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Three busted by Goldbod for smuggling 100kg of gold worth GH¢100m

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Three busted by Goldbod for smuggling 100kg of gold worth GH¢100m

The GoldBod CEO, Sammy Gyamfi Esq., has announced the arrest of three individuals in connection with a gold smuggling case.

The three suspects linked to Rafmoh Gold Ltd. & NK Benark Enterprise have been accused of smuggling 100 kilograms of gold, estimated to be worth GH¢100 million, out of the country over the past two months.

It will be recalled that Yesterday, September 17, 2025, the Goldbod issued a wanted notice for two Indian nationals and two Ghanaians over their alleged involvement in illegal gold smuggling and dealing.

The Ghana Gold Board placed a GH¢1 million bounty to be awarded for any credible information which would lead to their arrest.

Sammy Gyamfi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, announced that the four are part of a group of seven individuals engaged in the illicit trade.

According to him, three of the seven suspects have been arrested and are in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, September 16, Mr. Gyamfi stated, “We have an arrest warrant for all of them; they are wanted by the police and the GoldBod.

If you have any information about them, you can report to the nearest police station or the GoldBod head office. We have a bounty of GHC1 million on each of them”.

However, the Goldbod issued a fresh update on the GH¢1million bounty placed on four gold-smuggling suspects.

In a statement signed by Prince Kwame Minkah, Media Relations Officer, the GoldBod apologised and issued a correction after mistakenly publishing the wrong photograph of a suspect.

The statement clarified that the image that accompanied the announcement of suspect Mohammed Nandoli Rafeeq, also known as Salaam, was not accurate; however, it added that the details released about the suspect were accurate.

“The picture circulated was actually that of Mr Shamlal Ahamed, Managing Director of International Operations at Malabar Gold and Diamonds,” the statement detailed.

They formally apologise to Mr Ahamed and Malabar Gold and Diamonds for any reputational harm caused.

The Goldbod has since released the correct photograph of Mohammed Nandoli Rafeeq and also called on media houses that shared the wrong image to update their publications.

Meanwhile, in related news, Sammy Gyamfi has revealed plans for Ghana to refine gold before export from October 2025. 

According to Sammy Gyamfi, the Goldbod will establish a wholly state-owned and international-standard gold refinery.

He highlighted that the reset agenda of Mahama is aimed at transitioning Ghana from the export of raw doré to refined bullion.

He further argued that it was unacceptable for Ghana, as a leader in gold production on the continent, to be exporting raw gold without significant value addition.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Mining and Minerals Convention in Accra, Sammy Gyamfi stated, “I am happy to inform you that on that same parcel of land secured by the Gold Board, we will be building a wholly state-owned and international standard gold refinery to further advance the local refining of gold produced in Ghana from the S-Model of Ndoko to Gold.”

“The GoldBod would continue to drive innovation, and in this regard, we have secured a parcel of land at the cargo village of the Kotoka International Airport to build an ultra-mordern ISO certified Assay Laboratory with the aim of changing Ghana’s assay regime from XRF and water density to the golden standard of assay – fire assay, for all gold produced in and/or exported from Ghana”.

Sammy Gyamfi added, “As part of the reset agenda of the Mahama-led administration, the GoldBod in conjunction with the Bank of Ghana, is partnering local refineries such as the Gold Coast Refinery to begin the local refining of gold purchased and exported by the GoldBod. Let me at this stage commend the Chamber of Mines for expressing their willingness to work with us to ensure the local refining of gold produced by large-scale mining firms in the country”.

The Goldbod CEO further added that small-scale gold exports hit a record high of 66.7 tons, with an export value of approximately 6.3 billion USD.

He added, “Since January up to the end of August 2025, small-scale gold exports have been taking by or through the Gold Board, working closely with the Bank of Ghana, and hit a record high of 66.7 tons, with an export value of approximately 6.3 billion USD.”

“What this means is that the volume and value of small-scale gold exports from January to August 2025 alone have exceeded the total small-scale gold export outage for the whole of the year 2024, and from January to December, which too had 63 tons, with a value of about 4.6 billion USD.

It is also instructive to note that small-scale gold exports continue to surpass those from the last two minor sectors, which too had 65.1 tons, with an estimated value of approximately 5.6 billion USD for the period between January and August 2025.”

“In response to these challenges, we have taken several strategic steps, culminating in a comprehensive sustainable agenda and report policy reforms for the mining industry. The policies include the comprehensive review of the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 Act 703, and the Minerals and Mining Policy 2014, two extensive stakeholder engagements to align with global best practices.”

See the post below:

GoldBod issues fresh update on GH¢1m bounty placed on four gold-smuggling suspects

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GoldBod issues fresh update on GH¢1m bounty placed on four gold-smuggling suspects

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has issued a fresh update on the GH¢1million bounty placed on four gold-smuggling suspects.

In a statement signed by Prince Kwame Minkah, Media Relations Officer, the GoldBod apologised and issued a correction after mistakenly publishing the wrong photograph of a suspect.

The statement clarified that the image that accompanied the announcement of suspect Mohammed Nandoli Rafeeq, also known as Salaam, was not accurate; however, it added that the details released about the suspect were accurate.

“The picture circulated was actually that of Mr Shamlal Ahamed, Managing Director of International Operations at Malabar Gold and Diamonds,” the statement detailed.

They formally apologise to Mr Ahamed and Malabar Gold and Diamonds for any reputational harm caused.

The Goldbod has since released the correct photograph of Mohammed Nandoli Rafeeq and also called on media houses that shared the wrong image to update their publications.

It will be recalled that Yesterday, September 17, 2025, the Goldbod issued a wanted notice for two Indian nationals and two Ghanaians over their alleged involvement in illegal gold smuggling and dealing.

The Ghana Gold Board placed a GH¢1 million bounty to be awarded for any credible information which would lead to their arrest.

Sammy Gyamfi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, announced that the four are part of a group of seven individuals engaged in the illicit trade.

According to him, three of the seven suspects have been arrested and are in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, September 16, Mr. Gyamfi stated, “We have an arrest warrant for all of them; they are wanted by the police and the GoldBod.

If you have any information about them, you can report to the nearest police station or the GoldBod head office. We have a bounty of GHC1 million on each of them”.

Sammy Gyamfi also revealed that three individuals have been arrested in connection with a gold smuggling case.

They are accused of smuggling 100 kilograms of gold, estimated to be worth GH¢100 million, out of the country over the past two months.

Meanwhile, in related news, Sammy Gyamfi has revealed plans for Ghana to refine gold before export from October 2025. 

According to Sammy Gyamfi, the Goldbod will establish a wholly state-owned and international-standard gold refinery.

He highlighted that the reset agenda of Mahama is aimed at transitioning Ghana from the export of raw doré to refined bullion.

He further argued that it was unacceptable for Ghana, as a leader in gold production on the continent, to be exporting raw gold without significant value addition.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Mining and Minerals Convention in Accra, Sammy Gyamfi stated, “I am happy to inform you that on that same parcel of land secured by the Gold Board, we will be building a wholly state-owned and international standard gold refinery to further advance the local refining of gold produced in Ghana from the S-Model of Ndoko to Gold.”

“The GoldBod would continue to drive innovation, and in this regard, we have secured a parcel of land at the cargo village of the Kotoka International Airport to build an ultra-mordern ISO certified Assay Laboratory with the aim of changing Ghana’s assay regime from XRF and water density to the golden standard of assay – fire assay, for all gold produced in and/or exported from Ghana”.

Sammy Gyamfi added, “As part of the reset agenda of the Mahama-led administration, the GoldBod in conjunction with the Bank of Ghana, is partnering local refineries such as the Gold Coast Refinery to begin the local refining of gold purchased and exported by the GoldBod. Let me at this stage commend the Chamber of Mines for expressing their willingness to work with us to ensure the local refining of gold produced by large-scale mining firms in the country”.

The Goldbod CEO further added that small-scale gold exports hit a record high of 66.7 tons, with an export value of approximately 6.3 billion USD.

He added, “Since January up to the end of August 2025, small-scale gold exports have been taking by or through the Gold Board, working closely with the Bank of Ghana, and hit a record high of 66.7 tons, with an export value of approximately 6.3 billion USD.”

“What this means is that the volume and value of small-scale gold exports from January to August 2025 alone have exceeded the total small-scale gold export outage for the whole of the year 2024, and from January to December, which too had 63 tons, with a value of about 4.6 billion USD.

It is also instructive to note that small-scale gold exports continue to surpass those from the last two minor sectors, which too had 65.1 tons, with an estimated value of approximately 5.6 billion USD for the period between January and August 2025.”

“In response to these challenges, we have taken several strategic steps, culminating in a comprehensive sustainable agenda and report policy reforms for the mining industry. The policies include the comprehensive review of the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 Act 703, and the Minerals and Mining Policy 2014, two extensive stakeholder engagements to align with global best practices.”

See the post below:

Thomas Partey pleads not guilty in a London court

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Thomas Partey pleads not guilty in a London court

Black Stars and Villarreal CF midfielder Thomas Partey has pleaded not guilty to five counts of rape and one count of sexual assault involving three women.

Partey, 32, appeared in the dock at Southwark Crown Court and spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth and enter his not guilty pleas, with his appearance in court lasting just 30 minutes.

He was present in London this week, as he featured in Villarreal’s UEFA Champions League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur on Tuesday, September 17.

He featured in the game on Tuesday, before attending a court hearing this morning.

Thomas Partey came on as a second-half substitute and was booed loudly by the Spurs fans every time he touched the ball.

Partey’s trial is scheduled to begin on November 2, 2026.

The former Arsenal star was released on bail ahead of his trial, which will last for six to eight weeks.

“The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised the Metropolitan Police Service to charge a man after a file of evidence was submitted by detectives.

“The Met has issued a charge and requisition to Thomas Partey, 32 (13/06/1992), of Hertfordshire, in connection with the following offences: Five counts of rape, one count of sexual assault.”

Reports suggest the offences are alleged to have taken place between 2021 and 2022.

Also, an alleged victim, speaking to British media outlet The Athletic, stated, “I would frequently get messages from fans. They’d send me pictures of him playing or scoring.

I would get death threats, rape threats, people saying they’d set me on fire. If he scored, for example, the abuse would be worse,” she stated.

Furthermore, Jenny Wiltshire, one of the UK’s most respected criminal defence solicitors, is representing Thomas Partey in his rape trial.

Jenny Wiltshire, earlier in a statement, revealed Partey denied all the charges levelled against him.

She stated, “Thomas Partey denies all the charges against him. He has fully cooperated with the police and CPS throughout their three-year investigation. He now welcomes the opportunity to finally clear his name”.

The lawyer further added that Thomas will not be making any further public comments while the legal process is ongoing.

Jaswant Narwal, Chief Crown Prosecutor, confirmed the charges, saying, “Our prosecutors have worked closely with officers in the Metropolitan Police to review the evidence and advise on the appropriate charges”.

“Criminal proceedings are active, and the defendant has the right to a fair trial. It is absolutely vital that there is no reporting, commentary, or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings,” Narwal warned.

Additionally, Spanish La Liga side Villarreal CF in a statement announcing Thomas Partey, acknowledged their new player’s legal proceedings in England.

The Spanish club, in their statement, stated Partey is innocent until proven guilty.

According to them, Thomas Partey has maintained his innocence and denies all charges against him.

Villarreal’s statement read, “The club is also aware that the player is currently involved in legal proceedings in England. The player firmly maintains his innocence and denies all charges against him.

The club respects the fundamental principle of the presumption of innocence and will await the outcome of the judicial process, which will be responsible for clarifying the facts of the case. Due to the law in England in relation to ongoing proceedings, the club is unable to comment further”.

“Villarreal CF wishes to clearly reiterate its strong commitment to respect and diversity and firmly condemns any act of violence in all its forms, including gender-based violence, discrimination, racism, xenophobia, or any behaviour that undermines the dignity of individuals”, the club stated in a statement.

See the post below:

“Akufo-Addo must beg Ghanaians, not Dr Bawumia” – Man declares

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“Akufo-Addo must beg Ghanaians, not Dr Bawumia” – Man declares

A Ghanaian man in a viral video has said that the former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo must apologise to Ghanaians, not Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

The man asserted that Dr Bawumia has begged Ghanaians, but they are not going to accept his apology, as the Ghanaian people need Akufo-Addo’s apology.

According to the man, Akufo-Addo promised the Ghanaians after taking e-levy that he was not going to the IMF, but ended up at the IMF.

He also cited the Domestic Dept Exchange Programme (DDEP) haircuts under Akufo-Addo and the $97 million spent on the National Cathedral hole.

The unidentified man also blamed Akufo-Addo for changing Ghana’s laws, which prohibited mining in forest reserves, as the cause of the galamsey menace in the country.

Speaking in a viral video, the man stated, “The former vice president, Dr Bawumia, has begged Ghanaians, but we are not going to accept his apology. We need the former president, Akufo-Addo himself, who was the one who told us that when Ghanaians pay e-levy, they were not going to the IMF.

However, he collected the e-levy and still took Ghana to the IMF, and he also changed the laws to mine in forest reserves, which has destroyed our water bodies and lands. After doing all that, he also gave us a haircut, with many Ghanaians dying as a result of the haircut”.

He further added, “He also used our money, of over $100 million, to dig a hole claiming he was building a Cathedral. When Ghanaians told him to change the finance minister, Akufo-Addo hit his chest and boldly backed him, so when he does hit his chest and begs Ghanaians, then the NPP should forget about coming back to power because Ghanaians are angry”.

The Ghanaian man’s comment comes on the heels of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia rendering an unqualified apology to Ghanaians for the way they led and governed the country.

The former vice president was speaking to some party faithful in the Ashanti Region as part of his regional tour of uniting and re-energizing the base of the party.

Dr Bawumia, who did not exempt himself from the mistakes of the previous government, pleaded for forgiveness on behalf of all those who were part of the erstwhile Akufo-Addo-led government.

“After the 2024 elections, we have done our research. We know the NPP government and the party made a lot of mistakes in governance. There were things we needed to do which we didn’t, and others we did that, if we had had the benefit of background, we would not have done them,” he said.

He stressed that the blame was not his alone but a collective responsibility of the party’s leadership. “We are all to be blamed – Vice President, Ministers, MPs, Board Chairmen, appointees. We have all made mistakes and please forgive us. We’re sorry. We have learned our lessons,” he added.

Dr. Bawumia assured delegates that, if given the mandate as flagbearer and subsequently elected President, he would ensure that the past would not be repeated.

“If, by the grace of God, you make me the flagbearer and I become the President, these will not happen again. They will not happen again,” he pledged.

Meanwhile, some Ghanaians reacted to the man’s video, saying, “Nana Addo the arrogant man will never apologise”.

“This man has just summarised NPP’s 8 years in a minute video”, another wrote.

Additionally, a netizen wrote, “Politics be someway o you fit chop money come beg? Slow”.

Under the former Akufo-Addo government, of which Dr Bawumia was Vice President, Ghana descended into an extreme economic crisis, with many Ghanaians falling into economic hardship.

Inflation went as high as 50% while the major foreign trading currency, the US dollar, reached as high as GHS 17 against the Ghanaian Cedi.

The Akufo-Addo government ran to the IMF for liquidity support to alleviate the hardship after the economy was ranked as junk by global rating agencies.

The government had to restructure both domestic and external debts under the infamous Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP) to secure a deal from the IMF.

Also, illegal mining (galamsey) was at its high time, with the galamsey menace destroying Ghana’s water bodies and lands. There was also the power crisis commonly known as dumsor.

Watch the video below:

“I never had any issues with the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo” – Akufo-Addo

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“I never had any issues with the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo” – Akufo-Addo

Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said he never had any issues with the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka.

Akufo-Addo, during his visit to the residence of the late Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka in Taifa, Accra, commiserated with the bereaved family and recounted his first encounter with Apostle Safo, which.

He revealed his encounter with the late Kwadwo Safo began on a professional note when he was retained as the Apostle’s lawyer.

The former president described Apostle Safo as industrious, innovative, and generous, praised his visionary leadership and noted his invaluable support for him and the NPP.

Speaking to the gathering, Akufo-Addo stated, “Over time, my relationship with him transcended the boundaries of legal representation and became personal.”

He further likened Apostle Safo to Leonardo da Vinci for his efforts to close the gap between Christianity, science, and technology.

Akufo-Addo further added, “Even in his period of infirmity, he remained a cherished associate and friend. At this moment of his sad passing, I recall a gracious, humorous, elegant, and handsome leader whose contributions to church, science, and nation cannot be forgotten.”

He further extended his condolences to the Apostle’s daughter, the former Minister for Gender, Adwoa Safo and to all his children and the entire family.

Meanwhile, Akufo-Addo was accompanied by the Minority Leader Afenyo-Markin, Frema Osei-Opare, the former Chief of Staff, Dominic Nitiwul and other former government appointees.

The late Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s death was announced on Sunday, 14, 2025.

The news was announced in a statement by Sarah Adwoa Safo (former MP for Dome Kwabenya).

According to the statement, Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo passed away peacefully on Thursday, 11th September 2025.

The family described him, saying, “Apostle Safo was a true genius, the beacon of hope for many, a father to the fatherless. Ghana has indeed lost a gallant son and a true legend”.

The family requested that the public respect their privacy during this period of mourning.

Additionally, Kwadwo Safo Junior, son of the late Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, has shared a post on social media reacting to his father’s death.

Apostle Kantanka’s son noted that a true legend never dies.

He further encouraged Ghanaians to show what they have learnt from his father when he was alive.

In a post shared on his Instagram story on September 14, 2025, Kwadwo Safo Junior wrote, “A true legend never dies. He still lives on in all of us,” he said.

This is the time to show what we have been taught. This is the time to trust the training and process”,  he added.

Also, Kennedy Agyapong, a former member of parliament for Assin Central and a NPP presidential candidate hopeful, has mourned the passing of Apostle Kwadwo Safo.

Mr Agyapong labelled Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, a true titan of Ghanaian innovation and a visionary leader.

Kennedy Agyapong, in his post on X, wrote,  I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, a true titan of Ghanaian innovation and a visionary leader. He was one of the greatest industrial pioneers this nation has ever known.

I have always believed profoundly in his work and had hoped our nation could provide the strategic support necessary to propel his inventions onto the global stage. While we may regret past opportunities, the monumental legacy he leaves behind will forever serve as our inspiration”.

He added, “Apostle Safo’s life work proved a powerful truth: that the Ghanaian is capable of achieving anything. He shattered any lingering doubts about our ability to innovate, build and create a self-reliant nation.

His legacy is a solemn promise that with determination and belief in ourselves, we can and will chart our own path to prosperity.

May his revolutionary spirit continue to guide us. Rest in eternal peace”, his post concluded.

Watch the video below:

“Aseidu Nketiah is thanking, Julius is walking, but 24-hour economy is nowhere to be found” – Netizen blasts gov’t

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“Aseidu Nketiah is thanking, Julius is walking, but 24-hour economy is nowhere to be found” – Netizen blasts gov’t

A netizen on social media has fired shots at the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for subtly focusing on who takes over from President John Mahama after he exits office in 2028.

The netizen on the social media page X highlighted that the National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, is thanking voters while the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, is walking.

He noted that the NDC’s flagship program, the 24-hour economy, is nowhere to be found, and the galamsey menace is getting worse.

The netizen further labelled the NDC as a Qnet Party, accusing them of only focusing on the next election.

In a post on X, the netizen wrote, “Eiii, these People are they serious Aseidu Nketiah is thanking. Julius is walking. But 24 24-hour economy is nowhere to be found.

Galamsey is worse than ever. Qnet Party, all they think is elections”, he wrote.

The netizen allegation comes on the back of  President John Dramani Mahama officially launching the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, yet nothing has been seen after the launch of the program.

However, Mahama revealed that the Cabinet has approved the 24-Hour Authority Bill and will be submitted to the parliament.

Additionally, on galamsey, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the acting Chief Justice, has said illegal mining has become worse.

The acting Chief Justice called for the government to take action on galamsey.

Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie highlighted that the government’s ban on mining in forest reserves will show seriousness in tackling galamsey.

He urged the Mahama government to repeal L.I. 2462, which he suggested is a good place to start in the galamsey fight.

Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Bar Association Conference, held in the Upper West regional capital, Wa, on Monday, September 15, 2025, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie stated, “Galamsey has become worse; the time to act is now”.

He added, “We cannot continue to dither in September 2025 on the repeal of L.I. 2462 that has permitted mining in forest reserves. It is a good place to start if we sincerely want to win the war against galamsey. The time to act is now without any further delay”.

However, the two NDC bigwigs have been accused by the netizen of only thinking of the next election rather than the 24-hour economy and the menace of galamsey.

Asiedu Nketia has officially announced an appreciation exercise to acknowledge the contributions of party executives and grassroots for their role in the NDC’s victory in the 2024 general elections.

NDC officials claim the planned thank-you tour is strictly meant to celebrate and encourage the NDC’s base for their efforts; however, some Ghanaians are not convinced.

The Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, on the other hand, has been organising walks and calling on Ghanaians to embrace walking as a simple yet powerful tool for healthy living, unity, and national progress.

On 20th September, 2025, Julius Debrah is scheduled to hold another walk in Madina.

Some Ghanaians have claimed that Asiedu Nketia and Julius Debrah’s thank-you tour and walks are a subtle attempt to position themselves for a possible presidential bid.

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2028 elections is expected to field a new candidate as current President John Dramani Mahama is serving his constitutionally mandated second term in office.

President John Mahama, with just months in his second term in office, has to deal with speculations of surrounding his successor.

The unofficial report gathered suggests that Haruna Iddrisu, Julius Debrah, Eric Opoku, and Johnson Asiedu Nketia are rumoured to be eyeing the NDC 2028 flagbearership.

Also, a recent Global InfoAnalytics survey on the NDC flagbearer race indicates Haruna Iddrisu, the education minister, has become the National Democratic Congress (NDC )’s most preferred candidate to lead the country for the 2028 general elections.

The recent poll shows Haruna Iddrisu is slightly ahead of the NDC Chairman, Asiedu Nketia.

Haruna Iddrisu in the poll garnered a total of 27 per cent, followed by Asiedu Nketia pulling 26 per cent.

The finance minister, Ato Forson, pulled 22 per cent, with Chief of Staff Julius Debrah securing  11 per cent.

Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also garnered 8 per cent, with the member of parliament for Korle Klottey, Zanetor Rawlings, polling 4 per cent.

Mussa Dankwah, in his post on X, stated, “Haruna and General knock horns in what may be an interesting race for the NDC, at least from General’s voters’ perspective”.

Meanwhile,  Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has reiterated that whoever succeeds President John Dramani Mahama as NDC flagbearer will ride on the achievements of the current government.

Asiedu Nketia called for calm and urged persons interested in contesting for the NDC flagbearer to be very careful about the way they express their ambitions.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, August 26, Asiedu Nketia detailed, “The party has not declared anything,” he noted. “I keep repeating my caution that we have to be very careful about the way we express our ambitions. Whoever succeeds President Mahama will ride on the achievements of the current government.”

He added, “If you conduct yourself in ways that will disrupt the activities of this government in ways that will make the government less successful, then you have a bigger problem,” he said. “President Mahama is only about eight months in office now, and you want to struggle to decide who will replace him—you know what it can cause.”

“If all of us decide today that, ‘Well, people say I can be president, so let me start organising,’ then everybody will be going across the country appointing campaign coordinators. How do you think that President Mahama can focus on achieving anything?”

See the post below:

Military to be stationed permanently in 44 galamsey areas – Kwakye Ofosu

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Military to be stationed permanently in 44 galamsey areas – Kwakye Ofosu

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications and MP for Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese, has revealed that the John Mahama-led government will intensify their fight against galamsey.

According to Kwakye Ofosu, the military will be stationed permanently in 44 galamsey areas.

 The minister highlighted that, unlike in the past administration, where security forces would conduct short-term operations before withdrawing, the military will be stationed permanently in the galamsey areas.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face programme on Tuesday, September 16, Kwakye Ofosu stated, “All the 44 areas that are threatened by galamsey, there is going to be a permanent military presence”.

“In the past, they would go and flush out the characters engaged in galamsey and then leave, but now they will have a permanent military presence”.

He added, “All the rivers we have will have a permanent military presence”.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu had earlier dared anyone who says illegal mining (galamsey) has become worse under President John Mahama to provide evidence to back their claims.

The Minister noted that the claims must be backed with empirical evidence and not just guesswork.

According to Kwakye Ofosu, the Mahama-led government is dedicated to combating galamsey.

Speaking during an interview on Joy FM on Monday, September 15, Kwakye Ofosu stated, “Those who say galamsey has worsened under President Mahama must prove it with empirical evidence. We cannot allow perceptions or political point-scoring to overshadow facts”.

The Presidential Spokesperson revealed that Mahama is keeping the option of a state of emergency open and will only go that route if the situation becomes necessary.

He added, “Let me indicate that on the matter of state of emergency, the president said that there are conventional approaches that are currently being deployed that he believes would help us achieve the objective of wiping out this canker once and for all. And that when it becomes necessary, a state of emergency may be deployed”.

“It actually means that you set aside laws as they are and adopt extraordinary, sometimes very harsh, very drastic measures in order to beat back a particular problem.

“It comes with its own difficulties, and therefore, the declaration of the same must be based on tangible reasoning. You must have a sufficient basis to do that so that you are very clear that the consequences that will result will be worth the effort”, he noted.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu added, “He believes earnestly that currently, some gains are being made that could be sustained. And as and when we get to a stage when it is absolutely necessary to deploy those measures that will create some absolute discomfort for ordinary citizens, and may involve measures that may not necessarily be in tandem with the way that our laws should function, he will take the decision”.

“The government appreciates the genuine concern surrounding the issue of galamsey because of the threats that it poses. It has naturally become an emotive subject. People are deeply concerned about it, and they want urgent action. The government understands that fully, and such urgent action is underway,” he said.

Kwakye Ofosu added that John Mahama, since becoming president, has done everything necessary to ensure that we combat galamsey.

He further added that Mahama never gave any timelines for ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The minister explained, “To be fair, if you want to assess a president, you will have to take him by his own words and actions, the commitments that he made. President Mahama did not give any timelines to ending galamsey”.

“He said at the media encounter that he was not under any illusion that by the wink of the magic wand, galamsey will end because it is an insidious problem,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu added.

He added, “Government fully appreciates the genuine concerns people have expressed on galamsey, and these are not matters we take lightly”.

“We cannot pretend it is an easy fight, but what we can assure Ghanaians is that the government has not lost sight of its duty to protect lives, livelihoods and the environment,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Dr Ken Ashigbey, the Convener of the Coalition Against Galamsey, has confidently told President John Dramani Mahama to sack all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in areas where illegal mining (galamsey) is prevalent.

According to Dr Ken Ashigbey, the galamsey fight requires urgent action as it is not progressing the way it should be.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Dr Ashigbey stated, “We believe it is not only us talking about it, but churches are also speaking about it. We all have to come on board to work on it.

But if galamsey is still ongoing in areas like Tarkwa, Obuasi, Prestea, then the DCEs and MCEs there must be sacked,” he insisted.

He added, “After sacking them, the government can investigate further to find out if they are part of the activities. If they are, then deal with them, because clearly, they are not helping matters”.

“If you can’t raise GH¢4m, you are not influential and credible” – Atta Akyea to NPP flagbearer aspirants

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“If you can’t raise GH¢4m, you are not influential and credible” – Atta Akyea to NPP flagbearer aspirants

Samuel Atta Akyea, a former Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, has stated that any New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirant who cannot raise the party’s development fee of GH¢4million is not even influential.

According to him, any aspirant who struggles to pay the party’s development fee is not fit to contest for the presidency.

Atta Akyea emphasised that a candidate’s inability to pay the GH¢4 million fee is a sign of a lack of influence and credibility.

Speaking in an interview on TV3 on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Atta Akyea stated, “If you are in opposition, you will raise money, so it is a sensible way to raise money.

If a man says he is credible and people should vote for him as a flagbearer, and he can’t raise GH¢4 million, that means he doesn’t count; he is not even influential. Who is telling you that you are the one going to pay the money?” he said.

The NPP’s GH¢4 million development fee on presidential aspirants has sparked widespread criticism and raised questions about the party’s democratic principles.

Also, Samuel Atta Akyea issued a warning to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirants.

Atta Akyea urged NPP presidential aspirants to refrain from using insults.

He emphasised that strong ideas and proven track records are what will ultimately win the support of the party’s grassroots.

Atta Akyea is quoted as saying, “All those who will specialise in insults will lose. What will romance the ground are your solid ideas and track records”.

Meanwhile, reports gathered suggested some NPP presidential aspirants are at risk of disqualification over failure to pay GHC 4 million development fees by the September 5 deadline.

It will be recalled that Kennedy Agyapong last week blew the alarm that NPP aspirants were made to pay GHC 4 million development fees.

According to Kennedy Agyapong, it is a disgraceful thing that all five contestants in the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearership paid an extra four million cedis after paying for the filing fees.

He asserted that the party is broke just eight months after leaving office.

Speaking to party delegates in the Western North Region, Kennedy Agyapong stated, “What’s even disgraceful now is that all the aspirants are paying four million for development fees. I took my form for a hundred thousand and filed for five hundred thousand. I was told that there was a deadline, so I had to give them four million”.

Kennedy Agyapong further beg the NPP delegates to try him if he fails to deliver as a flagbearer and subsequently president, the delegates can remove him after four years and try someone else..

Mr Agyapong added, “If contracts were given to our contractors, would we have been standing there when NDC was distributing money, and would we not be doing the same? Please try me, and let’s see. After four years, if I don’t deliver, you can remove me and try another person; if I do well, we continue to build the country and the party.”

“If we had resourced our contractors and made them money, we would not be complaining that NDC was sharing money while we sat and watched,” he said.

Kennedy Agyapong continued, “We need to build the party, and we can only build the party if we resource the party people. We don’t resource them. Someone can say we are not here because of the party.

Someone’s agency, since he left the NDC, has filled over 12 vacancies, and you are sitting here jobless. These same people are coming to you; please don’t sell yourself cheap”.

The NPP 2026 primaries are heating up with the main front-runners for the NPP’s flagbearer position, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, former Assin Central MP Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, former Minister for Agriculture Bryan Acheampong, former Minister for Education Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and Kwabena Agyei Agyepong.

The NPP’s Presidential Elections Committee confirmed that five aspirants have completed and submitted their nomination forms.

The five include Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong, Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong, Hon. Dr. Bryan Acheampong, H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum.

However, reports circulating suggest some members of the five risk being disqualified over failure to pay GHC 4 million development fees.

The NPP will be holding their internal elections on Saturday, January 31, 2026, to select a flagbearer for the 2028 general elections.

“Big Push projects not for wheelbarrow contractors” – Mahama

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“Big Push projects not for wheelbarrow contractors” – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has said his government’s flagship Big Push infrastructure programme is for competent and well-resourced contractors, not wheelbarrow contractors.

 According to John Mahama, some friends have approached him to secure contracts under the scheme, but he made it clear to them that the project was designed to accelerate large-scale national infrastructure projects.

Speaking at the official launch of the programme at Afienya in the Greater Accra region on Tuesday, September 16, John Mahama stated, “There are a few wheelbarrow contractors who have come to me saying, ‘Oh, I hear they are distributing projects under the Big Push.

I want one.’ I say, ‘My friend, this is not for wheelbarrow contractors.’ You are my friend, but I won’t give it to you because it is not meant for wheelbarrow contractors,” he stated.

President Mahama further added that every region in Ghana will benefit from his government’s flagship Big Push infrastructure programme.

The president explained that the project is designed to revolutionise Ghana’s road network and improve national connectivity.

According to him, the Big Push programme is aimed at opening economic opportunities, improving food distribution networks, and making travel between regions and districts easier.

Speaking at the first launch of the programme at Afienya in the Greater Accra, John Mahama stated, “From January 7, we have been designing road projects across the length and breadth of the country. The Big Push touches all 16 regions of the country. Every region is going to benefit from its share of the Big Push programme”.

“Our priority was to take roads that connect one regional capital to another. We believe that it should be easy for people to travel from one capital to another, for example, from Accra to Ho, or Accra to Cape Coast,” he explained.

He further revealed that the second priority is roads linking district capitals. “We have 261 districts in Ghana, and we believe that districts that are close should have good roads linking their district capitals to each other”.

President Mahama added that the third priority is road infrastructure in food-producing and industrial manufacturing areas.

“We selected all the major food-growing areas in the country, looked at the roads in those areas, and added them to the Big Push,” he added.

Also, Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Minister for Roads and Highways, has promised Ghanaians that the results of the newly launched Big Push road project will be there for everyone to see.

The road minister described the Big Push as a bold intervention that goes beyond politics.

According to Governs Kwame Agbodza, the former Akufo-Addo government left a  40 billion Ghana cedis in debt to contractors, yet, going round the 16 regions, it was difficult to see what the money was spent on.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Mr Agbodza stated, “Mr President, if you come to the Ministry of Roads and Highways, we owe probably 40 billion Ghana cedis in debt to contractors”.

“But when we went round the country, the 16 regions, it was difficult to see what the money was spent on.”

He added, “Despite all that, Mr President, you made a bold commitment to institute an intervention that will go down in history as the president that gave the biggest dose of intervention at a single time on our roads”.

“The Big Push is not a campaign promise; it is a bold intervention by your government.”

Mr Agbodza further assured, “When we say we can do this project within four months, we mean business. The people of Greater Accra and Ga-Dangbe, don’t be worried”.

“The contractor that is on this stretch, I believe, can do this project in less than 24 months.”

“We shall implement Big Push, and the results will be there for everyone to see,” he confidently added.

Additionally, Governs Kwame Agbodza,  before the launch, had already revealed that the John Mahama-led Big Push projects would be completed in twenty-four months.

The roads minister revealed that the Big Push road projects have been deliberately structured to span two years.

According to Agbodza, under the reset agenda, if there’s any evidence of a three-month delay by a contractor, they will write it into the contract and terminate it.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Agbodza detailed, “The average Ghanaian has come to accept something that is completely unacceptable, because they see road projects start around their backyard, and no one can tell them when it will be completed. We want to reset. ‘Reset’ means we need to change that narrative”.

“All the projects have been deliberately structured to span two years, 24 months, and we will not go beyond that. Sometimes, a contractor is awarded 100 kilometres of road. People forget that constructing 100 kilometres is not a small undertaking.

There may be people who are more interested in how much it costs — they focus on the money involved. So contractors take the job, and for seven or eight years, they do nothing. We want to avoid that”, he added.

The road minister emphasised that the project will go strictly with its timeline of completion, “From now on, Big Push — which is something we needed like yesterday — will work differently. When we award you 20 kilometres of road and say complete it in 24 months, we expect you to finish ahead of schedule.

If there’s any evidence of a three-month delay, we’ll write it into the contract: we terminate. We are not going to wait. If you like, go to court.

“No contractor is compelled to participate in Big Push, but if you do, you must be prepared to work 24/7. You must be ready to deliver within 12 months unless something extremely unforeseen happens, and we’ll be the ones to determine that.”

“Rivers and forests cannot speak” – GBA president rallies members to speak against galamsey

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“Rivers and forests cannot speak” – GBA president rallies members to speak against galamsey

Efua Ghartey, the president of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), has rallied members of the Association to speak against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The GBA president described galamsey as a national crisis threatening Ghana’s survival.

She further questioned why there is a high demand for heavy machinery, particularly excavators, in Ghana.

Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Bar Association Conference, held in the Upper West regional capital, Wa, on Monday, September 15, 2025, Efua Ghartey stated, “If indeed this is true, what legitimate industry in Ghana requires such massive quantities of excavators?”

She further called on lawyers to use their voices and influence to defend the environment.

“The rivers of Ghana cannot speak, neither can the forests. But as custodians of justice, we are morally bound to raise our voices on their behalf and strip away the impunity that protects galamsey operators”, the GBA president stated.

Also, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the acting Chief Justice, has said illegal mining has become worse.

The acting Chief Justice called for the government to take action.

Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Bar Association Conference, held in the Upper West regional capital, Wa, on Monday, September 15, 2025, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie stated, “Galamsey has become worse; the time to act is now”.

He added, “We cannot continue to dither in September 2025 on the repeal of L.I. 2462 that has permitted mining in forest reserves. It is a good place to start if we sincerely want to win the war against galamsey. The time to act is now without any further delay”.

Additionally, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has warned that the desecration of creation through illegal mining (galamsey) is a grave sin against God.

In a statement issued on Monday, September 15, 2025, the Catholic Bishops wrote, “Illegal and unregulated mining, commonly known as galamsey, has become one of the gravest afflictions of our time.

It ravages our rivers and forests, poisons our soil, endangers public health, corrupts governance, erodes our moral fibre, and extinguishes livelihoods.

This is not a routine challenge to be managed with half-measures; it is a national emergency requiring decisive, extraordinary response,” the bishops said.

The Bishop highlighted that the desecration of creation through galamsey is a grave sin against God.

“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. To desecrate creation through galamsey is not only an offence against neighbour; it is a grave sin against God Himself, the Creator and Owner of all,” they declared.

The Catholic Bishops’ statement added, “Farmers can no longer trust the land to sustain their families, and our capacity to feed the nation diminishes. Children, seduced by the mirage of quick riches, forsake school for perilous pits, many losing their lives in collapses that are both tragic and preventable.”

“This betrayal of trust cuts to the very marrow of our national identity. We call such leaders to repentance without delay.”

The Catholic Bishops further expressed dismay at President Mahama’s refusal to declare a state of emergency.

They added, “In both January and May 2025, delegations of our Conference raised these concerns directly with him, only to be met with unsatisfactory responses focused narrowly on economic gain.

“At his ‘Meet the Press’ session of 10 September 2025, he dismissed calls for a state of emergency. This is profoundly troubling. The hour is late. Delay is betrayal. Now, not tomorrow, not later, is the time to act.”

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, however, warned that declaring a state of emergency in galamsey-affected areas may be necessary, but it is not sufficient to address the full extent of the devastation.

“While urgent, a declaration is insufficient. Ghana requires a holistic, integrated national strategy”, the statement read.

According to the Bishops, the government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful.

“His government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful; not only the weak but also the well-connected. Without courage, no policy will stand, no law will hold, no declaration will succeed.”

“This struggle is not merely about law enforcement. It concerns the very soul of Ghana. It is about whether we choose life or death, blessing or curse. With God’s grace, let us choose life, for ourselves, for our children, and for generations yet unborn.”

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Popular East Legon ‘big man’ allegedly kills house-help

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Popular East Legon ‘big man’ allegedly kills house-help

A popular businessman domiciled in a plush residential area of East Legon in the Greater Accra Region is at large after allegedly murdering his domestic worker named Abena in cold blood. According to reports, the alleged murderer dismembered parts of the body of Abena after killing her while harvesting some of her body parts.

The 21-year-old victim, Abena, lived in Nkwakwa in the Ashanti Region before moving to Accra in search of a job. Three months into her work, she was allegedly murdered with her body parts, including her breast, vagina, toes, and fingers, removed.

According to reports, her boss is said to be a 49-year-old popular businessman whose name has been withheld.

The alleged businessman is said to have informed his household that he was going on a business trip. Founder of Crime Check Foundation Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, who broke the story, narrates how the heavy stench from the victim’s decaying body caught the attention of nearby residents, who, in effect, also tipped off the police.

“The businessman killed Abena and harvested her body parts. He cut off her breast, private part, toenails, and fingers and deposited the remains in black polythene bags.” Mr. Kwarteng questioned why the police are still withholding the identity of the alleged murderer, adding that secrecy surrounding the case is raising eyebrows.

“The Ghana police do not want the name of the businessman who allegedly committed the crime to be made public. When people commit crimes, their pictures are out in the open. Even if we don’t have their pictures, we at least know their names. This is why people continue to hold the belief that justice is the preserve of the rich,” he said.

“I think it is a well-planned and well-orchestrated, well-oiled machine which has been operating perhaps for many years, and it’s their time to be caught.”

MMDCEs in galamsey areas must be sacked – Ken Ashigbey tells Mahama

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MMDCEs in galamsey areas must be sacked – Ken Ashigbey tells Mahama

Dr Ken Ashigbey, the Convener of the Coalition Against Galamsey, has confidently told President John Dramani Mahama to sack all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in areas where illegal mining (galamsey) is prevalent.

According to Dr Ken Ashigbey, the galamsey fight requires urgent action as it is not progressing the way it should be.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Dr Ashigbey stated, “We believe it is not only us talking about it, but churches are also speaking about it. We all have to come on board to work on it.

But if galamsey is still ongoing in areas like Tarkwa, Obuasi, Prestea, then the DCEs and MCEs there must be sacked,” he insisted.

He added, “After sacking them, the government can investigate further to find out if they are part of the activities. If they are, then deal with them, because clearly, they are not helping matters”.

Dr. Ken Ashigbey, in a separate interview, quizzed what the national security is not telling President John Mahama about galamsey.

According to Dr. Ken Ashigbey, the Mahama himself said that galamsey has become a national emergency, but State institutions have not followed through with decisive measures.

He added that there are conditions for declaring a state of emergency in areas affected by galamsey.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Dr. Ashigbey stated, “We know the president, and that he is not a person who will implement a law in its draconian nature. So, we believe that under a state of emergency, we can be specific in the way we apply it and what it is that we do”.

“Currently, if we take all our water bodies, there is no fishing going on in them. But the ‘chamfans’ are still on them. There are many places where people have blocked portions of rivers and are mining illegally. You can declare a state of emergency in those areas,” he explained.

“The president said they have reclaimed about nine. Their grading used to be red and now some have improved to amber. But people are still destroying them. You can declare a state of emergency in those as well so that no excavator moves into those communities,” he added.

Dr. Ken Ashigbey cited that Article 39 of the Constitution provides clear grounds for a national emergency as the destruction of galamsey meets the criteria.

“The president has said it himself that it is a national emergency, and it is because the ingredients that constitute a national emergency in Article 39 are all clearly shown. So, I don’t know what the national security is not telling the president,” he lamented.

Also, the Coalition Against Illegal Mining, in a press conference, renewed its demand for the government to declare a state of emergency in areas affected by galamsey.

The Coalition Against Illegal Mining highlighted that galamsey is a grave threat to livelihoods, public health, and national security.

On Monday, September 15, the Convenor of the Coalition, Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, addressing the press, stated, “We are, therefore, making the following demands of the government in response to the president’s statement on deploying a state of emergency as a last resort.

One, by Article 31 9A and B, the circumstances under which a state of emergency may be declared include the current galamsey situation in which the actions being taken by the environmental criminals are calculated to deprive large communities of potable water, which is an essential of life,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Dormaahene Osaagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr. Agyemang Badu II, along with the Dormaa anti-galamsey task force and chiefs from the Dormaa Traditional Council, has conducted an operation at Dormaa-Akwamu, Akontanim, and Kobedi.

The operation was aimed at illegal mining (galamsey) activities in the area.

According to the report, during the operation, three individuals were arrested, and seven water pumping machines were seized.

The three galamseyers have since been handed over to the Ghana Police Service.

Dormaahene further issued a stern warning to anyone involved in illegal mining on Dormaa stool lands, ordering them to cease immediately or face consequences if apprehended.

Additionally, Andy Appiah-Kubi, a former Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North, has called for a ‘wartime’ approach and presidential commitment in the fight against galamsey.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr. Appiah-Kubi stated, “When the NPP was in power, I spoke against our commitment to fight galamsey. Even in my constituency, I did not allow galamsey operations. All those who made an attempt were arrested and handed over to the police”.

“I never got afraid and stood my ground to stop the menace, even if it meant putting my life on the line. When Akufo-Addo declared he would put his presidency on the line, it was just words. True commitment must trickle down to those mandated to fight,” he argued.

The former lawmaker stressed, “If the President is committed, only one battalion can fight them. This is like a war situation; if the illegal miners want to threaten our survival, we must defeat them before they defeat us”.

Cedi to end 2025 trading at GH₵13.5 to 1US$ – Professor Bokpin predicts

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Cedi to end 2025 trading at GH₵13.5 to 1US$ – Professor Bokpin predicts

Renowned economist Professor Godfred Bokpin has predicted that the Ghana cedi is likely to end 2025 stabilising between GH₵13.5 and GH₵14 per U.S. dollar.

According to Professor Bokpin, the recent volatility of the cedi is a natural market phenomenon.

He called on Ghanaians to be calm and focus on the nation’s economic fundamentals.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM today, September 16, Professor Bokpin stated, “We have our peak period and then we have our low period as well. In the peak period, when we experience what we call cash flow mismatch in terms of inflows and then outflows…businesses would import in anticipation of Christmas and all of that. So the demand will pick up.”

“If you look at the average rate in the bank and you compare that to the forex bureau and then, of course, the outer layer black market, the divergence is too wide”, he said.

Prof Bokpin warned against the national obsession with the daily exchange rate.

He further lamented, “I get a bit concerned because every now and then, if you look at extreme rate discussions and you do a market survey, it’s more or less dominating our economic discussions much more than anything else, and I think that is not good enough”.

Prof Bokpin added that Ghana’s annual inflation is at its lowest since late 2021, with the annual inflation rate falling to 11.5%.

Adding that the economy has shown resilience with a 6.3% GDP growth in the second quarter of 2025.

According to him, the positive indicators show that the country has exited the peak of crisis recovery, adding that the current fluctuations are simply a part of a normal, notwithstanding complex, market adjustment.

Meanwhile, Dr Johnson Asiama, the Bank of Ghana Governor, has said the Ghana cedi still remains one of the best-performing currencies globally despite the slowdown in remittance inflows.

The BoG Governor highlighted that remittances have not been as strong as in previous periods, but the impact on the cedi’s performance has been confined.

According to Dr Johnson Asiama, the resilience of the cedi is attributed to the sound monetary policy, improved foreign-exchange reserves and tighter regulatory oversight.

Speaking at the opening of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting on September 15, 2025, Dr Johnson Asiama explained, “Despite the seasonal pressures and a slowdown in remittance inflows in recent weeks, the cedi remains one of the strongest currencies globally. Year-to-date, it has appreciated by about 21% as of September 12”.

“External buffers have strengthened. For the first eight months of the year, Ghana recorded a trade surplus of US$6.2 billion, underpinned by robust gold exports and higher cocoa receipts. Gross international reserves stood at US$10.7 billion in August, covering about 4½ months of imports”, he added.

Dr Johnson Asiama added that the cedi is performing alongside other currencies like the Russian ruble, Swedish krona, Norwegian krone, Swiss franc, euro and the British pound.

Also, President John Dramani Mahama has said his government will make sure that any depreciation that occurs in the Cedi is within a margin of about 5% per annum.

According to John Mahama, the recent currency fluctuations are part of a natural adjustment process and not a sign of renewed instability.

Speaking at his maiden media encounter on Wednesday, September 10, John Mahama stated, “I believe that it is about stopping the rapid depreciation of the currency. When you have steep depreciation of about like we had in 2024, 25% depreciation in the currency in the first half of the year, it makes planning difficult. And so yes, Bank of Ghana, BoG, has been intervening in the forex market, but they’ve withdrawn,” he said.

Mahama added, “The Cedi is making an adjustment and I believe that it will settle at a certain rate and we’ll make sure that any depreciation that occurs in the value of the Cedi is within a margin of about 5% per annum”.

President John Mahama also disclosed that the Bank of Ghana(BoG) has withdrawn its interventions in the foreign exchange market.

According to John Mahama, the move is to find the true value of the Ghanaian cedi against major trading currencies.

He added,  “And so yes, Bank of Ghana has been intervening in the forex market, but they’ve withdrawn. And what happened was that, because of the rapid appreciation in the value of the cedi, we saw an exponential increase in imports, because then people could buy cheaper dollars, and so they could import more, which is a natural economic phenomenon.

“But on the other side, exporters are not happy, because they get fewer cedis for what they export.”

John Mahama added that Ghana must strike a delicate balance between protecting exporters and importers.

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Popular cartoonist wanted for Canadian-visa fraud

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Popular cartoonist wanted for Canadian-visa fraud

Samuel Okantey, popularly known as ‘Kpakpo Nii Gbemi the Cartoonist,’ has reportedly defrauded unsuspecting victims, riding on his close relationship with some big names in the country to win the confidence of victims.

In one of his alleged fraudulent activities, Kpakpo Nii Gbemi is said to have defrauded a Civil Engineer, Samuel Tetteh Asafo, of nearly GHC 100,000 through a Canada work visa fraud.

Samuel Tetteh alleges that Kpakpo defrauded him when he showed interest in his advert about an opportunity for a 10-year working visa to Canada.

The civil engineer told Crime Check TV Ghana that they agreed that the processing would be completed within three months, beginning from February 1, 2025, to April 2025, and a refund would be made if the deal became unsuccessful.

According to Asafo, after making a full payment of GHC 90,500.00 as the cost of the deal, he was no longer able to reach Kpakpo through normal calls but only on WhatsApp.

The victim said Kpakpo failed to deliver his service and asked for three different extensions. As part of his modus operandi, Kpakpo is said to have requested that Asafo create a dollar account, claiming it was a requirement, and demanded GHC 5,000 from the victim to facilitate it.

Kpakpo reportedly made another request of GHC 2,500 from the victim to book an appointment for Asafo’s biometric capturing.

Asafo said after he paid for the biometric, Kpakpo sent him a fake appointment date which read: “Booked: 21st May 2025/1:40 pm is your biometric.”

According to the victim, Kpakpo failed to honor his promise and opted to refund the full amount.

Fast forward, Asafo said when he reminded Kpakpo on several occasions about the refund, Kpakpo cheekily remarked, “even $2 million sef we pass top,” indicating a calculated and deliberate intention to defraud the victim as he had done to others.

“The results of the Big Push will be there for everyone to see” –  Roads Minister promises

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“The results of the Big Push will be there for everyone to see” –  Roads Minister promises

Governs Kwame Agbodza, the Minister for Roads and Highways, has promised Ghanaians that the results of the newly launched Big Push road project will be there for everyone to see.

The road minister described the Big Push as a bold intervention that goes beyond politics.

According to Governs Kwame Agbodza, the former Akufo-Addo government left a  40 billion Ghana cedis in debt to contractors, yet, going round the 16 regions, it was difficult to see what the money was spent on.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Mr Agbodza stated, “Mr President, if you come to the Ministry of Roads and Highways, we owe probably 40 billion Ghana cedis in debt to contractors”.

“But when we went round the country, the 16 regions, it was difficult to see what the money was spent on.”

He added, “Despite all that, Mr President, you made a bold commitment to institute an intervention that will go down in history as the president that gave the biggest dose of intervention at a single time on our roads”.

“The Big Push is not a campaign promise; it is a bold intervention by your government.”

Mr Agbodza further assured, “When we say we can do this project within four months, we mean business. The people of Greater Accra and Ga-Dangbe, don’t be worried”.

“The contractor that is on this stretch, I believe, can do this project in less than 24 months.”

“We shall implement Big Push, and the results will be there for everyone to see,” he confidently added.

Additionally, Governs Kwame Agbodza,  before the launch, had already revealed the John Mahama-led Big Push projects will be completed in twenty-four months.

The roads minister revealed that the Big Push road projects have been deliberately structured to span two years.

According to Agbodza, under the reset agenda, if there’s any evidence of a three-month delay by a contractor, they will write it into the contract and terminate it.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Agbodza detailed, “The average Ghanaian has come to accept something that is completely unacceptable, because they see road projects start around their backyard, and no one can tell them when it will be completed. We want to reset. ‘Reset’ means we need to change that narrative”.

“All the projects have been deliberately structured to span two years, 24 months, and we will not go beyond that. Sometimes, a contractor is awarded 100 kilometres of road. People forget that constructing 100 kilometres is not a small undertaking.

There may be people who are more interested in how much it costs — they focus on the money involved. So contractors take the job, and for seven or eight years, they do nothing. We want to avoid that”, he added.

The road minister emphasised that the project will go strictly with its timeline of completion, “From now on, Big Push — which is something we needed like yesterday — will work differently. When we award you 20 kilometres of road and say complete it in 24 months, we expect you to finish ahead of schedule.

If there’s any evidence of a three-month delay, we’ll write it into the contract: we terminate. We are not going to wait. If you like, go to court.

“No contractor is compelled to participate in Big Push, but if you do, you must be prepared to work 24/7. You must be ready to deliver within 12 months unless something extremely unforeseen happens, and we’ll be the ones to determine that.”

Governs Kwame Agbodza further revealed that there is a lack of effective supervision of road projects, as some project expected to last 15 years fails within 6 months.

The road minister added, “Another problem we’ve noticed is the lack of effective supervision, either by third-party service providers like consultants or by our own staff from the various agencies.

There is evidence that most of them did not perform the way they should. For instance, a road is built that’s supposed to last 15 years, and it fails in six months, then we have to look for more money to fix it again. That cannot continue”.

Agbodza warned that contractors who want to participate in any activity at the Ministry must demonstrate technical capability.

He asserted, “You must take the appropriate steps, including securing the right insurance. The days when a contractor gets an insurance firm to issue a piece of paper, thinking we’ll never cash it when things go wrong, are over. Let me remind you, this time around, we’ll be very happy to cash it”.

The road minister further clarified that the Big Push project is not only about a road project, but also a special vehicle to address the interconnectivity.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has said every region in Ghana will benefit from his government’s flagship Big Push infrastructure programme.

The president explained that the project is designed to revolutionise Ghana’s road network and improve national connectivity.

Speaking at the first launch of the programme at Afienya in the Greater Accra, John Mahama stated, “From January 7, we have been designing road projects across the length and breadth of the country. The Big Push touches all 16 regions of the country. Every region is going to benefit from its share of the Big Push programme”.

“Our priority was to take roads that connect one regional capital to another. We believe that it should be easy for people to travel from one capital to another, for example, from Accra to Ho, or Accra to Cape Coast,” he explained.

He further revealed that the second priority is roads linking district capitals. “We have 261 districts in Ghana, and we believe that districts that are close should have good roads linking their district capitals to each other”.

President Mahama added that the third priority is road infrastructure in food-producing and industrial manufacturing areas.

“We selected all the major food-growing areas in the country, looked at the roads in those areas, and added them to the Big Push,” he added.

“Every region will benefit from the Big Push programme” – Mahama assures Ghanaians 

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“Every region will benefit from the Big Push programme” – Mahama assures Ghanaians 

President John Dramani Mahama has said every region in Ghana will benefit from his government’s flagship Big Push infrastructure programme.

The president explained that the project is designed to revolutionise Ghana’s road network and improve national connectivity.

According to him, the Big Push programme is aimed at opening economic opportunities, improving food distribution networks, and making travel between regions and districts easier.

Speaking at the first launch of the programme at Afienya in the Greater Accra, John Mahama stated, “From January 7, we have been designing road projects across the length and breadth of the country. The Big Push touches all 16 regions of the country. Every region is going to benefit from its share of the Big Push programme”.

“Our priority was to take roads that connect one regional capital to another. We believe that it should be easy for people to travel from one capital to another, for example, from Accra to Ho, or Accra to Cape Coast,” he explained.

He further revealed that the second priority is roads linking district capitals. “We have 261 districts in Ghana, and we believe that districts that are close should have good roads linking their district capitals to each other”.

President Mahama added that the third priority is road infrastructure in food-producing and industrial manufacturing areas.

“We selected all the major food-growing areas in the country, looked at the roads in those areas, and added them to the Big Push,” he added.

Also, Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, has reiterated that the Big Push road project will be completed in under 24 months.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, Mr Agbodza stated, “Mr President, if you come to the Ministry of Roads and Highways, we owe probably 40 billion Ghana cedis in debt to contractors”.

“But when we went round the country, the 16 regions, it was difficult to see what the money was spent on.”

He added, “Despite all that, Mr President, you made a bold commitment to institute an intervention that will go down in history as the president that gave the biggest dose of intervention at a single time on our roads”.

“The Big Push is not a campaign promise; it is a bold intervention by your government.”

Mr Agbodza further assured, “When we say we can do this project within four months, we mean business. The people of Greater Accra and Ga-Dangbe, don’t be worried”.

“The contractor that is on this stretch, I believe, can do this project in less than 24 months.”

“We shall implement Big Push, and the results will be there for everyone to see,” he confidently added.

Additionally, Governs Kwame Agbodza,  before the launch, had already revealed the John Mahama-led Big Push projects will be completed in twenty-four months.

The roads minister revealed that the Big Push road projects have been deliberately structured to span two years.

According to Agbodza, under the reset agenda, if there’s any evidence of a three-month delay by a contractor, they will write it into the contract and terminate it.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Agbodza detailed, “The average Ghanaian has come to accept something that is completely unacceptable, because they see road projects start around their backyard, and no one can tell them when it will be completed. We want to reset. ‘Reset’ means we need to change that narrative”.

“All the projects have been deliberately structured to span two years, 24 months, and we will not go beyond that. Sometimes, a contractor is awarded 100 kilometres of road. People forget that constructing 100 kilometres is not a small undertaking.

There may be people who are more interested in how much it costs — they focus on the money involved. So contractors take the job, and for seven or eight years, they do nothing. We want to avoid that”, he added.

The road minister emphasised that the project will go strictly with its timeline of completion, “From now on, Big Push — which is something we needed like yesterday — will work differently. When we award you 20 kilometres of road and say complete it in 24 months, we expect you to finish ahead of schedule.

If there’s any evidence of a three-month delay, we’ll write it into the contract: we terminate. We are not going to wait. If you like, go to court.

“No contractor is compelled to participate in Big Push, but if you do, you must be prepared to work 24/7. You must be ready to deliver within 12 months unless something extremely unforeseen happens, and we’ll be the ones to determine that.”

Governs Kwame Agbodza further revealed that there is a lack of effective supervision of road projects, as some project expected to last 15 years fails within 6 months.

The road minister added, “Another problem we’ve noticed is the lack of effective supervision, either by third-party service providers like consultants or by our own staff from the various agencies.

There is evidence that most of them did not perform the way they should. For instance, a road is built that’s supposed to last 15 years, and it fails in six months, then we have to look for more money to fix it again. That cannot continue”.

Agbodza warned that contractors who want to participate in any activity at the Ministry must demonstrate technical capability.

He asserted, “You must take the appropriate steps, including securing the right insurance. The days when a contractor gets an insurance firm to issue a piece of paper, thinking we’ll never cash it when things go wrong, are over. Let me remind you, this time around, we’ll be very happy to cash it”.

The road minister further clarified that the Big Push project is not only about a road project, but also a special vehicle to address the interconnectivity.

GoldBod places a GH¢1m bounty on four gold-smuggling suspects

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GoldBod places a GH¢1m bounty on four gold-smuggling suspects

The Ghana GOLDBOD has issued a wanted notice for two Indian nationals and two Ghanaians over their alleged involvement in illegal gold smuggling and dealing.

The Ghana Gold Board placed a GH¢1 million bounty to be awarded for any credible information which would lead to their arrest.

Sammy Gyamfi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, announced that the four are part of a group of seven individuals engaged in the illicit trade.

According to him, three of the seven suspects have been arrested and are in the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB).

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, September 16, Mr. Gyamfi stated, “We have an arrest warrant for all of them; they are wanted by the police and the GoldBod.

If you have any information about them, you can report to the nearest police station or the GoldBod head office. We have a bounty of GHC1 million on each of them”.

Meanwhile, in related news, Sammy Gyamfi has revealed plans for Ghana to refine gold before export from October 2025. 

According to Sammy Gyamfi, the Goldbod will establish a wholly state-owned and international-standard gold refinery.

He highlighted that the reset agenda of Mahama is aimed at transitioning Ghana from the export of raw doré to refined bullion.

He further argued that it was unacceptable for Ghana, as a leader in gold production on the continent, to be exporting raw gold without significant value addition.

Speaking at the maiden edition of the Mining and Minerals Convention in Accra, Sammy Gyamfi stated, “I am happy to inform you that on that same parcel of land secured by the Gold Board, we will be building a wholly state-owned and international standard gold refinery to further advance the local refining of gold produced in Ghana from the S-Model of Ndoko to Gold.”

“The GoldBod would continue to drive innovation, and in this regard, we have secured a parcel of land at the cargo village of the Kotoka International Airport to build an ultra-mordern ISO certified Assay Laboratory with the aim of changing Ghana’s assay regime from XRF and water density to the golden standard of assay – fire assay, for all gold produced in and/or exported from Ghana”.

Sammy Gyamfi added, “As part of the reset agenda of the Mahama-led administration, the GoldBod in conjunction with the Bank of Ghana, is partnering local refineries such as the Gold Coast Refinery to begin the local refining of gold purchased and exported by the GoldBod. Let me at this stage commend the Chamber of Mines for expressing their willingness to work with us to ensure the local refining of gold produced by large-scale mining firms in the country”.

The Goldbod CEO further added that small-scale gold exports hit a record high of 66.7 tons, with an export value of approximately 6.3 billion USD.

He added, “Since January up to the end of August 2025, small-scale gold exports have been taking by or through the Gold Board, working closely with the Bank of Ghana, and hit a record high of 66.7 tons, with an export value of approximately 6.3 billion USD.”

“What this means is that the volume and value of small-scale gold exports from January to August 2025 alone have exceeded the total small-scale gold export outage for the whole of the year 2024, and from January to December, which too had 63 tons, with a value of about 4.6 billion USD.

It is also instructive to note that small-scale gold exports continue to surpass those from the last two minor sectors, which too had 65.1 tons, with an estimated value of approximately 5.6 billion USD for the period between January and August 2025.”

“In response to these challenges, we have taken several strategic steps, culminating in a comprehensive sustainable agenda and report policy reforms for the mining industry. The policies include the comprehensive review of the Minerals and Mining Act 2006 Act 703, and the Minerals and Mining Policy 2014, two extensive stakeholder engagements to align with global best practices.”

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To become the president of Ghana you need at least $200m for campaign

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To become the president of Ghana you need at least $200m for campaign

Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, the Executive Director of Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has revealed that one needs about $200 million to win a presidential election in Ghana.

The CDD-Ghana highlighted the high-rise sparks concerns of sustainability and inclusiveness of the country’s democratic process.

According to Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, the financial burden of elections risks capable leaders being shut out due to the lack of access to vast resources.

Speaking at an Open Society event in Accra, the Executive Director of CDD-Ghana stated, “I think you need about $200 million to win a presidential contest. How many of you here are ever going to be in that category or cohort of candidates? Even at the parliamentary level or at the primary level, it is nearly impossible for many of you,” Prof. Prempeh said.

“We cannot have that kind of democracy and expect it to be developmental. So, we need to worry about our campaign financing and regulating our internal party democracy,” he stressed.

However, a CDD-Ghana report in 2021 revealed the cost of winning a presidential election to be $100 million.

The study also revealed that parliamentarians need at least GH¢ 4 million.

A representative of CDD-Ghana, Saadija Shiraz, disclosed, “In 2021, a study was conducted by CDD to assess the extent to which illicit and illegal money moves into our politics, and as part of the findings, the study sought to determine how much the cost of politics and electioneering campaigns was.

“In the current estimate per this statement, running for Parliament was GH¢ 4 million, out of this amount, two million is dedicated towards nurturing constituencies, and the other two million is after the securing of the candidature position.”

“For the cost of running for president, the study estimated that the most viable sum of money that a person running for president needed was US$100 million… this is why we need to engage in conversations to reform the monetisation of Ghana’s politics,” she added.

Meanwhile, Michael Boadi, the Fundraising Manager at Ghana Integrity Initiative (GII) has emphasised the necessity of regulating political campaign financing.

Michael Boadi stated, “We cannot successfully combat corruption without controlling the financing of political parties. We must establish mechanisms to regulate political campaign finance”.

He pointed out that political campaign financing had become a significant catalyst for corruption.

“The situation is becoming increasingly perilous. According to research by the Centre for Democratic Development-Ghana, winning a parliamentary seat costs approximately US$300,000.00, a figure that continues to rise,” he noted.

“If a parliamentary seat in a smaller constituency demands $300,000.00, one must ponder the source of even larger sums spent by presidential candidates”,  he added.

He further emphasised the urgency of political parties disclosing the origins of funding for political parties and their candidates at both the presidential and parliamentary levels.

In a related news on political funding, Solomon Owusu, a leading member of the Movement for Change, has told the Office of the Special Prosecutor to immediately investigate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the former vice president and presidential candidate hopeful for the NPP.

According to Solomon Owusu, Bawumia confidently stated he personally donated 300 brand new Navara pick-ups to the NPP ahead of the 2024 elections.

He noted that one brand new Navara pick-up costs $60,000, adding that 300 pick-ups will cost $18 million, which Bawumia claimed he solely donated to the NPP.

Speaking on UTV, Solomon Owusu stated, “I will be going to the OSP to petition him. Bawumia thinks he is campaigning, but it is so dangerous, saying he donated 300 brand new Navara pick-ups, with one costing $60,000.

60,000 times 300, that is $18 million. Bawumia is saying he dashed $18 million, are you not scandalised by it? Are you not scared?”

He added, “Let’s take it as if he has people who donated to him, but under the Political Party Act, if someone gives you a donation, you have to indicate it. We were here, and Bawumia said Mahama went for a Ford, so if we had a vice president during a campaign, and he said he singlehandedly donated 300 pick-ups for the campaign, and we have the Ghana Revenue Authority, OSP, EOCO cannot call and question him, then the country is not worth dying for”.

Revealed – Gov’t to release GH₵1bn to tackle school infrastructure in 2026

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Revealed – Gov’t to release GH₵1bn to tackle school infrastructure in 2026

Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has revealed plans for the government to release GH₵1 billion from the GETFund in 2026 to address critical infrastructure challenges facing schools across the country.

Haruna Iddrisu announced the investment is aimed at tackling long-standing infrastructure deficits and ultimately phasing out the double-track system.

Speaking during a working visit to the Upper East Region, Haruna Iddrisu stated, “This funding will help us deal decisively with infrastructure deficits and ultimately tackle the double-track system”.

He further visited Zebilla Senior High Technical School to interact with WASSCE candidates and assess the impact of the Bawku conflict.

Haruna Iddrisu added, “We need to say no to war, no to conflict. Education remains our surest bet to fight ignorance and poverty, so grab the opportunity and give it your best,” he said.

“I refused to put it on because a bulletproof jacket does not belong in an academic environment. It does not create the conducive atmosphere needed for learning to thrive.”

He further appealed for calm in Bawku, emphasising that peace is necessary to create the right environment for teaching and learning.

 “Lasting peace must be restored in Bawku so that the city can be rebuilt and a serene environment for education restored,” he added.

The Education Minister further lament that the challenges faced by students in conflict areas will not be considered when being graded.

“It is unfortunate that examiners will not consider the fact that students here did not have the serenity and peace of mind to learn, yet they will be graded equally with their counterparts in peaceful areas,” he added.

In related news, Haruna Iddrisu has announced an 11-member committee to guide the reversal from double-track to single-track in SHSs and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTSs).

Prof. Godwin Awabil, University of Cape Coast (UCC), is the chair of the committee tasked with reviewing the 2024/2025 academic calendar and proposing a roadmap for a single-track.

Haruna Iddrisu has said the former government’s double-track system in Senior High Schools (SHSs) negatively affected the quality of education.

The Education Minister noted that the double-track system reduced contact hours and study time for students in the Senior High School.

Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, August  24, 2025, Haruna Iddrisu stated, “The double-track system has impacted negatively on the quality and outcomes of education under the Free SHS policy. Students have fewer contact hours and less study time, which affects their performance.

“Government’s commitment to ending the system can only be realised at three levels: expanding infrastructure, strengthening digital resources in schools, and allowing private SHSs to absorb qualified students to ease the pressure,” he said at a media briefing.

Meanwhile, some students of the Tamale Technical University on Tuesday, September 16, held a protest against what they claim is management neglect and misappropriation of the school’s funds and baseless fee increment.

Reports suggest the student, in their protest, blocked all entry points of the school and also burnt lorry tyres at the administration.

The student later clashed with the police, and scores of students sustained various degrees of injuries after the students clashed with police during a protest against the management of the school.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Musa Mahamudu, the demonstration was to demand better welfare for students and the development of the university.

Musa Mahamudu stated, “Our main aim for this demonstration is the issue we have at hand with management. Which has to do with the compressing issues that affect students in this university.

“Let’s talk about hostels, lecture halls, campus comfortability etc. Over the years, we have been paying school fees, and there are levies for development supposed to development this university,” he stated.

They further petitioned the Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu to address their grievances.

“We are compelled to bring to your urgent attention issues of systematic neglect of students’ welfare, alleged misapplication of funds and the proposed increment of fees without justification.

“These actions in our view contravene the principle of equity of accountability and quality education enshrined in the 1992 constitution of Ghana,” portions of the petition read.

They added that the school’s infrastructure is in a deplorable state despite paying levies and fees, and called on management to ensure judicious use of the monies paid.

Videos – TTU students clash with police during a protest over mismanagement

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Videos – TTU students clash with police during a protest over mismanagement

Some students of the Tamale Technical University on Tuesday, September 16, held a protest against what they claim is management neglect and misappropriation of the school’s funds and baseless fee increment.

Reports suggest the student, in their protest, blocked all entry points of the school and also burnt lorry tyres at the administration.

The student later clashed with the police, and scores of students sustained various degrees of injuries after the students clashed with police during a protest against the management of the school.

According to the Public Relations Officer of the Students’ Representative Council (SRC), Musa Mahamudu, the demonstration was to demand better welfare for students and the development of the university.

Musa Mahamudu stated, “Our main aim for this demonstration is the issue we have at hand with management. Which has to do with the compressing issues that affect students in this university.

“Let’s talk about hostels, lecture halls, campus comfortability etc. Over the years, we have been paying school fees, and there are levies for development supposed to development this university,” he stated.

They further petitioned the Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu to address their grievances.

“We are compelled to bring to your urgent attention issues of systematic neglect of students’ welfare, alleged misapplication of funds and the proposed increment of fees without justification.

“These actions in our view contravene the principle of equity of accountability and quality education enshrined in the 1992 constitution of Ghana,” portions of the petition read.

They added that the school’s infrastructure is in a deplorable state despite paying levies and fees, and called on management to ensure judicious use of the monies paid.

Meanwhile, Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has revealed plans for the government to release GH₵1 billion from the GETFund in 2026 to address critical infrastructure challenges facing schools across the country.

Haruna Iddrisu announced the investment is aimed at tackling long-standing infrastructure deficits and ultimately phasing out the double-track system.

Speaking during a working visit to the Upper East Region, Haruna Iddrisu stated, “This funding will help us deal decisively with infrastructure deficits and ultimately tackle the double-track system”.

He further visited Zebilla Senior High Technical School to interact with WASSCE candidates and assess the impact of the Bawku conflict.

Haruna Iddrisu added, “We need to say no to war, no to conflict. Education remains our surest bet to fight ignorance and poverty, so grab the opportunity and give it your best,” he said.

“I refused to put it on because a bulletproof jacket does not belong in an academic environment. It does not create the conducive atmosphere needed for learning to thrive.”

He further appealed for calm in Bawku, emphasising that peace is necessary to create the right environment for teaching and learning.

 “Lasting peace must be restored in Bawku so that the city can be rebuilt and a serene environment for education restored,” he added.

The Education Minister further lament that the challenges faced by students in conflict areas will not be considered when being graded.

“It is unfortunate that examiners will not consider the fact that students here did not have the serenity and peace of mind to learn, yet they will be graded equally with their counterparts in peaceful areas,” he added.

In related education news, Haruna Iddrisu has announced an 11-member committee to guide the reversal from double-track to single-track in SHSs and Senior High Technical Schools (SHTSs).

Prof. Godwin Awabil, University of Cape Coast (UCC), is the chair of the committee tasked with reviewing the 2024/2025 academic calendar and proposing a roadmap for a single-track.

Haruna Iddrisu, has said the former government’s double-track system in Senior High Schools (SHSs) negatively affected the quality of education.

The Education Minister noted that the double-track system reduced contact hours and study time for students in the Senior High School.

Speaking at a media briefing on Sunday, August  24, 2025, Haruna Iddrisu stated, “The double-track system has impacted negatively on the quality and outcomes of education under the Free SHS policy. Students have fewer contact hours and less study time, which affects their performance.

“Government’s commitment to ending the system can only be realised at three levels: expanding infrastructure, strengthening digital resources in schools, and allowing private SHSs to absorb qualified students to ease the pressure,” he said at a media briefing.

Haruna Iddrisu, some months ago, revealed that the John Mahama government is taking all the necessary steps to ensure that the Double-Track system at the Senior High School level is phased out by 2027.

The sector minister revealed they are working on a revised curriculum If the government is to succeed in ending the double-track system.

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“It is unfair, mischievous, to accuse GBA of political bias” – A-G told 

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“It is unfair, mischievous, to accuse GBA of political bias” – A-G told 

Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers, a private legal practitioner, has told the Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, that his description of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) as being politically biased is unfair and mischievous.

According to the lawyer, it is mischievous to accuse the Association of political bias because they were silent under different governments.

He noted that the GBA remained quiet during President Mahama’s first term in the removal of Lauretta Lamptey as CHRAJ head, and also under Akufo-Addo in the removal of Charlotte Osei as Electoral Commission Chair.

Speaking on  3FM’s Sunrise programme on 16 September, Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers stated, “The GBA remained conspicuously quiet under President Mahama during Lauretta Lamptey’s removal, and equally silent under President Akufo-Addo during Charlotte Osei’s removal”.

“The honest question we have to ask ourselves is, what changed?” he asked.

He added, “All three cases concerned the independence of constitutional bodies. Yet the Bar found its voice only in relation to the third petition, which happened to align with the opposition.”

“For this reason, if the GBA is now speaking out, it would be unfair, even mischievous to accuse it of political bias,” he said.

Mr Brako-Powers asserted that the GBA’s renewed public stance should be welcomed, “Today, more than ever, we need the GBA at its best. Its current leadership should be encouraged to defend constitutional governance and support national development.”

His comments come after Dr Dominic Ayine, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, has told the members of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to defend the rule of law and not align themselves with politics.

The Attorney General noted that the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has been selective in speaking out on certain matters but silent on other matters.

Speaking at the Ghana Bar Association’s Annual Conference in Wa on Monday, September 15, in reference to the removal of the former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, Dr Ayine stated, “In 2015, an Article 146 petition was received by the Chief Justice in relation to the removal of CHRAJ boss, Madam Lauretta Lamptey. The bar failed to speak out in the process. In the run-up to the 2016 elections, the then-opposition NPP engaged the EC in court battles over the voter identification system. This gave rise to the Abu Ramadan line of cases.

“Immediately upon assuming office in 2017, an Article 146 petition was filed for the removal of the EC chairperson, Charlotte Osei, and her deputies from office. The Bar saw no basis to speak up about the compliance with due process”.

He added, “But in recent times, the bar found its voice when a petition based on the same constitutionally defined procedures was brought in respect of the removal of the office of the former chief justice, Gertrude Torkornoo. The honest question we have to ask ourselves is what changed?

“The three petitions mentioned touch on three constitutional bodies critical to the sustenance of our democracy. Their independence has been guaranteed by the Constitution. The three occupants were all women of significant repute and members of our noble profession,” he said.

According to the Attorney General, all three committees established under Article 146 of the Constitution followed due process, but the GBA only found its voice in relation to the third petition.

Dr Ayine argued, “The three committees established pursuant to Article 146 complied with the constitutional procedure to the letter, and yet the Bar found its voice only in relation to the third petition. Consciously, the voice of the Bar amplified the voice of the opposition”.

“The lawyer in politics must be a voice of reason, moderation, and constitutionalism. The Bar must speak up, not to please government or opposition parties, but to defend the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the rights of the citizens,” he stated.

Galamsey: ‘What is the national security not telling Mahama?’ – Ashigbey quizzes

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Galamsey: ‘What is the national security not telling Mahama?’ – Ashigbey quizzes

Dr. Ken Ashigbey, the Convener of the Coalition Against Galamsey, has quizzed what the national security is not telling President John Mahama about galamsey.

According to Dr. Ken Ashigbey, the Mahama himself said that galamsey has become a national emergency, but State institutions have not followed through with decisive measures.

He added that there are conditions for declaring a state of emergency in areas affected by galamsey.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, Dr. Ashigbey stated, “We know the president, and that he is not a person who will implement a law in its draconian nature. So, we believe that under a state of emergency, we can be specific in the way we apply it and what it is that we do”.

“Currently, if we take all our water bodies, there is no fishing going on in them. But the ‘chamfans’ are still on them. There are many places where people have blocked portions of rivers and are mining illegally. You can declare a state of emergency in those areas,” he explained.

“The president said they have reclaimed about nine. Their grading used to be red and now some have improved to amber. But people are still destroying them. You can declare a state of emergency in those as well so that no excavator moves into those communities,” he added.

Dr. Ken Ashigbey cited that Article 39 of the Constitution provides clear grounds for a national emergency as the destruction of galamsey meets the criteria.

“The president has said it himself that it is a national emergency, and it is because the ingredients that constitute a national emergency in Article 39 are all clearly shown. So, I don’t know what the national security is not telling the president,” he lamented.

Also, the Coalition Against Illegal Mining, in a press conference, renewed its demand for the government to declare a state of emergency in areas affected by galamsey.

The Coalition Against Illegal Mining highlighted that galamsey is a grave threat to livelihoods, public health, and national security.

On Monday, September 15, the Convenor of the Coalition, Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, addressing the press, stated, “We are, therefore, making the following demands of the government in response to the president’s statement on deploying a state of emergency as a last resort.

One, by Article 31 9A and B, the circumstances under which a state of emergency may be declared include the current galamsey situation in which the actions being taken by the environmental criminals are calculated to deprive large communities of potable water, which is an essential of life,” he said.

However, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State for Government Communications, has said President John Mahama has not ruled out declaring a state of emergency on galamsey.

The Presidential Spokesperson revealed that Mahama is keeping the option of a state of emergency open and will only go that route if the situation becomes necessary.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Kwakye Ofosu stated, “Let me indicate that on the matter of state of emergency, the president said that there are conventional approaches that are currently being deployed that he believes would help us achieve the objective of wiping out this canker once and for all. And that when it becomes necessary, a state of emergency may be deployed”.

“It actually means that you set aside laws as they are and adopt extraordinary, sometimes very harsh, very drastic measures in order to beat back a particular problem.

“It comes with its own difficulties, and therefore, the declaration of the same must be based on tangible reasoning. You must have a sufficient basis to do that so that you are very clear that the consequences that will result will be worth the effort”, he noted.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu added, “He believes earnestly that currently, some gains are being made that could be sustained. And as and when we get to a stage when it is absolutely necessary to deploy those measures that will create some absolute discomfort for ordinary citizens, and may involve measures that may not necessarily be in tandem with the way that our laws should function, he will take the decision”.

“The government appreciates the genuine concern surrounding the issue of galamsey because of the threats that it poses. It has naturally become an emotive subject. People are deeply concerned about it, and they want urgent action. The government understands that fully, and such urgent action is underway,” he said.

Kwakye Ofosu added that John Mahama, since becoming president, has done everything necessary to ensure that we combat galamsey.

He further added that Mahama never gave any timelines for ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The minister explained, “To be fair, if you want to assess a president, you will have to take him by his own words and actions, the commitments that he made. President Mahama did not give any timelines to ending galamsey”.

“He said at the media encounter that he was not under any illusion that by the wink of the magic wand, galamsey will end because it is an insidious problem,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu added.

He added, “Government fully appreciates the genuine concerns people have expressed on galamsey, and these are not matters we take lightly”.

“We cannot pretend it is an easy fight, but what we can assure Ghanaians is that the government has not lost sight of its duty to protect lives, livelihoods and the environment,” he noted.

Dormaahene leads anti-galamsey task to arrest 3 galamseyers, 7 water pump machines seized

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Dormaahene leads anti-galamsey task to arrest 3 galamseyers, 7 water pump machines seized

The Dormaahene Osaagyefo Oseadeeyo Dr. Agyemang Badu II, along with the Dormaa anti-galamsey task force and chiefs from the Dormaa Traditional Council, has conducted an operation at Dormaa-Akwamu, Akontanim, and Kobedi.

The operation was aimed at illegal mining (galamsey) activities in the area.

According to the report, during the operation, three individuals were arrested, and seven water pumping machines were seized.

The three galamseyers have since been handed over to the Ghana Police Service.

Dormaahene further issued a stern warning to anyone involved in illegal mining on Dormaa stool lands, ordering them to cease immediately or face consequences if apprehended.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has warned that the desecration of creation through illegal mining (galamsey) is a grave sin against God.

According to the Catholic Bishops’ in January and May 2025, they met President Mahama, but his response to their demand for a declaration of a state of emergency was unsatisfactory.

The Catholic Bishops cried out that once-pristine rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, Birim, Offin, and Ayensu are now poisoned with mercury and toxic effluents.

They cited that turbidity levels in the Ayensu River have reached 32,000 NTU compared to the Ghana Water Company’s treatment threshold of 2,500 NTU, warning that purification is now impossible.  

In a statement issued on Monday, September 15, 2025, the Catholic Bishops wrote, “Illegal and unregulated mining, commonly known as galamsey, has become one of the gravest afflictions of our time.

It ravages our rivers and forests, poisons our soil, endangers public health, corrupts governance, erodes our moral fibre, and extinguishes livelihoods.

This is not a routine challenge to be managed with half-measures; it is a national emergency requiring decisive, extraordinary response,” the bishops said.

The Bishop highlighted that the desecration of creation through galamsey is a grave sin against God.

“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. To desecrate creation through galamsey is not only an offence against neighbour; it is a grave sin against God Himself, the Creator and Owner of all,” they declared.

The Catholic Bishops statement added, “Farmers can no longer trust the land to sustain their families, and our capacity to feed the nation diminishes. Children, seduced by the mirage of quick riches, forsake school for perilous pits, many losing their lives in collapses that are both tragic and preventable.”

“This betrayal of trust cuts to the very marrow of our national identity. We call such leaders to repentance without delay.”

The Catholic Bishops further expressed dismay at President Mahama’s refusal to declare a state of emergency.

They added, “In both January and May 2025, delegations of our Conference raised these concerns directly with him, only to be met with unsatisfactory responses focused narrowly on economic gain.

“At his ‘Meet the Press’ session of 10 September 2025, he dismissed calls for a state of emergency. This is profoundly troubling. The hour is late. Delay is betrayal. Now, not tomorrow, not later, is the time to act.”

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, however, warned that declaring a state of emergency in galamsey-affected areas may be necessary, but it is not sufficient to address the full extent of the devastation.

“While urgent, a declaration is insufficient. Ghana requires a holistic, integrated national strategy”, the statement read.

According to the Bishops, the government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful.

“His government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful; not only the weak but also the well-connected. Without courage, no policy will stand, no law will hold, no declaration will succeed.”

“This struggle is not merely about law enforcement. It concerns the very soul of Ghana. It is about whether we choose life or death, blessing or curse. With God’s grace, let us choose life, for ourselves, for our children, and for generations yet unborn.”

Also, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the acting Chief Justice, has said illegal mining has become worse.

The acting Chief Justice called for the government to take action.

See the post below: 

“Investigate Bawumia for $18m worth pick-up donations” – Solomon Owusu tells OSP

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“Investigate Bawumia for $18m worth pick-up donations” – Solomon Owusu tells OSP

Solomon Owusu, a leading member of the Movement for Change, has told the Office of the Special Prosecutor to immediately investigate Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the former vice president and presidential candidate hopeful for the NPP.

According to Solomon Owusu, Bawumia confidently stated he personally donated 300 brand new Navara pick-ups to the NPP ahead of the 2024 elections.

He noted that one brand new Navara pick-up costs $60,000, adding that 300 pick-ups will cost $18 million, which Bawumia claimed he solely donated to the NPP.

Speaking on UTV, Solomon Owusu stated, “I will be going to the OSP to petition him. Bawumia thinks he is campaigning, but it is so dangerous, saying he donated 300 brand new Navara pick-ups, with one costing $60,000.

60,000 times 300, that is $18 million. Bawumia is saying he dashed $18 million, are you not scandalised by it? Are you not scared?”

He added, “Let’s take it as if he has people who donated to him, but under the Political Party Act, if someone gives you a donation, you have to indicate it. We were here, and Bawumia said Mahama went for a Ford, so if we had a vice president during a campaign, and he said he singlehandedly donated 300 pick-ups for the campaign, and we have the Ghana Revenue Authority, OSP, EOCO cannot call and question him, then the country is not worth dying for”.

Solomon Owusu further fired shots at Dr Bawumia following his apology to Ghanaians for the NPP’s performance in government.

The Movement for Change man added, “He is saying that all the sins that occurred under them, when they come back into office, it will not happen again. It has been eight months, going into nine months, after the elections, what have they done that the Ghanaian can see they have regretted their actions?

When the election ended, they decided to campaign for the next election, it had not even been a year yet, and the party was campaigning for Ghanaians to vote for them, saying they had regretted”.

Solomon Owusu further questioned Bawumia why he sees nothing wrong with a regional chairman of the NPP campaigning for him.

Mr Owusu noted, “If you have regretted your action, is Wontumi not leading the campaign as a regional chairman of a party, do you take sides? So if the other candidate wins the election, how are you going to work with them?

If you are a regional Chairman or a Constituency executive, you are there for everyone; you do not take sides. I am very surprised that the candidate he is leading does not find it wrong”.

According to Solomon Owusu, the NPP is just repeating the same mistakes

“They are just repeating the same mistakes. When he got somewhere, he told the people not to use the sins of those around him to vote against him. He knows those around him are sins, plus his could hand him 100 years in opposition.

They have stepped on so many people’s feet, as we speak, they have dug a hole costing $97 million, so how much punishment is for that sin?”, he added.

Solomon Owusu’s remarks come after Dr Bawumia said he has also contributed to the party but does not come out to declare them publicly.

According to Dr Bawumia, in the 2024 elections, he raised an unprecedented amount of money for the NPP in history.

Dr Bawumia further revealed he donated over 300 pick-ups, which are now being used by the NPP in constituencies.

Speaking during a gathering in the Adansi Asokwa constituency on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Dr Bawumia stated, “I have also helped the party, but I do not come out publicly to state them. In the 2024 election, the amount of money I raised for the NPP was unprecedented in the history of the party.

It has never happened before, the pickups that I donated to constituencies over various regions, over 300 pick-ups that are now even being used in the constituencies”.

Bawumia also rendered an unqualified apology to Ghanaians for the way they led and governed the country.

The former NPP presidential candidate stated, “After the 2024 elections, we have done our research. We know the NPP government and the party made a lot of mistakes in governance. There were things we needed to do which we didn’t, and others we did that, if we had had the benefit of background, we would not have done them”.

 “We are all to be blamed – Vice President, Ministers, MPs, Board Chairmen, appointees. We have all made mistakes, and please forgive us. We’re sorry. We have learned our lessons”.

Bawumia further pledged, “If, by the grace of God, you make me the flagbearer and I become the President, these will not happen again. They will not happen again”.

See the post below:

“I don’t understand why people blame NPP’s loss on Dr Bawumia” – MP

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“I don’t understand why people blame NPP’s loss on Dr Bawumia” – MP

Prof Kingsley Nyarko, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kwadaso, has said he does not understand why people blame the New Patriotic Party (NPP) defeat on Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

He emphasised that it is illogical to blame the defeat solely on Bawumia, as the party had 138 parliamentarians across the 276 constituencies but could not maintain its seat in the 2024 general election.

According to him, if the NPP had won more seats or maintained their seat with Dr Bawumia losing, he would have sided with those accusing the former vice president of the party’s defeat.

Speaking during Dr Bawumia’s Ashanti Region tour, Prof Kingsley Nyarko stated, “I don’t really understand when I hear people blame the NPP 2024 loss on Dr Bawumia. What if we had won? What would those people say? Wouldn’t these same people be crediting themselves if the party had won? Were they not part of the campaign? Why blame it on Dr. Bawumia?”.

He further detailed, “Before the elections, we had 138 parliamentarians across the 276 constituencies in Ghana. If we had won more seats or maintained the 138 seats for Dr Bawumia to lose, then I would side with those blaming the defeat on him. Now the 138 has reduced to 87.

Why do you make such an argument that Dr. Bawumia is the cause of our defeat? It doesn’t make any sense to me. If the majority of MPs reduced to 88, now 87, for one man to gain almost 42 per cent, why do you blame him for the defeat? It doesn’t make sense”, Prof Nyarko explained.

Prof Nyarko further declared his support for Dr Bawumia’s flagbearer bid, “Dr. Bawumia, we are behind you. I, Kingsley Nyarko, I am by your side and I will support you till your leadership, and I know God will surely honour Dr Bawumia”.

“Dr Bawumia, we will not change him… he’ll be our flagbearer into the 2028 elections. Let’s support our party in good faith. It’s not normal to speak against our own party in a negative manner; anyone who does that is not a good party member”, he concluded, urging party members to unite behind Dr Bawumia.

Meanwhile, Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has rejected claims that the party’s electoral loss was due to his religion or ethnicity.

According to Bawumia, he told former president Akufo-Addo he would not run again if Prof Mike Ocquaye’s report attributed the party’s defeat to me.

Dr Bawumia stressed that if the report had held him responsible for the defeat, he would have prioritised the party’s interests over his personal ambitions.

Speaking to delegates at Abuakwa on Saturday, September 13, 2025, Dr. Bawumia detailed, “Before Ocquaye report came out, I had a meeting with Akufo-Addo and others. We were having a discussion about reasons on why we lost the 2024 election.

“I told Akufo-Addo that if the findings of the Ocquaye report indicate that because I’m a Muslim or because or I’m a Mamprusi-Kusasi, we lost the election, I will step down and not contest anymore. This is what I told Akufo-Addo. Because I will not choose my interest over the party’s interest. The party’s interest must always be ahead of me.

“I told Akufo-Addo that because of the party, I will sacrifice any ambition including the fact that if I contest, we will lose. But when the Ocquaye report, Ashanti report and Konrad Adenauer Foundation report came out, all of them pointed to the same conclusion – religion, tribe was not a factor in the 2024 election,” Dr. Bawumia added.

In a separate video, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has said he cannot be blamed for the party’s poor performance in the Bawku zone in the 2024 elections.

The NPP during the 2024 election failed to secure a seat in any of the six constituencies.

Dr Bawumia argued that the NPP’s struggles in the Bawku enclave are historical,

He noted that the area has traditionally been a stronghold of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Speaking to NPP party supporters at Effiduase in the Ashanti Region on Thursday, September 11, Dr Bawumia stated, “They claim we lost the 2024 elections because of the Mamprusi-Kusasi conflict. Those claims will not wash. They would have given me a knock-out if it’s true because I’m a Mamprusi. I was not even born when the conflict started”.

“Since 1965, there have been 11 elections in Ghana, in the Bawku zone, which has six constituencies. The NPP has won only two seats, being the highest. In most of the elections, we had zero seats in six of the 11 elections,” Bawumia explained.

Dr Bawumia further recalled, “In 2004, former president J. A. Kufuor won the election, but the NPP scored zero in the Bawku zone. In 2012, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was the flagbearer, but we had zero seats in the Bawku zone. We were not part of the conflict.

In 2024, we had zero seats in the Bawku enclave. If you look at the trajectory, was I the cause? I can’t be blamed for our poor performance in the Bawku zone, which is an NDC stronghold,” he emphasised.

Bawumia apologises to Ghanaians(video)

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Bawumia apologises to Ghanaians(video)

Former Vice President and flagbearer aspirant of the New Patriotic Party, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has rendered an unqualified apology to Ghanaians for the way they led and governed the country.

The former vice president was speaking to some party faithful in the Ashanti Region as part of his regional tour of uniting and re-energizing the base of the party.

Dr Bawumia, who did not exempt himself from the mistakes of the previous government, pleaded for forgiveness on behalf of all those who were part of the erstwhile Akufo-Addo-led government.

“After the 2024 elections, we have done our research. We know the NPP government and the party made a lot of mistakes in governance. There were things we needed to do which we didn’t, and others we did that, if we had had the benefit of background, we would not have done them,” he said.

He stressed that the blame was not his alone but a collective responsibility of the party’s leadership. “We are all to be blamed – Vice President, Ministers, MPs, Board Chairmen, appointees. We have all made mistakes and please forgive us. We’re sorry. We have learned our lessons,” he added.

Dr. Bawumia assured delegates that, if given the mandate as flagbearer and subsequently elected President, he would ensure that the past would not be repeated.

“If, by the grace of God, you make me the flagbearer and I become the President, these will not happen again. They will not happen again,” he pledged.

The previous Akufo-Addo government, of which Dr Bawumia was Vice President, saw the country descend to an extreme economic crisis, driving many Ghanaians into economic hardship.

Inflation went as high as 50% while the major foreign trading currency, the US dollar, reached as high as GHS 17 against the Ghanaian Cedi. Being a net importer of almost everything, prices were benchmarked against the soaring dollar, bringing untold hardship to many Ghanaians. The government at the time ran to the IMF for liquid support to alleviate the hardship after the economy was junk-rated by many global rating agencies, with many investors pulling out. The government had to restructure both domestic and external debts under the infamous Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP) in order to secure a deal from the IMF.

Additionally, illegal mining had reached its crescendo, and popular galamsey activities were fast decimating major water bodies, threatening the livelihood of all Ghanaians.

Away from that, there was also a power crisis. In the midst of these, many politicians, according to Ghanaians, were nonchalant and displayed extreme arrogance of power. This, per research, drove a lot of Ghanaians to vote against the government, which Dr Bawumia led.

“The desecration of creation through galamsey is a grave sin against God” – Catholic Bishops

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“The desecration of creation through galamsey is a grave sin against God” – Catholic Bishops

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has warned that the desecration of creation through illegal mining (galamsey) is a grave sin against God.

In a statement issued on Monday, September 15, 2025, the Catholic Bishops wrote, “Illegal and unregulated mining, commonly known as galamsey, has become one of the gravest afflictions of our time.

It ravages our rivers and forests, poisons our soil, endangers public health, corrupts governance, erodes our moral fibre, and extinguishes livelihoods.

This is not a routine challenge to be managed with half-measures; it is a national emergency requiring decisive, extraordinary response,” the bishops said.

The Bishop highlighted that the desecration of creation through galamsey is a grave sin against God.

“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. To desecrate creation through galamsey is not only an offence against neighbour; it is a grave sin against God Himself, the Creator and Owner of all,” they declared.

The Catholic Bishops statement added, “Farmers can no longer trust the land to sustain their families, and our capacity to feed the nation diminishes. Children, seduced by the mirage of quick riches, forsake school for perilous pits, many losing their lives in collapses that are both tragic and preventable.”

“This betrayal of trust cuts to the very marrow of our national identity. We call such leaders to repentance without delay.”

The Catholic Bishops further expressed dismay at President Mahama’s refusal to declare a state of emergency.

They added, “In both January and May 2025, delegations of our Conference raised these concerns directly with him, only to be met with unsatisfactory responses focused narrowly on economic gain.

“At his ‘Meet the Press’ session of 10 September 2025, he dismissed calls for a state of emergency. This is profoundly troubling. The hour is late. Delay is betrayal. Now, not tomorrow, not later, is the time to act.”

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, however, warned that declaring a state of emergency in galamsey-affected areas may be necessary, but it is not sufficient to address the full extent of the devastation.

“While urgent, a declaration is insufficient. Ghana requires a holistic, integrated national strategy”, the statement read.

According to the Bishops, the government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful.

“His government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful; not only the weak but also the well-connected. Without courage, no policy will stand, no law will hold, no declaration will succeed.”

“This struggle is not merely about law enforcement. It concerns the very soul of Ghana. It is about whether we choose life or death, blessing or curse. With God’s grace, let us choose life, for ourselves, for our children, and for generations yet unborn.”

Also, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the acting Chief Justice, has said illegal mining has become worse.

The acting Chief Justice called for the government to take action.

Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Bar Association Conference, held in the Upper West regional capital, Wa, on Monday, September 15, 2025, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie stated, “Galamsey has become worse; the time to act is now”.

He added, “We cannot continue to dither in September 2025 on the repeal of L.I. 2462 that has permitted mining in forest reserves. It is a good place to start if we sincerely want to win the war against galamsey. The time to act is now without any further delay”.

Meanwhile, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the Convenor of FixTheCountry, has announced an anti-galamsey vigil on Sunday, September 21.

In a social media post, Barker-Vormawor highlighted the need to protect Ghana’s environment.

According to Vormawor, the responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment as Ghanaians.

Vormawor announced that the vigil would be followed by a public march on Monday, 22 September, a national holiday, to draw more attention to the environmental crisis of urgent proportions.

In his post, the social activist wrote, “The responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment, ours as a people.

Our responsibility to end Galamsey does not end at elections. Nor does it begin after our party loses one.

This is bigger than petty politics.

On Sunday, 21st September, we will have a vigil at the Revolution Square, and on Monday, 22nd (a holiday), there will be a march calling attention to the urgency of our environmental crisis. Join us”.

See the statement below:

Gertrude Torkornoo’s removal process unfair – GBA president

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Gertrude Torkornoo’s removal process unfair – GBA president

Efua Ghartey, the President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), has said the removal of Justice Gertrude Torkornoo as the Chief Justice of Ghana was unfair.

According to Efua Ghartey, the process followed for the removal of Justice Torkornoo, though lawful per the requirements spelt under Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution, was unfair.

She highlighted that the process was unfair as it had no rules of procedure and was sketchy.

Efua Ghartey added that the GBA’s opposition to the removal process was because it lacked clarity on the procedure to follow.

However, Dr Dominic Ayine, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, has told the members of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to defend the rule of law and not align themselves with politics.

The Attorney General noted that the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has been selective in speaking out on certain matters but silent on other matters.

Speaking at the Ghana Bar Association’s Annual Conference in Wa on Monday, September 15, in reference to the removal of the former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, Dr Ayine stated, “In 2015, an Article 146 petition was received by the Chief Justice in relation to the removal of CHRAJ boss, Madam Lauretta Lamptey. The bar failed to speak out in the process. In the run-up to the 2016 elections, the then-opposition NPP engaged the EC in court battles over the voter identification system. This gave rise to the Abu Ramadan line of cases.

“Immediately upon assuming office in 2017, an Article 146 petition was filed for the removal of the EC chairperson, Charlotte Osei, and her deputies from office. The Bar saw no basis to speak up about the compliance with due process”.

He added, “But in recent times, the bar found its voice when a petition based on the same constitutionally defined procedures was brought in respect of the removal of the office of the former chief justice, Gertrude Torkornoo. The honest question we have to ask ourselves is what changed?

“The three petitions mentioned touch on three constitutional bodies critical to the sustenance of our democracy. Their independence has been guaranteed by the Constitution. The three occupants were all women of significant repute and members of our noble profession,” he said.

According to the Attorney General, all three committees established under Article 146 of the Constitution followed due process, but the GBA only found its voice in relation to the third petition.

Dr Ayine argued, “The three committees established pursuant to Article 146 complied with the constitutional procedure to the letter, and yet the Bar found its voice only in relation to the third petition. Consciously, the voice of the Bar amplified the voice of the opposition”.

“The lawyer in politics must be a voice of reason, moderation, and constitutionalism. The Bar must speak up, not to please government or opposition parties, but to defend the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the rights of the citizens,” he stated.

It will be recalled that on September 1, 2025, President John Mahama sacked the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect after he received a first report from the five-member committee he constituted to investigate three petitions brought against the Chief Justice.

Hours after President Mahama received the committee reports, Chief Justice Torkornoo was sacked with immediate effect.

A statement from the presidency stated, “President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, removed the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect”.

“This follows receipt of the report of the Committee constituted under Article 146(6) to inquire into a petition submitted by a Ghanaian citizen, Mr. Daniel Ofori. After considering the petition and the evidence, the Committee found that the grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) had been established and recommended her removal from office.

“Under Article 146(9), the President is required to act in accordance with the Committee’s recommendation,” the statement concluded.

A leaked document on social media concluded that Justice Torkornoo had engaged in conduct amounting to “stated misbehaviour” under Article 146(1).

The Key finding read, “Unlawful expenditure of public funds: The committee held that the Chief Justice caused the Judicial Service to pay travel expenses for her husband and daughter during private holiday trips in 2023, including per diem allowances. This, the report stated, was an “avoidable and reckless dissipation of public funds.”

Abuse of discretionary power: The committee found that her handling of the transfer of one Mr. Baiden breached Article 296(a) and (b) of the Constitution, describing the act as misbehaviour.

Interference in judicial appointments: The report also noted that she sought to bypass the established process for nominating Justices of the Supreme Court, contrary to precedent set in the Ghana Bar Association case. The committee concluded this amounted to misbehaviour”.

The committee subsequently recommended her removal in accordance with Article 146(7). President Mahama, bound by Article 146(9), which makes the President’s action mandatory once such a recommendation is made, formally removed Justice Torkornoo by Warrant of Removal under the Presidential Seal.

“The hour is late. Delay is betrayal” – Catholic Bishops demand state of emergency on galamsey

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“The hour is late. Delay is betrayal” – Catholic Bishops demand state of emergency on galamsey

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference has once again reiterated its calls for President John Dramani Mahama to declare a state of emergency on illegal mining (galamsey).

According to the Catholic Bishops’ in January and May 2025, they met President Mahama, but his response to their demand for a declaration of a state of emergency was unsatisfactory.

The Catholic Bishops cried out that once-pristine rivers such as the Pra, Ankobra, Birim, Offin, and Ayensu are now poisoned with mercury and toxic effluents.

They cited that turbidity levels in the Ayensu River have reached 32,000 NTU compared to the Ghana Water Company’s treatment threshold of 2,500 NTU, warning that purification is now impossible.  

In a statement issued on Monday, September 15, 2025, the Bishops wrote, “Illegal and unregulated mining, commonly known as galamsey, has become one of the gravest afflictions of our time.

It ravages our rivers and forests, poisons our soil, endangers public health, corrupts governance, erodes our moral fibre, and extinguishes livelihoods.

This is not a routine challenge to be managed with half-measures; it is a national emergency requiring decisive, extraordinary response,” the bishops said.

The Bishop highlighted that the desecration of creation through galamsey is a grave sin against God.

“The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it. To desecrate creation through galamsey is not only an offence against neighbour; it is a grave sin against God Himself, the Creator and Owner of all,” they declared.

The Catholic Bishops statement added, “Farmers can no longer trust the land to sustain their families, and our capacity to feed the nation diminishes. Children, seduced by the mirage of quick riches, forsake school for perilous pits, many losing their lives in collapses that are both tragic and preventable.”

“This betrayal of trust cuts to the very marrow of our national identity. We call such leaders to repentance without delay.”

The Catholic Bishops further expressed dismay at President Mahama’s refusal to declare a state of emergency.

They added, “In both January and May 2025, delegations of our Conference raised these concerns directly with him, only to be met with unsatisfactory responses focused narrowly on economic gain.

“At his ‘Meet the Press’ session of 10 September 2025, he dismissed calls for a state of emergency. This is profoundly troubling. The hour is late. Delay is betrayal. Now, not tomorrow, not later, is the time to act.”

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, however, warned that declaring a state of emergency in galamsey-affected areas may be necessary, but it is not sufficient to address the full extent of the devastation.

“While urgent, a declaration is insufficient. Ghana requires a holistic, integrated national strategy”, the statement read.

According to the Bishops, the government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful.

“His government must prosecute not only the poor but also the powerful; not only the weak but also the well-connected. Without courage, no policy will stand, no law will hold, no declaration will succeed.”

“This struggle is not merely about law enforcement. It concerns the very soul of Ghana. It is about whether we choose life or death, blessing or curse. With God’s grace, let us choose life, for ourselves, for our children, and for generations yet unborn.”

However, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the minister of state in charge of Government Communications, has dared anyone who says illegal mining (galamsey) has become worse under President John Mahama to provide evidence to back their claims.

The Minister noted that the claims must be backed with empirical evidence and not just guesswork.

According to Kwakye Ofosu, the Mahama-led government is dedicated to combating galamsey.

Speaking during an interview on Joy FM on Monday, September 15, Kwakye Ofosu stated, “Those who say galamsey has worsened under President Mahama must prove it with empirical evidence. We cannot allow perceptions or political point-scoring to overshadow facts”.

The Presidential Spokesperson revealed that Mahama is keeping the option of a state of emergency open and will only go that route if the situation becomes necessary.

He added, “Let me indicate that on the matter of state of emergency, the president said that there are conventional approaches that are currently being deployed that he believes would help us achieve the objective of wiping out this canker once and for all. And that when it becomes necessary, a state of emergency may be deployed”.

“It actually means that you set aside laws as they are and adopt extraordinary, sometimes very harsh, very drastic measures in order to beat back a particular problem.

“It comes with its own difficulties, and therefore, the declaration of the same must be based on tangible reasoning. You must have a sufficient basis to do that so that you are very clear that the consequences that will result will be worth the effort”, he noted.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu added, “He believes earnestly that currently, some gains are being made that could be sustained. And as and when we get to a stage when it is absolutely necessary to deploy those measures that will create some absolute discomfort for ordinary citizens, and may involve measures that may not necessarily be in tandem with the way that our laws should function, he will take the decision”.

“The government appreciates the genuine concern surrounding the issue of galamsey because of the threats that it poses. It has naturally become an emotive subject. People are deeply concerned about it, and they want urgent action. The government understands that fully, and such urgent action is underway,” he said.

Kwakye Ofosu added that John Mahama, since becoming president, has done everything necessary to ensure that we combat galamsey.

He further added that Mahama never gave any timelines for ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The minister explained, “To be fair, if you want to assess a president, you will have to take him by his own words and actions, the commitments that he made. President Mahama did not give any timelines to ending galamsey”.

“He said at the media encounter that he was not under any illusion that by the wink of the magic wand, galamsey will end because it is an insidious problem,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu added.

He added, “Government fully appreciates the genuine concerns people have expressed on galamsey, and these are not matters we take lightly”.

“We cannot pretend it is an easy fight, but what we can assure Ghanaians is that the government has not lost sight of its duty to protect lives, livelihoods and the environment,” he noted.

See the statement below:

“Galamsey has become worse; the time to act is now” – Acting CJ tells Mahama gov’t

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“Galamsey has become worse; the time to act is now” – Acting CJ tells Mahama gov’t

Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the acting Chief Justice, has said illegal mining has become worse.

The acting Chief Justice called for the government to take action on galamsey.

Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie highlighted that the government’s ban on mining in forest reserves will show seriousness in tackling galamsey.

He urged the Mahama government to repeal L.I. 2462, which he suggested is a good place to start in the galamsey fight.

Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Bar Association Conference, held in the Upper West regional capital, Wa, on Monday, September 15, 2025, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie stated, “Galamsey has become worse; the time to act is now”.

He added, “We cannot continue to dither in September 2025 on the repeal of L.I. 2462 that has permitted mining in forest reserves. It is a good place to start if we sincerely want to win the war against galamsey. The time to act is now without any further delay”.

However, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the minister of state in charge of Government Communications, has dared anyone who says illegal mining (galamsey) has become worse under President John Mahama to provide evidence to back their claims.

The Minister noted that the claims must be backed with empirical evidence and not just guesswork.

According to Kwakye Ofosu, the Mahama-led government is dedicated to combating galamsey.

Speaking during an interview on Joy FM on Monday, September 15, Kwakye Ofosu stated, “Those who say galamsey has worsened under President Mahama must prove it with empirical evidence. We cannot allow perceptions or political point-scoring to overshadow facts”.

The Presidential Spokesperson revealed that Mahama is keeping the option of a state of emergency open and will only go that route if the situation becomes necessary.

He added, “Let me indicate that on the matter of state of emergency, the president said that there are conventional approaches that are currently being deployed that he believes would help us achieve the objective of wiping out this canker once and for all. And that when it becomes necessary, a state of emergency may be deployed”.

“It actually means that you set aside laws as they are and adopt extraordinary, sometimes very harsh, very drastic measures in order to beat back a particular problem.

“It comes with its own difficulties, and therefore, the declaration of the same must be based on tangible reasoning. You must have a sufficient basis to do that so that you are very clear that the consequences that will result will be worth the effort”, he noted.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu added, “He believes earnestly that currently, some gains are being made that could be sustained. And as and when we get to a stage when it is absolutely necessary to deploy those measures that will create some absolute discomfort for ordinary citizens, and may involve measures that may not necessarily be in tandem with the way that our laws should function, he will take the decision”.

“The government appreciates the genuine concern surrounding the issue of galamsey because of the threats that it poses. It has naturally become an emotive subject. People are deeply concerned about it, and they want urgent action. The government understands that fully, and such urgent action is underway,” he said.

Kwakye Ofosu added that John Mahama, since becoming president, has done everything necessary to ensure that we combat galamsey.

He further added that Mahama never gave any timelines for ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The minister explained, “To be fair, if you want to assess a president, you will have to take him by his own words and actions, the commitments that he made. President Mahama did not give any timelines to ending galamsey”.

“He said at the media encounter that he was not under any illusion that by the wink of the magic wand, galamsey will end because it is an insidious problem,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu added.

He added, “Government fully appreciates the genuine concerns people have expressed on galamsey, and these are not matters we take lightly”.

“We cannot pretend it is an easy fight, but what we can assure Ghanaians is that the government has not lost sight of its duty to protect lives, livelihoods and the environment,” he noted.

Meanwhile, the Coalition Against Illegal Mining has renewed its demand for the government to declare a state of emergency in areas affected by galamsey.

The Coalition Against Illegal Mining highlighted that galamsey is a grave threat to livelihoods, public health, and national security.

On Monday, September 15, the Convenor of the Coalition, Dr. Ing. Kenneth Ashigbey, addressing the press, stated, “We are, therefore, making the following demands of the government in response to the president’s statement on deploying a state of emergency as a last resort.

One, by Article 31 9A and B, the circumstances under which a state of emergency may be declared include the current galamsey situation in which the actions being taken by the environmental criminals are calculated to deprive large communities of potable water, which is an essential of life,” he said.

See the post below:

Prove galamsey is worse under Mahama with empirical evidence – Kwakye Ofosu dares

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Prove galamsey is worse under Mahama with empirical evidence – Kwakye Ofosu dares

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the minister of state in charge of Government Communications, has dared anyone who says illegal mining (galamsey) has become worse under President John Mahama to provide evidence to back their claims.

The Minister noted that the claims must be backed with empirical evidence and not just guesswork.

According to Kwakye Ofosu, the Mahama-led government is dedicated to combating galamsey.

Speaking during an interview on Joy FM on Monday, September 15, Kwakye Ofosu stated, “Those who say galamsey has worsened under President Mahama must prove it with empirical evidence. We cannot allow perceptions or political point-scoring to overshadow facts”.

The Presidential Spokesperson revealed that Mahama is keeping the option of a state of emergency open and will only go that route if the situation becomes necessary.

He added, “Let me indicate that on the matter of state of emergency, the president said that there are conventional approaches that are currently being deployed that he believes would help us achieve the objective of wiping out this canker once and for all. And that when it becomes necessary, a state of emergency may be deployed”.

“It actually means that you set aside laws as they are and adopt extraordinary, sometimes very harsh, very drastic measures in order to beat back a particular problem.

“It comes with its own difficulties, and therefore, the declaration of the same must be based on tangible reasoning. You must have a sufficient basis to do that so that you are very clear that the consequences that will result will be worth the effort”, he noted.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu added, “He believes earnestly that currently, some gains are being made that could be sustained. And as and when we get to a stage when it is absolutely necessary to deploy those measures that will create some absolute discomfort for ordinary citizens, and may involve measures that may not necessarily be in tandem with the way that our laws should function, he will take the decision”.

“The government appreciates the genuine concern surrounding the issue of galamsey because of the threats that it poses. It has naturally become an emotive subject. People are deeply concerned about it, and they want urgent action. The government understands that fully, and such urgent action is underway,” he said.

Kwakye Ofosu added that John Mahama, since becoming president, has done everything necessary to ensure that we combat galamsey.

He further added that Mahama never gave any timelines for ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The minister explained, “To be fair, if you want to assess a president, you will have to take him by his own words and actions, the commitments that he made. President Mahama did not give any timelines to ending galamsey”.

“He said at the media encounter that he was not under any illusion that by the wink of the magic wand, galamsey will end because it is an insidious problem,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu added.

He added, “Government fully appreciates the genuine concerns people have expressed on galamsey, and these are not matters we take lightly”.

“We cannot pretend it is an easy fight, but what we can assure Ghanaians is that the government has not lost sight of its duty to protect lives, livelihoods and the environment,” he noted.

However, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the acting Chief Justice, has said illegal mining has become worse.

The acting Chief Justice called for the government to take action.

Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Bar Association Conference, held in the Upper West regional capital, Wa, on Monday, September 15, 2025, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie stated, “Galamsey has become worse; the time to act is now”.

He added, “We cannot continue to dither in September 2025 on the repeal of L.I. 2462 that has permitted mining in forest reserves. It is a good place to start if we sincerely want to win the war against galamsey. The time to act is now without any further delay”.

Meanwhile, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the Convenor of FixTheCountry, has announced an anti-galamsey vigil on Sunday, September 21.

In a social media post, Barker-Vormawor highlighted the need to protect Ghana’s environment.

According to Vormawor, the responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment as Ghanaians.

Vormawor announced that the vigil would be followed by a public march on Monday, 22 September, a national holiday, to draw more attention to the environmental crisis of urgent proportions.

In his post, the social activist wrote, “The responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment, ours as a people.

Our responsibility to end Galamsey does not end at elections. Nor does it begin after our party loses one.

This is bigger than petty politics.

On Sunday, 21st September, we will have a vigil at the Revolution Square, and on Monday, 22nd (a holiday), there will be a march calling attention to the urgency of our environmental crisis. Join us”.

Revealed – Judge who remanded Abronye twice retires today

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Revealed – Judge who remanded Abronye twice retires today

Circuit Court Judge, His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, according to reports, will be retiring from the bench today, 16th September 2025.

His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, ruling on the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, has been heavily criticised after he denied the accused bail for a second time.

According to reports, the judge was one of about 50 people who were set to be appointed by President John Dramani Mahama to the High Court.

The Judicial Council, on August 20, 2025, after 1:20 p.m., shortlisted him for the position of High Court Judge to be sworn in by the president.

Bright Acquah was born on September 16, 1965, and was called to the Bar on October 1, 2010.

The Law platform added, “It’s thus to be seen whether despite His Honour’s date for retirement being tomorrow, the 16th day of September, 2025, the President shall appoint and swear in H/H Acquah, who has already been vetted and shortlisted by the Judicial Council for appointment unto the High Court Bench”.

Meanwhile, the Circuit Court Judge Bright Acquah had earlier explained that while the charges were misdemeanours, the remarks attributed to Abronye had national security and public order implications.

Judge Bright Acquah explained, “It is always said that all persons are equal, but in practice, it is not so. Courtesy George Orwell in his book Animal Farm, one of the commandments is that all men are equal, but some are more equal than others. Translated into this case, all men are equal, but some are more equal than others”.

According to the Judge, freedom of expression in Ghana must be exercised responsibly, warning that if unchecked, insults could pollute the society and undermine national security.

Judge Bright Acquah further defended his ruling by pointing to consistency in past cases under former President Akufo-Addo and President John Mahama.

He explained, “One of the codes of ethics for judges is that their decisions should be consistent. I have a case before me, The Republic v. Raphael Okai Ankrah, who appeared on May 16, 2023. He was an NDC sympathiser who openly insulted then-President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and was given a two-week remand.

Just about two or three weeks ago, another matter came before me, The Republic v. Emmanuel Kwakye, a journalist from Wontumi TV, and he was also remanded for two weeks. So, under two different regimes, the court has been consistent, and the court does not see why it should deviate from that consistency”.

The judge in the Abronye case argued that while criticism of policies is acceptable, direct insults against individuals in authority are not.

He cited Section 96(5)(a) and (c) of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, asserting that bail could be refused if there is a likelihood of the accused repeating the offence or failing to appear in court.

Meanwhile, Social activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has said Circuit Court Judge Bright Acquah, on the Abronye DC case, is not fit to remain on the bench.

Vormawor highlighted that after reading the reasoning behind the Circuit Court Judge’s continued detention of Abronye, he sincerely believes he is not fit to remain on the bench as a judge.

The private legal practitioner is quoted by GHOne TV to have said, “After reading the reasoning of the Circuit Court Judge[Bright Acquah] on Abronye’s case, I sincerely and honestly believe he is not fit to remain on the bench”.

Additionally, Abronye DC has been released from the Ghana Police custody after meeting his bail conditions.

Abronye was granted bail of the sum of GH¢50,000 with one surety, without justification.

In the viral video shared on social media, Abronye was captured with a smile, with some cheers from supporters of the NPP.

Abronye then told his supporters they were going to meet to celebrate.

He then proceeded into the vehicle, adding that he was going to meet his supporters..

 Abronye was arrested on Monday, September 8, by the Ghana Police Service, based on what the police described as “offensive conduct conducive to the breach of public peace.”

The Accra Circuit Court had also remanded Abronye into police custody for one week.

Before his arrest, he had sought political asylum and security protection over threats on his life by government operatives and IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno and his boys.

Abronye, in a detailed letter, September 5, 2025, appealed to the embassies and high commissions of Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Côte d’Ivoire, Spain, France and Italy for urgent protection.

Video – Abronye finally released after meeting GH¢50,000 bail

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Video – Abronye finally released after meeting GH¢50,000 bail

Kwame Baffoe, popularly known as Abronye DC, the Bono Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been released from the Ghana Police custody after meeting his bail conditions.

Abronye was granted bail of the sum of GH¢50,000 with one surety, without justification.

In the viral video shared on social media, Abronye was captured with a smile, with some cheers from supporters of the NPP.

Abronye then told his supporters they were going to meet to celebrate.

He then proceeded into the vehicle, adding that he was going to meet his supporters..

 Abronye was arrested on Monday, September 8, by the Ghana Police Service, based on what the police described as “offensive conduct conducive to the breach of public peace.”

The Accra Circuit Court had also remanded Abronye into police custody for one week.

Before his arrest, he had sought political asylum and security protection over threats on his life by government operatives and IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno and his boys.

Abronye, in a detailed letter, September 5, 2025, appealed to the embassies and high commissions of Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Côte d’Ivoire, Spain, France and Italy for urgent protection.

Over the weekend, Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner, revealed that the Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, had already indicated plans to intervene to ensure that Abronye is granted bail.

According to Martin Kpebu, Abronye should not be kept in custody for a week over his misdemeanour.

He revealed that the court can sit at any time, and the necessary legal processes can be filed to secure Abronye’s bail immediately.

Lawyer Kpebu cautioned the government to protect democratic freedoms and respect the rule of law.

Speaking on TV3’s Key Points program on Saturday, September 13, 2025, Martin Kpebu stated, “Ayine is stepping in so that, latest by Monday, Abronye should be out. This is not what we voted you guys in to do”.

He further added, “Abronye doesn’t have to be in custody for even one week. Today, the right process can be filed, the judge can sit today, and grant Abronye bail. If we don’t speak up, it will grow and become worse”.

“We have grown past the communist inferior tactics. I am not, for one moment, supporting the despicable comment by Abronye, but these are misdemeanours,” he indicated.

Also, the private legal practitioner in a separate interview highlighted that the NDC must know Ghanaians did not vote for them for this type of unlawful governance.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme on September 12, 2025, Martin Kpebu stated, “We must let the Attorney-General and IGP Yohuno know that this is not lawful. We didn’t vote for the NDC for this type of governance, and I cannot be part of this type of government”.

Lawyer Kpebu argued that the state must proceed to court while granting Abronye bail if they found the comments to be offensive.

He explained, “If they don’t want to forgive him, they can grant him bail as the case proceeds. When the verdict comes and it is too much, then we can talk about it”.

He cautioned that denying Abronye bail in a misdemeanour case sets a dangerous precedent “If in a misdemeanour case, Abronye cannot secure bail, then it means the verdict on my Kpebu Number 2 case in 2016 is void and useless. As citizens, we must get up and resist this, or else it will lead to tyranny”.

Lawyer Kpebu called on Abronye’s legal team to seek redress at the Human Rights Court.

“This is wrong and a sad day for our democracy. We must all rally support and speak against this because we cannot retrogress as a nation,” Kpebu said.

Meanwhile, reports suggest Circuit Court Judge, His Honour Samuel Bright Acquah, who presided over the Abronye case, will resign today, the 16th September 2025.

Watch the video below:

Cedi remains one of the best-performing currencies globally – BoG Governor

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Cedi remains one of the best-performing currencies globally – BoG Governor

Dr Johnson Asiama, the Bank of Ghana Governor, has said the Ghana cedi still remains one of the best-performing currencies globally despite the slowdown in remittance inflows.

The BoG Governor highlighted that remittances have not been as strong as in previous periods, but the impact on the cedi’s performance has been confined.

According to Dr Johnson Asiama, the resilience of the cedi is attributed to the sound monetary policy, improved foreign-exchange reserves and tighter regulatory oversight.

Speaking at the opening of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting on September 15, 2025, Dr Johnson Asiama explained, “Despite the seasonal pressures and a slowdown in remittance inflows in recent weeks, the cedi remains one of the strongest currencies globally. Year-to-date, it has appreciated by about 21% as of September 12”.

“External buffers have strengthened. For the first eight months of the year, Ghana recorded a trade surplus of US$6.2 billion, underpinned by robust gold exports and higher cocoa receipts. Gross international reserves stood at US$10.7 billion in August, covering about 4½ months of imports”, he added.

Dr Johnson Asiama added that the cedi is performing alongside other currencies like the Russian ruble, Swedish krona, Norwegian krone, Swiss franc, euro and the British pound.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has said his government will make sure that any depreciation that occurs in the Cedi is within a margin of about 5% per annum.

According to John Mahama, the recent currency fluctuations are part of a natural adjustment process and not a sign of renewed instability.

Speaking at his maiden media encounter on Wednesday, September 10, John Mahama stated, “I believe that it is about stopping the rapid depreciation of the currency. When you have steep depreciation of about like we had in 2024, 25% depreciation in the currency in the first half of the year, it makes planning difficult. And so yes, Bank of Ghana, BoG, has been intervening in the forex market, but they’ve withdrawn,” he said.

Mahama added, “The Cedi is making an adjustment and I believe that it will settle at a certain rate and we’ll make sure that any depreciation that occurs in the value of the Cedi is within a margin of about 5% per annum”.

President John Mahama also disclosed that the Bank of Ghana(BoG) has withdrawn its interventions in the foreign exchange market.

According to John Mahama, the move is to find the true value of the Ghanaian cedi against major trading currencies.

He added,  “And so yes, Bank of Ghana has been intervening in the forex market, but they’ve withdrawn. And what happened was that, because of the rapid appreciation in the value of the cedi, we saw an exponential increase in imports, because then people could buy cheaper dollars, and so they could import more, which is a natural economic phenomenon.

“But on the other side, exporters are not happy, because they get fewer cedis for what they export.”

John Mahama added that Ghana must strike a delicate balance between protecting exporters and importers.

He added, “And so every country tries to find out a balance where exporters are able to do good business and importers are not overburdened by high Forex, eh, rates? Where that lies? I don’t know. I’m not a central bank, but the cedis is making an adjustment, and I believe that it will settle at a certain rate, and we will make sure that any depreciation that occurs in the value of the cedis is within a margin of about 5% per annum. That is what we we target.”

President Mahama recalled, “There was one occasion where I said people were asking whether it will go below ¢10, and I said, it is dropping, but it will find its true value. It was undervalued at ¢16, and it probably is overvalued at 10, but somewhere between there we have the real value of the cedi.”

He connected part of the challenge to reduced inflows from abroad.

“It’s also seen that it coincided with a period where we saw a reduction of 50% in remittances, because citizens in the diaspora were taken aback by the rapid appreciation of the cedi.

“And so if somebody was building a house, if he was going to send $100,000, it meant that he was losing a certain percentage of that $100,000 and most of them would decide to adopt a wait-and-see attitude and say, Oh no, ask for cedis. It’s not possible that the cedi can regain its value to that extent.

By all means, it will go up again, so I’ll hold back my remittance until the cedi goes back up. So we saw a 50% reduction.”

“There were also some other factors. Some money transfer companies were collecting dollars abroad and not repatriating them.

He also revealed that investigations had uncovered disturbing practices.

President Mahama detailed, “There were other cases where people applied through the commercial banks for foreign exchange to cover imports, and those monies are transferred to pay for imports, but the imports never came into Ghana.

And we’ve studied for a period of four years. And every year over the period of four years, about $42 billion was taken out of this country without the corresponding imports coming into the country.

And so we started sanctioning some banks, and soon will start interrogating some individuals who ostensibly took money out against imports, but never brought those imports.”

He further emphasised the abuses that threaten the economy.

“We want to know what happened and if there was wrongdoing, to sanction whoever it is. While we work to stabilise our economy and improve the value of our currency, we must protect that currency, because a good, strong cedi is good for all of us.

“But when that happens, some people try to take advantage of it, and I think that we should all condemn anything like that”, Mahama added.

See the post below:

“If you come in the day, we’ll come at night, and if you joke, we will even kill you” – Galamseyer

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“If you come in the day, we’ll come at night, and if you joke, we will even kill you” – Galamseyer

An illegal miner (galamseyer) has send a stern warning to anti-galamsey task force members, as the government intensifies efforts to tackle the operations of illegal miners.

According to the galamseyer, if the anti-galamsey task force members come in the day, they will come at night to work.

The galamseyer even threatened to kill members of the anti-galamsey task force who tried to stop them.

In the viral video, the illegal miner stated, “What we learnt is what we are doing. If you come in the day, we’ll come at night. You are not serious, and if you joke, we will even kill you in the water. The job, unless we go into retirement. We are never going to stop, Insha Allah”.

Also, a brother of the late President, Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills, Cadman Atta-Mills, has said illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, is killing Ghanaians.

Cadman Atta Mills criticised the John Mahama-led NDC government over their poor handling of illegal mining.

According to Cadman Atta-Mills, he refuses to pay for the accolades the government is receiving for the cedi recovery at the expense of his health or life.

In a post on X, accompanied by a video of the galamsey menace, Cadman Mills wrote,  “I refuse to pay for the accolades President Mahama and the NDC are receiving for the cedi’s recovery with my health or life.

Call it galamsey or ‘legal’ small-scale mining (when bankrolled by the politically connected). It is killing us. #StopGalamseyNow”, he added.

However,  President Mahama, on Wednesday, September 10, stated he was exploring all available alternatives in the fight against galamsey before considering declaring a state of emergency.

President John Dramani Mahama has said implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort.

According to John Mahama, his administration is not in a rush to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining.

He noted growing public pressure to take drastic measures on galamsey but warned against resorting to a state of emergency prematurely.

Speaking at his media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, John Mahama explained, “I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency”.

“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act”, he added.

John Mahama highlighted that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort.

“Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. So for now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we look at it,” he added.

John Mahama further announced that his government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining, which has long threatened Ghana’s environment and natural resources.

He announced that the task force’s operations have led to the apprehension of hundreds of excavators, water pumps, and other heavy equipment used in galamsey activities.

“We’re taking decisive action to protect our environment and natural resources from destruction. A dedicated national task force is in place, actively combating the menace of illegal mining.

“As a result of their operations, hundreds of excavators, water pumps and other heavy equipment have been seized. Disrupting the networks that have long exploited our rivers. Nine forest reserves have been reclaimed from the grips of illegal miners,” he said.

Additionally, the Chief Executive Officer of Dalex Finance, Joe Jackson, has said that Ghana’s gold could be blacklisted as blood gold.

Joe Jackson noted that if the world realises Ghana is not selling sustainable gold, the country could be blacklisted.

According to him, Goldbod, which was set up as a game changer, could fail if the Mahama government does not tackle illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, with the necessary urgency.

Speaking on TV3’s “The Key Points” on September 13, 2025, Joe Jackson explained, “If the rest of the world decides that we are selling gold that is not sustainable, we could be blacklisted. Gold board, which is supposed to be the game changer, could disappear simply because we have not tackled galamsey, and we are now blacklisted as selling unsustainable or, blood gold”.

“In the same way… It will not be only gold. Very soon, we may not be able to export certain food items. You will not be able to export cocoa. If you can’t export it because the heavy metals from illegal mining are leaking into the water bodies, it will greatly impact our economy and erode all successes the government has chalked in other sectors,” he added.

Mr Jackson further cited the Ghana Water Limited’s (GWL) request for a 280% tariff increase, and also pointed to the galamsey impact on the supply of water to Tema residents.

Joe Jackson lamented, “I live in Tema. Tema used to be the best place for utilities. Now, if you get three days’ water running through your pipes in a week, then it’s looking good for us. This is in the rainy season. I dare to think of what will happen in the dry season, and you find similar experiences all over. That’s the situation for water”.

Watch the video below:

State of emergency on galamsey hasn’t been ruled out – Presidential Spokesperson

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State of emergency on galamsey hasn’t been ruled out – Presidential Spokesperson

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State for Government Communications, has said President John Mahama has not ruled out declaring a state of emergency on galamsey.

The Presidential Spokesperson revealed that Mahama is keeping the option of a state of emergency open and will only go that route if the situation becomes necessary. 

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Kwakye Ofosu stated, “Let me indicate that on the matter of state of emergency, the president said that there are conventional approaches that are currently being deployed that he believes would help us achieve the objective of wiping out this canker once and for all. And that when it becomes necessary, a state of emergency may be deployed”.

“It actually means that you set aside laws as they are and adopt extraordinary, sometimes very harsh, very drastic measures in order to beat back a particular problem.

“It comes with its own difficulties, and therefore, the declaration of the same must be based on tangible reasoning. You must have a sufficient basis to do that so that you are very clear that the consequences that will result will be worth the effort”, he noted.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu added, “He believes earnestly that currently, some gains are being made that could be sustained. And as and when we get to a stage when it is absolutely necessary to deploy those measures that will create some absolute discomfort for ordinary citizens, and may involve measures that may not necessarily be in tandem with the way that our laws should function, he will take the decision”.

“The government appreciates the genuine concern surrounding the issue of galamsey because of the threats that it poses. It has naturally become an emotive subject. People are deeply concerned about it, and they want urgent action. The government understands that fully, and such urgent action is underway,” he said.

Kwakye Ofosu added that John Mahama, since becoming president, has done everything necessary to ensure that we combat galamsey.

He further added that Mahama never gave any timelines for ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

The minister explained, “To be fair, if you want to assess a president, you will have to take him by his own words and actions, the commitments that he made. President Mahama did not give any timelines to ending galamsey”.

“He said at the media encounter that he was not under any illusion that by the wink of the magic wand, galamsey will end because it is an insidious problem,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu added.

He added, “Government fully appreciates the genuine concerns people have expressed on galamsey, and these are not matters we take lightly”.

“We cannot pretend it is an easy fight, but what we can assure Ghanaians is that the government has not lost sight of its duty to protect lives, livelihoods and the environment,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the Convenor of FixTheCountry, has announced an anti-galamsey vigil on Sunday, September 21.

In a social media post, Barker-Vormawor highlighted the need to protect Ghana’s environment.

According to Vormawor, the responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment as Ghanaians.

Vormawor announced that the vigil would be followed by a public march on Monday, 22 September, a national holiday, to draw more attention to the environmental crisis of urgent proportions.

In his post, the social activist wrote, “The responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment, ours as a people.

Our responsibility to end Galamsey does not end at elections. Nor does it begin after our party loses one.

This is bigger than petty politics.

On Sunday, 21st September, we will have a vigil at the Revolution Square, and on Monday, 22nd (a holiday), there will be a march calling attention to the urgency of our environmental crisis. Join us”.

Watch the video below:

NPP’s Abronye granted GH¢50,000 bail

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NPP’s Abronye granted GH¢50,000 bail

Kwame Baffoe, also known as Abronye DC, the Bono Regional NPP Chairman, has been granted bail by the court.

Abronye DC has been granted bail of the sum of GH¢50,000 with one surety, without justification.

Abronye’s lead counsel, Daniel Mantey Addo, has revealed that his client’s health has deteriorated.

He added that the legal team is working to meet the bail conditions to secure his immediate release.

Over the weekend, Martin Kpebu, a private legal practitioner, revealed that the Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine, had already indicated plans to intervene to ensure that Abronye is granted bail.

According to Martin Kpebu, Abronye should not be kept in custody for a week over his misdemeanour.

He revealed that the court can sit at any time, and the necessary legal processes can be filed to secure Abronye’s bail immediately.

Lawyer Kpebu cautioned the government to protect democratic freedoms and respect the rule of law.

Speaking on TV3’s Key Points program on Saturday, September 13, 2025, Martin Kpebu stated, “Ayine is stepping in so that, latest by Monday, Abronye should be out. This is not what we voted you guys in to do”.

He further added, “Abronye doesn’t have to be in custody for even one week. Today, the right process can be filed, the judge can sit today, and grant Abronye bail. If we don’t speak up, it will grow and become worse”.

“We have grown past the communist inferior tactics. I am not, for one moment, supporting the despicable comment by Abronye, but these are misdemeanours,” he indicated.

Also, the private legal practitioner in a separate interview highlighted that the NDC must know Ghanaians did not vote for them for this type of unlawful governance.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme on September 12, 2025, Martin Kpebu stated, “We must let the Attorney-General and IGP Yohuno know that this is not lawful. We didn’t vote for the NDC for this type of governance, and I cannot be part of this type of government”.

Lawyer Kpebu argued that the state must proceed to court while granting Abronye bail if they found the comments to be offensive.

He explained, “If they don’t want to forgive him, they can grant him bail as the case proceeds. When the verdict comes and it is too much, then we can talk about it”.

He cautioned that denying Abronye bail in a misdemeanour case sets a dangerous precedent “If in a misdemeanour case, Abronye cannot secure bail, then it means the verdict on my Kpebu Number 2 case in 2016 is void and useless. As citizens, we must get up and resist this, or else it will lead to tyranny”.

Lawyer Kpebu called on Abronye’s legal team to seek redress at the Human Rights Court.

“This is wrong and a sad day for our democracy. We must all rally support and speak against this because we cannot retrogress as a nation,” Kpebu said.

Abronye was arrested on Monday, September 8, by the Ghana Police Service, based on what the police described as “offensive conduct conducive to the breach of public peace.”

The Accra Circuit Court had also remanded Abronye into police custody for one week.

Before his arrest, he had sought political asylum and security protection over threats on his life by government operatives and IGP Christian Tetteh Yohuno and his boys.

Abronye, in a detailed letter, September 5, 2025, appealed to the embassies and high commissions of Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, the United States, Côte d’Ivoire, Spain, France and Italy for urgent protection.

Speak to defend the rule of law, not politics – A-G blasts GBA 

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Speak to defend the rule of law, not politics – A-G blasts GBA 

Dr Dominic Ayine, the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, has told the members of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to defend the rule of law and not align themselves with politics.

The Attorney General noted that the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has been selective in speaking out on certain matters but silent on other matters.

Speaking at the Ghana Bar Association’s Annual Conference in Wa on Monday, September 15, in reference to the removal of the former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, Dr Ayine stated, “In 2015, an Article 146 petition was received by the Chief Justice in relation to the removal of CHRAJ boss, Madam Lauretta Lamptey. The bar failed to speak out in the process. In the run-up to the 2016 elections, the then-opposition NPP engaged the EC in court battles over the voter identification system. This gave rise to the Abu Ramadan line of cases.

“Immediately upon assuming office in 2017, an Article 146 petition was filed for the removal of the EC chairperson, Charlotte Osei, and her deputies from office. The Bar saw no basis to speak up about the compliance with due process”.

He added, “But in recent times, the bar found its voice when a petition based on the same constitutionally defined procedures was brought in respect of the removal of the office of the former chief justice, Gertrude Torkornoo. The honest question we have to ask ourselves is what changed?

“The three petitions mentioned touch on three constitutional bodies critical to the sustenance of our democracy. Their independence has been guaranteed by the Constitution. The three occupants were all women of significant repute and members of our noble profession,” he said.

According to the Attorney General, all three committees established under Article 146 of the Constitution followed due process, but the GBA only found its voice in relation to the third petition.

Dr Ayine argued, “The three committees established pursuant to Article 146 complied with the constitutional procedure to the letter, and yet the Bar found its voice only in relation to the third petition. Consciously, the voice of the Bar amplified the voice of the opposition”.

“The lawyer in politics must be a voice of reason, moderation, and constitutionalism. The Bar must speak up, not to please government or opposition parties, but to defend the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the rights of the citizens,” he stated.

He further warned professional and legal bodies against inviting external influence into Ghana’s constitutional and judicial matters.

The Attorney General highlighted that international collaborations are needed to strengthen professional standards, but must not interfere with Ghana’s constitutional politics.

Speaking at the Ghana Bar Association’s Annual Conference in Wa on Monday, September 15, Dr Ayine stated, “We should desist from the temptation of inviting foreign interference in our internal constitutional processes. As a professional body, there is absolutely nothing wrong with forming relationships with like-minded foreign associations. Such relationships are necessary for cross-fertilization of ideas on professional matters such as standards”.

“That is where it should end. Interference in constitutional politics risks violating the principle that sovereignty resides in the people of Ghana, in whose name and for whose benefits the powers of government are to be exercised,” the Attorney General stated.

His comment follows the UK Bar Council, Commonwealth Lawyers, who ordered President John Dramani Mahama to immediately and without delay, reinstate the suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo before his removal from office.

On Thursday, August 14, 2025, in a joint statement, the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association demanded the reinstatement of the Chief Justice.

Parts of their statement noted, “Immediately and without delay, reinstate the Chief Justice of Ghana to her Office, consistent with both the hitherto strong attachment to the rule of law demonstrated by Ghana and also, the constitutional duties incumbent upon them”.

They stated that the rules of practice must “include the time frame within which the investigating committee must conclude the disciplinary process against the Chief Justice, without any further delay and communicate that decision of that process to all concerned in upholding the rule of law in Ghana.”

According to the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the investigating committee permitting petitioners to use witnesses instead of attending themselves to answer questions on their petitions does not follow the rules and norms of due process.

They argued that the decision by the investigating committee to “deny the Chief Justice’s legal representative the respect required when attending the hearings of the investigating committee is contrary to the Latimer House Principles, which underline the duty to ensure fair and just process.”

Meanwhile, President John Mahama sacked the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect after he received a first report from the five-member committee he constituted to investigate three petitions brought against the Chief Justice.

Hours after President Mahama received the committee reports, Chief Justice Torkornoo was sacked with immediate effect.

“Desist from inviting foreign interference in our internal constitutional processes” – A-G to GBA

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“Desist from inviting foreign interference in our internal constitutional processes” – A-G to GBA

Dr Dominic Ayine, the Attorney General, has warned professional and legal bodies against inviting external influence into Ghana’s constitutional and judicial matters.

The Attorney General highlighted that international collaborations are needed to strengthen professional standards, but must not interfere with Ghana’s constitutional politics.

Speaking at the Ghana Bar Association’s Annual Conference in Wa on Monday, September 15, Dr Ayine stated, “We should desist from the temptation of inviting foreign interference in our internal constitutional processes. As a professional body, there is absolutely nothing wrong with forming relationships with like-minded foreign associations. Such relationships are necessary for cross-fertilization of ideas on professional matters such as standards”.

“That is where it should end. Interference in constitutional politics risks violating the principle that sovereignty resides in the people of Ghana, in whose name and for whose benefits the powers of government are to be exercised,” the Attorney General stated.

His comment follows the UK Bar Council, Commonwealth Lawyers, who ordered President John Dramani Mahama to immediately and without delay, reinstate the suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo before his removal from office.

On Thursday, August 14, 2025, in a joint statement, the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association demanded the reinstatement of the Chief Justice.

Parts of their statement noted, “Immediately and without delay, reinstate the Chief Justice of Ghana to her Office, consistent with both the hitherto strong attachment to the rule of law demonstrated by Ghana and also, the constitutional duties incumbent upon them”.

They stated that the rules of practice must “include the time frame within which the investigating committee must conclude the disciplinary process against the Chief Justice, without any further delay and communicate that decision of that process to all concerned in upholding the rule of law in Ghana.”

According to the Bar Council of England and Wales and the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, the investigating committee permitting petitioners to use witnesses instead of attending themselves to answer questions on their petitions does not follow the rules and norms of due process.

They argued that the decision by the investigating committee to “deny the Chief Justice’s legal representative the respect required when attending the hearings of the investigating committee is contrary to the Latimer House Principles, which underline the duty to ensure fair and just process.”

Meanwhile, President John Mahama sacked the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect after he received a first report from the five-member committee he constituted to investigate three petitions brought against the Chief Justice.

Hours after President Mahama received the committee reports, Chief Justice Torkornoo was sacked with immediate effect.

A statement from the presidency stated, “President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, removed the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, from office with immediate effect”.

“This follows receipt of the report of the Committee constituted under Article 146(6) to inquire into a petition submitted by a Ghanaian citizen, Mr. Daniel Ofori. After considering the petition and the evidence, the Committee found that the grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) had been established and recommended her removal from office.

“Under Article 146(9), the President is required to act in accordance with the Committee’s recommendation,” the statement concluded.

A leaked document on social media concluded that Justice Torkornoo had engaged in conduct amounting to “stated misbehaviour” under Article 146(1).

The Key finding read, “Unlawful expenditure of public funds: The committee held that the Chief Justice caused the Judicial Service to pay travel expenses for her husband and daughter during private holiday trips in 2023, including per diem allowances. This, the report stated, was an “avoidable and reckless dissipation of public funds.”

Abuse of discretionary power: The committee found that her handling of the transfer of one Mr. Baiden breached Article 296(a) and (b) of the Constitution, describing the act as misbehaviour.

Interference in judicial appointments: The report also noted that she sought to bypass the established process for nominating Justices of the Supreme Court, contrary to precedent set in the Ghana Bar Association case. The committee concluded this amounted to misbehaviour”.

The committee subsequently recommended her removal in accordance with Article 146(7). President Mahama, bound by Article 146(9), which makes the President’s action mandatory once such a recommendation is made, formally removed Justice Torkornoo by Warrant of Removal under the Presidential Seal.

Watch Kwaku Bonsam’s arrival at the Manhyia Palace on horseback

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Watch Kwaku Bonsam’s arrival at the Manhyia Palace on horseback

A video of Traditional priest, Kwaku Bonsam, arriving at the Manhyia Palace on horseback has surfaced on social media.

Kwaku Bonsam, mounted on horseback, joined mourners as Asanteman observes the funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III.

In a viral video, Kwaku Bonsam was captured as he arrived at the Manhyia Palace, displaying on his horse with other mourners watching on and others taking video of him.

Meanwhile, the body of late Asantehemaa has been laid in state on Monday, September 15, 2025, at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi.

Traditional leaders, government officials, and ordinary citizens, joined by thousands of mourners, gathered at the palace grounds to pay their final respects to the revered queen mother.

The event was marked by traditional rites and deep cultural displays befitting the prominence of the Asantehemaa.

The late Asantehemaa’s funeral rites will continue in the coming days, with dignitaries from across the country and beyond expected to attend.

The funeral rites are being held from September 14 to September 18, 2025.

Also, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, has formally invited President John Dramani Mahama to attend the final funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III.

The Asantehene, on Monday, sent a delegation to Mahama to officially invite him.

The delegation was led by Amoamanhene Nana Agyenim Boateng I, who delivered the invitation during a courtesy call on President Mahama.

Mahama also extended his heartfelt condolences to the Asantehene and Asanteman on the passing of the Asantehemaa.

President Mahama assured the Asantehene delegation of his intention to attend the funeral and pay his final respects to the late Nana Konadu Yiadom III, the Asantehemaa.

The late Nana Konadu Yiadom III died at the age of 91 after reigning for eight years.

She was the second most powerful person in Asanteman after the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

The news of her death was announced following an emergency Asanteman Traditional Council meeting on Monday, August 11, 2025.

Reports suggest the Asantehemaa passed at the dawn of August 7, 2025.

Asantehemaa’s recent notable public outings

Marking her 8th year on the stool in 2025, she celebrated with traditional rites at Manhyia Palace, joined by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and other queen mothers.

Her reign focuses on community development and cultural preservation.

In 2022, the Asantehemaa marked the fifth anniversary of her enstoolment with a durbar.

Then Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, attended the grand durbar,

The event brought out the best in Asante culture and tradition, and a colourful display.

The Asantehemaa was in a splendid, beautiful Kente, and arrived at Dwabrem in a palanquin, with the Asante Royal colours of yellow, black and green surrounding her.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu, addressing the gathering, said queen mothers played a very important role in the administration of the Asante Kingdom and the stability of the chieftaincy institution.

He noted that the queen mothers played a crucial role during the colonial days, and without them, the Asante Kingdom would have disintegrated by now.

The Asantehene paid glorious tribute to the celebrated Nana Yaa Asantewaa, the Ejisuhemaa, who led the Asante army in the Anglo-Asante war of 1900.

In addition, it will be recalled that the Asantehemaa celebrated the Asantehe, Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, during his 75th birthday on May 6, 2025.

The Asantehemaa rarely makes public appearances, but stormed the residence of Otumfuo at the Manhyia Palace.

She was dressed in a white cloth to signify victory and joy. The Otumfuo met him with a smile in a white Kaftan.

Nana Konadu Yiadom III exchanged pleasantries with the Asantehene and the wife, Lady Julia and also prayed for a long life for the Otumfuo.

She then presented precious gifts to the Asantehene to celebrate the special day and later joined the Otumfuo and Lady Julia to cut the cake.

The Asantehene thanked Nana Konadu Yiadom III and was touched by her display of love.

Biography of the late Asantehemaa

The late Nana Konadu Yiadom III, Asantehemaa, was enstooled on February 6, 2017, as the 14th Queen Mother of the Ashanti Kingdom.

She succeeded her mother, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II, who reigned for 39 years until her passing in 2016 at age 109.

She was born in 1927 at Benyaade Shrine at Merdan, a small town located at Kwadaso, Kumasi, in the days of the restoration of the Asante Confederacy.

Born to Nana Afia Kobi and Opanin Kofi Fofie, Nana Konadu Yiadom III, known as Nana Panin, is the eldest sister of Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II.

She was chosen as the customary heir after her mother’s death, despite other eligible relatives.

The Asantehemaa was raised by her aunt in Kumasi. She received no formal education but underwent rigorous informal training, equipping her with wisdom equivalent to formal schooling.

Nana Konadu Yiadom III married Kwame Boateng, a blacksmith, and is a member of the Saviour Church.

As Asantehemaa, Nana Konadu Yiadom III advises the Asantehene, preserves Ashanti traditions, and champions women’s empowerment, education, and healthcare.

She also holds court twice weekly to resolve cultural and spiritual conflicts.

Traditionally, the Asantehemaa is the mother of the Otumfuo.

Watch the video below:

“Dr UN’s award is worth it”- Sarkodie breaks silence

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“Dr UN’s award is worth it”- Sarkodie breaks silence

Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie has once again broken his silence after receiving a fake award from self-acclaimed global ambassador ‘Dr’ Kwame Owusu Fordjour, popularly known as Dr UN.

In 2020, Sarkodie,  D-Black, Berla Mundi, Johnnie Hughes, Dr Okoe Boye, Daughters of Glorious Jesus, Nathaniel Attoh, SK Boafo, Chairman Wontumi and others fell victim to Dr UN’s fake UN award scam.

Following the investigation, it was revealed that the award scheme had no relation to the UN.

Social media went wild with users trolling the celebrities and politicians who fell victim to the fake award scheme.

Sarkodie in 2020 addressed the Dr UN award saga in a song titled “Gimme way”.

After being mocked by Twitter users and trolls, Sarkodie in Gimme Way said the saga was a bad situation he found himself in.

“I thought I was a hard guy until Dr UN gave me an empty bottle as an award. The day I will meet him, unless I smack him.”

He added that if he had stayed home, he could have been “making love to Tracy [SIC]. “

In a recent interview shared on X by Patriot TV, Sarkordie once again addressed the saga.

According to the Ghanaian top rapper, Dr UN’s award is worth it even though it was not from the UN, as he claimed.

Speaking in an interview, Sarkodie stated, “He got a lot of people, and it became popular because I was part of it. These things can happen sometimes; we got the mail. Angelo always takes the blame. So, Angelo told me we had to go somewhere when he said I should move, I had to move.

I went there, and when we got there, I saw something was off, but looking at the people that were sitting there, I was like, I am not the only person with wisdom”.

Sarkodie narrated further, “Dr UN himself, when I saw him, I was surprised at the suit he was wearing, but I did not know he was the one giving out the award. It was later that I saw him there, also handing over some of the awards.

It can happen to anyone. The way it was presented, you will take it for what it is,  but later, when I thought about it, I was thinking it was directly from the UN honouring me”.

“But if it was his own award, I do not think it was wrong; I still had to hold the award. Looking back at it, it is still worth it”, Sarkordie added.

Meanwhile, Dr UN has shockingly claimed that he is part of the reason Sarkodie is popular in the country.

According to Dr UN, Sarkodie’s fame increased after his popular UN award was exposed for not being a genuine award scheme.

Dr UN stated, “I have met Sarkodie several times after the awards; he is my fan. Do you know that I made him Sarkodie? His previous branding was not good enough. If it was not me, why does he trend with the awards?

“I made him trend all the time. After his issue with Yvonne Nelson, he was not popular until he used my trend, and that is where the money is. Why is it that after my award, which was held three years ago, anytime the media interviews him, they hammer on my award?” he said in a video shared by Express GHTV on their YouTube channel.

When he was asked for his take on Sarkodie’s issue with Yvonne Nelson and what he makes of it, he said, “Sarkodie did not show responsibility as a man. In such situations, you have to man up and accept it, whether you have money or not. Leaving her (Yvonne Nelson) to go through that trauma was not the best.”

Watch the video below:

“To be fair, Mahama did not give any timelines to ending galamsey” – Kwakye Ofosu

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“To be fair, Mahama did not give any timelines to ending galamsey” – Kwakye Ofosu

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister for Government Communication, has said President John Dramani Mahama never gave any timelines to ending illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu highlighted that President Mahama must be assessed by his own words and actions.

According to Kwakye Ofosu, Mahama acknowledged the complexity of galamsey and made it clear that it could not be eradicated immediately.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, September 15, Mr Kwakye Ofosu stated, “To be fair, if you want to assess a president, you will have to take him by his own words and actions, the commitments that he made. President Mahama did not give any timelines to ending galamsey”.

“He said at the media encounter that he was not under any illusion that by the wink of the magic wand, galamsey will end because it is an insidious problem,” Mr Kwakye Ofosu added.

He added, “Government fully appreciates the genuine concerns people have expressed on galamsey, and these are not matters we take lightly”.

“We cannot pretend it is an easy fight, but what we can assure Ghanaians is that the government has not lost sight of its duty to protect lives, livelihoods and the environment,” he noted.

Mr Kwakye Ofosu called on all Ghanaians to rally behind the measures being implemented by the government.

“We must all rally behind the measures being implemented. The survival of our water bodies and farmlands cannot be compromised”, he added.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu’s remarks come on the heels of President Mahama receiving a backlash from Ghanaians following his poor handling of the galamsey menace and his recent comment during his engagement with the media.

According to John Mahama, his administration is not in a rush to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining.

He noted growing public pressure to take drastic measures on galamsey but warned against resorting to a state of emergency prematurely.

Speaking at his media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, John Mahama explained, “I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency”.

“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act”, he added.

John Mahama highlighted that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort.

“Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. So for now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we look at it,” he added.

John Mahama further announced that his government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining, which has long threatened Ghana’s environment and natural resources.

He announced that the task force’s operations have led to the apprehension of hundreds of excavators, water pumps, and other heavy equipment used in galamsey activities.

“We’re taking decisive action to protect our environment and natural resources from destruction. A dedicated national task force is in place, actively combating the menace of illegal mining.

“As a result of their operations, hundreds of excavators, water pumps and other heavy equipment have been seized. Disrupting the networks that have long exploited our rivers. Nine forest reserves have been reclaimed from the grips of illegal miners,” he said.

Meanwhile, Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the Convenor of FixTheCountry, has announced an anti-galamsey vigil on Sunday, September 21.

In a social media post, Barker-Vormawor highlighted the need to protect Ghana’s environment.

According to Vormawor, the responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment as Ghanaians.

Vormawor announced that the vigil would be followed by a public march on Monday, 22 September, a national holiday, to draw more attention to the environmental crisis of urgent proportions.

In his post, the social activist wrote, “The responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment, ours as a people.

Our responsibility to end Galamsey does not end at elections. Nor does it begin after our party loses one.

This is bigger than petty politics.

On Sunday, 21st September, we will have a vigil at the Revolution Square, and on Monday, 22nd (a holiday), there will be a march calling attention to the urgency of our environmental crisis. Join us”.

Watch the video below:

“A true legend never dies” – Kwadwo Safo Jr on father’s death

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“A true legend never dies” – Kwadwo Safo Jr on father’s death

Kwadwo Safo Junior, son of the late Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, has shared a post on social media reacting to his father’s death.

Apostle Kantanka’s son noted that a true legend never dies.

He further encouraged Ghanaians to show what they have learnt from his father when he was alive.

In a post shared on his Instagram story on September 14, 2025, Kwadwo Safo Junior wrote, “A true legend never dies. He still lives on in all of us,” he said.

This is the time to show what we have been taught. This is the time to trust the training and process”,  he added.

The late Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s death was announced on Sunday, 14, 2025.

The news was announced in a statement by Sarah Adwoa Safo (former MP for Dome Kwabenya).

According to the statement, Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo passed away peacefully on Thursday, 11th September 2025.

The family described him, saying, “Apostle Safo was a true genius, the beacon of hope for many, a father to the fatherless. Ghana has indeed lost a gallant son and a true legend”.

The family requested that the public respect their privacy during this period of mourning.

Meanwhile, a throwback video of Bishop Kwabena Asiamah, the leader of Universal Spiritual Outreach, also known as Ajagurajah Movement, foretelling the events that will follow after the death of Dr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka has resurfaced following his death.

In a viral video, Ajagurajah, in an interview, revealed that when Dr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka dies, it would rain for three days.

Ajagurajah in the interview stated, “The man is not human… Write this somewhere; it will rain for 3 days from the moment the man dies. Jot this somewhere, it will rain for 3 days.

The earth will open at the place his remains would be kept. I’m the one saying this. It would rain for three days solid, write this somewhere”, he added.

Ajagurajah further added, “The man (Safo Kantanka) is a spirit”.

Also, two viral videos of Prophet Samuel Henry, popularly known as Prophet Roja, have surfaced on social media, prophetic foretellings of the Apostle’s passing.

In the first viral video, dated April 4, 2024, Prophet Roja urged Ghanaian leaders to reach out to Apostle Safo, highlighting that the man of God held the secret to Ghana’s economic recovery.

Prophet Roja stated, “Go and look for Apostle Safo. For over 24 years, the Lord has revealed to me that he holds the road to Ghana’s economic freedom. If you do not hurry and tap into it, the man will soon be called by his maker.”

On 12 September 2025, Prophet Roja dropped yet another video about Apostle Safo, with vivid imagery to describe what he had spiritually witnessed.

The man of God stated, “I have seen something… a big star enter into the clouds. When it entered the cloud, it did not come back. Then I saw a mantle descending from the cloud, but it did not fall on anybody. May his soul rest in peace. You are a legend; you fought so hard, and may the Lord give you rest. I have seen it, praise the Lord. I am going to pray for you, men of God.”

See the post below:

“#StopGalamseyNow” – Vormawor announces anti-galamsey demo on September 21

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“#StopGalamseyNow” – Vormawor announces anti-galamsey demo on September 21

Oliver Barker-Vormawor, the Convenor of FixTheCountry, has announced an anti-galamsey demonstration on Sunday, September 21.

In a social media post, Barker-Vormawor highlighted the need to protect Ghana’s environment.

According to Vormawor, the responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment as Ghanaians.

Vormawor announced that the vigil would be followed by a public march on Monday, 22 September, a national holiday, to draw more attention to the environmental crisis of urgent proportions.

In his post, the social activist wrote, “The responsibility to protect and preserve the Environment is by divine assignment, ours as a people.

Our responsibility to end Galamsey does not end at elections. Nor does it begin after our party loses one.

This is bigger than petty politics.

On Sunday 21st September, we will have a vigil at the Revolution Square, and on Monday 22nd (a holiday), there will be a march calling attention to the urgency of our environmental crisis. Join us”.

Vormawor’s announcement came after Mahama, on Wednesday, September 10, stated he was exploring all available alternatives in the fight against galamsey before considering declaring a state of emergency.

President John Dramani Mahama has said implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort.

According to John Mahama, his administration is not in a rush to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining.

He noted growing public pressure to take drastic measures on galamsey but warned against resorting to a state of emergency prematurely.

Speaking at his media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, John Mahama explained, “I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency”.

“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act”, he added.

John Mahama highlighted that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort.

“Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. So for now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we look at it,” he added.

John Mahama further announced that his government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining, which has long threatened Ghana’s environment and natural resources.

He announced that the task force’s operations have led to the apprehension of hundreds of excavators, water pumps, and other heavy equipment used in galamsey activities.

“We’re taking decisive action to protect our environment and natural resources from destruction. A dedicated national task force is in place, actively combating the menace of illegal mining.

“As a result of their operations, hundreds of excavators, water pumps and other heavy equipment have been seized. Disrupting the networks that have long exploited our rivers. Nine forest reserves have been reclaimed from the grips of illegal miners,” he said.

Meanwhile, Richard Ahiagbah, the Director of Communications for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has said President John Dramani Mahama is running away from fighting illegal mining, known locally as galamsey.

Mr Ahiagbah accused President Mahama of lacking the political will to tackle illegal mining.

Speaking on Citi FM’s The Big Issue on Saturday, September 13, Ahiagbah stated, “Now President Mahama tells us that the state of emergency is not what we need, but somehow there are laws on the books that we have not exhausted, that we have not exercised, and I was left wondering — what are those laws?”.

“In trying to explain, he says we can still arrest people, confiscate. We have done all of that. We have arrested people.”

He added, “Everything has been done. So the question is that what law is President Mahama talking about on the books which have not been exercised? If there are any that have not been exercised, why is he not doing so? What is he waiting for?”

“Lack of interest in fighting the thing. Lack of interest”, Ahiagbah responded bluntly

Richard Ahiagbah also accused Mahama of presiding over the GoldBod purchasing gold from illegal miners.

Mr Ahiagbah added, “One honest admission is that the president said that GoldBod is buying galamsey gold. That was admission from the president. That is a very terrible situation we have on our hands — that an entity established by law is engaged in business with an illegal enterprise. That is scandalous. That is something you want to impeach somebody about.”

“When we just removed a CJ because people processed her travel things for her. She didn’t process it herself… That one, you remove an individual from office for that. Now you are telling us that you have set up a GoldBod that is buying illegal gold, and that is okay.

“What I am saying is that the president is running away from fighting galamsey”, he confidently added.

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“When Apostle Kwadwo Safo dies, it will rain for 3 days” – Throwback video of Ajagurajah

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“When Apostle Kwadwo Safo dies, it will rain for 3 days” – Throwback video of Ajagurajah

A throwback video of Bishop Kwabena Asiamah, the leader of Universal Spiritual Outreach, also known as Ajagurajah Movement, foretelling the events that will follow after the death of Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka has resurfaced following his death.

In a viral video, Ajagurajah, in an interview, revealed that when Dr Kwadwo Safo Kantanka dies, it would rain for three days.

Ajagurajah in the interview stated, “The man is not human… Write this somewhere; it will rain for 3 days from the moment the man dies. Jot this somewhere, it will rain for 3 days.

The earth will open at the place his remains would be kept. I’m the one saying this. It would rain for three days solid, write this somewhere”, he added.

Ajagurajah further added, “The man (Safo Kantanka) is a spirit”.

Also, two viral videos of Prophet Samuel Henry, popularly known as Prophet Roja, have surfaced on social media, prophetic foretellings of the Apostle’s passing.

In the first viral video, dated April 4, 2024, Prophet Roja urged Ghanaian leaders to reach out to Apostle Safo, highlighting that the man of God held the secret to Ghana’s economic recovery.

Prophet Roja stated, “Go and look for Apostle Safo. For over 24 years, the Lord has revealed to me that he holds the road to Ghana’s economic freedom. If you do not hurry and tap into it, the man will soon be called by his maker.”

On 12 September 2025, Prophet Roja dropped yet another video about Apostle Safo, with vivid imagery to describe what he had spiritually witnessed.

The man of God stated, “I have seen something… a big star enter into the clouds. When it entered the cloud, it did not come back. Then I saw a mantle descending from the cloud, but it did not fall on anybody. May his soul rest in peace. You are a legend; you fought so hard, and may the Lord give you rest. I have seen it, praise the Lord. I am going to pray for you, men of God.”

The late Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s death was announced on Sunday, 14, 2025.

The news was announced in a statement by Sarah Adwoa Safo (former MP for Dome Kwabenya).

According to the statement, Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo passed away peacefully on Thursday, 11th September 2025.

The family described him, saying, “Apostle Safo was a true genius, the beacon of hope for many, a father to the fatherless. Ghana has indeed lost a gallant son and a true legend”.

The family requested that the public respect their privacy during this period of mourning.

Read the family statement below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE PASSING OF APOSTLE DR. KWADWO SAFO

With profound sorrow and deepest grief, the Safo Family and the Kristo Asafo Church announce the peaceful passing of Ghana’s beloved man of God, the greatest technological icon, philanthropist, agriculturalist, and industrialist popularly referred to as “Kantanka, the African Star”.

Our dearest Father passed away peacefully on Thursday, 11th September 2025.

Romans 14:8 states, “For if we live, we live to the Lord and if we die, we die to the Lord”.

Apostle Safo was a true genius, the beacon of hope for many, a father to the fatherless. Ghana has indeed lost a gallant son and a true legend.

His unique persona was shaped by his life struggles, dreams, resilience, courage, determination and dedication to His calling and conviction.

During this time of grief, we humbly request that the general public respect the privacy of the family and loved ones.

The burial and funeral arrangements shall be duly communicated in the coming days.

Signed

Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo (Esq)

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“What will romance the ground is your solid ideas and track record” – Atta Akyea to NPP flagbearer aspirants

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“What will romance the ground is your solid ideas and track record” – Atta Akyea to NPP flagbearer aspirants

Former Member of Parliament (MP) for Akim Abuakwa South, Samuel Atta Akyea, has issued a warning to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer aspirants.

Atta Akyea urged NPP presidential aspirants to refrain from using insults.

He emphasised that strong ideas and proven track records are what will ultimately win the support of the party’s grassroots.

In an interview to be aired on TV3 New Day Monday, September 15, Atta Akyea is quoted as saying, “All those who will specialise in insults will lose. What will romance the ground are your solid ideas and track records”.

In a separate interview, Samuel Atta Akyea slammed Kennedy Agyapong and Dr Bryan Acheampong following their constant bragging of funding the NPP.

According to Atta Akyea, being wealthy does not automatically qualify as a leader.

Atta Akyea noted that it takes more than money to govern a nation.

Speaking to Asaase Radio, Samuel Atta Akyea stated, “Do you know the number of people who have contributed significantly to the party but have always remained silent? Do you know the number of people the party resourced to become successful and later came back to support the party without making noise?”

He continued, “Must your wealth give you automatic qualification as a leader? If you have money but you cannot think properly, how can you lead? So richness is not the sole factor and variable for leadership, and people must understand this”.

“You have a lot of money, and it makes you an automatic leader? Where is this logic coming from? It takes more than money to govern a nation. Patience is part of it, and calmness is also part of it”, he added.

Atta Akyea further appealed to Kennedy Agyapong and Dr Bryn Acheampong to remain silent on their wealth and riches.

“The moment you talk about money and power, you’re not competent to lead because money is not all that you need to lead”, he added.

Additionally, Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has declared that unless Dr Mahamudu Bawumia becomes president first, no NPP aspirant will be president.

Wontumi noted that Dr Bawumia’s presidency would open the door for other aspirants in successive years.

Chairman Wontumi argued that blocking Dr Bawumia’s chances would only delay the ambitions of other NPP presidential hopefuls like Kennedy Agyapong and Bryan Acheampong.

According to him, the NPP must think long-term and implement a succession plan that ensures continuity and equality among its members.

Speaking in a video shared on X, on September 12, 2025,  Chairman Wontumi stated, “If we had supported Dr Bawumia in 2024 and allowed him to become president, by now we would have started counting the four years, and before we know it, his tenure in office would have come to an end and then the next person takes over”.

“You might be supporting your own candidate, but if we can all support Dr Bawumia wholeheartedly, it will eventually get to everyone’s turn. Anyone in NPP who wants to become president must allow Dr Bawumia to lead first. No NPP aspirant will be president unless Bawumia leads first,” he asserted.

Wontumi further used Joe Biden as an example, although more qualified in his opinion, allowed Barack Obama to ascend to the presidency first, with Biden later becoming president.

The NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman noted that patience and loyalty within a political party can eventually pay off.

Also, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has rejected claims that the party’s electoral loss was due to his religion or ethnicity.

According to Bawumia, he told former president Akufo-Addo he would not run again if Prof Mike Ocquaye’s report attributed the party’s defeat to me.

Dr Bawumia stressed that if the report had held him responsible for the defeat, he would have prioritised the party’s interests over his personal ambitions.

Speaking to delegates at Abuakwa on Saturday, September 13, 2025, Dr. Bawumia detailed, “Before the Ocquaye report came out, I had a meeting with Akufo-Addo and others. We were having a discussion about reasons on why we lost the 2024 election.

“I told Akufo-Addo that if the findings of the Ocquaye report indicate that because I’m a Muslim or because or I’m a Mamprusi-Kusasi, we lost the election, I will step down and not contest anymore. This is what I told Akufo-Addo. Because I will not choose my interest over the party’s interest. The party’s interest must always be ahead of me.

“I told Akufo-Addo that because of the party, I will sacrifice any ambition, including the fact that if I contest, we will lose. But when the Ocquaye report, Ashanti report and Konrad Adenauer Foundation report came out, all of them pointed to the same conclusion – religion, tribe was not a factor in the 2024 election,” Dr. Bawumia added.

Meanwhile, the NPP’s Presidential Elections Committee has confirmed that five aspirants have completed and submitted their nomination forms.

The five include,

Ing. Kwabena Agyei Agyepong

Hon. Ken Ohene Agyapong

Hon. Dr. Bryan Acheampong

H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia

Hon. Dr. Yaw Osei Adutwum

Also, the NPP will be holding their internal elections on Saturday, January 31, 2026, to select a flagbearer for the 2028 general elections.

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Prophet Roja’s viral prophecy on Apostle Safo’s death resurfaces 

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Prophet Roja’s viral prophecy on Apostle Safo’s death resurfaces 

The passing of Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka has resurfaced two viral videos of Prophet Samuel Henry, popularly known as Prophet Roja, on social media, prophetic foretellings of the Apostle’s passing.

In the first viral video, dated April 4, 2024, Prophet Roja urged Ghanaian leaders to reach out to Apostle Safo, highlighting that the man of God held the secret to Ghana’s economic recovery.

Prophet Roja stated, “Go and look for Apostle Safo. For over 24 years, the Lord has revealed to me that he holds the road to Ghana’s economic freedom. If you do not hurry and tap into it, the man will soon be called by his maker.”

On 12 September 2025, Prophet Roja dropped yet another video about Apostle Safo, with vivid imagery to describe what he had spiritually witnessed.

The man of God stated, “I have seen something… a big star enter into the clouds. When it entered the cloud, it did not come back. Then I saw a mantle descending from the cloud, but it did not fall on anybody. May his soul rest in peace. You are a legend; you fought so hard, and may the Lord give you rest. I have seen it, praise the Lord. I am going to pray for you, men of God.”

The late Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s death was announced on Sunday, 14, 2025.

The news was announced in a statement by Sarah Adwoa Safo (former MP for Dome Kwabenya).

According to the statement, Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo passed away peacefully on Thursday, 11th September 2025.

The family described him, saying, “Apostle Safo was a true genius, the beacon of hope for many, a father to the fatherless. Ghana has indeed lost a gallant son and a true legend”.

The family requested that the public respect their privacy during this period of mourning.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and Kennedy Agyapong have paid tribute to Apostle Safo.

Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President, has paid tribute to the founder of the Kristo Asafo Church and the Kantanka Group of Companies, Apostle Kwadwo Safo.

Dr Bawumia, in his tribute, described Apostle Kwadwo Safo as more than a religious leader, praising his innovation and philanthropy.

He wrote in a state on X, Sunday, September 14, I have received with deep sadness the news of the passing of Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, a pioneering Ghanaian innovator; and the founder and leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission.

Apostle Safo served Ghana beyond the capacity of a religious leader. He pioneered indigenous innovations and forcefully inspired an industrial spirit amongst Ghanaians. He was also dedicated to improving the lives of the less privileged in society as witnessed in his celebrated numerous philanthropic endeavours”.

Bawumia’s statement added, “As a religious leader, his open arms received me. Anytime I called on him, I departed his presence with lasting words of encouragement and wisdom.

On behalf of my family, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, the Kristo Asafo Mission, and all who mourn this irreparable loss.

May his legacy continue to endure and inspire future generations to believe in our domestic solutions, serve their communities, and put Ghana first”.

The late Apostle Kwadwo Safo was a celebrated man of God, technological innovator, philanthropist, agriculturalist, and industrialist, and also known as “Kantanka, the African Star”.

Also, Kennedy Agyapong, a former member of parliament for Assin Central and a NPP presidential candidate hopeful, has mourned the passing of Apostle Kwadwo Safo.

Mr Agyapong labelled Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, a true titan of Ghanaian innovation and a visionary leader.

Kennedy Agyapong, in his post on X, wrote,  I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, a true titan of Ghanaian innovation and a visionary leader. He was one of the greatest industrial pioneers this nation has ever known.

I have always believed profoundly in his work and had hoped our nation could provide the strategic support necessary to propel his inventions onto the global stage. While we may regret past opportunities, the monumental legacy he leaves behind will forever serve as our inspiration”.

He added, “Apostle Safo’s life work proved a powerful truth: that the Ghanaian is capable of achieving anything. He shattered any lingering doubts about our ability to innovate, build and create a self-reliant nation.

His legacy is a solemn promise that with determination and belief in ourselves, we can and will chart our own path to prosperity.

May his revolutionary spirit continue to guide us. Rest in eternal peace”, his post concluded.

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“A true titan of Ghanaian innovation” – Ken Agyapong mourns Apostle Kwadwo Safo

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“A true titan of Ghanaian innovation” – Ken Agyapong mourns Apostle Kwadwo Safo

Kennedy Agyapong, a former member of parliament for Assin Central and a NPP presidential candidate hopeful, has mourned the passing of Apostle Kwadwo Safo.

Mr Agyapong labelled Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, a true titan of Ghanaian innovation and a visionary leader.

The late Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s death was announced on Sunday, 14, 2025.

The news was announced in a statement by Sarah Adwoa Safo (former MP for Dome Kwabenya).

According to the statement, Apostle Dr Kwadwo Safo passed away peacefully on Thursday, 11th September 2025.

The family described him, saying, “Apostle Safo was a true genius, the beacon of hope for many, a father to the fatherless. Ghana has indeed lost a gallant son and a true legend”.

The family requested that the public respect their privacy during this period of mourning.

Kennedy Agyapong, in his post on X, wrote,  I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, a true titan of Ghanaian innovation and a visionary leader. He was one of the greatest industrial pioneers this nation has ever known.

I have always believed profoundly in his work and had hoped our nation could provide the strategic support necessary to propel his inventions onto the global stage. While we may regret past opportunities, the monumental legacy he leaves behind will forever serve as our inspiration”.

He added, “Apostle Safo’s life work proved a powerful truth: that the Ghanaian is capable of achieving anything. He shattered any lingering doubts about our ability to innovate, build and create a self-reliant nation.

His legacy is a solemn promise that with determination and belief in ourselves, we can and will chart our own path to prosperity.

May his revolutionary spirit continue to guide us. Rest in eternal peace”, his post concluded.

Also, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President, has paid tribute to the founder of the Kristo Asafo Church and the Kantanka Group of Companies, Apostle Kwadwo Safo.

Dr Bawumia, in his tribute, described Apostle Kwadwo Safo as more than a religious leader, praising his innovation and philanthropy.

He wrote in a state on X, Sunday, September 14, I have received with deep sadness the news of the passing of Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, a pioneering Ghanaian innovator; and the founder and leader of the Kristo Asafo Mission.

Apostle Safo served Ghana beyond the capacity of a religious leader. He pioneered indigenous innovations and forcefully inspired an industrial spirit amongst Ghanaians. He was also dedicated to improving the lives of the less privileged in society as witnessed in his celebrated numerous philanthropic endeavours”.

Bawumia’s statement added, “As a religious leader, his open arms received me. Anytime I called on him, I departed his presence with lasting words of encouragement and wisdom.

On behalf of my family, I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, the Kristo Asafo Mission, and all who mourn this irreparable loss.

May his legacy continue to endure and inspire future generations to believe in our domestic solutions, serve their communities, and put Ghana first”.

The late Apostle Kwadwo Safo was a celebrated man of God, technological innovator, philanthropist, agriculturalist, and industrialist, and also known as “Kantanka, the African Star”.

Read the family statement below:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

THE PASSING OF APOSTLE DR. KWADWO SAFO

With profound sorrow and deepest grief, the Safo Family and the Kristo Asafo Church announce the peaceful passing of Ghana’s beloved man of God, the greatest technological icon, philanthropist, agriculturalist, and industrialist popularly referred to as “Kantanka, the African Star”.

Our dearest Father passed away peacefully on Thursday, 11th September 2025.

Romans 14:8 states, “For if we live, we live to the Lord and if we die, we die to the Lord”.

Apostle Safo was a true genius, the beacon of hope for many, a father to the fatherless. Ghana has indeed lost a gallant son and a true legend.

His unique persona was shaped by his life struggles, dreams, resilience, courage, determination and dedication to His calling and conviction.

During this time of grief, we humbly request that the general public respect the privacy of the family and loved ones.

The burial and funeral arrangements shall be duly communicated in the coming days.

Signed

Hon. Sarah Adwoa Safo (Esq)

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“Increasing tariffs will unleash a new wave of price hikes” – FABAG warns

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“Increasing tariffs will unleash a new wave of price hikes” – FABAG warns

The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) has warned that the proposed increase in tariffs will unleash a new wave of price hikes.

According to the FABAG, the proposed increase would cripple businesses and undermine the government’s 24-hour economy policy.

FABAG revealed that sales in the sector have dropped by as much as 70% due to economic challenges and the cedi depreciation.

In a press release on Sunday, September 14, FABAG wrote, “The business sector is at a standstill. Food may be a necessity, but people are simply not buying,”

“If the food sector is this badly hit, what is happening in the non-food sector?”

“The food and beverages sector is one of Ghana’s largest employers and heavily depends on electricity and water. Increasing tariffs will wipe out thin profit margins and force many SMEs to shut down,” the statement added.

FABAG added, “Utility costs are a major part of food, transport, and housing — the key drivers of inflation in Ghana. Increasing tariffs now will unleash a new wave of price hikes that will hurt households and slow economic growth”.

We demand performance-linked tariffs. Utilities must first reduce system losses, improve collections, and eliminate inefficiencies before passing costs onto consumers

“The government must not allow inefficiencies in the utility sector to be paid for by struggling mothers selling bread at dawn or small business owners trying to survive,” FABAG concluded.

The Food and Beverages Association of Ghana (FABAG) urged the PURC to reconsider the proposed tariff increases in light of the country’s current economic challenges.

FABAG statement comes on the heels of Ghana Water Limited (GWL) having proposed a jump in water tariff from GH¢5.28 per cubic metre to GH¢20.09 per cubic metre, which is a 281 per cent increase.

Also, the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) is demanding a 130% transmission tariff hike to sustain operations from the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).

Additionally, the Volta River Authority (VRA) is requesting a  59 per cent increase in its  Bulk Generation Charge (BGC) from the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).

 VRA is seeking PURC to approve their demands to raise the tariff from 45.0892 Ghana pesewas per kilowatt-hour to 71.8862 pesewas per kilowatt-hour.

According to VRA, the increase is critical to fully recover the cost of power generation supplied to distribution companies (DISCOs).

VRA added that the adjustment will help sustain reliable electricity generation and meet its operational and financial obligations.

Furthermore, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is also proposing a 224 per cent increase in tariff hike.

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has proposed a 225% increase in its Distribution Service Charge for the 2025 to 2029 tariff period.

The power distribution company is seeking an adjustment from the current GHp19.0875/kWh to an average of GHp61.8028/kWh to restore the company’s financial stability.

Their proposal notes the rising inflation, foreign exchange volatility, and interest rates.

Meanwhile, Julie Kozack, the Director of Communications at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has backed the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) proposed 225% tariff hike.

The IMF’s Director of Communications described the proposed utility tariff adjustments as vital to fixing inefficiencies and attracting investment.

Speaking to journalists in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, September 11, 2025, Julie Kozack, explained, “What is essential from our perspective is that any tariff adjustments in the electricity sector aim to address longstanding inefficiencies in the sector, importantly, that they support much-needed investment in the electricity sector, and also that they are aimed at preventing the accumulation of arrears in the energy sector”.

“More generally, we are continuing to support broader sector reforms, including private sector participation in ECG operations,” she noted.

“Galamsey is killing us” – Cadman Mills

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“Galamsey is killing us” – Cadman Mills

A brother of the late President, Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills, Cadman Atta-Mills, has said illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, is killing Ghanaians.

Cadman Atta Mills criticised the John Mahama-led NDC government over their poor handling of illegal mining.

According to Cadman Atta-Mills, he refuses to pay for the accolades the government is receiving for the cedi recovery at the expense of his health or life.

In a post on X, accompanied by a video of the galamsey menace, Cadman Mills wrote,  “I refuse to pay for the accolades President Mahama and the NDC are receiving for the cedi’s recovery with my health or life.

Call it galamsey or ‘legal’ small-scale mining (when bankrolled by the politically connected). It is killing us. #StopGalamseyNow”, he added.

His remarks come after Mahama, on Wednesday, September 10, stated he was exploring all available alternatives in the fight against galamsey before considering declaring a state of emergency.

President John Dramani Mahama has said implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort.

According to John Mahama, his administration is not in a rush to declare a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining.

He noted growing public pressure to take drastic measures on galamsey but warned against resorting to a state of emergency prematurely.

Speaking at his media encounter in Accra on Wednesday, September 10, John Mahama explained, “I’ve been reluctant to implement a state of emergency in the galamsey fight because we’ve not exhausted the powers we even have without a state of emergency”.

“We have the opportunity to arrest anybody, to confiscate any such thing. The laws for forest protection and all that give us enough powers to be able to act”, he added.

John Mahama highlighted that a state of emergency should be considered only as a last resort.

“Implementing a state of emergency might sound nice, but it should be the last resort. So for now, let’s exercise all the powers we have — and if it becomes necessary for a state of emergency, then we look at it,” he added.

John Mahama further announced that his government is intensifying efforts to combat illegal mining, which has long threatened Ghana’s environment and natural resources.

He announced that the task force’s operations have led to the apprehension of hundreds of excavators, water pumps, and other heavy equipment used in galamsey activities.

“We’re taking decisive action to protect our environment and natural resources from destruction. A dedicated national task force is in place, actively combating the menace of illegal mining.

“As a result of their operations, hundreds of excavators, water pumps and other heavy equipment have been seized. Disrupting the networks that have long exploited our rivers. Nine forest reserves have been reclaimed from the grips of illegal miners,” he said.

Meanwhile, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, CEO of the National Petroleum Authority, has said President John Dramani Mahama never promised to declare a state of emergency.

According to Edudzi Tamaklo, when all flagbearers were invited to attend a program by a coalition on galamsey, John Mahama was extremely cautious on the question of the state of emergency.

Edudzi Tamaklo further challenge anyone to provide evidence that President Mahama made such a statement while in opposition.

Speaking on TV3’s The Key Points on September 13, 2025, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo stated, “What I want us to do is an objective critique, devoid of emotions, is to look at the interventions. I don’t have a problem with critiquing the interventions and say this one can be better.

First of all, President John Mahama, then candidate Mahama, never on any platform promised to declare a state of emergency. I have challenged everybody to produce for me just a video recording of President Mahama making that I will or a proclamation that I will, with the benefit of power, declare a state of emergency”.

He continued, “I remember vividly a group had put together a coalition at the tail end and invited the main flagbearers to that program. When President Mahama attended that program, he was extremely cautious on the question of the state of emergency because we all appreciate that the moment you declare a state of emergency, you change the dynamics of that locality”.

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