Ghanaian dancehall superstar Shatta Wale has once again turned heads with his latest acquisition—a stunning Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
After weeks of anticipation, the musician finally took delivery of the luxury SUV, and the photos are nothing short of iconic.
Dressed in his signature bold fashion, Shatta Wale posed confidently beside the sleek, custom-designed vehicle, embodying success and flair.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan, a symbol of opulence, has been the talk of the town since Shatta Wale first hinted at its arrival.
The photos, shared across his social media platforms, showcase the car’s timeless elegance, with Shatta Wale flashing his trademark smile and striking poses that highlight his larger-than-life persona. In one shot, he leans casually against the car’s polished frame, while another captures him behind the wheel, ready to hit the streets of Accra in style.
This addition to Shatta Wale’s impressive car collection is more than just a vehicle—it’s a testament to his hard work and ambition. As he continues to dominate the music scene, the Rolls-Royce Cullinan stands as a bold symbol of his journey from Ghana to global stardom.
See some photos below:
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.
Shatta Wale poses for a photograph while seated in the car
Ghanaian dancehall superstar Shatta Wale has once again turned heads with his latest acquisition—a stunning Rolls-Royce Cullinan.
After weeks of anticipation, the musician finally took delivery of the luxury SUV, and the photos are nothing short of iconic.
Dressed in his signature bold fashion, Shatta Wale posed confidently beside the sleek, custom-designed vehicle, embodying success and flair.
The Rolls-Royce Cullinan, a symbol of opulence, has been the talk of the town since Shatta Wale first hinted at its arrival.
The photos, shared across his social media platforms, showcase the car’s timeless elegance, with Shatta Wale flashing his trademark smile and striking poses that highlight his larger-than-life persona.
In one shot, he leans casually against the car’s polished frame, while another captures him behind the wheel, ready to hit the streets of Accra in style.
This addition to Shatta Wale’s impressive car collection is more than just a vehicle—it’s a testament to his hard work and ambition.
play videoNorth Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has stated that he does not fear vetting, contrary to purported beliefs.
According to the lawmaker, the chaos that erupted on Thursday, January 30, 2025, was unnecessary, as he firmly believed it was his rightful time to be vetted.
His comments follow a recent fracas in Parliament that led to the destruction of chairs, tables, and microphones during the vetting of Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Minister of Health.
Speaking as a witness during his appearance before the special committee established by the Speaker of Parliament to probe the issues, Okudzeto Ablakwa mentioned that the Minority tried to create an impression that he was smuggled in to be vetted, despite receiving an invitation for his vetting that Thursday.
Okudzeto stressed that he has worked diligently and conducted himself honourably in public service. Therefore, he sees no need to conspire with the Majority side to be smuggled in for vetting when he had already been invited by the Appointments Committee.
“To be very honest with you, Chairman, it’s been a very, very difficult period. The impression they tried to create out there was as though there was a certain conspiracy with members on the Majority side. We didn’t want to be thoroughly vetted so we just wanted to be smuggled in so that we could have an easy pass. But this is not the first time I’ve been invited for vetting,” he said.
He continued “This will be probably my third vetting. I’ve been vetted as Deputy Minister for Information and Deputy Minister for Education. This is my third vetting. I do not fear vetting. I had nothing to worry about, nothing to fear because I believe that I’ve always discharged myself in public office with integrity and honour and there was really nothing to fear. So why will I conspire with my Majority colleagues to be smuggled in at night and just have an easy pass?”
Background
On Thursday, January 30, 2025, chaos erupted in Parliament during the vetting of the Minister of Health-designate, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh and Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
According to Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Member of Parliament for Nsawam Adoagyiri and Minority Chief Whip, the Appointments Committee had agreed to vet four nominees on that day.
However, five nominees were vetted, and two additional nominees. including the Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Minister of Health-designate, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh were added to the list, leading to the chaos.
As a result of the conflict between the Majority and the Minority, microphones and tables were destroyed.
The Minority side was seen overturning the vetting table and destroying almost all materials on it.
Following the fracas, a special parliamentary committee, chaired by Ho West MP Emmanuel Bedzrah, was tasked with investigating the incident and submitting a report within ten days.
Watch the video below:
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You can also watch as Asiedu Nketiah allegedly drags President Mahama to FEC over appointments snub
Ga Mantse, Nii Teiko Tsuru II, has called on Citi FMand Channel One TVto collaborate in promoting the Ga State to help preserve its cultural identity.
He made this appeal during a courtesy visit by a delegation from Citi FM and Channel One TV, led by General Manager Bernard Avle. The visit aimed to discuss preparations for the upcoming Heritage Month in March and to seek the King’s support for the initiative.
As part of the visit, the delegation presented drinks and an undisclosed sum of money. Expressing his enthusiasm, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II welcomed the opportunity to partner with the renowned media organization for its Heritage Month celebrations and future projects.
“We need you as partners to be able to spread the message that the Ga State must unite at all costs for a common purpose. Instead of toeing a certain line, join us to build the Ga State. Join us to think about the Ga girl child. Join us to think about the future of the Ga State,” he urged.
He further emphasized the importance of preserving the cultural identity of the Ga people.
“This Heritage Month, we will collaborate with you, we will be part of it, we will support it and make sure that our ethnicity is not lost, our identity is not lost, our language is not lost, our morals are not lost, and us as Gas and Dangmes,” he stated.
Citi FM and Channel One TV’s General Manager, Bernard Avle, conveyed the team’s gratitude and commitment to the collaboration.
“We have been in Accra for 20 years, and we’ve not really officially come to greet our king. So today, we came to pay a courtesy call on him as Citi FM and Channel One TV to congratulate him since he ascended the stool and also to inform him about some of the work we’ve done. As you know, we’ve partnered and pioneered a lot of authentic Ghanaian programming. So we came to inform His Majesty of some of the things we’ve done in the past, covering some very important events.
“And then, more importantly, to inform him about Heritage Month 2025, which starts on March 1, and to invite him to patronize and support us. We highlighted our key events, including the month-long on-air series featuring innovative programs, our Heritage Caravan, which for the first time will tour Accra, and the Back to Your Village Food Festival, which will showcase diverse cuisines from across the country.
“So we came to introduce ourselves, and as you know, His Majesty has been watching us on TV, he has been hearing us on radio, and he was very pleased to see that we have been championing development. He invited us to support his initiatives, including efforts for the girl child and various health initiatives.
“We were very happy to pledge our support. It is long overdue. It was a great time. We are so happy with the chiefs and the way they received us, and we are looking forward to making Heritage Month 2025 our best one yet,” he stated.
The NDC parliamentary candidate for the Effutu Constituency, James Kofi Annan and independent candidate, Louisa Buabeng have petitioned the Winneba High Court to annul the 2024 parliamentary election results.
They have cited irregularities and bias on the part of the Electoral Commision.
The first petitioner, James Kofi Annan is praying the court to annul results from some 96 polling stations claiming that the signatories on the pink sheets are not those of his officially assigned polling agents.
The Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) prepartory team is presenting its report to President John Dramani Mahama.
President-Elect John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, appointed a five-man team to start work on his anti-corruption initiative, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).
This initiative aims to recover all of the country’s resources that have been looted by public officials.
The anti-corruption team will be chaired by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu.
The members of the team include former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo, retired Commissioner of Police (COP) Nathaniel Kofi Boakye, renowned private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu, and investigative journalist Raymond Archer.
A statement issued by the spokesperson of Mahama’s Transition Team, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, indicated that the main function of the team is to gather information on suspected acts of corruption.
It added that the essence of the preparatory team is to ensure that ORAL starts as soon as possible.
Watch a livestream of the presentation below:
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You can also watch as Asiedu Nketiah allegedly drags President Mahama to FEC over appointments snub
You can also watch videos from the Minority after chaos erupted during Mintah Akandoh’s vetting
Member of Parliament of Tano South, Charles Asiedu
The Member of Parliament of Tano South, Charles Asiedu, has accused the Minority in Parliament of instigating the chaos that erupted during the recent vetting of some ministerial nominees.
Appearing before the ad hoc committee investigating the incident on Monday, February 10, 2025, Asiedu detailed the sequence of events that led to the disruption.
According to him, he was closely observing the Minority’s actions when he saw the Minority Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, speaking to Jerry Ahmed, the MP of Weija Gbawe.
However, he said he could not make out what was said due to the noise in the room.
“Jerry, the Weija Gbawe MP, actually, because of the nature of the room and the noise, I didn’t hear precisely what was said to him. So, the honorable member came behind the cameras to Mintah Akandoh was seated. So, I was like, what’s happening? Because it wasn’t his position,” he stated.
Curious about the movement, Asiedu said he rushed to the scene to understand why Jerry had moved to that position.
“So, I quickly rushed to see what he was up to or what has brought him to that position. When I got to the position of Akandoh… within some few minutes, Jerry left his original position. And again, ‘I heard ‘montuntu cables no’,” he stated.
He added that he saw the MP of Pru West attempting to push the table back into place, along with other parliamentary equipment, including microphones and consoles.
“And I saw the Honorable Member of Pru West, Emmanuel Kofi Ntekuni, trying to push the table back with the consoles and the mic and others. And he was alone, and there were about four pushing it, and he (Emmanuel) trying to push it back. So, I realised I needed to support the tables, the consoles and the mics from being destroyed. So, I left my position, got to the table, and supported him,” he added.
Despite their efforts, Asiedu stated that they were ultimately outnumbered.
“Unfortunately, they (the Minority) overpowered us, and they were able to,” he added.
At this point, the committee chair pressed him to clarify who “they” referred to.
During the vetting of Minister of Health-designate, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh; and Minister of Foreign Affairs-designate, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa; the Minority Caucus accused the Majority Caucus of violating an agreement to vet only four nominees for the day, leading to heated exchanges.
Tensions quickly escalated into physical confrontations, resulting in the destruction of microphones and furniture, as well as the overturning of a vetting table.
In response to the chaos, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, suspended four Members of Parliament for two weeks.
The suspended MPs were Frank Annoh-Dompreh (NPP, Nsawam-Adoagyiri), Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor (NDC, South Dayi), Alhassan Tampuli (NPP, Gushegu), and Jerry Ahmed Shaib (NPP, Weija-Gbawe).
However, after a plea by the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, seconded by Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, the Speaker lifted the suspension on the four MPs.
A seven-member parliamentary committee, chaired by Ho West MP, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, commenced public hearings on February 5, 2025, at Parliament, to investigate the misconduct of the MPs during the vetting session conducted by the Appointments Committee.
The committee is expected to bring transparency to the events that unfolded during the vetting process.
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You can also watch as Asiedu Nketiah allegedly drags President Mahama to FEC over appointments snub
Strengthening the trade between African countries is a necessary first step toward equipping the continent to engage with the world economy on its own terms. For too long, Africa has been trading with others on terms that ensure its place at the bottom of the global value chain.
Despite aspirational narratives about “Africa Rising,” the continent has yet to achieve the prosperity increasingly found across large swaths of Asia and many other parts of the world.
To attain genuine, inclusive prosperity (beyond aggregate GDP growth), Africa needs stronger trade performance, without which no country or continent has lifted its people out of poverty. Yet Africa’s share of world trade has long been stuck at around 3%.
Rather than continuing to depend on “global trade” with advanced industrial economies – a pattern that has kept it poor and undeveloped for the past six decades – Africa needs to build its intra-regional trade. We can think of this as Africa’s second decolonization. It is a necessary first step toward equipping the continent to engage with the world economy on its own terms.
How Africa trades, and what it trades, will determine whether and how fast it can escape from poverty. Most of what we call global trade is, in fact, regional.
The continents that have prospered through trade have done so by trading with themselves. Nearly 70% of all trade by European countries stays within Europe, as does 60% of all Asian trade and 40% of North American trade. By contrast, only 13% of all of Africa’s trade is intra-African.
Moreover, African countries export mainly raw commodities – either natural resources or agricultural products – to their trading partners in Asia, Europe, and North America, from whom they then import vast amounts of finished, value-added goods.
These are often more expensive and sophisticated products made from those same raw commodities. Examples include refined petrol from crude oil, chocolate from cocoa, jewels from raw diamonds and gold, and mobile telephones made with cobalt and coltan.
In recent decades, global trade has lifted some 1.5 billion people out of poverty worldwide. But with such disadvantageous terms of trade, it is little wonder that Africa has been largely absent from this story.
But Africa’s position is also complicated by two other realities. First, industrialized countries have been erecting protectionist barriers not just against value-added products from Africa, but also increasingly against one another.
Second, over 70% of global trade is in manufacturing “value chains” – manufactured components of final products – whereas agriculture, in which Africa mainly trades, accounts for less than 10%.
Since the Doha Round of World Trade Organization negotiations to expand market access for African agricultural products collapsed, the answer is to boost regional trade. Given large volumes of unreported informal trade in commodities in several sub-regions across the continent, Africa can focus on building its own regional value chains.
This necessary pivot is already underway. In 2018-19, African governments formed a regional trading bloc through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which builds on existing regional institutions such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the East African Community (EAC).
With 47 of Africa’s 55 countries having ratified the AfCFTA treaty, the agreement establishes what is potentially the world’s largest free-trade zone, comprising 1.3 billion people.
The AfCFTA aims to remove tariff barriers between African countries and create a single market for goods and services. The World Bank projects that, if fully implemented, it could lift 50 million Africans out of extreme poverty by 2035 and increase incomes by 9% ($571 billion). But the path to implementation runs through the private sector, and three obstacles stand out.
First, there are concerns that removing tariffs will create income shortfalls for African governments. Second, currency convertibility in the absence of a global currency like the US dollar or the euro remains a challenge. And third, many barriers to doing business in and between African countries remain.
Fortunately, Afreximbank, the continent’s multilateral trade finance bank, has stepped in to plug the income gap with the creation of an AfCFTA Adjustment Fund, and it has created a novel payments system for settling intra-African commerce in local currencies.
That leaves the problem of hostile business environments, which are marked by corruption, inefficient port systems and logistics, multiple taxation regimes, weak property rights, and insecurity in regions burdened by terrorism and extremism.
To address these issues, private-sector coalitions, such as the Africa Private Sector Summit and the Pan African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have been pressing African governments to adopt a private-sector bill of rights. This would help “to ensure a predictable, conducive investment climate in Africa,” thus creating the conditions for growth in intra-regional trade.
Only Africans can create African prosperity. The path to wealth on the continent may not always be smooth, but at least it is clearly marked.
It runs through regional trade, a structural shift from raw commodities to value-added products, and a concerted effort to break down barriers to doing business.
play videoFormer Asante Kotoko management member Solomon Ofosu
Former Asante Kotoko management member Solomon Ofosu Ware has narrated the events leading to the tragic death of Yaw Frimpong, popularly known as Pooley, during a game at Nana Konamansah Park on Sunday, February 2, 2025.
Ofosu Ware’s account is in contrast with claims made by the leader of the GFA’s investigation team, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Lydia Donkor, who stated that the stabbing did not take place inside the stadium.
According to Ofosu Ware, Pooley was stabbed inside the stadium, specifically behind the VIP section.
He explained that Pooley was attacked and stabbed immediately after descending from the VIP area.
“What the woman said is not true. Pooley died at the stadium. He came down from the VIP with two people from Kotoko. Then one guy and a lady pointed at him, telling three people, ‘This is him,’ and then he got stabbed. It was at the back of the VIP, which is inside the stadium.”
He further clarified that Pooley died at the entrance area because there were no ambulances near the VIP section. As a result, he had to be taken to the dressing room area of the stadium.
“Because the ambulance is not parked near that area, Pooley took a tricycle to get there. But when they arrived, they refused to open the gate, and that’s when he lost his breath. So he was stabbed inside the stadium but died outside the stadium, at the entrance,” he said.
Meanwhile, DCOP Donkor, in an interview with JoySports, insisted that the tragic incident did not occur inside the stadium, adding that Pooley was rather brought to the stadium after being stabbed.
“This unfortunate incident [the fan’s stabbing] didn’t happen inside the stadium. It happened outside, and he was picked up by a tricycle and dropped at that section of the stadium,” she told JoySports.
The war in Sudan has for millions of people to flee their homes
The Sudanese military has called for diplomatic support for a new government that it says it wants to form after it recaptures the capital, Khartoum, from rival forces.
The Sudanese army has been regaining control of areas in the city previously held by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in recent weeks.
Army leader Gen Abdel Fattah al-Burhan told a meeting of politicians who back the army over the weekend that he would form a “technocratic” wartime government with a prime minister.
He insisted there would be no negotiations with the RSF. The two sides have been fighting for approaching two years – a conflict that has forced 12 million from their homes and left many starving.
Gen Burhan also said there would be a new constitution prior to the formation of the transitional government.
“We can call it a caretaker government, a wartime government, but it’s a government that will help us complete what remains of our military objectives, which is freeing Sudan from these rebels,” he said on Saturday.
A statement by the foreign ministry on Sunday called on “the international community, particularly the United Nations, the African Union, and the Arab League, to support the roadmap presented by the state as a national consensus for establishing peace and stability and completing the tasks of the transition”.
The army and the RSF, which once worked together, have since been involved in a vicious power struggle.
The ongoing war, in which tens of thousands have been killed, broke out in April 2023 after Gen Burhan and RSF head Gen Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo fell out over the future shape of the government.
The conflict has created one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, according to international aid agencies.
Both the army and the RSF have been accused of committing grave atrocities against civilians, with their leaders being sanctioned by the US. In addition, the RSF has been accused of carrying out a genocide in the Darfur area.
Both forces deny the accusations.
In recent weeks, the army has had huge victories against the RSF in the capital and Gezira state.
The paramilitary force has retreated from these areas overpowered by the army’s expanded air power as well as ground support by allied militias.
It however still controls most of the west of the country, where intense conflict has been going on as it seeks to consolidate its control of the Darfur region.
Investigative journalist Manasseh Awuni Azure has expressed deep concern over the Mahama administration’s mass discontinuation of court cases involving officials of the previous government.
He warns that this decision sets a dangerous precedent and weakens Ghana’s efforts to fight corruption.
“For a president vowing to reset Ghana and prosecute government officials who have stolen or caused money to be stolen from the public purse, the mass clearance is a wrong start. It’s a dangerous precedent,” Azure stated.
He argues that by halting prosecutions, the government is essentially protecting individuals who should be answering for their actions in court.
Azure believes that this move sends the wrong message to politicians who might face prosecution in the future.
“What President Mahama is telling the NPP officials his administration will charge is very simple: if you are charged, drag the case as long as you can, and if your party comes into office, the court process will be truncated, and you will be set free,” he said.
He insists that justice should not be determined by political convenience but by the courts, which should assess the evidence and determine guilt or innocence.
He further emphasised that Ghanaians deserve transparency in governance.
“The Attorney-General must not truncate prosecution just because he has the power to do so. That power belongs to Ghanaians and must be exercised in our interest,” he asserted.
According to him, if Mahama truly wants to reset Ghana, he must ensure accountability rather than clearing individuals suspected of wrongdoing.
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 Hajj Board Chairman, Alhaji Ben Abdallah Banda Esq, has urged the current board led by the Chairman of the interim Hajj Taskforce, Collins Dauda, to provide full context when addressing issues of legacy debt.
According to Alhaji Abdallah Banda, the statement made by Collins Dauda at the Hajj 2025 package announcement which suggests that the immediate past board members had mismanaged Hajj operations accruing debt of $4,859,250, was misleading.
While he agreed to the $4,859,250 debt inherited by the current board, Alhaji Abdallah Banda also revealed that at the beginning of the mandate of former President Akufo-Addo in 2017, they inherited a debt of $7.8 million from the previous Hajj managers in 2016 under the NDC administration.
“The above legacy debt included Four Hundred and Twenty-Five (425) fully paid prospective pilgrims who could not be airlifted to perform their Hajj in 2016, and were entitled to either a refund or rebooking for the subsequent Hajj seasons.
“Through the instrumentality of the then President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and Vice President Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the stranded persons were airlifted,” he said.
Alhaji Abdallah Banda affirmed that at the end of their tenure in 2024, a total debt of $4,859,250 is what was left behind as contained in the handing over notes, adding that the information was shared with the new administration in the handing over notes delivered to the Chief of Staff at the Presidency.
“The attempt therefore to refer to the current legacy debt without reference to the legacy debt inherited in 2017 is most unfair and unfortunate, because it does not represent a full disclosure of the genesis of the current legacy debt,” he added.
Alhaji Abdallah Banda mentioned that governance is a continuum inheriting both assets and liabilities, emphasising that indebtedness from organising Hajj arise as a result of various factors, the key being the fluctuations of the foreign exchange market.
“We call on the taskforce to always give the full historical antecedents of the legacy debt in order not to cause disaffection within the Muslim Community. The erstwhile Hajj Board wishes the current Hajj Taskforce well in this year’s Hajj operations,” he added.
Some of the individuals whose cases have been discontinued by the state
Less than one month into office, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, on behalf of his boss, President John Dramani Mahama, has discontinued criminal proceedings against more than 10 people who were being prosecuted by the erstwhile Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government.
The actions of the Attorney General have raised eyebrows with some legal experts, including renowned lawyer, Martin Kpebu, asking Dr Ayine to justify his decision to discontinue the cases.
Some have argued that the discontinuation of the cases, which included cases of former appointees of President Mahama’s first term and political activists who were arrested under the Akufo-Addo government, are politically motivated and not based on merit.
But are these arguments true? Is the Attorney General freeing appointees of Mahama and activists who were being unjustly prosecuted by the Akufo-Addo government, or has he become some sort of clearing agent for Mahama?
Here are some of the cases that Dr Ayine has discontinued so far:
Mahama’s Former deputy finance minister, Dr Ato Forson:
Dr Ayine withdrew an appeal initiated by his predecessor, Godfred Yeboah Dame, against a Court of Appeal ruling that acquitted and discharged Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa of charges related to causing financial loss to the state.
In a Notice of Abandonment of Appeal dated January 23, 2025, Dr Ayine stated that the state had decided not to pursue the matter any further.
On July 30, 2024, a Court of Appeal upheld an appeal on the Financial and Economic Court’s decision by then Minority Leader and former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.
This followed an appeal in March 2023, when the High Court ordered Dr Cassiel Ato Forson to open his defence after the Attorney General’s office established a prima facie case against him in the €2.37 million ambulance case.
Two others, Seth Anemana, a former Chief Director at the Ministry of Health, and businessman Richard Jakpa, who were on trial alongside Dr Forson, were also directed to open their defences.
Dr Forson, who has now been appointed as Mahama’s Minister of Finance, and the two were accused of willfully causing financial loss to the state, amounting to €2.37 million in the procurement of ambulances that could not be used for their intended purpose.
Mahama’s Former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiama:
Attorney General Dominic Akuritinga Ayine has also dropped all the charges against former Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiama, who was being prosecuted by the previous government.
Dr Asiama, who has now been appointed by President John Dramani Mahama as the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, was being prosecuted for his alleged involvement in the collapse of some banks.
The former deputy governor was charged along with several others on charges including fraudulent breach of trust and money laundering.
He was also charged with conspiracy to commit crime and violations of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) Act since 2020.
Mahama’s COCOBOD CEO, Dr Stephen Opuni:
Dr Ayine has also dropped the case of former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COCOBOD, Dr Stephen Opuni; businessman Seidu Agongo, and Agricult Ghana Limited.
Dr Opuni and other persons were facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the state, corruption by public officers, and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.
They were accused of causing financial loss of more than GH¢271 million to the state in a series of lithovit foliar fertiliser transactions.
Dr Opuni, who was CEO under the Mahama government; the Managing Director of Agricult Ghana Limited, a fertiliser manufacturing company; and Agricult Ghana Limited were standing trial for conspiracy to commit crime and procurement breaches.
The prosecution of the case, which had been going on since 2017, saw a lot of twists and turns, with allegations of judges being transferred on the eve of pronouncing their judgments.
Mahama’s works and housing minister, Alhaji Collins Dauda:
The Attorney General has also dropped the case against Alhaji Collins Dauda, a former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, and four others who had been charged with 70 counts of causing financial loss to the state over the Saglemi Affordable Housing project.
Alhaji Collins Dauda, along with Dr Kwaku Agyemang-Mensah, a former Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing; and Alhaji Ziblim Yakubu, Chief Director at the Ministry for Water Resources, Works and Housing, contributed to the Saglemi Housing deal when it was prepared and signed.
Also implicated are businessman, Andrew Clocanas, Executive Chairman of Construtora OAS Ghana Limited (now deceased), and Nouvi Tetteh Angelo, Chief Executive Officer and owner of Ridge Management Solutions Ghana Limited.
The charge sheet, filed on January 24, 2023, included charges of intentionally misapplying public property and causing financial loss to the state in the $200 million Saglemi Housing Project scandal.
The judge presiding over the case in June 2024 told state prosecutors to take the case out of court if they are not ready to go on with it, after accusing them of delaying the trial.
Former NDC National Chairman, Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, and Deputy Communications Officer, Kwaku Boahen:
Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo
The government has also dropped all criminal charges against the former National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, and Anthony Kwaku Boahen.
Both Ofosu-Ampofo and Boahen had been charged with conspiracy to cause harm by the Akufo-Addo government.
They were charged over a leaked audio recording in which Ofosu-Ampofo was allegedly heard plotting to instigate crimes and create unrest in the country to blame the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The recording allegedly discussed plans such as kidnappings, arson, and verbal assaults on key public figures, including the Chairman of the National Peace Council, Prof Emmanuel Asante; and Electoral Commission Chairperson, Jean Mensa.
Former Director-General of SSNIT, Dr Ernest Thompson:
The case of former Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Dr Ernest Thompson, has also been withdrawn by Mahama’s Attorney General.
Dr Ernest Thompson and three other people were accused of causing financial loss to the state in the implementation of the OBS to provide state-of-the-art pension administration.
According to the prosecution, the contract sum was around US$34 million and SSNIT advertised for bids for the project but awarded it to a consortium which included PBS, although PBS did not partake in the bidding.
The prosecution said Thompson, Juliet and Afaglo caused SSNIT to pay additional money for items which were already covered by the contract. The project, according to prosecution, ballooned to around $66 million.
The former DG, according to the prosecution, made payments which were above his threshold as Director-General of SSNIT. Afaglo, the prosecution said, used fake certificates to gain employment at SSNIT.
Oliver Barker-Vormawor and members of the Democracy Hub:
Some of the members of the Democracy Hub who were being prosecuted
Dr Ayine has also discontinued the case of private legal practitioner, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, and other leading members of the Democracy Hub, including Elorm Ama Governor-Ababio (Ama Governor), who is also a lawyer, as well as media personality, Felicity Nelson.
Barker-Vormawor and the other members of the Democracy Hub were accused of engaging in illegalities during their protest against illegal mining (galamsey), which occurred from September 21 to September 23, 2024, at the 37 Roundabout in Accra.
The protesters were charged with conspiracy to commit an unlawful act, unlawful assembly, causing unlawful damage, offensive conduct conducive to the breach of peace, assault on a public officer, and defacement of public notice.
The arrests of the demonstrators made international news headlines after the state refused to grant them bail and kept them in cells for nearly three days.
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You can also watch as Asiedu Nketiah allegedly drags President Mahama to FEC over appointments snub
You can also watch videos from the Minority after chaos erupted during Mintah Akandoh’s vetting
The Chairman of the Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has outlined ten key benefits of the anti-corruption initiative spearheaded by President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking at the handover of the committee’s report, Ablakwa emphasized the significant impact of ORAL in ensuring transparency, accountability, and the recovery of state assets.
1. Enhancing Transparency and Accountability
Ablakwa noted that ORAL has “deepened transparency and accountability,” making government officials more conscious of their responsibility. “It has really increased public awareness about the need to protect state assets,” he stated.
2. Saving Government Bungalows from Demolition
ORAL intervened to prevent the demolition of 50 government bungalows. “We received distress calls from public servants who said people had showed up—so-called private developers—to demolish their bungalows,” Ablakwa disclosed. The properties belonged to ministries including Foreign Affairs and Gender, Social Protection.
3. Preserving Northern Development Authority Lands
ORAL’s swift action helped protect prime state land near the U.S. Embassy from unauthorized takeover. “A private developer moved in overnight on the eve of the President’s inauguration to erect a wall, dividing the property into half. We promptly called National Security, and they moved in,” he explained.
4. Preventing Unauthorized Takeovers of State Assets
The committee worked with National Security to halt attempts to illegally change number plates of state vehicles. “We were able to save a good number—hundreds of these vehicles,” Ablakwa said.
5. Resolving the Du Bois Centre Dispute
ORAL played a crucial role in preventing a clash over control of the Du Bois Center. “We immediately called National Security, and we have now asked that the factions meet with the new Minister for Tourism to resolve the matter,” he reported.
6. Securing Agricultural Lands at Cantonments
The committee intervened to stop the destruction of agricultural mechanization lands at Cantonments. “We have been able to save large portions—about 80% has been preserved,” Ablakwa announced, adding that politically exposed persons had hurriedly developed some sections.
7. Preventing Demolition of Ghana Museums Staff Quarters
ORAL’s intervention halted the demolition of staff quarters at Osu Kweku Hill. “Thanks to our efforts, at least the demolition has been halted, and the President and his advisors will decide what should happen,” he said.
8. Providing a Peaceful Channel for Citizens to Report Looting
The ORAL initiative provided a structured avenue for citizens to report cases of looting. “Imagine what would have happened if citizens, instead of reporting through ORAL, had taken the law into their own hands. Transitions in Ghana tend to be acrimonious,” he pointed out.
9. Encouraging Voluntary Refund of Looted Assets
ORAL also created a platform for persons of interest to return state assets. “Quite a number of persons of interest have reached out, seeking an opportunity to refund and return what belongs to the Ghanaian people,” Ablakwa revealed.
10. Attracting International Forensic Support
He said the initiative has drawn interest from global forensic experts willing to assist in tracing looted funds hidden offshore. “Some have said it will not cost us anything—they may just ask for a small percentage of recovered assets,” he noted.
Ablakwa concluded by highlighting the financial implications of ORAL’s work. “If we are successful in recoveries, we can retrieve as much as $20.49 billion from 36 cases, plus $702.8 million from land assets—amounting to $21.19 billion,” he declared.
The ORAL Committee was established on December 18, 2024, as a key anti-corruption initiative of President Mahama’s administration, dedicated to recovering looted state assets and promoting transparency in governance.
Musah Superior is a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP)
A prominent figure of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Iddrisu Musah Superior, has advised the party to learn from past mistakes and refrain from awarding government appointments to individuals who do not prioritise the interests of the party.
According to him, the former government’s practice of awarding appointments to individuals who did not contribute to the party’s success was one of the major mistakes that led to the party’s unprecedented defeat in the 2024 general elections.
“If we do not want our party to be extinct, then we should not dish out positions anyhow in a future NPP government. We should hire persons who have the party at heart and are ready to support our members/supporters. A political party becomes stronger, attractive, and winnable if its internal workings establish a mechanism to support the party people to access opportunities in the government. Wise people understand a concept quickly with little explanation,” he said.
Superior, highlighting some of such instances, referenced a claim by Vincent Ekow Assafuah, MP of Old Tafo, regarding the dismissive and disrespectful nature of John Allotey, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, towards certain NPP personalities.
In a lengthy write-up on February 10, 2025, Musah Superior corroborating his claims, explained that Assafuah’s assertions did not surprise him, recounting his encounter and experience with John Allotey.
“The Member of Parliament of Old Tafo, Hon Assafuah in a short viral video painfully insinuated that John Allotey, former Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, turned him away disrespectfully because he (Hon) came to see him (John Allotey) without an appointment.
“This doesn’t come to me as a surprise. I worked as one of John Allotey’s deputies for three years and faced outright rejection and humiliation. I will provide a fuller account of our struggle as deputies at the Commission in a detailed write-up in the not-too-distant future,” he said.
Musah Superior noted that the former Forestry Commission boss appeared indifferent to both NPP matters and the political issues of the country.
Superior further suggested that Allotey’s disregard for party members stemmed from his lack of interest in politics.
According to him, he experienced a similar situation when Allotey greeted him in a dismissive manner during a visit to his office.
He said that he was accompanied by the NPP’s Greater Accra Regional Secretary, Daniel Nii Lai Parker, and the Regional Research Officer at the time, Ebenezer Doku, who later became the MCE of the Adentan Municipal Assembly.
“Allotey was completely uninterested in politics and the NPP. He dismissed party people with impunity. In the middle of the year, l was visited by the Greater Accra Regional Secretary, Daniel Nii Lai Parker, and the Regional Research Officer then, Ebenezer Doku. Hon Doku later became the Municipal Chief Executive of the Adentan Municipal Assembly. We had a great conversation. I took them to Allotey’s office to introduce them to him. To our utter shock, Allotey received us in a dismissive manner. We stood there like morons and left eventually,” he added.
The party stalwart went on to express his frustration over Allotey’s failure to campaign for the NPP during the 2024 Election, despite being appointed by former President Akufo-Addo and serving under their government.
He further stated that Allotey, along with other individuals, benefited from the party’s success while disregarding the efforts of grassroots members who worked tirelessly to secure the party’s victory.
“Allotey has never worked or campaigned for the party. I am unsure if he is a member or supporter of the NPP. Even in the just concluded 2024 elections, he did not campaign in any constituency in his home region of Greater Accra or anywhere in the country.
“He was always at the Forestry Commission pretending to be working. He is one of the many ‘baboons’ former appointees who enjoyed power, money, and influence at the expense of the many ‘monkies’ who toiled for the party to win power; as a result of which he first became the Deputy CEO and got promoted to the topmost job of the Commission when the indefatigable, generous, deferential and one of the most dedicated and loyal members of our great party, Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie affectionately called Sir John passed on,” he said.
He added, “Sir John was exceedingly kind and supported thousands of party people who visited him at the Forestry Commission when he was the Chief Executive Officer of the Commission. May his gentle soul rest in peace. In contrast, John Allotey was limitlessly arrogant, lacked absolute empathy, and deliberately disregarded many party members (grassroots) who came to see him. He didn’t care. He claimed he was associated with some ‘big guys’ in the government.”
MAG/AE
In the meantime, find out why Duncan-Williams cried after seeing Akufo-Addo, Mahama together
KOKA is an event organiser and entertainment critic
Entertainment pundit Kwaku Osei Korankye Asiedu, popularly known as KOKA, has urged Ghanaians to refrain from intensifying the controversy surrounding the derogatory statements made in parliament regarding Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings.
Some comments, allegedly made by an unidentified MP during parliamentary proceedings on February 4, 2025, referred to the Klottey Korley as the “daughter of a murderer,” sparking massive outrage and triggering multiple petitions calling for accountability.
But speaking on the issue in a post on his social media handle, KOKA has cautioned that focusing on the issue risks reopening old wounds tied to the legacy of Dr. Rawlings’ father, former President Jerry John Rawlings.
“Have we identified who said it? Ask the whole parliament. If they wanted us to know who said it, we would have found the person.
“But where Ghanaians are going, the young people who are going. You are going to worsen the woman’s situation,” he stated on TikTok.
While KOKA made it clear that he remains a Rawlings loyalist, he acknowledged the former president’s controversial actions during his tenure, including the execution of three High Court judges in 1982 and other human rights abuses, which cannot be justified.
KOKA further urged Ghanaians to be mindful of the pain that families who suffered during the Rawlings era endured, adding that several people lost loved ones, properties, and livelihoods.
“There are things he did that you can’t justify. Do you know what families have suffered from 1977, ’83, ’84? Do you know what people have gone through? If you know the things your father has done to people. The reason some families are shattered. The reason some people did not enjoy their parents, the three judges. There were a lot of things,” he said.
His comments come amid mounting pressure from various groups, including the J.J. Rawlings Foundation, the Anlo Dukor Council, and constituents of Klottey Korle, who have petitioned parliament to investigate and sanction the MP who made the controversial statements.
Watch the video below:
@kokatvofficial
Stop the Rawlings Nonsense!
♬ original sound – kokatvofficial
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Accredited female ambassadors with Ghana’s Vice President
On February 4, 2025, H.E. Dr. Erieka Bennett, Founder of the Official Embassy for the 6th Region of Africa, in collaboration with H.E. Imane Ouaadil, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco and Dean of Women Ambassadors in Ghana, led a high-level delegation of female ambassadors in Ghana to the Office of the Vice President of Ghana, H.E. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyeman.
The meeting was attended by H.E. Imane Ouaadil, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco; H.E. Liliana Gomez, Ambassador of the Republic of Peru; H.E. Juliet Bynoe-Sutherland, High Commissioner of Barbados; H.E. Miriam Montrat, High Commissioner of Canada; H.E. Rosemary Mbabazi, High Commissioner of the Republic of Rwanda; H.E. Norma Ang Sanchez, Ambassador of Mexico; H.E. Fidelia Graand-Galon, Ambassador of Suriname; H.E. Dr. Badreyya Al Shehhi, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates; H.E. Cecilia Obono Ndong Nchama, Ambassador of Equatorial Guinea; and Dr. Toni Luck, Co-Founder of DAF.
During the meeting, the female ambassadors pledged their support to the Vice President, reaffirming their commitment to Ghana’s development and growth.
H.E. Dr. Erieka Bennett also delivered a presentation on the DAF Youth Empowerment and Training Center (DAFYETC), highlighting its mission to equip young people with essential skills in Information and Communication Technology (ICT).
DAFYETC pledged 20 scholarships to the Vice President and will work with her office to support youth empowerment in Ghana. The center is now open to receiving young people for training, aiming to help Ghanaian youth acquire digital skills and enhance their employability.
This initiative aligns with global efforts to promote digital inclusion and bridge the ICT skills gap, particularly among young people.
The meeting concluded on a positive note, with all parties expressing enthusiasm for future collaborations.
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Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak have released a joint statement outlining some measures they want the Ghana Football Association (GFA) to implement in the Premier League before it resumes, following the death of Francis Yaw Frimpong, also known as Pooley.
The clubs raised twelve key issues that need to be addressed, including fully implementing the Gbadegbe Commission report, and deploying not less than 100 police personnel to match venues.
Additionally, the clubs emphasised the need for the league to be made autonomous and run by an independent management team. They also urged the GFA to work towards exempting match proceeds from VAT and other similar deductions.
In a statement released on February 10, 2025, both clubs requested representation on the GFA Executive Council to have a say in decision-making.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service have been arresting people who are believed to be involved in the chaotic incident that led to the demise of the Asante Kotoko supporter.
The Kumasi-based club’s management and supporters held a vigil in honor of Pooley, recognizing his contribution to the team’s successes.
The bodies of at least 28 migrants have been recovered from a mass grave in a desert in south-east Libya, the country’s attorney general said.
The grave was discovered north of Kufra, just days after another mass grave with 19 bodies was found on a farm in the same city.
Officials found the latest grave following a raid on a human trafficking site, where authorities freed 76 migrants who had been detained and tortured, the office of the attorney general posted on Facebook.
One Libyan and two foreigners have been arrested, it added.
“There was a gang whose members deliberately deprived illegal migrants of their freedom, tortured them and subjected them to cruel, humiliating and inhumane treatment,” the statement said.
Images shared online – which the BBC has not independently verified – show police and volunteers digging in the sand before placing corpses in black bags.
The search in Kufra – more than 1,700 kilometres (1,056 miles) from Libya’s capital Tripoli – is continuing.
The attorney general says the bodies recovered have been taken for autopsy, with investigators suspecting links to smuggling networks. Authorities are documenting the testimonies of survivors.
Last year, a mass grave containing the bodies of at least 65 migrants was found in the south-west of Libya. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) described it as “deeply shocking” at the time.
Since the overthrow of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, the country has become a key transit route for migrants risking dangerous desert and Mediterranean Sea crossings to reach Europe.
Unicef has said that in 2024 the number of people who died or went missing in the Mediterranean, trying to reach Europe, surpassed 2,200.
A devastating fire broke out in the early hours of Saturday, February 8, 2025, in Gyinyase, Kumasi, claiming the lives of a nurse Linda Agyemang and her three children. The fire, which started around 3:30 a.m. in their three-bedroom home, trapped the family inside, and despite desperate attempts by neighbors to rescue them, the flames had already engulfed the house.
Eyewitnesses recalled the terrifying scene. Co-tenant Owusu George tried to help, recounting, “My wife woke me up around 3:30 a.m. to inform me about the fire. I rushed to the scene and heard the children screaming for help. While attempting to break the door, I heard a loud explosion from the kitchen area. I suspect it may have been a gas cylinder. Another person joined me in trying to break the window to rescue the children, but we couldn’t.”
Firefighters from the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) arrived about 10 minutes after receiving the distress call at 4:30 a.m. However, by then, the fire had already consumed the victims. The charred bodies of Linda and her children were found in the bathroom and have been taken to Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) for preservation.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the fire, with the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer for the Ghana Fire Service, DO II Peter Addai, confirming the incident. He stated that the cause is still under investigation.
As the race for Volta Region’s Council of State representative intensifies ahead of the February 11, election, Dr David Kofi Wuaku, one of the aspirants has presented a bold and transformational vision for the region’s future.
With a focus on IT development, entrepreneurship, and economic growth, Dr Wuaku is positioning himself as the strategic leader the Volta Region needs to drive progress.
Addressing key stakeholders, traditional leaders, and voters, Dr Wuaku outlined his six-point agenda aimed at making the Volta Region a hub for digital innovation, job creation, and alternative livelihoods.
His campaign has gained momentum as he promises to leverage his extensive global network to attract investment and create employment opportunities for young people.
A Digitalisation agenda
Dr Wuaku’s vision includes establishing IT training centres across all 18 Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the region. This initiative seeks to equip both men and women with essential digital skills, positioning the Volta Region as a centre for IT expertise.
Additionally, he plans to introduce a merit-based scholarship scheme for young talent pursuing higher education in information technology.
“We must prepare our youth for the future by equipping them with digital skills that will make them competitive on the global stage,” Dr Wuaku emphasised.
Economic growth
A key aspect of Dr Wuaku’s campaign is his pledge to connect local entrepreneurs, commercial farmers, and agro-processing businesses with Turkish investors to boost trade and industrialisation in the region. He believes that creating strong international business linkages will open new markets for Volta Region’s businesses, ensuring sustained economic growth.
“Through my networks, I will facilitate strategic partnerships that will bring more investment to our region, especially in agriculture and agro-processing,” he stated.
Dr Wuaku also highlighted plans to introduce alternative livelihood projects that will enhance the income levels of farmers, traders, and artisans, ensuring that every citizen enjoys a better quality of life.
Job creation and leadership mentorship
Another key pillar of his campaign is youth employment. Dr Wuaku pledged to use his international connections to help qualified youth secure jobs in financial institutions both in Ghana and abroad. In addition, he intends to train and mentor leaders across the region, equipping them with the necessary skills to drive local development.
“This is not just about electing a Council of State member—it is about choosing a leader who will bring tangible results to the Volta Region,” he said.
With just a day to the election, Dr Wuaku’s campaign has gained strong support from various sectors, with many viewing him as the candidate capable of delivering real transformation. His strategic, people-centered leadership approach is being hailed as the right fit for the Volta Region’s development aspirations.
As the region prepares to cast its vote, Dr David Kofi Wuaku remains confident that his experience, global connections, and visionary leadership will make him the ideal choice.
“On February 11, let’s vote for a stronger, wealthier, and more prosperous Volta Region,” he urged.
With his message of transformation resonating across the region, the upcoming Council of State election promises to be a defining moment for the future of the Volta Region.
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One person has been killed, and five others are in critical condition after gunmen opened fire on a bus traveling from Bawku to Bolgatanga.
The bus, which was reported to be under military escort at the time of the attack, was ambushed by the assailants.
The accompanying military officers managed to contain the situation and prevent further casualties.
The injured victims have been rushed to the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga for urgent medical attention.
While the motive behind the attack remains unclear, it is reportedly linked to the ongoing chieftaincy conflict in Bawku.
The Bawku area had enjoyed relative peace for about two weeks until recently, when gunmen dressed in military uniforms stormed a residence, killing a woman and her two children.
This latest attack has raised the total number of deaths in the area to 46 since the conflict re-emerged in October 2024.
Tensions have escalated significantly following these developments, with residents expressing fear and calling for increased security measures to prevent further violence.
Apostle Solomon Oduro and Rev. Counselor Charlotte Oduro
Netizens on social media have reacted to the news that Counselor Charlotte Oduro’s marriage has ended.
Apostle Solomon Oduro in a statement today February 10, 2025, released an official statement announcing the dissolution of his marriage with Ghanaian counsellor and woman of God, Rev. Charlotte Oduro, following three years of separation.
According to the statement, all efforts to reconcile have proved futile throughout the separation, hence the need
Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club and Kumasi Asante Kotoko Sporting Club have released a joint statement demanding a wide ranging set of reforms.
The Ghanaian giant clubs released the statement earlier on Monday, February 10 in a show of diplomatic force to get the Ghanaian top flight back on track after several years of decline.
This statement release comes in the wake of the violent clashes that took place during and after Kotoko’s Week 19 league game against Nsoatreman FC in Nsoatre.
The clashes led to the death of popular Kotoko fan Francis Yaw “Pooley” Frimpong via stabbing; the league has since been suspended with its return date yet to be determined.
A series of meetings have been held between the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kotoko and other stakeholders in Ghana football including Ghana Premier League teams and Access Bank Division One teams to address fan hooliganism.
GPL logo
In the joint statement, Hearts and Kotoko have called for the running of the league to be taken from the GFA and handed to an autonomous body with both teams having automatic spots on the GFA’s Executive Committee moving forward.
GFA President Kurt Okraku
Scroll down to read the joint statement from Hearts and Kotoko.
Accra, Feb 10, GNA – The Minority Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament has announced its temporary withdrawal from the Ad-Hoc Committee investigating the chaos that disrupted the Appointments Committee’s proceedings on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
The group in a memo issued by Mr Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, cited alleged concerns over the continued chairmanship of Mr Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, accusing him of biasness.
It said: “The Minority has submitted a memorandum to Speaker Alban Bagbin, outlining its reservations and seeking direction on the matter.”
The caucus emphasised that its decision to pause participation was not a refusal to cooperate but a necessary step to uphold due process, fairness, and the credibility of the investigation.
According to the memo, “… This should not be misconstrued as an unwillingness on the part of the Minority to engage with the Committee. Rather, it is a necessary step to ensure that due process is followed and that the process remains fair, impartial, and credible,” it noted.
The memo explained that the move aimed to protect the integrity of the committee’s work and safeguard Parliament’s broader interests.
“We trust that the Speaker will address these concerns in a manner that upholds the integrity of the Committee’s work and the broader interests of Parliament,” it added.
The Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has accepted responsibility for the chaos that erupted during parliamentary proceedings on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
During his appearance before the adhoc committee probing the chaos on Monday, February 10, 2025, Mr. Dafeamekpor expressed regret over the incident, acknowledging the damage it had caused to Parliament’s image.
As one of the four MPs suspended over the incident, Dafeamekpor said he accepted his punishment in good faith, admitting that he was not proud of his actions.
“Well not at all, I take responsibility, so when my punishment came, I took it in good faith.
“Others disagreed that if punishment were to be meted out, it ought not to be me. But I might agree in principle that you need to punish the leaders for what happened. Consensus building failed for that night [January 30].
He attributed the chaos to Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, accusing him of insisting on his own modus operandi.
“If my counterpart [Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh] was not minded on his insistent on his modus operandi, we wouldn’t have experienced that, but he insisted. Once they decided to destroy tables, raise tables what could I have done just to suffer for the punishment?”
“A lot of things need to be streamlined,” he remarked, emphasizing that a lack of consensus was the root cause of the chaos on January 30.
Background
The chaos on January 30, 2025, ensued when the Minority resisted the vetting of Okudzeto Ablakwa and Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. The standoff escalated into a physical clash between MPs, resulting in the destruction of tables and microphones.
Following the incident, four MPs were suspended, prompting the Minority to walk out. This left the Majority to proceed with the vetting of Ablakwa and other nominees on January 31. Notably, the clash occurred after Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin had already subjected Ablakwa to extensive questioning.
The Speaker, Alban Bagbin established a committee aimed to examine the events surrounding the disruption on January 30, which resulted in a clash between the Minority and Majority over the vetting timing and the destruction of equipment.
The committee, chaired by Ho West MP Emmanuel Bedzrah, includes members Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, Gizella Akushika Tetteh-Agbotui, Abena Osei Asare, Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, Vincent Oppong Asamoah, and Bede Anwataazuma Ziedeng. It has been given a 10-day deadline to report its findings and recommendations.
However, the minority members of the committee have decided not to be part of the investigations anymore, citing bias on the chairman’s part.
The committee had created a WhatsApp platform to solicit information from the public.
Avoid increasing tax revenues based on IMF’s target – Ofosu-Dorte advises GRA Boss
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The Minority Caucus in Parliament has announced its decision to temporarily withdraw from the Ad-hoc Committee investigating the chaos that disrupted the Appointments Committee’s proceedings on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
The group cites concerns over the continued chairmanship of the committee’s proceedings.
Initially cooperating with the probe, the Minority later pulled out, accusing the committee chairman, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzrah, of bias.
In a formal letter to the committee, the Minority Caucus stated that it has submitted a memorandum to Speaker Alban Bagbin, outlining its reservations and seeking direction on the matter.
According to the group, its decision to pause participation is not a refusal to cooperate but a necessary step to uphold due process, fairness, and the credibility of the investigation.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin stressed that the move aims to protect the integrity of the committee’s work and safeguard Parliament’s broader interests.
“Pursuant to this, and given the significance of the issues raised, the Minority Caucus considers it prudent to await the Speaker’s response before taking any further steps in relation to the Committee’s work.
“This should not be misconstrued as an unwillingness on the part of the Minority to engage with the Committee. Rather, it is a necessary step to ensure that due process is followed and that the process remains fair, impartial, and credible.
“We trust that the Speaker will address these concerns in a manner that upholds the integrity of the Committee’s work and the broader interests of Parliament,”
Accra, Feb. 10, GNA – Over the past three years, Stanbic Bank Ghana has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to uplifting lives and empowering communities by investing a remarkable Fifteen Million Ghana Cedis (GHS15M) in corporate social initiatives.
This monumental investment underscores the bank’s dedication to driving socioeconomic transformation and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). From education and entrepreneurship to health and environmental sustainability, Stanbic Bank Ghana has emerged as a force for good, impacting thousands of lives across Ghana.
Shaping the Future Through Education
Education has always been a key pillar of Stanbic Bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, reflecting the bank’s commitment to unlocking potential and fostering societal growth. From 2022 to 2024, Stanbic Bank has undertaken significant projects to enhance educational opportunities across Ghana, including:
Furnishing Schools: Provided underserved communities with resources to create better learning environments.
Promoting STEM: Championed STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) initiatives by partnering with like-minded institutions to organize STEM bootcamps for girls, funding scholarships for brilliant but underprivileged students, and donating over 300 laptops to support their learning journey. These efforts aim to inspire innovation, bridge the digital divide, and empower the next generation of leaders in science and technology.
Supported Medical Exchange Programs: Empowered medical students and educators by facilitating exchange programs that provide access to modern tools, techniques, and best practices. These initiatives aim to enhance healthcare education and improve the quality
Fostering Entrepreneurship and Financial Inclusion
Understanding the transformative power of entrepreneurship, Stanbic Bank has uplifted SMEs and entrepreneurs through:
SME Clinics: Offered financial literacy programs and mentorship sessions to help small and medium enterprises (SMEs) grow sustainably and thrive in competitive markets.
Access to Finance: Provided timely loans, grants, and tailored financial solutions to bridge funding gaps and support business expansion.
Women & Youth Empowerment: Designed specialized programs that equip women and young entrepreneurs with essential skills
Investing in Health and Well-Being
Stanbic Bank has prioritized health through impactful initiatives, including:
Infrastructure Development: Enhanced healthcare access by financing the construction and refurbishment of health centres to serve communities more effectively.
Medical Equipment Donations: Provided hospitals with vital tools and equipment (including incubators, phototherapy and digital mobile x-ray machines) to improve their capacity to deliver quality medical care.
Community Health Campaigns: Promoted preventive healthcare through organized screenings, educational workshops, and awareness drives aimed at improving overall community well-be
Championing Environmental Sustainability
In response to the global climate crisis, Stanbic Bank has taken decisive action, such as:
Tree Planting: Planted thousands of trees nationwide to combat deforestation and promote a greener environment.
Renewable Energy Advocacy: Championed the adoption of clean energy solutions to reduce carbon emissions and foster sustainability.
Sustainable Waste Management: Implemented innovative waste management practices to create eco-friendly and efficient waste disposal systems.
Employee Volunteerism: The Heart of CSR
Stanbic Bank’s CSR efforts are powered by the passion of its employees. Through volunteerism, staff actively contributed to mentoring, donation drives, and community health initiatives, fostering a culture of giving back and strengthening bonds with communities.
A Legacy of Transformation
Stanbic Bank’s GHS15 million investment from 2022 to 2024 is a reflection of its commitment to creating shared value. By addressing societal challenges and aligning with the SDGs, the bank is not only transforming lives but also building a sustainable and equitable future.
With every initiative, Stanbic Bank continues to live its purpose: driving Ghana’s growth while being a catalyst for transformation and a beacon of hope for communities across the country.
Accra, Feb. 10, GNA – Stanbic Bank Ghana has hosted a diaspora engagement event, bringing together some individuals from the diaspora who have expressed strong interest in investing and settling in Ghana.
The interactive session, held in collaboration with the Pan-African Leadership Institute (PALI), served as a platform to forge relationships, share insights, and explore opportunities for mutual growth.
Head of Affluent Clients, Mrs. Margaret Obimpeh, emphasized the bank’s commitment to supporting the diaspora community.
“This session allowed us to connect with individuals eager to integrate into Ghana’s economy. As a financial institution, we are exploring how we can partner with them to facilitate their settlement and investment plans. We see untapped opportunities in this space and are committed to creating solutions that will enable these individuals to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s development,” she said.
She further noted that the bank would use insights from the engagement to collaborate with key stakeholders, aiming to address the unique challenges faced by the diaspora community in navigating Ghana’s economic landscape.
Speaking on the bank’s broader capabilities, the Head of International Private Banking and Diaspora Banking, Mr. Nana Owiredu-Gyamera, highlighted Stanbic’s extensive experience in providing financial solutions.
“With over 160 years of experience and a presence in 18 African countries, Stanbic Bank is well-equipped to meet the personal and business needs of our clients. From current accounts and savings to business solutions and foreign exchange services, we are dedicated to supporting the financial aspirations of the diaspora community,” he said.
On his part, the President and Co-Founder of PALI, Dr. Kofi Osei-Kusi, commended Stanbic’s exceptional role in the banking sector.
According to him, the Institute aims to collaborate with the bank to engage with leaders in the diaspora who have a strong interest in Africa but are unsure where to start. He believed that by working together, they could bridge the gap and bring these leaders closer to the continent
“We’re excited about the reception and the warmth that we’ve had, and we look forward to collaborating with Stanbic Bank to be able to engage with leaders in the diaspora. So many of whom have great interest in Africa but don’t know where to start from. We believe that together with Stanbic Bank we would be able to bring these leaders closer to the continent,” he said.
Media personality and entertainment pundit, MC Yaa Yeboah
Media personality and entertainment pundit, MC Yaa Yeboah, has shared her thoughts on issues pertaining to the current health condition of Ghanaian highlife musician, Okomfour Kwadee.
In a discussion on United Showbiz on February 8, 2025, MC Yaa Yeboah explained that the musician is not open to receiving help, despite efforts from his fans and industry players to support his recovery.
She stated that Okomfour Kwadee is content with his current mental state, adding that even if he were taken to a rehabilitation center, the efforts might be in vain.
“Last year, a video resurfaced online about Kwadee, which we discussed here. It’s truly sad to see someone who has contributed so much to the music industry go through such a crisis. However, when the news broke last year, I made some calls and discovered that he isn’t helping himself. To rehabilitate someone, the person needs the will to say, ‘I don’t want to continue like this. This is not the first time we’ve heard about his condition,” she stated.
She continued, “We can’t blame everything on witches. If you let yourself go, that’s when external forces can affect you. If you watch the video carefully, you can see he’s singing every word of his songs, which shows that he’s still mentally sound. From where I sit, he’s content with his current situation. There was a time when he was taken off the streets and a concert was organized for him, but later, he told journalists that weed wasn’t his problem, and that he would continue smoking. So, I know he doesn’t see the issues we’re concerned about.”
MC Yaa Yeboah also addressed the narrative circulating on social media, claiming that industry players have abandoned the musician in his current state.
“I’ve seen many comments on social media calling for industry figures to help him. Do you know how many interventions have been made for Kwadee? Many people have sacrificed their time and money to ensure he’s in better condition. But if you don’t have the willpower to change, even divine intervention won’t help,” she added.
Kwadee, known for his groundbreaking contributions to Ghanaian music, has been a subject of concern after his mental condition escalated in recent years.
Recent videos circulating on social media captured him in a distressed state, performing bare-chested on the streets, appearing frail and unkempt.
A 53-year-old Ghanaian fisherman, based in Ireland, has tragically lost his life in a freak accident while aboard a trawler.
The deceased, identified as Moses Odonkor, a resident of Skibbereen, is reported to have sustained fatal injuries on February 4, 2025, while aboard the trawler.
Authorities have described the incident as a workplace accident, noting that it occurred when the crew of his vessel was deploying heavy nets into the fishing grounds near the Porcupine Bank, within Irish territorial waters, according to sundayword.com.
Frantic rescue efforts by his crew members were unfortunately unsuccessful, as he succumbed to his injuries even before emergency services could intervene.
His death has left his crew members and the fishing community in shock, with his colleagues remembering him as a highly-skilled and respected crew member, known for his upbeat personality.
The trawler immediately returned to the port in Castletownbere, the report added.
Odonkor had been living in Ireland for over 20 years, and this was not the first tragic incident to strike his family.
His two-year-old son, Joshua, tragically passed away in 2023 after choking on a grape, two years before Odonkor’s death.
He is survived by his wife, Philomena Odonkor, and two children, Isaac and Emmanuel Odonkor.
Meanwhile, his remains are expected to be repatriated and arrive in Ghana later this week, sundayworld.com added.
MAG/AE
Also, watch as Afenyo-Markin exposes NPP appointees pretending to be NDC to maintain positions
Dr Hugh C.A. Brown, is the new Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission
Stakeholders in the timber industry are celebrating President John Dramani Mahama’s appointment of Dr Hugh C.A. Brown as the new Chief Executive of the Forestry Commission.
Dr Hugh Brown, a seasoned professional forester, previously served as the Executive Director of the Forest Services Division (FSD).
His extensive experience and expertise in forestry management have been widely recognized, and stakeholders believe his leadership will steer both the timber industry and the Forestry Commission in the right direction.
Timber merchants from the Ashanti, Western, Western North, and Ahafo regions are optimistic that Dr Brown’s leadership will boost the industry and contribute significantly to Ghana’s economic growth.
According to Nana Adu Bonsra, a timber merchant who spoke to the press in Kumasi, Dr Brown’s appointment reflects President Mahama’s commitment to strengthening the forestry sector.
He and other merchants expressed gratitude to the President for making what they described as a well-informed and strategic decision.
The Forestry Commission plays a crucial role in managing Ghana’s forests, ensuring sustainable timber production, and promoting eco-tourism. With Dr. Hugh Brown at the helm, the commission is expected to implement effective policies and strategies to enhance these goals.
As the timber industry looks forward to a promising future under Dr. Brown’s leadership, merchants have pledged their full support to the new CEO and the Forestry Commission. They remain confident that, together, they can drive industry growth, create jobs, and contribute to Ghana’s economic development.
Additionally, they have called on the new Chief Executive to take decisive action against illegal miners and illegal chainsaw operators who have been degrading the country’s forest resources.
The President of the Ghana Timber Association, Mr Alex Dadzie, has described Dr Brown’s appointment as one of the best decisions made to enhance forest management and the timber industry.
Mr. Dadzie emphasised that the commission’s politicization had allowed illegal loggers and miners to invade forest reserves. He believes that Dr. Brown’s appointment will boost morale within the commission and encourage officials to work diligently to curtail these illegal activities.
“The President has made the right choice for the industry, and I am confident that Dr. Brown, being a law-abiding professional, will deliver. He will not disappoint the President or the staff because he is a dedicated forester,” Mr. Dadzie stated.
Form Ghana, a reforestation company developing timber plantations in the Ashanti and Brong Regions, has issued a statement praising President Mahama’s decision.
The CEO of Form Ghana Limited, Willem Fourie, acknowledged that Dr Brown’s new role would be challenging due to the sector’s complexities. However, he expressed confidence that Dr. Brown’s passion and industry knowledge will help him achieve the Forestry Commission’s vision.
“His leadership will positively impact investor confidence, enabling growth in the sector, job creation, and the expansion of local rural economies,” Mr. Fourie added.
The Forest Plantation Timber Exporters and Loggers Association also welcomed Dr Brown’s appointment, stating that selecting someone from within the sector is crucial for its growth and sustainability.
The association’s President, Mr. Kofi Asante, emphasized that Dr Brown’s deep understanding of the industry positions him well to deliver on expectations and drive meaningful progress.
Dr. Hugh C.A. Brow,n is a professional forester with over 30 years of experience in tropical forest management, protection, and development.
He has acquired over 20 years of hands-on experience in planning, implementing, and coordinating forestry sector development projects. A strategic thinker with strong communication, analytical, and decision-making skills, Dr. Brown is highly motivated and results-oriented, with strong team-building, mentoring, and interpersonal abilities.
He holds a Ph.D. in Sustainable Use of Renewable Natural Resources from the University of Helsinki, Finland.
Dr. Brown’s career began as a District Manager in Bekwai, Kade, and Offinso. He later became the Operations Manager of the Plantations Department of the Forest Services Division. Over time, he rose through the ranks to become the Director of Plantations in the Forest Services Division before eventually serving as the Executive Director of the division.
His contributions to forestry have earned him several professional awards, including the 2020 Yale Prospect Street Award for Environmental Leadership from the Yale School of the Environment, Yale University (awarded on October 10, 2020).
Media personality Nana Aba Anamoah has expressed displeasure over the strategy adopted by the Ghana Football Association and other stakeholders in dealing with the murder of popular Kumasi Asante Kotoko fan, Francis Frimpong alias Pooley.
She indicated that flyers and press releases from various stakeholders, including the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Ghana Police Service, Asante Kotoko, and others regarding the unfortunate incident, are not enough to resolve the issue.
Nana Aba Anamoah stressed the need for authorities to actively probe the circumstances leading to Pooley’s stabbing at Nsoatre.
“Flyers won’t fix hooliganism in our football. Get to work,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service have been arresting people who are believed to be involved in the chaotic incident that led to the demise of the Asante Kotoko supporter.
The Kumasi-based club’s management and supporters held a vigil in honor of Pooley, recognizing his contribution to the team’s successes.
Kotoko have served notice that their decision to suspend the Ghana Premier League will continue until the perpetrators are brought to book and major safety changes are made.
Beautiful Flounce Dress Styles You Should Recreate
News Hub Creator1d
The flounce dress is a versatile and timeless fashion choice that adds a touch of femininity and flair to any wardrobe. This dress style is characterized by its flowing, layered fabric, which creates a playful and elegant silhouette. The flounce, often seen around the hemline, sleeves, or neckline, introduces movement to the design, making it ideal for various occasions.
A flounce dress can easily transition from a casual daytime look to a more formal evening outfit with the right accessories. For a chic daytime appearance, consider a flounce dress with a simple, relaxed fit. The gentle ruffles along the edges provide just the right amount of detail without being overwhelming. Pairing this style with flat sandals or sneakers creates a comfortable yet stylish look perfect for a lunch date or a casual outing. In contrast, for an evening look, opting for a dress with more structured flounces and a fitted bodice can create a sophisticated silhouette. This version works wonderfully for dinner parties or more upscale events, especially when paired with heels and delicate jewelry. The addition of flounce details around the sleeves adds a whimsical touch, while longer, cascading ruffles along the skirt lend a dramatic effect. Additionally, the flounce dress can be recreated in various fabrics such as cotton for a light, airy feel or velvet for a more luxurious vibe. The color of the dress also plays a significant role in its versatility. Soft pastel shades work well for spring and summer, while deeper tones like burgundy or navy are perfect for the colder months. Whether you’re aiming for casual elegance or a more refined evening look, the flounce dress remains a timeless option that can suit any occasion.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has endorsed the Ghana-Norway Cultural Exchange, which is being hosted by Infinity Events in partnership with the National Folklore Board.
The Ghana-Norway Cultural Project is an endeavour that epitomises the spirit of cultural exchange and understanding, the minister said during the event’s introduction.
“This project demonstrates how culture can unite people from different countries, communities, and generations. We are establishing a platform for reciprocal learning, development, and cooperation by bringing together academics, artists, and performers from Ghana and Norway,” she said.
The minister added that the Ghana-Norway Cultural Project is not just a showcase of artistic and cultural expressions but a platform for breaking down barriers, dispelling misconceptions, and creating opportunities for dialogue.
She firmly believes that this initiative will contribute significantly to Ghana’s creative arts economy, stressing, “It will provide our artists and cultural practitioners with new opportunities to thrive, expand their reach, and showcase their talents to the world.”
President of the International Theatre Institute (ITI) in Ghana, Dr. Akosua Abdallah, acknowledged the deep cultural richness between Ghana and Norway, despite their differing histories and traditions.
“Our shared values of artistic expression, cultural preservation, and innovation create a natural bond between our two nations,” she stated.
The project is designed as a two-part initiative, with distinct components in Ghana and Norway.
In Ghana, the project will feature cultural exhibitions and performances showcasing Ghanaian and Norwegian artistic expressions through visual arts, theatre, and music. Workshops, masterclasses, and knowledge-sharing sessions between cultural practitioners from both nations are also planned.
In Norway, the project will showcase Ghanaian culture through a traveling exhibition and performance series, highlighting Ghanaian traditions, storytelling, art, and more. A residency programme for artists will provide exchange opportunities for Ghanaian and Norwegian creatives to collaborate on projects.
Dr. Abdallah emphasised that this initiative will not be a one-time exchange but rather the foundation of a lasting partnership that will continue to evolve, with plans for annual or biannual events.
The Executive Director of the National Folklore Board, Bernice Ann Deh said the programme is part of the Board’s efforts to create international platforms for Ghanaian artists and cultural practitioners. In 2024, the Board launched a similar exchange programme with an organisation in Switzerland, which showcased Ghanaian highlife and dance performances in Switzerland.
Former United Nations Governance Advisor, Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, has raised concerns over the current political appointment system, arguing that it undermines development and professionalism.
According to the professor, the widespread practice of political patronage where incoming governments replace officials with their own supporters has been a long-standing issue that is deeply embedded within the system.
“If you look at it critically, in my humble view, it doesn’t make sense to do that,” Professor Baffour said on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday.
“But currently, the system allows it to happen, so it is not about blaming individuals like President Mahama or anyone else; it’s the system that they inherit.” he added
The professor pointed out that this practice has persisted across different governments, with the common expectation that once a new administration takes over, it is time for their supporters, often referred to as “our boys,” to fill positions of power regardless of the performance of those already in office.
He further emphasized the negative consequences of such political practices, especially when tied to national development.
“If you are going to attach that to development, it is a serious matter,” he said, suggesting that this system of political appointments can derail the progress of a nation.
Drawing on his experiences in other countries, Professor Baffour highlighted an alternative approach where politics and development are clearly separated.
“I happen to be in a country where I am speaking from (Thailand), where they have cleverly divorced politics from development. The politicians can do all they want, but when it comes to development, implementation policies, and all, it is the civil service that has developed professionalism, and they carry on,” he explained
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The younger brother of the late Teddy Osei of Osibisa fame, Joe Tontoh, has revealed that several international musicians are expected to attend Teddy’s funeral slated to take place on April 5.
According to him, Teddy Osei’s funeral will be held in his hometown, Kyiriapatre, a community in the Asokwa Municipality of the Ashanti Region.
After a brief illness, Teddy Osei, a Ghanaian saxophonist and musician who co-founded the London-based afro-rock group Osibisa, died on Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at the age of 88. He left behind three children.
His passing marks the end of an era for Osibisa, as he was the last surviving member of the three founding members of the band, following the death of Sol Amarfio and Mac Tontoh.
Carl Bannerman and Robert Bailey are among the foreign artistes who are expected to attend the memorial service, according to Joe Tontoh.
It is anticipated that the musicians will perform at Teddy’s tribute concert at +233 Jazz Bar and Grill in Accra alongside a few chosen local artistes, such as Bessa Simons.
Original members of Osibisa who have passed away include Mac Tontoh who died in 2010, Sol Amarfio died in December 2022, Grenadian Roger Bedeau also known as Spartacus R died in 2010, Abdul Lasisi died in 1988 and Teddy Osei in 2025.
In June 2023, long-time Osibisa bass player and producer Victor Mensah died at the age of 66, after a protracted illness.
Osibisa is a British-Ghanaian-Caribbean Afro-rock band founded in London in the late 1960s by four expatriate West African and three London-based Caribbean musicians.
Members of the band were Teddy Osei (born Francis Osei, 1937- died 2025) – lead vocals, saxophone, flutes, percussion, Mac Tontoh (born Kweku Adabanka Tontoh, 1940–2010) – trumpet, horns, percussion, Sol Amarfio (died 2022) – drums, percussion, Robert Bailey – keyboards, percussion, Wendell (Dell) Richardson – guitars, lead vocals, percussion, Abdul Lasisi Amao (born 1936 – died 1988) – flute, vocals, percussion and Spartacus R. (born 1948 – died 2010) – bass, percussion and vocals.
Tema, Feb. 10, GNA – The Reverend Francis Akey, the Minister-in-charge of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG) Redemption Congregation at Tema Community Nine, has urged Ghanaians to strive towards oneness and commitment to developing Ghana.
Rev. Akey said although Ghana had emerged peacefully from the 2024 elections, beyond a successful election, the nation must strive towards oneness and commitment and foster unity irrespective of their political affiliations to seek national development.
He made the call during Bible Sunday service, preaching on the topic “The Bible and Unity for Nation Building.”
He said unity and solidarity could exist even when people have different ethnic backgrounds and political dispositions, indicating that the scriptures in the book of Proverbs state that hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers all things.
“Conflict and divisions adversely affect nation-building. We must uphold systems and channels for conflict resolution in our nation, life, home, and church,” he added.
Rev. Akey stated that it was important for communities and people to plan for development and sustainability, stressing that nations or communities that fail to plan and build forfeit development and deprive the future generation of progress.
He noted that the Bible admonished persons to live together in harmony despite different political opinions and that people who generate strife and conflict would not have a part in God’s kingdom.
“Leadership is key for fostering national unity for development for the people; a good political leader seeks unity and development for their people. Wicked leaders cause division, strife, and destruction,” he stressed.
He urged all stakeholders to play their roles well to ensure the country develops for posterity, stating that the church has played a key role in the nation and would continue to do so.
According to him, the church in Ghana has always played a key role in nation-building through the establishment of educational institutions, healthcare institutions, ministries to prisons, and other important interventions.
Using the biblical Tower of Babel story, he observed that although it demonstrated the power behind the unity of purpose, it also warned against the disastrous consequences of building a nation without God, as God desired that all nations and kingdoms relate to him to foster peace, stability, and prosperity.
Accra, Feb 10, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has extended an open invitation to Chinese investors to look at the opportunities Ghana has to offer them.
“Ghana is open for business again and I invite our comrade Chinese investor community to look at the opportunities Ghana has to offer and let’s create a win-win situation for our two people.” – President John Dramani Mahama stated at the 2025 Lantern Festival of the Chinese People in Accra.
The Lantern Festival, also known as the Shangyuan Festival, is a Chinese event that marks the final day of the Chinese New Year celebrations.
The event, which took place at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium, was organized by the Chinese Embassy in Accra on the theme “Celebrating the 65th Anniversary of China-Ghana Relations and Chinese Lantern Festival Gala”.
At the event, the cultural troupe from Fujian put up beautiful performances.
The President said celebrating the Lantern Festival was an important occasion in Chinese culture that signified unity, renewal, and hope.
He said the festival, which marks the grand conclusion of the Chinese New Year celebration was an age-old tradition that brings together families, friends, and entire communities in a spirit of joy and reflection.
“As I stand before you tonight, witnessing the beauty of the lanterns and the warmth of the Chinese community here in Ghana, I’m reminded of the deep and enduring friendship that exists between Ghana and China,” President Mahama stated.
“This friendship has been built on decades of mutual respect and cooperation, and it continues to grow stronger from year to year.”
The President said the Lantern Festival was more than just a celebration; saying “it is a symbol of enlightenment, of unity, and progress”
He said the act of lighting and releasing lanterns into the sky represents the collective aspirations of a people, their aspirations for peace, for prosperity, and for a brighter future.
He said Ghana and China had a long history of cooperation that had positively impacted many sectors of Ghana’s economy.
President Mahama said Ghana-China diplomatic relations, which dated back to the 1960s, had evolved into a dynamic and strategic partnership.
He said China had been a key development partner of Ghana, contributing to infrastructural projects, trade, technology transfer, and investments in critical sectors such as the energy sector, health, and education.
He said one of the most visible signs of their friendship was the growing presence of Chinese businessmen and women and entrepreneurs in Ghana.
He said the Chinese community in Ghana had contributed significantly to the nation’s economy, particularly in areas such as construction, manufacturing, agriculture, mining, and trade.
Adding that likewise, Ghanaian businesses continued to explore opportunities in China, thereby strengthening the economic ties between their two nations.
He said their cooperation was not limited to the economy; and those cultural exchanges and education had also been important pillars of the relations.
He said many young Ghanaians had benefited from scholarships to study in China, bringing back knowledge and skills that had contributed to Ghana’s development.
President Mahama said Ghana, like many other nations, was working hard to address economic and social challenges, and that they were grateful for the support of their friends and partners, including China.
“As we move forward, we must continue to embrace cooperation and mutual respect, ensuring that the benefits of our partnership are shared by all our people,” he said.
On his part, Mr Tong Defa, the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, lauded President Mahama for his dedication to strengthening the China-Ghana relations and for his valuable and unwavering support to Chinese enterprises and communities in Ghana.
He said the Chinese Government was willing to engage the Government of Ghana on industrialization and agriculture modernization to benefit their two countries and peoples.
Accra, Feb 10, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has ordered engineers within the Ghana Armed Forces to construct a bridge over a stream at Asuokow in the Lower West Akim Constituency of the Eastern Region to facilitate students’ movement to access school.
This was in response to a video clip, which went viral on socio media showing a schoolboy carrying another schoolboy on his back trying to cross a stream on a fallen tree to access school.
The President said they had identified the community, where young school children had to cross the water body to access school.
“Earlier today, the MP for Lower West Akim, Owen Kwame Frimpong, visited the Asuokow community and assured them the Eastern Regional Minister will also visit, as we work to permanently and urgently resolve the challenge the people and the school children are confronted with,” the President said.
“Our quest to Reset Ghana includes a determination to remove barriers to education and healthcare across the country.”
David Ofosu-Dorte, Senior Partner at AB & David Africa, has emphasized that the Mahama administration’s 24-hour economy policy should serve as a catalyst for addressing Ghana’s longstanding productivity challenges.
According to him, for the policy to yield meaningful results, it must be strategically implemented to boost productivity, as inefficiencies remain a major hurdle in the Ghanaian economy.
“If you stimulate demand and you match it with a 24-hour economy, then you are increasing supply and you’re increasing productivity. That is what you do in a country that has low productivity,” Ofosu-Dorte told Bernard Avle on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, February 10.
The president said the initiative is “a deliberate policy to encourage and support businesses and public organizations to operate 24/7 in three shifts of eight hours to boost production, promote productivity and generate well-paying jobs – aimed at transforming Ghana into an import substitution and export-led economy.”
Meanwhile, Ofosu-Dorte observed that if the President fails to pull along all his appointees on the path of his vision, it would be a “lonely walk to nowhere”.
For him, “there should be central direction” and a great effort to carry the whole nation along in his bid to reset the economy.
Majority Chief Whip Roackson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has clarified his involvement in the recent vetting chaos, emphasising that his actions were aimed at restoring order rather than engaging in a physical altercation.
Dafeamekpor’s comments come in response to allegations that he fought with former Deputy Minister of Transport and Member of Parliament (MP) for Gushegu, Alhassan Tampuli, during the proceedings on Thursday, January 30, 2025.
He told the special committee probing the vetting chaos in Accra on Monday, February 10 that “I don’t recall ever holding his dress at all. It would have led to something else because I am also strong enough. If I had held his dress, it would have led to something else. I had my two hands up, he held the front of my fugu this way. I had my hands up and I was exchanging.
“That was when I was telling him, ‘Oh bro, why do you want us to fight over this? We are lawyers; we are custodians; we don’t do this.’ And eventually, he smiled and let go of the fugu.”
Dafeamekpor stressed that he was never interested in initiating any conflict.
“At all, I was never interested. If I initiate anything, I will lose the opportunity of having my proceedings continued. So I was interested in having order restored,” he explained.
He also noted that he intervened to help rescue MP for Tano South Charles Asiedu from Tampuli’s grip, where he was practically trapped.
Reflecting on the incident, Dafeamekpor noted that the chaos was driven by the minority’s desire to prevent any business from being conducted that day.
“No, I didn’t fight. They (minority) were interested in not getting any business done that day. Perhaps because I had come to take Asiedu out of his grips, he didn’t like the idea. But I am making the point that eventually, he smiled at me and let go of the fugu, so it was not a fight at all,” he stated.
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NDC Director of Legal Affairs, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo
The Director of Legal Affairs for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has defended President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to establish the Operation Recover All Loots (ORAL) committee instead of opting for a Commission of Inquiry.
Addressing concerns on TV3’s “The Key Points,” he explained that the President’s choice was based on legal considerations that ensure greater accountability and avoid potential immunity for implicated individuals.
“Had the President chosen the Commission of Inquiry route, as seen in the Ghana at 50 case, legal limits would have been placed on the outcome, potentially providing immunity to individuals whose conduct may be in question. That is why, based on sound legal reasoning, this approach was not taken,” he stated on February 8.
His comments came amidst debates about the best mechanisms for retrieving state funds allegedly lost through corruption and mismanagement.
The establishment of ORAL has sparked discussions among political and legal analysts, with some arguing that a commission of inquiry would have provided a more structured process. However, Tameklo insists that the committee’s role is to gather information rather than conduct criminal investigations.
“This is not an investigative body capable of taking caution statements. It is an information-gathering process, which will guide the President’s next steps,” he explained.
According to him, the committee aligns with President Mahama’s campaign promise to hold corrupt individuals accountable and reclaim misappropriated state resources.
“The President made a campaign promise to implement ORAL, and this committee is part of the preparatory steps.”
“On Monday, when the final report is submitted, the President will decide the next course of action, which could include forwarding the findings to the Attorney General,” he noted.
Mahama’s administration has faced significant pressure from the public and anti-corruption bodies to take decisive action against individuals believed to have engaged in financial malfeasance. As a result, the ORAL committee has been positioned as a critical step toward accountability.
“The President can choose to forward the report to the Attorney-General without making any public statements. This strategy allows for a more effective and legally sound approach,” Tameklo emphasized.
The Super Bowl is the annual championship game of the National Football League (NFL), pitting the champions of the league’s two conferences—the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC)—against each other. It is one of the most-watched and highly anticipated television events globally, attracting millions of viewers from around the world.
Yesterday’s game was expected to live up to its usual expectations as the two giants face off.
The Kansas City Chiefs took on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX yesterday, and it was a thrilling game. The Eagles dominated the scoreboard, winning 40-22 against the Chiefs ¹.
The game was played at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, with a controlled climate, and was broadcast on FOX ¹. Here’s a breakdown of the scores by quarter:
Quarter 1: Eagles 7, Chiefs 0
Quarter 2: Eagles 17, Chiefs 0
Quarter 3: Eagles 27, Chiefs 6
Quarter 4: Eagles 40, Chiefs 22 ¹
The Eagles’ win was a significant upset, given the Chiefs’ strong performance in the league.
Ghanaian musician Article Wan has called for a shift in how the public and industry stakeholders treat artistes, urging them to prioritise talent over character.
In an interview with DJ Slim on Hitz FM, the artiste pointed out that Ghanaians tend to focus on respect, adding that this unusually overshadows the creative potential of musicians.
“Ghanaians are mostly into ‘respect.’ Everyone wants somebody to behave a certain way. I think it’s about time we forget about an artiste’s character and focus on pushing his talent regardless of his antics,” Article Wan stated.
He pointed out that creative individuals often have unique personalities, and their differences should not lead to them being shunned by the public despite their artistic contributions.
Using his godfather, Shatta Wale, as an example, Article Wan pointed out that despite the dancehall star’s strong character, his hard work and talent have made him a role model for many up-and-coming musicians.
“Like my godfather Shatta Wale, he has a strong character. But he is very hardworking and talented. Why not give him the necessary support? You look at many up-and-coming musicians, and they all say they want to be like Shatta. So I feel like we should forget about looking at an artiste’s character and focus on his talent,” he added.
ID/EB
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You can also watch as Asiedu Nketiah allegedly drags President Mahama to FEC over appointments snub
Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale North, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Tamale North, Alhassan Sayibu Suhuyini has raised concerns over the performance of the Appointments Committee during recent vetting sessions.
Speaking on GHOne TV with Serwaa Amihere, Suhuyini expressed his dissatisfaction with the quality of questions being asked by some committee members.
While discussing the vetting process, the MP acknowledged that the Appointments Committee plays a crucial role in shaping the leadership of the country. However, he suggested that the committee could perform better, particularly with regard to the depth and relevance of the questions posed to nominees.
He pointed out that some of the questions being asked were not only unnecessary but could compromise the personal security of the nominees, a concern that has sparked a debate on the appropriateness of certain lines of inquiry.
Suhuyini also noted that some questions veered off the core issues related to the roles the nominees were being considered for, highlighting that these tangential questions detracted from the purpose of the vetting process.
The vetting of nominees for various public offices has been a subject of public discussion, with critics often questioning whether it has become a forum for political posturing rather than an effective tool for assessing qualifications and suitability for office.
“The Appointments Committee can do better than what we are seeing. I agree largely with the views expressed about the quality of questions asked by the ranking member. Some of the questions compromise the personal security of the nominees. Sometimes, these questions are tangential and unnecessary considering the roles people are being nominated to perform.”
You can also watch as Asiedu Nketiah allegedly drags President Mahama to FEC over appointments snub
President John Dramani Mahama has called on Chinese investors to explore economic opportunities in the country.
According to him, “Ghana is open for business again.”
He made the remarks at the Chinese Lantern Festival Gala in Accra, an event celebrating the rich traditions of Chinese culture and marking 65 years of Ghana-China diplomatic relations.
Speaking before an audience of government officials, business leaders, and members of the Chinese community in Ghana, President Mahama highlighted the nation’s commitment to fostering a stronger investment climate.
He stressed the role of Chinese businesses in Ghana’s economic development, citing their contributions to construction, manufacturing, agriculture, and trade.
“China has been a key development partner of Ghana, contributing to critical sectors such as energy, health, and education,” President Mahama said.
“As we rebuild our economy, I invite our Chinese investor community to look at the opportunities Ghana has to offer so we can create a win-win situation for our two peoples,” he said at the University of Ghana Stadium on Sunday, February 9, 2025.
He noted that Ghana’s long-standing relationship with China had evolved into a strategic partnership, with both nations benefiting from trade, infrastructure development, and cultural exchange. He also acknowledged the growing presence of Ghanaian businesses exploring opportunities in China, further strengthening economic ties.
As Ghana continues efforts to revive its economy amid global uncertainties, President Mahama assured investors of the government’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment.
He called for stronger cooperation in technology transfer, industrialisation, and education, stressing that shared growth was essential for sustainable development.
Thomas Partey applauding Arsenal fans after a game
Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey is set to leave Arsenal at the end of the current campaign along with six other players, according to The Sun.
Partey’s contract expires in June, and reports indicate that Arsenal have decided not to extend his stay in North London.
The report also states that Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney, Jorginho, Jakub Kiwior, Neto, and Raheem Sterling are the six other players expected to leave, bringing the total number of departures to seven.
This follows Mikel Arteta’s previous interview, where he hinted at Partey’s possible departure.
In the interview, Arteta discussed Arsenal’s future plans, stating that the club is preparing for some departures.
“We have some situations with contracts expiring. We have to be prepared,” he said, as quoted by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Partey joined Arsenal from Atlético Madrid in 2020 after the Gunners activated his £45 million release clause.
South African denies Trum’s offer to rehouse white south African as refugees
United States President Donald Trump’s offer to rehouse white South Africans as refugees fleeing persecution may not spur quite the rush he anticipates, as right-wing white lobby groups want to “tackle the injustices” of Black majority rule on home soil.
Trump on Friday signed an executive order to cut US aid to South Africa, citing an expropriation act that President Cyril Ramaphosa signed last month aiming to redress land inequalities that stem from South Africa’s history of white supremacy.
Trump’s order provided for resettlement in the US of “Afrikaners in South Africa who are victims of unjust racial discrimination” as refugees.
Afrikaners are mostly white descendants of early Dutch and French settlers, who own the majority of the country’s farmland.
“If you haven’t got any problems here, why would you want to go?” asked Neville van der Merwe, a 78-year-old pensioner in Bothasig near Cape Town.
“There hasn’t been any really bad [people] taking over our land, the people are carrying on like normal and you know, what are you going to do over there?”
The act signed by Ramaphosa seeks to address racial land ownership disparities – which have left three-quarters of privately owned land in South Africa in the hands of the white minority – by making it easier for the state to expropriate land in the public interest.
White people represent 7.2 percent of South Africa’s population of 63 million, statistics agency data shows. The data does not break down how many are Afrikaners.
Before South Africa’s independence, its British colonial rulers handed most farmland to whites. In 1950, the apartheid-era National Party seized 85 percent of the land, forcing 3.5 million Black people from their homes.
Ramaphosa’s African National Congress (ANC), the biggest party in the ruling coalition, says Trump is amplifying misinformation propagated by AfriForum, an Afrikaner-led group.
The group, which lobbied Trump’s previous administration regarding its cause, said it was not taking up the offer.
“Emigration only offers an opportunity for Afrikaners who are willing to risk potentially sacrificing their descendants’ cultural identity as Afrikaners. The price for that is simply too high,” AfriForum CEO Kallie Kriel said on Saturday.
Separately, the Solidarity Movement – which includes AfriForum and the Solidarity trade union and said it represents about 600,000 Afrikaner families and two million individuals – expressed commitment to South Africa.
“We may disagree with the ANC, but we love our country. As in any community, some individuals wish to emigrate, but repatriation of Afrikaners as refugees is not a solution for us,” the Solidarity Movement said.
Representatives of Orania, an Afrikaner-only enclave in the heart of the country, also rejected Trump’s offer.
“Afrikaners do not want to be refugees. We love and are committed to our homeland,” Orania said.
South Africa’s land policies since the end of apartheid have never involved the forced seizure of white-owned land.
Still, some said they appreciated Trump’s offer.
“I think it’s a very nice gesture from Donald Trump to offer us asylum over there,” said Werner van Niekerk, 57, a carpenter in Bothasig, without saying whether he would be migrating to the US.
“Some questions: is there a test to determine your Afrikanership? Must you hold AfriForum membership? … Will Elon help with some startup cash on the other side? … Are there bakkies (pick-up trucks) in the US?”, author Pieter du Toit wrote on X, making a reference to South African-born billionaire and Trump aide Elon Musk, who has accused Ramaphosa’s government of “openly racist ownership laws”.
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