Category News

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• April 22, 2025
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• 2 minutes Read

Chief Justice Suspended as Committee Probes Petitions;

Ghana’s judiciary is facing an unprecedented shake-up as President John Dramani Mahama has suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, pending the outcome of investigations into three petitions filed against her.

The suspension, which was announced in a statement by the Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, follows a determination of a prima facie case by the Council of State.

The move has sparked significant political controversy, with critics accusing the government of pursuing a politically motivated agenda aimed at undermining the judiciary.

Allegations have emerged that the petitions—filed by unnamed individuals—may have been orchestrated by figures sympathetic to the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), fueling public concern over the independence of the judiciary.

In line with constitutional procedures, a five-member committee has been constituted to investigate the petitions.

The committee is chaired by Justice Gabriel Scott Pwamang, a Supreme Court judge appointed during President Mahama’s first term in 2015. The other members are Daniel Yaw Domelevo, former Auditor-General; Professor James Sefah Dzisah of the University of Ghana; Supreme Court Justice Samuel Kwame Adibu-Asiedu; and Major Flora Bazaanura Dalugo of the Ghana Armed Forces.

The inclusion of certain members on the committee has drawn criticism from opposition voices, who question the impartiality of the panel.

Daniel Domelevo, in particular, has been a controversial figure, known for his outspoken stance against corruption during his tenure as Auditor-General, while Professor Dzisah has previously been associated with advocacy efforts related to electoral reforms.

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• April 21, 2025
• 0 Comments
• 2 minutes Read

Govt raids Akonta Mining sites, orders revocation of licence

The government has revoked the mining lease of Akonta Mining Company Ltd. following revelations of the company’s deep involvement in illegal mining activities—commonly known as galamsey—within protected forest reserves.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, April 21, 2025, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Armah-Kofi Buah, outlined findings from recent undercover investigations which uncovered that Akonta Mining was operating unlawfully in forest reserves despite lacking the necessary permits.

According to the Minister, although Akonta Mining holds a license to operate off-reserve, the company had encroached into the Aboi and Tano Nimiri Forest Reserves in the Western North Region.

The investigations further revealed that Akonta Mining had been selling access to these reserves to illegal miners for as much as GHS 300,000 per concession. In return, some of these miners allegedly paid weekly royalties in gold—up to 250 grams—to the company.

The Minister identified key individuals involved in these illicit activities, including a company liaison named Mr. Ayisi, who facilitated the deals, and two others known as “Mr. Henry” and “Shark,” who were reportedly responsible for overseeing the on-ground destruction of the forest landscape.

The revelations led to a joint operation by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission, which yielded significant results.

“Armed with this intel, on the eve of Good Friday (17th April 2025), an intelligence-led operation by the Ghana Police Service and the Forestry Commission led to the raid of six illegal mining sites linked to Akonta Mining.

The operation in Compartment 49, which began at 5 a.m. and lasted a whopping 12 hours, resulted in: • 51 arrests (8 Chinese, 39 Ghanaian men, 4 Ghanaian women)
• Seizure of about 30 excavators, 5 recovered and impounded at the operation base
• 2 pump-action guns loaded with 5 and 2 rounds of BB cartridges each, 1 single-barrel gun retrieved
• Confiscation of 2 Toyota Hilux pickups, 1 Toyota RAV4, 4 motorbikes, and a cache of mining equipment”

Source: citinewsroom.com

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• April 21, 2025
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• 3 minutes Read

Afenyo-Markin Pledges Development Support for Tsiame

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• April 21, 2025
• 0 Comments
• 2 minutes Read

Gideon Boako engages young professionals in Accra Over Easter

The Member of Parliament for Tano North, Dr. Gideon Boako, spent the Easter holidays engaging with a dynamic group of young professionals and entrepreneurs from his constituency currently residing in Accra. The interactive gathering served as a platform for dialogue, idea-sharing, and motivation, reinforcing the MP’s commitment to youth empowerment and inclusive development.

Held in an atmosphere of warmth and camaraderie, the meeting brought together ambitious individuals seeking to make meaningful contributions to their personal development, business ventures, and their home district. Dr. Boako lauded the group’s initiative and drive, describing their determination as pivotal to the transformation of Tano North and Ghana at large.

“The energy and innovation you bring to your work in Accra can be channelled back home to support development. Your success is not just personal; it has the potential to uplift entire communities,” he said.

He encouraged the youth to stay focused on their aspirations, emphasising the values of innovation, resilience, and ethical leadership in today’s competitive world. Dr. Boako assured them of his unwavering support and pledged to create more opportunities that would connect enterprising youth in the diaspora with development initiatives in Tano North.

The meeting also provided an opportunity to explore ways in which these young professionals could contribute to local development through mentorship, investment, and knowledge transfer. Many participants shared their personal journeys and expressed a strong desire to give back to their roots.

Several attendees commended Dr. Boako for his accessibility and proactive approach to leadership. They praised his willingness to engage directly with constituents outside the district and expressed commitment to playing active roles in Tano North’s progress.

The interaction fostered a renewed sense of community and purpose, with the Easter season’s themes of hope and renewal resonating throughout the event. Dr. Boako’s words of encouragement left a lasting impression, reaffirming his belief that the future of Tano North lies in the hands of its youth.

“The talents and initiatives of our young people must be harnessed to secure long-term progress for Tano North. Together, we can build a constituency that thrives both at home and beyond,” he concluded.

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• April 21, 2025
• 0 Comments
• 2 minutes Read

Bawumia, NPP begins nationwide thank you tour

The 2024 Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, together with the Party’s leadership, is set to embark on a nationwide Thank You Tour starting Saturday, 26th April 2025.

This tour, which has received the full endorsement of the NPP’s National Council, seeks to express the heartfelt gratitude of the Presidential Candidate, the Campaign Team, and the Party to members of the NPP and the general public for their immense support throughout the 2024 electoral season.

The Thank You Tour, themed “In All Things, Give Thanks to God” (1 Thessalonians 5:18), serves as a reflection of the party’s faith-based values and acknowledgment of divine guidance throughout the electoral process.

The nationwide exercise aims not only to appreciate supporters but also to reinforce unity and the bond between the Party’s leadership and its grassroots. The tour will conclude with interfaith national thanksgiving services, comprising both Christian and Islamic observances.

The tour is scheduled to cover all sixteen regions, beginning with the Western Region on 26th April and concluding with the Central Region on 4th June 2025.

Each region will host regional and constituency gatherings where party faithful are expected to converge and participate actively in the celebration of shared victories and future prospects.

The Ashanti Region, due to its size and political significance, will host a three-day programme from 29th April to 1st May. The NPP leadership has called on all Party members and sympathisers to actively engage in the Thank You Tour at their respective regional and constituency venues.

This collective gesture of appreciation is also an opportunity for the party to renew its connection with the citizenry and reenergise its base as it looks ahead. The leadership emphasises that unity and thanksgiving must remain the cornerstone of the Party’s forward march.

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• April 15, 2025
• 0 Comments
• 2 minutes Read

GAF launches anti-galamsey operations across three commands

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have intensified the fight against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, with a series of coordinated anti-galamsey operations conducted across the Northern, Central, and Southern Commands.

According to the GAF, the surgical operations targeted major illegal mining hubs, specifically focusing on activities in forest reserves and river basins where environmental degradation has been most severe.

The operation was categoried in three commands namely the Northern Command where troops were deployed to the Bole area and the Black Volta Basin, where illegal mining activities have been linked to the pollution of water bodies and destruction of farmlands.

Central Command: The military targeted the Nkawie and Mankranso Forest Reserves, where extensive illegal mining has posed a threat to biodiversity and forest conservation efforts.

Southern Command: Operations in the Southern Command were concentrated in the Jerusalem area and the Subri Forest Reserve, both of which have witnessed a surge in illegal mining encampments in recent months.

During the operations, a number of excavators, water pumping machines, and other mining-related equipment were seized and immobilized.

The troops also dismantled and destroyed several makeshift shelters and structures used by illegal miners within the forest reserves.

These efforts form part of the government’s renewed campaign to restore Ghana’s forest reserves and protect vital water bodies from further pollution, deforestation, and ecological damage.

Source: citinewsroom.com

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• April 4, 2025
• 0 Comments
• 3 minutes Read

Former ECG boss calls for more thorough investigation into missing containers

A former Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has rejected claims that 1,346 ECG-bound containers have gone missing, insisting that they remain under the custody of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) and Ghana Customs.

Speaking on TV3’s Ghana Tonight programme on Wednesday, April 2, Mahama dismissed allegations that the containers had disappeared under his watch, stressing that ECG was never in direct custody of the cargo.

“Honestly, I strongly believe the containers are still at the port,” Mahama stated, emphasising that only two entities—GPHA and Ghana Customs—had control over them.

His remarks follow a technical committee report by the Energy Ministry, which claimed that over 1,300 containers meant for ECG could not be accounted for, raising concerns about mismanagement and possible corruption in the company’s supply chain.

Mahama refuted the notion that ECG was responsible for any missing cargo, arguing that the issue was a matter of port procedures rather than mismanagement within ECG.

“This conversation would have been different if we were saying that the containers were in the custody of ECG and got lost. But that is not the case. The containers are still at the port,” he asserted.

He also questioned why ECG’s containers would be auctioned without official notification, stressing that unpaid duties should not justify their disposal without ECG’s knowledge.

“If ECG hasn’t paid its duties, does that justify auctioning a container without informing ECG? That’s the only way a container can leave the port,” he argued.

Mahama dismissed the idea that a container could simply vanish, calling the assertion unrealistic.

“A container is not like a piece of paper that you fold and throw away. In international supply chain logistics, every container has a unique number… A container cannot get missing. A container can only get misplaced or lost at sea. So there are laid-down processes in every port worldwide. All I’m trying to say to you is that we need to have a diligent search and everybody needs to assist in this,” he stressed.

Mahama also criticised the Energy Ministry’s technical committee for failing to consult him before publishing its report. He expressed frustration that his name appeared in the committee’s findings despite not being given the opportunity to present his side of the story.

“As I sit here, the committee completed its job without speaking to me. Yet, I am named in the committee’s report,” he stated. “They spoke to directors at ECG, but not to me. How would you feel if you were in my position?”

He further claimed that while in office, he wrote to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) regarding the containers but never received a formal response.

“There are letters flying around. When I was in office, I wrote to them. But I never got a reply,” he noted.

As investigations continue, Mahama has called for a thorough review of port records and accountability from relevant authorities to establish the true whereabouts of the ECG-bound containers.

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• April 4, 2025
• 0 Comments
• 2 minutes Read

Dr Alhassan Iddrisu appointed acting Government Statistician

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Dr Alhassan Iddrisu as the Acting Government Statistician, pending consultations with the Council of State.

The presidency, in a statement issued on Friday, April 4, 2025, expressed confidence in Dr. Iddrisu’s ability to lead Ghana’s statistical efforts, emphasising his commitment to excellence and innovation in economic governance.

Further updates are expected following consultations with the Council of State, it added.

Dr. Iddrisu, a seasoned economist, currently serves as the Director of the Economic Strategy and Research Division at the Ministry of Finance.

In this role, he oversees national macroeconomic analysis, forecasting, policy research, and coordination of real and external sector assessments. His contributions include guiding the preparation of the Ghana Macroeconomic Outlook Report and shaping the National Budget and Economic Policy.

With a distinguished career spanning multiple senior positions, Dr. Iddrisu has held roles such as Director of the Economic Research and Forecasting Division (2013–2019) and Acting Director of the Real Sector Division (2010–2013).

He has also represented the Ministry on various governing boards, public councils, and inter-ministerial technical committees, influencing key policy decisions on economic governance and development strategy.

Beyond his public sector achievements, Dr. Iddrisu is a part-time lecturer at the University of Professional Studies, Accra, and has served as a consultant to Oxfam GB and the World Bank.

His academic credentials include a PhD in International Development Studies from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies in Tokyo, Japan, and advanced degrees from the London School of Economics and the University of Ghana.

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• April 4, 2025
• 0 Comments
• 2 minutes Read

Ablakwa invites US Ambassador for clarification on Trump tariff

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has confirmed that he has invited the United States Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia Palmer, to his office on Monday, April 7.

U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled a set of tariffs, including a 34% levy on imports from China and a 20% tax on goods from the European Union, signalling a dramatic intensification of global trade tensions.

These sweeping measures also impact Ghana, which will face a 10% baseline import tax.

In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), Mr Ablakwa stated that the meeting would serve as an opportunity for Ambassador Palmer to offer explanations regarding the rationale behind the tariff, which has stirred significant concern among local businesses and policymakers in Ghana.

“I can confirm that I have invited US Ambassador to Ghana, Her Excellency Virginia Palmer to my office on Monday morning to provide clarifications and reasons for President Trump’s imposition of 10% tariff on Ghana,” he said in his statement.

Already, the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana is expressing concern over the recent decision by the United States government.

The Association in a press statement issued on Friday, April 4, condemned the move, calling it a disregard for the protocols and principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO), and warned that it will have severe consequences for Ghana’s economy.

Source: myjoyonline.com

• goldcoastnewsline@gmail.com
• March 24, 2025
• 0 Comments
• 1 minute Read

Review Ghana’s mining laws to enhance local benefits – Sophia Akuffo

Former Chief Justice and Distinguished Fellow of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), Justice Sophia Akuffo, is advocating for a comprehensive review of Ghana’s mining agreements to ensure the country derives greater economic benefits from its natural resources.

She argues that the existing agreements mirror colonial-era arrangements, allowing foreign companies to reap substantial profits while Ghana earns relatively minimal returns.

Speaking at a press conference on Maximizing the Benefits of Ghana’s Natural Resources, Justice Sophia Akuffo emphasized the urgent need for policy reforms to enhance local value creation and drive economic transformation.

“There is a need to set up a small committee of about five experienced Ghanaian experts in the natural resources sector to review and recommend necessary amendments to all natural resource laws in Ghana to optimize the benefits of natural resources to the country,” the former CJ urged.

She added that the “Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) should contain a provision that moves the management of some mineral resources to local governments such that District Assemblies are directly involved in the management of these resources.”

Source: citinewsroom.com