The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has announced that he will resume mediation efforts between the two factions involved in the ongoing Bawku conflict.
The announcement follows a recent assurance by President John Mahama that the peace process led by the Asantehene would continue as part of national efforts to restore calm in the troubled region.
In a statement issued on April 15, the Asantehene confirmed that the mediation sessions will take place from April 28 to May 1 at his palace in Kumasi.
“His Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, will resume mediation of the Bawku crisis as agreed with both parties from April 28 to May 1, 2025, at the Manhyia Palace, Kumasi,” portions of the Manhyia statement read.
The Palace further called on all stakeholders involved in the conflict to cooperate fully with the process, emphasizing the goal of achieving lasting peace in Bawku.
“Asantehene requests all stakeholders to cooperate for us to find a lasting peace in Bawku,” it added.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II was appointed by former President Akufo-Addo last year to lead the mediation process aimed at resolving the longstanding tensions in the Bawku area.
The call to resume the talks follows a recent resurgence of the conflict, which has claimed the lives of some two police officers and affected healthcare delivery in the area.
The mediation sessions, which will be held at the King’s palace, are expected to involve key leaders from the conflicting factions and other relevant stakeholders.
The former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Constituency Chairman for Afigya Kwabre South in the Ashanti Region, Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah (COKA) has made a passionate appeal to the Ghana Police Service to act fast and protect all district assembly buildings, especially in the Ashanti Region, before President John Mahama releases what is expected to be the final list of nominees for Metropolitan Municipal and District Executives (MMDCEs).
Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah aka COKA
The President, through the Ministry of Local Government, has already announced almost half of MMDCEs across the country, and some Assemblies have confirmed their nominees peacefully.
However, before the expected final list is announced, there have been a series of violence and destruction of NDC properties, including Sekyere Kumawu, Asante Mampong and the latest threat coming from Afigya Kwabre South.
The NDC members addressing the media
This time round, the irate NDC youth are not targeting their party office but the district assembly buildings.
It is in the light of this that COKA is calling for a proactive action by the security agencies, especially by the Ghana police, to protect the properties of the district assemblies before any unforeseen attacks.
It would be recalled that COKA recently advised the Regional Chairman of the NDC, Chairman Nana Akwasi, to act and call his party supporters to order but the chairman and other NDC leadership members were yet to act.
COKA’s appeal follows Asaase Radio’s online story headlined: “Afigya Kwabre South: NDC youth reject MCE nominee, threaten to burn district assembly block”.
The full statement posted on COKA’s Facebook page is reproduced below:
“I think the police should protect all district assembly buildings before President JDM announces the list of M/DCEs.
“Dear police, arrest the NDC people who held the press conference and threatened to burn the five storey building built by the NPP government at Afigya Kwabre South. Police, we are waiting, or they are in power so the statement should be ignored? God bless Ghana. Coka, l care”.
It would be recalled that on Monday,14th April 2025, it took Dasebere Osei Bonsu, Mamponghene, to order immediate apology and retraction by the Asante Mampong Zongo youth threats that they wouldn’t allow an Akan man to be named Chief Executive for the Mampong Assembly.
The Ashanti Regional Organiser for the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Francis Adomako, who is affectionately called Francois, has joined concerned Ghanaians to condemn the unlawful action by the irate Zongo youth of the NDC at Asante Mampong.
Dr.Francis Adomako aka Francois
It would be recalled that some aggrieved supporters of the NDC, mostly the Zongo youth, stormed the party’s office at Mampong on Thursday,10th April 2025, vandalised the place and set it ablaze later.
IGP
Their action is said to have been triggered by a rumour that an Akan woman had been nominated as a municipal chief executive (MCE), though no official announcement has been made by the government.
But, speaking to “The New Trust” newspaper on Sunday, 13th April 2025, Francois described the action as condemnable, for which reason it should not be allowed to continue.
He said it was high time the NDC leadership, the President and the security agencies acted to prevent any imminent violence between various ethic groups.
Dr Adomako, who is also the Dean of all Regional Organisers, said the Zongo NDC members causing mayhem at Asante Mampong must be condemned by all peace-loving Ghanaians.
He said the irate youth took the laws into their hands just because they heard that an Asante was going to be named as MCE for Mampong.
Francois believes it is not only non-Asantes in the NDC at Mampong who helped the NDC to come to power. He noted that it is public knowledge that it is very difficult for an Asante-man to settle in a particular region, work for a particular party and be appointed as MCE or DCE for that district.
“As we speak, I have not heard the executives of the NDC in the constituency or regional executives criticising the actions of the youth,” he added.
“When the NPP was in power, we proposed that elections be conducted for MMDCEs in various districts but our opponents (NDC) opposed it and now the reality has dawned on them,” he recalled.
To the extent that some NDC supporters who are not happy with the MCE nomination openly threatening not to allow any Asanteman to be MCE in the area is a problem.
Chairman Odeneho Kwaku Appiah aka COKA
Dear NDC chairman, I respectfully request that you publicly disassociate yourself from the recent tribal comment made by those NDC members in the Mampong constituency.
You should know that in Ashanti region, the ashantis have the numbers ( Assembly members) and if you don’t retract the tribal comment, we will advise our members on any D/MCE nominee. I believe it’s essential for leaders to promote unity and inclusivity.
Nana Akwasi,Ashanti NDC Chairman A scene of the incident
The most annoying part is that the guy is not a native of Mampong. Ashanti, never again. Coka, I care.
The Member of Parliament for Manhyia South and a key member of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, has responded to the ongoing standoff between Rev Ntim Fordjour, the Minority spokesperson, and the government.
Speaking on JoyNews Desk, Mr. Awuah clarified that the issue at hand is not Rev. Fordjour’s actions, but the government’s reaction to his calls for transparency and answers.
He stressed that Rev Fordjour’s intention was never to accuse the government but to seek clarification on essential matters.
“Rev Ntim Fordjour is not the problem. He only demanded answers; he never accused the government,” Mr Awuah explained, defending Fordjour’s position.
He continued, stating that Rev Fordjour, speaking on behalf of the Minority, raised concerns about the government’s inconsistent responses to his legitimate questions.
Mr Awuah emphasised that the press conference held by Rev Fordjour was not meant to accuse the government but to seek clarity.
“The press conference was to seek clarity, not to accuse anyone,” he said. Despite Fordjour’s reasonable approach, the government’s responses were inconsistent, which led to increased frustration and confusion.
“Do you think it’s appropriate to put everything out in the public domain? Is that what you want us to do?” he asked, highlighting the importance of responsible management, especially when dealing with national security issues.
While Mr Awuah acknowledged that the government had initially shown some willingness to cooperate, he expressed disappointment at the subsequent dismissal of the issue by government spokespersons.
“The government showed some initial intention to cooperate, which was commendable. However, when a government spokesperson dismissed the entire issue, it raised questions about their sincerity,” he said.
Mr Awuah continued to criticise the government’s lack of cooperation and its apparent disinterest in resolving the matter.
“The very people who should be interested in this have acted in bad faith. The government has shown a clear intention not to cooperate,” he remarked, suggesting that the government’s failure to engage only exacerbated the problem.
He also explained that the Minority had hoped to address the issue through the Parliamentary Select Committee on Interior and Defence, which he described as the most appropriate, trusted, and secure forum for handling such sensitive matters.
“These matters need to be handled in a trusted and secure forum, not just aired in the public domain,” Mr Awuah added.
In defence of Rev Fordjour’s cautious approach, Mr Awuah pointed to his extensive experience in government and security matters.
“Don’t forget, Rev Fordjour has been a Minister of State before. He is a ranking member of the Interior and Defence Committee. He understands the importance of security and how to handle sensitive matters carefully,” he said.
Mr Awuah made it clear that the issue does not lie with Rev Fordjour’s actions but with the government’s failure to engage responsibly with the concerns raised.
“Rev Ntim Fordjour is just being cautious. He is acting in the best interest of national security, something the government is failing to provide,” he concluded.Source: Kareen Tei
Deputy Interior Minister Ebenezer Terlarbi has sparked intense public debate following comments on Joy News’ PM Express, where he defended government’s new approach to dealing with illegal mining suspects, especially foreign nationals, by prioritising deportation over prosecution.
Mr Terlarbi’s remarks come on the back of a directive by the Interior Minister, Muntaka Mubarak, instructing the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately transfer all regional, divisional, and district police commanders stationed in mining areas.
The move is aimed at injecting fresh resolve into the fight against galamsey, which many believe has stalled under the weight of ineffective leadership and entrenched interests.
But it was the decision to deport foreign nationals caught in galamsey operations, particularly Chinese citizens, without trial that dominated the conversation.
“Let’s be realistic,” Terlarbi said.
“You arrest about 80 Chinese, and you have to find a place to keep them, and then sometimes even vehicles to take them to court are a problem. You go to court and they succeed in getting bail.”
He argued that the sheer logistical, legal, and financial burden of keeping foreign galamsey suspects in Ghana’s already overstretched prison system has forced the government to consider what he called a “more innovative” path.
“We have another challenge at our prisons,” he said.
“We are looking at 1,400 inmates we have now, and feeding them is even a problem. So if there’s a way not to exacerbate the situation by sending them back to their home countries, I think that I would opt for that.”
When pushed by the host on why the legal process is upheld for Ghanaians but circumvented for foreigners, Terlarbi said, “Not really… but let’s be realistic.”
He acknowledged the double standards but pointed to operational difficulties. “You see, when you arrest them, they tell you, ‘Take me to court.’ They have lawyers, which is their right, and they need to be proven guilty by our courts.”
However, he maintained that the judicial process can be frustrating and protracted, especially when suspects arrive without proper identification.
“You arrest some of them, then they tell you they don’t have their passports, and their identities become difficult to establish. Once they get into the system, it is difficult to track some of them.”
Terlarbi admitted that the legal challenges are similar for both local and foreign suspects but hinted at undisclosed complexities behind the scenes.
“Certainly, but there are a few things that I wouldn’t like to disclose. Some of the things that happen behind the scenes, I wouldn’t like to disclose everything on air or in public,” he added cryptically.
“But there’s so much going on. In fact, if we don’t take care, we are going to lose this fight again.”
While the policy may be born out of logistical and diplomatic constraints, the justification—that Ghana cannot feed and house 80 Chinese inmates—has sparked outrage from critics who view it as a surrender of sovereignty and a clear message of unequal justice. The Deputy Minister’s defense reflects a growing tension between practical statecraft and public expectations of fairness and accountability in law enforcement.Source:myjoyonline.com
PRINPAG CONDEMNS ACTS OF INTIMIDATION AGAINST JOURNALISTS AND NEWS PUBLISHERS — CALLS FOR RESPECT FOR PRESS FREEDOM AND THE RULE OF LAW
The Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) has observed with grave concern the emerging trend where some state security agencies, notably the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the National Security Secretariat, have resorted to inviting journalists, editors, and publishers under the guise of questioning them over publications made in their respective media outlets.
PRINPAG is particularly alarmed by the recent developments involving the invitation and subsequent grilling of Mr. Gordon Asare-Bediako of ABC News by the OSP last week, and the subsequent invitation of Mr. Prosper Agbenyega of Current Issues newspaper by the National Security Secretariat this week, to justify publications made in their newspapers. It is even more disturbing that in both instances, the publishers were subjected to hours of questioning without access to their lawyers — a clear affront to their constitutional rights and personal liberties.
PRINPAG finds this development not only unfortunate but a dangerous attack on press freedom, media independence, and ultimately, a threat to Ghana’s democratic credentials. Such acts of intimidation and harassment of journalists and publishers have no place in a democratic state like Ghana, which prides itself on a strong tradition of press freedom and freedom of expression.
We wish to remind the state security agencies that Ghana’s 1992 Constitution provides clear and legitimate avenues for persons or institutions aggrieved by any media publication to seek redress — including the National Media Commission (NMC), the courts, and other lawful regulatory mechanisms. Resorting to extra-constitutional means, including the harassment and intimidation of journalists and publishers, is unacceptable, unlawful, and must cease with immediate effect.
PRINPAG therefore:
Unequivocally condemns these acts of intimidation and harassment of journalists and news publishers by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) and the National Security Secretariat.
Calls on all state security agencies to respect the constitutional rights of journalists to practice their profession freely, without fear or intimidation.
Urges state institutions with concerns over any publication to resort to the appropriate legal and regulatory mechanisms provided by the Constitution of Ghana and desist from arbitrary invitations and interrogations that amount to harassment and abuse of power.
Encourages all journalists, editors, and publishers not to be cowed or intimidated by these acts of suppression. The media must remain resolute, fearless, and committed to their constitutional mandate of holding state officials to account and informing the public.
However, PRINPAG equally calls on all media practitioners to adhere strictly to the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and responsibility in their reportage. Journalists must avoid sensationalism, falsehoods, and deliberate publications that may endanger national security or public order.
PRINPAG will continue to defend press freedom and the rights of its members and will not hesitate to take appropriate steps, including legal action, to protect journalists and publishers from harassment and intimidation.
We urge all well-meaning Ghanaians, civil society organisations, and the international community to add their voices in condemning this dangerous trend that threatens the very foundations of our democracy.
The first National Tracking Poll of 2025, conducted by Global InfoAnalytics, has identified the Ghana Police Service and the Immigration Service as the most corrupt institutions in the country, according to public perception.
The survey, which examined corruption across various sectors, ranked the Police highest with a score of 6.43, followed by the Immigration Service at 5.86.
Mussa Dankwah
Mussa Dankwah, Executive Director and Head of Research at Global InfoAnalytics, disclosed these findings on The Point of View on Channel One TV on Wednesday, April 2.
The Judiciary placed third with a score of 5.78, reflecting growing concerns about corruption within the legal system.
Tax officials from the Ghana Revenue Authority (5.68), local government representatives (5.63), and business executives (5.63) were also ranked among the most corrupt institutions.
Other entities, including the Electoral Commission (5.58), traditional leaders (5.51), and Parliament (5.47), were perceived as moderately corrupt. The Prison Service (5.43), Military (5.27), and Presidency (5.27) received slightly lower scores but still raised concerns among respondents.
Ministers and government officials were ranked the lowest, with a score of 4.61, indicating comparatively less public concern about corruption in this category.Source:Dailymailgh.com
Wontumi TV journalist Gordon Asare-Bediako has announced his intention to take legal action against the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), alleging wrongful detention.
Asare-Bediako was detained on Wednesday, April 2, after claiming that Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng had requested a private jet from the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Eyewitness News after securing bail, the journalist disclosed that he had instructed his lawyer to explore legal avenues against the OSP.
Gordon Asare-Bediako
“I have instructed my lawyer to go through the books and find out where I could sue the OSP for wrongful detention because I am not sure the OSP has the mandate to request a journalist to give a source,” Asare-Bediako stated.
He argued that the OSP’s actions were unwarranted and exceeded its legal authority.
According to Asare-Bediako, if the Special Prosecutor felt defamed by his statements, the appropriate course of action should have been a civil suit or a request for retraction and apology.
“At best, the OSP could say that I have maligned him… he could go on a civil way with me or… go out for retraction and apology,” he explained.
Criticizing the OSP’s handling of the situation, Asare-Bediako expressed uncertainty about its motives.
“I don’t know the tangent that they want to go, so I have told my lawyer that if he should go through the books and see the OSP for me,” he said.
The case continues to draw attention as legal experts and media rights advocates weigh in on the matter.
