Category: Local News

Four people lost their lives, and six others sustained gunshot wounds in attacks on the Nanik and Nganme Gberuk communities in the Bunkpurugu-Yunyoo district of the North East Region on Friday, February 28.

The attacks, linked to a chieftaincy dispute, occurred on Friday morning, during which the assailants raided the communities and completely burned down several houses.

One of the victims, a Mamprusi man and a teacher in the Nanik community, was asleep in his room when it was set on fire. Trapped inside, he was unable to escape and was burned beyond recognition.

Images of his charred body circulated on social media, with many speculating a connection to the Mamprusi-Bimoba conflict in the Bawku area.

However, his family has urged the public to dismiss these claims, insisting his death was accidental and that he was simply a victim of the situation.

A family member of the deceased spoke to Channel One News about the tragic loss of his brother. He also urged workers in the area to exercise caution and advised them to leave temporarily until peace is restored.

The victim was laid to rest this morning in the community.

Deputy Minister-designate for Defence Ernest Brogya Genfi has pledged to work closely with the substantive Defence Minister, Dr Omane Boamah, to ensure that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is well-equipped and combat-ready to defend the nation against any external aggression.

Speaking during his vetting on Friday, February 28, he acknowledged that while the Ghana Armed Forces enjoys high respect from the population, some isolated incidents have strained the relationship between civilians and the military and need to be resolved with urgency.

The Isolated incident mentioned by the Minister-designate has to do with the previous civil-military tensions, particularly the killing of  Imoro Sherrif, a soldier, who was attacked and stabbed to death by unknown assailants while returning from Taifa to Zongo-Laka in Ashaiman, on March 4, 2023.  In response, soldiers stormed Ashaiman and brutalized residents in an attempt to apprehend the suspects.

This event has further deepened mistrust between the military and the civilian populace

As part of his vision, Genfi pledged to support efforts to enhance civil-military engagement, particularly by collaborating with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to educate civilians on the role of the military and promote mutual respect, alongside bridging the gap between the security forces and civilians.

“I hope that we will leave behind an Armed Forces that is ready for combat, well-equipped, and tooled to face any external aggression.

“I believe that the civil population has great respect for the Ghana Armed Forces, and I think there is an existing relationship between the civil populace and the military. However, the isolated unfortunate incidents are issues we must work on to reduce them to the barest minimum.

“I am going to assist my minister in encouraging more civil-military engagement. The military can engage with MMDCEs to educate the public on their primary role and the respect that must be accorded to our security institutions.

“I am going to the ministry to assist my leader in fulfilling the President’s vision. Whatever needs to be done to compensate for the gap created, I will support my minister to achieve it,” he noted.

Renowned economist Professor John Gatsi has affirmed that Ghana is experiencing an economic crisis, aligning with President John Dramani Mahama’s recent assessment of the country’s financial state.

Speaking on The Big Issues on Channel One TV, Prof. Gatsi responded to President Mahama’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on February 27, 2025, in which the president described inheriting a nation in crisis from the previous administration.

Prof. Gatsi supported this view, citing Ghana’s failure to meet key financial benchmarks and its struggles in managing both domestic and external debt.

“Crisis should be conceptualized. It is not just an English word that is commonly available. You need to look at whether you are meeting the benchmark of financial indicators. If you are not meeting those benchmarks, and they prolong, and also it is difficult, then you are in a crisis. So, yes, we are in a crisis,” he stated.

He further noted that Ghana had gone through a period of debt repayment suspension, reinforcing the signs of a financial crisis.

“This is because our finances are not meeting the benchmark. We have gone through a period where we have not paid both domestic and external [debts]. We have just resumed repayment. Those are signs of a crisis,” he added.

However, Prof. Gatsi clarified that despite the crisis, Ghana’s economy continues to generate revenue.

“But that does not mean the economy is not generating resources or tax revenue,” he said.

His remarks echo concerns over Ghana’s economic struggles, reinforcing the need for urgent interventions to restore stability.

The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has appealed to the government, urging it to maintain the graves of three ex-servicemen—Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe, and Private Odartey Lamptey—who were pivotal in the fight against colonialism and played a significant role in Ghana’s journey towards independence.

In a press release, the CPP highlighted the bravery and sacrifice of these three gallant men, who were brutally slain while demanding their just wages after fighting for the British in the Second World War.

The party emphasized the importance of honouring their legacy and ensuring that their contributions are not forgotten.

The CPP commended successive governments for their efforts in honouring these heroes but called for additional measures to be taken.

The party urged the state to maintain the graves of Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe, and Private Odartey Lamptey, cater for their direct descendants, and renovate their family houses to serve as tourist sites.

Furthermore, the CPP suggested that a posthumous promotion for these heroes would be fitting, as has been done for other personnel who demonstrated exceptional heroism of national repute. The party appealed to the current government to consider this request and take appropriate action.

The CPP concluded by expressing its best wishes to all Ghanaians and reaffirming its commitment to making Ghana a haven of freedom, justice, and prosperity for all.”

The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has announced plans to deliver what they term as the “True State of the Nation Address” on Tuesday, March 4, 2025.

This move comes in response to President John Dramani Mahama’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) delivered on February 27, 2025, which the NPP claims omitted critical national issues and misrepresented the current state of Ghana.

In a statement dated February 28, the NPP criticized President Mahama’s address for lacking a comprehensive and accurate assessment of the nation’s trajectory since he took office on January 7, 2025.

The party highlighted several pressing issues that were allegedly overlooked in the President’s speech, including deteriorating power supply, rising security challenges, increasing illegal mining activities, and a growing employment crisis.

“In light of this, the NPP, through its leadership in Parliament, led by Alexander Afenyo-Markin, will present the True State of the Nation’s Address to offer Ghanaians a factual and objective account of the nation’s condition,” part of the statement read.

Dr Mahama Tiah Abdul-Kabiru, Member of Parliament (MP) for Walewale has criticised the State of the Nation Address presented by the president, claiming it did not present anything new to the Ghanaian people.

Presenting his first State of the Nation Address (SONA) of his second term to Parliament in Accra on Thursday, February 27, President John Dramani Mahama painted a grim picture of the country’s finances, pointing to unsustainable debt levels and mismanagement of key state institutions.

Mahama disclosed that Ghana’s public debt has soared to GHS721 billion, placing immense pressure on the country’s economy. He further highlighted the dire financial condition of major state-owned enterprises, including the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), both of which are struggling under heavy debt burdens.

But speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, Dr Abdul-Kabiru emphasised that the country’s debt situation has been a long-standing issue, and the president’s address merely repackaged old information.

Dr Abdul-Kabiru recalled that the country sought assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) due to debt stress, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of about 80% at the time.

He noted that this ratio has since decreased to around 70-72%, thanks to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) and foreign restructuring efforts.

According to him, the debt situation is not new, and the president’s portrayal of it as more dire than before is misleading.

He further argued that the debt levels have improved following the painful process of debt restructuring, and the president’s address should have acknowledged this progress instead of creating a sense of heightened crisis.

Dr Abdul-Kabiru therefore accused the president of playing with the truth and urged the government to be more transparent about the country’s financial situation.

“The State of the Nation Address presented by the president did not present anything new that the Ghanaian people haven’t been presented with. You recall that it is on the back of the debt stress that the country went for the IMF programme. As at then we were doing debt to GDP of 80%. That has even come down now to 72% or 70% thereabout. So the numbers as to the debt situation is not something new.

“If the president is telling the good people of Ghana that as at the time we were doing the IMF negotiation and the debt issue was at the centre of this whole discussion his team were not following that discussion that will be pardoned but debt and debt stress has never been an issue that is new to the country.

“As a matter of fact, our debt levels have come down following the DDEP and foreign restructuring programme where the country had to go through a painful processes of debt restructuring. So, it is not anything new and if it is now being brought and repacked as if that the situation is even more dire than before. That is playing with the truth,” the Walewale MP said.

President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned that the Hajj pilgrimage should not be treated as a profit-making venture but rather as a religious and spiritual journey for Muslims.

Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the new Hajj Village on Friday, February 28, the President emphasized that any excess funds from the Hajj process should be channelled into projects benefiting Zongo communities.

“This year, we set up a task force to manage the Hajj because, after assuming office, we realized that the time before the pilgrimage was too short. So, we brought competent people together, led by Alhaji Collins Dauda, to organize this year’s Hajj. After this, we will constitute the Hajj Board and appoint its chairman,” President Mahama stated.

He further stressed that the Hajj must not be commercialized.

“I have instructed the task force that the Hajj is not a business and should not be structured for profit. The Hajj Board and Task Force must not aim to make a profit. If even one cedi remains after the Hajj, it should be donated to the poor or used for a project within the Hajj community,” he added.

The President’s statement comes amid ongoing Hajj preparations, as the Task Force urges all prospective pilgrims and accredited Hajj agents to complete payments and other required procedures within the stipulated timeline, which is March 13, 2025.

To facilitate a smooth pilgrimage, the Task Force has introduced measures to assist fully paid pilgrims in acquiring their passports with ease.

Accredited Hajj agents are encouraged to take advantage of this initiative to streamline the process for their clients.

Additionally, in a move to make the pilgrimage more accessible, the Task Force recently reduced the 2025 Hajj package fee from GHS 75,000 to GHS 62,000. This reduction aims to provide financial relief and enable more Ghanaian Muslims to fulfil their religious obligation.

The Special Prosecutor has made a chilling revelation about the grave dangers that come with his role, stating emphatically that his security risk is “ultra high.”

Speaking at the Constitution Day Public Lecture, the Special Prosecutor painted a stark picture of the perils faced by himself and his team in their relentless fight against corruption.

“The position of Special Prosecutor is a thankless job. It fetches you droves of enemies daily and brings you into direct confrontation with the lowest forms of debasement in humans. You do not go asking for it; it finds you,” he stated, underscoring the precarious nature of his work.

“The paradox surrounding the role of the Special Prosecutor is evident: while the public clamors for accountability and the eradication of corruption, resistance surfaces the moment the scrutiny is directed at particular individuals or groups.

“Everyone wants the Special Prosecutor to do his job, yet no one wants the Special Prosecutor to do his job. It all depends on the subject of the investigation,” he remarked, highlighting the entrenched reluctance to submit to the mechanisms of justice.

According to the Special Prosecutor, the backlash from corruption investigations is fierce and unrelenting.

“Though we accept that we need to rein in corruption, no one wants to yield freely to scrutiny. No one happily accedes to indictment. No one welcomes investigations. No one wants to be called out as a suspect in corruption-related activities. And so, there is always a strong pushback, intended to deflect focus from scrutiny and accountability,” he said.

That pushback, he noted, manifests in various ways, including orchestrated attacks, smear campaigns, and vile publications aimed at discrediting the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

More worrying, according to him, is the threats sometimes extended beyond mere reputational damage to life-threatening situations.

“Some of the enemies this job attracts will not hesitate to take a life should the opportunity present itself,” he warned, stressing that both he and his operational officers live under constant threat.

“Thus, my security risk is ultra high, and I have to perpetually be on the lookout for attacks on my person.”

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has been actively investigating high-profile cases, including an inquiry into four corruption investigations such as the National Cathedral project and Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML).

The Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts,  Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has condemned remarks made by Member of Parliament for the Tolon constituency, Habib Iddrisu, during the vetting of Deputy Minister-designate for Agriculture, John Dumelo.

At the vetting held on February 25, 2025, Habib admonished John Dumelo, the Deputy Minister Designate for Food and Agriculture, not to treat his new job as the movie industry.

“You are not in your movie industry, try to be as serious as you can,” he said.

The comment has since drawn widespread condemnation from creative arts stakeholders, highlighting the industry’s longstanding struggle for respect and recognition.

Speaking at the launch of Heritage Month, organized by Citi FM and Channel One TV, Dzifa Gomashie expressed her frustration over the repeated disregard for the creative arts sector in political discourse.

“It’s not the first time my space is being disrespected – we need to value it and appreciate it! It’s part of who we are,” she stated, emphasizing the significance of the arts in Ghana’s cultural and economic identity.

Meanwhile, a press statement signed by Richard Yaw Boateng, National President of Film Directors Guild of Ghana (FDGG) also expressed outrage and disappointment over the comment, describing it as “reckless” and “unfortunate.”