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Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has dismissed rumors surrounding the health of Ghana’s Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, assuring the public that she is in good health and will soon resume her duties.

Prof Opoku-Agyemang went abroad to seek medical care after initial treatment at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) after experiencing a sudden illness following her official duties on Friday, March 28, 2025, but there were speculations that the Vice President had passed on.

Addressing Ghanaians in Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday, April 6, Ablakwa emphasised that prayers from Ghanaians both at home and abroad have contributed to her recovery.

“Some fears about the state of our mother, the first female vice president of the Republic of Ghana. I also want to assure that she is doing very, very well. Your prayers worked, your prayers from all of us, Ghanaians at home and abroad, have really worked.

“I have heard from her, so I know what I am talking about, and she’s doing well,” he stated.

Ablakwa urged the public to disregard what he described as “vicious and unGhanaian evil propaganda” being circulated about Prof. Opoku-Agyemang’s health.

He expressed confidence in her ability to inspire young girls and women across the nation.

“Please ignore all of that very vicious and unGhanaian evil propaganda that some people are speculating. Our mother is doing very, very well, and very soon she is going to return to her duties, serving Ghana, making all of you proud and particularly inspiring our young girls, our daughters, to know that there is nothing our women cannot achieve—that women are as good as men and that what men can do, women can also do and do it better,” Ablakwa added.

Some cement dealers across the country are raising concerns over a growing shortage of major cement brands, attributing the disruption to a critical scarcity of clinker — a key raw material in cement production.

In the past two to four weeks, brands such as SOL Cement, Empire Cement, and Dzata Cement have become increasingly difficult to find. This comes on the heels of a GH¢9 price hike on all cement products, largely driven by rising port charges.

Retailers say their inability to restock has had immediate consequences, including turning away customers and losing revenue, as suppliers continue to struggle with clinker procurement.

Augustine Aduful, a cement retailer with over a decade of experience, voiced his frustration in an interview with Citi Business News.

“As for the shortage, it happens every time. You pay, but then you’re told to wait for delivery. As I speak, they are short of clinker. Two weeks ago, I paid for SOL Cement, and when I called yesterday, I was told I won’t get my stock for another two weeks,” Aduful said.

Another dealer, Isaac Frimpong, reported that he has been out of stock of the 32.5R grade of Ghacem cement for several weeks.

“Ghacem, in particular, has been facing a shortage, affecting many businesses. Our customers are now being forced to switch to alternatives like Diamond Cement,” Frimpong explained, calling for government intervention.

“The clinker shortage is being caused by overseas supply issues. Even the recent price hikes are tied to external factors. We hope that with government intervention, the situation will stabilize,” he added.

In response to the crisis, Emmanuel Cherry, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Construction Industry, is pushing for a broader stakeholder dialogue to explore local alternatives to clinker.

“As stakeholders, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ghana Standards Authority, come together, we need to explore ways to add value to the raw materials we already have. We cannot continue to rely solely on clinker in cement production.

“Our manufacturing sector must start looking within, utilizing available technology and research. We should collaborate with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research’s Building and Road Research Institute (CSIR-BRRI) to leverage their findings and develop viable alternatives,” Cherry noted.

The shortage has sparked renewed debate over Ghana’s heavy dependence on imported clinker and the long-term sustainability of its cement supply chain.

Karpowership Ghana has appointed Ing. Oscar Kojo Amonoo-Neizer as its new Managing Director.

With over 30 years of experience in the energy sector, Ing. Amonoo-Neizer brings extensive expertise in policy and energy management, technical regulation, electrical design, and project coordination.

Prior to joining Karpowership Ghana, Ing. Amonoo-Neizer served as the Executive Secretary of the Energy Commission of Ghana, where he played a key role in policy formulation, regulatory compliance, and the strategic development of the country’s energy sector.

His leadership was instrumental in the implementation of technical regulations, the development of energy efficiency standards, and the enhancement of compliance frameworks within the country’s electricity and natural gas industries.

He previously served as Director of Energy at the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), where he led technical audits, policy development, and regulatory enforcement to ensure efficiency and reliability within Ghana’s electricity sector.

A trained Electrical Engineer from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Ing. Amonoo-Neizer holds an Executive MBA from the University of Ghana Business School and a Postgraduate Certificate in Electrical/Electronic Engineering from Fachhochschule Aachen, Germany. He is also a member of the Ghana Institution of Engineers (GhIE) and has been actively involved in international energy negotiations and regulatory discussions.

Speaking about his new role, Ing. Amonoo-Neizer shared: “As the new Managing Director of Karpowership Ghana, I am excited to lead a company that is committed to supplying reliable power to the national grid. Together with our talented team, we will continue to strengthen our operations and ensure that Karpowership Ghana remains a cornerstone of the country’s power sector for years to come.”

Karpowership Ghana remains a key player in the country’s energy mix, supplying consistent and reliable power to the national grid. With Ing. Amonoo-Neizer at the helm, the company is expected to consolidate its contributions to Ghana’s power sector while exploring new opportunities for growth and development.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, could not hide his disappointment upon witnessing the severe deterioration of state-owned properties in Nigeria.

During an official visit to Ghana’s Chancery in Lagos, the Minister was visibly appalled, his sorrowful expression reflecting deep concern at the state of decay.

The chancery is not only small in size but can best be described as a cubicle furnished with outdated furniture and worn-out air-conditioners. The condition of the washrooms leaves much to be desired. The shock on his face at the sight of deteriorated ceilings and leaking roofs at residential apartments spoke volumes, evoking sympathy for the Foreign Service Officers (FSOs) stationed there.

“This is sad,” the Minister remarked.

“My visit will not be in vain,” he added.

According to the Head of Chancery, Barbara Entee, “The structural defects are so obvious, and when it rains, water enters the residence.” She noted that the Minister’s visit was timely, saying, “We’ve been looking forward to the reconstruction of the residential apartments and the Chancery.”

She further emphasized the high cost of maintenance and expressed hope that the Minister would ensure the office is rebuilt.

“The property doesn’t speak well of Ghana,” she added.

The chancery was acquired from the defunct Nigerian Airways in 2008. Ghana currently owns two properties in Lagos—one of which is rented out to a multinational company. The residential property and chancery are located on the same premises and house a total of 23 staff members, including 10 diplomats.

“My actions will be louder than my words when I return to Ghana,” he assured the Ghanaian community.

In Abuja, Ghana owns four properties, one of which has been neglected following a fire incident.

Minister Ablakwa has vowed to ensure that all properties are either renovated or reconstructed. He also stated that the Ministry plans to acquire two new properties annually rather than selling existing ones.

The Minister described the visit as an eye-opening experience, noting that it was his first time seeing most of Ghana’s properties abroad.

Sam Pee Yalley, former Ghanaian High Commissioner to India and President of the NDC Professionals Forum, has passed away.

Although the exact cause of his sudden demise is not yet known, information gathered by Channel One News indicates that he died on Sunday at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital.

His death has prompted an outpouring of tributes from high-ranking members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), including the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, who shared his condolences on social media.

“I learnt with pain the passing of my brother and friend, Ambassador Sam Pee Yalley, an astute statesman and respected member of our party, the National Democratic Congress,” he wrote.

“Ambassador Yalley was a champion of professionalism in politics and a key figure of the NDC’s Professionals Forum.
My deep condolences to everyone mourning the passing of this great man, particularly members of his immediate family.”

Ambassador Yalley was a seasoned lawyer and public servant. He previously served as Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority before being appointed Ghana’s Ambassador to India by President John Mahama in 2014.

Beyond his diplomatic and legal work, Sam Pee Yalley was widely known for his advocacy, especially in championing female leadership in Ghana.

Dr. Kwesi Aning, Director of Academic Affairs and Research at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, has expressed serious concern over the politicisation of an alleged drug trafficking and money laundering operation at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

Describing the situation as both “disappointing and very disturbing,” Dr. Aning warned that the way the matter is being handled could damage Ghana’s international reputation.

The allegations were brought to light by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, during a statement made on Tuesday, April 1.

Rev. Ntim Fordjour claimed that two specific flights were involved in the trafficking operation — Cavok Air’s Antonov An-128B and an AirMed flight, registered as N823AM. According to him, both aircraft were used to smuggle narcotics and launder money through KIA.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, April 7, Dr. Aning urged the government and relevant institutions to approach the issue with the highest level of care and responsibility.

“It is disappointing and very disturbing because Ghana has been known to be the southern hub for cocaine trafficking in which about 15 percent of all cocaine used in Europe passes through, so we have the infrastructure, the networks, facilities, and racketeering procedures to preventing trafficking. And so we need to be careful not to create this impression within the international community that we are back to square one,” he cautioned.

“A parliamentarian has the right to raise questions, but particularly when those questions deal with the reputation of the country and how our international countries see us,” he added.

Dr. Aning emphasized the importance of a measured, non-partisan approach in addressing such sensitive national security matters to avoid undermining Ghana’s global standing.

Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to deporting all foreign nationals involved in illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey.

Speaking to members of the Ghanaian community in Lagos, Nigeria, the Minister underscored President Mahama’s stance on protecting the country’s natural resources.

“President Mahama has said that he will not tolerate any form of mining in our river bodies or forest reserves,” he stated.

He revealed that a military operation will soon begin targeting illegal miners.

“In the next few days, we’re going to round people up and prosecute them,” he said, referring to the upcoming military deployment.

Ablakwa also disclosed that several deportations have already taken place, though the government has not publicized them widely.

“Already, a lot of deportations have been carried out. We’ve just not been advertising them,” he added.

He emphasized the need to crack down on repeat offenders who return to restricted zones after military operations have cleared them.

The Minister expressed optimism that once government actions are fully enforced, the country’s water turbidity will improve.

He passionately appealed to Ghanaians in Nigeria to support the national effort to combat illegal mining, assuring them that every necessary measure would be taken to bring the menace under control.