Speaking at the induction and graduation ceremony for Cohorts One and Two in Accra on December 19, 2024, she emphasized the need for results-oriented leadership to shape the future of the continent.

“The people of Africa no longer want promises; they want results. They want leadership that is honest, transparent, and effective. And it is you, the graduating cohort, who must lead the way,” Mrs. Osei stated. She highlighted the significance of the ceremony, coinciding with the aftermath of Ghana’s 2024 elections, and urged the graduates to rise to the challenge of leading the African Renaissance.

According to her, this transformation requires confronting and eliminating mediocrity, corruption, and inefficiency while embracing meritocracy and competence. “The era of choosing leaders based on religion, ethnicity, or political affiliation is behind us. This is a new age where leaders are chosen based on merit—their ability to serve, to deliver, and to inspire change,” she said.

In a media interaction, Capt. (RTD) Prince Kofi Amoabeng, founder of the PK Amoabeng Leadership Foundation, shared his passion for investing in the next generation of leaders. “We need to rewrite all the wrongs and get it right by investing in the right leaders for the next generation. This phase of my life is dedicated to emptying all that’s in me for this purpose,” he remarked.

The event attracted notable figures, including Capt. (RTD) Prince Kofi Amoabeng; Mr. Kwesi Amoafo Yeboah, Chairman of the Venture Capital Trust Fund; Dr. Jennifer Bruce Konuah, Local Content Manager at Tullow Ghana; Hon. Twum Ampofo, former Deputy Minister of Education; Sophia Kudjordji of Jospong Group; Obuobia Darko-Opoku, Founder of the Obuobia Foundation; and Advisory Board Member Felix Biga.

Dr. Jennifer Bruce Konuah reaffirmed Tullow Ghana’s commitment to the PK Amoabeng Scholars by providing capacity-building courses and resources to nurture the leaders Africa needs for advancement.

Speaking on behalf of the graduates, Mr. Ahmed-Sherrif Kanvela Yussif, a genetic counselor at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, urged his colleagues to prioritize honesty, professionalism, and punctuality. He reflected on the mentorship and guidance they had received from mentors like Dr. Irene Wulff and Mr. Kwesi Amoafo Yeboah, expressing gratitude to the Foundation for its transformative impact.

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The ceremony, held on Thursday, December 20, 2024, in Accra, highlighted the government’s commitment to fostering academic excellence, innovation, and national development.

In a statement shared on his official Facebook page, President Akufo-Addo described the event as a “transformative milestone in the history of our nation’s tertiary education landscape.” He commended the vision and dedication of the recipient institutions, emphasizing that their recognition reflects adherence to the highest educational standards.

“The grant of a Presidential Charter represents the highest recognition that a tertiary institution in Ghana can achieve. It is the result of a rigorous process, as each university college must meet stringent criteria established by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), including excellence in governance, quality assurance, academic delivery, research, and community engagement,” President Akufo-Addo noted.

Institutions Receiving Presidential Charters

The institutions awarded Presidential Charters include:

• National Defence College
• KAAF University College
• Heritage Christian University College
• Ensign Global College
• University College of Gold Coast
• Knutsford University College
• Thrivus Institute for Biomedical Sciences and Technology
• Nobel International Business School
• Entrance University College of Health Sciences
• Accra Metropolitan University College
• African University College of Communications
• Garden City University College
• Family Health University College
• Academic City University College

Significance of the Presidential Charters

These charters grant the institutions autonomy to confer their own degrees, diplomas, and certificates without affiliating with established universities.

This achievement reflects Ghana’s dedication to expanding and enhancing its tertiary education framework, fostering innovation, and promoting academic growth.

The recognition is expected to elevate Ghana’s reputation as a hub for higher education on the continent and internationally.

Family demands justice for police officer shot dead at Abease

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The incident occurred on Thursday, December 19, 2024, following allegations of ritual murders.

The mob’s actions were reportedly triggered by the disappearance and subsequent murder of Diana Asante, a 22-year-old mobile money vendor who went missing on December 17, 2024.

After an extensive search by community members, Diana’s lifeless body was discovered three days later in a small tunnel near the town hall shed, wrapped in a bedspread.

Upon recognizing the bedspread, the youth linked it to Joseph Ankomah, a local mortician and food vendor.

They stormed his residence, conducted a search, and allegedly found bloodstains and blood-soaked clothes on the premises.

Outraged by the discovery, the mob confronted Joseph, who, under intense pressure, reportedly confessed to the murder and admitted responsibility for several other killings.

He claimed to have killed four people that year and further alleged that two prominent individuals in the district had hired him for ritual killings, seeking blood and vital organs in exchange for money.

Before the police could intervene, the mob attacked Joseph, beating him severely before setting him on fire, resulting in his immediate death.

The police later retrieved his charred remains and sent them to the mortuary.

Chief Superintendent William Gyamfi, the Mpohor District Police Commander, confirmed the incident to Citi News. However, he declined to provide further details about arrests or the ongoing investigation.

The police have since launched a probe into both the lynching and the allegations of ritual killings, urging calm and cooperation from the community as they work to uncover the truth.

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The dossier, prepared and presented by The Fourth Estate in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa, exposes the fraudulent practices that have resulted in massive financial losses for the nation.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Ablakwa expressed gratitude to the organizations for their contribution and commitment to Ghana’s progress.

“We are extremely grateful to The Fourth Estate and the Media Foundation for West Africa for the presentation and their exceptional patriotism. Together, we shall reset Ghana and recover all loot,” he stated.

The ORAL team is dedicated to investigating and addressing fraudulent activities within the public sector. The dossier will serve as a vital tool in their mission to recover stolen funds and hold accountable those responsible for the scandal.

This development is part of a broader effort to combat corruption and enhance transparency in Ghana’s public sector.

With support from local and international experts, the ORAL team aims to restore trust in government institutions and ensure public resources are utilized effectively for the benefit of all citizens.

Other prominent members of the ORAL team include Daniel Domelevo, former Auditor-General; COP (Rtd.) Nathaniel Kofi Boakye, retired Police Commissioner; Martin Kpebu, private legal practitioner; and Raymond Archer, investigative journalist.

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The incident occurred on Sunday, December 15, 2024, when a group of mourners was stopped at a routine police checkpoint.

Tensions escalated when one of the mourners allegedly insulted a female officer, leading to a call for backup. Constable Kennedy Ofori Boateng was among the responding officers.

The situation further deteriorated when the mourners attacked and tried to disarm one of the officers.

In the ensuing struggle, Constable Kennedy was accidentally shot in the abdomen.

He was rushed to a nearby health center but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries.

The family expressed their distress, stating that despite the incident happening in the morning, they were only notified late in the evening by a police officer who mistakenly claimed that Kennedy’s death was election-related violence.

However, videos circulation online of the circumstances leading to his death suggest otherwise.

To date, the family has not received any formal communication or support from the Ghana Police Service, and they have yet to see Kennedy’s body since Sunday.

The family is demanding an official statement from the Police and accountability for the tragic incident.

The blaze, which broke out in the afternoon, reportedly went on for hours unattended to despite alerts to the district’s fire station.

Residents reported making multiple attempts to contact the fire station in Nkawie, but were informed that the fire truck had been out of service for over a month and was awaiting repairs.

The absence of an operational fire vehicle significantly delayed response efforts, allowing the fire to spread rapidly and cause substantial damage.

The affected facilities include four room, bathroom, among other amenities

The exact cause remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, the community is grappling with the aftermath, with affected teachers now displaced.

Residents continue to express their frustration over the delayed fire services response.

In an emotional speech at his last carols night with the staff of the Jubilee House, Akufo-Addo noted that he did his best and wishes it would be appreciated.

He reflected on his role as Ghana’s leader for eight years, noting his dedication to serving the country and having its best interest at heart.

Akufo-Addo acknowledged that though the full impact of his efforts may not be immediately recognized, he believes that future generations will come to appreciate his contributions.

He also lauded the December 7 elections as a commendable display of democratic accountability, refuting claims that he conspired with security agencies and the Electoral Commission to manipulate the outcome in favor of his party.

He noted that such allegations, as always, have proven to be baseless.

President Akufo-Addo concluded by expressing confidence in the integrity of the electoral process and the enduring legacy of his leadership.

The injunction, issued on December 19, 2024, follows legal action initiated by Hotel Investments (Ghana) Limited, the hotel’s owners, to reclaim disputed land.

The court’s directive explicitly prohibits Spartan Ives Limited and its affiliates from:
1. Trespassing on 0.54 acres of the hotel’s property, including its use as a car park, pathway, or venue for events.
2. Operating the Polo Beach Club or hosting events on the hotel’s land or adjoining restricted areas.
3. Using the beachfront adjacent to the hotel’s property, in violation of the lease agreement dated November 27, 1990.

The injunction, effective for 10 days, warns of contempt proceedings against the defendants should they fail to comply.

This legal action reflects Labadi Beach Hotel’s determination to safeguard its assets amidst claims of land encroachment. The hotel’s management, led by David Eduaful, submitted supporting affidavits to assert its rights and protect its reputation as Ghana’s leading 5-star beach resort.

The court order represents a significant step in the hotel’s broader effort to resolve land disputes and maintain a tranquil environment for its guests. Further developments are expected as the case proceeds.

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This was at a ceremony at the Jubilee House, Thursday.

President Akufo-Addo said the presentation of the charters means the two universities “are going to transition into autonomous Universities, with the capacity, now, to award their own degrees and diplomas.”

It also underscores the government’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and nation-building.

The institutions include; the National Defence College, KAAF University College, Heritage Christian University College, Ensign Global College, University College of Gold Coast, Knutsford University College and Thrivus Institute for Biomedical Sciences and Technology.

The rest are; Nobel International Business School, Entrance University College of Health Sciences, Accra Metropolitan University College, African University College of Communications, Garden City University College, Family Health University College and Academic City University College.

The President described the event as a “transformative milestone in the history of our nation’s tertiary education landscape.”

He lauded the vision and perseverance of the institutions, stating that the recognition reflects their dedication to meeting the highest standards in education.

“The grant of a Presidential Charter represents the highest recognition that a tertiary institution in Ghana can achieve.

It is the result of a rigorous process, as each university college must meet stringent criteria established by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, GTEC, comprising excellence in governance, quality assurance, academic delivery, research, and community engagement,” the President wrote on Facebook.

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A 51-year-old car sprayer who allegedly slashed his girlfriend severally with a knife after a misunderstanding has appeared before an Accra Circuit Court.

Daniel Anum Komey, is alleged to have slashed the hand of his four-year-old daughter who tried to stop him from hurting her mother.

Charged with two counts of causing harm, Komey pleaded not guilty.

Charity is alleged to have informed Komey of quitting their relationship because she was no longer interested.

The court presided over by Mrs. Christina Cann admitted Komey to bail in the sum of GHC50,000 with two sureties, one to be justified.

This was after the defence counsel prayed for bail and informed the court that they would prefer to go for Court Connected Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).

The court therefore referred the matter to January 27, 2025.

Prosecution led by Detective Chief Inspector Opoku Aniagyei  said the complainant Janet Appiah aged 40 years is a caterer residing at Mantsemegome, a suburb of La.

The prosecution said the complainant is also a friend of the victim Charity Agbotsi, a caterer aged 34 years.

Chief Inspector Opoku said the victim also resides at La near Holy Reform Apostolic church with her 3 children including, victim Wren Naa Ayeley Komey aged 4 years.

Prosecution said Komey also resides at Teshie with his wife and other children.

The court heard that about 14 years ago, Komey met and fell in love with the victim Charity Agbotsi.

Prosecution said the two had a relationship and they had three children including victim Wren Naa Ayeley Komey, the second victim.

It said Komey paid visits to Charity intermittently throughout the relationship.

The Prosecution held that in January 2024, Komey moved in to live with victim Charity with the excuse that he had issues with his wife.

The court was told that the two cohabited for 7 months and Komey went back to his wife in August 2024 but visited the victim intermittently.

Prosecution said the victim made it known to Komey that she was no longer interested in the relationship, but Komey continued to visit.

On October 27, 2024, at about 2:00pm Komey visited the victim, and a misunderstanding ensued between them.

Prosecution said the victim left the house with two of their children including victim Wren Naa Ayeley Komey to the complainant’s house which is about 500 metres away from her house to live there for a while.

The court said on Monday November 28, 2024, at about 7:00pm whilst eating with her friend and the children, they heard a knock on the door.

Komey then entered the room where they were eating and he threatened that he would not leave until he killed the victim, Charity and killed himself.

Prosecution said Komey showed them a plastic bottle containing a substance he claimed was alcohol and also removed a small bottle from his pocket which he said was pesticide, saying that he was going to kill the victim and commit suicide thereafter.

Prosecution said Komey removed a small knife from his pocket, pounced on the victim Charity and stabbed her indiscriminately.

Victim Wren Na Ayeley Komey in an attempt to stop Komey’s father, she was also stabbed with a knife on her right hand by the accused.

Both victims sustained degrees of injuries were rushed to the Police Hospital and Korle-Bu Teaching Hospitals respectively for treatment, whilst the accused who also sustained a cut on his left hand was arrested by Police and sent to Police Hospital for treatment under guard.

Prosecution said the victims were later discharged on November 1, 2024, but they were still undergoing treatment.

The court heard on October 31, 2024, Komey was discharged, and the matter was transferred to Cantonments DOVVSU for further action.

Prosecution said the medical forms of the two victims and the accused were duly endorsed by the medical officers who stated the major degrees of injuries on both victims.

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The 33-year-old pleaded guilty to six counts of conspiracy and causing unlawful damage and was handed the sentence by the presiding judge, Samuel Bright Asiedu.

His accomplice, 41-year-old Wisdom Ahli, who faces the same charges, has been remanded into police custody.

The prosecution, led by Superintendent Augustine Yirenkyi, informed the court that Ahli’s charges required amendments and requested an adjournment. The case has been adjourned to January 9, 2025.

Prosecution’s facts  

According to the prosecution, the complainants, Inspector Adu Yeboah and Aaron Awuah, are police officers stationed at Parliament House.

On December 18, 2024, at about 11:00 a.m., Sorkpa and Ahli sneaked into the Parliament House car park. Sorkpa, carrying a handbag concealing an earth chisel, used the tool to damage the windscreens of two Toyota V8 vehicles, two Toyota Camry saloon cars, and one Rav 4 vehicle belonging to Members of Parliament and Parliamentary Service staff.

Ahli was reportedly praising Sorkpa as he caused the damage. Both men were arrested and admitted to the offence in their caution statements, given in the presence of an independent witness.

Superintendent Yirenkyi stated, “After investigations, the accused persons were charged with the offences and arraigned before this honourable court.”

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Last Sunday, during a church service, Apostle Ekatso had a revelation in which he described seeing the entire country enveloped in darkness and others wailing.

Liberia’s Parliament building was gutted by fire on Wednesday, December 18, 2024, following an anti-government protest on Tuesday.

According to Apostle Ekatso, the West African country of Liberia could face some very turbulent times in coming days and prayers were needed to avert the situation.

“I saw the flag of Liberia down; the country was covered with Black, and the Vice President of Liberia became the President. Their Parliament House was covered black.

“In fact, I saw the people over there crying. Let’s pray for Liberia. I don’t want what happened to Ghana some time ago to happen there,” he said in last Sunday’s sermon.

@apostleekatso PROPHECY FOR LIBERIA I saw the flag of Liberia down, the country was covered with black and the Vice President of Liberia became the President. The seat of the president was covered with black. Infact I saw the people over there crying. Let’s Pray for Liberia. I don’t want what happened to Ghana sometime ago to happen there. #creatorsearchinsights ♬ original sound – Apostle Ekatso Ministry

Apostle Ekatso, also known as the “Spiritual Calculator,” has over the years made some prophecies that have seen light, with many commending him for his unique spiritual sight.

He previously called the Ghana presidential elections for John Dramani Mahama, which came to pass after he garnered over 56% of the vote cast.

Many road users, particularly drivers, attribute the gridlock to increased shopping activity ahead of the festive celebrations.

However, others point to the growing number of street vendors occupying major roads as a significant cause of the congestion.

In an interview with Adom News, one driver shared his frustration, stating that he had been stuck in traffic for over 45 minutes.

He noted that, the delays were hurting his daily operations, leading to financial losses from wasted fuel and missed sales targets.

He called for the removal of street vendors from the roads, emphasizing their role in exacerbating the congestion.

Another driver acknowledged that Tudu is known for its frequent traffic jams but described the current situation as particularly intense.

He attributed this to the influx of people in town during the festive season, which has further slowed vehicular movement.

The combination of holiday shoppers and street vendors has resulted in an overwhelming buildup of cars, leaving many drivers anxious and frustrated.

As the holiday season intensifies, the challenges of managing street vendors and maintaining smooth traffic flow remain pressing.

Drivers are calling on authorities to implement a balanced solution that addresses the needs of vendors while ensuring free movement of vehicles in Accra’s busiest areas.

Source: Akosua Agyapomaa Antwi

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In an interview with JoyNews, Dr Nkansah confirmed that the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) had already been in contact with the Ministry of Education regarding the results.

However, he noted that while WAEC often sets targets for itself, unforeseen circumstances sometimes prevent them from meeting those deadlines.

“We are sure the results will be released possibly before the year ends,” he stated.

On the same issue, the Director of Public Affairs at WAEC, John Kapi, explained that a significant debt of GH₵118 million is still owed by the government, and no payments have been made to date.

He added that, this outstanding debt is largely to blame for the delay in the release of the results.

Mr Kapi said, “We intended by now to be processing the results, because, as we mentioned earlier, the marking of the scripts for both the theory and practical aspects is complete.”

He further clarified that the only remaining component is the objective section, which requires the use of specialized machines.

“We thought that by the 19th of this month, all things being equal, we could release the results before the office closes for the Christmas break,” he explained.

WAEC faced similar challenges before the organization of the exams until the government paid a part of its debt.

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Fellow workers, on this memorable occasion of Christmas 2024, I convey to you all, warm greetings of the season from the National Leadership, Management and Staff of our great Union, ICU-Ghana.

All too soon, the year 2024 has gone almost its full cycle and is about to terminate its course soon.

Lessons learnt and experiences gained should guide you as workers, to launch into 2025 with greater commitment and leverage on the wind of change blowing in the country.

Step up your efforts at productivity within your respective workplaces, to help government effort towards the resuscitation and growth of the Ghanaian ailing economy.

As preparations are underway to usher a new political administration into office in January 2025, we urge you as workers who are the nation-builders, to rededicate and redirect your efforts towards speedy economic recovery and development of the country especially in the areas of employment, health, education, social benefits and infrastructure by Government of the day.

To our social partners (Employers), we wish to reassure you as a Union, of our continued and unstinting collaboration for increased productivity and profitability of your businesses, whilst at the same time, anticipate your reciprocity in offering optimum conditions of service for workers within your work organisations.

Finally, to the gallant workers of Ghana, we encourage you to continue holding high the flag of Ghana and work harder in your efforts at full recovery and sustainability of your employers institutions and organisations inspite of the economic difficulties the county is passing through now.

On this note, I SALUTE ALL WORKERS and our SOCIAIL PARTNERS and wish you and all your families MERRY CHRISTMAS AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR.

MORGAN AYAWINE

GENERAL SECRETARY

Richie Susu Awu was sentenced after he was found guilty on three counts of defrauding by false pretences at the end of the trial.

The court sentenced Awu to 60 days on each count. Sentences are to run concurrently.

Awu is said to have collected GH₵86,000 from three persons under the pretence of securing them German visas in 2021 but failed.

The trial judge, Mr Isaac Addo, said he took into consideration the fact that the accused was a first-time offender, and had paid GH₵30,000 to the three complainants.

“However, the court looked at the ascendency of visa fraud cases within its jurisdiction and the premeditated way the accused executed his plan,” he said.

The prosecution called five witnesses to establish a case against Awu, who did not call any witness after testifying himself.

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, told the court that the complainants resided at Sefwi, while the accused resided at Pokuase in Accra.

The first complainant was Jackson Mensah, a Mobile Money agent, the second, Ernest Opoku, was a farmer, and the third, Kwarteng Kwasi Cyprin, unemployed.

In October 2021, Mensah discussed with his brother-in-law, Kenneth Biney, that he wanted to travel abroad.

Biney linked up with one Baffour who also introduced Awu to the complainants as someone who could assist them to secure travelling documents to travel to Germany.

The prosecution said through phone conversations, the complainants moved from Sefwi to Accra and met Awu at Achimota.

During their meetings, Awu showed them some visas he claimed to have secured for other people.

The complainants become convinced and Awu charged fees of GHC24,000, GHC24,000 and GHC30,400, respectively, with the assurance that he would secure them the German visas within three weeks.

Awu failed to honour his promise and kept assuring them that “everything will be fine.”

On February 25, 2022, Awu took the complainants to the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) and told them that they were to depart to Germany.

After moving around for some time, Awu informed them that they were late for the flight, so he had to book another flight for them on another day.

Chief Inspector Lawer said the complainants became suspicious and reported the case to the police. On March 4, 2022, Awu was arrested.

In his caution statement, he admitted having collected monies from the complainant but failed to secure them the visas.

Awu was granted police enquiry bail on the same day, but he failed co-operate with the police and he also jumped bail.

Prosecution said the Regional Criminal Investigations, Accra, received information that Awu had been arrested in a similar offence at the Tesano Police Station.

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The largest pre-tertiary grouping of teachers said a dedicated funding source would not only address the challenges bedevilling the free senior high school (Free SHS) policy but would also cure the dwindling quality at the junior high and basic school levels.

“This call is in the national interest for the establishment of the fund which should be a matter of priority for the new government because the consequences of inadequate funding for pre-tertiary education could be dire if there is no such dedicated funding to solve the problems and provide quality education to Ghanaian children”.

In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic, the General Secretary, Thomas Tanko Musah, said GNAT was ready to play a key role in a national conversation to identify and codify how pre-tertiary education should be adequately funded to improve the quality and make public schools, which remain the first and only choice for majority of Ghanaians, a competitive alternative to private schools.

To set the ball rolling, GNAT suggested the nation could consider a one percentage increase in the Value Added Tax (VAT), the efficient collection of property rate and setting part aside to fund pre-tertiary education; a dedicated percentage of oil revenue and a look towards development partners and corporate organisations.

Mr Musah said parent-teacher associations should be revived to ensure that they contributed to funding that level of education, while incentives could be provided to stimulate the involvement of old students’ associations, alumni groups and missions, among others, to contribute their quota.

“Where we are now, it looks like the attention is now on the senior high school at the detriment and disadvantage of the kindergarten, primary and junior high schools, which is not the way to go,” the General Secretary of GNAT said.

“When teachers go to school, the things that must help them for teaching and learning to take place are not there. So, you see teaching taking place, but learning is not. Learning is said to have taken place when there is a change in behaviour,” Mr Musah explained.

The GNAT General Secretary further explained that education was for the public good and the only weapon that could be used to break the poverty cycle; therefore, the urgent need for a dedicated funding to ensure that children at the pre-tertiary level had access to quality education.

“All the great men came from poor backgrounds and if you ask them, they will tell you, but for education, and looking at it carefully, once one person is able to break through, successive generations will follow in that path,” he said.

According to the GNAT leadership, the way funding of pre-tertiary was proceeding was making the private sector alternatives the preferred option, saying if the trend persisted “education then will go to the highest bidder. If you can pay, you get the quality. If you cannot pay, you don’t get it”.

Mr Musah cited some of the ramifications of inadequate pre-tertiary education funding to include government’s indebtedness to the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) that had impeded marking of the 2024 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) for School Candidates.

The list also included the capitation grant, which was supposed to be used for the running of the basic schools. However, it was not only paltry but it had always been in arrears for at least two years, giving room for inflation to erode its value.

“Inflation has wiped out everything. So technically speaking, at the kindergarten (KG), primary and junior high school (JHS) levels, we are in crisis, seriously speaking. It is only at the senior high school (SHS) level that has seen some kind of sustained investment because of the free SHS,” he said.

Again, Mr Musah said only GH¢1.20 was allocated to the school feeding programme and wondered where anybody could source food for a child with that amount.

He also asked why SHSs were fed under the FSHS policy, while students at the JHS level were not.

That meant that pupils in KG and primary were being fed, JHS had been skipped to the benefit of SHS students, describing the policy as improper.

Mr Musah said another evidence of the inadequate funding of pre-tertiary education was that about 95 per cent of the budgetary allocation to the Ministry of Education went into wages and salaries, leaving the remaining five per cent for goods and services. Besides, the releases were irregular.

“Sometimes when they give you one today, it would take another two to three months before you are given another,” he said, and sometimes it is only after unions had threatened with harsh industrial actions that “they will come and give you something small to pacify you”.

Danger

At the current stage of the country’s development, Mr Musah said the association thought there was the need to make the way clearer on sustainable funding for pre-tertiary education.

Mr Musah said if care was not taken, pupils would get to Class Three and would not be able to read and write and that the tendency of them leaving school was high.

Another danger, he said, was people would not send their children to the public schools but the private ones, although the public school teachers were paid to remain in the classrooms.

“It also means that if you cannot pay and go to the public school, the child would have to leave along the line and go into child labour.

Mr Musah expressed the belief that if dedicated funding sources were identified for pre-tertiary education, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) could then be used to cater for the tertiary level.

He said the dedicated funding was also needed for the country to deliver itself from the World Bank prediction in 2018 about the human capital index report that 56 per cent of its human capital would go waste.

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The decision followed revelations by the prosecution, led by State Attorney Cyril Keteku, that none of the 17 accused individuals were National Security operatives as they had previously claimed.

The prosecution also requested a court warrant for the Cybersecurity Unit of the Ghana Police Service to retrieve CCTV footage from Abetifi township on November 7, 2024, the day of the incident.

Counsel for the accused, Kimanthi and Partners, led by Francis Bruce, argued that bail should be maintained, emphasizing that every offense is bailable under Ghanaian law.

However, presiding judge Her Honour Adwoa Akyemaa Ofosu revoked the bail and ordered the 17 suspects to remain in custody until the next hearing on January 6, 2025.

The judge also granted the prosecution’s request for a warrant to access CCTV footage of the incident.

Of the remaining 10 suspects, only four, including a prominent figure, Nana Yaa Asantewaa, have met their bail conditions, while the other six remain in police custody.

Speaking to Adom News after the proceedings, lead counsel Francis Bruce indicated that his team is awaiting the detailed judgment to determine their next steps.

Source: Akwasi Dwamena

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Charged with robbery, Emmanuel Tetteh popularly known as 666, Escoba, pleaded not guilty before an Accra Circuit Court.

The Court presided over by Isaac Addo at the end of the trial, found Tetteh guilty and sentenced him accordingly.

The convict is currently serving six years imprisonment for stealing money and a mobile phone.

The phone, which had a tracking device, led to his arrest.

Pre-meditated

The trial judge in sentencing Tetteh considered the premeditated way the act was done.

It noted that at the point of robbing the victim, the accused had sexual intercourse with the victim in the presence of her two daughters, aged three and five years.

Again, the accused committed the offence while another case against him was pending at Circuit Court 10 in Accra.

It said with such a criminal mind, the accused did not deserve to live in society, and he must be kept away for a long time.

The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Jonas Lawer, said looking at the antecedent of the accused, the severest sentence should be passed on him.

During the trial, the prosecution called two witnesses while the accused called his wife as a defence witness.

Facts

The facts before the court were that the complainant, whose name was withheld, resides at Abolo Bridge, a suburb of Banana Inn, while the accused convict was a resident of Chorkor.

On June 23, 2022, at about 6 a.m., the complainant came to the Police Station and reported that the same day, she slept off on her sofa in the hall and woke up around 3 a.m.

The prosecution said when the complainant woke up, she saw her sliding window together with the burglar-proof on the main door opened.

The court heard that the complainant thought it was her daughter who had left them open, so she called her to come and close them only for the accused to come from her bedroom with a knife to her throat.

The prosecution said the accused asked her to keep quiet and lie down and hand over her Samsung Galaxy A12 mobile phone valued at GH¢900, which was beside her.

According to the prosecution, the accused person knelt beside her and fondled her. He asked her to lead him to where she kept her money.

The prosecution said the accused gave his orders to the complainant in Ga Language.

The prosecutor said the complainant’s money was in her bedroom, so the accused followed her with the knife to the bedroom where he robbed her of cash in the sum of GH¢2,090 together with another unspecified amount of money.

After robbing her of the phone and money, the accused had sex with the complainant after giving her a hefty slap when she declined.

“After raping her, he used the bedsheet beside her to clean his penis and bolted,” the prosecution said.

The prosecution said it was observed at the crime scene that a similar modus operandi was used by the accused in other criminal adventures as captured in cases before the Adjabeng District Court Circuit Court 10 in Accra.

Prosecution said on July 15, 2024, the complainant pointed out the accused in an identification parade.

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Mr. Adofo stated that if the victims’ family or anyone else is dissatisfied with the outcome, they have the right to pursue a case, but he cautioned that the ruling is likely to stand.

“The law has been made, and there’s little they can do about it. The family complaining also has a case, but the law has spoken,” he said.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, he further suggested that the issue lies with lawmakers.

“We should be talking to our Members of Parliament to make laws that can change this. It’s not about complaining now, but about working to amend the law so that future cases don’t end in such unsatisfactory rulings. If we fail to make laws that amend these outdated regulations, it will always go against us as citizens. The MPs have failed us in this regard by not bringing these issues to our attention,” he stated.

The case stems from the tragic accident in East Legon, in which 16-year-old Justine Agbenu lost her life, and another victim also passed away.

The juvenile responsible for the fatal collision was sentenced to six months at the Senior Correctional Centre, the maximum penalty permitted under the current Juvenile Justice Act of 2003 (Act 653).

However, lawyer Adofo stated that if the family decides to appeal this ruling, it may not be successful, but the family can still pursue civil remedies against the parents of the offender to seek compensation.

While some advocate for harsher penalties, others emphasize the importance of maintaining a rehabilitative approach to juvenile justice.

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Speaking in an interview, she attributed her outstanding performance to hard work and discipline, stating that the training was not a walk in the park.

She won the Best Allied Student Award, Best Female Student Award and Second Best Student Award.

The Course assembled on 6th October 2024 with 78 Students, comprising 66 males and 12 females from the Army, Navy, Airforce, Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Revenue Authority (Customs) and National Ambulance Service.

The aim of the course is to equip personnel with up-to-date knowledge and enhance their ability to instruct in drills, be able to organize ceremonial parades at all levels, and broaden their outlook on matters of general knowledge in unit administration and the norms of the profession.

Intermediate EMT Agyei Takyiwaa Beatrice hails from Dormaa. She had her Senior High School Education at Mansen SHS in the Dormaa East District in the Bono region and holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from the University of Cape Coast.

Source: Alex Treve Quarshie

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Speaking to Adom News, the Public Relations Officer of the Koforidua Prisons, DSP Ezekiel Kolletey, relayed the inmates’ plea.

He highlighted the insufficiency of their daily feeding allowance and called on Ghanaians to support them, particularly during the festive season.

This appeal came after the Church of Pentecost – Nkawkaw Adoagyiri District Women’s Ministry, in collaboration with OAT Bakery, visited the prison to donate food, drinks, tissues, and other essential items.

During the presentation, District Pastor Mordecai Wereko encouraged the inmates to remain hopeful, emphasizing that imprisonment does not mark the end of their lives.

He urged them to embrace faith in Jesus Christ, assuring them of a brighter future beyond their current situation.

Source: Akwasi Dwamena

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He stated that, strategic measures are being implemented to achieve this goal.

Representing the Paramount Chief at the college’s 10th-anniversary launch, the Kontihene, Nana Okofour Appiah Amankwah, emphasised that the traditional council is prepared to invest significantly in the institution.

This initiative stems from the chief’s vision to establish the college as a hub for training highly skilled health professionals.

During the event, Nana Appiah Amankwah urged first-year students to take their clinical studies seriously, emphasizing that it forms the foundation of their future careers in healthcare.

Source: Sammy Asare

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In a press release dated December 19, 2024, GIS clarified that the e-Gates installed at KIA cost $1.7 million, not $240 million as falsely claimed.

The statement elaborated that, the e-Gates are part of a broader initiative known as the “Immigration 360,” an integrated border management system designed to automate passenger processing and data management at all of Ghana’s 48 approved entry and exit points.

“The Ghana Immigration Service is implementing a new integrated border management system, ‘Immigration 360,’ to address challenges of sovereignty, interoperability, and inefficiencies in the current systems deployed at 12 approved borders,” the statement outlined.

GIS emphasized that the $1.7 million cost covers 15 units of e-Gates with accessories installed at KIA, separate from the $240 million figure circulating online.

The $240 million refers to the total cost of implementing phases one and two of the Immigration 360 system across all 48 entry points, including installation, maintenance, licensing, and taxes.

“This amount reflects the entire project cycle cost, including an initial implementation expense of $94.6 million,” the release explained.

Further details revealed that the $240 million includes periodic system upgrades to ensure the infrastructure remains functional and up-to-date over a 10-year period. The upgrades consist of three replacement cycles for critical components and two major refresh cycles every five years.

“After factoring in VAT and other taxes, the total cost amounts to $274 million. This comprehensive figure includes maintenance and round-the-clock support services to guarantee seamless operation throughout the system’s lifespan,” GIS clarified.

Below is the full statement

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It will serve as a centralised hub for the operational and administrative functions of the Authority, embodying sustainability and innovation.

The multi-purpose office complex is equipped with solar panels, green spaces, and energy-efficient ventilation systems, the facility promotes renewable energy use while optimizing energy consumption.

The “Fred Oware Block”, named after Mr Fred Oware, a former CEO of the BPA, further ensures a secure and safe work environment with controlled access systems, a secured perimeter, and compliance with international safety standards

Speaking at a short ceremony held at Bui, Mr Dzamesi said the Authority was spearheading solar energy projects aimed at expanding sustainable power generation.

Earlier, Mr Dzamesi commissioned 45 Megawatts (MW) solar projects to add to the nation’s renewable energy mix.

The project has a 40MW land-based solar plant and five megawatts floating solar farm, constructed on the Bui Dam Reservoir, which is the first of its kind and the largest in Africa.

Mr Dzamesi explained that the Authority was also putting up an additional 10 MW floating solar farm on the Bui dam reservoir, saying the work on the project was progressing steadily, and anticipated to be completed within three months.

He said the solar projects were in line with the nation’s commitment to increasing renewable energy to 10 per cent of its energy mix by 2030.

“The BPA’s impact goes beyond power generation, touches lives, creates opportunities and fosters hope for the future,” Madam Justina Owusu-Banahene, the Bono Regional Minister indicated.

She applauded the Board, Management and staff of the BPA for their tireless efforts, exceptional leadership and dedication to national development, saying “In fact, they have demonstrated that progress is not only measured in megawatts of power but also in the wellbeing of the people.”

“Their achievements truly serve as an inspiration to all institutions striving to contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s progressive, growth and development,” the regional Minister added.

Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express, Business Edition, with host George Wiafe, he highlighted the significant strides the sector has made despite economic challenges.

“If you compare the first three quarters of this year with that of the previous year, you can clearly see that demand for petroleum products has gone up by 30% despite the challenges we face with forex availability to procure products,” Dr Ofori stated.

Dr Ofori noted that the increase in demand occurred amid persistent challenges, particularly in securing foreign exchange (forex) to import petroleum products.

He praised the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for its timely intervention, which stabilized the currency and bolstered confidence among international oil traders.

“In the last quarter, we saw the intervention from the Bank of Ghana. They stepped in, in addition to the normal BDC auction, by providing additional forex through commercial banks for the sector,” he said.

This intervention, Dr. Ofori emphasised, was critical.

“It gave everybody within the supply chain the confidence that Ghana is a safer destination to send products. That ensured there was no shortage, even amidst forex challenges.”

Dr. Ofori lauded the BoG for its proactive measures, particularly in October 2024, which helped maintain the supply chain and avert potential crises.

“Credit to the Governor and his team for stepping in. When there’s a struggle for dollars, and international traders are uncertain whether they’ll get paid in USD, it can disrupt supply. The BoG’s support reassured our partners and kept the nation afloat,” he explained.

In addition to the BoG’s efforts, Dr. Ofori celebrated the resilience and capacity of Ghana’s Bulk Oil Distributors (BDCs), describing them as pivotal in sustaining the sector.

“The BDCs stepped in and carried the country through tough times,” he stated. “This isn’t something new for them, but it shows their capacity to protect the space irrespective of government intervention.”

He emphasized that government support should focus on creating an enabling environment rather than direct interference.

“If the government intervenes, it should be to drive business and allow for the free flow of products without the need for state entities,” he added.

Dr. Ofori acknowledged that despite the progress, policy inconsistencies remain a challenge for the sector. “There have been a bit of policy inconsistencies, which we’ll need to address going forward,” he remarked.

Looking ahead, he called for sustained support from the government and other stakeholders to ensure continued growth and stability in the sector.

He said the export timber volume was 290,000 207,902 m3, while the production of domestic lumber was 450,000 489,977 m3.

The top five timber exports are lumber (air-dried and kiln-dried), billets, plywood, and rotary veneer.

Mr Allotey announced this at this year’s Chief Executive’s award and recognition ceremony in Accra.

He said the Commission organised its annual Health Week celebration to promote healthier lifestyles among staff members.

As part of efforts to enhance the knowledge, skills, and abilities of staff, the Commission trained 447 staff in different fields.

Mr Allotey said the Commission’s training centre, together with the University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, inaugurated the Certificate in Natural Resource Management course on July 15, 2024.

He said 67 freshmen, made up of 53 males and 14 females, were matriculated to start the maiden 18-month course.

The Chief Executive said the 2024 edition of the Green Ghana Day committed to planting 10 million seedlings.

He said the Commission met with some representatives of traditional authorities and timber industry players to increase the Timber Stumpage fees to 40 per cent, effective September 15, 2024.

The review, he stressed, became necessary due to the depreciation of the local currency and high inflation rates.

Mr Allotey said the Commission set an annual 20,000-hectare target for both government and private plantations.

“As of September 2024, 11,743 hectares of degraded land had been planted by both the Commission and the private sector.

“Also, a total area of 29,388 hectares of established plantations had been maintained,” he said.

He said the Forest Service Division, with the support of the Rapid Response Unit, stepped up its efforts to combat the menace of illegal mining in the country.

“As of the end of November, a total of 525 persons were arrested and are being prosecuted. Various equipment used in illegal offences was also confiscated or demobilised,” he said.

He said Ghana had set June 30, 2025, as the date to deliver its first consignment of

Forest Law Enforcement Governance and Trade (FLEGT) licensed timber to the European Union (EU).

The milestone will make Ghana the second in the world after Indonesia and the first and only African country to comply with the EU FLEGT regulation on timber and timber products.

Mr Akwasi Konadu, Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, commended the staff for their remarkable performances in meeting the mandate of the Commission.

He urged them to continue to work harder and justify their award.

Staff who distinguished themselves were awarded for their contribution to the growth of the Commission.

They were presented with an amount of GH¢3,000 each, a fridge, a television, and a certificate.

Columbia Gem House, a family-owned business which says that it upholds fair trade practices, dismissed the claim as “baseless and defamatory”.

The government is also demanding $4bn from French gas giant TotalEnergies in unpaid revenue from an oil storage deal, and $9.5m from Turkish tobacco firm Star Agritech, said Attorney General Thabo Chakaka Nyirenda.

TotalEnergies declined to comment while Star Agritech denied owing any money.

The amount being claimed from the three multinationals is nearly 300 times Malawi’s national debt of around $1.2bn, and 22 times its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $14bn.

Malawi was forced to take a $174m bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) last year after running into financial trouble.

Speaking to the BBC Focus on Africa podcast, Nyirenda said that Columbia Gem House had been under-reporting the value of rubies it had exported from Malawi.

He added that “some of the evidence that we’ll be using comes from Columbia Gem House itself, such as declarations they have made in the US, and what they have reported on their website, which they have now deleted”.

“The amount is not just [for] one year, it goes over 10 years back. It also includes the interest,” Nyirenda said.

Columbia Gem House said that the government’s sums do not add up.

The $309bn claim “implies Malawi has somehow produced and exported trillions of dollars’ worth of coloured gemstones”, the firm said in a statement.

“They haven’t done this by any stretch of the imagination,” it added.

Columbia Gem House said it does not operate in Malawi, but buys its gemstones from Nyala Mines, a Malawian-owned company in which the government has a 10% stake.

However, Nyirenda told the BBC that as a minority shareholder, the government was not involved in the day-to-day management of the company, and “the name of Nyala Mines had been changed to disguise its ownership”.

An attempt by the US embassy in Malawi to settle the dispute fell through when the attorney general failed to attend an online meeting, which he put down to “technical challenges”.

Mining contributes only 1% to Malawi’s GDP, although the government has announced plans to scale this up in the next few years.

Malawian economist Wisdom Mgomezulu said the government may be making the claims now because of its financial difficulties.

“They’re looking at all potential sources of income, but if you look at the claim versus the size of the economy, it’s just way too much,” he told the BBC.

The dispute with TotalEnergies is rooted in a deal Malawi entered with it in 2001, according to Nyirenda.

The French multinational was to provide fuel to Malawi and was to get tax incentives in return, he said.

The profits from the arrangement were to have been shared equally but TotalEnergies “only paid for two years and stopped paying in 2006”, Nyirenda alleged.

The government has since taken the company to court in Malawi, and Nyirenda said the government wants it to pay $4bn to settle the matter.

As for the dispute with Star Agritech International, the government accuses it of buying three million tonnes of tobacco worth $15m from Malawi through three subsidiaries – registered in Mauritius, Hong Kong, and South Africa – in 2013, but failing to pay for it.

Malawi Leaf Company, the state-owned enterprise that sold the tobacco, took legal action in Hong Kong and won the case, Nyirenda said.

“Over $9.5m was proven in a Hong Kong court,” he said, adding that Malawi wanted Star Agritech International to pay the amount.

He further alleged that the Hong Kong subsidiary of Star Agritech International was established “for the sole purpose of obtaining the tobacco from Malawi”.

In response, Star Agritech International told the BBC that it purchased tobacco worth $5m – not $15m as Malawi claims.

“This is completely wrong and is representative of the type of problems businesses face in dealing in Africa,” said the company’s boss, Iqbal Lambat.

Mr Lambat further claimed that the tobacco shipped was substandard.

“This transaction experienced difficulties as the tobaccos were not one uniform grade but a combination of leftover scrappy tobaccos,” he said.

Malawi is not the only African country that is going after money they say multinational companies owe them.

Last week Mali’s military junta issued an international arrest warrant for Canadian mining firm Barrick Gold’s chief executive officer, alleging the company owes the West African state $500m.

Barrick has responded by threatening to suspend operations in Mali, adding that “local operating conditions have deteriorated significantly with employees imprisoned without cause and gold shipments blocked”.

And in November the junta released the head and two employees of an Australian mining company, Resolute Mining, after a $160m tax dispute was settled.

The firm paid half the money upfront, with a promise to pay the other half in the coming months.

Eyewitness accounts reveal that the two miners were trapped when the pit they were working in collapsed.

Despite frantic efforts by fellow miners, only the lifeless bodies were recovered.

The first victim was retrieved with the aid of an excavator, but tragically, his lower body was severed in the process.

The second miner’s body was recovered several hours later, following traditional libation rites performed at the site.

The police have since transported the bodies to the mortuary as investigations continue.

The incident highlights the persistent dangers associated with illegal mining activities, which continue to claim lives in the region.

The historic milestone was achieved on December 19, 2024, after years of dedication to academic excellence and collaboration with a number of esteemed institutions in the country.

With this new status, the institution has rebranded itself as the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB), reflecting its broadened mission to offer world-class education in communication, media studies, business, and entrepreneurship within a Pan-African context.

In a press statement, the University expressed its gratitude to the institutions that supported its journey, including the University of Ghana, University of Cape Coast, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), University of Education Winneba, the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, and the Ministry of Education.

“This significant accomplishment aligns with the University’s new name, African University of Communications and Business (AUCB), which embodies its expanded mission to provide world-class education and professional development opportunities,” said Prof Isaac Abeku Blankson, President of AUCB who signed the stateProf Blankson further emphasized that the new status reaffirms the University’s commitment to equipping students with skills to thrive in an evolving economic and social landscape.

Founded in 2002 by Hon. Kojo Yankah as the African Institute of Journalism and Communications (AIJC), the institution initially focused on journalism and communication.

It later expanded with the creation of the Sam E. Jonah School of Business in 2010.

According to Prof. Blankson, this is not just a win for the University but also a celebration of the vision of its founder and the countless faculty, staff, and students who have contributed to the journey.

As a chartered university, AUCB is expected to lead the way in producing professionals equipped to address the challenges of the modern world, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of education in Africa.

Speaking at the PURC’s end-of-year get-together with stakeholders, staff, and the media at Hotel Stevens in Ho, Mr Agbezudor provided a comprehensive account of the year’s activities and set forth a forward-looking message for 2025.

According to Mr Agbezudor, PURC recorded over 1,000 complaints from residents concerning electricity and water services.

The bulk of these complaints were related to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), primarily involving service quality issues such as outages and phase imbalances.

However, through close collaboration with ECG, the commission resolved more than 96 per cent of the complaints.

“Once the customers are happy and satisfied, it means all of us can be satisfied,” Mr Agbezudor noted, emphasizing PURC’s commitment to consumer welfare.

In addition to resolving complaints, the PURC exceeded its educational outreach goals. “I set a target of 150 educational programmes for my public relations team, and they exceeded this expectation,” he revealed. The outreach aimed to inform residents about their rights and responsibilities concerning utility services.

Highlighting the risks posed by the harmattan season, Mr Agbezudor cautioned against setting naked fires, which often lead to the destruction of electricity poles.

He revealed that replacing a single high-tension pole costs over GH₵6,000, money that could otherwise be used to extend electricity to under-served areas.

“We must preserve these poles instead of destroying them with fires. It’s disheartening to see poles burned even within towns,” he lamented. Mr Agbezudor also called for stricter law enforcement to deter such acts, expressing interest in using offenders as examples to curb the menace.

On water-related issues, the Volta Regional Commercial Manager of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Wisdom Semevor urged residents to store water during periods of supply and report burst pipelines.

He disclosed that non-revenue water loss in the region currently stands at 48 per cent, meaning nearly half of the water produced is unaccounted for due to bursts and unreported leakages.

“When you see a burst pipeline, report it immediately. Failure to do so leads to significant water wastage and it affects revenue collection,” Mr Semevor explained.

Both PURC and its partner institutions emphasised the importance of consumer responsibility in ensuring efficient service delivery.

Mr Agbezudor encouraged residents to pay utility bills promptly within 14 days of issuance to avoid disconnection, report issues such as power outages, water shortages, or damaged infrastructure to PURC’s complaint line: 0240202016/4780, be mindful of fire hazards and protect electricity poles and transformers from damage.

The Ho District Manager of ECG, Ing. Mac Eckor also called on residents to report illegal activities such as electricity theft and bush fires that destroy utility infrastructure.

As PURC and its partners look ahead to 2025, they remain committed to enhancing service delivery through community engagement, education, and stricter enforcement of regulations.

“Let us all play our part to ensure reliable electricity and water supply for the region,” Mr Agbezudor concluded.

The event served as a platform to celebrate achievements, address challenges, and rally stakeholders toward a common goal of improving utility services for all residents in the Volta Region.

The announcement follows a rigorous selection process that took place from January to October 2024 during which new leaders were elected for all 18 National Sub-Platforms and 16 Districts.

This was contained in a statement signed by Levlyn Konadu Asiedu, the Secretary of the Ghana CSOs Platform on Tuesday, December 16, 2024.

The statement noted the Platform has successfully held its handing over and induction ceremony for its newly elected Co-Chairs and Steering Committee at the UNDP Conference Room in Accra.

The event marks a significant milestone in the Platform’s journey to strengthen civil society coordination in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ghana.

The highlight of the event was the formal farewell to the outgoing Steering Committee and Co- Chairs, whose dedicated service has been instrumental in advancing the Platform’s objectives.

Read the full statement below:

According to the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Mpohor Fiase, Ignitius Assah Mensah, reports of a missing young woman, also in her 30s, were received on Wednesday December 18.

After extensive search, her body was discovered at the Adum Dominase market under suspicious circumstances.

The DCE disclosed that later in the day, the District Police Commander informed him that the mortician, who was suspected of the crime, had been set ablaze by residents.

Authorities are yet to provide details on the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death and the mob action.

The Police are currently investigating the incident to ascertain the facts and bring those responsible for the mob attack to justice.

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The blaze, which broke out on Tuesday, gutted the structure housing the school’s library, science laboratory, and examination centre. The building also contained election ballot papers from the recently concluded 2024 general elections.

JoyNews’ Jacqueline Ansomah Yeboah visited the school, where students were seen waiting to take their exams in temporary spaces, often exposed to the scorching sun. Many are uncertain when regular lessons will resume.

For parents, the situation is especially hard and heartbreaking. One mother, visibly worried, said her child attends the affected school. “When we arrived at the scene, it was very heartbreaking,” she said. “My child is in Form 3, and this disruption is very troubling.”

She expressed deep concern about the children being left idle at home due to the closure of the school. “I am deeply concerned about the children staying at home doing nothing,” she said. “This disruption has also slowed down my work, as all my children are now at home, and as a result, I can’t go to work. “one parent said.

Ablekuma North Education Director Perry Ofori told Joy News the affected building served multiple educational levels, with a primary school on the ground floor and two Junior High Schools on the upper levels. “The fire appears to have started in the library, and the building has been extensively damaged,” Ofori said.

According to him, efforts are underway to relocate over 1,200 students, while police continue their investigation into the cause of the fire.

The emotional toll on students has been significant. The school plans to provide counselling services to help them cope with the trauma. One teacher shared, “It was heartbreaking to see the students arriving, only to find their school in ruins. It will take time, but we’re committed to supporting them.”

Despite the challenges, there is a sense of hope within the school community. “We will rebuild, and together, we’ll help these students get back on track,” said another teacher.

As investigations continue, the Kwashieman Cluster of Schools is focused on recovery. The local community has rallied together to restore the facilities and support the students’ education during this difficult time.

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Lawyers for the MFWA, led by Samson Anyenini, were in court on Thursday, December 19, 2024, to file processes to challenge the case as being frivolous and abuse of the court process, and thus, to ask the court to throw out the case.

But even before the MFWA’s lawyers could mount their defense, the NSA’s lawyers from Sam Okudzeto and Associates, beat a hasty retreat. They announced to the court that they had filed a notice of discontinuance of their case.

Lawyers for the MFWA then told the court that the NSA knew very well that they had no cause of action and no capacity to sue, and thus, the discontinuance notice was a preemptive action.

Counsel for the MFWA further told the court that the NSA’s action was a SLAPP suit only for the purpose of the ex-parte injunction to serve their interest.

The case was accordingly struck out by the court. The court then awarded a cost of GHC6,000 in favour of the MFWA. The court also prohibited the NSA from coming back to court to refile the case.

The decision of the court paves the way for the publication of the story as had advertised. The story will, therefore, be released to the public soon.

On December 2, 2024, the NSA run to court on the blind side of the MFWA, to secure a 10-day Ex Parte injunction to prevent The Fourth Estate from publishing a series of investigative stories on acts of corruption that were due to be released from December 3, 2024.

The court had indicated that the Ex Patre injunction order was based on an affidavit deposed to on behalf of the NSA by Angela Ohene-Boateng, the head of Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the NSA, as well as arguments by Dominic Brenya Otchere, of Sam Okudzeto and Associates, who is lawyer for the NSA.

Upon the expiration of the Ex Parte injunction on December 12, the NSA and its lawyers went back to court to seek a further injunction to prevent The Fourth Estate from publishing its story.

The NSA argued that if The Fourth Estate was allowed to publish the story into the NSA’s activities without hearing its side of the story, it would suffer “irreparable harm.”

“That the reputations of the applicant (NSA) and its management will be soiled if the respondents (MFWA and others) are allowed to proceed with their threatened publication and if it later turns out to be a false story, the injury and reputational damage occasioned cannot be reversed,” the NSA prayed the court.

Meanwhile, prior the court case and ahead of the announcement of the intended publication, The Fourth Estate had offered the leadership of the NSA the opportunity to respond to the issues being investigated. The efforts made to get their side of the story included an official letter requesting for an interview.

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“You cannot repeat a student right now under the Free SHS policy because the government is providing a scholarship for that student, and it cannot be granted twice” he said.

He further explained that if a student enters Form 1, the government has already funded their education for that year.

“If that student repeats Form 1, it means the government is paying fees twice for that student, which creates a financial burden on the government,” he said in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Thursday.

Due to this, he said, the option of repeating a student is no longer available.

“There’s no pressure for students to learn since there are schools in Ghana where students simply don’t attend class, and whether they fail or not, they are automatically promoted,” Mr. Carbonu noted.

He referred to this practice as “wholesale promotion” because of the funding constraints that prevent students from being held back.

“Some head teachers have tried to request that certain students be repeated, but they’ve been unsuccessful. The question is: Where would you get the funding to pay for that student?.It is not government policy, so students are automatically promoted, with no repetition or withdrawal” he noted.

In his view, the Free SHS policy functions like a scholarship for each student.

“When a student is repeated, it means the government is paying for their education again, which goes against the government’s financial interests. This is a serious issue, and it’s something that should be addressed. Some head teachers have complained to me many times, but they feel powerless to do anything about it” he said.

Going forward, Mr. Carbonu called for a dialogue on the matter and urged government to reconsider its stance.

“When there’s a proper conversation, the government should admit that students who need to be repeated should be allowed to do so,” he concluded.

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The survey, conducted in December 2024, found that 61 per cent of respondents expressed a desire to emigrate, representing a 20 per cent increase from the 41 per cent recorded in 2017.

Additionally, the survey indicated that 44 per cent of Ghanaians have actively thought about leaving the country, marking a dramatic rise of over 100 per cent from the 20 per cent who reported the same in 2017.

The Afrobarometer survey, conducted by the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development and involving 2,400 Ghanaian adults in August 2024, revealed that work opportunities were cited as the most significant reason for seeking greener pastures abroad.

This was closely followed by economic hardship or poverty. 3 per cent of respondents selected tourism and better business prospects, respectively, while 2 per cent chose education as their main reason for wanting to leave the country.

“The proportion of citizens who have given “a lot” of thought to emigrating has more than doubled since 2017. The most common reasons are the search for work opportunities and the desire to escape economic hardship,” the report read.

“The highly educated, young people, and unemployed citizens are most likely to consider emigration. North America is the most popular destination, followed by Europe,” it added.

Key findings

Six in 10 respondents (61 per cent) say they have considered leaving Ghana, a 20-percentage-point increase compared to 2017 (41 per cent) (Figure 1). The share who say they have given “a lot” of thought to the idea has more than doubled, from 20 per cent to 44 per cent.

Thoughts of emigrating are most common among the most educated citizens (78 per cent of those with post-secondary education) and the youth (72 per cent of 18- to 35-
year-olds).

More than two-thirds (68 per cent) of people who are currently unemployed have thought about leaving Ghana, while nearly as many part-time workers (65 per cent) and full-time workers (63 per cent) have considered emigration.

The most common reasons cited for potential emigration are finding work opportunities (55 per cent) and escaping economic hardship (33 per cent).

The most popular destinations among potential emigrants are North America (55 per cent) and Europe (24 per cent).

Afrobarometer is a pan-African, non-partisan survey research network that provides reliable data on African experiences and evaluations of democracy, governance, and quality of life.

Nine survey rounds in up to 42 countries have been completed since 1999. Round 10 were launched in January 2024. Afrobarometer’s national partners conduct face-to-face interviews in the language of the respondent’s choice.

The Afrobarometer team in Ghana, led by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development, interviewed a nationally representative sample of 2,400 adult Ghanaians in August 2024.

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The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has disclosed that financial constraints are delaying the process.

In an interview with Adom News, the Head of Public Relations at WAEC, John Kapi, exclusively revealed that the examination body has not yet received the arrears owed by the government for conducting the exams.

Mr Kapi explained that the government owes WAEC approximately GH₵118 million and the situation is further complicated by the need for GH₵25 million to repair malfunctioning scanners essential for processing objective test results.

With less than two weeks left in 2024, Mr. Kapi stated that, due to these financial challenges, there is no specific date for the release of the results.

According to him, the office is breaking for Christmas on December 20, 2024 when the funds are released, they will have to call the staff for them to come back to the office.

He emphasized that without the necessary funds, the exams body is unable to complete the processes required to release the WASSCE results.

He noted that the current situation is concerning, as the office has never faced such frustration, leading to a delay in the release of results.

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According to Asiedu, these structures cannot be considered proper hospitals if they lack essential medical resources such as beds and healthcare professionals.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, December 19, he explained that a hospital does not function properly if it has no medical beds available and lacks health professionals to care for patients.

He pointed out that, the country’s current hospital capacity is insufficient when compared to the number of doctors available, particularly in the five teaching hospitals and regional hospitals.

“Let’s say if we have 7,000 doctors in Ghana and that includes doctors who have left the country, if we say that the 5 teaching hospitals have a minimum of 200 doctors each because we have people training and all that, that is 21,000 to 31,000 offers for 5 hospitals,” Dr Asiedu said.

He further stated that while the country has enough nurses based on the population ratio, the major problem is the inability to employ them due to financial constraints.

Dr Asiedu also highlighted that, ahead of the 2024 elections, the government had announced that the portal was open for the 2020 nursing graduates to apply for jobs.

He pointed out that many nurses who graduated between 2020 and 2023 are still unemployed, and the 2024 batch is set to join them.

“The government put information in different reports and documents knowing that few of us will read the documents and try and say if you cross-reference this information, it does not add up because what is in this document is different from what is in the other documents, meanwhile they are all official government documents,” he said.

However, Dr Asiedu said that despite the country training nurses, they remain unemployed due to a lack of funding.

He also commented on the government’s plans to build new hospitals, saying, “We are building 110 hospitals which we need 7.5 billion which we don’t have.

At the campaign, we had a president who sees all these documents, he commissioned all these things, he said, ‘Working around 3 buildings and cutting tapes and calling them hospitals, let’s stop the jokes in the country,” he ended.

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The association says while Dr Baidoo was at work, some unknown persons at about 7 p.m. on December 18, 2024, entered the premises to raze a giant tree on the compound, which fell on the roof of the building, trapping the wife and 2-year-old toddler in the building.

The tree that fell on the house also broke the roof, damaging some personal effects.

Not even the shouts for help from the traumatized woman and the child could catch the attention of the perpetrators, who hurriedly left the premises, said the statement.

According to a release signed by Dr Bernard Hammond and Brefo Agyen Frimpong, Divisional Vice and Secretary, respectively, it took some passersby to assist them out of the house.

Dr Baidoo, who was at work, rushed to the scene later after being called on the phone.

A report has since been lodged with the Ashanti Regional Police Command for further investigations.

The Ghana Medical Association is demanding the immediate arrest, prosecution and subsequent punishment of the culprits, while it calls for compensation for Dr Baidoo’s family for their damaged belongings.

Nana Appiah Mensah, affectionately known as NAM1, said his plea was to afford him the opportunity in “My quest to affirm my innocence” before the court and the global community.

On July 11, 2024, the High Court in Accra presided over by Justice Ernest Owusu Dapaa ordered NAM1 and his two companies to open their defence to charges of some 37 counts after ruling on a submission of no case to answer.

Fast-forward, NAM1, who has been charged together with two of his companies- Menzgold Ghana Limited and Brew Marketing Consult, filed a motion for a stay of proceedings pending an appeal against the order of the High Court on July 11.

On December 5 the High Court dismissed that request for a stay of proceedings and ordered him to comply with the orders of the court on July 11 to open his defence.

When the matter was called on Tuesday, December 17 NAM1, who is also representing his two accused companies, appeared without his lawyers.

NAM1 has in the past been represented by lawyer Kwame Boafo Akuffo.

Asked by the court where his lawyers were, NAM1 pleaded with the court to afford him the opportunity to address the court in his lawyer’s absence.

“My lawyer and I have a difference. One that is so fundamental to the extent that it places a point of divergence for us,” NAM1 said in his opening remarks.

Stay of Proceedings

The Director of Public Prosecution, (DPP), Mrs Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa, while reacting to NAM1’s request reminded the court of what had happened so far in the trial and further drew the court’s attention to the accused person’s “deliberate” desire not to open their defence.

“Respectfully my lord, when I arrived in court, I was informed by Mr Watkins Adamah, a State Attorney, that he has just been shown an application for a stay of proceedings against the orders of this (High) Court filed at the Court of Appeal today (Tuesday, December 17) at 11:40 a.m,” the DPP pointed out to the court.

She added that Mr Watkins “Was just shown a copy without being given a hard copy and our (AG’s) office has not been served”.

It was the submission of the DPP that, the said application was signed by Kwame Boafo Akuffo (counsel) representing the accused persons and “for all intents and purposes, this can only mean that at the time this application (for Stay of Proceedings) was filed (at the Court of Appeal) it was done on the instructions of the accused persons (NAM1, Menzgold Ghana Limited and Brew Marketing Consult).”

“The said application in the court of appeals has no return date,” according to the DPP and in her view “It is therefore difficult to place merit on what the first accused (NAM1) has just informed this (High) Court.”

To buttress her point, the DPP said “This is more so when on July 11, 2024, this court gave a ruling on a submission of no case and called upon the accused persons to open their defence.”

She said, “They (accused persons) were further ordered by the court to file witness statements on or before October 16, 2024.”

It is the case of the DPP that on October 16, 2024, “The accused persons failed to file their witnesses statements and this court magnanimously adjourned this case to October 29, 2024.”

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The Managing Director, Nana Akwasi Awuah has stated there was due process and transparency in transporting the gold bars which belonged to the Bank of Ghana (BoG).

In an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Thursday, he noted that all relevant stakeholders, including representatives from President-elect, John Mahama’s transition team.

Nana Akwasi gave the names of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) representatives as Alhaji Yahaya and lawyer Afenu.

The seal of the relevant stakeholders, he explained was to ensure that nobody tampers with the boxes of the gold.

“The bullion was at the Accra Regional Police Command but the agreement was that they don’t have the facility for a vault.

“So by close of day on Wednesday, we moved it to the Bank of Ghana and the NDC transition team had their seals on the boxes. By so doing, it doesn’t give the impression that someone will tamper with the boxes,” he said.

The clarification comes after the National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Yamin on Tuesday allegedly led a group to attack the National Assay Centre at the Aviance Cargo Terminal in Accra.

The mob reportedly tried to seize bullion bars which according to PMMC were intended for processing by the Bank of Ghana(BoG) under the false belief that the gold was being secretly smuggled out of the country by political figures.

However, Nana Akwasi has described the claims as baseless, emphasising the transparency and integrity of the PMMC’s gold processing system.

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Known as the Ghana Education Service Management Information System (GESMIS), the portal seeks to comprehensively collect, manage, use and store data of both teaching and non-teaching staff of the service.

The Director-General of GES, Dr Eric Nkansah, who told the  Daily Graphic in an exclusive interview yesterday, said the portal would also cover information on learners from kindergarten to senior high schools, also known as the pre-tertiary level.

Features

The portal currently has data of all pre-tertiary institutions, learners, staff of the service, classroom infrastructure and furniture, learning progress and teacher performance.

Other features of the portal include salary support ticketing systems to streamline the resolution of salary-related issues for staff, and also has a letter QR code to ensure authenticity by allowing users to verify official GES letters with a simple QR code scan.

The portal also has a portion that populates information on students, enabling them and their parents to easily access academic results and progress reports online.

Unique personal identification numbers have been assigned to each staff of the GES to enable them to access the portal, where every information about the service and staff is stored and provided.

“This management information system will capture all the information on our employees, right from the date you are employed to the date you exit. So, it is important that we have accurate, up-to-date data at all times for scientific decision-making,” Dr Nkansah said.

Developed locally, he said the portal would be used for recruitment, transfers and, promotions, among others.

“In there, you will know the dates that you retire, how many years you have left for retirement, your rules, all the ranks that you have crossed and how many years to your next promotion, when you are due for it, everything about yourself is there,” he added.

The GES Director-General explained that with the portal, the service would no longer deploy any third-party platform for such exercises as it used to do, adding that it would save the service the huge amount of money used for the payment of such services.

Dr Nkansah said the GES had deployed the portal as a pilot to conduct promotions this year “and it was seamless,” adding that if the service were to use the third-party for its promotions, “each text message that we sent, we were going to pay GH¢10 per person that we were going to be promoted.”

“Now, imagine that we are talking about 60,000 employees. If each one of them was to pay GH¢10, or we were to pay on their behalf, that’s over GH¢600,000. But we did this for them for free, it didn’t come at any extra cost; all we did was just to transmit the information through their profiles and in one second, everybody got theirs around the entire country,” the GES Director-General said.

Dr Nkansah further explained that once a person became a member of staff, “every other thing that you want to do, you go back to this platform. If you want a transfer, go there”.

He said until the deployment of the portal, anyone that wanted a transfer had to go for an assurance letter, a process he said warranted travelling from long distances from every corner of the country to a destination where they wanted to be transferred to obtain that letter.

“This has been made seamless. You can just sit at Nandom, go online on the phone to put in the application, because every member of staff has a unique login detail. The moment you log in, you have your own profile, just like you have a profile with Facebook or with LinkedIn,” Dr Nkansah added.

Real time

“So, for me, as I sit here, I have the analytics of all the employees across the country, I have the analytics of all employees within the region, I have analytics of district, even school level and I can do all the way to the granular level, which is the school level,” the DG explained.

Describing the platform as exciting, Dr Nkansah said, “Now it makes it possible for us to do a transfer and that data will reflect in the system immediately. Until now, management unit changes have been a problem”.

The GES DG pointed out that hitherto with transfers from one region to another it took a long time for the person’s details to be ported to their current management units.

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Speaking on the Citi News, John Kapi, WAEC’s Head of Public Affairs, revealed that the delay stems from outstanding financial obligations to technicians responsible for maintaining essential equipment used in processing the results.

“The results are not ready. We issued a statement earlier highlighting some of the challenges we are currently facing. Unfortunately, these challenges persist because we have not been able to secure the necessary funds to address them,” Mr. Kapi stated.

A critical issue, he explained, is the malfunctioning of specialised scanners required for grading objective questions. These scanners are vital to the assessment process but are currently out of service due to unpaid debts.

“We needed to repair our scanners because we owe the technicians GH₵25 million, and they have withdrawn their services until we make some financial commitments. Private schools pay their fees, but the government pays for candidates in public schools, and so until the monies are paid, we are unable to release the results,” Mr. Kapi elaborated.

The technicians have suspended their services, insisting on the settlement of the GH₵25 million debt before proceeding with repairs.

This financial strain has compounded WAEC’s ability to complete the grading process and release the results.

The situation has drawn the attention of the Minority in Parliament, who have called for the Finance and Education Ministers to be summoned to address the government’s indebtedness to WAEC.

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Her plea follows the sentencing of a 16-year-old boy involved in the fatal collision that claimed two lives.

The juvenile received a six-month sentence at the Senior Correctional Centre, the maximum penalty currently allowed for such cases under the existing law.

Speaking to journalists after the sentencing, Madam Benneh voiced her dissatisfaction with the verdict, describing it as insufficient given the gravity of the offence.

“I hope that measures can be taken to change the law. It is unacceptable that someone can cause the deaths of two people through reckless driving and receive such a light sentence,” she remarked.

The incident has ignited a nationwide discussion about whether Ghana’s juvenile justice system should be revised to impose penalties that reflect the severity of offences like manslaughter and reckless driving.

While some advocate for stricter accountability measures, others emphasize maintaining the rehabilitative focus of juvenile justice.

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Unveiled on November 6 to honour the President, the statue had previously drawn attention due to a visible gaping hole at the back of one leg.

The exact cause of the damage to the statue is still unclear.

On December 16, the Ghana Police Service launched an investigation into the damage inflicted on the statue.

Some people believe it may have been a result of deliberate vandalism, pointing to previous threats from local residents to have the statue removed.

Others, however, suggest that it could be due to a structural defect.

Calls for the statue’s removal have been increasing among some residents of Sekondi.

A recent follow-up has confirmed that the damaged section of the statue has been repaired.

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Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Asiedu highlighted systemic issues within the health sector and urged the incoming administration to prioritise addressing these challenges over new initiatives.

“Let’s stop the joke in this country because it’s no longer funny,” Mr Asiedu remarked, expressing frustration at the persistent inefficiencies in Ghana’s health sector.

He recommended that the President-elect revisit official documents such as the Demographic Health Survey, the Health Urbanisation Facilities Assessment, and the Holistic Assessment Report, all of which detail the challenges within the health system.

“These documents clearly spell out the ails of our health system in black and white,” he stated. “When he finds out what the problems in our health system are, he has to juxtapose these with the funds committed to Agenda 111 and assess whether those resources will deliver value for money compared to solving the problems we’ve already identified.”

Agenda 111, an ambitious government project initiated in 2021, aimed to construct 111 hospitals across Ghana to improve access to healthcare. However, the project has faced delays and financial accountability concerns.

Mr Asiedu urged a comprehensive audit of the funds allocated to Agenda 111, as well as an investigation into the status of lands acquired for the project.

“There must be an audit of all the funds committed to Agenda 111 so far. Additionally, the President-elect should engage state institutions, such as the Prisons Service, to confirm whether lands acquired for Agenda 111 have been used for their intended purposes. If not, steps must be taken to ensure the lands are returned to the respective state institutions or clarify who currently holds these lands.”

The challenges highlighted by Mr Asiedu reflect broader inefficiencies in Ghana’s health sector. While the Agenda 111 project aimed to expand infrastructure, Ghanaians argue that existing facilities remain underfunded, poorly maintained, and understaffed.

Addressing these systemic issues, according to Mr Asiedu, is crucial to ensuring the long term health of Ghanaians.

The Agenda 111 initiative was launched with the promise of transforming healthcare access across Ghana by providing hospitals in undeserved areas.

However, questions about the project’s transparency, funding utilisation, and implementation timelines have cast a shadow over its potential impact.

The incoming administration faces a critical decision to continue the project in its current form or to re-evaluate its execution to ensure that it aligns with the pressing healthcare needs of the nation.

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