Kissi Agyebeng

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has filed a notice of appeal challenging the decision of a High Court which said the Office has no independent power to prosecute without the authorisation of the Attorney General (AG).

The OSP has also filed an application for stay of execution pending the hearing and determination of the appeal against the decision.

The issue came up during the trial of former Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta and seven others who have been charged for their involvement in a revenue assurance contract awarded by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) which, according to the OSP, has allegedly caused the nation over GH¢1.4 billion financial loss.

Adelaide Kobiri-Woode, Principal Prosecutor at the Office of the Special Prosecutor, told the court that between the last adjourned date and yesterday, there have been some court proceedings, particularly the High Court decision and a pending writ at the Supreme Court concerning the prosecutorial powers of the OSP.

She urged the court to take judicial notice of those court processes and proceedings, while asking the court to adjourn the case pending the hearing and determination of the appeal and the stay of execution.

Lawyers for all the accused persons did not oppose the request but asked the court to take a date that is reasonably further so that they don’t have to come back for more adjournments.

The court, presided over by Justice Francis Achibonga, granted the request and adjourned the case to May 26, 2026.

On April 15, 2026, a High Court in Accra presided over by Justice Eugene Nyante Nyadu, ordered the Attorney General to take over all prosecutions currently being handled by the OSP in the various courts pending the submission of its application to the Attorney General for the grant of authorisation to its officers by way of an Executive Instrument to enable them prosecute criminal offences.

The court also set aside all convictions secured  by the Office of the Special Prosecutor as a result of its failure to obtain the authorisation of the Attorney General to initiate the prosecution of those cases as spelt out in Section 4(2) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959).

According to the court, presided over by Justice John Eugene Nyante Nyadu, the OSP does not have the power to initiate the prosecution of criminal offences without the express authorisation of the Attorney General who is mandated by Article 88 of the 1992 Constitution to initiate criminal cases in the name of the Republic.

“The purported exercise of prosecutorial power by the respondent (OSP) without lawful authorisation is unlawful,” the court held its ruling on an application challenging the authority of the OSP to initiate prosecution of corruption and related offences without the authorisation of the Attorney General.

The order only affects two known cases in which the OSP has secured convictions—both of which resulted in a plea bargain with the accused persons.

BY Gibril Abdul Razak

Angela List, Adamus CEO

The youth in Nzema in the Western Region have hit back at Adamus Resources Limited after the company reportedly described them as ‘illegal miners’ following recent protests over the alleged release of mining concessions to foreign nationals.

The youth say they are only demanding fairness and transparency from the mining company over how some of its concessions are being used.

Their reaction follows a press statement issued by Adamus Resources which suggested that the demonstrators were illegal miners who were hiding behind the concerns of local youth to push their own interests.

But the youth say that claim is misleading and unfair.

Speaking on behalf of the youth at Salma, youth leader, James Kwoffie, said they are not involved in illegal mining and should not be branded as galamseyers.

According to him, the protest was organised by genuinely concerned young people who feel neglected and sidelined by the company.

He said many of the youth have repeatedly appealed to Adamus Resources for access to portions of its concessions for community-based mining activities but their requests have been ignored.

Mr. Kwoffie argued that while local youth continue to be denied access, the company has allegedly released some of its concessions to foreign nationals.

He said this is what has angered many people in the area.

According to him, the youth cannot understand why Adamus Resources would refuse to engage local people, only to turn around and allow foreign nationals to operate on parts of its concessions.

However, he insisted that many residents believe the foreigners are rather engaging in illegal alluvial mining activities.

Mr. Kwoffie said the explanation being offered by Adamus Resources does not add up. He admitted that the mining law allows the Lands Ministry to approve for mining support services.

However, he said the youth need clarity on the exact nature of the work being carried out by the foreign nationals on the concessions.

The youth leader claimed that about seven locations on concession belonging to Adamus Resources have been handed over to foreign nationals under what the company describes as mining support services.

He questioned whether Adamus Resources has been given the approval by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for this kind of mining support services.

According to him, these are the questions that the company has failed to answer.

The youth are also wondering why Adamus Resources has been unable to give access to mining opportunities while at the same time making room for foreigners.

The youth have since petitioned the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources to intervene, warning that the growing frustration in the area could lead to a more serious security problem if swift action is not taken.

A Daily Guide Report

Some of the recovered vehicles

Ghana has been identified as one of the destinations for vehicles stolen in the United States by an organised auto theft and trafficking syndicate, following the indictment of six individuals accused of stealing cars and exporting them to buyers, including recipients in the country.

A statement released by the US Attorney’s Office at the District of Columbia said the suspects are part of a sophisticated, D.C.-based car theft ring that allegedly stole at least 20 vehicles and sold them across the U.S. and Ghana, with investigations suggesting the network may be linked to the theft of more than 100 vehicles.

A 15-count indictment, unsealed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., outlines how the group operated across multiple states, targeting mostly newer models such as Honda Civics, CRVs and Acura sedans and SUVs.

Prosecutors alleged the syndicate used advanced electronic devices to bypass vehicle security systems, reprogramming cars to accept blank key fobs, thereby effectively allowing them to steal vehicles without physical keys.

After stealing the cars, the group reportedly transported them across state lines to storage locations, including a parking garage in Southeast Washington, according to the statement.

The release said at these facilities, the stolen vehicles were disguised by swapping licence plates and tampering with Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs), while GPS and Bluetooth systems were disabled to avoid detection before resale or export.

The suspects named in the indictment include Jacob Hernandez, Dustin Wetzel, James Young, Khobe David and Chance Clark. A sixth suspect remains at large, with details sealed by the court.

Investigators stated that the operation extended beyond Washington, D.C., into Pennsylvania and Maryland, including Prince George’s County, where more than 30 vehicles are believed to have been stolen.

As part of ongoing investigations, law enforcement officers also executed a search warrant at an automobile storage facility in Decatur, Georgia, suspected to be linked to the syndicate.

All six individuals face charges of conspiracy to possess, transport and sell stolen motor vehicles.

The case is being handled by the Metropolitan Police Department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Washington Field Office, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, with support from local law enforcement agencies.

By Ernest Kofi Adu

Alex Dadey

The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mohammed Abdul-Salam, has stated that the Presidency is supportive of the contractual agreement between the NLA and KGL Technology Limited, as it falls within the NLA’s legal mandate.

Speaking on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, Mr. Abdul-Salam said the agreement between the two entities has gone through several engagement involving key institutions including the Ministry of Finance, the Attorney-General’s office and the office of the President.

He said following a letter written by the Board of the NLA to the Attorney General’s office for advice on the contract, the Presidency subsequently directed the formation of a committee to review the agreement for possible renegotiation.

“The presidency has equally issued a directive indicating that it was within the NLA’s mandate to enter such agreements with KGL and others for the purposes for providing regulation for the industry.

“Except that in terms of the revenue share, which we have always stated, the NLA needed to gain much more from that contractual agreement than it is presently having. The state stands to benefit, negotiations are currently ongoing to improve the share of the state in terms of what monies come to us,” Mr. Abdul-Salam stated.

Mr. Abdul-Salam, however, said that since the committee completed its work, the Presidency has issued a directive affirming that the NLA has the mandate to enter into agreements with private partners like KGL for regulatory and operational purposes in the lottery sector.

He mentioned that concerns remain over the revenue-sharing arrangement, but stated that the NLA believes the State should derive greater benefit from the contract than it currently does.

“We initiated processes, engagements which had to even go as far as the Ministry of Finance and even to the Presidency. We had to be directed to involve the AG. Initially the NLA through the board wrote to the AG to give its position regarding the contractual agreement between the KGL and NLA.

“Then we had the Presidency directing the formation of a committee to do a review of the contract and all that. Those process have been walked, there is a completion” he added

The Director-General further said negotiations are ongoing following the review process, with the aim of improving the financial returns to the State and ensuring a more favourable revenue structure.

A Daily Guide Report

Kenyan President William Ruto has faced a social media backlash after publicly suggesting that Nigerian-accented English was incomprehensible and required a translator.

Addressing Kenyans living in Italy on Monday, Ruto said: "If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don't know what they are saying - you need a translator," while boasting that Kenyans spoke "some of the best English in the world".

His remarks drew fierce condemnation from Nigerians and other Africans online who accused the Kenyan leader of demeaning a fellow African nation.

"English is a colonial language, not a measure of intelligence, capability, or national progress," wrote Hopewell Chin'ono, a Zimbabwean journalist.

As former British colonies, both Kenya and Nigeria share English as an official language, but each country has developed distinct spoken varieties with different phonetic structures.

These differences reflect the influence of indigenous languages - Nigeria has more than 500 languages which shape its cadence and intonation, while Kenya's Bantu, Nilotic and Cushitic mix give rise to its own accents.

But in his address to the diaspora gathering, Ruto said Kenya's education system produced strong English proficiency and that it was difficult to understand Nigerians when they spoke English.

"Our education is good. Our English is good. We speak some of the best English in the world. If you listen to a Nigerian speaking, you don't know what they are saying. You need a translator even when they are speaking English," he said, sparking laughter in the room.

"We have some of the best human capital anywhere in the world. We just need to sharpen it with more training," Ruto added.

His remarks have led to widespread reactions on social media, with many users criticising the Kenyan leader for showcasing a "deep inferiority complex rooted in colonial conditioning".

"Ruto is mocking the English of the country with a Nobel Prize for literature winner.The Nation of Achebe and Chimamanda," former Nigerian senator Shehu Sani posted on X, referring to Wole Soyinka - the country's only Nobel Prize winner - along with acclaimed authors Chinua Achebe and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Other social media users urged Ruto to focus on addressing pressing issues facing his citizens - such as the cost of living and unemployment - rather than engaging in what they described as distractions.

Online barbs between Kenya and Nigeria are a frequent occurrence, often marked by intense, humorous and sometimes volatile cyber wars on platforms like X.

These exchanges typically revolve around economic comparisons, pop culture and sport and, more recently, political remarks.

Earlier this month, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu faced a backlash from Kenyans online after stating that Nigerians were "better off than those in Kenya and other African countries" despite rising fuel prices at home.

While Ruto did not make a direct reference to any specific comment, some online interpretations suggested his remarks may be in response to Tinubu's comments.

There has been no official response from Ruto's government, but some Kenyans have defended him online, arguing that critics have misunderstood the intent of his remarks and missed the humour.

Nigeria has more English speakers than any other country in Africa. Over time, the language has evolved locally into what is often described as "Nigerian English" - a distinct and widely recognised variety shaped by the country's history, cultures and everyday usage.

It continues to influence global English, with Nigerian expressions, such as "next tomorrow" (the day after tomorrow), increasingly appearing in mainstream dictionaries.

Nigeria's large and active diaspora, particularly in the UK, has also helped spread and shape these linguistic influences across borders.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

The Government of Ghana, through the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), has commenced the disbursement of grants to beneficiaries of the 2025 cohort of the Adwumawura Programme

The Adwumawura Programme is an ambitious national initiative designed to support youth entrepreneurship, stimulate business growth, and drive job creation.

Launched to empower young Ghanaians with the entrepreneurial skills and resources needed to build decent and sustainable businesses. The Adwumawura Programme, has to date, successfully trained and mentored 10,887 beneficiaries across the country.

These beneficiaries underwent 5 weeks intensive entrepreneurial training, followed by 6 months structured post-training mentorship to strengthen their business models and operational capacity.

As part of the transition from training to funding, a rigorous and transparent selection process was implemented to identify high-potential businesses for grant support.

A Grant Management Committee was duly inaugurated to oversee this process and ensure fairness, accountability, and merit-based selection.

The Committee is composed of representatives from academia, government institutions, financial agencies, development partners, and the private sector, ensuring a balanced and credible oversight structure.

Following the training phase, beneficiaries were required to submit detailed business plans outlining their proposed businesses and Innovations.

These submissions underwent an initial one-week screening process, during which applications were assessed based on key criteria, including:

• Scalability – the potential for business growth and expansion
• Job creation potential – the ability to create at least two decent employment opportunities
• Sustainability – long-term viability of the business model
• Feasibility – practicality and readiness for implementation

Shortlisted applicants proceeded to a nationwide pitching phase, where they presented their business ideas before the Grant Management Committee.

This stage provided an opportunity for further evaluation and validation of proposals, culminating in comprehensive assessment reports to guide final selection decisions.

Following this rigorous process, 3212 successful beneficiaries have been selected across all regions of the country

The commencement of grant disbursement marks a significant milestone in The Adwumawura Programme’s implementation, reinforcing Government’s commitment to nurturing entrepreneurship, reducing youth unemployment, and promoting inclusive economic growth.

NEIP remains dedicated to providing continuous support to beneficiaries through post-disbursement monitoring and business advisory services to ensure the sustainability and success of funded enterprises.

To young entrepreneaurs who could not make it in the year 2025. The 2026 cohort application portal will soon be opened.

Source: NEIP

Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah

The Minerals Commission has directed some international mining firms including Newmont, AngloGold Ashanti, and Zijin to shift mining operations to local contractors by December, 2026 or face sanctions.

Sources reveal that the three companies currently operate the mines with their own staff even though other firms have outsourced mining operations ahead of a revision of local ownership rules which required all miners to switch to contract mining.

Under the rules, DAILY GUIDE learnt that surface mining is expected to be undertaken by fully Ghanaian-owned firms, while underground mining should be carried out by companies with at least ⁠50% Ghanaian ownership.

Information within government circles indicates that apart from Newmont, Zijin and AngloGold Ashanti’s smaller Iduapriem gold mine, almost all large mining firms operating in the country have already transitioned to contract mining.

According to Reuters reports on Wednesday, separate letters sent to the three companies in January and October, 2025 revealed that the Minerals Commission directed the mining firms to fully comply with the contract mining requirements by December 2026.

It said the companies however requested for extensions to enable them to fully comply with the directive.

Sources further indicated that although Anglogold Ashanti has not commented on the matter, Zijin mining unit in Ghana said it has been engaging with the Minerals Commission since November 2025 to comply with the ‌local content ⁠rules.

This, it stated, include preparing tenders and technical frameworks for a shift to contract mining, while rolling out new technologies that require initial benchmarking before a full tender process.

But sources within government indicates that Newmont’s compliance was discussed during meetings this month in Accra between its global CEO, Natascha Viljoen, and the Minerals Commission after the company sought an extension.

A source within government revealed that Newmont, which operates the Ahafo North and South gold mines, requested to fully comply with the directive by 2027, citing additional regulatory and governance requirements it must satisfy as a listed company.

But regulators, reports indicates, rejected that request, citing examples of other listed miners, who had already complied with the directive

The government sources said the new rules are aimed at building capacity among Ghanaian mining service companies in order to retain more value in-country, citing the emergence of Ghanaian firms such as Rocksure and Engineers & Planners (E&P).

By Ebenezer Amponsah

Digital VAT systems have improved compliance but continue to face challenges

Kwame Governs Agboza is the Minister of Roads and Highways

Virginia’s redistricting fight is racing toward the state’s highest court after a county judge blocked certification of a narrowly approved ballot measure on Wednesday that would dramatically reshape the state's congressional map in favor of Democrats and potentially impact control of Congress.

Longtime Del. Terry Kilgore, the Republican leader of the Virginia House, told Fox News Digital state Democrats unlawfully forced through the mid-decade redraw to give themselves a 10-1 advantage, saying he was "irritated" by what he viewed as unprecedented partisanship.

"This is Virginia. We normally get along, normally go through things the right way," Kilgore said. "I've been here over 30 years. … I've never seen anything like this so partisan since I've been here, and it was a very sad day for the Commonwealth."

He noted the pressure the state Supreme Court, which leans slightly conservative, is now under to address the polarizing election issue, saying he believed it would be struck down.

APPEALS COURT RULES AGAINST VIRGINIA'S EFFORT TO BLOCK RE-INSTATEMENT OF SUSPECTED NONCITIZENS TO VOTER ROLLS

The Virginia State Capitol in Richmond during the inauguration ceremony of Gov. Abigail Spanberger on Jan. 17. (Kendall Warner/The Virginian-Pilot)

"I think if they follow the law, they will definitely strike this down and have it null and void, so we're optimistic," Kilgore said.

More than three million Virginians turned out to vote on the high-profile, multimillion-dollar redistricting effort, approving it on April 21 by a slim margin of 51.5% to 48.5%, which Kilgore said was representative of Virginia's purple, rather than blue, political landscape.

"They thought we were going to lose by 15 points, and that would make their argument that Virginia is a 10-1 state," Kilgore said. "Of course it was like at 2% and that shows you how close Virginia really is, that we are a 6-5 state, and we actually won some of the districts that they have redrawn. This is just a power grab. That's all you can say, a power grab by the national Democrats."

OBAMA ENDORSES VIRGINIA REDISTRICTING CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT COULD HELP DEMS GAIN 4 SEATS

Wednesday's decision by Tazewell County Circuit Court Judge Jack Hurley to block certification of the results stemmed from Republican National Committee v. Koski, one of multiple lawsuits challenging the redistricting referendum as unconstitutional and unlawful.

The question that appeared on the ballot on April 21 asked voters if they wanted to approve a new congressional map that would "restore fairness" in elections.

The question was reflective of comments by Virginia House of Delegates Democratic leader Don Scott, who said in February the amendment was "about leveling the playing field across the country. Republicans are gerrymandering maps to override the will of the voters," Scott said, noting Texas, North Carolina and Missouri, while leaving out Democrat-friendly mid-cycle redistricting in California and Utah. Scott claimed a "10-1 map levels the playing field." 

Newly elected Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger previously vowed to leave Virginia's maps to the redistricting commission but has faced "bait-and-switch" accusations for reversing that stance and signing the amendment, saying it was a temporary response to President Donald Trump's insertion into redistricting fights.

Hurley in his decision cited procedural failures in how the legislature advanced the amendment and "misleading" ballot language that he said improperly influenced voters. Attorney General Jay Jones, an elected Democrat, said an appeal was imminent.

DAVID MARCUS: RICH MEN NORTH OF RICHMOND SET TO STEAL THE VOTES OF RURAL VIRGI

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger speaks during inaugural ceremonies at the Capitol in Richmond, Va., on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026. (Steve Helber/AP Photo)

"Virginia voters have spoken, and an activist judge should not have veto power over the People's vote. We look forward to defending the outcome of last night's election in court," Jones said Wednesday.

The Tazewell decision came after the same judge, Hurley, had previously ruled against Democrats in another, similar lawsuit brought by Republican state lawmakers over the amendment.

Hurley initially blocked the referendum vote from even moving forward as part of that case, but the Virginia Supreme Court stepped in and stayed that decision in March.

MARYLAND HOUSE APPROVES NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP AS SENATE LEADERS WARN OF RISKS

"It is the process, not the outcome, of this effort that we may ultimately have to address," the state's highest court found at the time. "Issuing an injunction to keep Virginians from the polls is not the proper way to make this decision."

The Virginia Supreme Court is set to hear oral arguments in that case on Monday, during which the high court could also address issues raised in the other lawsuits still proceeding through the lower courts.

A person walks to vote in the Virginia redistricting referendum at Lyles-Crouch Traditional Academy, Tuesday, April 21, 2026, in Alexandria, Va. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)

Jason Snead, executive director of the Honest Elections Project, which filed an amicus brief arguing that Democrats violated the state Constitution by extending a special session to pass the amendment, said his group's arguments were among several that would ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court. He said the various lawsuits may also be consolidated since they contain overlapping arguments.

DAVID MARCUS: VIRGINIA'S BATTLE OVER GERRYMANDERING BETRAYS OUR BROKEN POLITICS

"[The Virginia Supreme Court] has really been backed into a corner by this, and I think that they understand that they're going to have to get an answer here very quickly, and I think that's why they set oral argument in this case so soon after the referendum," Snead said.

He added that "I think we're going to get a ruling as soon as May." The deadline for candidates to qualify for the ballot is May 26.

Snead said that in addition to an allegedly unconstitutionally extended special session, other concerns laid out by Republicans included that ballot language should have, by law, been posted for 90 days and that Democrats "simply tried to get out of jail with that one" by retroactively repealing the law. He noted the "lack of neutrality" in the ballot language itself, referencing how it framed redistricting as "restoring fairness."

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Although the case could even make its way to the U.S. Supreme Court, Snead predicted that the fight would end in Virginia.

"They're raising questions about legislative process and constitutional procedure at the state level, so I really think this is going to probably end with the Virginia Supreme Court," Snead said.

Fox News Digital reached out to Jones' and Spanberger's offices for comment.

East Village residents who voted for New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani by a 40-point margin are now suing to stop a building in their neighborhood from becoming a temporary homeless shelter.

The lawsuit, filed with the New York City Supreme Court on Monday, shows hesitation even among Mamdani supporters on the cost of implementing some of his plans.

News of the lawsuit has prompted conservative criticism online, with figures like Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, noting the irony of Mamdani’s supporters turning on the fruits of his administration.

"Oops," Sen. Ted Cruz said in a post to X.

MAMDANI PRESSED ON PLEDGE TO BE TRUMP'S 'WORST NIGHTMARE' AND LANDLORD PUSHBACK ON RENT FREEZE PLAN

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks at a press conference at La Marqueta in East Harlem on April 14, 2026, outlining plans for city-run grocery stores aimed at lowering food prices. (New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference announcing a city-run grocery store plan in East Harlem.)

"No one is more ‘not in my backyard’ than white progressives. This community voted for Mamdani in a landslide but don’t want to live with the consequences," another observer wrote on social media.

"Not shocked," Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said in a post of his own.

Election District 45, the area that includes East Village, voted for Mamdani in a 70.1% victory over independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, who garnered just 26.0% of the vote.

Even so, 10 residents joined the Village Organization for the Integrity of Community Engagement (VOICE) in their suit against the city after Mamdani announced plans earlier this year to turn a building at 8 East 3rd Street into a citywide intake shelter to house homeless adult men.

MAMDANI DISCOURAGES HAKEEM JEFFRIES PRIMARY CHALLENGER, TELLS CITY COUNCIL MEMBER TO 'FOCUS' ON NYC

Trains arrive and depart at the Queensboro Plaza subway station with the New York City skyline visible behind on Dec. 23, 2005. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The filing argues the city fast-tracked the process without proper environmental and legal safeguards.

"It challenges the city’s hastily made and legally invalid decision to locate a new citywide homeless adult male intake center at 8 East 3rd Street without following any of the legal requirements that must precede such a significant and consequential decision," the filing reads.

To circumvent them, the complaint notes Mamdani relied on an emergency declaration from 2022 — a power originally issued to handle an influx of asylum-seekers.

Mamdani announced the temporary housing project at 8 East 3rd Street as a way to accommodate the closure of Bellevue Shelter, a separate homeless intake site that the mayor’s office said had deteriorated too far for use.

"The Department of Social Services (DSS) and Department of Homeless Services (DHS) will immediately implement an operational plan to vacate 30th Street and relocate the critical functions to other sites. There are approximately 250 individuals in the shelter and the DSS is working to relocate these individuals by mid-March," Mamdani’s office said in a press release.

NYC LANDLORDS FIRE BACK AT ‘RACIST’ MAMDANI AIDE'S CLAIM THAT TIES HOMEOWNERSHIP TO 'WHITE SUPREMACY'

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani delivers remarks at the Service Employees International Union 32BJ SEIU rally on Park Avenue in Manhattan on April 15, 2026. (Selcuk Acar/Anadolu)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

The mayor’s office also detailed that a second accommodation site would be opened at 333 Bowery St., beginning on May 1, to house families without minor children.

The New York Supreme Court has not yet responded to requests for emergency relief that would pause the city’s plans.

Two persons have been confirmed dead and one other is in critical condition following the collapse of an illegal mining (galamsey) pit at Assin Dansame in the Assin North District of the Central Region.

The incident occurred around 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, when eight miners were reportedly working inside a newly dug pit.

According to accounts, the walls of the pit suddenly gave way, trapping three of the workers under debris and loose soil.

Residents and fellow miners rushed to the scene in an attempt to rescue the trapped victims, but the operation was delayed due to the depth of the pit and unstable ground conditions.

After several minutes of frantic effort, all three victims were retrieved.

However, two were pronounced dead shortly after, while the third survivor was rushed to a nearby health facility in critical condition and is currently receiving emergency treatment.

The deceased have been identified as a 22-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man. Their bodies have been deposited at the New Edubiase Government Hospital morgue.

Police have begun investigations into the incident, while officials from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) are expected to visit the site to assess the situation and support affected families.

The Assin North District NADMO Director, Edward Fireson, confirmed the incident and said measures are being intensified to curb illegal mining activities in the area.

Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Yaw Boagyan

The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has confirmed that a major fire incident at its Akosombo Substation in the Eastern Region has led to disruptions in power generation and supply across various parts of the country.

According to a statement from its Corporate Communications Section, the fire reportedly started at approximately 2:01 p.m. today, Tuesday.

The fire, the statement continued, forced an immediate halt in operations at the facility.

GRIDCo revealed that emergency response teams were deployed to the site shortly after the alarm was raised and have since been working “around the clock” to contain the situation and evaluate the extent of the damage.

​The statement said further that technical personnel are currently conducting a full evaluation to determine the cause of the incident.

​“Our technical teams are actively working to manage the situation, and every effort is being made to stabilise the system and minimise disruptions,” the statement read.

​The Akosombo Substation is a critical node in the National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS).

Below is the full statement:

Source: Starrfm.com.gh

The Acting Director-General of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr Julius Kpekpena, has refuted claims that ECG is overcharging customers for electricity consumption.

He said investigations conducted by the company did not support that assertion.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra on Monday, Mr Kpekpena explained that the study conducted by the ECG rather revealed that there was increase in power consumption by consumers and not power overcharging by his outfit.

He said that although the company communicated tariff changes to prepaid meters, some meters failed to receive the updates due to dead zones in the country’s mobile telephony system.

That, he noted, led to differences in tariffs paid by customers.

“On the overcharging of credits, let me say here categorically that no consumer has been overcharged for the electricity they consumed. However, it is not untrue that consumers saw a sharp jump in the rate at which the credit is consumed,” Mr Kpekpena said.

“For our prepaid meters, when we change tariff, we have to communicate that tariff to the meter. And you know we have a lot of dead zones in our mobile telephony system. So, we broadcast the tariff, and the meters are to receive this tariff. But some meters don’t receive the tariff,” he added.

“When that happens, we go around to manually upload to each meter a new tariff. When we investigated, we realised that some of our old and obsolete meters that we are replacing were on 2021 tariff,” he explained.

According to him, customers whose meters had not been updated were effectively underpaying, and once the new tariffs were applied, it was expected that they would see an immediate increase in the rate of credit consumption.

Mr Kpekpena further noted that ECG was recording improved revenue generation due to enhanced operational systems.

“Our billing system is getting better and better each and every day. Our customers who are not paying or who were not being billed are now being captured. So, our commercial operation is improving,” he said.

He added that the company’s operations have become more transparent, with revenue now managed through a cash waterfall mechanism administered by the National Energy Security Committee and led by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC).

Additionally, he highlighted the role of social media platforms, including a temporary WhatsApp account being developed by the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition, in helping customers report power outages.

He also noted that the ECG Power App can now be used for such reports.

Mr Kpekpena clarified that occasional power fluctuations are caused by automated devices installed on power lines, not by ECG personnel.

“We also have devices on the line that cuts the power off, waits for a certain period that we set and then takes the power back, and when it goes off, it sees it as a permanent fault and cuts it off completely,” he said.

BY BENJAMIN ARCTON-TETTEY

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The Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo) has confirmed that a major fire incident at its Akosombo Substation in the Eastern Region has led to disruptions in power generation and supply across various parts of the country.

According to a statement from its Corporate Communications Section, the fire reportedly started at approximately 2:01 p.m. today, Tuesday.

The fire, the statement continued, forced an immediate halt in operations at the facility.

GRIDCo revealed that emergency response teams were deployed to the site shortly after the alarm was raised and have since been working “around the clock” to contain the situation and evaluate the extent of the damage.

​The statement said further that technical personnel are currently conducting a full evaluation to determine the cause of the incident.

​“Our technical teams are actively working to manage the situation, and every effort is being made to stabilise the system and minimise disruptions,” the statement read.

​The Akosombo Substation is a critical node in the National Interconnected Transmission System (NITS).

Below is the full statement:

Source: Starrfm.com.gh

President John Dramani Mahama is expected to visit the site of the ongoing reconstruction works at the La General Hospital in Accra to assess progress and receive updates on the project’s execution.

The hospital was demolished in March 2020 under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration to make way for a modern redevelopment project, but the works experienced delays largely attributed to funding constraints.

Following the change of government in 2025, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration, as part of its “Reset Agenda,” has prioritised the completion of the facility, with a target completion date set for 2028.

During the visit scheduled for today, Friday, April 24, the President is expected to be briefed by the project contractor on the current stage of construction and the percentage of work completed so far.

The inspection forms part of government’s broader efforts to accelerate key health infrastructure projects across the country to improve access to quality healthcare services.

Source: Starrfm.com.gh

EXCLUSIVE: A Defense Department scientist’s 2022 death, which was ruled an accident, is drawing new scrutiny as federal authorities examine a series of deaths and disappearances involving researchers tied to sensitive government work.

The case comes as federal authorities and lawmakers examine reports involving at least 10 to 11 scientists tied to sensitive government research, including individuals connected to nuclear, aerospace and defense programs.

The cases, which span disappearances, confirmed homicides and unexplained deaths, have drawn attention from the White House and Congress, prompting calls for federal agencies to determine whether any broader national security risk exists.

TEXTS AFTER ANNA KEPNER’S MYSTERIOUS CRUISE SHIP DEATH SHOW FAMILY SCRAMBLING TO CLAMP DOWN ON INFO

One of those cases drawing renewed attention is the death of Jude Height, a longtime Army biochemist whose work placed him within the type of high-level research now under federal review.

Height, 71, died Sept. 9, 2022, after a vehicle rolled backward down a driveway at a home in Chester County, Pennsylvania, striking and trapping him beneath it, according to the local coroner’s office and official records. The death was ruled accidental.

Image of Army scientist Jude Height (Kristin Height)

The FBI declined to comment on specific cases, but told Fox News Digital it is "spearheading the effort to look for connections into the missing and deceased scientists. We are working with the Department of Energy, Department of War, and with our state and local law enforcement partners to find answers."

The White House similarly declined to get ahead of its investigation. 

"The White House continues to coordinate across the interagency in order to investigate these events and provide transparency to the American people," spokesperson Anna Kelly said. 

Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Army at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland for comment. The War Department referred to the Army. 

Height spent more than four decades working as a biochemist for the U.S. Army at Aberdeen Proving Ground’s Edgewood, Maryland, facility, focusing on how nerve agents interact with the human body — work that placed him within the type of national security research now drawing broader federal scrutiny.

His work included findings on Novichok agents, a class of chemical weapons used in high-profile international poisonings, including the 2018 attack on former Russian spy Sergei Skripal in the United Kingdom.

"We were working on the next generation of nerve agent therapeutics," Scott Peghan, a biochemist who worked with Height through Army research programs, told Fox News Digital. 

Image of Jude Height (Kristin Height)

SAVANNAH GUTHRIE REVEALS NEW DETAILS IN MOM’S VANISHING THAT DON’T ADD UP AS QUESTIONS HAUNT CASE: EXPERT

His final research, published after his death, examined how Novichok agents inhibit acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme critical to nerve function. Height was preparing to present his latest findings at the annual Military Health System Research Symposium at the time of his death.

"He worked on the structure of proteins involved in interactions with nerve agents," Dennis Reuter, a former senior Army scientist who ran a chemical weapons laboratory and oversaw Height’s work for two decades, told Fox News Digital. "It was very cutting-edge research." 

Dr. Emory "Bill" Sarver, a former chief scientist who worked with Height for 25 years, told Fox News Digital his work focused on how those agents bind to key enzymes, including whether those interactions could be reversed — research with implications for both chemical defense and medical treatment. 

Image of Jude Height (Kristin Height)

Nerve agents like Novichok disrupt the body’s ability to transmit signals between nerves, leading to paralysis and, in severe cases, death.

Colleagues said the work required highly specialized expertise and was conducted in a limited number of government laboratories. Height deployed alongside special forces as a civilian scientist to conduct onsite analysis related to suspected chemical weapons.

In 911 audio reviewed by Fox News Digital, the caller appears to say someone "ran him over a couple times," prompting the dispatcher to repeatedly ask who had run him over and whether it had been intentional.

But sworn testimony from Height’s girlfriend — the only person present at the time of the incident — later differed in key respects from the initial police report.

In the crash report, police wrote that the vehicle had been parked "unoccupied, overnight." In her later deposition, the girlfriend said she had driven the car earlier that morning and returned home shortly before the incident.

NASA COORDINATING WITH RELEVANT AGENCIES IN MISSING SCIENTISTS PROBE

Image of Jude Height (Kristin Height)

The report also stated that Height ran behind the vehicle in an attempt to stop it. In sworn testimony, however, the girlfriend said she did not see him run behind the car, only that she saw him already behind it and falling.

Police further wrote that the vehicle "rolled over (Height) two times." In the deposition, the girlfriend said she did not know whether he was run over more than once, describing instead seeing the car "bounce" as it moved.

Height's former girlfriend did not respond to a request for comment. 

Former colleagues who worked with Height for decades say the circumstances surrounding his death have never been fully explained.

"None of us believe the official account. Nothing adds up," said Reuter.

"None of it was well explained," said Sarver.

A source close to Height with law enforcement experience described the crash report to Fox News Digital as "one of the worst accident reports I’ve ever seen," citing inconsistencies in how the incident was documented.

Cases like Height’s have drawn attention as part of the broader review of scientists tied to sensitive government research, though authorities have not indicated that his death is connected to any wider pattern.

The crash report provides a basic account of the incident but offers little detail on how the vehicle moved or how Height came to be under it. 

Birmingham Township, Pennsylvania, Police said they handled the initial response, but the investigation — including diagrams and analysis — was conducted by Chester County Detectives, who did not respond to a request for comment.

The death was ruled an accident by the Chester County Coroner’s Office, which listed the cause as multiple blunt force injuries. The autopsy notes it was conducted based on the circumstances provided by investigators.

The coroner’s office did not respond to a request for comment. 

A separate autopsy conducted at the request of the family reached a different conclusion, finding the manner of death could not be determined and raising questions about whether the injuries were consistent with the reported accident.

The report described findings as "very strongly suspicious of homicidal violence coupled with an attempt to cover this as an accident," and noted that injuries appeared to occur in multiple phases, with damage to the head and neck described as distinct from trauma to the torso.

The report also referenced puncture-type injuries, though it did not determine how those injuries occurred.

However, the examiner did not make a definitive determination as to the manner of death.

Height’s daughter, Kristin Height, has spent years trying to understand what happened and has implored local law enforcement and the FBI to reopen the case.

Height told Fox News Digital she was not initially notified by authorities of her father’s death and instead learned of it from a former colleague of her father’s.

In sworn testimony, the girlfriend said police instructed her not to contact Height directly.

She’s obtained some records, including the initial crash report, but has struggled to access additional investigative materials.

"I’ve filed requests … and they’ve rejected (them)," she said, referring to attempts to obtain further records. 

Family members said Height had, at times, expressed unease related to his work.

"He was kind of concerned about if somebody was like, he was being watched or monitored," his brother Bill Height told Fox News Digital.

Height’s daughter said he had expressed concern during the COVID-19 pandemic about working from home and whether bringing government-issued equipment outside secure facilities could expose sensitive information.

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Family members also said Height had raised some concerns about his relationship.

Black Stars coach, Carlos Queiroz

Former Arsenal midfielder, Emmanuel Eboué

The refresher course was attended by 70 individuals

Legendary African coach, Pitso Mosimane has disclosed that the short-term deal offered by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for the Black Stars coaching job was not appealing to him.

According to him, playing only a few matches at a tournament to justify one’s potential within such a short period is not ideal. He described it as “limiting” and unlikely to yield the expected results.

The iconic coach, who won back-to-back CAF Champions League titles with Al Ahly, noted that he was surprised Carlos Queiroz accepted such a deal considering his profile.

Carlos Queiroz retains John Paintsil and Fatau Dauda

Speaking in an interview with Radio 947, Mosimane asserted that rebuilding a team requires more matches for thorough assessment, which makes short-term contracts problematic for him.

“For two months, for one game, three games, four games… maybe I don’t want three or four games, right? Because for whatever reason, maybe Carlos says, ‘Why not, let me go have fun, let me go to the World Cup again.’ So it depends how you see it. If you ask me, it’s not ideal for me to go for three or four games.

“Carlos Queiroz is a big coach, very respectable. Maybe he feels, ‘I’ve got nothing to lose, let me go.’ But I look at it differently. I’ve had nine months, maybe ten, to recharge my batteries. Do I want to go for three months and then look around again after? No, maybe not,” he explained.

Mosimane, a five-time South African Premier Soccer League title winner, confirmed that he received a call from a GFA official, but it never translated into anything concrete.

“I guess there was a little bit of talk. When I asked my office, they said, ‘Yes, there’s been a talk.’ But there was never anything concrete. Concrete is when a letter comes saying, ‘We would like to have you, can we have a conversation over this?’ A call from a Ghana official, for me, is not really a serious talk,” he added.

Watch the videos below:

Watch as Former Vice President of the GFA, Fred Pappoe, backs the appointment of Carlos Queiroz

The High Court handling the criminal trial against former CEO of the National Food Buffer Stock Company, Abdul Hanan-Wahab Aludiba and his wife has directed officers of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to appear at the next hearing to clarify the circumstances surrounding a disputed operation at the residence of the first accused.

The directive follows concerns raised by Godfred Yeboah Dame, who is counsel for the first accused, over an April 8, 2026, incident in which EOCO officers allegedly marked the accused’s Chain Homes residence with graffiti indicating the property was under investigation.

Counsel argued that the action, reportedly carried out without a court order, infringed on the rights of the accused and his family, including young children living at the property.

An EOCO officer present in court stated that the operation was undertaken by the agency’s Surveillance and Asset Recovery Unit, but indicated he was not directly involved and could not provide further details.

The court said it could not immediately determine whether the incident was related to the ongoing case or a separate matter, hence the order for EOCO officials to provide clarification at the next sitting.

Meanwhile, the Attorney-General’s Office has informed the court that it will no longer rely on certain documents previously submitted as evidence in the case.

The materials, contained in two boxes and referenced in paragraph 38 of the witness statement of EOCO Staff Officer Julius Nudanu, were said to relate to supplies allegedly authenticated and paid for by the Ministry of Education in favour of NAFCO.

The documents, which had earlier been disclosed to both the court and the defence, were withdrawn.

In a separate development, counsel for the first accused challenged the participation of an Assistant Staff Officer from EOCO in the prosecution team, arguing that the officer lacked the legal authority to represent the State. The prosecution, however, maintained that EOCO officers have been granted prosecutorial powers through an Executive Instrument.

The court has deferred its ruling on the matter and directed the Attorney-General to provide evidence of such authorisation.

Counsel for the second accused also raised concerns about the continued retention of electronic devices seized during investigations, including mobile phones and a laptop. It was argued that the items had neither been tendered as exhibits nor covered by any freezing order and should therefore be returned.

The prosecution said it was not in a position to fully respond, prompting the court to also direct EOCO to address the issue at the next hearing.

The case has been adjourned to April 29, 2026, at 12:00 PM, when EOCO officials are expected to respond to the issues raised, and the court may rule on the outstanding objections.

President John Dramani Mahama has assured members of the CEO Network Ghana of government’s commitment to sustaining a favourable investment climate to drive growth, job creation, and private sector expansion.

The President made the remarks when a delegation of over 130 chief executives, led by Ernest De-Graft Egyir, paid a courtesy call on him at the Presidency on Thursday, April 23, 2026.

The group, which also represents organisers of the Ghana CEO Summit, was at the Presidency to officially invite the President as Guest of Honour for the 2026 edition of the summit scheduled for May 28.

President Mahama said government recognises the role of the private sector in national development and is committed to deepening collaboration.

“Government deeply values the contribution that you’re making as we believe rebuilding and transforming the Ghanaian economy must be done in close partnership with the private sector,” he said.

He reiterated that flagship policies such as the 24-Hour Economy initiative are central to expanding production and creating employment opportunities.

On trade and industry, the President highlighted the government’s focus on value addition and export diversification.

“I therefore encourage your members to assess opportunities within this framework and engage government on the support needed to implement this effectively,” he stated.

He also assured stakeholders of continued fiscal discipline and efficient resource allocation towards key programmes including infrastructure development, social interventions, and healthcare.

“Our GDP has surpassed the $100 billion mark, it is estimated at about $114 billion. And we’ve jumped from number 11 in Africa to number 8 in Africa in terms of GDP size. Our debt too has been reduced to sustainable levels,” he noted.

“The business environment today is stronger than it was in the recent past, as business confidence has revived. Foreign direct investment is increasing and domestic investment is also picking up,” he added.

President Mahama further outlined ongoing efforts to curb corruption and improve transparency through the use of technology, including artificial intelligence in revenue mobilisation systems.

Mr. De-Graft Egyir commended the President for his leadership in fiscal consolidation and macroeconomic stabilisation, describing the progress as significant for business confidence and economic recovery.

Source: Starrfm.com.gh

There is growing tension within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency of the Western Region following disputes over the formation of the party’s polling station elections committee.

Some constituency executives boycotted the inauguration of the committee, citing alleged breaches of the party’s guidelines governing the constitution of such electoral bodies.

The aggrieved members contend that the process was flawed and amounted to a deliberate attempt to fast-track arrangements in favour of selected individuals within the constituency.

Speaking to the media, Kwadwo Antiedu Kwarteng described the exclusion of some former constituency executives, assembly members affiliated with the party, former Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), and polling station executives as unjustified. He argued that their replacement with younger polling station executives aligned to certain individuals undermines the integrity of the process.

He cited areas such as Cyanide and Kwabedu electoral area, stating: “You appoint staff of Mireku Duker as election committee member and christen them opinion leaders, knowing very well that the same people created chaos even during the polling station registration, is a bad decision.”

He further alleged that the composition of the committees was intended to sideline individuals not aligned with certain interests, warning that the development could create confusion within the party rather than strengthen it.

The dissatisfied executives have since petitioned the party’s national leadership, calling for the dissolution and reconstitution of the committees.

The petition, signed by Augustine Quaicoe, Constituency Organiser; Frank Gyemfi, Second Vice Chairman; and Kwadwo Antiedu Kwarteng, Financial Secretary, argues that the formation of the committees did not comply with the NPP’s established guidelines. It further states that earlier efforts to resolve the matter at constituency and regional levels were unsuccessful.

Mr Kwarteng urged the national leadership to treat the petition as a principled call for adherence to party rules rather than internal dissent.

“The Party must not be allowed to collapse on the altar of extreme autocracy disguised as expediency or majority will,” he cautioned.

The petition also alleges procedural irregularities, stating:

"Contrary to the express provisions of the Party’s guidelines, the Constituency Secretary, Mr Fuseni Amadu, acting in concert with certain associates, unilaterally selected individuals who do not fall within the categories envisaged by the regulations…No meeting of the Constituency Executive Committee was convened to deliberate upon or approve the selection of the Electoral Area Elections Committee members.

Persons who are merely aligned to particular interests at the polling station level were improperly designated as “opinion leaders” and presented as members of the Committee, thereby circumventing the intent and letter of the guidelines.

At the inauguration of the Committee, the Regional Secretary, Mr Henry Amankwa Afrifa, openly admitted that he exerted pressure on the Constituency Secretary and the Regional representative to hastily submit names due to time constraints, after failing to comply with the guidelines to submit the names at least 4 days before the opening of nominations, hence resulting in the abandonment of due process.

Furthermore, names presented at the inauguration differed from previously known submissions, and this was done without any consultation or approval by the appropriate Party organs.

The Constituency Organiser formally raised concerns with both constituency and regional leadership; however, no lawful or satisfactory resolution was provided."

The petitioners are therefore urging the party’s national executives to declare the committees null and void and reconstitute them in line with established guidelines.

Below is the petition:

The General Secretary

New Patriotic Party

Headquarters

Accra

Cc: Director of Legal

Cc: The National Chairman

DATE: 23rd April, 2026

SUBJECT: FORMAL PETITION FOR NULLIFICATION AND RECONSTITUTION OF ELECTORAL AREA ELECTIONS COMMITTEE – TARKWA-NSUAEM CONSTITUENCY

1. INTRODUCTION

We, the undersigned, being officers and committed members of the Party in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency, respectfully petition your high office for urgent intervention in relation to grave procedural irregularities and breaches of the Party’s Rules and Regulations governing the constitution of Electoral Area Elections Committees.

This petition has become necessary following repeated but unsuccessful efforts to have these concerns and many infractions addressed at both the constituency and regional levels.

2. LEGAL AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK

We respectfully draw your attention to the Rules and Regulations for the Polling Station Elections Committee.

 The Polling Station Elections shall be conducted by three (3)member Polling Station Elections Committees across the Constituency within the scheduled dates.

. The Polling Station Elections Committees for each Constituency shall be appointed by the Constituency Executive Committee and

The Regional Steering Committee provided that they are registered Party Members in the Constituency where they are to conduct the elections.

          •         The Constituency Executive Committee shall furnish the Regional

Steering Committee and the National Secretariat with the list of the Polling Station Election Committees at least one (1) week before the opening of nominations for the Polling Election

These provisions are mandatory and are designed to ensure transparency, fairness, and institutional accountability.

3. STATEMENT OF FACTS

3.1 Contrary to the express provisions of the Party’s guidelines, the Constituency Secretary, Mr Fuseni Amadu, acting in concert with certain associates, unilaterally selected individuals who do not fall within the categories envisaged by the regulations.

3.2 No meeting of the Constituency Executive Committee was convened to deliberate upon or approve the selection of the Electoral Area Elections Committee members.

3.3 Persons who are merely aligned to particular interests at the polling station level were improperly designated as “opinion leaders” and presented as members of the Committee, thereby circumventing the intent and letter of the guidelines.

3.4 At the inauguration of the Committee, the Regional Secretary, Mr Henry Amankwa Afrifa, openly admitted that he exerted pressure on the Constituency Secretary and the Regional representative to hastily submit names due to time constraints, after failing to comply with the guidelines to submit the names at least 4 days before the opening of nominations, hence resulting in the abandonment of due process.

3.5 Furthermore, names presented at the inauguration differed from previously known submissions, and this was done without any consultation or approval by the appropriate Party organs.

3.6 The Constituency Organiser formally raised concerns with both constituency and regional leadership; however, no lawful or satisfactory resolution was provided.

4. ISSUES FOR DETERMINATION

From the foregoing, the following issues arise for determination:

          •         Whether the Polling Station  Elections Committee in Tarkwa-Nsuaem was constituted in accordance with the Party’s Rules and Regulations;

          •         Whether the failure to convene a Constituency Executive Committee meeting invalidates the selection process;

          •         Whether “urgency” can lawfully justify non-compliance with mandatory procedural requirements;

          •         Whether the inauguration of the Committee, under the circumstances, is valid and sustainable.

5. ARGUMENTS

5.1 It is a well-established principle of organisational governance that where a procedure is prescribed by rules, failure to comply renders the resulting act null and void.

5.2 The complete omission of the Constituency Executive Committee from the selection process constitutes a fundamental procedural defect that cannot be cured by subsequent actions.

5.3 The justification of urgency, as admitted by the Regional Secretary, cannot override mandatory provisions of the Party’s regulations. Expediency must not supplant legality.

5.4 The substitution of qualified categories of persons with improperly designated individuals undermines the integrity, credibility, and fairness of the electoral process.

5.5 The cumulative effect of these breaches points to a pattern of unilateralism and procedural disregard that threatens internal democracy and Party cohesion.

6. LOSS OF CONFIDENCE

We respectfully state that we have lost confidence in:

          •         The Constituency Chairman, Mr Benjamin Assabill, for failing to exercise oversight and assert leadership;

          •         The Constituency Secretary, Mr Fuseni Amadu, for acting outside the bounds of established procedures;

          •         The Regional Secretary, MMrHenry Amankwa Afrifa, and the Regional representative, Kwame Armah f, for condoning and facilitating procedural breaches.

7. RELIEFS SOUGHT

In view of the above, we respectfully pray that the National Secretariat:

          1.       Declare the composition and inauguration of the Electoral Area Elections Committee in Tarkwa-Nsuaem null and void;

          2.       Order the immediate cancellation of the said Committee;

          3.       Direct that a properly constituted Constituency Executive Committee meeting be convened to select eligible members strictly in accordance with Party guidelines;

          4.       Ensure strict compliance with the Rules and Regulations governing Electoral Area Elections;

          5.       Take appropriate administrative or disciplinary measures where necessary to safeguard the integrity of the Party’s processes.

8. CONCLUSION

The strength of the Party lies in its adherence to rules, fairness, and collective responsibility. Any deviation from these principles, particularly under the guise of urgency, poses a significant threat to unity and electoral success.

We therefore respectfully urge your office to act decisively and expeditiously to restore procedural integrity and confidence in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency.

SIGNED:

          •         Augustine Quaicoe – Constituency Organiser

          •         Frank Gyemfi – 2nd Vice Chairman

          •         Kwadwo Antiedu Kwarteng

Financial Secretary

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Samsung Ghana has announced an extension of its warranty coverage for refrigerators and washing machines, increasing the standard period from 12 months to 24 months.

The new policy, which took effect on April 1, 2026, is aimed at enhancing customer value and providing greater protection against manufacturing defects.

In addition to the extended two-year warranty, customers will continue to benefit from a 10-year warranty on Digital Inverter Compressors for refrigerators and Digital Inverter Motors for washing machines.

The company said the move underscores its confidence in the durability and efficiency of its products, powered by Digital Inverter Technology, which optimises energy use and reduces wear and tear.

Speaking on the development, Managing Director of Samsung Ghana, Dong Hyun Ko, said the decision reflects the company’s commitment to customer satisfaction.

“We are excited to introduce these enhanced warranty terms as part of our ongoing efforts to provide unparalleled value to our customers in Ghana,” he said.

“This extension reflects our confidence in the quality and reliability of our products, and we are committed to ensuring that our customers enjoy the best possible experience with Samsung appliances,” he added.

The new warranty terms apply to all Samsung washing machines and refrigerators purchased from April 1, 2026.

A total of 500 upper primary and junior high students from five regions have graduated as part of the third cohort of the Telecel Foundation’s DigiTech Academy, a 12-week after-school digital skills training programme focused on robotics, coding, web design and Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

At the headline graduation ceremony in Peki Blengo in the Volta Region, students from Peki Blengo Evangelical Presby JHS and Peki Adzokoe Roman Catholic School showcased their team-built capstone projects and locally relevant solutions, including an automated irrigation system, smart night light, distance monitoring system and security alarm system.

After three months of practical learning and innovation, Telecel DigiTech Academy, in partnership with the Ghana Education Service, the National STEM Centre and with implementing support from Mingo Foundation and Asustem Robotics, held simultaneous ceremonies held across five regions to celebrate and reward the ingenuity of the young learners.

In the third cohort, 500 students from 19 schools in five districts: South Dayi in the Volta Region, Mfantsiman in the Central Region, Jirapa in the Upper West Region, Goaso in the Ahafo Region and Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region completed the programme, receiving training in Scratch programming, Arduino-based robotics and website design.

Headteacher of Peki Blengo EP JHS, Vincent Adzagbenu, said the initiative had significantly expanded students’ confidence and creativity.

“Our students are now thinking differently. They are applying what they learn to solve real problems around them, and that is the kind of education that truly prepares them for the future.”

The Director of External Affairs at Telecel Ghana, Komla Buami, said DigiTech Academy continues to prove that young people in local communities can thrive when given practical digital opportunities.

“These projects on display show that talent exists everywhere and what matters is creating access and giving students room to experiment, build and discover their own abilities,” Mr Buami said.

“Telecel Foundation is also ensuring the sustainability of these skills by training local teachers to pass on the knowledge to more students who will lead the future of the digital revolution.”

Deputy Director of Finance and Administration at the South Dayi Education Directorate, Rev. Gideon Korsi Asiam, at the ceremony described the initiative as a strong complement to formal classroom teaching.

“The impact of the Telecel DigiTech Academy cannot be overemphasised. It aligns with the curriculum and encourages evidence-based learning, critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork,” Rev. Asiam said.

“Investing in digital education is investing in the future of Ghana’s development. I entreat all of you learners to use your new knowledge to impact the community positively.”

Beyond Peki, students in Goaso built a parcel delivery robot, a smart cocoa seed drying system, a pesticide sprinkler robot, a smart rain detection system and a fingerprint-based car ignition system.

At Bolgatanga, projects included a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) drink dispenser, speed detector with SMS alert, floor-cleaning robot, forest fire detector and water level indicator.

Students in Kormantse developed a two-way smart traffic light, Bluetooth smart system and smart bin, while graduates in Jirapa presented a firefighting robot, smart tollbooth system, Bluetooth-controlled grass-cutting robot, fingerprint-based smart office system and a Fugu Marketplace app.

Since its pilot run in Ho in 2024, Telecel DigiTech Academy has trained more than 2,300 students across 13 regions, recording a 96% graduation rate with 70% of learners across all cohorts being female, reflecting a deliberate focus on widening female participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, Head of Foundation, Sustainability and External Communications at Telecel Ghana, said the digital skills training programme will continue expanding to more districts, with future cohorts spread across different regions expected to deepen student exposure to robotics, artificial intelligence and web design.

“As we celebrate the learners from cohort three, we are determined to expand the impact of DigiTech steadily across all regions, ensuring more young people across Ghana gain access to STEM skills needed to collectively lead the future of technology and home-grown innovation,” she said.

OpenAI urged the California and Delaware attorneys general to consider investigating Elon Musk and his associates’ “improper and anti-competitive behaviour”, ​ahead of a trial between the two sides set ‌to begin this month.

Musk sued OpenAI, its CEO Sam Altman and others in 2024, accusing them of violating OpenAI’s founding mission as it ​restructured to a for-profit entity. Musk was a cofounder ​of OpenAI in 2015 but left in 2018 and ⁠launched rival xAI with its competitor chatbot Grok.

In a court ​filing in August, OpenAI had said Musk tried to enlist ​rival Mark Zuckerberg for the bid that his consortium made for OpenAI early last year, but the CEO of Meta Platforms did not ​come on board.

On Monday, the ChatGPT maker sent a letter to ​California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Delaware Attorney General Kathy Jennings, saying ‌the ⁠lawsuit sought damages of more than $100 billion from its nonprofit foundation, which it said would effectively cripple the organisation.

A judge in Oakland, California, ruled in January that a jury will ​hear the ​trial, expected to ⁠start in April.

OpenAI’s chief strategy officer, Jason Kwon, said in the letter sent on Monday ​that the lawsuit could undermine the company’s ​efforts to ⁠ensure that artificial general intelligence, or AGI, benefits all of humanity.

Musk’s filings in the litigation “suggest that your offices did not ⁠thoroughly investigate ​OpenAI’s plan to recapitalise and merely ​relied on promises about what OpenAI will do in the future,” Kwon said.

Source: Reuters

ChatGPT-maker OpenAI is pausing a multi-billion Pound UK data centre project aimed at boosting its AI infrastructure, citing concerns about high energy costs and regulation.

Its project, dubbed Stargate UK, included a large data centre in north-east England and making thousands of powerful chips for AI development available as part of a partnership with tech firms Nvidia and Nscale.

The agreement came alongside a wider £31bn package of UK tech investment, lauded as a sign of the country’s potential to become an “AI superpower”.

But an OpenAI spokesperson said on Thursday it would only move forward with Stargate UK when the “right conditions” could “enable long-term infrastructure investment”.

“We see huge potential for the UK’s AI future. London is home to our largest international research hub, and we support the government’s ambition to be an AI leader,” an OpenAI spokesperson said in a statement.

“AI compute is foundational to that goal – we continue to explore Stargate UK and will move forward when the right conditions such as regulation and the cost of energy enable long-term infrastructure investment,” they added.

OpenAI said when announcing its UK data centre project in September it would help strengthen the UK’s “sovereign compute capabilities” and bolster its native AI development.

“This will help power the UK’s future economy, boost its global competitiveness and deliver on the country’s national AI Opportunities Action Plan,” the company wrote.

Stargate UK, based at Cobalt Park, North Tyneside, was much smaller than OpenAI’s US-based Stargate project – which committed a $500bn investment over four years to build new AI infrastructure.

But its announcement on Thursday comes as a potential blow to the government, which has championed home-grown tech and AI development as a way to bolster economic growth.

Technology secretary Liz Kendall said in a speech in January that the UK’s AI sector had grown 23 times faster than the economy as a whole.

A government spokesperson said the UK’s AI sector had attracted more than £100bn in private investment since the government came into office, and this was delivering jobs and opportunities for workers.

“Our focus is on continuing to create the right conditions for investment in the UK’s AI and data centre infrastructure.

“We are continuing to work with OpenAI and other leading AI companies to strengthen UK compute capacity.”

OpenAI added in its statement it would continue to invest in talent and expanding its presence in the UK, alongside delivering on commitments set out with the government about deploying powerful AI systems in UK public services.

How big tech does business

The reasons given by the US tech giant are energy costs and regulation issues: but the reality is neither are particularly new.

Even before the Iran war sent costs soaring, Britain’s energy prices had long been significantly higher than in the US.

And the UK’s regulatory approach to AI has not changed much either.

However, OpenAI’s move also reflects how big tech does big business.

Earlier this week, the company outlined a set of “initial” policy ideas which included incentivising workers in the era of more powerful, capable AI systems with a four-day week on full pay – something it described as an “efficiency dividend”.

The BBC understands concerns about the UK’s regulatory environment include uncertainty over whether it would change the law to allow AI firms to train their systems using copyrighted works.

It had previously been set to make this an “opt out” decision for creators – something that would have made it easier for AI firms to use copyrighted works to develop their systems.

But it angered artists, including some household names like Sir Elton John.

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The era of rote memorisation, commonly known in Ghana as “chew and pour”, is a thing of the past. For decades, the education system has rewarded the ability to “chew” (memorise) facts, store them briefly, and “pour” them onto an exam paper. But in the age of the 4th Industrial Revolution, memory is a cheap commodity.

As Artificial Intelligence (AI) permeates our classrooms, we face a critical crossroads: Will we use AI as a high-tech crutch for shortcuts, or will we harness it as the ultimate partner in human intelligence?

This urgent debate served as the central focus of the March 2026 edition of EdTech Mondays Ghana.

The Over-Reliance Gap: Tool vs. Tutor

The fear in many staffrooms is that AI is simply a “cheating machine.” However, as Miracule Gavor (GSET) points out, the real threat isn’t the technology itself, it’s the over-reliance gap.
When students use AI without digital guidance, they treat it as an answer key rather than a thought partner.

There is a fundamental difference between:

●The Shortcut: Asking AI for the final answer to a math problem to finish homework faster.
●The Learning: Asking AI to explain the logic behind a theorem so you can solve the next ten problems yourself.
Without a shift in how we approach these tools, we risk raising a generation that can operate software but cannot think through a problem.

Watch Miracule’s submission here

Redefining “Smart”: If AI Can Answer It, the Question Must Change
If a student can generate a perfect essay in ten seconds, the problem isn’t the student; it’s the assignment.

Richard Duodu (Metaschool AI) argues that AI forces a radical shift in how we define intelligence.
In the 4th Industrial Revolution, “smart” is no longer about knowing the “what”. It is about mastering the how and the why.

The New Benchmark for Educators:

●Process over Product: Don’t just grade the final essay; grade the prompts and the iterative steps the student used to get there.
●Inquiry-Based Learning: Shift from asking “When did the 1948 riots happen?” to “How would the 1948 riots have unfolded differently if social media existed?”
●Critical Evaluation: Teach students to fact-check AI, identify biases, and challenge the “machine’s” logic.

Watch here

Why Humanity Wins: The Skills AI Can’t Touch

While AI can synthesise data, it cannot feel, lead, or care. Cat Davison (EduSpots) reminds us that in a “click culture,” our greatest assets are our human virtues. To future-proof our students, we must double down on the skills no algorithm can replicate:

●Empathy & Kindness: Understanding the human impact of a decision.
●Resilience: The ability to fail, iterate, and try again, a uniquely human experience.
●Community Engagement: Applying knowledge to solve real-world problems in local towns and villages through project-based learning.

●Curiosity: The drive to ask the questions that AI hasn’t been programmed to answer yet.

Call to Action: Become a Digital Guardian

To the parents and educators of Ghana: Banning AI is a losing battle. Instead, we must transition from “gatekeepers” to Digital Guardians.

Don’t stand over their shoulders to catch them using AI; sit beside them to guide how they use it. Use the “Guardian Method” of questioning to reinforce learning:

1.”Why did the AI give you this specific answer?”
2.”How can you verify that this information is accurate?”
3.”What would you change to make this uniquely yours?”

We must empower our youth to command their tools rather than be commanded by them. The future belongs to the thinkers who use AI to amplify their own humanity, leaving the days of “chew and pour” in the history books where they belong.

The revolution is here. Let’s lead it.

Stay Engaged: EdTech Mondays continues to facilitate these high-stakes discussions on the last Monday of every month. Join us as we navigate the path forward together.
#EdTechMondaysGhana #SmartTools #CriticalThinking #GhanaEducation #MastercardFoundation

Government has distributed 8,500 laptops to partner institutions to commence phase one of the One Million Coders Programme nationwide.

Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George presented 6,500 Lenovo laptops to Regional Managers of the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communication (GIFEC) and 2,000 laptops to 12 universities in Accra.

He said the programme, scheduled to begin on May 1, 2026, at 130 learning centres nationwide, aimed to train one million youth in digital skills.

A total of 130 ICT personnel had been engaged to provide technical and administrative support.

Sam George explained that a pilot conducted in 2025 in Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani and Bolgatanga trained 859 participants successfully out of about 90,000 applicants, of which 1,000 were selected.

He said academia, industry players and partner institutions were involved in the process to ensure fair and transparent assessments.

The Minister commended MTN Ghana for committing $2 million to support the programme and urged other corporate bodies to contribute.

He said that the Ministry had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with companies to employ beneficiaries and enhance their competitiveness in the job market.

President John Dramani Mahama launched the initiative in April 2025 to equip Ghanaians with digital skills.

The programme, under the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, is aimed at promoting digital innovation and skills development in line with the country’s digital transformation agenda.

Participants will be trained in coding, web application development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and data analysis, among other areas.

Telcos to ramp up investment to tackle network challenges

Amazon is aiming to build-up its satellite business to offer internet and mobile phone services by spending $11.57bn (£8.5bn) on an acquisition of Globalstar.

The deal, announced Tuesday, will allow Amazon to get thousands of satellites into low-earth orbit through the Amazon Leo project the company has been working on for several years.

Amazon said the Globalstar takeover fits its “long-term vision for space-based connectivity” and that it will deploy a “next generation” satellite system in 2028.

By doing so, Amazon will be in closer competition with Starlink, an increasingly popular satellite-based internet and phone service company launched by Elon Musk in 2019.

Starlink has a significant head-start on Amazon’s Leo, which currently only has around 200 satellites in orbit.

Musk’s company, which is private, says it already has more than 10,000 active satellites offering internet and mobile phone service to more than 10 million paying customers.

Starlink is a subsidiary of SpaceX and is likely a significant source of revenue for that company, potentially bringing in between $500m and $1.2bn from individual user fees alone.

SpaceX is preparing to become a publicly listed company this year, with a valuation expected to exceed $1 trillion.

Even with Globalstar’s currently active constellation of about 50 satellites, Amazon Leo will need to significantly ramp up production to meet its goal of thousands of active satellites in orbit by 2028.

Amazon chief executive Andy Jassy said last week in an annual letter to shareholders that Leo already has commitments from Delta Airlines, JetBlue, AT&T, Vodafone, DIRECTV Latin America, Australia’s National Broadband Network, and NASA to use Leo satellites for their offerings and operations once more satellites come online.

Amazon is taking over all of Globalstar’s infrastructure, which includes operations in Louisiana, Georgia, Dublin, Ireland, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Toulouse, France, and two locations in California.

Globalstar started in 1991 as a satellite communications company.

It has a notable customer in Apple, through which it has offered since 2022 iPhone and Apple Watch users the ability to use their devices in an emergency “SOS” mode via its satellites.

Apple in 2024 took a 20% stake in Globalstar.

Amazon said on Tuesday that it had also reached an agreement with Apple to continue offering the “SOS” functionality on its mobile devices.

Like Amazon, Globalstar is a publicly listed company with a market valuation that has hovered around $10 billion this year.

Amazon’s takeover price is offering investors $90 per share in cash, or the equivalent value in Amazon stock.

Another recent entrant into the satellite internet competition is Blue Origin, the rocket startup from Amazon founder and former chief executive Jeff Bezos.

The company said its satellite project, called TerraWave, is aiming to launch by the end of 2027 at least 5,400 satellites focused on offering internet connectivity to large businesses.

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More than 60% of underage Australians are still using social media despite the country’s world-first ban introduced four months ago, new research suggests.

In the first major study of its kind since the ban came into force, 12 to 15-year-olds in the country were found to still be using restricted platforms.

Three in five who had accounts on restricted platforms before December, including TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, still had access to one or more of their accounts.

The research suggests 53% of child users on TikTok, 53% on YouTube and 52% of Instagram users were still able to access accounts on the platform.

Sky News has contacted the platforms for comment.

The research was conducted online between 12 March and 31 March and commissioned by the Molly Rose Foundation (MRF), which has spoken out against a proposed similar ban in the UK, and YouthInsight, which has access to Australia’s largest online youth panel.

Two-thirds of continuing YouTube users, 61% of Snapchat users, and 60% of both Instagram and TikTok users told researchers the platforms had taken “no action” to remove or deactivate an account they had before restrictions.

Half of the children who used restricted platforms prior to the ban coming into force say it has made no change to their online safety, while one in seven say the ban has made them feel less safe.

Despite these new figures, Australian adults recently reported a more positive story.

YouGov polling in March suggested 61% of parents of children aged 16 and under saw between two and four positive behavioural changes following the ban, including more in-person social interactions, improved parent-child relationships and children being more present and engaged during interactions.

However, two in five parents observed between two and four negative impacts, including increased digital inequality, a shift to alternative or less regulated platforms and a reduction in social connection.

The UK government is currently consulting the public on whether to implement a similar ban of its own or to take other action around online harm.

The consultation is still ongoing, with results expected in the summer, however the chief executive of MRF, Andy Burrows, argued this new research “raises major questions about the effectiveness” of a ban.

“Parents and children deserve better than a flawed ban that delivers a false sense of safety that quickly unravels,” Mr Burrows added.

“Proponents of a ban argue that it offers an immediate and decisive firebreak, but the early evidence from Australia shows it only lets tech firms off the hook and fails to give children the step change in online safety and wellbeing they need.”

Instead, the charity wants the UK government to strengthen regulation around tech firms and social media to protect young people online – a viewpoint echoed by the UK’s largest children’s charity, the NSPCC and other major organisations.

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Snap is the latest tech company to cut jobs, citing the growing ability of artificial intelligence (AI) tools.

The Snapchat owner has axed about 1,000 employees – 16% of staff – and withdrawn hundreds of open job roles, according to a financial disclosure.

Evan Spiegel, Snap’s co-founder and CEO, told employees the company was in “a crucible moment” and the goal of the cuts was to reduce yearly costs by $500m (£368m).

Spiegel said that workers who remain at the company will be using AI tools to “reduce repetitive work and increase velocity,” as “small squads” of employees have been doing in recent months.

“Change of this magnitude and at this speed is never easy and it will not be seamless,” Spiegel added in his memo.

This cut at Snap marks at least the third larger scale layoff at the company since 2022, when it conducted its first major layoff which impacted 20% of its staff at the time.

Spiegel’s comments on Wednesday are the first time he has pointed to AI as an explanation for staffing decisions.

This year, activist investor Irenic Capital Management took a stake in Snap, saying in a public letter to Spiegel that it was “strange” the company remained unprofitable after 15 years in business and with hundreds of millions of monthly users.

Irenic noted that an investor who put $1 into Snap when it went public in 2017 would be left with a stake worth only 23 cents today.

An activist investor is a person or investment firm that buys shares in a company it believes is underperforming and then applies pressure for management and business changes.

Snap now requires “a new way of working that is faster and more efficient, while pivoting towards profitable growth”, Spiegel wrote in his memo to staff.

His explanation echoed that of other tech executives this year who have begun citing the increased capability of AI technology, mainly tools that help software engineers do coding work, as they order their own mass job cuts.

Already this year Amazon, Meta, Block, Pinterest and Atlassian, among others, have collectively laid off several thousand workers.

Company executives have either pointed to increased use of AI tools meaning they need fewer workers, or noted that plans to spend hundreds of billions of dollars a year on investing in AI requires cost-cutting in other parts of the company.

Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Block and the former leader of Twitter, said at the end of February that the rise of AI tools for tech workers “fundamentally changes what it means to build and run a company”.

He also said people in the industry should expect further job cuts at “the majority of companies” over the next year.

After weeks of successful pilot, indigenous ride-hailing platform Mijo on the Ghanapost GPS App will officially launch on May 1, 2026.

The launch marks further innovation within the GhanaPost GPS ecosystem enabling users not only to identify locations but to seamlessly request rides and facilitate deliveries directly through the platform.

Mijo is designed to deliver a reliable, user-friendly, and affordable experience for riders, while creating meaningful economic opportunities for drivers.

During the pilot phase, the platform provided free and discounted rides to students, healthcare workers, and other professional groups across Accra, while drivers benefited from responsive customer support and prompt payments.

A key differentiator for Mijo is its driver-first model, which offers favorable commission rates compared to other ride-hailing platforms. This ensures that drivers retain a larger share of their earnings, empowering them financially and supporting long-term planning.

Beyond standard ride options, Mijo also offers an executive service, giving users access to premium vehicles for a more comfortable and elevated travel experience.

Mijo marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s push for homegrown digital innovation, contributing to job creation, income growth, and financial independence for thousands of Ghanaian drivers.

With over 4 million downloads and more than 100,000 active users at any given time, the GhanaPost GPS platform provides a strong foundation for Mijo’s rapid impact.

Source: MIJO Communications

MEST Africa, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, has officially announced 12 EdTech companies selected for the third cohort of the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship. The companies bring the number of Ghanaian-owned solutions accelerated through the Fellowship to 36.

The 2026 cohort exemplifies the EdTech Fellowship’s commitment to versatility and regional inclusion, with solutions spanning: innovative learning tools, teacher training and inclusivity, school and teaching management platforms, learning platforms, and exam preparation and gamified learning tools across seven (7) regions in Ghana.

Since the program was launched in Ghana in 2024, the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship implemented by MEST Africa has impacted 691,376 learners across the country, and the current cohort will be building on this reach.

Partner address by Angela Duho, MESTx Senior Manager, MEST Africa

“This milestone proves that high-quality digital education is no longer a distant goal but a present reality, marking a major shift in how knowledge is delivered in the modern classroom”, said Angela Duho, MESTx Senior Manager, MEST Africa.

Central to this impact is a commitment to making sure no one is left behind, regardless of gender, location, or ability. The program has achieved a remarkable 48.8% female representation, reaching 337,055 young women to ensure a diverse future for Ghana’s tech economy.

This reach extends to the country’s most remote areas, providing 105,234 rural learners with world-class resources and supporting 19,880 people with disabilities. By removing these traditional barriers, the fellowship is fostering an environment where every learner has the opportunity to excel.

“This was an incredibly impactful and exciting journey for our entire team,” said Bennette Osae Addo, Programs Manager, Academic Talent Development Program, Cohort 2 company. “The fellowship’s timing was perfect, arriving as we positioned ourselves for a significant high-growth expansion phase. We leveraged the program’s resources, mentorship, and network to refine our product-market fit, streamline operations, and build a robust foundation. The connections and lessons learned have been invaluable, directly contributing to our accelerated growth post-program. We are now much better equipped to handle the complexities of scaling.”

The selected companies for MEST Africa’s 2026 Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship are:

1. Robotek: Robotek shifts students from competitive to collaborative thinking. By providing proprietary robotics kits, tailored curricula, and lab infrastructure, Robotek equips educators with everything they need to help learners build functional, real-world systems.

2. Syllabus Gh: Syllabus Gh provides Ghanaian students with a personalised, data-driven study companion. Unlike generic learning platforms, every lesson and quiz is 100% mapped to the national BECE and WASSCE syllabi, ensuring students only study exactly what they need to pass.

3. Keep Premium: Keep Premium trains teachers directly in their own environments, ensuring they master the tools they have to make teaching more efficient and engaging for their students with an interactive teachers, students and parents dashboard for monitoring lesson planning.

4. Edutapcs Consult: Edutapcs equips teachers with accessible, practical, and NTC-aligned training, delivered through digital platforms and in-person programs to strengthen teaching effectiveness, support career development, and help educators successfully pass the Teacher’s Aptitude Test.

5. Jyncafey Training Consult: Jyncafey provides high-quality, curriculum-aligned Science and Mathematics lessons through multimedia resources that simplify complex concepts, overcome language barriers, and support undertrained teachers, ensuring every child can understand, retain, and enjoy STEM learning.

6. Supreme Concepts Ltd: myExamPal delivers a comprehensive EdTech solution that combines self-paced practice, standardised exam simulations, and gamified learning to help students excel academically, while offering parents and schools actionable insights to monitor progress, manage assessments, and enhance teaching effectiveness.

7. EduSpots: EduSpots provides a scalable, community-led EdTech model that equips local educators with practical digital tools, WhatsApp-based learning, digital skills training, and educational animations, enabling inclusive, high-quality, play-based education for underserved learners even in low-connectivity contexts.

8. Alanrose Enterprise: AlexLearn ACA offers a mobile-friendly, low-bandwidth e-learning platform that delivers interactive lessons, quizzes, and WASSCE-aligned practice, enabling students to learn anytime, track progress, and strengthen exam readiness while giving educators tools to monitor performance and provide targeted support.

9. Kokuromoti Publications: Kokuromoti offers a blended learning ecosystem that combines curriculum-aligned books, QR-linked bilingual video lessons, and a gamified mobile app, enabling students to understand concepts in both Twi and English while giving teachers and parents simple tools to support effective learning.

10. Literacy in Northern Ghana (LING): LING delivers a portable, offline digital learning server with curriculum-aligned STEM content, empowering teachers to run technology-enhanced lessons and giving students, especially girls, interactive, real-world STEM experiences without internet access.

11. Era Axis: Era Axis provides an inclusive, low-cost STEM learning system using e-waste and local materials that transforms learners into problem-solvers, connects education to real-world impact, and supports job creation and self-reliance.

12. MINEX 360 Ltd: SmartSapp streamlines school operations, enhances parent engagement, and provides actionable data for better student outcomes, all through an easy-to-use digital platform accessible on mobile and web.

“Technology is accelerating how education can reach those who have historically been excluded,” added Wariko Waita, Director, Centre for Innovative Teaching and Learning at the Mastercard Foundation. “The EdTech Fellowship sits at the intersection of three powerful forces — education system transformation, inclusive technology-enabled solutions and sustainability of Africa’s EdTech entrepreneurship that is responsive to real needs, and capable of reaching millions across Ghana and Africa.”

Snapshot of a video message by Wariko Waita, Director, CITL, Mastercard Foundation

The third cohort will, over a six-month acceleration period, receive capacity building, network expansion, and refine their innovations to maximise their impact on African education.

Beyond expert-led mentorship and advisory sessions, each EdTech Fellow will receive up to $60,000 in equity-free funding, followed by an additional year of post-program support.

The EdTech Fellowship was launched in 2019 by the Mastercard Foundation to support promising, Africa-led, owned growth-stage EdTech companies solving Africa’s educational challenges. In Ghana, the initiative is tackling critical gaps in K-12, higher education, and vocational training to transform the learning landscape.

For more information about the Mastercard Foundation EdTech Fellowship and other MEST Africa initiatives, click here.

OpenAI is facing a criminal investigation in the US over whether its ChatGPT technology played a part in the murder of two people during a mass shooting at Florida State University last year.

Florida’s Attorney General James Uthmeier said on Tuesday his office had been looking into the use of the artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot by a man who allegedly shot several people at the campus in Tallahassee.

“Our review has revealed that a criminal investigation is necessary,” Uthmeier said. “ChatGPT offered significant advice to this shooter before he committed such heinous crimes.”

An OpenAI spokesperson said: “ChatGPT is not responsible for this terrible crime.”

It appears to be the first time OpenAI has been under criminal investigation over the use of ChatGPT by someone who allegedly went on to commit a crime.

OpenAI’s spokesperson said the company has cooperated with authorities and it “proactively shared” information about “a ChatGPT account believed to be associated with the suspect”.

OpenAI was co-founded by Sam Altman. He and the company quickly joined the most well-known names in the technology industry after the release of ChatGPT in 2022 which is now one of the most widely used AI tools in the world.

As for how the suspect, 20-year old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, who is now in jail awaiting trial, interacted with ChatGPT, OpenAI’s spokesperson said the chatbot “did not encourage or promote illegal or harmful activity”.

“In this case, ChatGPT provided factual responses to questions with information that could be found broadly across public sources on the internet.”

However, Uthmeier said ChatGPT “advised the shooter on what type of gun to use” and on types of ammunition.

He said ChatGPT also advised the shooter on “what time of day… and where on campus the shooter could encounter a higher population”.

“My prosecutors have looked at this, and they told me that if it was a person on the other end of that screen, we would be charging them with murder,” said Uthmeier.

He added that, under Florida law, anyone who “aids, abets or counsels someone” in attempting to commit or committing a crime is considered a “principle” in the crime.

While ChatGPT is not considered a person, Uthmeier said his office needs to determine “criminal culpability” for the company behind the bot, OpenAI.

The company is already facing a lawsuit over another incident in which its chatbot may have been a factor.

Earlier this year, an 18-year-old man shot and killed nine people and injured two dozen others in British Columbia.

OpenAI said after the incident, it had identified and banned the shooter’s account based on his usage, but did not refer the matter to police. The company has said it intends to strengthen its safety measures.

The parents of a young girl who was injured in the attack filed a lawsuit against the company.

Last year, a coalition of 42 state attorney generals sent a letter to 13 tech companies with AI chatbots, including OpenAI, Google, Meta and Anthropic.

The letter outlined their concerns over an increase in AI usage by people “who may not realize the dangers they can encounter” and called for “robust safety testing, recall procedures, and clear warnings to consumers”.

The letter also cited a growing number of “tragedies all across the country,” including murders and suicides that apparently involved some usage of AI.

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The Deputy Attorney-General, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, has indicated that the Attorney-General’s Department will await a decision by the Supreme Court on the prosecutorial authority of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) before deciding whether to comply with a High Court ruling directing it to take over ongoing OSP cases.

Speaking in an interview with Bernard Avle on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, April 20, Dr Srem-Sai said it would be premature to act before the Supreme Court pronounces on the matter.

“Our position is that we will wait for the Supreme Court decision before taking over OSP’s cases. It will be a rush to start doing something now,” he said.

His remarks follow a High Court ruling on April 15, 2026, which directed the Attorney-General’s Department to assume responsibility for all ongoing criminal prosecutions by the OSP, pending formal authorisation from the Attorney-General.

The decision arose from a judicial review application challenging the prosecutorial powers of the anti-corruption body.

The OSP has strongly disagreed with the ruling, arguing that the High Court exceeded its jurisdiction. The office says it is pursuing legal remedies to have the decision set aside, maintaining that its enabling Act grants it prosecutorial authority.

The case was brought by Peter Archibold Hyde, one of four individuals under investigation by the OSP. The others include Alhaji Seidu, James Keck Osei, and Customs officer John Abban.

They are alleged to have conspired to unlawfully seize containers using forged documents, including a falsified letter purportedly issued by the Office of the then Vice President.

In its ruling, the High Court held that while the OSP has the constitutional mandate to investigate suspected corruption-related offences, it does not have the authority to initiate prosecutions without prior approval from the Attorney-General.

Srem-Sai: Ghana should study other jurisdictions to resolve OSP–AG friction

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has cautioned government appointees against using political power to interfere in chieftaincy matters, warning that authority in office is temporary.

Speaking at a meeting of the Asanteman Council on Monday, April 20, 2026, Otumfuo criticised what he described as growing political interference in traditional disputes, singling out developments in Sampa and other areas.

“Your government is in power, so you think you can do whatever you please. Know that power is transient. Of course, you can go ahead and use that power for whatever you want now,” he said.

He expressed concern over what he described as disregard for judicial decisions in communities such as Sampa, Nkyeraa, Amantim, and parts of Asante Akyem, where rival claimants continue to assert authority.

“There is a court ruling in favour of Amantimhene, yet someone is exerting his authority as chief, resisting the legitimate chief. The same is taking place in Nkyeraa, which has been adopted as a Divisional Council in the House of Chiefs,” he said.

Citing the situation in Sampa, Otumfuo added, “Despite court rulings, an Ivorian is in Sampa carrying himself out as a royal and chief. Sampahene Gyafla will not die. The town belongs to him, and he will assume his rightful authority.”

The Asantehene also criticised some Paramount Chiefs within Asante for what he described as a lack of action in addressing the developments.

“Why are our men sitting aloof for two people in Bono to misbehave? You are all waiting for Otumfuo to act. We are all silent. You want to protect your names,” he said.

Referencing the history of Asante resistance, he invoked figures such as Tweneboa Koduah and Yaa Asantewaa, urging traditional leaders to defend the integrity of the kingdom.

“Now we have all turned into women,” he said, while vowing to resist any attempts to block traditional authorities in Bono and Bono East from paying homage to him.

Srem-Sai: AG to await Supreme Court ruling before taking over OSP cases

The Deputy Attorney-General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, has urged the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) to reapply to the Supreme Court and present arguments in the Noah Adamtey case, which challenges its powers.

According to him, the OSP, as of now, is refusing to seek the required authorisation to continue the prosecution.

Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV’s Point of View on April 20, 2026, Dr Srem-Sai argued that under the current law, Article 88, the OSP cannot operate independently of the Attorney-General without first obtaining approval.

“But the OSP is refusing to apply because it believes that it doesn’t require it and that it is truly independent. It’s easy to apply for. It’s a letter. In fact, it took the OSP more energy to litigate Hyde and all the other cases than to just apply,” he said.

His remarks come in the context of a case before the Supreme Court of Ghana filed by private citizen Noah Adamtey, which is challenging the constitutionality of the OSP’s prosecutorial powers.

The suit is seeking a declaration that the law establishing the OSP is unconstitutional to the extent that it creates an independent prosecutorial authority parallel to the Attorney-General, contrary to Article 88 of the Constitution.

Dr Srem-Sai maintained that any move to grant full prosecutorial independence to the OSP would require a constitutional amendment.

“If you want the OSP to be independent of the Attorney General and would not require the Attorney General’s authorisation, then you need to amend Article 88,” he said.

He explained that under the current legal framework, the OSP must formally apply for prosecutorial clearance before initiating cases.

“As in this Act, where you said the OSP requires the authorisation of the Attorney General, then that authorisation must be given before the OSP can function as a prosecutor. The process for getting that authorisation is for you to apply, and then you are given,” he added.

Dr Srem-Sai also urged the OSP to re-engage the Supreme Court proceedings, suggesting it could seek to participate as a friend of the court after its initial application to join the case was dismissed.

The National Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has attributed the current challenges facing farmers, particularly low farm prices, to bumper harvests and ongoing economic adjustments.

Addressing party supporters in the Upper West Region as part of his “Thank You” tour of the region, he explained that farmers are experiencing temporary income pressures due to a combination of factors affecting agricultural markets.

“Because of the changes that we are making in the economy, there are people who suffer some temporary difficulties. One of the group is farmers and so we are aware that particularly food crops farmers you are going through some difficulties now because of the bumper harvest,” he said.

Asiedu Nketia, further assured farmers that ongoing economic adjustments will eventually improve profitability in the agricultural sector, even if farm produce prices do not rise significantly in the short term.

“When the cost of inputs comes down, then the cost of making your farms will come down,” he stated. “And even if the selling prices of your products don’t rise quickly, you will still make profit,” he added.

The Chief of the Buru Traditional Council, Kuroru Abdul Rahama Kassim Baatah IV, appealed for a maize processing factory to be established in the Sissala area, preferably in Sissala West.

According to him, farmers are currently facing difficulties due to low sales of grains, which is affecting their incomes.

The chief added that such an initiative would enhance value addition within the district and reduce post-harvest losses.

“I make a passionate appeal to him to consider establishing a factory, one of these five factories in Sisala land, preferably Sisala West. I’m saying this because currently farmers are complaining of low sales of grains.

“If we have these factories, it will no longer be a worry. We will sell them to the factories. They will use them to process things for the same district to use,” the chief stated.

ECG: We don’t overbill; high charges due to outdated meters

The Minority in Parliament has insisted that the authority and mandate of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) remain fully valid and operational until the Supreme Court makes a definitive ruling on the matter.

This comes after a recent High Court ruling directed the Attorney-General’s Department to assume control of all criminal prosecutions currently being handled by the OSP, pending formal authorisation.

Speaking to journalists on Tuesday, April 21, the Member of Parliament for Gushegu and Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Hassan Tampuli, argued that the High Court lacked the jurisdiction to effectively nullify an Act of Parliament on constitutional grounds.

“A High Court cannot, through any procedural vehicle quo warranto or otherwise, effectively nullify the provisions of an Act of Parliament on constitutional grounds. That jurisdiction lies solely with the Supreme Court,” he said.

He added that the law establishing the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Act 959, remains fully in force and continues to provide the legal basis for the institution’s operations.

According to him, until the Supreme Court makes a definitive pronouncement on the matter, no lower court decision can be interpreted as striking down or suspending the law.

“As far as we are concerned, Act 959 remains valid, in force, and unrepealed. The Supreme Court has not spoken. Until it does, Act 959 is the law of the land; the OSP’s mandate subsists,” he said.

The Court of Appeal has dismissed a fresh attempt by lawyers for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, widely known as Chairman Wontumi to halt his ongoing criminal trial at the High Court in the Samreboi mining case, dealing a setback to efforts to suspend proceedings pending an interlocutory appeal.

The application sought to stop the trial while the appellate court considers a challenge to an earlier ruling by Justice Audrey Kocuvie-Tay, which ordered Chairman Wontumi to open his defence over allegations that he permitted mining activities on his Samreboi concession without authorisation.

His legal team had argued that the High Court proceedings should be paused until the appeal on the ruling is determined. However, both the High Court and now the Court of Appeal have rejected that request.

In its decision on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, the Court of Appeal held that the application failed to demonstrate any exceptional circumstances that would justify a stay of proceedings, effectively clearing the way for the trial to continue at the High Court.

The ruling means the substantive criminal case remains active, with the High Court expected to proceed unless further legal intervention is secured.

Meanwhile, lead counsel for Chairman Wontumi said that the defence team is reviewing its options and will decide on its next steps.

These could include a renewed application at the Supreme Court or a return to the High Court to proceed with opening the defence, depending on legal strategy.

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer and former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has held a high-level breakfast meeting with European Union (EU) ambassadors in Accra, focusing on strengthening economic cooperation, investment opportunities, and regional security collaboration.

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, April 21, Dr Bawumia said the meeting brought together Heads of Mission from 10 EU member states, Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malta alongside a delegation from the European Union.

According to him, discussions were “constructive and forward-looking,” with emphasis placed on shared priorities between Ghana and its European partners

“Our constructive and forward-looking discussions focused on shared priorities, including regional security, deepening economic cooperation, as well as expanding investment opportunities in Ghana,” he said.

Dr Bawumia further reiterated his commitment to strengthening Ghana’s democratic institutions, promoting sustainable economic growth, and advancing inclusive social development, describing these as central pillars of his national development agenda.

Democracy Hub is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to take urgent action, demanding the immediate release of the full Constitution Review Committee report as well as a clear, time-bound roadmap for constitutional reforms.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, April 21, the Director of Policy and Research at Democracy Hub, Kirchuffs Atengble, said the Youth Platform on Constitutional Reform is pushing for transparency and swift implementation of the proposed changes.

He argued that the release of only a summary report is not enough to enable meaningful public engagement.

He noted that while the group conditionally supports key proposals—including lowering the presidential age requirement, capping ministerial appointments, restructuring the judiciary, and strengthening decentralisation—its support depends on the publication of the full report, broad national consultations, and concrete implementation steps to avoid another stalled reform process.

“We demand that the government publish the full unabridged report of the Constitutional Review Committee, without further delay and reduction as indicated earlier,” he said.

A new nationwide survey by Africa Policy Lens shows that National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia would win the NDC presidential primaries if voting were held today—though by a razor-thin margin that underscores an intensely competitive race.

The poll, conducted between April 17 and 19, 2026, among constituency executives across all 276 constituencies, places Asiedu Nketia slightly ahead with 32.7% of likely votes.

He is closely followed by Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, who secured 30.9%, leaving less than a two-percentage-point gap between the frontrunners.

The findings point to a race that remains too close to call, with neither candidate commanding a decisive majority. The consistency between current support levels and immediate voting intentions suggests that preferences among party delegates are relatively firm, with limited signs of volatility.

According to the report, Asiedu Nketia’s edge reflects a solid but not dominant base, while Debrah continues to maintain a comparably strong and resilient following. The near parity between the two signals a prolonged contest unless one candidate is able to expand beyond their core support.

Beyond the top two, the survey highlights a wider field that could still shape the outcome. Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson emerges as a notable figure in perceptions of competitiveness, with 27.1% of respondents identifying him as a “closest opponent,” even though his direct support trails the leading pair.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu and others remain in the mix but at lower levels of perceived competitiveness.

The Africa Policy Lens study also sheds light on what is driving delegate preferences. Rather than policy proposals, respondents prioritized leadership attributes such as experience and track record (66.1%), integrity and honesty (56.8%), and the ability to unite the party (46.8%).

Grassroots appeal and public image were also significant factors, while policy positions ranked considerably lower.

With the race effectively deadlocked at the top and perceptions of competitiveness extending beyond the leading candidates, the report concludes that the eventual outcome will likely hinge on coalition-building and the ability to project unity and credibility within the party.

Click the links below to access the Africa Policy Lens survey report 

Who leads the NDC into 2028

NDC Flagbearer Race_April Poll

Police rescue abducted girl, arrest suspect at Airport

The Member of Parliament for Ejisu, Kwabena Boateng, has provided financial support to 150 students in the constituency to assist with their education, with a strong focus on those at the tertiary level.

Speaking in Ejisu, Mr. Boateng said poverty remains a major barrier to accessing higher education, despite government interventions at the basic and senior high school levels.

“Tertiary education, including technical and nursing training, requires students to pay their own fees. That is where I want to make an impact by sponsoring students to acquire knowledge at the tertiary level,” he stated.

He commended the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government for implementing the Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, which has improved access to secondary education.

Mr. Boateng explained that the sponsorship programme is structured in two categories: one for high-achieving students in the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), and another open to all qualified applicants.

According to him, top-performing students have been awarded full scholarships that will run concurrently until they complete their studies.

He added that the support is based on need, stressing that students who are able to pay their fees will not be considered.

“Mostly, supporting students with school fees is personal. People come to me for assistance, and I am fortunate to receive some support from the Common Fund through the education directorate. I combine that with my personal resources to support the cause,” he said.

Mr. Boateng noted that he will continue to identify brilliant but needy students and support them to further their education and acquire skills to become productive members of society.

In a related development, Mr. Boateng pledged to improve educational infrastructure in the constituency to enhance teaching and learning.

Some beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the intervention, describing it as timely and life-changing.

One beneficiary, Blessing Otchere, said she faced financial difficulties after losing her father shortly after gaining admission to a tertiary institution.

Beneficiary, Blessing Otchere

“Life has been very difficult. My mother, who is a widow, has struggled to pay my fees. I am very grateful to the MP for supporting me during this challenging time,” she said.

The Minority in Parliament has clarified that its opposition to the High Court ruling on the prosecutorial authority of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is intended to protect the institution, not defend its current head, Kissi Agyebeng.

The Member of Parliament for Gushegu and Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee, Alhassan Tampuli, said the Minority’s position is aimed at safeguarding the independence and mandate of the anti-corruption body.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Tuesday, April 21, Tampuli stressed that the debate should not be reduced to personalities, noting that existing legal processes are adequate to address any shortcomings of individuals who occupy the office.

“What we are doing has nothing to do with the person of the Special Prosecutor but the office itself. An architecture has been put in place to deal with corruption and corruption-related cases, and if any occupant falls short of expectations, there are processes under the law to address that,” he explained.

He maintained that the real concern is what he describes as an attempt to weaken the institution, warning that any move that undermines the OSP could derail Ghana’s broader anti-corruption efforts.

The comments come in response to a ruling by the High Court on April 15, 2026, directing the Attorney-General to take over all ongoing criminal prosecutions being handled by the OSP, pending formal authorisation.

The Minority argued that the directive sets a troubling precedent, as it places the OSP’s prosecutorial powers under potential control of another state institution, a situation they believe could compromise its ability to function independently.

Mohammed Abdul-Salam, Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), says he has no regrets about leading the institution as a Muslim, despite criticism following his appointment.

His appointment sparked public debate, with some critics arguing that occupying such a role contradicts Islamic principles.

Speaking in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Channel One TV’s Face to Face on Tuesday, April 21, Abdul-Salam said his decision to accept the position was guided by a sense of national duty.

He stressed that he remains committed to the role and has not regretted his decision.

“I’m a Muslim, and I have my beliefs and convictions. The reason I accepted the appointment has been clear. It’s a national call, it’s a duty to serve the nation in the capacity of Director General of NLA. I have always stated, and have never regretted accepting the position,” he noted.

According to him, he does not allow religion to influence his work at the Authority, which is often associated with gambling.

“I don’t apply religion to the work I do,” he explained.

He added that he and the staff of the NLA are focused on strengthening the institution and improving its operations.

“Every day presents a different set of challenges as to what to do to bring improvements. We have been working to ensure that the NLA takes its proper place,” he noted.

The Council of Elders of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) has strongly opposed recent directives issued by the party’s Central Committee, describing them as unconstitutional and without legal effect.

This follows a publication by the Daily Graphic on Tuesday, April 21, 2026, which reported that the CPP Central Committee had tasked regional chairpersons to assume national leadership roles and establish five working committees amid the party’s ongoing internal challenges.

In a rejoinder responding to the publication, the Council of Elders stated that the Central Committee lacks the constitutional authority to issue such directives, insisting that its tenure expired in 2023.

According to the Council, provisions under Articles 43, 58, and 81 of the CPP Constitution clearly stipulate that the mandate of the Central Committee and other national executives must be renewed through elections conducted at a duly constituted National Congress.

“The said Central Committee has not been renewed through a constitutionally mandated election, and therefore lacks the legal and constitutional capacity to bind the party or issue directives,” the statement noted.

The Council further argued that any actions taken by an expired body are ultra vires, beyond its legal authority and are therefore null and void.

It also accused the Central Committee of misleading the public by presenting itself as the party’s highest decision-making body, emphasising that such status is only valid when the body is properly constituted and operating within its tenure.

The Council of Elders consequently denounced the directives reportedly issued on April 16, 2026, urging party members and the general public to disregard them.

“The party can only be led by organs lawfully elected in accordance with the CPP Constitution,” the statement stressed.

The Council, which described itself as the custodian of the party’s conscience and constitution, called on the National Working Committee leadership to expedite the process of organising structural elections to restore legitimate leadership and resolve the crisis.

The statement was signed by Senior Felix Amoa, Chairman of the Council of Elders, on behalf of the Vice Chairman, Senior Christian Yao Zigah.

The Ghana Maritime Authority has pushed back against claims by Akwapim North MP Samuel Awuku, clarifying that the controversial vessel MV Sankofa is neither registered in Ghana nor linked to the country.

The Authority said the vessel at the centre of public controversy is not on Ghana’s registry and currently has no connection to the country. Its response follows recent commentary by Mr. Awuku regarding the activities of the ship.

In a statement issued on April 22, the GMA said the vessel identified as MV Sankofa (IMO number 7395870) was previously registered under different names but was officially removed from Ghana’s ship registry in April 2024 after required processes were completed.

The Authority further explained that another vessel bearing the same name had earlier been deregistered in 2021, stressing that no vessel named MV Sankofa is currently operating under the Ghanaian flag.

The GMA also detailed events in July 2025, when the vessel was intercepted by the Ghana Navy within Ghana’s territorial waters during a routine patrol.

“Subsequent inspections revealed breaches of maritime labour regulations, marine pollution laws, and false flagging, leading to the imposition of fines. The vessel was later released in November 2025 after undertaking corrective measures and securing provisional registration from Cameroon,” the statement said.

The Authority further disclosed that in March 2026, Senegalese authorities contacted Ghana to verify the vessel’s status following suspicions of drug trafficking. Ghana clarified that the vessel was not registered locally and dissociated itself from its activities.

A search conducted by Senegalese authorities found the vessel was operating under the Cameroonian flag.

The GMA accused the Akuapim North legislator of bypassing formal parliamentary processes and engaging the media in a manner that it says risks misleading the public and undermining the Authority’s work.

The Authority maintained that its actions have been in line with national laws and international maritime standards and reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding Ghana’s maritime integrity.

Click here to read the full statement.

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