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Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has met with the newly appointed leadership of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to strengthen inter-agency collaboration in tackling corruption and economic crimes.

The meeting, held on Monday in Accra, allowed Mr. Agyebeng to formally congratulate EOCO’s new leadership and reaffirm the Office of the Special Prosecutor’s (OSP) commitment to working closely with EOCO to enhance transparency, accountability, and law enforcement.

Mr. Agyebeng stressed the need for both agencies to avoid institutional competition and instead adopt a coordinated approach in fighting corruption. He highlighted the importance of leveraging their respective mandates and strengths to improve operational efficiency.

He emphasized that fostering mutual respect, transparency, and cooperation would enable the OSP and EOCO to effectively address corruption-related offences and strengthen Ghana’s justice and accountability systems. The newly appointed Executive Director of EOCO, Abdulai Bashiru Dapilah, welcomed the Special Prosecutor’s visit and expressed gratitude. He acknowledged the critical role both institutions play in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts and assured the OSP of EOCO’s readiness to collaborate on investigations and intelligence-sharing. Both agencies pledged to deepen cooperation through enhanced information exchange, joint investigations, and coordinated enforcement actions. They also underscored the importance of resource-sharing and maintaining public trust through transparency, accountability, and professionalism.

Mr. Agyebeng was accompanied by OSP’s Director of Investigations, Emmanuel Basintale, while the EOCO leadership team included Acting Executive Director Raymond Archer, Deputy Executive Director Aba Jacqueline Opoku, and Technical Assistant Ben Ndego.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ekumfi Constituency, Dr. Othniel Ekow Kwainoe, has unveiled plans to transform education and stimulate socioeconomic development in Ekumfi.

Speaking during a brief durbar held last week in the area to mark the 68th Independence Day Anniversary, Dr. Kwainoe stressed the pivotal role education plays in national progress and pledged to make Ekumfi a model of excellence in Ghana.

The constituency-based event was held under the theme ‘Reflect, Review, and Reset Ghana – Transforming Education and Socioeconomic Development in Ekumfi.’

Dr. Kwainoe reflected on the sacrifices made by Ghana’s founding fathers and called for a renewed commitment to community development, particularly in the areas of education, health, and economic growth.

He assured the audience that the government remains committed to improving the Free Senior High School (FSHS) policy to better serve students across the country.

To tackle the challenge of attracting qualified teachers to rural areas, Dr. Kwainoe announced a 20% incentive package for teachers posted to Ekumfi and other rural communities. This initiative aims to ensure that every child in Ekumfi has access to quality education, regardless of their location.

In addition, the MP revealed several key initiatives aimed at further transforming education in Ekumfi. These include:

• The construction of boarding facilities at Atta Mills SHS and Akyin SHS.
• A new bus for Atta Mills SHS.
• The establishment of Ekumfi TVET School.
• The construction of teachers’ bungalows.
• The Ekumfiman Teachers’ Award to recognize outstanding educators.
• Scholarship packages for brilliant students and full scholarships for physically challenged students.

He also announced the introduction of sporting activities and the creation of the Ekumfiman School League Table, which will rank schools based on their performance, with incentives for the top-performing institutions.

On the topic of Ekumfi’s socioeconomic transformation, Dr. Kwainoe emphasized that education is the cornerstone of social and economic progress. He outlined plans to generate job opportunities by establishing key industries, including a salt factory and agribusiness ventures. He also underscored the importance of skills development through the proposed TVET/STEM school, which will empower youth to become entrepreneurs and innovators.

Addressing students directly, Dr. Kwainoe urged them to take their studies seriously and strive for excellence. “Education is your passport to a better future,” he told them. To parents, he stressed the importance of supporting their children’s education and collaborating closely with teachers to ensure the success of the next generation.

In conclusion, Dr. Kwainoe called for unity and determination in transforming Ekumfi into a beacon of progress and prosperity. “As we celebrate 68 years of independence, let us remember that the true meaning of freedom lies in the opportunities we create for the next generation,” he stated.

Dr. Gideon Boako, Deputy Ranking Member on the Finance Committee of Parliament and Member of Parliament for Tano North, has urged the government to present only verified and credible data in the 2025 budget statement.

His call comes ahead of the budget presentation by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, scheduled for Tuesday, March 11.

According to Dr. Boako, Ghanaians deserve transparency and accuracy in financial reporting to ensure informed decision-making and public trust.

“The people of Ghana expect a budget that reflects the true state of our economy, not manipulated figures that paint an inaccurate picture,” he stated.

He emphasized the need for realistic economic projections and accountability in government spending, warning against inflating revenue projections or understating expenditures, which he said could undermine confidence in the government’s financial management.

Dr. Boako also highlighted the importance of aligning the budget with the economic realities faced by ordinary Ghanaians.

“At a time when businesses and households are struggling with high inflation and economic uncertainty, the government must be honest about the challenges and propose realistic solutions,” he added.

He urged the Finance Minister to ensure that policy measures outlined in the budget are backed by solid data and achievable targets.

Dr. Boako concluded by calling on Parliament and civil society to scrutinize the budget thoroughly to prevent misinformation.

“We will not allow this budget to be a tool for deception. Ghanaians deserve the truth, and we will ensure they get it,” he asserted.

The Director of Communication for the 2024 Bawumia Campaign Team, Miracles Aboagye, says he is not surprised by the appointment of Professor Ransford Gyampo as Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority.

Miracles Aboagye accused Prof. Gyampo of being aligned with the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and serving its interests.

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, he claimed that Prof. Gyampo had actively lobbied for the position.

“He almost cried at TUC because his people did not support him in declaring a nationwide strike over galamsey. Unknowingly, he was serving his interest.

“I wasn’t surprised, and those of us in NPP weren’t surprised. I knew he was actively lobbying for the position. Some Professors who openly campaigned and shared fliers in traffic are now crying because they feel neglected, but the so-called neutrals are now being appointed,” he stated.

Before his appointment, Prof. Gyampo was a political science professor at the University of Ghana and had been vocal on national issues, earning a reputation as an independent-minded figure in the fight against wrongdoing.

However, Miracles Aboagye questioned why Prof. Gyampo would leave his academic position to accept the appointment.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has set March 17, 2025, as the deadline for individuals still in possession of Diplomatic and Service Passport issued under the previous administration to return them.

On January 15, 2025, the Ministry directed all affected passport holders to surrender them for review, as they are no longer valid under the current government’s requirements.

In a statement dated March 10, the Ministry disclosed that 404 Diplomatic Passports and 387 Service Passports remain unreturned.

The Ministry has therefore urged the following individuals to surrender their passports to the Legal and Treaties Bureau at the Ministry without delay:

• Former Ministers and their spouses
• Former Members of Parliament from all political parties
• Former Council of State members and their spouses
• Retired Justices of the Superior and Lower Courts
• Former Regional Ministers, MMDCEs, board chairs, and members of state institutions
• Officials of the National Cathedral Project
• Former political ambassadors and their dependents
• Businessmen and entrepreneurs
• Former government functionaries
• Any person holding an official passport but not currently serving the state

The Ministry warned that any passports not returned by the deadline will be cancelled and added to the Stop-Watch List, making them subject to immediate seizure at all entry and exit points in Ghana.

The Minister of Labour, Jobs, and Employment, Dr. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, has urged the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG) to suspend its strike over the appointment of Samuel Adom Botchway as the new Registrar of Births and Deaths.

In a letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, Isaac Bampoe Addo, Dr. Pelpuo acknowledged concerns raised by CLOGSAG.

He assured that discussions have been held with relevant stakeholders to address the concerns and reach an amicable resolution.

“I appreciate that CLOGSAG’s concerns do not particularly relate to the President’s appointments but rather to the fact that the individual in question is deemed to be politically exposed,” the letter stated.

Dr. Pelpuo expressed hope that CLOGSAG would reconsider its position, urging the association to call off its strike and allow members to return to work.

CLOGSAG had earlier rejected a request from the Ministry to call off the strike, which began on Thursday, February 20.

Addressing the press in Accra on Saturday, February 22, Mr. Bampoe stated that the request lacked merit and violated CLOGSAG’s statutes, which prohibit politically exposed persons from holding key positions in the civil service.

Assistant Station Officer (ASO) Ofori Collins, Hohoe Municipal Fire Safety Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), has cautioned the public against repainting rusty gas cylinders as a means of recycling them.

He explained that repainting only enhances the outer appearance but does not restore the cylinder’s safety.

Speaking at a sensitisation forum at the St. Augustine Catholic Church in Hohoe, ASO Ofori advised against overfilling gas cylinders in an attempt to make them last longer.

“The attendants know the standard capacity each cylinder can take, so avoid purchasing gas beyond the recommended limit,” he said.

He further warned against placing stones on gas regulators, urging users to replace faulty regulators promptly to prevent fire outbreaks.

ASO Ofori attributed many fire incidents to personal negligence, noting that people often multitask and lose focus, increasing the risk of accidents.

He advised residents to switch off all electrical appliances before leaving their homes, regardless of how brief their absence may be.

He stressed that fire safety is a shared responsibility and urged the public to prioritise precautionary measures.

“In case of accidents, the Fire Service should be the first point of contact,” he added.

The government has reiterated its commitment to allocating at least 80% of the common fund to every district, aiming to enhance local development nationwide.

This assurance was given by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, during a courtesy visit by a delegation of ambassadors and experts.

The delegation included Simon Giger, Ambassador of Switzerland to Ghana; Daniel Krull, Ambassador of Germany; Arndt Wierheim, Country Sanitation Specialist at CONIWAS; and Basilia Nanbigne, Executive Secretary of the Ghana Coalition for NGOs in Water.

Discussions centered on strengthening local governance and driving sustainable development at the grassroots level.

Mr. Ibrahim emphasized the crucial role of local authorities in governance, ensuring that districts benefit from meaningful growth and development. He assured the delegation that the government is committed to utilizing the common fund effectively to create lasting change across Ghana.

Ambassador Simon Giger reaffirmed Switzerland’s support for Ghana’s local development initiatives and urged the ministry to expedite the implementation of policies discussed during the meeting.

Mohammed Ibrahim, the branch organizer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in Sowutuom, who was sentenced to four years in prison for threatening to kill citizens during the December 7, 2024, elections, has been granted bail.

The Court of Appeal granted him bail in the sum of GHC100,000 with one surety, pending the determination of his appeal. The three-member panel, presided over by Justice Senyo Dzamefe, ruled that there was an error on the face of the record, warranting further review of the case.

Additionally, the court ordered Ibrahim to report to the regional crime officer every two weeks as part of the bail conditions.

His initial application for bail was rejected by the High Court. However, his lawyer, Nii Kpakpo Samuah Addo, proceeded to the Court of Appeal to challenge the sentence.

Ibrahim was sentenced last year by an Accra Circuit Court after being found guilty of multiple charges, including the publication of false news with intent to cause fear and alarm, threat of harm, and offensive conduct likely to breach the peace.

He received a three-year sentence for the false news charge, four years for threat of harm, and three years for offensive conduct. The sentences were to run concurrently.

According to the prosecution, Ibrahim had identified himself as the leader of a revolutionary group known as “Ka na wu,” which translates to “Speak and die” in Twi.

The case against him stemmed from a viral video, which surfaced on social media platforms including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and TikTok on September 3, 2024. In the footage, Ibrahim, wearing a red military-style beret, accused the Ghana Police Service in the Ashanti Region, under the direction of the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare, and then Minister of the Interior, Mr Henry Quartey, of recruiting fake police personnel to kill citizens during the elections.

Furthermore, he explicitly threatened violence, stating that he and his associates knew the Minister’s residence and that in the event of war, they would shoot him.

Following the video’s circulation, the police declared Ibrahim wanted on September 10, 2024. His subsequent arrest led to a search of his residence in Sowutuom, where officers retrieved the red beret seen in the viral footage.