LATEST ARTICLES

Journalist David Tamakloe, Ketu South NADMO donate relief items to 125 flood victims at Agbozume-Ahorkpoe

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Philanthropist, journalist and native of Klikor-Kpordoave in the Ketu South Municipality, Mr. David Sitsofe Tamakloe, in collaboration with the Ketu South office of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), has donated relief items to 125 flood victims at Agbozume-Ahorkpoe to support families affected by the recent floods.

The donation exercise, held on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the AME Zion JHS School in Agbozume-Ahorkpoe, forms part of efforts to ease the hardships faced by residents whose homes and livelihoods were impacted by the floods.

Speaking during the presentation, Mr. Tamakloe disclosed that the intervention was made possible through the generous support of several private individuals, including Mrs. Veronica Debrah, wife of Ghana’s Chief of Staff, Mr. Julius Debrah, as well as other benevolent partners.

He said the initiative was his way of giving back to the community while complementing government’s efforts to provide relief to affected residents.

Mr. Tamakloe assured the victims of his continued commitment to community development but stressed that residents also have a responsibility to help prevent future flooding. He urged community members to actively participate in communal labour by keeping drains and waterways clean, explaining that although floods may not always render people homeless, they often create conditions that lead to disease outbreaks.

He also expressed appreciation to everyone who contributed to making the donation successful.

The Ketu South Municipal Director of NADMO, Mr. Ferguson Ahorlu, expressed gratitude to Mr. Tamakloe and his team for their timely intervention on behalf of the municipality.

Mr. Ahorlu urged residents living in flood-prone communities to relocate to safer areas whenever the rainy season approaches to protect lives and property. He further disclosed that the Ketu South Municipal Assembly would soon begin demolishing structures built on waterways across the municipality as part of measures to reduce flooding.

Receiving the items on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Assembly Member for the Ahorkpoe Electoral Area, Mr. Saviour Agbeko Awoye, thanked the donors for their generosity and assured them that the items would be distributed fairly to all beneficiaries.

He also reminded residents to participate in the community’s monthly communal labour exercise, warning that those who fail to do so would face sanctions in accordance with the law.

Some of the 125 beneficiaries described the support as timely and expressed appreciation to Mr. Tamakloe, NADMO and all the donors, promising to make good use of the items received.

The relief package included 30 boxes of Kleesoft bar soap, 30 boxes of Athena bath soap, 30 sacks of powdered soap, 30 boxes of sanitary pads, 10 large packs of toilet rolls, four large packs of table tissue, 20 bags of rice, 10 boxes of cooking oil, 20 boxes of Indomie noodles, 10 packs of sachet water (ball type), 15 packs of long sachet water, and 30 packs of X-Cola.

Following the donation, Mr. Tamakloe, in a statement shared on his social media platforms, expressed solidarity with affected residents, saying, “We feel your pain.” He noted that the support was intended to complement government’s relief efforts and appealed to more private individuals and organisations to partner in reaching every flood-affected community in the municipality.

He further announced that the relief exercise would continue with the distribution of government relief items to affected residents in Blekusu, Klikor, Akame, Kpodzi and the remaining communities in Aflao, reaffirming his commitment to supporting vulnerable communities across Ketu South.

“Reset. Yes We Can,” the statement concluded. “Wodorwornawo; Adzeyowome.”

Experience Niche Perfumery Like Never Before in Accra

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Maison Yusif Fragrance is proud to announce the official launch of Africa’s first-ever perfume store on wheels, a groundbreaking retail concept designed to bring the world of luxury niche perfumery closer to people than ever before.

Now permanently stationed at our Tseaddo Branch, the perfume truck is more than just a mobile retail space—it is a fully immersive fragrance boutique where visitors can discover, experience, and purchase our handcrafted collections in an entirely new way.

The launch welcomed fragrance lovers, loyal Maisoners, curious first-time visitors, and members of the public, all eager to witness this milestone. The excitement, conversations, and overwhelming support reminded us why we continue to push the boundaries of what is possible for African luxury.

As Ghana’s pioneering niche fragrance house, Maison Yusif Fragrance has always believed that Africa deserves to lead through creativity, craftsmanship, and innovation. The launch of this perfume truck is another step in that journey—redefining how luxury fragrance is experienced while creating a destination that is uniquely African.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to everyone who visited on launch day and to everyone who has supported our vision over the years. Your belief in our dream continues to inspire every milestone we achieve.

If you haven’t visited yet, we invite you to stop by our Maison Yusif Fragrance Tseaddo Branch, home to Africa’s first perfume store on wheels, and experience the artistry of African niche perfumery for yourself.

Maison Yusif Fragrance

Crafting fragrances from the Motherland. Inspiring the world.

 

Ayikai Doblo Zonal Council Stinks As Bat Infestation Forces Workers Out

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The Ayikai Doblo Zonal Council office under the Ga West Municipality has been taken over by bats, leaving the facility in a dilapidated state and unusable for staff.

The office has also commented on the police station, fire service and the bad road in the area.

Workers from NADMO, the Community Health Nurse, and the main administrative staff
are uncomfortable working in the building due to the unbearable stench, droppings, and health risks caused by the bat colony.

A visit by Ghone Banahene Agyekum to the facility on Tuesday 14-july-2026 revealed heaps of bat droppings on desks, floors, and files.

The ceiling is broken in parts, windows are without louvers, and the walls are stained — the leaving conditions have persisted for years without repairs

The SMC chairperson whko double as a stakeholder in the community said the smell hits you as soon as you enter .he told Ghonenews.

He said several reports have been sent to the Ga West Municipal Assembly, but no action has been taken.

He said the situation is not only affecting service delivery but also portraying the community badly.

Recounting the danger ,he said a young lady near lost her life after falling into a septic tank belonging to the council with full of faeces, adding that the cover of the tank had broken for years and nobody has repair.

ORC Pays Courtesy Call On Her Excellency The Vice President Of The Republic Of Ghana

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The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) led by the Registrar, Mrs. Maame Samma Peprah Esq., paid a courtesy call on Her Excellency the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang on Thursday, 16th July, 2026 at the Office of the Vice President in Accra. The visit was part of efforts to strengthen collaboration towards deepening business formalization and expanding company registration across the country.

The meeting afforded the Registrar the opportunity to brief the Vice President on its mandate, ongoing reforms, and strategic initiatives aimed at bringing business registration services closer to citizens and investors.

During the engagement, Mrs. Peprah outlined the core functions of the Office by highlighting the nationwide business registration and sensitization clinics being undertaken to promote formalization of businesses, particularly within the informal sector.

She explained that the initiative was designed to improve access to registration services, educate entrepreneurs on the benefits of formalizing their businesses, and increase compliance with Ghana’s business registration laws.

The Registrar reaffirmed the Office’s commitment to supporting the Government’s reset agenda of creating a more inclusive, transparent, and vibrant business environment by ensuring that entrepreneurs and businesses across the country have easier access to business registration services.

Welcoming the delegation, Her Excellency Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang commended the Office for its dedication to improving Ghana’s business environment through innovative outreach programmes and public education initiatives.

She encouraged the Office to continue implementing initiatives that would simplify business registration processes and make its services more accessible to entrepreneurs and businesses nationwide. She further urged the Office to strengthen its public communication and engagement efforts by consistently showcasing its achievements, reforms, and outreach activities.

Her Excellency the Vice President noted that, keeping citizens well informed about the work of the Office would strengthen public confidence, encourage voluntary compliance with business registration requirements, and enable more entrepreneurs to benefit from the services provided by the institution.

Present during the meeting at the Office of the Vice President were Mr. Alex Percival Segbefia, Esq., Chief of Staff at the Office of the Vice President; Dr. Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Policy Adviser (Political); Professor Theresah Ennin, Presidential Staffer and Special Aide to the Vice President; Ms. Maame Ama Pratt, Press Secretary; and other staff at the Office of the Vice President.

The Registrar at ORC was accompanied by her Deputy Registrar, Mr. Benjamin Zigorsh-Nyankpenu; Mr. Kwesi Owusu-Abrokwa, Head of General Administration Directorate; Mrs. Rebecca Aryeetey Smith, Head of the Legal Directorate; Mrs. Love Kessewaa Yeboah, Head of Planning, Policy, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation (PPRME) Directorate; and other officials from ORC.

The meeting with Her Excellency the Vice President reaffirmed the shared commitment between the Government and the ORC in promoting business formalization, improving the ease of doing business, and creating an enabling environment for the growth of enterprises and national economic development.

 

EDEM to Headline GhanaFest New York @17 SummerStage as Big Twins Africa Lead Event

The National Ghana Parade Council (NGPC) is pleased to announce that award-winning Ghanaian music star EDEM will headline the Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage concert during GhanaFest New York @17 on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM at 1700 Crotona Avenue, Bronx, New York 10457.

For several years, the Big Twins — Alhassan Mohammed and Fuseini Mohammed. — have played a key leadership role in coordinating and organizing the GhanaFest New York SummerStage program, helping to build the event into one of the most anticipated celebrations of Ghanaian music and culture in the United States. Through their dedication, vision, and commitment to promoting Ghanaian talent, the Big Twins have contributed significantly to the continued success and growth of the program.

The SummerStage concert, presented under the auspices of the Permanent Mission of Ghana to the United Nations in New York, has become one of New York City’s premier platforms for showcasing Ghanaian music, heritage, and community. Through its partnership with Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage, the National Ghana Parade Council has consistently brought Ghana’s biggest musical talents to perform before diverse audiences across New York.

Over the years, the SummerStage platform has featured headline performances by some of Ghana’s most celebrated artists, including Stonebwoy, Shatta Wale, Wiyaala, and many others. This year’s edition proudly continues that tradition with EDEM, one of Ghana’s most accomplished and dynamic performers, whose energetic live performances and extensive catalogue of hit songs have earned him international recognition.

EDEM’s appearance is expected to be one of the major highlights of GhanaFest New York @17, promising an unforgettable celebration of Ghanaian music, culture, and community.

With the continued leadership and coordination of the Big Twins, GhanaFest New York @17 is set to deliver another memorable experience that brings together Ghanaians, Africans, and friends of Ghana from across New York and beyond.

The public is invited to join this exciting cultural celebration and experience one of Ghana’s finest artists live on the SummerStage platform.

Building Leaders, Not Followers: Dr. Ernest Ofori-Sarpong on Mentorship and Nation Building

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Story by: Muhammad Faisal Mustapha…

Success is often measured by financial prosperity, corporate growth and public recognition, but Dr. Ernest Ofori-Sarpong, Chief Executive Officer of Special Ice Mineral Water, believes those achievements tell only a small part of a meaningful life. In an exclusive interview, the respected entrepreneur shared a philosophy rooted not in wealth, but in discipline, resilience, honesty and service to humanity principles he believes can transform individuals, businesses and nations alike.

Speaking with remarkable candour, Dr. Ofori-Sarpong observed that many young people fail long before opportunity ever arrives because they surrender to fear, impatience and self doubt. He argued that the greatest barriers are rarely external but internal, insisting that success begins with the courage to believe in possibilities before circumstances change. “Your greatest limitation is never where you were born,” he declared. “It is believing that where you started is where you must remain.”

Rather than glorifying talent, he championed discipline as the defining ingredient of sustainable achievement. While talent may attract admiration, he said, disciplined people consistently outperform gifted individuals who lack commitment and self control. “Talent can introduce you to the world,” he remarked, “but only discipline will keep you relevant when the applause becomes silent.”

Reflecting on the habits that transformed his own life, Dr. Ofori-Sarpong credited consistency, humility, punctuality, lifelong learning and respect for people at every level. According to him, extraordinary lives are built through ordinary habits repeated faithfully over many years, not through occasional moments of brilliance or luck.

The conversation turned naturally to failure, a subject he addressed with refreshing honesty. Every accomplished leader, he noted, has endured disappointment, rejection and difficult seasons. What separates achievers from dreamers is the determination to learn, adapt and continue moving forward. “Failure is not your enemy,” he said. “It is the classroom where resilience, wisdom and character are developed.”

He encouraged young entrepreneurs never to allow rejection to define their future. Every closed door, he believes, carries valuable lessons that prepare individuals for greater responsibilities. “Never let one person’s ‘no’ become your life’s conclusion,” he advised. “Persistence has opened more doors than talent ever will.”

Integrity emerged as one of the strongest themes throughout the interview. Dr. Ofori-Sarpong maintained that honesty remains the greatest currency in business because trust cannot be manufactured or purchased. “Money can build a company,” he observed, “but only integrity can build a reputation that survives generations.”

Beyond commercial achievement, he believes every successful business has a responsibility to contribute meaningfully to national development. Creating employment, paying taxes responsibly, supporting communities and operating ethically, he argued, are essential contributions to building a prosperous Ghana. “A business succeeds completely only when the community around it succeeds as well.”

Dr. Ofori-Sarpong also reflected on philanthropy, describing generosity not as an act of publicity but as an expression of gratitude. Whether supporting education, healthcare or vulnerable families, he believes giving back strengthens society while inspiring hope among future generations. “The richest life,” he said, “is measured by the number of people who rise because you chose to help them.”

Mentorship, he added, remains one of the most powerful investments experienced leaders can make. Ghana and Africa possess abundant talent, he noted, but many promising young entrepreneurs simply need guidance, encouragement and practical wisdom. Sharing knowledge, he believes, creates a multiplier effect that no financial investment can equal.

Another issue close to his heart is succession planning. True leadership, he insisted, is demonstrated not by holding power indefinitely but by preparing capable successors who can sustain an institution’s vision. “If your organisation cannot survive without you,” he reflected, “then you have built dependence instead of leadership.”

He expressed concern about the growing culture of instant gratification, cautioning young people against pursuing shortcuts to success. Sustainable prosperity, he argued, demands patience, ethical decision making, continuous learning and a willingness to embrace gradual progress rather than overnight fame.

Citizens, entrepreneurs, professionals and institutions all share responsibility for creating a nation defined by integrity, productivity and mutual respect. Every honest action, he said, contributes to the country’s long term development.

“Build your character before you build your fortune. Wealth may open doors, but character determines whether those doors remain open.”

As the interview concluded, one message stood above every business lesson: true success is ultimately measured by the lives transformed, the values preserved and the legacy left behind. Financial achievements may fluctuate, but integrity, compassion, discipline and service remain timeless foundations for enduring leadership.

For young people across Ghana, Africa and the wider world, Dr. Ernest Ofori-Sarpong’s reflections serve as more than entrepreneurial advice they offer a blueprint for purposeful living. His enduring message is both simple and profound: “Do not chase success; pursue excellence, protect your integrity, invest in people, and build a legacy that continues serving humanity long after your name has left the boardroom.”

The Legacy That Lives Forever: Dr. Osei Kwame Despite Speaks to the Future

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Story by: Felix Ernest Odamtten…

For millions across Ghana and beyond, Dr. Osei Kwame Despite embodies one of Africa’s most extraordinary entrepreneurial journeys. From modest beginnings to building one of Ghana’s most influential business empires, his name has become synonymous with perseverance, innovation and vision. Yet beyond the impressive portfolio of companies, media enterprises and investments lies a far more profound ambition: to create a legacy that will continue inspiring and transforming lives long after his lifetime.

In an era where wealth is often celebrated as the ultimate measure of success, Dr. Despite offers a different perspective. Sitting down for an exclusive conversation, he speaks less about profits and balance sheets than about purpose, responsibility and the enduring impact of investing in people. For him, true greatness is measured not by what one accumulates but by what one leaves behind for future generations.

“Money has its place in society,” he reflects thoughtfully, “but the greatest investment any human being can ever make is in another person. Wealth can improve living conditions, but values, integrity and opportunity have the power to transform generations.”

His own journey stands as compelling evidence of resilience. Every obstacle encountered along the way, he says, became another lesson in perseverance. Rather than fearing failure, he learned to embrace it as part of leadership. “Your greatest disappointments often become your greatest preparation. If you remain faithful to your purpose, setbacks eventually become stepping stones to success.”

Those experiences have shaped a philosophy that extends well beyond entrepreneurship. Dr. Despite believes every successful business should become an institution that creates jobs, nurtures innovation, strengthens communities and contributes meaningfully to national development. Commercial success, he argues, carries an equally important social responsibility.

Among the issues he speaks about most passionately is succession planning an area he believes remains one of Africa’s greatest corporate challenges. Too many successful enterprises disappear after the departure of their founders because leadership transitions were never adequately prepared. “A business built around one individual is vulnerable,” he observes. “A business built on values, systems and capable people becomes an institution that survives generations.”

He insists that succession is not an event reserved for retirement but a continuous process of developing future leaders, strengthening governance structures, documenting institutional knowledge and building a culture that transcends personalities. “Leadership is temporary,” he says. “Character, systems and vision are what truly preserve institutions.”

“The true measure of success is not what you own, but how many people become successful because you chose to invest in them.”

Philanthropy also occupies a central place in his vision of leadership. Rather than viewing charitable giving as an occasional gesture, he believes successful individuals have a lasting obligation to invest in education, healthcare, youth empowerment and community development. These, he argues, are investments that generate returns measured in human dignity rather than financial profit.

Equally important, he believes, is mentorship. Across Africa, countless talented young entrepreneurs possess creativity and determination but lack experienced guidance. “Many young people do not need someone to carry them,” he explains. “They simply need someone willing to believe in their potential before the rest of the world recognises it.”

His advice to Africa’s youth is refreshingly direct. He cautions against the growing culture of instant success, reminding aspiring entrepreneurs that genuine achievement demands patience, discipline, consistency and ethical conduct. “Never compare your beginning to someone else’s destination. Every lasting success story is built quietly through years of sacrifice that the public rarely sees.”

“Success should never end with you. It should become a bridge that allows countless others to cross into opportunity.”

Looking ahead, Dr. Despite remains deeply optimistic about Ghana and Africa’s future. With one of the world’s youngest populations, expanding technological innovation and growing entrepreneurial ambition, he believes the continent possesses every ingredient required for global economic leadership. What remains essential, he says, is leadership rooted in integrity, accountability and long term thinking.

Throughout the conversation, one message emerges with remarkable consistency: lasting legacy is fundamentally about people. Buildings may eventually be replaced, businesses may evolve and markets may fluctuate, but the values, opportunities and confidence instilled in others possess extraordinary permanence. Every entrepreneur, he believes, should aspire to become a builder of people before becoming a builder of wealth.

His reflections also offer an important challenge to governments, educational institutions and the private sector. Sustainable national transformation requires collaborative investment in ethical leadership, skills development, entrepreneurship and innovation. Economic progress cannot rely solely on infrastructure or financial capital; it must also cultivate principled citizens capable of leading future generations.

As Ghana strengthens its position within Africa’s rapidly evolving economic landscape, voices like Dr. Despite’s provide a timely reminder that prosperity must be anchored in responsibility, mentorship, service and compassion. His philosophy demonstrates that business leadership and nation building are not competing ambitions but complementary responsibilities.

Ultimately, Dr. Osei Kwame Despite’s enduring message reaches far beyond entrepreneurship. Legacy, he concludes, is neither measured by personal wealth nor by the number of companies bearing one’s name. It is measured by the lives transformed, the dreams awakened and the opportunities created for others. “When history remembers you,” he says, “let it remember not only the businesses you built, but the people you inspired to build their own. That is the only legacy that truly lives beyond a lifetime.”

MMDCEs Must Be Empowered to Lead Ghana’s Sanitation Revolution – Prof. Kofi Anokye

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Story By: Felix Ernest Odamtten & Muhammed Faisal Mustapha.

Ghana’s recurring floods and mounting sanitation crisis have reignited a national conversation on the effectiveness of local governance, with environmental specialist and Chief Executive Officer of Koans Estate, Prof. Kofi Anokye, urging the Government to fundamentally rethink the country’s sanitation management structure. He argues that empowering Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) with greater authority could transform environmental governance and significantly reduce the devastating impact of annual flooding.

Prof. Anokye believes Ghana’s highly centralised sanitation system has outlived its usefulness, leaving Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) with responsibility but without the authority required to solve pressing environmental challenges. While local authorities remain the first point of contact for residents, critical decisions on sanitation funding, procurement and contractor supervision continue to be controlled from the national level.

According to him, this disconnect has created an accountability gap that undermines service delivery and slows timely interventions. Communities continue to grapple with overflowing drains, indiscriminate waste disposal and deteriorating environmental conditions, while local authorities often lack the powers needed to act decisively.

He stressed that assemblies possess an intimate understanding of the environmental realities within their jurisdictions and are therefore best positioned to oversee sanitation operations. Giving them direct control over sanitation management, he said, would result in faster responses, stronger oversight and more efficient service delivery.

“The assemblies understand the sanitation challenges within their communities better than anyone. They must be empowered to appoint contractors, supervise their work, review performance and ensure value for every public cedi invested.”

Prof. Anokye proposed that MMDAs should be granted the authority to procure sanitation service providers, monitor operational standards, enforce contractual obligations and terminate underperforming contracts where necessary. Such reforms, he noted, would establish clearer lines of accountability while improving operational efficiency.

He argued that contractors perform better when they are directly answerable to local authorities that regularly monitor their activities. Under the current arrangement, where supervision is largely coordinated from the centre, maintaining consistent standards across the country has become increasingly difficult.

The environmental expert observed that ineffective monitoring has contributed to blocked drainage systems, poor waste collection and environmental degradation, all of which continue to intensify flooding during the rainy season. He maintained that addressing these structural weaknesses requires bold decentralisation rather than temporary emergency interventions.

Beyond environmental protection, Prof. Anokye believes decentralised sanitation management would stimulate local economic development by creating employment opportunities for community based sanitation enterprises while strengthening institutional accountability within local government structures.

Drawing lessons from international best practices, he noted that many successful countries entrust waste management and sanitation services to municipal and city authorities instead of central governments. This model, he explained, enables quicker decision making, greater responsiveness and stronger community participation in environmental governance.

As Ghana’s urban population continues to expand rapidly, Prof. Anokye warned that existing governance arrangements may struggle to meet growing sanitation demands. He therefore called for reforms capable of equipping local authorities with the financial resources, administrative flexibility and technical capacity required to manage increasingly complex urban environments.

The environmental specialist also renewed his long standing advocacy for the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives. He argued that elected local leaders would be directly accountable to the citizens they serve, encouraging stronger performance in sanitation, environmental protection and disaster preparedness.

“When local leaders are elected, residents gain the power to measure their performance on sanitation, flooding and environmental management. Accountability becomes immediate because leadership is directly linked to the people’s verdict.”

According to Prof. Anokye, excessive concentration of authority within central government institutions continues to slow local development and limits innovation at the grassroots. Empowering local governments, he said, is essential for building resilient communities capable of responding swiftly to environmental emergencies.

He concluded that meaningful decentralisation should extend beyond policy declarations to include genuine transfer of administrative authority, financial autonomy and operational responsibility to MMDAs. Such reforms, he believes, would strengthen environmental governance while protecting public health and improving the quality of life for millions of Ghanaians.

As climate change intensifies extreme weather events across Africa, Prof. Anokye’s recommendations present a timely policy blueprint for sustainable urban management. His call for stronger local leadership reflects a growing consensus that solving Ghana’s sanitation and flooding challenges will require empowered local institutions, accountable governance and decisive national commitment to decentralisation.

ECOWAS Backs Ghana’s Renewed AU Xenophobia Push

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ECOWAS foreign ministers meeting in Sierra Leone backed Ghana’s push to get the African Union to formally address xenophobic attacks in South Africa, a request first made in May.

Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, first petitioned the African Union Commission in a letter dated May 6, asking that the recurring attacks on African migrants in South Africa be placed on the agenda of the AU’s Eighth Mid Year Coordination Meeting in Egypt later that June, and calling for a fact finding mission into the violence. Whether that debate actually took place as requested has remained unclear. The backing announced this week effectively renews the push, this time aimed at getting the issue formally onto the agenda of the AU’s next full Heads of State summit.

The numbers behind the diplomatic push are concrete. Ghana has repatriated at least 926 of its nationals from South Africa, while Nigeria has evacuated roughly 1,490 of its own citizens, according to figures cited at the same ECOWAS meeting, where Ablakwa and Nigeria’s Sola Enikanolaiye jointly called for coordinated regional and continental responses to the underlying causes of the attacks. The diplomatic strain has already shown up elsewhere: a planned visit to Accra by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa was postponed earlier this month.

Ablakwa welcomed the Council’s position and tied it to a broader continental vision. “We shall keep working tirelessly towards the attainment of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s dream,” he said, referring to Ghana’s founding president and his vision of a united Africa.

The Council’s second endorsement, of what Ghana calls the Accra Next Steps Commitments on Reparatory Justice, refers to outcomes from a conference Ghana hosted in Accra from June 17 to 19, which drew participation from more than 80 countries, a virtual address from French President Emmanuel Macron, and commitments from several European governments on cultural restitution and historical acknowledgment. Ghana has positioned the Accra meeting as a milestone in the global reparatory justice movement.

Both endorsements came out of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers meeting that preceded the Authority of Heads of State and Government summit, where regional leaders are expected to take up the xenophobia issue alongside other political, economic and security matters facing the sub-region.

Afoko’s Bawumia Defense Meets Real Blame Data

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Paul Afoko’s call not to blame one person for the NPP’s 2024 defeat lands against a documented reality: a 2025 poll found more Ghanaians blamed Bawumia than anyone else.

A Global InfoAnalytics survey conducted last year found 37 percent of respondents held Mahamudu Bawumia most responsible for the party’s loss, ahead of his running mate Matthew Opoku Prempeh at 33 percent, while only 9 percent blamed Kennedy Agyapong despite his public remarks having drawn heavy attention at the time. Respondents also pointed to former President Nana Akufo-Addo at 68 percent and then Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta at 40 percent, figures that suggest many blamed more than one person rather than settling on a single culprit. Bawumia’s own account, drawn from the party’s internal Mike Oquaye Committee review, attributed the defeat instead to public anger over the National Cathedral project’s 58 million dollar cost and a late fuel price increase.

It is against that backdrop that Afoko, declaring his bid for NPP National Chairman at a press conference in Accra on July 14, argued against pinning the loss on any one figure. “The duty before us now is not to blame,” he said, listing organization, communication, economic conditions, parliamentary dynamics, grassroots morale, public trust and the national mood as the real drivers of the outcome. He argued that no presidential candidate can win without a united party, a disciplined organization, motivated grassroots supporters and a parliamentary strategy built constituency by constituency, framing Bawumia’s path to 2028 as a collective project rather than a personal one.

Not everyone accepts that framing. Outside the party, National Democratic Congress figure Edward Omane Boamah has separately accused Bawumia of avoiding responsibility altogether, arguing on social media that he was “blaming everything and everybody” but himself for the economic conditions that contributed to the loss. That criticism sits alongside, rather than inside, the polling data, but it illustrates that the debate Afoko is trying to close within the NPP remains very much open beyond it.

New Assistant Aims to Sharpen Black Queens Attack

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Swedish coach Pierre Persson has joined Ghana’s Black Queens technical team weeks before WAFCON, tasked with speeding up the team’s passing and possession ahead of the tournament in Morocco.

His specific mandate lines up with a gap head coach Kim Lars Björkegren has openly acknowledged. Björkegren has named Nigeria, the reigning champions, as the team to catch, saying Ghana is closing the distance but is not there yet. Persson’s job, as he describes it, speaks directly to that gap: quickening the tempo in possession and sharpening how the team moves the ball rather than overhauling the squad itself.

Persson arrives from Åland United in Finland with more than a decade in Swedish women’s football, having worked as a head coach, club director, sporting director and general manager in the country’s top flight since 2010. Björkegren extended the invitation personally. “My job is to help them move the ball quicker,” Persson said, describing his role as complementing the head coach through work on passing drills, possession and tactics rather than reshaping the team’s identity from scratch.

He has framed his early weeks in camp as a balance between respecting what already exists and introducing his own standards, describing every session as needing to demand focus and precision. He credited the squad’s overall quality, noting that many players compete for clubs across Europe and push each other daily in training, and said his approach is to reinforce what already works while identifying specific areas to improve.

The team’s preparation has included a 1-0 friendly win over Ivory Coast and a further test against Nigeria’s Super Falcons, with a current provisional squad of 27 players still due to be trimmed before the tournament begins. WAFCON runs from July 25 to August 16 in Morocco, where Ghana has been drawn into Group D alongside Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde.

Ferdinand Backs Spain, Defends Argentina’s Case

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Rio Ferdinand is tipping Spain to win Sunday’s World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, but says Argentina’s run to the same match makes the average team label indefensible.

Kickoff is set for 3pm Eastern time in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Argentina chasing what would be just the third repeat World Cup title in history, after Brazil in 1958 and 1962 and Italy in 1934 and 1938, while Spain look to add a second star to their own history. “I find it difficult to bet against Argentina,” Ferdinand said via Sky Sports, pushing back on pundits who have dismissed the defending champions as ordinary. “I believe people have been somewhat disrespectful by calling them an average team; they are not.”

Spain’s case for favoritism rests on a nearly flawless tournament. They have scored 13 goals and conceded only one across seven matches, reaching the final with what several previews have described as complete control in every knockout round. Manager Luis de la Fuente’s side builds through Rodri in midfield and Lamine Yamal further forward, rarely surrendering possession cheaply, and both squads are reported fully fit heading into the match, with Spain expected to field the same eleven that beat France in the semifinal.

Argentina’s route has looked nothing like that on paper, and that is precisely Ferdinand’s point. They needed extra time to beat both Cape Verde in the round of 32 and Switzerland in the quarterfinal, and came from behind in the second half to beat Egypt and then England, never once leading in the 90th minute of any of their four knockout matches, a feat only Croatia had managed on the way to a final before, in 2018. Lionel Messi, at 39, has contributed seven goals and four assists across the tournament. “You cannot achieve what they have in finals and major competitions over the past few years, becoming world champions, and still refer to them as average,” Ferdinand said.

Despite the defense of Argentina’s credentials, Ferdinand’s final prediction did not change. “I do believe Spain will win the match,” he said.

Bechem Boss Renews Grassroots Push After Rejection

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Bechem United president Kingsley Owusu Achau is again urging football authorities to prioritize grassroots coaching, two years after a similar proposal of his was rejected.

That earlier proposal is useful context for his latest remarks. Around 2022, Owusu Achau pitched football authorities and the Sports Ministry on a dedicated training camp of 25 home based players under the Black Stars head coach, with national squads eventually blending ten international players with locally developed talent. The plan was turned down, a rejection he only revealed publicly last year after a wave of injury and personal withdrawals from an AFCON qualifying squad renewed debate about Ghana’s reliance on foreign based players.

Speaking on Asempa FM, Owusu Achau returned to a related argument, this time aimed at the pattern of hiring national team coaches shortly before major tournaments. “We need coaches who will come and coach the youth,” he said, arguing that late hires matter less for Ghana’s long term prospects than sustained investment in teaching young players proper technique from childhood. He said skills learned early tend to stick, and called for continuous training for local coaches so they can teach fundamentals more effectively at the grassroots level.

He pointed to a specific, common weakness to make his case. Many Ghanaian players, he said, lack basic ball trapping skills, a gap he attributes to inadequate coaching in their formative years rather than any fault of the players themselves. Unless the country prioritizes fundamentals at an early age, he argued, Ghana will keep producing technically limited players regardless of natural talent.

Owusu Achau’s own club lends some track record to the argument. Bechem United brought in a UEFA Pro license holder from Sweden to lead a dedicated youth development program as far back as 2015, with Owusu Achau saying at the time the goal was to unearth players in the mold of Abedi Pele, Tony Yeboah and Asamoah Gyan. Whether that decade of investment at club level translates into a change in national policy remains, for now, an open question given the fate of his last formal proposal.

New Edubiase Sale Story Shifts After Denial

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New Edubiase owner Abdul Salam Yakubu now says he is selling the club to step away from football, weeks after a board member denied it was for sale at all.

The shift is worth noting on its own. Reports two weeks ago described the club as up for sale over frustration with the Ghana Football Association system, a characterization board member Joe Salam Abubakar publicly rejected at the time, insisting the club remained under Salam family ownership with no sale in motion. Yakubu’s latest comments confirm a sale is now happening after all, though he attributes it to a personal decision rather than the frustration cited in the earlier reports.

Speaking on Asempa FM, Yakubu was direct about ruling out money as a factor. “It is football that I don’t want to do again,” he said, explaining that after years running the club he has simply decided to leave the sport rather than continue managing it. He said he has told people in his circle about his intention to sell, but none has yet shown the financial capacity to take over, and he hopes a capable investor eventually continues building on what the club has built.

This is not the first time Yakubu has floated stepping away. In 2022, he said his involvement in football administration might end at the close of that season, citing a divided family and the difficulty of recovering his investment through a sale, before ultimately remaining in charge. He has also been an outspoken critic of the Ghana Football Association’s leadership, resigning last year from a GFA committee post in protest of the presidential term limit extension and previously calling publicly for a change at the top of the federation.

Whether a buyer actually materializes this time is an open question given the club’s history. Reports as far back as 2016 described New Edubiase under serious financial strain, even though Yakubu’s current comments explicitly distance this sale from any money troubles.

Bechem Boss Doubts Queiroz Amid Renewal Talks

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Bechem United president Kingsley Owusu Achau says Ghana should not have expected Carlos Queiroz to change his approach, a skeptical take that contrasts with other pundits urging his retention.

The comments land while the coach’s contract extension remains unresolved, and they add to a debate among Ghanaian football figures that is genuinely split rather than one sided. Speaking on Asempa FM, Owusu Achau argued that what fans saw from the Black Stars under Queiroz reflected the coach’s established style rather than anything new. “I don’t know what Carlos Queiroz can add to this team,” he said, describing the approach on the pitch as consistent with what Queiroz has followed throughout his career.

Owusu Achau said his view was shaped in part by a conversation with an unnamed coach trainer in France, who he said told him Ghana should not have expected a different style of play from Queiroz. That characterization comes secondhand through Owusu Achau himself and has not been independently verified. Whatever its origin, his broader argument is his own: that Queiroz’s tactical identity was well established long before he arrived in Ghana, and that future decisions on national team coaching should weigh a candidate’s football philosophy against the style Ghana actually wants to play, rather than assuming a new coach will adapt to it.

That view is not shared by everyone with a platform on the same station. Five days earlier, former Ghana Football Association chairman Samuel Brew-Butler, who led the federation between 1993 and 1997, argued on Asempa FM that Queiroz deserved more time, pointing to what he called encouraging signs despite the short preparation window before the World Cup. Brew-Butler cited Queiroz’s résumé, including three World Cups with Iran and a spell as Alex Ferguson’s assistant at Manchester United, as reason for patience rather than an early verdict.

The split between the two views underscores how unsettled the debate remains even as GFA officials and government figures continue pushing for the contract talks to conclude.

Mbappe Becomes World Cup’s All Time Top Scorer

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Kylian Mbappe became the all time leading scorer in World Cup history during France’s wild 6 4 loss to England in Saturday’s third place playoff in Miami.

The record is bigger than this tournament alone. Mbappe’s two goals took his career World Cup tally to 22, moving him past Lionel Messi for the outright record across all editions of the tournament, not just the race for this year’s Golden Boot. Messi still has a chance to reclaim it when Argentina face Spain in Sunday’s final.

The match itself produced the highest scoring game at a World Cup since Hungary beat El Salvador 10 1 in 1982, and the most goals ever scored in a third place playoff. For England, finishing third marked their best result since winning the tournament outright in 1966, even after a painful semifinal exit against Argentina that saw manager Thomas Tuchel booed by fans before kickoff on Saturday.

Both sides made wholesale changes after their semifinal losses. Tuchel left out Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham from his starting eleven, while Didier Deschamps, in his final match after 14 years in charge of France, started without Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele. England raced into a 4 0 halftime lead, Declan Rice opening the scoring with a long range strike in the third minute before setting up Ezri Konsa’s header, and Bukayo Saka adding two goals either side of a Marcus Rashford assist.

France responded after the break. Mbappe scored in the 48th minute, then set up Barcola before the hour, before scoring again himself to draw level with and then pass Messi’s career total, both goals created by Michael Olise, whose seven assists across the tournament set a new single tournament record. Malo Gusto’s foul on Djed Spence gave Saka the chance to complete his hat trick from the penalty spot in the 87th minute, making him the fourth England men’s player to score a World Cup hat trick. Dembele pulled one back in the 96th minute before Bellingham settled it with a solo finish two minutes later, his seventh goal of the tournament and a record for an England player at a single World Cup.

“It is the first medal in 60 years,” Tuchel said afterward, calling the result a foundation to build on despite the disappointment of missing the final.

Hammond’s No Law Complaint Traces to Wontumi Rift

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Former MP K.T. Hammond’s complaint about indiscipline in the NPP follows his direct criticism, days earlier, of Ashanti Regional Chairman Chairman Wontumi for defying a national party decision.

Three days before his broader remarks, Hammond, also speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen program, named Wontumi directly, criticizing him for taking part in the inauguration of constituency executives after the party’s National Steering Committee had annulled those same elections. “I’m disappointed in Chairman Wontumi. He was part of the people who inaugurated the elections, meanwhile the party has annulled them,” Hammond said at the time, telling members who would not follow party rules to leave the NPP altogether. Wontumi responded that he had received no official letter or court order informing him of any annulment, and argued that communication from national leadership should have passed through the Ashanti Regional Secretary before reaching him.

That specific dispute appears to sit behind the more general complaint Hammond raised in his later remarks, even though he did not name anyone directly this time. “There is no law and order in the NPP,” he said, arguing the current state of affairs does not reflect the principles the party was founded on in 1992. He said some younger members had become overly influential and were acting without respect for the party’s structures and traditions, and called for a return to discipline and adherence to party rules, warning that failing to restore order could weaken the party’s internal cohesion ahead of future elections.

The complaint fits a pattern in Hammond’s public commentary over the past year. In September, he separately warned against internal wrangling within the party ahead of its presidential primary, criticizing what he described as an effort by wealthier members to sideline those without financial influence, and calling for unity over personal interest. Taken together, his recent remarks point to a recurring concern about factional discipline within the NPP rather than a single, isolated complaint.

Suspended Former Chairman Afoko Seeks NPP Comeback

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Paul Afoko, suspended as NPP National Chairman in 2015 over claims he undermined the party’s flagbearer, is seeking the same position again with backing from Bawumia, Akufo-Addo and Kufuor.

His removal nearly a decade ago was one of the more contentious episodes in the party’s recent history. Afoko, then General Secretary Kwabena Agyepong and then Vice Chairman Sammy Crabbe were all suspended together in October 2015 by the party’s National Executive Committee, plunging the NPP into a constitutional crisis that ended up in court. The court ultimately upheld the suspension, a ruling Afoko has since described as bizarre, and his renewed candidacy required a decision from party officials on whether a suspended member could contest again at all, since the suspension itself was never formally reversed even though he remained a registered party member throughout. “What we started then, we can do again and do it better,” Afoko said at a press conference in Accra on July 14, where he formally announced his bid.

Afoko is campaigning on what he calls a 3R Agenda, standing for Reunite, Rebuild and Recapture, and describes the chairman’s job as requiring far more than administration. He told reporters he would serve as “a team player, a field commander, a reconciler, an organiser, a fundraiser, a disciplinarian, a listener and a servant of the party,” and pledged to rebuild the party from the polling station level up through electoral areas, constituencies and regional executives, backed by a genuine two way flow of information between grassroots members and national leadership.

His path to the announcement involved one of the more extensive consultation tours of any aspirant this cycle. Beyond meetings with the party’s 2024 flagbearer Mahamudu Bawumia, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and former President John Agyekum Kufuor, Afoko also engaged National Patrons, the National Council of Elders, and regional executives and elders across all sixteen regions, along with the parliamentary caucus. He had earlier met all five aspirants ahead of the party’s January 31 presidential primary. By his own account, Bawumia was his first stop, followed by Akufo-Addo, who he said told him he would work with whoever wins the chairmanship, and Kufuor, who he said gave him his blessing to run.

The comeback bid is not without internal resistance. Former National Chairman Freddie Blay has publicly rejected Afoko’s candidacy and thrown his backing behind rival aspirant Bernard Antwi Boasiako, known as Chairman Wontumi, a reminder that Afoko’s return divides opinion within the same leadership ranks that oversaw his removal in 2015. Afoko has said he never abandoned the party despite not completing his original term, and plans to file his nomination formally once the party’s process opens.

AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene to Attend FILDA 2026 in Angola

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The Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, Wamkele Mene, is expected to participate in the 41st edition of the Feira Internacional de Luanda (FILDA 2026) in Angola.

The international trade fair, scheduled for July 21 to 26, 2026, will bring together businesses, investors, policymakers and private sector players from across Africa and beyond.

The event will be held at the Zona Económica Especial (ZEE) Luanda-Bengo in Ícolo e Bengo under the theme, “Produzir e Inovar Localmente, Vencer Globalmente”—translated as “Produce and Innovate Locally, Win Globally.”

Mr Mene is expected to address participants and engage exhibitors and representatives of the private sector during the fair.

His participation is expected to highlight the role of the AfCFTA in transforming Africa’s growing productive capacity into practical market opportunities for businesses across the continent.

FILDA, regarded as Angola’s largest international trade fair, provides a platform for enterprises to showcase locally produced goods, forge commercial partnerships and explore investment opportunities.

The participation of the AfCFTA Secretary-General comes at a time when the implementation of the continental free trade agreement is increasingly focused on moving beyond policy commitments to ensuring that African businesses can effectively access markets across borders.

The event also follows Angola’s validation of its national AfCFTA implementation strategy in Luanda, placing the country’s industrial and trade ambitions within the broader framework of the continental single market.

Mr Mene’s presence at FILDA 2026 is therefore expected to reinforce the connection between local production, innovation and the AfCFTA’s objective of creating a larger and more integrated market for African goods and services.

Supporters Seek Fresh Dialogue to Restore Confidence in Suhum NPP

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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Suhum Constituency of Ghana’s Eastern Region is facing increasing internal unease as a section of party supporters and grassroots members voice concerns over what they describe as growing divisions under the leadership of the area’s Member of Parliament, Hon. Frank Asiedu Bekoe, popularly known as “Protozoa.” They warn that unless urgent efforts are made to restore unity, the party could face significant political challenges in future elections.

The concerns surfaced during the constituency’s electoral activities, where supporters from different polling stations and electoral areas spoke openly about what they believe is a widening gap between the parliamentary leadership and the party’s grassroots structures. Many described the current atmosphere as one of uncertainty, frustration and declining confidence among long serving party faithful.

Several supporters appealed directly to the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NPP and the Office of the party’s 2024 Presidential Candidate, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, to facilitate an intervention aimed at reconciling the various factions within the constituency before the situation escalates further. According to them, rebuilding trust should become an immediate priority if the party intends to remain electorally competitive in Suhum.

In separate interviews, party members alleged that internal cohesion has steadily weakened since Hon. Frank Asiedu Bekoe assumed office as Member of Parliament. They claimed that disagreements which were once manageable have gradually evolved into entrenched divisions that now threaten the party’s organizational stability and morale.

According to several respondents, strained relationships between the Member of Parliament and sections of constituency executives, polling station officers and grassroots organizers have contributed to feelings of exclusion among many dedicated party activists. They argued that many committed supporters no longer feel adequately consulted on major constituency decisions, resulting in reduced enthusiasm and weakening the collaborative spirit that has historically characterized the party.

Some supporters further alleged that greater attention has been directed toward consolidating support among selected delegates instead of promoting broad based reconciliation across the constituency. While these allegations remain contested and have not been independently verified, critics insist that perceptions of favoritism have intensified mistrust and deepened existing internal divisions.

A number of interviewees also claimed that Suhum possesses experienced and highly respected professionals including medical practitioners, lawyers, entrepreneurs and other accomplished party members who are willing to contribute significantly to rebuilding the constituency. However, they alleged that many of these individuals have been marginalized because they are perceived as potential political competitors to the current parliamentary leadership.

Supporters further contended that the constituency’s leadership has increasingly relied on a relatively narrow circle of loyalists whom they believe lack the organizational capacity, influence and financial strength needed to effectively support the party, particularly during a period when the NPP is rebuilding from opposition.

Several respondents maintained that excluding experienced professionals has deprived the constituency of valuable expertise capable of strengthening internal administration, improving resource mobilization and enhancing grassroots political organization. They argued that broader inclusion would better position the party for future electoral contests.

Beyond internal party concerns, many residents and sympathizers also questioned the pace of socio economic development within the constituency. They expressed disappointment that several communities continue to face challenges relating to infrastructure, employment opportunities and access to essential public services despite expectations of accelerated development.

Some interviewees further argued that stronger parliamentary advocacy and sustained engagement with central government institutions could help attract greater investment into roads, education, healthcare, agriculture and youth employment initiatives. In their view, visible development remains one of the most effective ways of strengthening public confidence in political leadership.

The Member of Parliament’s visibility in Parliament also featured prominently in the discussions. Several supporters alleged that Hon. Frank Asiedu Bekoe has maintained a relatively low public profile on issues directly affecting Suhum, arguing that constituents expect stronger representation during parliamentary debates and national policy discussions.

Respondents recalled that during his campaign for the NPP parliamentary nomination, Hon. Frank Asiedu Bekoe pledged to unite the constituency and restore confidence within the party. While acknowledging the challenges associated with political leadership, they argued that many supporters believe those expectations have yet to be fully realized.

Political analysts observe that internal cohesion remains one of the most critical determinants of electoral success in highly competitive constituencies. They caution that prolonged factional disputes often weaken campaign structures, reduce volunteer participation, discourage financial support and create opportunities for political opponents to capitalize on internal dissatisfaction.

The concerns emerging from Suhum come at a time when political parties across Ghana are reassessing their internal structures following recent electoral outcomes. Reconciliation, grassroots engagement and organizational renewal have become central themes as parties prepare for future national contests and seek to rebuild public confidence.

Several supporters warned that failure to resolve the current disagreements could gradually erode loyalty among committed party members and weaken the constituency’s electoral machinery. As one supporter remarked, “Political victories are built on unity not division. Once the grassroots lose confidence, rebuilding that foundation becomes far more difficult.” Another activist added, “Suhum deserves leadership that brings every stakeholder to the same table because reconciliation must come before any future campaign.”

Supporters are therefore urging the National Executive Committee of the NPP and the Office of Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia to facilitate an inclusive dialogue involving constituency executives, grassroots members and Hon. Frank Asiedu Bekoe. They believe that meaningful reconciliation, renewed grassroots participation and a stronger focus on development priorities including infrastructure, education, healthcare and local economic opportunities could restore confidence and reposition the party for future electoral success. Hon. Frank Asiedu Bekoe had not publicly responded to the allegations and concerns referenced in this report at the time of publication. The claims presented reflect the views of the supporters interviewed and underscore wider debates surrounding leadership, accountability, grassroots participation and party cohesion within the constituency.

UK Pay Transparency Plan Part of Wider Equal Pay Push

Britain’s proposal to force employers to disclose salaries in job adverts is one piece of a broader equal pay reform package that also targets outsourcing loopholes and pay discrimination enforcement.

The salary disclosure rule is the part getting attention, but the Cabinet Office’s consultation goes further. It also proposes a new equal pay regulation and enforcement unit involving trade unions, a rule preventing employers from using outsourced services to sidestep equal pay obligations, and a restated commitment to eventually make ethnicity and disability pay gap reporting mandatory alongside existing gender pay gap rules. Officials framed the salary disclosure piece as a way to stop discrimination before it starts, rather than leaving workers to uncover and challenge unequal pay after the fact.

Under the core proposal, employers would have to state salary information in job adverts, or provide it in writing to candidates before an interview if no advert is published. What exactly must be disclosed is still open: officials are consulting on whether firms should publish a fixed salary, a pay range or a benchmark rate, and whether bonuses and other remuneration should be included too. “Salary decisions can be influenced by stereotypes,” the Cabinet Office said, arguing that pay secrecy leaves room for bias against women, ethnic minorities and disabled workers to go unchecked.

Voluntary practice already varies widely. Research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found public sector organizations and charities are more likely to publish pay information than private companies, and that employers who do disclose tend to post a range rather than a fixed number, sometimes spanning more than £10,000, which limits how useful the figure actually is to an applicant.

The UK plan sits within a much larger international shift. The European Union’s own Pay Transparency Directive goes further than what Britain is proposing, since it will also ban employers from asking candidates about their salary history, a restriction not included in the UK consultation. In the United States, Virginia became the latest state to require salary ranges in job postings this July, joining California, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Washington DC and two Ohio cities. Japan already requires clear wage terms in job adverts, and Mexico and South Korea both have draft legislation under consideration that would do the same.

Not everyone welcomes the change. Some employers have raised concerns that publishing exact pay figures could let competitors see what they pay and poach staff more easily, on top of new administrative requirements. Others in the field argue the rules would simply put the law on the same footing as practices many organizations already follow voluntarily.

The consultation runs until October 27 and would apply across England, Wales and Scotland if adopted. Whether Northern Ireland follows remains unresolved, with the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland previously arguing that EU pay transparency rules should apply there under the Windsor Framework, a position the Northern Ireland Executive has not yet confirmed it will act on.

24-Hour Economy’s Jobs Figures Are Still Targets

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The Ghanaian government’s 24-Hour Economy Secretariat says four projects will create more than 160,000 jobs, but none of the plants behind that figure are operating yet.

The figures arrived as part of a rebuttal. The Secretariat’s statement followed pointed questions in Parliament from Minority Spokesperson on Economy and Development Kojo Oppong Nkrumah about what the program has delivered against the roughly GH¢650 billion Parliament has appropriated for government activity over the past two years. The Secretariat pushed back on that comparison directly, saying the GH¢650 billion figure covers the entire national budget across all government programs, not spending on the 24 Hour Economy specifically, and used the job and investment numbers below as its evidence of progress.

The arithmetic behind the headline jobs figure holds up, as far as it goes. Three named projects carry public job targets: the $1.45 billion Buipe solar and battery project at 13,000, the $250 million Kambonwule oil palm complex at 120,000, and a bioenergy program at Buipe and Damanko at 30,000, adding to 163,000, consistent with the Secretariat’s claim. A fourth project, the Tamale Air Cargo Hub, carries no published jobs number at all. Land there has only been demarcated, with two operators holding concessions and a target start date of 2027, the same year Buipe’s first phase is due to finish.

What is actually running today is more modest than the totals suggest. “Public funds pay for project preparation and viability gap funding where projects need it to become bankable,” the Secretariat said, describing government’s role as limited to that preparation work plus seed funding for its own coordination, with the expectation that the 24 Hour Economy Authority becomes self financing within its first few years. The concrete activity so far consists of 268 filling stations and 33 manufacturers running shift systems, plus a handful of public bodies, including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, that have introduced round the clock services of their own.

The Secretariat says it will ultimately be judged on investment mobilized, production, exports and jobs actually created, against a broader target of 1.7 million jobs by the end of 2028 and a national unemployment rate below five percent by 2034. Those remain targets rather than results, a distinction the Secretariat’s own figures make clear even as it defends the program’s early record.

Chief Justice Extends School Justice Clubs to Ashanti

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Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie extended his Justice Clubs program to Ashanti Region schools this week, following earlier stops in Accra, the Central and Western regions and the East.

The Ashanti event is one stage in a rollout that has moved steadily since the program began as a pilot in Greater Accra. It reached ten schools across the Central and Western regions in December, arrived in the Eastern Region on July 12 with ten more schools inaugurated at Oyoko Methodist Senior High, and has now extended into Ashanti, adding newly sworn student executives to a network the Judicial Service says is meant to build legal literacy and civic responsibility well before students reach adulthood.

Addressing students, teachers and education officials at the inauguration, Baffoe-Bonnie argued that grades alone will not produce responsible leaders. “Knowledge without direction can be dangerous, and ambition without integrity can be destructive,” he said, telling the newly sworn officers that their classmates would learn more from their conduct than from anything they said in a speech. He urged them to show honesty, discipline and respect in their schools and communities and to see themselves as ambassadors of justice beyond the classroom.

He drew on his own habit of backing a different football club from his friends to make a point about independent thinking, telling students not to fear disagreement and arguing that the legal profession in particular needs people willing to analyze issues critically rather than follow the group. He also urged them not to let their backgrounds limit their ambitions, pointing to judges and public officials who reached senior positions from modest beginnings, a message that carries some personal weight given his own early schooling took place in a less resourced school in Ahafo Region, not far from his father’s hometown of Sewua in Ashanti Region itself.

Using the image of crabs pulling each other back into a bucket, he warned students against letting negative peers derail their ambitions, and closed by tying the country’s legal strength to the character of its people rather than its laws alone.

Adu-Boahene Case Sparks Fight Over Public Comment

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Prosecutors and a defence aligned commentator are publicly disputing what evidence was presented in the Adu Boahene diversion trial, days before the High Court is expected to conclude the case.

The dispute has a history worth noting. In May, the same commentator, Kwesi Botchway Jnr, criticized the Attorney General’s public statements on the case as an improper media trial, arguing the matter should be argued in court rather than in public commentary. This week’s exchange, in which he and Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai each laid out competing accounts of the courtroom record on social media, is itself the kind of public argument he had objected to months earlier, whichever account of the evidence turns out to be accurate.

Srem Sai’s version, posted to Facebook, describes a strong prosecution case. He said the GH¢49.1 million at issue came from a Government of Ghana account and that its source was not disputed in court, and alleged that Adu Boahene opened a private company account designed to resemble a government agency’s in order to receive three cheques meant for a state institution. He said prosecutors had tendered evidence tracing the funds to houses, luxury vehicles and other assets for the accused and associates, and that the equipment the money was meant to buy was never purchased, with forged receipts submitted to cover the transactions. “Justice will be served to both the accused persons and our beloved Republic,” he wrote.

Botchway rejected that account, saying the Attorney General’s office had told the court it could not produce some documents the Court of Appeal had ordered, including evidence on the money’s source, and that prosecution witnesses testified the transactions were authorized by the then National Security Coordinator from an account that functioned as a National Security Special Operations Account rather than a standard state agency account. That specific claim has independent grounding beyond his own statement. Court reporting from March described a prosecution witness telling the court under cross examination that the cheques were authorized from a Fidelity Bank account tied to the National Security Coordinator, Joshua Kyeremeh, rather than by Adu Boahene acting alone, a detail that predates this week’s public exchange. Srem Sai’s broader claims about asset tracing were not addressed in that same testimony and have not been independently confirmed or rebutted here.

Adu Boahene and his co-accused deny the charges, which involve funds intended for a government cyber defence project. Botchway has argued the case should ultimately turn on evidence admitted by the court rather than public statements from either side, a standard that applies as much to his own account this week as to the prosecution’s. The High Court is expected to conclude proceedings next week.

NPP USA Vote Fight Echoes Earlier Bylaws Dispute

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A group of NPP USA members is demanding the branch publish its voter register eight days before elections, the second procedural dispute to hit the branch’s 2026 election cycle.

The first came in May, when the branch voted 20 to 9 to keep its existing bylaws rather than adopt revised national election guidelines the party’s General Secretary had directed all external branches to follow. That decision, reached at an emergency meeting of the Branch Executive Committee, meant NPP USA would run its 2026 elections under rules last amended in 2021 rather than the newer national framework, a choice that already split the branch’s leadership before this latest complaint surfaced.

The new dispute centers on what the group calls the election album, the official voters’ register it says has still not been released with the branch conference eight days away. “These developments do not inspire confidence. They undermine it,” the group said in a statement, adding that some chapter elections had begun shortly after midnight without candidates or voters getting prior access to the register to verify it. The group also said uncertainty over the rules had left delegates confused and slowed registration for the July 24 to 26 conference, as members grew unsure whether the vote would proceed as planned.

The complaint carries added weight because of who currently leads the branch. Obaa Yaa Frimpong, the sitting NPP USA Chairperson, is seeking the party’s national First Vice Chairperson position this cycle rather than another branch term, a separate race from the branch chairmanship itself, which pits Janis Asare-Bediako against James Owusu. The group argued that a candidate seeking higher office should be judged on the branch’s record for transparency and fairness under her leadership, tying the register dispute directly to her national bid.

A separate allegation in the group’s statement concerns access rather than paperwork. It claimed branch leadership initially tried to block some members who had recently relocated from Ghana from contesting internal positions, before the party’s National Council intervened to allow broader participation. Branch leadership has not publicly responded to any of the group’s claims, including the demand that it immediately publish the election album, publish all election rules, and guarantee a process members can trust regardless of the outcome.

Wontumi Case Tests Ghana’s New Plea Bargain Law

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Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai said Saturday no plea deal has been reached in Chairman Wontumi’s EXIM Bank case, the first test of Ghana’s plea bargaining law.

Lawyers involved in the matter describe it as the first criminal case in which the state and a defendant have used the plea bargaining provisions added to Ghana’s criminal procedure law, which means how this case resolves could shape how the process works in future prosecutions beyond Wontumi’s own outcome. “I can confirm that we have not reached a plea agreement yet,” Srem Sai wrote in a Facebook post, adding that the statutory 30 day window for concluding negotiations closes next week.

The process was Wontumi’s own to start. His lawyer, Andy Appiah-Kubi, requested plea negotiations in a letter to the Attorney General dated June 5, and Srem Sai filed formal notice of the negotiations with the court on June 11 under the relevant section of the Criminal and Other Offences Procedure Act. The case has since moved through several adjournments, from an initial arraignment on May 18 through June 18 and July 6, to the current return date of July 27, each time to allow talks between prosecutors and the defense to continue.

Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the NPP’s Ashanti Regional Chairman known as Chairman Wontumi, faces charges alongside Wontumi Farms Limited over an alleged GH¢14.3 million loan the company obtained from the Ghana Export Import Bank for a farming project between 2018 and 2022. Prosecutors also allege a forged receipt was submitted to support a request for an additional GH¢4 million facility, and the charge sheet includes obtaining money by false pretences, fraudulent breach of trust, uttering a forged document and money laundering, with alleged losses to EXIM Bank exceeding GH¢30 million. Wontumi and his co-accused deny all the allegations.

One complication sits alongside the negotiations themselves. Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, a director of Wontumi Farms Limited charged in the same case, is reported to be at large, meaning the plea talks are proceeding for Wontumi while one of his co-accused remains unaccounted for. The court expects an update on where the negotiations stand when the case resumes on July 27.

Former NAFCO Boss’s Own Lawyer Once Led AG’s Office

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Former NAFCO chief executive Hanan Abdul-Wahab has petitioned the Attorney General over his prosecution, represented by Godfred Yeboah Dame, who held that office before the current government.

The petition is not the opening chapter of this dispute. Prosecutors withdrew an earlier set of charges against Abdul-Wahab in May, discharging him, before filing a fresh case that put him back on trial before the Specialised Court in Accra on charges of stealing and causing financial loss to the Republic. Whether a bank account freezing order tied to the original case still applied after that withdrawal is itself a point his legal team disputes with prosecutors, a dispute that runs underneath the specific incidents described in his petition.

In the 34 point petition, dated July 17 and addressed to Attorney General Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, Abdul-Wahab accused the Economic and Organised Crime Office, the Bureau of National Investigations and the Attorney General’s office of a pattern he calls harassment, describing four arrests and releases since the case began. He said he was arrested June 25 under bail conditions of GH¢100 million and six sureties, then arrested again at Kotoka International Airport on July 4 despite a High Court order permitting him to travel to the United Kingdom for medical treatment. “A deliberate and orchestrated effort to curtail my freedom of movement,” the petition said of the sequence.

The state’s own public account of that airport arrest differs from his. Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai said in a Facebook post the same night that Abdul-Wahab was detained after attempting to use false means to access a frozen Republic Bank account, and that the Attorney General’s office intended to seek a court review of the travel permission. Abdul-Wahab’s petition, and a statement issued by Dame days later, call that justification false and unsupported by evidence. Neither account has been resolved by a court ruling.

The legal fight has already moved through several procedural rounds. An ex parte habeas corpus application seeking Abdul-Wahab’s immediate production before the court was declined on July 8 by Justice Barbara Tetteh Charway, who ruled the BNI and Attorney General’s office needed the chance to respond first. Dame’s team has separately said it intends to pursue contempt proceedings against the Attorney General, the Deputy Attorney General and the BNI Director over the airport arrest.

Abdul-Wahab’s new petition asks the Attorney General to order EOCO and BNI to end what he calls the pattern of harassment, to return his passport, seized funds and phones, and to stop public comments he says prejudice his case. It was copied to the Chief Justice. The Attorney General’s office has not yet responded.

Mahama Vows Corruption Fight Includes His Own Side

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President John Dramani Mahama said Friday that any of his own appointees found to have abused public trust would face the same accountability as officials from the previous government.

The pledge came alongside a separate point he was making, that his administration’s anti-corruption drive is not designed to target political opponents, and the two threads together add up to a broader claim than either one alone. “The sword does not cut only one way,” Mahama said, addressing residents during a citizens’ engagement on his Reset Tour in the Volta Region, adding that current officials serving under his government would face the same scrutiny as anyone else if evidence of wrongdoing emerged against them.

On the narrower question of political targeting, Mahama rejected the idea that prosecutions under his government amount to hounding opponents, saying decisions to proceed rest on evidence gathered and weighed by state institutions rather than on who is implicated. He said agencies such as the Economic and Organised Crime Office and the Office of the Special Prosecutor typically spend months reviewing evidence before an arrest is made public, and that people who believe they have been unfairly prosecuted retain the right to seek redress through the courts.

Mahama framed accountability as a continuing priority for his government rather than a settled achievement, saying no public official would be shielded from investigation once credible evidence exists. His remarks come as public debate continues over a string of corruption investigations involving officials and individuals connected to the previous administration, a backdrop that has fed the criticism his comments on Friday were meant to answer directly.

Galamsey Petition Names Ahafo Ano MP, DCE

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A group calling itself Ashanti Democrats has asked police to investigate unproven galamsey allegations against the same Ahafo Ano South East MP who publicly confronted Chinese miners last December.

Both named officials, Member of Parliament Mohammed Yakubu and District Chief Executive Ibrahim Yamba Nehon, deny the allegations, according to the petition itself, which the group filed precisely because the claims remain unresolved rather than as an accusation the group says it has verified.

The petition, dated July 15 and received by the Ashanti Regional Police Command on July 17, asks the Criminal Investigations Department to carry out, in the group’s words, “a thorough, impartial, and independent investigation to establish the facts.” It is signed by Jerry James Sukah, Sylvester Agyapong and Mujeeb Abdul Rahaman, who argue the public nature of the allegations and their potential effect on the environment and public confidence justify an independent inquiry regardless of the denials already issued.

The claims trace publicly to blogger Amaru Shakur, who posted online calling on President John Mahama to remove the DCE over alleged involvement in illegal mining in the Abesewa forest and calling on the MP to account for allegedly taking money from illegal miners. The petition itself asks police to invite Shakur to assist investigators with any evidence he may hold, rather than treating his posts as evidence on their own.

The allegations sit awkwardly next to the MP’s own public record. In December, Mohammed was filmed confronting a group of Chinese nationals he accused of illegal mining in the constituency, vowing at the time to intensify monitoring and accusing the opposition New Patriotic Party locally of working with the same operators. That confrontation drew public praise from residents who saw it as a firm stand against galamsey.

Ashanti Democrats has taken this route before. In November, the group petitioned the CID over separate galamsey claims made against three regional ministers by a Democracy Hub official, who later retracted the allegations and apologized. That case ultimately led to both an arrest of the person who made the original claim and a civil defamation suit filed against him by one of the ministers named. The current petition differs in a key respect: it asks that Shakur be brought in to assist the investigation rather than treating him as a suspect, and no comparable action against him has been reported.

The Ashanti Regional Police Command has not publicly commented on the new petition.

Anyenini Disputes Timeline in Dogbey Contempt Case

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Legal commentator Samson Lardy Anyenini says court records contradict an on air claim, made on his own program, about when journalist Larry Dogbey’s appeal was filed.

The dispute matters because the timeline is central to a broader argument Anyenini is making: that the court’s handling of Dogbey’s case reflected leniency rather than hostility toward the press. According to Anyenini, court records show Justice Isaac Addo granted Dogbey interim bail pending appeal on June 26, one day after his contempt conviction, in the sum of GH¢100,000 with two sureties. That application, Anyenini said, was supported by an affidavit from David Tamakloe, president of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana, and no Notice of Appeal had been filed at the time it was granted. He said the actual Notice of Appeal was not filed until July 6, ten days later.

That account sits alongside a different claim made in public a day after the bail ruling. On June 27, on JoyNews’ Newsfile, the same programme Anyenini hosts, Dogbey’s lawyer at the time, David Annan, said an appeal had already been filed, dismissing suggestions that the defence still had time to initiate the process. Reporting from The Herald on July 17 describes a formal appeal application being filed on July 6 by a different member of Dogbey’s legal team, a date consistent with Anyenini’s account rather than Annan’s June 27 statement. Neither statement has been tested in a further ruling, and the underlying appeal itself, filed against both the conviction and the sentence, remains before the Court of Appeal.

Anyenini’s broader argument is that truth is no defence once a court order exists. He cited the Supreme Court’s 1995 ruling in Republic v Mensa Bonsu and Others, Ex Parte Attorney General, and the court’s three part test for civil contempt: that a valid order existed, that the person knew what it required, and that the breach was deliberate. “It is not an invitation to debate the truth of the underlying facts,” he said of what an injunction actually requires from the party it binds.

He also drew a distinction between the conviction and his own view of the sentence. Anyenini said he would have preferred a fine, reprimand, caution or bond rather than imprisonment, and separately holds the long standing view, drawn from Lord Denning, that interlocutory injunctions generally should not be granted in defamation disputes at all. But he maintained Justice Addo acted within lawful judicial discretion in choosing a custodial sentence, and rejected the characterization of the case as an attack on press freedom, arguing Dogbey was convicted for violating a specific order rather than for practicing journalism.