Author: Kwaku GhanaMPs

The persistent power outages in the Weija-Gbawe constituency has forced the Member of Parliament, Jerry Ahmed to call on authorities in charge of managing the country’s electricity to up their game as it has become serious problem in the constituency.

According to him these unplanned outages occur without prior notice or communication from the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) or the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), causing widespread disruption to households, healthcare facilities, educational institutions and businesses.

In a media statement he noted that the consequences are dire, hampering economic activity, endangering lives and compromising the delivery of essential services.

While it is clear that the current power crisis is a national issue, Weija-Gbawe appears to have been disproportionately affected, with some communities experiencing continuous outages for more than four days and in certain instances, even longer.

Despite several engagements with ECG officials aimed to resolving this crisis, there has been no meaningful progress.
While we have received assurances of GRIDCo’s intervention, residents of Weija-Gbawe continue to endure the burden of unreliable electricity supply.

We therefore make a respectful but firm appeal to the ECG, GRIDCo, and the Ministry of Energy to take immediate and decisive action to permanently address this issue, the people of Weija-Gbawe deserve better.

Ghanamps.com

The Minority in Ghana’s Parliament has said the deliberate plans to remove the current Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana, Getrude Torkornoo would be a setback to Ghana’s democratic journey as the purpose of the petition is to malign the head of the Judiciary.

And further to silence the judiciary and finally exert control of the Judiciary more especially as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is an offshoot of the PNDC.

Addressing the press on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Parliament, the legal Counsel of the Minority Caucus noted that the framers of Ghana’s constitution made each arm of government a separate arm and made provisions for check and balances therefore to ensure that there is respect for each branch of arm of government, the framers did not provide for an Executive overreach.

John Darko again noted that the Minority is watching with concern attempts made to remove the Chief Justice (CJ) stating that they are worried as the Judiciary has stood the test of time since Ghana’s independence, especially the period of military take overs and constitutional rule.

The judiciary has been nonpartisan despite the days of Ghana’s first president Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s attempts made on the judiciary, same with the military era of the Provisional National Defense Council (PNDC).

And some of the allegations made against the current CJ are that she advised then President Nana Akufo-Addo to promote several judges to the Supreme Court and being the one presiding over a matter that involves the Speaker of Parliament in an ex-party motion.

Again, a gentleman who committed contempt and was punished by the court want the CJ removed because he has been punished by the court not the CJ; and one of the ridiculous things is that the CJ has misappropriated seventy-five thousand Ghana cedis which according to the Judicial Service has been deleted by the Auditor General.

Quoting the ground for the removal of the CJ as stated in the 1992 Constitution of Ghana; “A justice of the superior court shall not be removed from office except for stated misbehavior or incompetent or on grounds of her inability to perform her function of the office arising from infirmity of the body or mind” they contend that the basis for the petitions do not warrant the removal of the Chief Justice.

“How can a serious country, mindful of this facts with its desire to improving its democratic credentials entertain such a lose petition to orchestrate this? We are aware of plans being put in place to invoke article 146 (10) (A) to suspend the CJ and appoint someone who is tilting towards the NDC government to Act as the CJ of the Republic”.
The Minority therefore urged civil society organisations and the traditional authorities as well as the diplomatic community not to entertain this as it will undermine the country’s democracy.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has admonished the Kantamanto traders not to engage in any act of violence, rather they should go about their trading activities peacefully and pay their tax as law abiding citizens of Ghana.

Leading the Minority Caucus to donate GHC200, 000.00 to the traders on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, he stated that after the December 7, 2024, election, there is a new government in place led by John Dramani Mahama, and “we need to do whatever we have to do to make Ghana a peaceful place”.

“We should all stay as people from one mother whether you are from, CPP, NDC or NPP. For those of you who support NPP, when we vote one party would be the winner. If you remember in 1996, we had only 61 seats, NDC had 133, within four years under the leadership of late J. H. Mensah, the then Minority turn the seat to 104 and later we won majority of the seats and John Agyekum Kufour became the president of Ghana”.

Again, in 2016 everybody was sad, people were in despair, but with our leader and presidential candidate then Nana Akufo-Addo, we had 169 seats and formed the Majority. And added that If nothing at all Ghanaians would remember President Akufo-Addo for the introduction of the free senior high school policy which is benefiting a lot of Ghanaians.

“We are not many, we are just 88 and this number if we can have time for ourselves and work hard, we would do better next time. Do not be sad if you are an NPP person here; know we have good and bad times”.

He reminded the NPP supporters of the pending elections of executives at the various levels to be followed by the election of a flagbearer towards the 2028 elections; thus the need to work together devoid of acrimonious tendencies
“We should not talk against each other; whatever happens we are from one mother, we should not speak against each other on radio, TV.”

He assured that the Minority leadership in Parliament would work hard, show respect to Ghanaians, and offer good suggestions for Ghanaians to know that NPP has Ghanaians at heart.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minority Caucus has sent a note to the government demanding an immediate increase in the cocoa producer price from GHC3,000 to GHS6,000 per 64kg bag, fulfilling the promise it made to Ghanaians.

They warned that failure to act swiftly risks economic sabotage, border smuggling, and a betrayal of Ghana’s hardworking cocoa farmers.

In a scathing rebuke of government inaction over cocoa producer prices at a press conference held at Miklin Hotel in Kumasi, the Minority Caucus, led by its Ranking Member on Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs, Isaac Yaw Opoku, urged the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the current administration to stop “shifting blame.” Instead, they want the government to deliver on the promises made to cocoa farmers during the 2024 election campaign.

The immediate past government set the cocoa producer price at GHS48,000 per tonne for the 2024/2025 crop season, representing a significant increase from previous years. This translates into GHC3,000 per 64kg bag.

However, during the 2024 electioneering campaign, then-flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, promised to increase the price of cocoa per 64kg bag to GHS6,000 to reflect prevailing world market prices.

Having successfully transitioned into government, the NDC has since backtracked on its promise, instead issuing contradictory statements to avoid accountability.
On April 8, 2025, COCOBOD cited “operational challenges” and other factors as reasons the producer price could not be adjusted.

A day later, on April 9, 2025, another release offered different justifications, signaling inconsistency in their communications.

Worried about this trend, the Minority Caucus slammed COCOBOD for issuing contradictory statements within 24 hours, describing the move as “shocking and highly disappointing.”

The group questioned whether the government was backtracking on key manifesto pledges, including the assurance to pay farmers 70% of the Free-On-Board (FOB) price and the campaign promise to raise cocoa prices to GHS6,000 per 64kg bag.

“They promised farmers GHS6,000 per bag. Now they claim they can’t increase the price. Were those just empty words for votes?” the Minority queried.

Pointing to COCOBOD’s strong financial standing, the group argued that the agency has both the economic size and capacity to absorb any financial strain resulting from a price hike. With over 560,000 tonnes of cocoa already purchased and more than US$2 billion in receipts reported through the Bank of Ghana, the Caucus contended that farmers deserve a fair share of the cocoa export value.

SMUGGLING
They also raised red flags over a deepening regional threat. Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana’s neighbouring cocoa-producing country, recently raised its farmgate cocoa price by over 22%, creating a price disparity that the Minority fears could trigger mass smuggling of Ghanaian cocoa across the border. At current exchange rates, Ivorian farmers earn over GHS3,600 per bag—more than GHS600 higher than their Ghanaian counterparts.

The Caucus warned that failure to match regional prices could lead to a surge in cocoa smuggling and illegal mining, as farmers abandon unprofitable cocoa farms for more lucrative ventures.

“The government must act now to protect our farmers and secure Ghana’s cocoa economy. This is not just about economics—it’s about national security,” the Minority declared.

They concluded their remarks by calling on the government to honour its pledges to Ghanaian cocoa farmers.
“No more excuses. COCOBOD and the government must keep their promise and pay the Ghanaian cocoa farmer a minimum of GHS6,000 per bag.”

Ghanamps.com

The Minority Caucus in Parliament on Tuesday, April 15, 2025 presented GHC200,000.00 to the leadership of the Kantamanto Traders.

The money according to the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin is aimed at supporting them to get back on their feet following the unfortunate fire disaster on January 2, 2025 that consumed their entire trade.

In a similar development fire victim at Adu Market were also extended the same gesture by the Minority with the same GHC200,000.00.

Presenting the money to the Kantamanto Market Executives, the Minority Leader appealed to banks and other financial institution that the traders usually receive financial assistance from by way of loan, to consider the ordeal of the traders and reduce the interests on the loans they contracted so that they can pick up the pieces of their trade as early as possible.

While commending the traders for their efforts in putting the place in order for business after the inferno, he assured them that the government would also through the contingency fund extend the needed support to them in due course to give them the needed relief they are looking for.

Meanwhile, Mr Afenyo-Markin urged the traders to be law abiding and tax compliance to the government to help the government raise funds for development.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.com

Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh at a press conference on the Bawku conflict has noted that the Minority would not be irresponsible like their colleagues in the Majority then in Minority who exploited the situation but would be responsible and push for a lasting solution to be reached on the matter.

According to him then Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) noted that, anytime they are in power, there is peace in Bawku but whenever the NPP is in power the conflict escalates; a rather unfortunate statement when all everyone is looking for is lasting peace in the area.

The Nsawam/Adoagyiri lawmaker further noted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is now in Power, “they must show responsibility; they are scratching the surface, the eminent chiefs are showing leadership but the bus stops with the government”.

He further added that, NDC should show more maturity in this matter, “we are going to sustain our interest until there is lasting peace at Bawku; you would not get the Minority to make those irresponsible statement to say that anytime one government is in power the conflict escalates. Our, interest is peace and security; we would hold NDC to their promises until they deliver on that.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com