Category: Local News

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has expressed dissatisfaction over the 10 percent wage hike for public sector workers, maintaining its calls for a 30 percent increase.

The adjustment which marks the second in less than a year is expected to take effect on March 1, 2025.

Speaking during an interview on the Channel One Newsroom, Chairman of the TUC, Bernard Owusu said the TUC accepted the new wage adjustment due to a pending negotiation with the government in April this year.

“Nobody is okay with whatever the government gave to us. We accepted it on condition that we will be going for another negotiation around April and once that is done, we can then add more to what we have already acquired by having this negotiation with government.

“So, nobody is happy about that because we could have gotten more but this is what the government is saying that yes we can give you ten percent because of the conditions that we came to meet.”

President John Dramani Mahama will deliver the State of the Nation Address today, Thursday, February 27.

The highly anticipated address is expected to outline his administration’s key policies, economic plans, and governance priorities.

Ghanaians are looking forward to his vision for addressing pressing issues such as economic stability, job creation, infrastructure development, and national unity.

Stakeholders, including the Trades Union Congress (TUC) and business leaders, have already set expectations for the speech, calling for concrete measures to tackle the rising cost of living, unemployment, and wage disparities. Mahama’s address will also serve as an opportunity to provide clarity on the government’s “resetting agenda” and its approach to revitalizing key sectors of the economy.

The speech, to be delivered before Parliament, is expected to draw reactions from both the political and business communities as the country navigates critical economic and social challenges.

Shamima Muslim, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, has asserted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is a stronger representation of Ghanaians compared to the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Thursday, February 27, she emphasized the key differences between the two major political parties, arguing that the NDC has shown greater tolerance for criticism and a deeper commitment to addressing the concerns of ordinary citizens.

“Having experienced both the NPP and NDC in power and opposition, I am of the considered opinion that on the issues we held them accountable for, the NDC is a better representation of the people than the NPP. And I have come to that decision based on experience—NDC is more tolerant to criticisms,” she stated.

Her remarks reflect the sentiment among many Ghanaians who voted for change in the December 7, 2024, elections, which saw the NDC, led by John Dramani Mahama, secure a decisive victory over the NPP.

Mahama’s return to power was largely driven by public dissatisfaction with economic hardships under the NPP administration, including rising inflation, a weakening currency, high unemployment rates, and concerns over corruption.

The NDC’s campaign, focused on economic recovery, job creation, and strengthening democratic institutions, resonated strongly with voters—particularly young people and first-time voters frustrated with the country’s economic trajectory.

‘Woori: A Festival of our Weaving Tradition’ returns to the township of Loho in the Upper West region of Ghana for the fifth time from 6 March to 30June, 2025.

Now entering its fifth anniversary, the Woori Festival, organised by Nubuke Foundation Centre for Textiles and Clay, has evolved from its initial focus on showing the dynamism within the handwoven traditions occurring in the Upper West to a vibrant festival that platforms skill exchanges, art exhibition, fashion show, poetry, food tastings and music performances and film screenings.

This year’s festival is under the theme ‘The role of collaboration in harnessing the potential of weaving for socio-economic development’.

Notably, the festival date coincides with International Women’s Day- a reason to appreciate the weaving traditions of the Upper West and Ghana. We celebrate women as cultural preservers and bearers, and the economic transforming role of weaving in the fortunes of their families, community and villages.

The festival responds to ‘Why Collaborate?,’ a question posed by Austrian visual artist and Professor Barbara Putz-Plecko, who participated in the 2021- 2024 editions of the Woori Festival. Putz-Plecko’s urge is for us to pursue mutual learning.

In line with this proposition, the festival will feature a range of performative, process, and participatory contributions from Ghana, USA, Germany and Austria that explore mutual learning. For the first time, the festival will be held in three locations. The discursive, durational and performative aspects of the festival will occur from 6 to 9 March, 2025.

Artists, Jemima Fordjour, Blanche Boni-Mississo, Emmanuel Aggrey Tieku, Simon Bowman Jnr, King David Osabutey, Fran Redeker, Dzidefo Amegatsey, Enoch Laryea Nii-Adjei will present works from their textile and fibre practice with some focussed in making art especially accessible to our public, with ideas and processes engaging with youth, children, visually impaired and deaf community.

The exhibition will continue until the end of June 2025.

Highlights include:

Skill exchange workshops led by the University of Applied Arts, Vienna will feature weavers from Modern Traditional Cloth Weavers Association (Nadowli), Tietaa Weavers Association (Nandom), all from the Upper West region. The workshop will focus on traditional and contemporary weaving techniques, sustainable practices, and innovative textile design. Visitors should expect to be engaged in hands-on workshops with weavers and artists using recycled plastics. The festival celebrates othercreativity and innovation with poetry, music, performance, film, food, fashion and literature.

Nubuke Foundation

Nubuke Foundation is a private visual art and cultural institution based in Accra, Ghana. Founded in 2006, it serves as a nexus for arts and culture across the country while supporting the artistic practice of emerging and established Ghanaian artists.

The foundation’s programming includes exhibitions, art talks, seminars, workshops and spaces for drama, poetry, music and film collaborations. Nubuke Foundation is a member of the Arts Collaboratory Network.

Arts Collaboratory

Arts Collaboratory (AC) is a network of twenty-five diverse arts organizations in Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Latin America and Europe. AC is a trans-local ecosystem, focusing on
art practices and processes of social change and working with communities within and beyond the arts.

Highlife artiste, Rex Owusu Marfo popularly known Rex Omar has been appointed as the presidential staffer for the ‘Blackstar Experience.’

The Blackstar Experience, an initiative of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) will focus on showcasing the rich cultural heritage of Ghana, celebrating African creativity, and promoting unity and pride among Ghanaians.

It will include events, festivals, exhibitions, and cultural exchanges that highlight the diversity and beauty of Ghanaian arts and culture.

Rex Omar was born on February 6. He hails from Kumasi and has gained significant recognition across West Africa and beyond. Rex’s international performances in countries such as Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Benin, Britain, France, and Togo have earned him acclaim.

Rex Omar’s music is a unique blend of Afro-pop and jazz, rooted in the traditional rhythms and melodic inflections of Northern Ghana and Ashanti, combined with his love for jazz and Western pop music.

With a recording career spanning over two decades, Rex Omar has produced numerous hits, including his album “Dangerous,” which features the popular song “Abiba” and has sold over 300,000 units. He now leads a twelve-piece band, the nu-Ashanty, which delivers exciting performances. Notable shows include their 2002 performance at Jazz a` Ouaga in Burkina Faso and the 2005 Les Escales Festival in France, where they left audiences chanting for more.

Rex Omar has won several awards, including the Ghana Music Award for Best Contemporary Song of the Year in 2004, and he was a Kora Awards nominee that same year. Known for his controversial lyrics and bold stance on issues within the Ghanaian music industry, Rex’s recent comeback with the song “Da Di Da Da” in 2006 proves that he remains a formidable presence in the music scene.

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Western Region has strongly condemned the attack on journalists by illegal miners at Breman Adomanya Forest on February 23, 2025.

The victims of the attack included Theophilus Akwasi Agyei Annim of Channel One TV/Citi FM, Henry Emil Fynn of Angel TV, and Jacob Adu-Baah of ABC News GH/Rok FM.

According to the association, such acts of violence against media professionals are not only an assault on press freedom but also a direct threat to Ghana’s democracy and environmental sustainability.

On February 23, illegal miners (galamseyers) whose destructive activities are well known by police personnel in and around the Asankragwa area attacked Citi News’ Western Regional Correspondent, Akwasi Agyei Annim, and damaged his production equipment while he was filming.

Shockingly, this happened in the full glare of a police escort, raising concerns about law enforcement’s commitment to protecting journalists.

The GJA strongly condemned the attack and urged the government to prioritize the safety of journalists and ensure their unrestricted access to report on issues of public interest.

The association emphasized that silence in the face of such attacks fosters impunity and erodes the foundations of democracy.

Reaffirming its commitment to defending press freedom, the GJA pledged its support to journalists who courageously speak truth to power.

“We urge all media stakeholders and civil society to unite in condemning violence against the press and demand urgent action to end the galamsey menace,” the association stated.

Deputy Minister-designate for Lands and Natural Resources, Sulemana Yusif, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to curbing illegal mining, which continues to threaten the nation’s water bodies.

Addressing the impact of ‘galamsey’ on Ghana’s rivers and lakes, Yusif stressed that tackling the issue requires a collective national effort.

His remarks highlight the alarming levels of turbidity in major water bodies, with readings between 5,000 and 12,000 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU)—far exceeding the acceptable limit of 500 NTU.

During his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on February 26, Yusif stated, “Nobody should sit in, let’s say, Pusiga or Kpandai and say that is not my business. You never know when a fish that is harvested from, let’s say, the Central Region will be sold to you in Paga or any part of the country.

“And so, it’s a national issue, and I think that I will help my minister [Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah], like he has started doing, to flush out all those who are on our water bodies.”

The Mahama administration has intensified its crackdown on illegal mining, ordering the immediate arrest and prosecution of those involved.

The vetting of Deputy Attorney General and Justice Minister-designate, Justice Srem-Sai, took an unexpected turn following a heated exchange between the Chairman of the Appointments Committee and Ranking Member, Alexander Afenyo-Markin.

Tensions flared after Afenyo-Markin requested the nominee to demonstrate a particular dance, stating, “We are here to learn about our country. It is also about our culture.”

However, the Chairman found the request inappropriate for the setting and overruled the question, leading to a sharp disagreement.

Displeased with the ruling, Afenyo-Markin accused the Chairman of being “whimsical and capricious” in his handling of proceedings.

The Chairman then demanded that Afenyo-Markin withdraw his remarks, but he stood his ground, responding, “Chairman, I won’t withdraw. You rudely overruled me.”

As the standoff intensified, Chairman Bernard Ahiafor firmly asserted his authority, declaring, “To demonstrate to you that I am the chairman of this particular vetting committee, that may be your last question.”

The escalating dispute ultimately led to an abrupt end of the vetting session.

Justice Srem-Sai, Deputy Attorney General and Justice Minister-designate has addressed concerns regarding the potential for multiple prosecutions of an individual for the same offense.

He emphasized that once a person has been acquitted and discharged by a court of competent jurisdiction, they cannot be prosecuted again for the same offense by another legal body.

This principle, known as double jeopardy, is a fundamental aspect of Ghanaian criminal jurisprudence. It ensures that an individual cannot be tried twice for the same offense after a valid conviction or acquittal.

His comments arose in the context of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) naming former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta as a suspect in multiple high-profile corruption investigations, including those related to the National Cathedral project and Strategic Mobilization Limited.

Srem-Sai clarified that if a person were to be acquitted in these cases, the Attorney General would not have the legal grounds to initiate another prosecution on the same matters.

This stance aligns with Ghana’s legal protections against double jeopardy, which are enshrined in both constitutional and statutory law.

During his appearance before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on February 26, 2025, Justice Srem-Sai, said, “I do not think that the law supports prosecuting one person on the same transaction twice.

“So, once the person is prosecuted and acquitted on that particular transaction, that should be the end. I don’t think it will be lawful for anyone to start another prosecution in respect of the same transaction.”

Justice Srem-Sai’s remarks reinforce the commitment to upholding the double jeopardy principle within Ghana’s legal system, ensuring that once an individual is acquitted of a specific offense, they are not subjected to subsequent prosecutions for the same act.