 

The day is to celebrate the culture, history, and tradition of the black community and a way of integrating with Ghanaians to make a difference. 

He said the celebration was also to share a part of the African American history and make it an annual tradition and share the rich history of slavery until the emancipation proclamation. 

Mr Cheetham noted that individual members of the Association had committed to engaging in developmental projects across the country, to support and give back to their roots, and would not relent in their efforts to build their homeland.  

He commended the GTA for their continued support, assuring that they would continue to collaborate to tell the rich African culture and tradition to the world and support the motherland.   

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Niger’s main mine workers’ union has thrown its support behind the military government’s planned nationalisation of Somair, one of the world’s largest uranium mines, saying output will continue, despite tensions with French operator Orano.

Niger, which seized the Somair mine in December, announced its plan to nationalise it last week, accusing Orano of taking a disproportionate share of production.

Its action follows measures by other West African governments to increase earnings from their natural resources.

French state-owned Orano did not respond to a request for comment on the allegations that it has taken more than its fair share.

It has previously said it opposes Niger’s plan and that it reserves the right to take legal action.

The National Union of Niger Mine Workers, or SYNTRAMIN, said in a statement on Saturday that it backed the “sovereign decision” by Niger’s military rulers, who seized power in a coup in 2023.

“For more than 50 years… the benefits of this strategic wealth have never fairly benefited Niger,” it added, denouncing “decades of pillaging organised for the benefit of foreign interests,” without providing evidence.

Orano holds a 63% stake in Somair, while Niger’s state-owned Sopamin owns the remainder. The government said last week that Orano had taken 86.3% of production between 1971, when the mine was launched, and 2024, without elaborating.

SYNTRAMIN also pledged to “mobilise to ensure the continuity of production and optimal valorisation of our resources” under new state management.

Niger is the world’s seventh-largest uranium producer and Somair plays a critical role in global nuclear fuel supply chains.

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The minister [blue suit] in a photograph with the Professional Golfers’ Association, Ghana

The Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has expressed his readiness and enthusiasm for leveraging golf as a tool for sports development and environmental consciousness in the country.

According to the sports minister it’s important to give attention to a sport like golf in order not only to enhance its development but also its economic benefits especially to the youth.

Kofi Adams made a comment when the leadership of the Professional Golfers’ Association, Ghana (PGA), led by its President Hans De Beer, paid a courtesy call to discuss potential collaborations.

At the heart of the meeting was a shared commitment to reposition golf most importantly professional golf as a powerful tool not only for sporting excellence but also for promoting ecological awareness and social inclusion.

The sports minister expressed his deep appreciation to the PGA for their ongoing collaboration and acknowledged their recognition of the Ministry’s support for both amateur and professional golf in Ghana.

He emphasised that sports development cannot thrive in isolation and requires strong partnerships, visionary planning, and collective action.

He emphasized the importance of golf in promoting discipline, strategy, and respect for nature.

He noted that “Every golfer becomes an advocate for the environment, and he strongly believes it is time to introduce golf in schools.”

This initiative would nurture young minds to value green spaces while embracing a sport that has enormous potential for tourism, health, and character development.

The Member of Parliament for Buem assured that the PGA team that their collaboration would move beyond dialogue into action, with plans to develop golf-in-schools programmes, roll out climate-awareness campaigns, and engage communities across regions in growing the game.

The minister’s vision for golf in Ghana aligns with the country’s efforts to promote sustainable development and environmental conservation.

By introducing golf-in-schools, Kofi Adams hopes to instill values of discipline, hard work, and respect for nature in young people.

The planned golf-in-schools programmes would not only promote the sport but also provide opportunities for young people to develop important life skills.

The President of PGA Hans De Beer, expressed their gratitude for the sports minister’s support and commitment to developing golf in Ghana.

They welcomed the opportunity to collaborate with the Ministry and contribute to the growth of the sport in the country.

The meeting marked the beginning of a long-term partnership between the Ministry and the PGA to strengthen the presence of golf in Ghana and build a legacy that connects sport with sustainability.

The collaboration between the Ministry and the PGA is expected to have a positive impact on the development of golf in Ghana.

By working together, they aim to promote the sport, raise environmental awareness, and contribute to the country’s sustainable development.

Other PGA executive members who were present at the meeting include: Alhaji Ahmed Padori, vice president, Tournament Director, Eric Henaku, assistant tournament director, Francis Torgah, Emos Kwablah a senior member and secretary of the ladies’ professional golfers of Ghana Mercy Werner.

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Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo

Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture, John Dumelo, who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso West Wuogon, has inaugurated the Amankwakrom Cattle Ranch Task Force in the Kwahu Afram Plains North District.

The task force aims to resolve escalating conflicts between crop farmers and cattle herders, and to improve livestock management.

The newly launched farmer-herder task force was introduced during the third Interprofessional Collaboration for Community Development (ICCD) Summit, hosted by the Kwahu Asabi Royal Foundation.

The task force, comprising representatives of both farmers and herders, along with the local District Cattle Ranching and Transhumance Committee, is designed to manage cattle movements, prevent conflicts, and protect farmlands.

MP John Dumelo emphasized that the team must operate strictly within legal frameworks, reinforcing the rule of law.

As part of the Feed Ghana Programme, Dumelo also announced plans for local processing centres to curb post-harvest losses and boost farmers’ incomes.

The initiative received strong community backing, with Chief Nana Otukwa Mpareko VI endorsing it, and fellow MPs Wolarse Kpeli and Emmanuel Nyadedzo calling for supportive district bylaws to regulate livestock and promote development.

The initiative underscores the government’s commitment to its Feed Ghana Programme, aiming to strengthen food security, boost rural economies, and manage agricultural conflicts.

Going forward, the newly formed task force will enforce cattle movement rules and local bylaws, while farm-based processing centres will be established to reduce crop losses and improve farmer earnings.

Authorities will monitor the results closely, with particular focus on the initiative’s effectiveness in curbing tensions between farmers and herders.

The initiative protects farmers’ livelihoods by preventing crop destruction, increases rural incomes through reduced waste and on-site processing, and fosters peaceful farmer-herder coexistence—laying the foundation for sustainable livestock development and long-term rural stability.

Paris St-Germain beat Seattle Sounders to seal their place in the Fifa Club World Cup knockout stages.

The European champions win Group B and will play the runners-up of Group A – which is likely to be Palmeiras or Inter Miami.

Their opening goal had a hint of fortune to it with Vitinha’s 20-yard first-time drive heading off target before hitting Khvicha Kvaratskhelia on the back and going in.

They added a second on the counter with Achraf Hakimi slamming in from Bradley Barcola’s pass.

PSG deserved their victory in Seattle with Desire Doue forcing three stops from Sounders keeper Stefan Frei.

The hosts’ best chance came when Gianluigi Donnarumma gave the ball straight to Jesus Ferreira, who shot over from a tight angle.

What was the main talking point?

Could PSG bounce back from their defeat by Botafogo last time was the main question. They had won six in a row, including the Champions League final against Inter Milan, before that loss.

The answer was yes. The French side were far from their best but they were good enough to beat their Major League Soccer hosts.

They are now four games away from adding a first world title to their maiden European one – and they still have striker Ousmane Dembele to come back from injury.

Which player stood out?

Vitinha was quality again in the heart of the PSG midfield. He completed 107 of his 113 passes – and had that accidental assist for Kvaratskhelia.

The Portuguese midfielder is aiming to win three continental or global trophies in the space of six weeks, having already lifted the Champions League with PSG and Nations League with Portugal.

The standout stat

PSG had 73% possession over their three group-stage games, completing over 1,500 more passes than their opponents

What is next for these teams?

PSG play either Inter Miami – in what would be a reunion with their former player Lionel Messi – or Palmeiras in Atlanta on Sunday (17:00 BST).

Sounders are back in MLS action the same day against Austin.

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Fil producer Socrate Safo

Film maker, Socrate Sarfo says he always gets jealous of his colleagues in the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

He says the government has shown that they have enough respect for creatives and not just bookish individuals.

The New Patriotic Party supporter said when his party was in power, the party never respected creatives.

He said they were looked at in a very condescending manner by their people so much such that they were not considered for any influential positions.

However, the NDC has since taking over proven that they believe creatives have something innate which will help the country’s development.

Socrate Sarfo was speaking on Kalsoume Sinare’s appointment as Ambassador to Spain by the president.

”I get jealous of my colleagues in the NDC. Their people have shown that they acknowledge their depth as creatives and are making good use of them. Our people on the other hand will look at you in a very condescending manner thinking they are better than you. We had the creatives who could do excellent jobs but they were overlooked just because they claim they don’t have degrees,” he said while speaking on Accra-based Okay FM.

Former Executive Vice President of Unilever Ghana and Nigeria, Yaw Nsarkoh, has cut to the core of what he sees as a dangerous defect in Ghana’s democratic architecture.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, June 23, Mr. Nsarkoh did not mince words as he lamented the systemic opacity of political financing in Ghana, saying, “No one knows who funds our presidents.”

“We don’t know how much the sitting president spent on his campaign. We don’t know how much his main opponent spent either,” he said. “These are starting questions. I haven’t even gotten to the source.”

The former Unilever executive’s frustration was palpable.

“In other democracies, these things are known. Even in America, we know how much a presidential candidate raised. Sometimes it’s on TV. You sit there and hear: this person has raised X million dollars,” he said. “Why don’t we know the same in Ghana?”

He linked this democratic blind spot to what he called a “Santa Claus democracy”, a system where elections have become transactional, driven by untraceable money and unchecked influence.

“It’s a public auction for the highest bidder,” he declared. “The electorate is reduced to ballots. They are no longer participants in governance.”

Mr Nsarkoh’s comments came on the heels of his hard-hitting lecture titled “Iniquities of Iniquity in Our Santa Claus Democracy” at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences.

There, he argued that Ghana’s democratic transition in the early 1990s was reluctant and superficial, referencing the late political scientist Claude Ake’s seminal work The Feasibility of Democracy in Africa.

“Ake used Ghana as an example of a reluctant transition. We opened up space just enough to say the forms of democracy were in place. But the substance? That’s where we’ve failed,” Nsarkoh said.

He blamed the failure to institutionalise political financing as the root of a corrupt ecosystem.

“There are no real frameworks to track political fund flows. That’s why I say this is the root of all evil,” he emphasised.

And the consequences, he warned, are profound.

“If you and I are in the drug trade, we can carry sacks of money and fund people who will become powerful actors. Then the demands start. Put this person here, appoint that person there.

“It doesn’t have to be the candidate who wins—it can be the kingmakers. And once they’re in place, the rot spreads,” he said.

According to Mr Nsarkoh, this is not unique to Ghana.

“These are not just Ghanaian features. These are systemic defects we see across the continent. Yet, instead of confronting the design issues, we personalise the debate. We make it about individuals,” he said.

“Yes, personalities matter. Accountability matters. But after three and a half decades, we must admit the system itself is broken.”

He urged media professionals, civil society, and citizens to demand answers.

“You are the media guy,” he told the host. “You probably have more access than I. But even you, can you tell me where the money came from? That’s the problem.”

To Yaw Nsarkoh, democracy without transparency is democracy in name only.

“If we can’t trace money in politics, then our democracy is not a tool for development. It’s a mechanism for elite enrichment,” he said.

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Yaw Nsarkoh, former Executive Vice President of Unilever Ghana and Nigeria, has raised concerns about the opacity of political financing in Ghana.

He warned that the country’s democratic foundations are eroding under the weight of untraceable money and unchecked influence.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on Monday, June 23, Mr. Nsarkoh declared that political funding in Ghana lacks the transparency seen in other functioning democracies.

“If I ask you, how much money did the sitting President spend on his campaign? How much did his main contestant spend? Those are even starting questions,” he said. “I’ve not even gotten to source.”

He lamented the near-complete absence of institutional frameworks to monitor and regulate fund flows in politics.

“In our democracy, we do not know these things. Even when we sit here, we know the budgets of the American presidential candidates—how much they raised, how much they spent. Why can’t we know that in our own country?”

According to Nsarkoh, this lack of oversight creates fertile ground for illicit money to shape the country’s political direction.

“If you and I today are in the drug trade, we can carry money in sacks and give it to people who are going to become very powerful actors,” he warned. “And then that starts an entire chain.”

He noted that this influence doesn’t stop at campaign contributions.

“Sometimes not even the people in office, but the kingmakers. And once we have played big roles in sponsoring them, we start to make all sorts of demands: You need to put this person here, you need to put that person there.”

Yaw Nsarkoh blamed Ghana’s current predicament on what he called a “reluctant transition” to democracy.

Referencing the late Nigerian political economist Claude Ake’s posthumously published book Feasibility of Democracy in Africa, he noted that Ghana’s path to democracy was more about appearances than substance.

“We opened up space just a little bit so that we could say the forms of democracy had been put in place. But the structures needed to sustain it were never truly built.”

This has resulted in a system where, he says, “the electorate is reduced to mere ballots” in what he described as a “public auction for the highest bidder.”

The transactional nature of the political process, he argued, is hollowing out any real sense of citizenship and participatory governance.

Calling the current state of affairs a “Santa Claus democracy,” Mr Nsarkoh said Ghana’s political environment rewards those with money, not ideas.

“This is the root of all evil. In a Santa Claus democracy, you cannot track your fund flow.”

Though he acknowledged that individuals must be held accountable, Nsarkoh argued that Ghana’s political decay is far more structural than personal.

“There are systemic defects. Yes, there’s a place to hold personalities accountable. But after three and a half decades, when you compare with other countries going through the same cycles, and see the same outcomes, then there are design issues that need to be corrected.”

Yaw Nsarkoh’s remarks come just days after his lecture at the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, titled Iniquities of Iniquity in Our Santa Claus Democracy, where he delivered a blistering critique of the country’s democratic trajectory.

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The Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, says the Mahama-led-government will not interfere in the academic freedom of universities in the country. 

“There will be no interference in academic freedom. We will respect the letter and spirit of the Constitution, not to interfere even in the management and running of universities,” he emphasised. 

Mr. Iddrisu was speaking at the fifth congregation of the Clement Kubindiwo Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences (CKT-UTAS) in Navrongo. 

A total of 790 students, comprising 198 graduate students and 592 undergraduate completed various programmes and were conferred degrees. 

He said interference in academic freedom was not part of President Mahama’s ‘Reset Agenda’ and further explained that the agenda was rather to offer universities unfettered freedom, contribute to research and meaningful social development of the country. 

He noted that CKT-UTAS had some legacy debts related to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), and said government would consider absorbing the debt and resolving other issues to enable the university to concentrate on its mandate. 

“Also be assured that at any opportunity where government will deploy fibre infrastructure or broadband to universities, CKT-UTAS will be prioritised,” Mr. Iddrisu, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Tamale South Constituency, said. 

Touching on the poor nature of roads on the university’s campus, Mr. Iddrisu said he had written to the Minister for Roads to prioritise university roads, saying, “I trust that the Minister for Roads will give your institution deserved attention in the allocation of road infrastructure for universities.” 

He said President Mahama inherited an economy with unsustainable debts and that the 2025 budget of the Minister for Finance was corrective to reset the economy. 

“And so, in 2026, we will begin a major infrastructure initiative on this campus in the 2026 budget,” the Sector Minister further assured the university community. 

He acknowledged that even though CKT-UTAS was established in 2020, and not one of the lucky universities in the country, it had, over the years, made tremendous progress, and that the Ministry would continue to support the university to deliver on its mandate. 

Mr. Iddrisu said: “Be assured that President Mahama will work with us to improve the quality of higher education in Ghana. In fact, we have already started demonstrating it. 

On the national front, I am happy to observe and note that President Mahama has operationalised the national research fund, and an allocation of GH¢50 million has been dedicated to research in Ghana.”  

The Minister added that government, through the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), would fully fund five local Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programmes as part of the Mahama-led-government’s reset agenda. 

 “So, we will be happy to support those of you in the faculty who would want to take advantage of it,” he said. 

Mr. Iddrisu admonished the graduates to serve the nation diligently and work to preserve their personal and institutional corporate reputations, noting that some of them, after national service, would begin to work with corporate entities. 

He advised them to work honestly, devoid of corruption and corruption-related acts. 

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The demonstration was in response to delayed staff identification numbers and unpaid salaries

A newly trained Ghanaian teacher from the 2022 batch of Colleges of Education graduates has lambasted a police officer for allegedly threatening to assault teachers who staged a protest at the Ghana Education Service (GES) headquarters in Accra on Monday, June 23, 2025.

The demonstration was in response to delayed staff identification numbers and months of unpaid salaries.

According to the frustrated teacher, who hails from the Northern Region and has been working for the GES for the past ten months without pay, the situation has severely affected his livelihood.

He lamented that he is burdened with debts and daily living expenses, making life increasingly difficult.

In a viral video interview, the teacher alleged that a police officer confronted the group during their peaceful picketing and threatened to beat them if they crossed a designated red line.

He expressed outrage over what he perceived as disrespect from the officer, whom he described as having only a Senior High School (SHS) level of education.

“Ten months without salary, do you think you’re the one to teach me what to say? I am from the Northern Region. I didn’t travel all the way to Accra just to make noise. I came because my employer hasn’t paid me, and I’m rightfully complaining. Then you bring in a police officer who claims he will beat us. He said if we cross the red line, he will beat us,” the teacher said.

He continued, “I have gone to university and worked for ten months without pay. I am here to speak up, and you are threatening me? He didn’t speak well. If he thinks he is tough, he should take off the uniform and see what happens. I only respect the uniform,” he added.

The teacher further highlighted the financial struggles many of his colleagues are enduring, “We pay rent, we eat, we owe, and creditors keep calling us to settle our debts. We are simply here to tell our employer our grievances, and instead, you call in the police to threaten us.

“You an SHS-level police officer threatening a university graduate who hasn’t been paid for ten months. If you, as a police officer, go two months without pay, you will form an association and storm this place.”

As part of the picketing, the aggrieved teachers claimed they had submitted a formal letter outlining their concerns and waited at the GES premises for over two hours without any response or engagement from officials.

Tensions escalated when police officers arrived and issued a three-minute ultimatum for the group to disperse. The teachers, however, refused to comply, prompting a forceful removal by the officers.

Undeterred by the incident, the protesters have vowed to intensify their actions. They plan to present a petition to the Ministry of Finance on Tuesday June 24, 2025, before marching to Parliament to press home their demands.

The group maintains that they will not back down until the government addresses their concerns.

An aggrieved teacher who has not been paid for the past ten months, angrily shares his frustration over how police officers drove them out of the GES premises while they were picketing to demand their pay. pic.twitter.com/clPlSHaZh5

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) June 23, 2025

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Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Patrick Yaw Boamah, has made a passionate appeal to former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to intervene in the growing internal tensions within the New Patriotic Party (NPP), calling on them to help restore order and unity.

His call follows reports of factional disputes and power struggles within the NPP ahead of its announced presidential primaries in January 2026.

Boamah emphasised that the involvement of the two former leaders—who command respect and authority within the party—could be pivotal in easing tensions and refocusing the party on its core values and long-term vision.

Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV‘s The Point of View on Monday June 23, the legislator expressed concern over the state of affairs in the party, which has been rocked by internal divisions and public disagreements.

“This party has produced two presidents. We are fortunate to have two former presidents alive,” Boamah stated.

“I am calling them to call for some action and order in the party because this party produced them. If we are going through this turmoil, we ask that they call people round the table and have a heart-to-heart chat with them.”

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NPP has lost its strong leadership culture – Patrick Boamah

Okaikwei Central MP, Patrick Yaw Boamah has disclosed that former President John Agyekum Kufuor is increasingly concerned about the waning culture and internal discipline of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), describing the party’s current state as a source of deep worry for the statesman.

Speaking on The Point of View on Channel One TV on Monday, June 23, Boamah revealed that the former President recently expressed his unease about the cohesion and direction of the party, citing a personal interaction at the funeral of retired Justice Sulemana Gbadegbe.

“He is worried about the state of the party, that I can tell you for free,” Boamah stated. “I saw him on Friday at late Justice Gbadegbe’s funeral. The first question he’ll ask you is how is the party front? Because it is the party that made him. It is part of him, so he must be worried, Bernard,” he said.

The lawmaker’s remarks reflect broader concerns within the NPP about internal divisions, weak leadership, and the party’s readiness to regroup after losing power in 2024.

Boamah has in recent days joined calls for the national executives of the party to do more to restore discipline and unity, arguing that the absence of strong internal leadership is harming the party’s cohesion and public image.

He argued that the NPP has historically benefited from firm and principled chairmen and leadership who could intervene decisively in party affairs — even when it meant challenging the president or the party’s flagbearer.

“We’ve been used to strong chairmen who could correct even the flagbearer or marshal his National Executive Officers to sit the president or the flagbearer down to put in place some arrangement for the betterment of the party,” Mr. Boamah said.

Five people have been arrested in connection with the printing of fake GH¢200 and $100 notes, totalling GH¢2.3 million and $191,900, respectively. 

The accused persons, who appeared before an Accra Circuit Court on Friday, are Shubham Sharma, General Manager; James Mozu Bonaparte, a Graphic designer; Prince Owusu Ahenkorah, a photographer/video director; Jonathan Kwame Appiah and Solomon Adjetey Adjei, both graphic designers. 

The five, jointly charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, were nabbed at various locations in Accra. 

Sharma, Bonaparte and Ahenkorah are facing the same charge of possession of forged notes, while Appiah and Adjei are facing a charge of uttering forged notes. 

The court, presided over by Samuel Bright Acquah, did not take their pleas and remanded them into lawful custody to reappear on July 3, 2025. 

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Wisdom Alorwu, prayed the court to remand the accused persons pending further investigations. 

Our sources have gathered that the complainant was an Accra-based businessman (name withheld). 

The accused persons were picked up following intelligence on June 16, 2025. 

Sharma, the first accused person, is alleged to have stolen money worth $230,000 from the Accra-based businessman’s safe in his bedroom after embezzling his company’s money. 

Police investigations showed that Sharma replaced the stolen money with fake Ghana notes and US dollars. 

A search on the cash office of the company at Adabrakah, Industrial Area, led to the discovery of fake GH¢200 notes totalling GH¢2,318,000 and $100 notes totalling $191,900. 

Sharma is alleged to have admitted to keeping those fake notes in the office. 

Police investigations also revealed that Sharma paid Bonaparte GH¢25,000 for the fake Ghana notes and GH¢15,000 for the fake dollars. 

Investigations revealed that Bonaparte and Ahenkorah conspired to supply Sharma with the money. 

Security personnel, during a search on Ahenkorah, led to the retrieval of five bundles of the fake GH¢200 notes.  

When Ahenkorah was questioned, he mentioned Appiah as his accomplice and that Appiah, the manager of the printing press, supervised the printing of the fake notes. 

Appiah also led the police to arrest Adjei, who was alleged to have handed over the fake notes to Ahenkorah. 

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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.

By Stanley Senya

Accra, June 23, GNA – Dr. Mary Ansong, co-founder of the International Sickle Cell Centre (ISCC), has called for collaboration among healthcare providers, government agencies, and civil society to address the ongoing burden of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) in Ghana.

She made the call during the second annual Strategic Dialogue on Sickle Cell Disease, held in Accra to mark World Sickle Cell Day 2025.

The dialogue, which brought together health experts, patient advocates, government officials, and civil society leaders, was held on the theme “Progress Made, Challenges, and the Way Forward.”

It focused on evaluating the country’s progress in managing SCD, identifying persistent challenges, and forging stronger partnerships to improve outcomes.

Dr. Ansong said while awareness of the disease had increased, too many patients, especially children, still lacked access to essential care.

She highlighted new-born screening, access to medications such as hydroxyurea, and the affordability of care as major issues that demand urgent attention.
“Yesterday, we marked World Sickle Cell Day. Everyone with a heart for sickle cell disease came together to shine a light on the challenges and support those who continue to live with this condition,” she said. “

She commended the Ministry of Health for unveiling its National Strategy for Sickle Cell Disease, which outlined plans to expand new-born screenings and made treatment more accessible.

Officials from the Ghana Health Service and other medical professionals reiterated their commitment to ensuring that medications were readily available under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

However, she emphasized that the efforts must be matched by unified action across sectors.

“Collaboration is the game changer, whether you’re a pharmacist, a doctor, a non-profit leader, or a policymaker, when we align our efforts, we can solve as much as 80 per cent of Ghana’s sickle cell burden,” she stressed.

“We need to map out all the organizations working on Sickle Cell Disease in Ghana and harness their strengths, this is not a fight for one month or one ministry alone. No single entity can solve this alone. We must all put our hands on deck,” she added.

Dr. Ansong offered encouragement saying, “we see you. We know the pain you’re going through. You are not alone. You can live well with Sickle Cell Disease, just follow your treatment plan, stay hydrated, take your medications, and get enrolled in a clinic if you haven’t already.”

The conference featured real-life testimonials from patients and caregivers, a regional spotlight on best practices from across Africa, and a high-level policy panel with Ghanaian stakeholders.

A key recommendation was the establishment of a more inclusive governance structure to coordinate national responses to SCD and ensure that interventions are both sustainable and far-reaching.

The ISCC hopes that through continued dialogue and decisive action, Ghana can become a regional leader in tackling Sickle Cell Disease, improving survival rates, enhancing quality of life, and offering a model for other African countries to follow.

GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba

Bahrain’s Ministry of Transport said authorities are closely monitoring the situation around the clock in coordination with international partners.

Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation said it is suspending air traffic until further notice, citing the need to maintain the highest levels of safety and security.

Iran said it launched missiles at US bases in Qatar and Iraq on Monday evening in retaliation for Washington’s bombing of several nuclear sites over the weekend.

GNA

PDC