TESCON-KNUST Presents: The Handing Over Ceremony & Resurgence Dinner 🌟
A memorable evening of service, elegance, and patriotism is in store! Come celebrate leadership and continuity as we commemorate a historic occasion with the official handover ceremony.
📅 Date: Friday, September 5, 2025
🕖 Time: 7 PM – 12 AM
📍 Location: SG Mall Conference Hall
Special Guest: ✨
Obidombie Kwabena Asamoah
Former Deputy CEO, MASLOC — widely hailed as the Youths President of our time
🎉 Additional Attractions:
Buffet | Local Drinks & Snacks | Photo Shoot | Music
Tuesday’s loss in the Akwatia by-election should serve as a pivotal moment for our party—a catalyst for unity and resilience as we prepare for the 2028 general elections, irrespective of who takes the helm.
Let’s face the music: our members are still nursing wounds from past grievances, and it’s imperative that we engage with them earnestly to seek their forgiveness.
Sir John
This is not merely a strategic maneuver; it’s a fundamental necessity. Our members are the lifeblood of our electoral success, and their discontent outweighs any political calculus we might devise.
We must embody genuine remorse and extend a heartfelt invitation to our estranged brothers and sisters who have distanced themselves from the party.
We need to project an image of the NPP as a party committed to its mandate, not one that is perceived as vindictive, self-serving, or out of touch with the electorate.
A.section of NPP supporters
The path to victory lies in rekindling the love and loyalty of our members, as well as restoring the confidence of the Ghanaian populace in our leadership. Love is not just a sentiment; it is a strategic imperative. We are all part of a larger family known as the NPP, albeit residing in different rooms of this expansive house.
It is time we come together to fortify our foundation, focusing on our immediate needs: unity, progress, and development. We must not allow personal ambitions to fracture our collective strength; remember, united we stand, divided we fall.
To reclaim power, the NPP must embrace inclusivity and prioritize unity. I urge us to operate as a cohesive family—supporting one another and placing the interests of the NPP above individual aspirations. With a unified purpose.
I implore each of you to remain steadfast and loyal to our great party, the NPP. Let’s continue to rally behind our executives at all levels—from national to regional to constituency—for their unwavering commitment during these turbulent times.
I advise all executives to uphold the trust placed in them, steering clear of actions that could undermine the party’s integrity. It is crucial to distance ourselves from any political gatherings or activities that could sow discord and chaos within our ranks.
Instead, let’s channel our energies into constructive dialogue and collaborative efforts that reinforce our shared vision. Together, we can transform our setbacks into stepping stones, ensuring that the NPP emerges stronger, more united, and ready to serve the people of Ghana with renewed vigor and purpose.
We will never give up because the battle will forever remain the Lord’s.
Source:Mr.John Kwame Duodu (Sir John) Atwima Nwabiagya South NPP first vice Chairman
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has condemned what it describes as threats of death and physical assault issued by senior officers of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) against some of its leading figures.
The NPP said their Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, had all been threatened by the NDC’s First National Vice Chairman, Chief Sofo Azorka, and Abuakwa North Constituency Communication Officer, Alhaji Abdul Wahab Amadu.
This was contained in a statement signed and issued by the General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, on Wednesday, September 3.
The party also accused the NDC’s Chief Azorka and what it called his “notorious hoodlums” of physically attacking its 3rd National Vice Chairman, Alhaji Osman Masawudu, describing the incident as “unprovoked and reckless.”
According to the NPP, the actions of the NDC officers amount to an assault on Ghana’s democratic progress and could heighten insecurity at a time when the country has already recorded a decline in the Global Peace Index ranking.
“The recklessness of the actions of Chief Sofo Azorka and Alhaji Abdul Wahab ought to be properly investigated and punished,” part of the statement read.
The NPP added that it will formally lodge a complaint with the Ghana Police Service against the two officials, and further called on the Inspector-General of Police to order their immediate arrest and investigation. Source: Prince Adu-Owusu
The Electoral Commission has declared Bernard Bediako Baidoo of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Akwatia Constituency following a closely contested by-election.
Lawyer Baidoo secured 18,199 votes, defeating his main opponent, Solomon Kwame Asumadu of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), who garnered 15,235 votes.
The by-election, held on September 2, 2025, was conducted across 119 polling stations, with just over 33,000 voters turning out to cast their ballots, well below the expected figure of 50,000 registered voters.
Voting commenced at 7:00 a.m. and was largely smooth, with the Electoral Commission confirming that all polling stations opened on time and were adequately supplied with voting materials.
The election was held to fill the vacant parliamentary seat following the passing of the incumbent
MP, Ernest Kumi. Security during the exercise was tight, with over 5,500 police personnel deployed to ensure a peaceful process.
A typical example is the NPP’s victory in all seven by-elections conducted between 2000 and 2004, including the NDC’s Ibn Chambas’ Bimbilla seat, which brought Dominic Nitiwul to Parliament, and Wulensi.
Similarly, the NDC has captured key seats from the NPP in by-elections, including the NPP’s Adamu Sakande’s Bawku Central seat, which brought the current Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, to Parliament, and the Talensi by-election, which brought B.T. Baba to Parliament.
Of course, there are a few outliers such as Ablekuma Central, which, although the NPP narrowly won in 1996, it was able to retain in the 1999 by-election, and the controversial Assin North, which was retained by the NDC’s James Gyakye Quayson in 2023.
History of By-Elections in Ghana Since 1996
Between 1997 and 2000 (under NDC)
• NPP won one (Ablekuma Central, 1999)
• NDC won one (Lambussie, 1999)
Between 2000 and 2004 (under NPP)
• NPP won all seven (Kumawu, 2002; Bimbilla, 2002; Wulensi, 2003; Navrongo Central, 2003; Gomoa East, 2003; Amenfi West, 2003; and Upper Denkyira, 2004)
Between 2004 and 2008 (under NPP)
• NDC won three; NPP won three
• NDC: Asawase, 2005; Odododiodio, 2005; and Tamale Central, 2006
• NPP: Offinso South, 2006; Fomena, 2007; and Nkoranza North, 2007
Between 2008 and 2012 (under NDC)
• NPP won two (including the Akwatia six polling stations re-run); NDC won three
• NPP: Atiwa, 2010; Akwatia, 2009
• NDC: Chereponi, 2009; Jirapa, 2009
Between 2012 and 2016 (under NDC)
• NPP won two; NDC won four; CPP won one
• NPP: Abuakwa North, 2016; Abetifi, 2016
• NDC: Akatsi South, 2013; Buem, 2013; Talensi, 2015; Amenfi West, 2015
• CPP: Kumbungu, 2013
Between 2017 and 2020 (under NPP)
• One won by NPP: Ayawaso West Wuogon
Between 2020 and 2024 (under NPP)
• NPP won two; NDC won one
• NPP: Ejisu, 2024; Kumawu, 2023
• NDC: Assin North, 2023
Yesterday, Ghana witnessed a significant constitutional precedent: President John Dramani Mahama, in accordance with Article 146(9) of the Constitution, removed Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Sackey Torkornoo from office as Chief Justice and Justice of the Supreme Court. This marked the abrupt end of a long and distinguished judicial career. Though the President’s action was constitutionally mandated: once the committee established under Article 146(6) recommends removal, the President has no discretion, the political and legal ramifications have been immediate. Public discourse has been rife with mixed reactions, with many questioning the fairness of the process and the independence of the Judiciary in the current constitutional climate.
Kow Abaka Essuman
Indeed, from the outset, the Article 146 process has been fraught with legal challenges, procedural irregularities, and public concern. Several suits are pending before the Supreme Court and the High Court, challenging the constitutionality of the proceedings initiated against the Chief Justice. In the wake of the removal, there have been growing calls for transparency, calls which must not be ignored. Interestingly, the Minister for Government Communications is reported to have said that the report of the Committee will not be made public. That position is not only erroneous but constitutionally indefensible. It is for this reason that this article seeks to correct the record and affirm the public’s constitutional right to know.
In any constitutional democracy, transparency and accountability are not optional virtues; they are binding obligations. The people of Ghana, as sovereign stakeholders in the governance of this Republic, are entitled to know how decisions are made, particularly where such decisions touch and concern the sanctity and independence of the Judiciary, the third arm of government.
It is for this reason that the President of the Republic must, without further delay, release the full report of the Committee constituted under Article 146(6) of the Constitution to investigate the petitions filed for the removal of the Honourable Chief Justice, together with all associated proceedings and documents, namely, the petitions and the Chief Justice’s responses, the prima facie consultations with the Council of State, the full record of witness testimonies, and the committee’s findings and conclusions.
Article 146(8) of the Constitution requires that proceedings of such a Committee be held in camera. However, the Supreme Court has authoritatively clarified that this requirement of confidentiality is limited in scope and duration. Once the work of the Committee is concluded, and its report submitted to the President, Article 146(8) ceases to operate.
This was emphatically stated in Dery v. Tiger Eye P.I. & Others [2015–2016] 2 SCGLR 812, where the Supreme Court held that:
“Once the Committee’s work is concluded and it has submitted its report, the constitutional injunction no longer applies… There would be no proceedings pending as to be protected by the Constitution after the Committee has concluded its work and its report has reached the President.”
The Court was unequivocal that the public’s right to know, although temporarily deferred in the interest of fair proceedings, is not extinguished. In the words of the Court:
“The curtailment of free speech is not a permanent act. The public is not completely denied the right to know, but certainly not before a prima facie case has been made by the Chief Justice or the committee has completed its work and submitted its report, whichever of these terminates the proceedings. The rights of the people were merely postponed for a time lest the purpose of Article 146(8) should be defeated.”
Accordingly, once the proceedings are completed, as they now are, the constitutional obligation to maintain confidentiality dissolves, and a countervailing obligation to disclose arises in the interest of transparency, public accountability, and the constitutional right of Ghanaians to access information on matters of public importance.
Indeed, Constitution does not, in any of its provisions, expressly prohibit the President from releasing the report and proceedings of a committee established under Article 146. Nowhere is it stated that the report must be kept confidential after the conclusion of the inquiry. On the contrary, the Supreme Court has affirmed that once the Committee’s work is completed, the constitutional obligation of confidentiality under Article 146(8) ceases to apply, thereby permitting, and indeed encouraging, disclosure in the interest of transparency and public accountability.
It has been widely reported in the media that several eminent Ghanaians, including former Chief Justices Sophia Akuffo and Kwasi Anin Yeboah, legal luminaries such as Nana Dr. S.K.B. Asante, Mr. Sam Okudzeto, and Mr. Justin Amenuvor, among others, appeared before the Committee to testify in defence of the Chief Justice. Given the gravity of the issues, the calibre of witnesses, and the far-reaching implications for the independence of the Judiciary, it is imperative that the Ghanaian public be fully apprised of what transpired during the proceedings and the evidentiary basis upon which conclusions were drawn.
This is not merely a matter of curiosity. It is a matter of constitutional principle. Indeed, transparency in this matter would help safeguard the reputation of both the Judiciary and the Presidency, assure the public of the integrity of the process, and deter frivolous or politically-motivated petitions against high judicial officers in the future.
There are commendable precedents. In Martin Amidu v. Special Prosecutor, following the determination by Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo that no prima facie case was disclosed in the petition against the Special Prosecutor, the petitioner, himself a former Attorney-General and Special Prosecutor, wrote to the President requesting a copy of the report. In keeping with the constitutional principles established in Dery v. Tiger Eye P.I., President Akufo-Addo, acting transparently, released the full report to the petitioner.
Again, in the SML audit matter, President Akufo-Addo released the full KPMG report to the public, citing transparency and public accountability. During his administration, all prima facie determinations made in response to petitions filed under Article 146, including those relating to three separate petitions against Chief Justices, were made public in full.
These examples underscore a consistent and commendable commitment to transparency which must now be emulated.
President Mahama must demonstrate fidelity to the Constitution and uphold the principles of transparency and accountability by promptly releasing:
• The full report of the Committee constituted under Article 146(6);
• The full records of proceedings, including witness testimonies;
• The petition(s) and responses submitted by the Chief Justice; and
• A record of the President’s consultations with the Council of State in making the prima facie determination, including the prima facie determination made by the President.
These records are no longer shielded by Article 146(8), and any attempt to withhold them would be inconsistent with the decision in Dery, a decision which remains binding constitutional precedent.
In a democracy, public confidence in the administration of justice depends not just on outcomes, but on the openness and fairness of the process. The people of Ghana deserve to know how decisions about the removal of the head of the Judiciary were made. Releasing these documents is not just a matter of legal obligation; it is a moral and democratic imperative.
Lastly, let me state that transparency is not a threat to justice. It is its lifeblood. Let the truth come to light.
Source:Kow Abaka Essuman Former Acting Secretary to the President and Former Legal Counsel to the President
Director of Elections for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Evans Nimako, has expressed confidence that the party will retain the Akwatia parliamentary seat in the ongoing by-election.
The by-election was necessitated by the passing of the late Member of Parliament, Ernest Kumi.
Speaking to Citi News’ Sammi Wiafe on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at Akwatia, Mr. Nimako said the NPP’s candidate, Solomon Kwame Asumadu, remains the preferred choice of the electorate despite independent polls projecting a lead for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate, Bernard Baidoo Bediako.
Evans Nimako
“Sure, we have engaged the constituents and they have given us assurance, and we know that all things being equal, all rules complied, our candidate will emerge victorious,” he said.
Responding to a Global Info Analytics poll, which tipped the NDC candidate with 53% support against Asumadu’s 47%, Mr. Nimako questioned its credibility.
“A report that says a majority of the respondents are NPP affiliates, a report that says that the country is in the wrong direction. And the conclusion that the NDC candidate is ahead of the NPP candidate is questionable,” he argued.
Voting in the Akwatia by-election is ongoing and expected to close at 5:00 p.m. before counting begins.
A survey by Sanity Africa, conducted between August 1 and 27, also placed Bediako at 52.3%, against 47.7% for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Solomon Asumadu — a slim 4.6-point lead.Source:Leticia Osei
The Member of Parliament for Bantama and former Roads and Highways Minister, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has described President John Dramani Mahama’s removal of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo as a “grave threat” to Ghana’s democracy.
He argued that the move undermines judicial independence and weakens the very foundation of the Republic.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday, September 2, Mr Asenso-Boakye said the sacking was not accidental but a carefully orchestrated plan by the government.
Francis Asenso-Boakye Prez.John Mahama CJ Gertrude Torkonoo
“President Mahama’s sacking of the Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo is no accident, it was a long-planned scheme, executed with precision. This reckless move shatters judicial independence and strikes at the heart of our democracy,” he wrote.
The Bantama MP further warned that removing a Chief Justice on what he called “flimsy grounds” sets a dangerous precedent that could discourage judges from upholding the Constitution.
“If a Chief Justice can be removed on flimsy grounds, tomorrow no judge will feel safe to uphold the Constitution. This is not just an attack on one individual, it is an assault on the very foundation of our Republic,” he cautioned.
Mr Asenso-Boakye concluded by calling on Ghanaians to resist any attempts to weaken the country’s democratic institutions.
“Ghana has come too far to let the Rule of Law be hijacked. We must resist every attempt to weaken our institutions. Ghana deserves better,” he stressed.Source: Ernest K. Arhinful
President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, September 1st, relieved Chief Justice Gertrude Esaaba Torkornoo of her duties.
“President John Dramani Mahama has, in accordance with Article 146(9) of the 1992 Constitution, removed the Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkonoo, from office with immediate effect. This follows receipt of the report of the Committee constituted under Article 146(6) to inquire into a petition submitted by a Ghanaian citizen, Mr Daniel Ofori. After considering the petition and the evidence, the Committee found that the grounds of stated misbehaviour under Article 146(1) had been established and recommended her removal from office.
John Dramani Mahama during the swearing-in ceremony led by Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkonoo
Under Article 146(9), the President is required to act in accordance with the committee’s recommendation,” a statement issued by the Minister of Government Communications said.
A letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Calistus Mahama, outlined the reasons behind the decision. The investigative committee found that the former Chief Justice authorized the payment of per diem allowances to her husband and daughter during official travels, actions deemed to be in violation of legal and administrative protocols of the Judicial Service.
The committee’s report detailed two specific trips taken by Justice Torkornoo in September 2023: one to Tanzania with her husband, and another to the United States with her daughter. According to the report, both trips were personal holidays, yet expenses, including per diem payments for her family members, were charged to the Judicial Service.
“In the opinion of the committee, the travel expenses which the Chief Justice heaped on the Judicial Service… together with the payment of per diem to her husband and daughter, constitute unlawful expenditure of public funds. It cannot be justified in law or policy,” the letter stated.
The report described the expenditure as “avoidable and reckless dissipation of public funds” and concluded that such conduct, coming from the head of the Judiciary, amounted to “stated misbehaviour.Source : Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
