President John Dramani Mahama has nominated a new batch of District Chief Executives (DCEs) for eight out of the 16 regions, to spearhead local governance and development across the country.
The appointments, made in accordance with Article 243(1) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 20(1) of the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), are part of the government’s efforts to strengthen local governance and accelerate development.
The move aligns with President Mahama’s vision of ensuring effective administration at the district level to drive grassroots transformation.
A statement signed by the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, confirmed the nominations, stating that the appointees must secure approval from their respective District Assemblies before assuming office.
President John Mahama has begun consultations with the Council of State following the submission of three petitions seeking the removal of the Chief Justice, Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo.
According to a statement from Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the three petitions have been forwarded to the Council of State, in line with the constitutional process outlined in Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution.
While details of the petitions remain undisclosed, this development signals the beginning of a formal process that could lead to significant changes within Ghana’s judicial system.
The Council of State is expected to examine the petitions and advise the President on the next steps in accordance with constitutional provisions governing the removal of a Chief Justice.
Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo
In January this year, former President Akufo-Addo dismissed a petition seeking the removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo.
The former President, after thorough consultations with the Council of State, concluded that the petition, filed by Prof Stephen Kwaku Asare, lacked merit and did not disclose a prima facie case warranting further investigation.
The petition accused Chief Justice Torkornoo of misconduct and incompetence, citing alleged panel reconstitution, issuance of practice directions, and constitutional breaches. However, the President’s review identified key shortcomings.
The law that surrounds the removal of the Chief Justice is enshrined in Article 146 of the constitution.
Article 146 – Removal Of Justices Of Superior Courts And Chairmen Of Regional Tribunals
1) A Justice of the Superior Court or a Chairman of a Regional Tribunal shall not be removed from office except for stated misbehaviour or incompetence or on ground of inability to perform the functions of his office arising from infirmity of Body or mind.
(2) A Justice of the Superior Court of Judicature or a Chairman of a Regional Tribunal may only be removed in accordance with the procedure specified in this article.
(3) If the President receives a petition for the removal of a Justice of a Superior Court other than the Chief Justice or for the removal of the Chairman of a Regional Tribunal, he shall refer the petition to the Chief Justice, who shall determine whether there is a prima facie case.
(4) Where the Chief Justice decides that there is a prima facie case, he shall set up a committee consisting of three Justices of the Superior Courts or Chairmen of the Regional Tribunals or both, appointed by the Judicial Council and two other persons who are not members of the Council of State, nor members of Parliament, nor lawyers, and who shall be appointed by the Chief Justice on the advice of the Council of State.
(5) The committee appointed under clause (4) of this article shall investigate the complaint and shall make its recommendations to the Chief Justice who shall forward them to the President.
(6) Where the petition is for the removal of the Chief Justice, the President shall, acting in consultation with the Council of State, appoint a committee consisting of two Justices of the Supreme Court, one of whom shall be appointed chairman by the President, and three other persons who are not members of the Council of State, nor members of Parliament, nor lawyers.
(7) The committee appointed under clause (6) of this article shall inquire into the petition and recommend to the President whether the Chief Justice ought to be removed from office.
(8) All proceedings under this article shall be held in camera, and the Justice or Chairman against whom the petition is made is entitled to be heard in his defence by himself or by a lawyer or other expert of his choice.
(9) The President shall, in each case, act in accordance with the recommendations of the committee.
(10) Where a petition has been referred to a committee under this article, the President may-
(a) in the case of the Chief Justice, acting in accordance with the advice of the Council of State, by warrant signed by him, suspend the Chief Justice;
(b) in the case of any other Justice of a Superior Court or of a Chairman of a Regional Tribunal, acting in accordance with the advice of the Judicial Council, suspend that Justice or that Chairman of a Regional Tribunal.
(11) The President may, at any time, revoke a suspension under this article.
The Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, together with the Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Abigail Akwambea Elorm Mensah, has extended support to victims of the recent fire outbreak in Kumasi’s central business district.
As part of their visit, the two officials toured the affected market area in Adum to assess the extent of the damage and interact with traders who lost their livelihoods.
Following the visit, they held a special meeting with the victims at the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council to discuss further assistance.
During the engagement, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey commended the victims for their patience and resilience despite the devastating losses. She also expressed appreciation for the cooperation they have shown to the Ashanti Regional Minister and other stakeholders working to address their plight.
To provide immediate relief, Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey and MASLOC, under the leadership of Abigail Akwambea Elorm Mensah, donated GHS100,000 support the victims in their recovery efforts.
The gesture forms part of the government’s commitment to assisting small business owners affected by the unforeseen disasters and ensuring they regain their financial stability.
The former Minority/Majority Leader of Ghana’s 5th, 6th/7th and 8th Parliaments of the Fourth Republic, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, has taken a swipe at the Mahama-led administration for its departure from the established policy development strategies that seek to strike a balance between the very poor and the affluent in society.
Hon.Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu
Speaking at a Public Dialogue organized by the Greater Kumasi-bloc of Members of the 9th Parliament of the Fourth Republic at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi on Monday, 24th of March, 2025, the astute former legislator pin-pointed four key indicators; Comprehensiveness, Predictability, Transparency, and Independent assurance of the Budget Figures Integrity, as elements that a good budget must brought to bear on the minds of the people.
The experienced legislator however listed several grey areas in the 2025 Budget Statement where the essence of the aforementioned pillars have been rubbished by the current administration.
Throwing more light on his assertion, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, saids the Ghc70m funds allocated to the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry for the reforestation program falls short of the predictability status of its expected outcomes. He explained that, much as the program seeks to continue the laudable initiative started under the previous administration in virtue of the alarming nature of the country’s depleting forest cover, timing of the budget (having been presented in March 2025), possible period for the Appropriation and subsequent release of funds to implementing agencies, and seedling germination by outgrowers, might combine to push the actual plantation of these trees into the dry season in November, a possible situation which might present the taxpayer with repetition of the SADA Tree Planting debacle experienced under the same John Mahama-led administration some years back.
The former Suame legislator also cited government’s revisitation of the Free Fertilizer for farmers in the 2025 Budget Statement. He said the NPP government’s reversal of the policy to a practical outcome from a consultative forum organized by the then Minority in Safwi Wiawso in the Western North region. The then Minority Leader presented a shocking revelation by the farmers that, the free fertilizers meant for the hardworking cocoa farmers found their way outside the borders of Ghana into other neighbouring countries leading to scarcity of the product for farmers.
It was on these premise that the farmers suggested that the NPP government rather subsidize the product to curb corruption, and to help address the scarcity challenge being faced then. The former Majority Leader indicated that the revisited policy cannot pass any transparency test and might lead the country to thd same old story we had during Mahama’s first term of office.
Pushing further, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu ridiculed the ‘after-thought’ white÷washing of the proposed payment of allowances to Assembliy Members at Various District Assemblies in the country. Though Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu praised the government for such a bold initiative, as he believes such would incentivise them to give off their best to the people, he pointed out a possible collision course with the constitution, the supreme laws of the land, in regards to funding of such initiative. The legislator quoted article in the constitution which defines Emoluments to includes ‘Allowances’ for public sector employees. And suggested the Finance Minister come with further and better particulars on his reversals.
It is on these touching revelations, including many others expressed by other Speakers, that the former Leader of Government Business concluded the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy lacks the four pillars of Comprehensiveness, Predictability, Transparency, and the Independent Assessment of the Budget’s Integrity, that might bring any hope for the people of Ghana, Ashanti, and Kumasi. He thus called on the current Members of Parliament to continue their good fight but also remain super vigilant while perusing government’s every step along the way.
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has denied claims linking the recent Adum fire to power outages.
Ing. George Amoah, ECG’s Ashanti West Regional General Manager, stated that the market operates on a dedicated distribution line, Town Hall Feeder, with an alternative supply from Power House 2. Both had no outages before the fire.
Ing. George Amoah,
Ing. Amoah emphasized that ECG prioritises reliable power in the area, a key revenue hub.
Despite ECG’s efforts, vandalism and theft of transformers and cables have caused power disruptions in the past. However, Ing. Amoah confirmed that power was stable before the fire, and ECG only cut supply after the outbreak to assist firefighting efforts.
He noted that old wiring, illegal power connections, and substandard electrical setups in the market pose safety risks. ECG has advised traders to engage certified electricians per LI 2008 regulations.
Ing. Amoah also clarified that a recent power outage in parts of Kumasi did not affect the market and had no connection to the fire.
Gold is one of Ghana’s most valuable natural resources, but for too long, illicit smuggling has deprived our economy of billions in revenue.
At the peak of our economic crisis in 2022, 60 tonnes of gold—worth an estimated $1.2 billion—left Ghana through illegal channels.
Dr Cassiel Ato Gordon (middle)
Imagine the impact if that wealth had stayed in our economy!
Well, Yesterday, I met with officials from the UK-Ghana Gold Programme, an initiative dedicated to breaking the link between illegal artisanal gold mining and serious organized crime (SOC).
Dr Cassiel Ato Gordon
Our discussions focused on how to ensure Ghana benefits fully from its gold resources while combating smuggling and illegal trade.
One of the key steps in this effort is the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod)—a game-changing institution that will regulate the gold sector, curb smuggling, and promote responsible gold trade. Through the UK/Ghana Gold Programme, we are working closely with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) to stop gold smuggling at key entry points like Bole.
Additionally, GoldBod is collaborating with the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) to enhance pricing mechanisms, introduce pre-financing options, encourage whistleblower reporting of smuggling, and adopt responsible sourcing practices aligned with London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) certification.
To further support this vision, the government will fund GoldBod to purchase 3 tonnes of gold every week, strengthening our foreign exchange reserves.
Additionally, in a major policy shift, we will abolish the 1.5% withholding tax on unprocessed gold as part of the 2025 Budget—a move that will encourage more legal gold trade and drive economic growth.
These efforts will put Ghana back in control of its gold industry, disrupt illegal networks, and ensure that our gold works for Ghanaians.
This is just the beginning—together, we will build a stronger, more prosperous Ghana!
Following the devastating fire outbreak that destroyed several trading shops in Adum, the Central Business District of the Ashanti Region, former Member of Parliament for Assin, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong has dispatched a team to the affected area to assess the situation and provide immediate support to victims.
Spokesperson Kwaku Amoh-Oarteh, Esq., confirmed the move in a statement issued on Tuesday, March 25, assuring victims of their commitment to provide support to them.
The team, which includes representatives from his office and other key stakeholders, will engage with traders, assess their losses, and explore ways to support them. Their findings will help shape long-term solutions to prevent such disasters in the future.
“As a businessman, he understands the immense effort required to build the long hours, the sacrifices, and the hopes for a better future. To see it all taken away in an instant is painful beyond words. He feels your pain and shares in your frustration,” the statement emphasized.
He also called on the Ghana National Fire Service, the Police, and other relevant agencies to strengthen market safety measures, improve emergency access, and enforce stricter fire prevention protocols.
Kennedy Agyapong assured that upon his return to Ghana, he would personally visit the market, meet with affected traders, and discuss the way forward to help them rebuild.
Victims of last Friday’s fire disaster that razed down hundreds of shops at the Kumasi Central Market “Bluelight”, have urgently made a passionate appeal to former Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to come to their rescue, as life is beginning to bite them.
Many traders, who had lost their livelihoods to the inferno, claim all hope is now lost in the current leadership of the region, especially with the poor handling, and seeming lackadaisical approach to the situation.
Wielding platcards and wearing red armbands, to register their frustrations, the victims maintain that Dr Bawumia now remains their only hope to salvage the situation.
Former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party, on Tuesday, visited the ‘Bluelight’ fire disaster scene at the Central Market in Kumasi, to personally access the situation and to console victims of the disaster.
The Veep’s visit to the scene, is to offer him and his high-powered delegation, to personally access the situation and, ultimately, console the victims of last Friday’s unfortunate incident which swept away shops and properties running into millions of Ghana cedis.
The former vice president, in a shaky voice while speaking to the traders, described “black Friday’s” accident as ‘ disturbing” which needs urgent and tactical approach in dealing with it.
He indicated his resolve to support the victims in reclaiming their economic lives and ,charged them not to engage in acts thst will jeopardise efforts by authorities in finding lasting solutions to the situation.
He was accompanied by the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, former Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei-Mensah, Member of Parliament for Subin constituency and other High profiled personalities of the party.
A cash amount of GHC 200,000,00 and thousand bags of cement were donated to the leadership of the fire victims, to aid in the reconstruction of their shops.
