Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former Vice President of Ghana
Former Vice President and 2024 NPP presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has called for civility and respect for all and sundry within the New Patriotic Party in order to actualise the party’s unity.
Addressing the party stakeholders in Ashanti Region during the national “Thank You Tour”, Dr Bawumia said every effort at uniting the party would be fruitless if party members do not uphold civil discourse and respect for fellow members.
“When your neighbour is at peace, you’ll also be at peace. So, it is very important for all of us to speak to fellow party members in a civil and respectful manner.”
“The unity of our party is very important and all our efforts at promoting peace, civil discourse and respect for all is very key. We cannot be fighting, insulting and disrespecting each other because of internal context and expect unity to prevail,” Dr Bawumia said.
Dr Bawumia urged the party members to desist from insulting one another saying “politics is a contest of ideas and if you support someone, campaign for the person based on what the person can do to help the party and the country. Don’t go about spreading propaganda about an opponent”.
GHANA-GOLD/SMUGGLING:Ghana arrests three Indian nationals over suspected gold smuggling ring
By Emmanuel Bruce
Ghana arrests three Indian nationals over suspected gold smuggling ring
April 29 – Three Indian nationals have been arrested in Ghana on suspicion of operating a gold smuggling syndicate that authorities believe has been taking tons of the precious metal out of the country for over a decade, the West African country’s gold trading regulator said on Tuesday.
The three pleaded guilty at their arraignment and will remain in custody until a court hearing scheduled for May 12, a spokesperson for the regulator GoldBod said.
Ghana and some other African countries have been losing billions of dollars’ worth of gold every year due to smuggling.
The country established a new government body known as GoldBod in March to streamline gold purchases from small-scale miners, increase their earnings and reduce the impact of smuggling. Under the new system, foreign companies can only get the precious metal from GoldBod.
The regulator said on X that the suspects – aged 35, 22 and 42 – were apprehended at their residence in Ghana’s southern city of Kumasi, which investigators say had been converted into an unauthorised gold trading centre.
GoldBod also said they were in possession of 1.9 million cedis , 4,500 rupees , 4.363 kilograms of gold, two counting machines, a CCTV recorder and an Indian passport.
The regulator said the suspects had not provided GoldBod with residence permits, work authorisations or tax payment records related to their business activities.
“Much of the smuggled gold is exported to India, China and the United Arab Emirates and we lose,” GoldBod spokesperson Prince Kwame Minkah told Reuters.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
News / World News / Ghana arrests three Indian nationals over suspected gold smuggling ring
Accra, April 29, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama in fulfillment of campaign promise to Ghanaians on Tuesday launched the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahama Cares), as part of efforts to relieve the financial burden of sufferers of chronic diseases.
The launch, which took place at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), Accra, saw the President donating his six months’ salary to the Fund.
It will support specialist-level treatment for a range of chronic diseases, including cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney failure, stroke, and other complications.
Support from the Fund would be based on formal applications, carefully vetted, and would focus on costs not currently covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Fund’s main source of finance will come from the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), the uncapped portion of the NHIL.
It will also include direct budgetary support from governments, voluntary contributions from corporates, institutions, and individuals, grants, donations, and it will also be able to invest to raise investment income.
The President said Mahama Cares launch was a landmark initiative introduced by his government to decisively confront the growing burden of chronic Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs).
He said the fight against NCDs was intrinsically linked to their broader national development agenda, particularly the sustainable development goals, and most notably, Sustainable Development Goal Three (SDG 3), which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
He noted that specifically, under SDG 3, Target 3.4 commits the global community to reduce premature mortality from NCDs by one third by 2030 through prevention, treatment, and promotion of mental health and well-being.
President Mahama reiterated that across the globe, NCDs, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory conditions, diabetes, and mental health disorders, remain the leading cause of mortality, accounting for over 43 million deaths annually worldwide.
He said worryingly, the burden was disproportionately borne by low- and middle-income countries, such as Ghana, posing not only a public health crisis, but also a profound social and economic threat.
President Mahama said NCDs exacerbate poverty, they widen social inequality, and undermine economic development; adding that vulnerable populations, especially those with lower education, limited access to health care, and lower income levels were currently most at risk.
The President said addressing the NCDs menace was therefore not merely a health imperative, stating that it was essential for advancing economic growth, promoting social justice, and securing environmental sustainability.
He said NCDs consistently rank among the top 10 causes of death nationwide; stating that “even more disturbing is the steep rise in hospitalized cancer cases, which jumped from 3,487 patients in 2012 to 16,105 in 2016”.
He said alarmingly, adults aged from 18 to 45, the prime of the nation’s workforce, account for more than half of these cases, 16,000 cases.
“This troubling trend is driven by a convergence of factors. One, shifting lifestyles characterized by things like tobacco use, alcohol abuse, unhealthy diets, and sedentary behavior. And, increased environmental factors,” the President said.
“The cost of treatment is not just disturbing. It can be devastating for low-income families. Estimates from our teaching hospitals reveal that the average annual cost of non-communicable disease treatment per patient, averagely, stands at GH¢53,000 annually. And that’s equivalent to about 3,300 US dollars.”
He said managing chronic conditions imposes crushing financial burdens on families, often pushing them below the poverty line, and deepening their vulnerability.
“It is estimated that individuals diagnosed with chronic diseases face a 75 per cent likelihood of falling into poverty within five years, regardless of their original economic standing,” President Mahama.
“And so, it even ruins rich people. I mean, you spend all your money trying to find a cure.”
He said those battling kidney and cardiovascular diseases were reported to spend between 70 per cent and 95 per cent of their non-food expenditure on health care alone.
The President said older adults living with chronic conditions spend five times more on health care than their healthier counterparts.
He said despite the important strides made through the National Health Insurance Scheme; it remains inadequate in fully covering NCD-related services and medications.
Citing that in 2018, around 48 per cent of all NHIS claims were related to NCDs, yet essential services remain outside the NHIS coverage, leaving families dangerously exposed to out-of-pocket payments.
“It is against this background that shortly after my election as president, I directed the Honorable Minister for Health to initiate the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, a commitment captured faithfully in the 2024 People’s Manifesto of the National Democratic Congress,” the President said.
President Mahama further lauded Reverend Emeritus Professor Seth Aryeetey, the Chair of the National Task Force for the establishment of the Mahama Cares for fulfilling their mandate.
Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health, reaffirmed the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to achieving universal health coverage for the people of Ghana.
He said the Ghana Medical Trust Fund aligns strategically with their key sectorial policy frameworks including the National Health Policy 2020, Ghana’s Roadmap for Attaining Universal Health Coverage 2020 to 2023, 2020 to 2030, the Essential Health Services Package 2022 to 2030, and the National Policy on Non-Communicable Disease 2022.
He noted the Fund not only provides a long overdue lifeline to those bedded by chronic illness, but also positions Ghana as a leader in innovative, people-centered, and compassionate healthcare reform.
Mr Akandoh said the Bill for the Mahama Cares Fund would be placed before Parliament upon its resumption from recess.
Rev Emeritus Prof Aryettey, who underscored the need to as many Ghanaians as possible to support the Fund, presented a check of $1,000.00 in support of the Fund.
Dr Kwame Anim-Boamah, the Chief Executive Officer of UGMC, who on behalf of the Centre made a pledge of GH¢100,000.00 to the Fund, also lauded the President for his visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare system.
The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has issued a strong call for the immediate revocation of the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, describing the action as unconstitutional and lacking a legal basis under Ghana’s 1992 Constitution.
In a statement dated April 26, the GBA contended that the President’s decision to suspend the Chief Justice under Article 146(10) of the Constitution is flawed.
According to the Association, the suspension was carried out without any published Constitutional Instrument, Statutory Instrument, or regulation governing the exercise of that presidential discretion, in violation of Article 296 of the Constitution.
“The Ghana Bar Association calls for the immediate revocation of the suspension of the Chief Justice as it considers the suspension to be unconstitutional,” the statement read.
In addition to the revocation demand, the GBA urged the government to immediately enact clear and comprehensive regulations to guide all processes under Article 146, which governs the impeachment or removal of Superior Court justices.
The absence of such regulatory frameworks, the Association argues, undermines transparency, fairness, and accountability in proceedings involving members of the judiciary.
The GBA also called on the President to release the full decision establishing a prima facie case against Chief Justice Torkornoo, stating that such a move would be in line with established precedent and essential for ensuring procedural fairness and transparency.
Furthermore, the Bar Association condemned what it described as prejudicial and politically motivated commentary surrounding the matter, warning that such statements risk eroding public trust in the judiciary.
“The Association affirms its commitment to safeguarding the sanctity of the judicial process and resolves to take all appropriate legal measures to protect the Judiciary from undue interference or unjustifiable attacks,” the statement added.
The suspension of the Chief Justice has sparked widespread debate across Ghana’s legal and political circles, with many closely watching how the situation unfolds in the coming days.
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Ghana’s oil production falls for fifth consecutive year – PIAC Report
President John Dramani Mahama has launched the Ghana Medical Trust Fund
President John Dramani Mahama has shared his personal connection to Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), using personal experiences to point out the need for greater investments in healthcare.
Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, he stressed the need for collaborative efforts to tackle the growing burden of NCDs.
“I have a personal connection to Non-Communicable Diseases and that is because my father died in 2001, and he died of prostate cancer. My mother died in 2016, and she died of complications of high blood pressure and diabetes. My stepmother died of breast cancer. I lost a friend and somebody who worked for me last year. We celebrated one year since she passed. I’m sure most of you know Mawuena Dumor; she died of breast cancer.
“And currently, I have a staff in my office whose son is in his 30s and is on dialysis, suffering kidney failure. And so, these are not things that are far away from us, these are things that are close to us. These are loved ones that we are talking about, we must not see them as statistics,” he stated.
President Mahama was hopeful the fund, also known as Mahama Cares, would alleviate the plight of Ghanaians suffering from NCDs.
“This is why today’s launch is so important. The Ghana Medical Trust Fund will make a difference in lives that are silently suffering. It will provide hope. It will provide support. And it will remind all of us that the fight against Non-Communicable Diseases must be personal because they affect all of us,” he added.
The Ghana Medical Trust Fund seeks to improve access to quality healthcare for patients battling chronic and life-threatening illnesses.
JKB/AE
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Ghanaian student and musical artiste Kobby Muhsin has shared his story on Daybreak Hitz, highlighting his journey from losing his sight to pursuing his passion for music.
When asked if his visual impairment was present from birth, Kobby Muhsin revealed it was not congenital.
“Not at all. It occurred when I was just eight years, I slept one morning and I woke up and I couldn’t see anything,” he said.
Kobby Muhsin started his musical journey five years ago and officially began his professional music career three years ago.
“I started doing music like five years ago and then professionally three years ago. Yeah. That was when I entered into the University of Ghana level hundred. That was when I started doing music proper,” he noted.
Kobby Muhsin is set to release a new song called “Senorita” this Thursday, showcasing his continued creativity and passion for music.
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.
play videoBono Regional Chairman of NPP, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC
Kennedy Agyapong, a former Member of Parliament for Assin Central, had an altercation with the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Bono Regional Chairman, Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, during the party’s ongoing nationwide “Thank You Tour” on Monday, April 28, 2025.
Kennedy, who also contested as a presidential aspirant for the NPP, was part of the tour in Berekum in the Bono Region. The exchange occurred after Abronye addressed party supporters at the event.
While addressing the gathering, Abronye tackled critical issues he believed the party needed to resolve, including accusations against him.
He recounted claims that he had masterminded a politically motivated plot against a specific presidential candidate before the party’s internal elections last year.
He also faced criticism for his alleged allegiance to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s 2024 presidential candidate.
Abronye refuted all accusations and expressed his thoughts on what, in his opinion, led to the party’s loss of power.
“Arrogance is what has brought us here,” Abronye exclaimed.
He warned party leaders to desist from making statements that might give the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) an edge ahead of the 2028 elections.
He further cautioned against insults within the party while emphasising the need for genuine unity.
Although Abronye did not direct his remarks to a specific individual, Kennedy Agyapong, who later took his turn to speak, seemingly responded to Abronye with gestures and statements indirectly aimed at him.
Kennedy Agyapong’s three shots at Abronye
1.Beggar
Kennedy criticised individuals who, according to him, fail to contribute financially to the party but act as though they are superior to others.
“Nobody is a better man than the other, but because of this party, some people talk as if they are men. They are not men but women. When it comes to monetary contributions, they cannot partake in it.
“They have to go and beg, yet they talk as if the whole world is for them. If not for the sake of unity, some of them cannot even speak the way they speak because they are even shy coming to my house,” Kennedy said furiously.
2.Poor man with confidence
Kennedy expressed frustration over individuals who display arrogance despite receiving financial support from the party.
“With some, we buy cars for them, and they will come out to do ‘too known.’ I will respect you, but I won’t respond to some people, or else you would see a showdown. I have money; I don’t beg.
3.Talk Anyhow
Kennedy cautioned Abronye to watch his words, stating, “Even you, poor people, think you can talk with confidence, how about rich men like me? Please! Who born dog for you to talk anyhow?”
AM/KA
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PIAC releases 2024 annual report on petroleum revenues
Ghana’s petroleum revenue surged to US$1.35 billion in 2024, representing a 27.8% increase from the US$1.06 billion earned in 2023, according to the 2024 Annual Report by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC).
This marks the second-highest annual petroleum revenue since Ghana commenced oil production in 2011. The all-time record remains the US$1.42 billion earned in 2022.
PIAC attributes the increase in 2024 earnings to higher international crude oil prices, which helped cushion the impact of a continued decline in oil production.
Crude oil output fell for the fifth consecutive year, dropping to 48.25 million barrels in 2024 from a peak of 71.44 million barrels in 2019.
The report cited a marginal year-on-year decline of 0.01%, with an average annual drop of 7.4% over the past five years.
Raising concerns over the persistent production downturn, PIAC urged the government to intensify efforts to attract fresh investment into Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector.
“Parliament should ensure that the Ministry of Energy and its allied agencies increase efforts to secure investments in Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry,” the report recommended.
The 14th edition of the PIAC Annual Report covers the performance of Ghana’s petroleum sector from January to December 2024, providing detailed analysis on production, liftings, revenue distribution, and utilisation of petroleum funds.
SP/MA
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Ghanaian-American pop sensation Serwah Ama Genfi, popularly known as Amaarae, has called on fans of Shatta Wale and Stonebwoy to refrain from engaging in online banter following her recent expression of admiration for Shatta Wale.
Amaarae, on April 28, 2025, hosted her highly anticipated “Black Star Block Party” at the Republic Bar in Osu.
During her performance, she openly praised Shatta Wale, describing him as a powerful force in the Ghanaian music industry.
She acknowledged that while the “Ayoo” hitmaker has had controversial moments, including verbal spats with other artists, his contributions to the industry remain significant.
Following her remarks, some fans of Stonebwoy took to social media to question why she didn’t also acknowledge the “Jejereje” hitmaker during the event.
Responding to the backlash, Amaarae took to her social media platforms to clarify her position and appeal to both SM (Shatta Movement) and BHIM Nation fans to avoid stirring unnecessary controversy.
“SM & BHIM fans! Please don’t go and cause trouble on my top I beg. Stonebwoy has been my big brother for years. And I also love Shatta’s music,” she wrote.
Amaarae explained that the reason Stonebwoy’s music wasn’t highlighted during the show was simply because the DJ did not play any of his songs.
“The DJ played Freedom and the party went up so I bigged Shatta! I also bigged Efya for like 10 minutes & we performed her songs together. I bigged Eazzy! If the DJ played any Stone bangers I would have bigged him too!” she added.
Amaarae’s remarks aim to clear the air and reaffirm her respect for both artists, emphasising that her admiration for one does not take away from her appreciation for the other.
Read the post below:
SM & BHIM FANS! PLS don’t go & cause trouble on my top I BEG 😂. Stonebwoy is literally my big brother for years. And I also love Shatta’s music. THE DJ PLAYED FREEDOM & the party went up so I bigged Shatta! I also bigged EFYA for like 10 mins & we performed her songs together, I…
Kim Lars Bjorkegren has unveiled the Black Queens squad for their May training camp at the Ghana Football Association Technical Centre in Prampram. Notably absent from the 32-player list is forward Doris Boaduwaa.
The in-form striker, who has been a consistent presence in recent national call-ups, has been left out of the squad, sparking curiosity and debate among fans and analysts, especially as several locally based players have earned call-ups in her place.
Although the reason for Boaduwaa’s omission has not been officially disclosed, her absence is expected to provoke discussion as the Black Queens ramp up preparations for upcoming international assignments.
The squad features a blend of foreign-based and domestic players, with notable names such as Princella Adubea (Abu Dhabi CC), Alice Kusi (Al Ahli SFC), Elizabeth Oppong (Apollon Ladies), and Justice Tweneboaa (BIIK Kazygurt) among the prominent international inclusions.
Meanwhile, local clubs such as Northern Ladies, Police Ladies, and Army Ladies are well represented, reflecting the depth and competitive spirit of Ghana’s domestic women’s league.
The May camp forms part of the Black Queens’ long-term preparation as they aim to stay sharp ahead of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Check out the full list below:
FKA/MA
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Police in Buhweju District, western Uganda, are awaiting a court order to exhume the body of a 53-year-old man allegedly murdered and buried in the bedroom of his home by his wife, authorities said on Tuesday.
A 46-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the death of her husband Patrick Bainomugisha, who was reportedly killed on the night of April 13, 2025, in Kaniga 1 Village, according to preliminary police investigations.
The alleged murder stemmed from a domestic dispute. Local security committee chairperson Michael Tindyebwa said the suspect told him at the police station that she “hit Bainomugisha with a club in the back neck mistakenly during a domestic quarrel,” resulting in his immediate death, after which she buried him.
Rwengwe Sub-county chairperson Frank Mukama said residents gathered at Bainomugisha’s home, who had been missing since before Easter.
By Sunday evening, police had been deployed to secure the premises while awaiting the court order to enter the bedroom where the body is believed to be buried.
Buhweju Resident District Commissioner Pulkeria Muhindo emphasized the need for due process.
“We cannot just exhume the body of the deceased because it needs a court process,” she said.
Muhindo added that the suspect is in custody and urged family heads to fulfill their responsibilities to prevent domestic violence, noting the wife accused the deceased of neglecting his family duties, particularly school fees.
Greater Bushenyi Regional Police spokesperson SP Marcial Tumusiime confirmed the arrest and the suspect’s confession.
“The cause of the murder is as a result of domestic violence, and it was a very unfortunate incident just because of the misunderstandings between the couple. The suspect accuses the deceased for not catering for children in terms of paying school fees,” he stated.
Tumusiime added that Nshemererwe was apprehended on April 14 in Mbarara City while attempting to flee and is currently detained at Buhweju police station.
The exhumation of Bainomugisha’s body is pending the necessary legal procedures.
CHRIS EUBANK Jr. has been discharged from hospital on Monday after undergoing checks following his hard-fought victory over Conor Benn on Saturday night.
Benn was handed the first defeat of his professional career via unanimous decision after a grueling encounter at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with all three judges scoring a 116-112 decision in favour of Eubank Jr.
Both fighters were taken to the Royal London Hospital for precautionary tests after the fight, with the two understood have ended up two beds down from each other and their fathers – Nigel and Chris Senior – sitting together in the hospital.
Benn has since posted on social media of him back in the gym. Eubank posted on X: “Well, it took nearly three years but we finally got the job done.
“Big shout out to everyone that supported the fight on Saturday and made it the once in a lifetime event that it was… without the fans none of this is possible, thank you.”
A mobile money agent tragically lost his life on Monday, 28th April, following an armed robbery by unknown assailants at Aflao in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta Region.
According to Sylvia Awumey, a journalist based in Ketu South, the incident occurred at approximately 6:15 p.m. on Monday.
She reported that the deceased, Christopher Ahordo, popularly known in the area as Colombo, had unusually extended his working hours beyond his typical 5:00 p.m. closing time under unclear circumstances.
Eyewitnesses stated that while Colombo was in the process of closing his mobile money (MoMo) shop at about 6:15 p.m., two men dressed in long robes, with their faces covered and wielding pump-action guns, approached him.
They seized a bag believed to contain money, and as they were leaving the scene, one of the robbers shot him in the left side of his chest.
Colombo is said to have died at the scene. Witnesses indicated they were unable to assist him immediately, as the assailants were firing indiscriminately while fleeing into a nearby bush.
The incident reportedly occurred at Gbagblakope, near the Diamond Cement Factory in Aflao.
According to Sylvia, residents retrieved the body and conveyed it to the Ketu South Municipal Hospital mortuary.
The matter has since been reported to the municipal police, who are now handling the investigation.
MoMo robberies have become a common occurrence in Ghana, with several people losing their lives. This year alone, multiple incidents have been reported in the Ashanti Region, with fatalities recorded.
Former Real Madrid player Julio Baptista has urged Premier League club Arsenal to sign another midfielder to give competition to Ghanaian player Thomas Partey in the 2025/2026 season.
The ex-Arsenal star suggested that although Partey is still playing at a peak level and giving the club control and dominance in midfield, it would be prudent for a new signing to be made to understudy the player for an easy transition.
The Brazilian advised head coach Mikel Arteta to heed his call and renew Partey’s contract, as he is still thriving for the club.
“I think for Arsenal, Thomas Partey has been an incredible player. In Partey, Arteta has found a player who understands what he wants. If I’m Arteta, I’d renew his contract but also bring in another player and put him under a bit of pressure, make him sweat.
“Put a player behind him in the pecking order who can start to understand how he plays and what he does for the team and ease him into the action,” he said, as quoted by Tribuna.
Baptista further indicated that Partey’s age, which is over 30 years, should not deter the Gunners from renewing his contract, as players perform well despite their age in recent times.
“I know he’s older, but I believe his age shouldn’t be a decisive factor in whether or not Arsenal gives him a new deal. Players are much fitter these days,” he added.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that Arsenal are negotiating with the Black Stars midfielder to renew his contract for one year with an option to extend for another year.
Watch Ghana U-15 boys’ 1-0 defeat to Tanzania in the semi-finals
The Minority caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament has called on the government to act urgently following the United States’ issuance of a Level 2 Travel Advisory on Ghana.
The advisory warns U.S. citizens to “exercise increased caution” when travelling to Ghana due to rising violent crimes, weak law enforcement, and under-reported serious offences such as sexual assault.
It also flags indicators of widespread violence, political unrest, and organised crime.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, the Minority described the development as a “serious indictment” of Ghana’s reputation as a safe and democratic country.
They attributed the advisory to the government’s failure to address growing insecurity, law enforcement breakdown, and impunity in the face of rising violent incidents, particularly in Bawku in the Upper East region.
The caucus also raised concerns about the government’s silence on serious allegations, including drug trafficking and money laundering, warning that the situation could deter investors and harm Ghana’s global image.
They demanded immediate action from the government to restore the rule of law, rebuild trust in security institutions, and restore Ghana’s standing in the international community.
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.
Former Chief of Staff, Kwadwo Mpiani, has criticised the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) ongoing ‘Thank You tour’, calling for it to be suspended immediately.
He argues that the tour is ill-timed and unhelpful in the aftermath of the party’s defeat in the 2024 general elections.
Speaking on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Tuesday, April 29, Mr Mpiani described the tour as a “misplaced priority” and urged party leaders to shift their focus towards internal reflection and addressing the issues that contributed to the electoral loss.
“There is a need to suspend the ‘Thank You’ tour,” he said. “What is happening is not good for the party. The NPP must take a step back, go indoors, and find a way out of this mess.”
Mr Mpiani clarified that, as he is not a member of the party’s National Council, he is unaware of the reasons behind the decision to embark on the tour. Nevertheless, he questioned its timing and warned that it might deepen internal divisions.
“Maybe if I had been there, I would have given them my advice earlier. But I can’t fault them without knowing the reasons behind the decision. Still, I believe it was the wrong move,” he stated.
He continued, “They should suspend the ongoing ‘Thank You’ tour, get back indoors, look at the issues, and find a better way to approach the members.”
Dr Bawumia, the 2024 flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has commenced a ‘thank-you tour’ following the party’s landslide defeat in the 2024 general elections.
According to the party, the tour forms part of efforts to rebuild and re-energise the party ahead of the 2028 elections, while also appreciating the contributions of party members during the last campaign.
The tour comes on the heels of a report by a 12-member committee, chaired by former Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, which was established to investigate the reasons behind the party’s electoral loss.
The party declined to make the contents of the report public.
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Personnel from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service in Somanya have taken in a mortuary attendant for questioning in connection with a robbery at the Yilo Krobo District Hospital.
The suspect, who was present at the hospital’s Outpatient Department (OPD) during the time of the robbery, was picked up after police visited the facility to begin investigations.
CID officers first interacted with the victim, who was receiving medical care from health professionals, and then proceeded to inspect potential entry and exit points that may have been used by the armed assailants.
They later notified hospital management of their decision to take the mortuary attendant to the police station for further interrogation.
According to Citi News checks, the staff member in question was not scheduled to be on duty that night but was nonetheless present at the OPD when the incident occurred.
Mobile Money vendor shot dead during robbery in Aflao
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Movement for Change has expresses shock at the Ghana Bar Association’s request for the president to reverse the suspension of the Chief Justice
The Movement for Change (MFC) has declared its support for the constitutional procedures surrounding the recent suspension of Ghana’s Chief Justice, reaffirming its commitment to justice, fairness, and democratic values.
President John Mahama has pledged to donate his six-month salary to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, popularly known as MahamaCares.
The President made the pledge on Wednesday, April 29, during the launch of the healthcare delivery initiative at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in Accra.
Following his announcement, he urged corporate bodies to also support the initiative.
“I want to encourage corporate Ghana, businesses, the mines, the banks, and all other companies that the Ghana Medical Trust Fund is reaching out to your clients who save their money in your banks or do business with you. Some of them are even your own staff.
“So, as part of your Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), if you give anything, consider that you are giving to your own staff or customers. I would like to encourage all corporations in Ghana, both private and public, to, at the end of the year, donate a portion of their annual CSR to the Ghana Medical Fund because it is going to do a lot of good for the country,” he said.
The initiative fulfills a campaign promise President Mahama made to Ghanaians during the NDC manifesto launch on August 24, 2024, in Winneba.
The fund will assist people suffering from chronic conditions such as kidney failure, diabetes, and other health issues.
While acknowledging the National Health Insurance Scheme’s (NHIS) role in healthcare delivery, the government has emphasized the need to cover specialized treatments.
Lead preacher at the Takoradi Church of Christ, Dr. Daniel Owusu Asiamah
The lead preacher at the Takoradi Church of Christ, Dr. Daniel Owusu Asiamah, has made a controversial statement, declaring that no pastor in Ghana has the power to heal persons living with disabilities.
In a video circulating online on April 28, 2025, Dr. Owusu Asiamah asserted that any pastor who claims the ability to heal physically challenged individuals is a liar and not a true servant of God.
He further alleged that many of these so-called healers resort to black magic.
“We don’t have a single pastor in Ghana who can heal someone born with a disability. They are all liars,” he said.
“That kind of healing no longer exists. But because they refuse to accept this, they’ve turned to black magic, white magic, and occult practices,” he added.
Dr. Owusu Asiamah emphasised that pastors involved in such practices are driven by financial gain rather than a genuine calling to serve God.
“I’ll say it again, this kind of healing doesn’t exist. No pastor should attack me for speaking the truth. What some of these pastors are doing to their congregations is unjust.
“You’ll see a pastor falsely prophesying to his church members just to exploit them for money,” he added.
Watch the video below:
“There’s no single ‘Man of God’ in Ghana who can heal persons with disabilities. Such things do not exist anymore”
-Lead preacher at the Takoradi Church of Christ, Bro. Dr. Daniel Owusu Asiamah. pic.twitter.com/GNWO4d89K0
Charles Bissue (L) and Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng (R)
Former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue, has reacted to the 15 new corruption-related charges he has been slapped with by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
In a statement sighted by GhanaWeb, Charles Bissue said that the charges which were filed against him and one Andy Thomas Owusu had to do with the allegation against him in the 2019 “Galamsey Fraud” documentary by Tiger Eye PI.
He said that while he welcomes the decision of the OSP, all the allegations against him are unfounded and will be challenged in court.
“The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed a writ seeking to initiate prosecution against me and Mr Andy Thomas Owusu on charges, including the alleged misuse of public office for profit and corruption. This case pertains to the widely publicised ‘Galamsey Fraud’ investigation, as documented in the 2019 Tiger Eye PI report, which has been the subject of public discourse for several years.
“For the record, I categorically assert that I have always acted in full compliance with both the legal and ethical obligations of the office I held and the laws of the Republic of Ghana. Any suggestion of misconduct is baseless and will be vigorously challenged through due process,” parts of the statement read.
Bissue, also a former New Patriotic Party parliamentary candidate for Essikado-Ketan, called for transparency in the hearing of the case by the courts.
He said that the OSP must present the full facts of the case to the court and not edited versions of the documentary by Tiger Eye PI.
“I welcome the OSP’s decision to proceed with this case after more than five years of deliberation. To ensure transparency and fairness, I expect the OSP to submit to the court a complete, unedited, and unaltered version of the video documentary referenced in these proceedings. Ghanaians deserve access to the unvarnished truth and factual evidence, free from distortion or misdirection by external narratives or selective interpretations.
“The timing of this prosecution, occurring under a different government than the one in which I previously served, shows the importance of impartial judicial proceedings. It is my sincere hope that this process will allow all parties an equitable opportunity to present evidence and that the facts will be evaluated fairly, without bias,” he added.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) charged former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue, and Andy Thomas Owusu with 15 counts of corruption-related offences.
The charges filed at the High Court (Criminal Division) in Accra on April 28, 2025, alleged that between January and February 2019, while serving as IMCIM Secretary, Charles Bissue allegedly accepted a total of GH¢35,000 from one Benjamin Adjapong, directly and through Owusu, to fast-track the renewal of an expired mining licence for ORR Resources Enterprise.
According to court documents sighted by GhanaWeb on Monday, April 28, 2025, Charles Bissue faces nine counts including using public office for profit under Section 179C(a) of Act 29 for receiving GH¢15,000 on January 22, GH¢10,000 on January 30 and another GH¢10,000 on February 8 to bypass IMCIM vetting processes.
He is also charged with corruption by a public officer under Sections 239(1) and (3) of Act 29 (as amended by Act 1034) for accepting bribes to influence official duties.
BAI/AE
How on earth will cardiac surgeons fight galamsey? Watch as Jennifer Queen slams Prof Frimpong-Boateng
Meanwhile, watch as frustrated Ghanaians speak out on poor network challenges
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the newly launched Adwumawura Program will lead to the creation of 40,000 Ghanaian-owned businesses over the next four years, translating to 10,000 new businesses annually.
The initiative is designed to stimulate youth employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation across key sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
Speaking at the official launch of the project at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi on April 28, 2025, President Mahama stated, “Our goal is to create at least 10,000 Ghanaian youth-owned businesses every year over a four-year period.”
He emphasised that the Adwumawura program is not merely a policy initiative but a cornerstone of his 2024 campaign promises.
“The Adwumawura program, which we are launching today, is a flagship fulfilment of that promise. It is a declaration of faith in the extraordinary potential of the Ghanaian youth,” he said.
“It is our commitment to nurturing their ambitions and translating their ideas into thriving enterprises that will drive our nation’s progress.”
Under the program, beneficiaries will receive comprehensive support, including skills training, mentorship, access to start-up capital, and equipment. This holistic approach is aimed at ensuring the sustainability and long-term success of new ventures.
The initiative is supported by a GH¢100 million allocation from the 2025 Budget Statement, as announced by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
SA/MA
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Assistant coach of the Sudan national team, Ignatius Osei-Fosu, has stated that his superior James Kwasi Appiah would have managed a top European team if Ghana belonged to that continent.
According to him, the exploits of his head coach in football management would have given him the opportunity to manage the France national team if he hailed from a European country.
Osei-Fosu expressed optimism that the head coach of the Sudan national team will land a job with a big club or team in the future, considering his feats.
“If Ghana was a European country, Kwasi Appiah would have coached maybe France,” he said during the Pitchside podcast, as shared by GTV Sports+.
Kwasi Appiah was appointed Sudan’s head coach in September 2023 to lead their campaign for AFCON qualification which was a success.
Within a year, the former Ghana coach has guided Sudan to their first AFCON since 2013.
Additionally, Sudan is close to securing a spot at the 2026 World Cup, currently sitting atop their CAF World Cup qualifying group.
He also led the Black Stars to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Read Osei Fosu’s remarks below:
Sudan Assistant coach Ignatius Osei-Fosu thinks Kwesi Appiah could’ve coached France if he was European.
Kwadwo Mpiani, former Chief of Staff under former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s administration and a known member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has criticised Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s ‘thank you tour’ and questioned the rationale behind it.
According to him, the tour is a misplaced priority. “The whole exercise is misplaced. What are we going to thank them for? For not voting for us, or what? So I don’t think this is the time for this kind of exercise,” he said on JoyNews’ The Pulseon Tuesday, 29th April.
He argued that the tour is unnecessary given the party’s poor performance in the 2024 elections. Instead, he believes the focus should be on understanding the reasons behind the defeat and addressing the issues that contributed to it.
“Because we performed so miserably in this election, we have set up a committee to tour the country to investigate what went wrong. I believe the first thing we should do, after identifying the reasons for the party’s sorry state, is not to go out thanking people. The most important thing is to understand what happened and take decisive action,” he stated.
Dr Bawumia, the 2024 flagbearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has commenced a ‘thank-you tour’ following the party’s landslide defeat in the 2024 general elections.
According to the party, the tour forms part of efforts to rebuild and re-energise the party ahead of the 2028 elections, while also appreciating the contributions of party members during the last campaign.
The tour comes on the heels of a report by a 12-member committee, chaired by former Speaker of Parliament, Prof Mike Oquaye, which was established to investigate the reasons behind the party’s electoral loss.
The party declined to make the contents of the report public.
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.
In commemoration of International Earth Day, the Sunyani West Assembly in the Bono Region has called for urgent climate change actions to mitigate its effects on the nation’s economy.
Themed “Our Power, Your Planet”, Head of the Physical Planning Department at the Assembly, Gifty Nyarko, stressed the need for urgent collaboration among government and agencies to strengthen the responsibilities of formulating actionable policies that seek to preserve the planet.
She maintained that the phrase “Our Power” refers to the influence individuals, including planners, nananom, and governments hold in shaping the planet (Earth), emphasising that physical planners of various assemblies in the country are in a unique position to impact land use, guide urban growth, and direct sustainable use of natural resources.
“The way we design our cities and manage development today will define the environmental legacy we leave behind tomorrow,” she said.
According to her, strategic planning must be centered on long-term sustainability, where planners balance development with environmental integrity and ensure resilience and ecological health.
Dwelling on the second half of the theme, “Your Planet”, the physical planning expert reminded Ghanaians that the Earth’s well-being affects everyone, so it requires all hands on deck.
She added that environmental crises such as climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and galamsey (in our country) are interconnected and increasing, and therefore need urgent solutions.
She cited the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO, 2020) report that millions of acres of forests are being lost each year, stressing that deforestation is undermining biodiversity and accelerating climate change by removing key carbon sinks.
Madam Nyarko also pointed to NASA (2020) data that indicates global temperatures continue to rise, leading to extreme weather events like floods, droughts, and heatwaves.
“Due to the above challenges the Earth is facing, the Sunyani West Assembly is embarking on the following solution: transition to renewable energy. It is a “non-negotiable step towards lowering emissions and creating green jobs,” she told the paper.
She is therefore calling for emphasis on reforestation, conservation of biodiversity, and the adoption of environmentally friendly farming techniques which, she said, the assembly is encouraging community members to employ as well as showing them how to go about it.
She called for inclusive planning where women, youth groups, and indigenous people are engaged. “These groups hold vital knowledge and unique insights into ecological stewardship. True sustainability can’t exist without equity and inclusion,” she added.
Two unidentified men armed with knives reportedly attacked a revenue officer at the Outpatient Department (OPD) of the Yilo Krobo District Hospital at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29, in an attempted robbery.
The assailants approached the officer under the pretense of seeking help for a patient. Believing they were genuine clients, the officer opened her office to alert those in charge of registration. It was at that point that the men turned on her, demanding to know where the cash was kept.
The attackers inflicted a deep cut on her right eyebrow and arm, causing her to fall. They then forcefully opened the drawers in search of money. However, they fled moments later when the officer screamed for help.
The exact point of entry used by the robbers remains unclear. The security officer on duty claimed he did not see the suspects enter the premises.
Management, however, believes the hospital’s vulnerable perimeter fencing may have played a role in the breach.
Dr. Francisca Mensah Darkwah, Medical Superintendent of the Yilo Krobo District Hospital, told Citi News that the attack has prompted an urgent need for enhanced security measures. She also disclosed changes to the hospital’s operational schedule to reduce staff exposure during late-night hours.
Hospital authorities are calling for immediate improvements to security infrastructure to prevent future incidents.
Mobile Money vendor shot dead during robbery in Aflao
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Flaring of gas not only results in significant financial losses, environmental and health risks
The Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, John Nkaw, has disclosed that Ghana is losing approximately US$100 million worth of natural gas each year due to flaring activities in the oil and gas sector.
Speaking in an interview on GhOne TV, as monitored by GhanaWeb Business, Nkaw emphasised that the flaring of gas not only results in significant financial losses but also poses serious environmental and health risks, as it releases greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.
“We have data that shows the government flares about $100 million worth of gas. That is excess gas we are unable to process. We must find a way to contain it. Apart from being a cost to Ghana, it also has hazardous climate change effects,” he stated.
Nkaw criticised the persistent flaring as a waste of valuable resources, which could otherwise be harnessed for power generation, industrial use, or export, thereby generating additional revenue for the country.
His remarks come amid growing concern among civil society groups and energy experts regarding the inefficiencies and environmental damage associated with gas flaring in Ghana’s oil and gas sector.
Despite increased petroleum revenues, highlighted in the recently released 2024 PIAC Report, the continued flaring of gas undermines Ghana’s ability to fully capitalise on its natural resource wealth.
Nkaw called on policymakers to adopt stricter regulations and invest in infrastructure to support the commercialisation of associated gas, rather than allowing it to be wasted through flaring.
Communications Team Member of the New Patriotic Party, Eric Twum, has lashed out at Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, former government spokesperson for governance and security, over his criticism of the party’s 2024 presidential candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
The backlash follows comments by Dr. Boakye-Danquah, alleging that Dr. Bawumia Mahamudu was attempting to dissociate himself from the failures of the Akufo-Addo administration during his nationwide Thank-you Tour.
During his Thank-you Tour, on Dr. Bawumia cited several factors he believed contributed to the NPP’s loss, including arrogance of power, the high cost of living, the failure to reshuffle government appointees, the controversial Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy), and the unpopular “haircut” policy that formed part of Ghana’s IMF debt restructuring programme.
In response, Boakye-Danquah, in a strongly worded statement, challenged Dr. Bawumia’s narrative, describing it as an opportunistic attempt to absolve himself of blame.
However, these comments did not sit well with some party loyalists, including Eric Twum, who expressed his disappointment in no uncertain terms.
“For me, this is a bit more upsetting. I was quite upset that Nana Akomea, who is my mentor, responded to Palgrave because where did this Palgrave boy come from? When we were in the trenches, where was he? That is what is upsetting.
“Where did he come from that he had the audacity and the effrontery to say these things? I am very sad that Nana Akomea responded to him. He should have allowed some of us to respond to him,” Twum said.
Thank You Tour: ‘There’s no disunity in NPP’ – Eric Twum
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested popular Nigerian businessman and music executive, Emeka Okonkwo, widely known as E-Money.
E-Money, who is the CEO of Emmy Cargoes Nigeria Limited and Five Star Music, was taken into custody on Tuesday morning in Lagos over alleged abuse of the naira and defacing foreign currency.
According to sources within the anti-graft agency, E-Money is under investigation for spraying both naira and United States dollars at a social event in Lagos, which violates
Kumasi April 29, GNA – Faction leaders in the ongoing Bawku conflict have arrived at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi to begin the peace negotiation process being facilitated by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.
The participants are made up of the traditional and youth leaders, as well as key stakeholders of the Kusasi and Manprusi clans, who are involved in the conflict that had claimed many lives in recent years.
A commercial expedition is planning to take clients up the tallest mountain in the world in record time with the help of xenon gas. But some in the climbing and medical world worry whether the strategy is an unnecessary gamble.
When Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary made their first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, it took more than two months of effort to reach the summit.
In order to adjust to the extreme thin air at high altitude, the team spent several weeks acclimatising, working their way slowly upwards.
After reaching Base Camp, they spent seven weeks making brief forays up and down the mountain to set ropes, lay ladders and establish ever higher camps before their assault on the summit. In short, they laid siege to the mountain.
Today, the miles of fixed ropes put along the route by teams of Sherpas and the slick logistics perfected by commercial guiding companies allow hundreds of climbers to summit Everest every year. But the time it takes for most to climb Mount Everest hasn’t changed dramatically since that first ascent.
Many expeditions still recommend allowing around two months to reach the top with extensive acclimatisation, although this depends on a range of factors including the weather, traffic on the mountain and the fitness of the climber.
It can take up to a week to trek to Base Camp, but once there most people need, on average, around 40 days to reach the summit. But some companies even offer fast-track expeditions that claim to get clients there in as little as two weeks.
This season, however, one guiding company has promised to slash the time even further by taking its clients to the top of the world in just one week, starting from an airport in London.
They will fly to Kathmandu in Nepal, take a helicopter to Everest base camp and climb the mountain in only a few days. This way, they will skip the usual painstaking three weeks of acclimatisation in the mountains – all for around €150,000 (£127,000/$170,000) per person.
The offer, which raised more than a few eyebrows in the climbing community, came from Austrian guide Lukas Furtenbach, who will rely on an unexpected new strategy – inhaling xenon, a noble gas that is sometimes used as an anaesthetic.
The logic behind the idea is relatively simple. Around 10 years ago, it became apparent that xenon has one interesting side effect – it increases production of a protein called erythropoietin.
Known for short as EPO, erythropoietin is a glycoprotein that our kidneys produce as reaction to insufficient oxygen levels. EPO fights hypoxia – a condition that occurs when the body can’t get enough oxygen – by increasing the number of red blood cells and the crucial protein they carry, haemoglobin, which transports oxygen around the body.
At high altitudes, this process will naturally happen after multiple rounds of going up and down the mountain – acclimatisation in other words – to slowly adapt the body to lower oxygen levels.
Most climbers undergo extensive acclimatisation at high altitude to help their bodies adapt to the low levels of oxygen (Credit: Getty Images)
But xenon, it is claimed, could potentially offer a shortcut. By inhaling carefully controlled doses of the gas shortly before the expedition, it may be possible to accelerate the effects of acclimatisation. Furtenbach says he successfully tested xenon himself on previous expeditions.
There is, however, little published scientific evidence showing the strategy works. One recent systematic review of the scientific research, for example, found no conclusive evidence that inhaling xenon had a positive effect on the action of EPO in the human body.
“Increase in erythropoietin does nothing on its own,” says Andrew Peacock, an honorary professor specialising in altitude medicine at the University of Glasgow in the UK. “The question in this case is, does it really stimulate production of red blood cells in such a short period?”
For Furtenbach, the main goal of this strategy is to allow climbers to summit faster and so reduce the risk of being caught in bad weather, avalanches or getting sick.
“The less time you spend on the mountain, the safer the expedition becomes,” he says.
Furtenbach has a reputation for pushing the limits of what is possible on Everest. He has specialised in offering “flash” three-week expeditions, where mountaineers pre-acclimatise at home before making their trip. In the Everest climbing season of 2025, he is planning to use the xenon approach to help four British clients reach the summit in early May.
Many in the mountaineering community, however, have reacted to his plans with a mix of scepticism and condemnation.
The medical commission at the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) – the umbrella group for mountaineering organisations around the world – issued a cautionary statement after Furtenbach revealed his plans.
It warned of the absence of clinical research or scientific proof about the safety and efficiency of using xenon at high altitudes.
A previous assessment by the same body also warned that drugs designed to induce EPO could potentially increase the risk of blood clots capable of triggering strokes or pulmonary embolisms.
Lukas Furtenbach hope that giving climbers small doses of xenon gas before their ascent will reducing the amount of time they spend on the mountain (Credit: Furtenbach Adventures)
Some climbers have also pointed out that substances that artificially increase the amount of EPO in the blood – including xenon – are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) in competitive sport.
“Why would we use substances in mountaineering that are banned in all other sports,” says Adrian Ballinger, an American climber and owner of rival guiding company Alpenglow Expeditions.
His own company guided climber Roxanne Vogel to the summit of Everest in just 14 days in 2019, where she used an “altitude chamber” at the gym and work to help her pre-acclimatise before the expedition.
But in the world of commercial guided mountaineering, where anti-doping rules don’t apply, clients are largely unconcerned about the style of ascent. Some in the climbing community are simply curious to see how this will unfold.
“It would be great if this is true, and we could use xenon in the future to make the work of Sherpas safer,” says Dawa Steven Sherpa, owner of Nepal-based guiding company Asia Trekking.
After all, it won’t be the first time humans have enlisted the help of drugs to survive on the tallest mountains – one of the harshest environments on Earth.
Researchers who have studied blood oxygen levels of climbers on Everest have recorded some of the lowest levels ever seen in humans
As climbers ascend to high altitude, they experience a drop in atmospheric pressure that reduces the amount of oxygen they inhale.
This is because the number of air molecules in the atmosphere falls the higher you get. At 5,500m (18,045ft) – slightly above the Everest base camp – there is roughly only half as much oxygen available for us to breathe compared with at sea level.
On the summit at 8,850m (29,035ft), this drops to one-third of the usual oxygen. The weather on any given day can also have an effect, leading to dramatic swings in atmospheric pressure to such an extent that it would be equivalent to climbing an additional 700m (2,297ft), according to one study.
All of this means that climbers are able to get less oxygen into their blood stream and into their bodies. Researchers who have studied blood oxygen levels of climbers on Everest have recorded some of the lowest levels ever seen in humans.
If exposed suddenly to these conditions, people can become severely hypoxic, a state that is normally only seen in critically ill patients being treated in hospitals or during serious incidents while under anaesthetic. From altitudes as low as 4,500m (14,764ft) – brain function starts to become impaired in ways that affect decision-making and problem-solving tasks.
The human body, however, is able to adapt to hypobaric hypoxia (hypoxia caused by low air pressure) and reacts with a range of different responses, explains Martin Burtscher, a long-time researcher in the field of high-altitude medicine and professor at University of Innsbruck in Austria.
We start to hyperventilate and consequently exhale more carbon dioxide, which helps counteract oxygen desaturation.
Kidney and bladder function also change to increase the concentration of blood cells, while an increase in heart rate drives more oxygen around the body, says Burtscher.
Erythropoiesis, a process that increases red blood cell production in response to the presence of EPO, is one of the most important adaptations. After weeks of acclimatisation, erythropoiesis increases total blood volume and oxygen transportation capacity.
The majority of climbers who have reached the summit of Everest have done so using supplementary oxygen delivered through breathing masks (Credit: Getty Images)
Sometimes, however, these adaptive responses can fail.
“If hypoxia becomes too severe, acute mountain sickness or life-threatening pulmonary or brain oedema develop,” says Burtscher.
In those cases, capillaries of the lung and the brain lose their ability to retain fluids, which leaks out between the cells into brain or lung tissue, explains Andrew Peacock. The consequence is loss of brain or lung function, both potentially fatal.
It is why most climbers on the world’s highest mountains use supplementary oxygen, delivered from canisters through breathing apparatus, with a constant flow of the gas coming from high-pressure cylinders that mountaineers carry in their backpacks.
“It makes a huge difference,” says Peacock. “You are basically mimicking a lower altitude. It makes you less breathless, and it improves the function of the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and muscles.”
Both Hillary and Norgay used supplementary oxygen in 1953 and that approach continues today. Of 7,269 people known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest, only 230 have done it without the aid of supplemental oxygen.
There are some in the mountaineering community, however, who believe supplemental oxygen could also be considered as doping. It is a highly charged debate, balancing climber safety against ideals of a more “pure” style of mountaineering.
The Piolet d’Or, the most prestigious annual award in mountaineering, tends to celebrate ascents achieved without supplemental oxygen, for example.
Eager to mitigate the effects of altitude further, some mountaineers and doctors have been willing to experiment with other remedies too, from existing prescription drugs to sketchy stimulants.
In 1953, the legendary Austrian alpinist Hermann Buhl achieved one the greatest feats in the history of mountaineering, summiting alone on the 8,126m (26,660ft) Himalayan peak Nanga Parbat.
It remains the only time anyone has managed a “solo” first ascent of an 8,000m (26,247ft) peak. Buhl’s feat is considered even more impressive as he did it without supplemental oxygen.
During the gruesome descent, he was famously forced to spend the night at 7,900m (25,919ft), standing on a narrow ledge while leaning against a rock.
At that time, Buhl was already known as a hard-core, pioneering alpinist. Still, it was unthinkable that somebody could survive this ordeal.
As he later described in his autobiography, he did, however, have a little help in his backpack in form of pervitin, methamphetamine pills that had been widely used by Nazi troops during World War Two.
“At very high altitudes, experts agree that even with acclimatisation, the body will eventually start to deteriorate“
The search for other drugs that can help give climbers a boost in performance and acclimatisation at high altitude never stopped.
A team of doctors in Willemstad, Curaçao, for example, recently published details about a test of a drug normally used to treat anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. Two climbers took the drug, which stimulates EPO production, as they ascended Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador.
But even with all this help, Everest is a treacherous place and there is no guarantee of survival. Although there is little research on how long someone can remain at very high altitudes, experts agree that even with acclimatisation, the body will eventually start to deteriorate.
Extremes of cold and wind exposure, the strain placed on the lungs and heart, deterioration of the tissues and organs, dehydration and weight loss all make spending any prolonged visit to the so called “Death Zone” – generally considered to be above 8,000m (26,247ft) – increasingly dangerous.
So, cutting down the time spent on the mountain is always beneficial.
This is where xenon could make a real difference, at least according to Michael Fries, head of the department of anaesthesiology at St Vincenz Krankenhaus Limburg in Germany, who came up with the idea and suggested it to Furtenbach.
Mountaineers have turned to techniques such as specialised hypoxic tents to help them prepare for high altitude climbs (Credit: Getty Images)
Xenon has been used in a wide range of products, from car headlights to ion propulsion engines and ballistic missiles. It could also serve as an anaesthetic, which is something Fries spent years researching while working at University Hospital Aachen in Germany.
“It is an almost ideal anaesthetic since it has a very rapid effect, quickly leaves the body and doesn’t interact with other drugs,” says Fries.
Using xenon for anaesthesia, however, proved to be challenging for multiple reasons. This extremely expensive gas must make up 70% of the anaesthetic mixture and it requires special equipment for administration.
Then, in 2014, Fries and his colleagues heard claims that some Russian athletes had used xenon at the 2014 Winter Olympics to improve performance, so the group from University Hospital Aachen did their own study on 24 healthy volunteers.
The results confirmed that a single inhalation of 30% xenon for 45 minutes significantly increased EPO level eight hours after exposure.
According to Fries, the main effect of EPO production should be strongest within the first few days and last up to 14 days.
Curious if this advantage could be used in the hypoxia-inducing world of high-altitude mountaineering, Fries contacted Furtenbach.
Previously, Furtenbach had managed to shorten the Everest expedition time to two weeks by using so-called hypoxic pre-acclimatisation. However, sleeping at home for eight weeks in tents with a lower percentage of oxygen or repeatedly breathing reduced amounts of air through a mask was never a strategy that found much favour among his clients.
Keen to try the xenon idea, Furtenbach did a test run on Aconcagua, 6,961m (22,838ft) high mountain in Argentina. He received a low dose of xenon shortly before the expedition in 2020.
“I reached the summit within a week, without any prior acclimatisation. I felt strong and fast,” says Furtenbach.
He claims his red blood cell count went up by 10% while measurements of his blood oxygen saturation on the summit showed it was 89%.
If true, academics say, this would be remarkable. At sea level, normal blood oxygen saturation is between 96-100%. Measurements taken from nine climbers during an expedition to Everest in 1993 showed that blood oxygen saturation of climbers fell below 90% at around 4,700m (15,420ft), while at 8,000m (26,247ft) climbers had only 70% saturation without supplementary oxygen. Even with supplementary oxygen, this increased only to 80%. Measurements taken during a research expedition to Everest in 2007 showed an even starker reduction in blood oxygen saturation in four climbers at an altitude of 8,400m (27,559ft), measuring some of the lowest levels ever recorded in humans who are not already close to death.
“I’m quite sceptical,” says Mike Grocott, professor of anaesthesia and critical care at University of Southampton who led the research team during the 2007 expedition and has summited Everest himself. “Xenon has a number of biological mechanisms, including boosting EPO, but the effect on red blood cells and oxygen transport is questionable.”
Even at lower altitudes the effects of hypoxia can begin to have an effect on the human body (Credit: Getty Images)
In 2022, Furtenbach and two fellow guides did another xenon test – this time on Everest. The results, he says, were the same as on Aconcagua, except this time the group prepared at home with hypoxic pre-acclimatisation, where their bodies were slowly introduced to lower levels of oxygen by sleeping in a hypoxic tent at home.
“In each of these cases, we could see the effects on the endurance and the physical abilities,” says Fries, who was involved in analysing the data gathered during the tests. “They all had high oxygen saturations without the long acclimatisation periods and increase in haemoglobin levels.”
But he acknowledges there is still a lack of peer-reviewed scientific research on this and says he hopes to publish findings in the future.
Fries also refutes concerns that xenon, when administered in small doses, could reduce decision-making ability on the mountain. The UIAA medical committee, for example, warned that using an anaesthetic gas in an unmonitored setting could affect brain function, stating “even slight sedation is detrimental in the potentially dangerous setting of high-altitude mountaineering”.
Fries says that in small doses, xenon only results in a short period of dizziness immediately after administration.
Three medical experts the BBC contacted for this story – all veterans of high-altitude research – are not entirely convinced about the strategy as a way to summit the highest mountain on Earth. They argue there is insufficient scientific proof that xenon actually does enhance performance at high altitude.
Burtschner and Grocott both point to a study which confirmed that xenon did increase EPO concentration, but failed to “stimulate increases in plasma volume or erythropoiesis, leaving cardiorespiratory fitness and athletic performance unchanged”.
Xenon, Grocott says, would need to have an “extraordinary” effect to enable someone to climb to the summit in just one week. “That would have to be a very dramatic change. And I haven’t seen any data suggesting that’s true.”
In the meantime, Furtenbach is proceeding with the plan to send four clients up Everest with the help of xenon gas. All four are in good physical shape, he says. They will climb with guides and bottled oxygen. Once new fixed ropes are in place, all the team will need is seven days of good weather.
The rest of the world, meanwhile, will be watching.
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At some point in 2024, during the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration, when power outages (dumsor) were prevalent and many citizens expressed frustration, Prince David Osei insisted that such occurrences were normal.
He said ‘dumsor’ occurs in many countries and could simply be the result of faulty machines.
“The whole of downtown Toronto, Canada, went off recently. There was a blackout. So once you are dealing with equipment, you are dealing with machines, and things can fail,” he said.
Referencing a publication by the Electricity Company of Ghana at that time, Prince David Osei stated that the country had a stable national power supply and that power outages were due to ‘localised faults’.
“That’s what it said. That if you are experiencing an outage in your area, call a certain number. It could be it’s a fault within your neighbourhood,” he stated.
Prince David Osei’s recent comments about dumsor under Mahama’s administration
The actor has sparked reactions on social media after he lamented the recent cases of frequent power outages.
In a social media post on April 29, 2025, he pointed to the impact of dumsor on businesses and daily life.
His comments have since sparked mixed reactions, with some slamming him for being silent during similar outages under the NPP government.
Read the full story published by GhanaWeb on Monday, 13 January 2025
Prince David Osei, who was one of the front runners in the 2015 #DumsorMustStop campaign during the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama administration, admitted to experiencing the recent outages, saying, “We all felt it.”
Speaking on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z on March 30, 2024, he cited the case of a recent power outage in Toronto, Canada, and said that the power outages currently being faced by Ghanaians were due to faulty equipment on the part of the power suppliers and distributors.
“The whole of downtown Toronto, Canada, went off recently. There was a blackout. So once you are dealing with equipment, you are dealing with machines, and things can fail,” he said.
Prince David Osei also referred to a publication by the Electricity Company of Ghana that the country has a stable national power supply and that power outages were due to ‘localised faults’.
“That’s what it said. If you are experiencing an outage in your area, call a certain number. It could be it’s a fault within your neighbourhood,” he said.
ID/EB
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A former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, has stated that the John Dramani Mahama-led government cannot win the fight against illegal mining, otherwise known as galamsey.
Speaking in an interview on GH One TV and monitored by GhanaWeb on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, he argued that the complex social dynamics of galamsey makes it difficult to be eradicated.
“There is very little this government can do towards addressing the issue of galamsey the way they are going,” he stated.
Freddie Blay further acknowledged that under the Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo administration, efforts to combat the menace were also unsuccessful.
“We (NPP) tried; we discussed it in Cabinet. There were suggestions to use the army, equip them with night goggles, stop the importation of excavators. But the problem persisted,” he explained.
Freddy Blay stressed the need for a unified national approach to tackle the menace.
“Sanitise the sector, make it harder to operate illegally, especially near rivers and forests. Be firm on punishments. Train those involved, even though some may still revert. This is a national problem and needs all of us to talk about it, not just for elections or propaganda,” he added.
Galamsey continues to pose a threat to the environment, water bodies, forest reserves and livelihoods despite efforts by successive governments to combat it.
JKB/AE
How on earth will cardiac surgeons fight galamsey? Watch as Jennifer Queen slams Prof Frimpong-Boateng
PIAC releases 2024 annual report on petroleum revenues
Ghana’s petroleum revenue surged to US$1.35 billion in 2024, representing a 27.8% increase from the US$1.06 billion earned in 2023, according to the 2024 Annual Report by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC).
This marks the second-highest annual petroleum revenue since Ghana commenced oil production in 2011. The all-time record remains the US$1.42 billion earned in 2022.
PIAC attributes the increase in 2024 earnings to higher international crude oil prices, which helped cushion the impact of a continued decline in oil production.
Crude oil output fell for the fifth consecutive year, dropping to 48.25 million barrels in 2024 from a peak of 71.44 million barrels in 2019.
The report cited a marginal year-on-year decline of 0.01%, with an average annual drop of 7.4% over the past five years.
Raising concerns over the persistent production downturn, PIAC urged the government to intensify efforts to attract fresh investment into Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector.
“Parliament should ensure that the Ministry of Energy and its allied agencies increase efforts to secure investments in Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry,” the report recommended.
The 14th edition of the PIAC Annual Report covers the performance of Ghana’s petroleum sector from January to December 2024, providing detailed analysis on production, liftings, revenue distribution, and utilisation of petroleum funds.
SP/MA
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Former Black Stars assistant coach, Maxwell Konadu
Former Black Stars assistant coach Maxwell Konadu has attributed the steady decline of the Ghana Premier League (GPL) to two key issues: low player salaries and poor sporting infrastructure.
According to Konadu, the financial incentives for players in the domestic league are inadequate.
As a result, standout performers, particularly top scorers, tend to leave the country in search of better-paying opportunities abroad rather than stay to build long-term careers in the GPL.
“Once you score a few goals, you’re gone the next season,” Konadu said.
“It’s not like that in South Africa because they pay them good money. The players there are relaxed and not in a hurry to travel to Europe because they enjoy what they’re doing at home.”
The former Asante Kotoko coach, who recently managed South African side Black Leopards, contrasted Ghana’s situation with the Premier Soccer League (PSL) in South Africa.
He noted that strong infrastructure and attractive salaries help retain top talents in the PSL, making it more competitive and appealing to fans.
“The South African league is very competitive. Clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates are always in the CAF Champions League. Good infrastructure leads to beautiful football and it helps their league a lot,” he added, as reported by Ghanasoccernet.com.
Another contributing factor to the GPL’s challenges is the persistent lack of official sponsorship which limits clubs’ ability to generate revenue, pay competitive salaries and maintain operations effectively.
Konadu’s comments echo growing concerns among stakeholders that without significant investment in infrastructure, sponsorship and player welfare, the Ghana Premier League may continue to struggle in terms of quality, fan engagement and international competitiveness.
Watch as Ghana U-15 girls defeat South Africa 3-2 to reach finals
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The Generational Rights Protection Society has suspended its planned protest scheduled for today, Tuesday, April 29.
The group had intended to continue its demonstration, which began on Monday, April 28, to demand urgent action against illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.
Following a closed-door meeting with the Accra Police Command, the group said the police requested a suspension to allow further engagement and determine a new date.
Addressing the press after the meeting on Tuesday, the co-convener of the group, Kwame Appiah-Kubi, noted that despite the postponement of the protest, its objectives had already been achieved.
“We thank the police very much for collaborating with us throughout the protest. Precisely today, Tuesday, April 29, we were supposed to converge where we ended the demonstration and continue day two, but just this morning [Tuesday], there was a call that came through the Deputy Attorney-General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, together with the police command at the Accra region, the message is very simple ‘they pleaded with us for the day two to be postponed for them to be able to adequately prepare
He added, “We all know the stress we went through, but regardless, we have agreed and accepted their plea. The Deputy Attorney-General also pleaded on behalf of the government because the pressure is coming on them as well.
“But for us, we believe that from Monday, April 28, if you are on social media, traditional media platforms, you will definitely know that the purpose for which we decided to do this has been adequately achieved.
“We believe that, whether in a day or two, the purpose has been achieved. We’re number one on Twitter [X], even as we speak.”
Anti-galamsey protesters project environmental devastation onto Jubilee House
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Eddie Nketiah reveals latest decision on representing Ghana
Crystal Palace striker Eddie Nketiah has finally shown interest in playing for Ghana, years after turning down chances and waiting for a proper England senior team call-up.
The 25-year-old, born in Lewisham to Ghanaian parents, has long been a target for the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
The Upper West Regional Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has lifted the suspension of the Nandom Constituency Secretary, Martin Wuoyang.
The decision, announced on April 27, 2025, is seen as a step toward party reconciliation and unity ahead of the 2028 general elections, comes on the back of a passionate appeal for amnesty by the party’s former presidential aspirant and former Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong.
Kennedy Agyapong, during the NPP’s National Thank You Tour in Takoradi, on April 26, 2025, urged the party leadership to grant amnesty to all suspended members and those who left due to internal disputes.
He emphasised that unity is critical for the NPP to rebuild and recapture political power in 2028, citing the party’s 2024 electoral defeat as partly due to poor handling of disciplinary actions.
Agyapong specifically called for the reinstatement of high-profile figures like former National Chairman Paul Afoko and former Minister of Trade, Alan Kyerematen, alongside grassroots members and constituency executives.
Wuoyang’s reinstatement also follows earlier tensions in the Nandom Constituency, where two executives, including the Youth Organizer Patrick Napkenaah, were dismissed.
Kennedy Agyapong’s call for amnesty initially sparked mixed reactions, with some NPP members in the Western Region rejecting it, labeling defectors as “saboteurs and traitors.”
Ghana’s crude oil production has declined for the fifth consecutive year, dropping from a peak of 71.44 million barrels in 2019 to 48.25 million barrels in 2024, according to the 2024 Annual Report released by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC).
The report highlights a marginal year-on-year decline of 0.01 percent and an average annual drop of 7.4 percent over the five-year period.
The consistent decline in output raises concerns about the sustainability of Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector and the long-term economic implications, particularly as the country continues to rely on oil revenues to fund key national programs.
The report also flags serious concerns regarding petroleum revenue management. It reveals that total proceeds from GNPC Explorco’s liftings in 2024 — amounting to US$145.68 million — were not paid into the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF), as required by law.
This omission brings the cumulative total of unpaid revenues held by JOHL and subsequently GNPC Explorco to US$488.79 million as of the end of 2024.
GNPC maintains that revenues from Explorco liftings are not obligated to be paid into the PHF, a position PIAC has repeatedly challenged.
The oversight committee has called for clarity and legal adherence in the management of such revenues to ensure transparency and accountability in the sector.
Additionally, the report highlights persistent surface rental arrears, with international oil companies (IOCs) owing the government US$2.89 million in unpaid fees as of December 2024.
Notably, around 60 percent of these arrears are owed by three companies whose petroleum agreements were terminated in 2021, raising questions about enforcement and revenue recovery mechanisms.
Read the full 2024 PIAC annual report highlights here
Read also…
Mobile Money vendor shot dead during robbery in Aflao
Outspoken Ghanaian media personality, Okatakyie Kwame Afrifa Mensah has been trolled for what is being described as a failed demonstration against illegal mining (galamsey).
Afrifa Mensah is leading a pressure group named, the Generational Rights Protection Society (GRPS). The groups mandate is to mount intense on the government to take decisive action against galamsey.
Ghana’s Gabriel Owusu made history at the 2025 African Weightlifting Championships in Mauritius by winning three silver medals at the event.
The Ghanaian team arrived in Mauritius ahead of the competition, which took place from April 15 to April 20, 2025. Over the six-day event, the continent’s best lifters battled for supremacy, with Gabriel firmly establishing himself among Africa’s elite.
“Gabriel Owusu’s achievement is a testament to dedication, discipline, and national pride. In every lift, he demonstrated the strength not just of the body, but of the spirit” said Kevin Frey, CEO of Just Keep Going Inc. who represents the athletes.
His performance stood out in a highly competitive field, earning him accolades from fellow athletes, officials, and supporters back home.
Ghana’s Gabriel Owusu on podium as they sing Turkish National AnthemGabriel Owusu(L) with the other Athletes on Podium
Ghanaian Highlife musician Kwabena Kwabena has declared his intention to run for Student Representative Council (SRC) president at the University of Professional Studies Accra, (UPSA).
In a video circulating on social media, the Highlife singer was seen actively campaigning on campus, interacting with his fellow students in the lead-up to the elections scheduled for May 30, 2025.
Currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree at UPSA, Kwabena Kwabena joins a growing list of Ghanaian artistes stepping into student leadership roles.
He follows in the footsteps of musicians like Guru, Samini, and Dr Cryme, who have all made similar moves into campus politics.
Dr Cryme recently became SRC president at the Methodist University.
Guru currently holds the same position at the University of Ghana, while Samini also served as SRC president at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) during the 2022/2023 academic year.
A subsistence farmer from Nankese in the Eastern Region, Kwabena Huletey, is seeking GH₵9.9 million in damages for a seven-year ordeal of wrongful imprisonment that he said shattered his health, family, and livelihood.
Represented by private legal practitioner and activist, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, of Merton and Everette LLP, Huletey has sued the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Prisons Service, and the Attorney General, alleging systemic neglect and false accusations that led to his unjust detention.
According to a report by the Fourth Estate, Huletey’s troubles began in 2015 when he traveled to Akuapem Adawso to plan a customary marriage with 19-year-old Dela Hunukeh, a family friend’s daughter.
Recently separated from his first wife, with whom he had three children, Huletey embraced the match, unaware of the tragedy that would follow.
He soon discovered Hunukeh suffered from a chronic illness, and her family hoped the union would ease the financial burden of her treatment.
Despite his limited resources as a farmer, Huletey shouldered her medical costs, funding trips to health facilities at Adawso, Mampong, Tinkong, and eventually the Koforidua Roman Catholic Hospital.
The financial strain proved overwhelming for Huletey, who was unable to further afford immediate treatment for his fiancée.
After discussions with Hunukeh’s family, they agreed to delay additional hospital visits until Huletey could sell farm produce for funds.
Tragically, Hunukeh passed away before treatment could resume, succumbing to her illness, later identified as pneumonia.
In a twist of events, Huletey was arrested and charged with her murder, despite no evidence linking him to her death.
The Mampong District Court remanded him into custody, pending investigations and a year later, in 2016, the court ordered his release due to the failiure of state prosecutors and the police to bring a case against him.
However, instead of being granted his freedom, Huletey was inexplicably returned to Koforidua Prison by a police officer, with no legal basis.
There, he remained for five more years, abandoned by the system until the Justice for All Programme secured his release in 2022.
The seven years behind bars left Huletey broken.
According to his lawyers, he now battles severe lower back pain, muscle and bone ailments, hearing loss in his right ear, vision deterioration, and cognitive issues, including memory loss and confusion, all exacerbated by prison conditions and medical neglect.
“Huletey was held in Koforidua Prisons for 7 years, for killing someone when the person died from pneumonia. He was not even there when the person died.
“The court struck out the matter, but he was still kept in custody for the 7 years, because the CID just left him inside there,” Barker-Vormawor detailed in a Facebook post.
The emotional devastation, according to the Fourth Estate report, has equally been profound on Huletey.
During his detention, his sister, who relied on him financially, suffered a mental breakdown, his mother died without his knowledge, and he lost contact with his daughter and grandchildren.
The collapse of his marriage and family ties deepened his sense of loss, leaving him with “immeasurable emotional pain and deep psychological trauma,” according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit demands GH₵9.9 million, including GH₵500,000 for violating Huletey’s liberty and fair trial rights, GH₵500,000 for physical and psychological suffering, GH₵2 million for permanent health issues, GH₵500,000 for emotional trauma, GH₵3 million for lost livelihood, GH₵1 million for his marriage’s dissolution, GH₵1 million for separation from his daughter and grandchildren, GH₵1 million for severed family ties, and GH₵400,000 for legal fees.
Trump is due to hold a rally in Michigan on Tuesday to mark his first 100 days in office
President Donald Trump is set to take action to ease the impact of his tariffs on US car makers, a top White House official says.
“This deal is a major victory for the President’s trade policy by rewarding companies who manufacture domestically,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a statement provided to the Reuters news agency.
The president will announce measures to reduce some import duties on parts from abroad used in vehicles manufactured in the US.
In addition, while cars made outside the country will still be subject to automotive tariffs, they will not be hit with further levies like those on steel and aluminium products, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier.
Trump is due to hold a rally in Michigan on Tuesday to mark his first 100 days in office.
The state is home to the so-called Detroit Three carmakers – Ford, General Motors (GM) and Stellantis – and a network of more than 1,000 major suppliers to the industry.
Trump has put tariffs at the centre of his economic plans, describing it as “the most beautiful word in the dictionary”.
But they have sparked turmoil in global financial markets, caused major uncertainties for businesses and increased fears of a sharp economic slowdown.
The move to ease the impact on the motor industry has been seen as the latest attempt by his administration to show flexibility on the policy.
GM’s chief executive Mary Barra welcomed the development.
“We’re grateful to President Trump for his support of the US automotive industry and the millions of Americans who depend on us,” she told the BBC in an emailed statement.
“We appreciate the productive conversations with the President and his Administration and look forward to continuing to work together.”
Ford said it appreciated Trump’s decision, which it said would “help mitigate the impact of tariffs on automakers, suppliers and consumers”.
“We will continue to work closely with the administration in support of the president’s vision for a healthy and growing auto industry in America,” a statement added.
The car maker said policies that encouraged exports and ensured affordable supply chains to promote more domestic growth were “essential”.
“It will be important for the major vehicle importers to match Ford’s commitment to building in America,” the company said, adding that if they did, the US would see a “windfall of new assembly and supplier factories and hundreds of thousands of new jobs”.
Stellantis chairman John Elkann echoed the sentiments of his rival carmakers in response to the tariff reliefs.
“We look forward to our continued collaboration with the US administration to strengthen a competitive American auto industry and stimulate exports,” he added.
Last week, a coalition of US motor industry groups called on the president to not impose 25% tariffs on imported car parts.
A letter to his administration from groups representing companies including GM, Toyota and Volkswagen said the levies “will lead to higher auto prices for consumers, lower sales at dealerships and will make servicing and repairing vehicles both more expensive”.
Trump had previously said the tariffs would come into effect by 3 May.
Eddie Nketiah’s recent comments expressing his willingness to play for the Black Stars have sparked mixed reactions across social media.
Many Ghanaians have criticised the Crystal Palace striker for previously rejecting opportunities to represent Ghana despite repeated interest from the Ghana Football Association (GFA).
In an interview with The Beautiful Game podcast, Nketiah revealed his openness to now accept an invitation to play for Ghana despite having committed to England at youth level.
“When I was younger, representing England was a natural choice after progressing through the youth system. However, if Ghana invites me, I will gladly accept,” he said.
While his statement may seem positive on the surface, it has provoked backlash from fans who recall his prior reluctance to commit to Ghana, even when the GFA made several approaches.
As a result, numerous social media users have voiced their frustration, questioning whether Nketiah’s newfound interest is sincere or simply a response to the stagnation of his international prospects with England.
Some argue that Ghana should prioritise players who showed early commitment to the national team, rather than those now turning to the Black Stars as a fallback option.
With Ghana currently in strong contention for the 2026 World Cup qualification, many believe the timing of Nketiah’s remarks is no coincidence and they are not holding back from expressing their views.
Read some of the reactions below:
He just noticed his career is dying and will never get invitation to play for English 😂😂😂😂
Nsukka, Nigeria — Since early childhood, Chidi Nwaohia’s life has swung like a pendulum between two spiritual paths: Christianity and African traditional religion.
His life was always marked by mystery, says the 59-year-old who was raised a devout nondenominational Christian in Amachi Nsulu, near Aba in southeast Nigeria.
Before he had turned a year old, he strayed overnight and went missing. “I was found the next morning in the same trench they searched the previous day,” he said.
Three days later, he had a sudden fit and fell gravely ill. His parents took him to a hospital, but when his condition did not improve, they approached a traditional healer for answers. The dibia (priest and medicine man) attributed his illness to the gods, saying it was a sign of Nwaohia’s inescapable destiny to lead his people in the ancient traditions of the Igbo people.
“The dibia said I was the reincarnation of my grandfather,” Nwaohia said. “His return to the earth as a powerful traditional priest was foretold [before he died].”
Such doctrine is not uncommon in cultures and spiritual practices across West Africa. But Nwaohia’s mother, due to her deep Christian faith, received the prophecy with doubt and kept it from her son.
When Nwaohia turned 17 in 1983, he was baptised. But on the day of the baptism, he had an accident. “While riding my motorbike home with the man who baptised me, I suddenly veered into the bush and sustained fleshly injuries, but my co-rider was unscathed,” he said, later coming to the conclusion that it was a sign he was on the wrong path.
But back then, Nwaohia was still ignorant of the prophecy, so at age 18, he became a Bible teacher at a church in his hometown.
After another road accident – a car crash in 1987 – left him with a limp and leg injuries he said would not heal despite years of hospital care, he took a friend’s advice and went to a medicine man for help. The wounds, the dibia told him, were signs that Nwaohia’s calling to the priesthood in the African traditional faith was due.
Nwaohia, then 23, told his mother what the dibia said. She finally revealed the prophecy she received about him many years ago. Although she was hesitant about it, he felt his path was now clearer, and gradually, he accepted his new spiritual role.
“People who identify and follow their true path will thrive, while those who stray will face difficulties until they find their way back,” said Nwaohia, who claims his leg injury healed on its own after he embraced his calling.
He was officially ordained a dibia in 1993, in an elaborate ceremony that included prayers, rituals of purification and vision, as well as frenzied dances, drumming and initiations. Other spiritualists offered Igbo prayers to Chukwu (the supreme being), Ndi Ichie (the ancestors), and the gods and spirits that control the physical and spiritual worlds, asking for acceptance, guidance, protection and blessings.
Christianity is the number one religion in Nigeria, a country of more than 200 million people. But in the years since Nwaohia changed his spiritual path, a growing number of young people have been moving away from monotheistic faiths towards Indigenous African beliefs, according to religious leaders and observers Al Jazeera spoke to.
There is a dearth of data and research on the issue, observers said, but they started noticing the trend in the early 2000s. Many attribute it to growing apathy towards Christianity, but some say pastors focusing on material wealth over spiritual wellbeing – something contrary to the Bible’s teachings – leads people to consider alternative religious options.
Christianity was first brought to Nigeria by Portuguese traders and slavers in the 15th century. However, the faith was restricted to the coastal areas of the country where they were based. It remained so until the arrival of British colonialists in the 19th century. The Christian faith then spread to various parts of Nigeria through the efforts of missionaries and some emancipated slaves.
But before the introduction of Christianity and other monotheistic faiths like Islam, Nigerians had a religious belief system focused on deep connections with the ancestors, the physical and spiritual worlds, and community-specific deities.
Today, many converts leaving Christianity face opposition at home. Nwaohia’s mother, for one, was initially unhappy about his decision to become a dibia, seeing his conversion as an affront to her beliefs.
Families of converts also fear the social stigma associated with traditional beliefs. Many communities view ancestors, divination and other spiritual rites with mistrust. Worshippers can face severe discrimination, with beliefs branded “pagan”, “demonic” or “witchcraft”. This reflects colonial missionaries’ influence, which portrayed Indigenous faith as archaic and spiritually perilous, observers say.
However, for adherents of African traditional religion, both beliefs often coexist.
Some people attend church on Sundays while seeking advice from a dibia at other times, all the while participating in both Christian and traditional rituals like naming ceremonies or funerals.
The adherents of traditional faith interviewed by Al Jazeera say all religious divinity is captured in their pantheon, including the Christian God. As a result, many blend Christian and Indigenous practices.
This approach to religion has become attractive in a society where religious zealotry has caused division and violence, including conflict between Christians and Muslims.
Echezona Obiagbaosogu, 49, a former Catholic priest who now practises both Christian and traditional faiths, recounted the story of a man who remained both a devoted Christian and a rainmaker, even serving on the parish council until his death. However, despite such examples of harmonious coexistence, he noted that some zealous preachers say the faiths are incompatible.
The search for personal conviction is inspiring a return to the kind of faith many Africans link to their roots. Obiagbaosogu, at one point in his journey as a priest, found himself questioning whether his spiritual path was truly in sync with his inner convictions.
“I felt that maybe my personal relationship with God needed something more from me,” he said, without elaborating on what he felt was missing. After seven years of internal struggle and finding no relief in Christianity, he embraced traditional religion in 2022, his 16th year as a priest.
He had also faced similar challenges in the seminary where he studied, leading him to start a society for African culture with his colleagues to explore African religious concepts or practices and their place in Christianity.
Obiagbaosogu believes both traditional and Christian religious practices offer different perspectives on understanding the supernatural.
“Humans crown realities and create concepts, and we become slaves to the concepts we create. Nothing happens when you decide to recuse yourself from the concepts,” he said.
Beyond the spiritual aspects, some say flawed perceptions and the search for easy wealth have also contributed to the growing trend of young people moving from Christianity to African traditional religion.
Many young people embrace traditional beliefs thinking it will lead to wealth, some clergy say, due to the belief that alignment with the deities and spirits can grant blessings, financial breakthroughs or supernatural aid in personal and economic endeavours.
“They are very interested in money, and the African traditional religion offers them an easy way to make some,” said Anthony Oluba, a Catholic priest.
But some argue that it is in fact Christian churches’ emphasis on material wealth that has caused them to want to leave the religion.
Kingsley Akunwafor, 31, a tailor and former Catholic, said the commercialisation of some Christian churches and their preference for wealthy individuals undermines religious credibility and has led to growing apathy towards Christianity.
Clerics demand offerings for miracles and blessings, distracting the Christian church from core responsibilities, including the spiritual welfare of members, said Akunwafor, who requested a pseudonym as he now practises traditional beliefs in secret.
Some clergy are also accused of wanting to make money off the church for personal gain.
Joel Ugwoke, an Anglican priest, told Al Jazeera he knows a businessman who lost confidence in the institution after he sold a Pentecostal pastor a power generator for the church. The pastor asked the businessman to inflate the price on invoices to the church so that he could pocket the difference without arousing suspicion.
Chinedu Oshaba, 37, another former Catholic, embraced traditional faith more than a decade ago after witnessing the Church prioritising money over empathy.
A devoted member was denied a church burial because of unpaid levies. With no one to settle her debt, another church of a different denomination eventually conducted her funeral. “They stripped her of her membership, throwing away all her years of dedication,” Oshaba said.
Many orthodox churches collect monthly or annual levies from members, including to feed priests and bishops, maintain church buildings, and help bury members. However, in Indigenous faith, burial rites are granted to all members regardless of financial status. Oshaba sees this as an advantage over Christian churches, where the bereaved are charged for funeral services, including fees for officiating clerics and church facilities.
Some Christian clerics have observed the trend of more people seemingly moving towards African spirituality. There are ongoing reforms and conversations across diverse denominations on how to appeal to worshippers, religious leaders said.
Oluba’s Catholic congregation, for instance, appeals to people by providing support with agriculture, through training opportunities and grants, while Anglican priest Ugwoke says he is careful about his approach to church doctrine and how he teaches it.
“I practise what I preach because they [the congregation] focus more on me than what I preach,” Ugwoke told Al Jazeera.
Christianity through colonialism became prominent in Nigeria in the 20th century, quickly being introduced in schools in the southern part of the country. The spread was sometimes marked by violence, which killed people and displaced the Indigenous peoples who survived.
“When you deceive or conquer one, two, or three generations of a people, there’ll always be the descendant generations that will defy you, having known the truth by themselves and for themselves,” said Chijioke Ngobili, a historian.
Now, as social media empowers free speech, more young people are speaking up about the colonial atrocities in Nigeria. This, some observers say, is creating a threat to the dominance of Christianity.
“With young adherents of Indigenous spirituality potentially becoming future intellectuals, politicians, capitalists and policymakers, Christianity may be dislodged,” said Ngobili, who is also an adherent of traditional faith.
Some churches have reported a scarcity of young members, who are often the ones to lead music and singing during church sessions. “One church even stopped using musical instruments because its young male members left for Indigenous faith,” said Oluba, the Catholic priest.
With more young people leaving, Oluba worries about the church losing its role as a beacon of morality and conscience in society. Meanwhile, other clerics worry about the young people embracing traditional faith to use it to gain wealth and power through black magic.
However, historian Ngobili argues that dark forces are not inherent to traditional faith, but rather brought in by those with negative intentions.
“The bad ones take their vices – such as greed, desire for wealth without work, instant gratification, violence, among others – into the practice of Indigenous faiths,” he said.
The misuse of certain powerful practices and processes is what tarnishes the image of traditional faith, he said, leading to societal mistrust and reinforcing negative stereotypes.
At sunset on a day in January, in his hometown of Amachi Nsulu, Nwaohia gathered outdoors on the grounds of his shrine, preparing to invoke the gods.
With his index finger, he marked the outer sides of his eyes with a white kaolin before gulping a mouthful of gin from a bottle. Then, with a pinch of kola nut between his fingers, he moved slowly between the various figurines of his oracles, decorated in animal blood.
“Our ancestors ate kola. Spirits drink,” he said, pouring droplets of the gin.
Since converting, Nwaohia has been absorbed deeply in what he believes is the true faith that draws him closer to the spirits of his ancestry, and the goodwill of his forefathers, diligently following the rules of rituals he has learned.
The African way of worship sees prayers take place in the morning and at sunset, often accompanied by libations, with hot drinks, kola nut and kaolin. Stones, carved images and trees are considered homes for the gods, and are often used as the representation of their presence.
Then there are annual and seasonal festivals to mark the harvest seasons, as well as masquerade ceremonies. Offerings, including kola nut, yams, other food or sacrificial animals, are made at shrines to seek blessings, protection or guidance. Blood sacrifices of fowls or goats are performed to appease spirits or mark events.
But there is no written law to guide adherents into specific acts.
Worshippers believe that there is a connection between humans and natural elements like the earth, water, plants and animals, and that certain wrongdoings – including murder, adultery and injustice – are not just an offence against humans but the entirety of nature.
Instead of gathering in a common assembly, like churches, members largely spend quiet times in reflection and seeking truth and fairness in their own actions.
But for converts, this can present a challenge: a lack of mentors. For a faith based on personal meditation, without leaders who guide and give sermons in churches, new worshippers can wallow in confusion.
This, when added to the shrouded nature of certain ritualistic practices in the faith, provides a less organised structure for learning and understanding key doctrines.
Young adherents from Christian homes often bear the brunt, as there is no generational transfer of knowledge.
“When I left the church, my father set up my shrine for me and taught me everything,” said Oshaba, whose father had converted to African traditional religion before he was born. But most others do not have a guide.
In extreme cases, stigma causes family and friends to ostracise new converts. For this reason, Akunwafor says he is forced to occasionally attend the Catholic Church to avoid being sidelined by his friends and relatives.
The tailor has practised his traditional faith secretly since he converted about five years ago.
“I am very bothered by my inability to practise my faith openly because of wrong perceptions about it, but I’m hopeful that my God will give me confidence eventually,” he said.
Similarly, Obiagbaosogu did not have an easy transition. “I lost friends,” he told Al Jazeera. “My relationship with others may not have been smooth, but we are moving forward and I’m building new connections.”
However, on rare occasions, loved ones do come around. In Nwaohia’s case, although his mother was initially displeased, eventually the whole family welcomed his new life as a traditional priest.
“My God has prospered me,” Nwaohia said. “I’ve not had any reason to cry since I became a dibia.”
The Attorney-General’s Office is preparing to file a series of criminal charges against several former public officials, including Kwabena Adu Boahene, former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), and his wife. Apexnewsgh reports
Sources indicate that the charges will relate to alleged serious offences committed against the state.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former Vice President of Ghana
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