Category: General

The Chief Executive Officer of the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) Dr. Adam Atiku has been sacked by President John Dramani Mahama following reports of alleged negligence that led to the recent death of a patient at the hospital’s Accident and Emergency Ward.

The decision comes amid growing concerns about the deteriorating state of healthcare delivery at the facility, where essential medical equipment are reportedly non-functional.

In response to the situation, Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, paid an unannounced visit to the hospital on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 as part of a broader effort to assess the challenges facing healthcare delivery in the Northern Region.

Speaking during the visit, the Minister expressed serious concerns over the number of idle medical machines, despite payments being made to suppliers.

He also highlighted the impact of the ongoing water crisis in Tamale on hospital operations, describing it as a broader regional issue that requires urgent presidential intervention.

Addressing plans to resolve the hospital’s equipment issues, Mr. Akandoh said any action from the Ministry would be informed by the priorities set by hospital management.

He urged residents to continue using the hospital’s services, assuring them of improved healthcare delivery.
“When we finish with them, we will all think through it, because I cannot do it all alone, I have to involve them, and we are thinking through it together.

Everybody should remain calm and let us continue to patronise the facility,” he stated.

Ghanamps.com

The President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama has announced one thousand (1000) scholarship opportunity to tertiary students from the ECOWAS sub-region to study in universities in Ghana.

The gesture, according to President John Mahama who disclosed this at the launch of the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in Accra on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, is beyond strengthening bonds – “this is not just a gesture, it is an act of solidarity; it is a bridge to our future, where our young people would grow up seeing each other not as foreigners but as partners”.

He said the anniversary launch is not just a celebration but a solemn moment of reflection on our collective journey and an invitation to renew our commitment to the principles that have bound us together for half a century in unity peace and regional integration and above all diplomacy as our guiding compass.

The President of Ghana affirmed that the founding fathers of ECOWAS chose the path of cooperation over competition and rivalry; stating that their vision was clear – one to pursue development not as isolated nations, but as a united community.

This, he noted, has ensured that ECOWAS has grown into becoming key diplomatic and political force in Africa. Through consistent engagement, dialogue and mediation, our community has earned a reputation as a trusted arbiter in conflict prevention and resolution as evident in Liberia, Sierra Leone, the Gambia, as well as preventing electoral violence in Togo, and Ivory Coast. “We must not take this legacy lightly; it is one we must protect; it is one we must deepen and refine in the face of new and emerging challenges”.

He bemoaned the growing insecurity in the sub-region particularly violent extremism, political instability, economic disparities and climate vulnerabilities in the Sahel region; stating that in moments like these, diplomacy and solidarity must remain the first and strongest line of defense.

President Mahama described as regrettable the decision by Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to withdraw from ECOWAS; but calls for continuous engagement with the Sahel countries, adding that unity, however difficult remains the best pack to share prosperity and regional stability.

“Ghana stands ready to serve as a bridge to help re-knit the fabrics of African unity through sustained dialogues, patient diplomacy, and principled negotiations”.

Ghanamps.com

President of the Economic Community of West African State (EWCOWAS) Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray has bemoaned the low intra- community trade in the sub-region.

Speaking at the launch of the 50th Anniversary of ECOWAS in Accra on Tuesday, he said one of the areas of reflection as ECOWAS marks it’s Golden Jubilee is how to improve trade among member states.

He stated that despite being a customs unit, intra-community trade stands at 12 percent, which is considerably low compared to trade among European Union and other countries.

He contends therefore that to resolve this low intra-community trade among the ECOWAS member states, it behoves on the bloc to pay attention to addressing infrastructure and energy deficit as well as trade barriers.

But most significantly, there is the need to address supply side constraints by raising productivity in the various countries.

Dr. Touray stated that to increase productivity requires the ability to attract investors locally and internationally.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission also affirmed that ECOWAS’ market of 400 million dollars is a potential mileage to investors. “This, once again underlines the importance of regional integration and few meaningful investors are attracted by the small size of our individual domestic markets”.

Mr Toure urged the region to invest in peace and security; stating that the terrorist menace that constitutes a key basis for insecurity in the region knows no borders, thus making security collaboration in the region imperative.

To this end, he commended President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, and the Chair of ECOWAS Authority of Heads of States and Government, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria for their efforts at reconciliation and fostering collaboration between ECOWAS and members of the Sahel States.

Ghanamps.com

The Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh has written a petition to the Speaker Rt. Hon Alban Sumana Bagbin, over his directives on how the security agencies investigating an MP or related matters should proceed.

The petition to the Speaker follows the National Intelligence Bureau’s (NIB) attempted arrest of the Ranking member on defence and interior Rev. John Ntim Fordjour on Wednesday, April 9, 2025.

The Minority Chief Whip recounted that the Speaker wrote to the NIB on April 2, 2025 reiterating these established protocols grounded in Article 117 and 118 of the 1992 Republican constitution of Ghana, as well as prevailing protocols established with the national security and intelligence agencies to engage the Member for Yabga/Kubori, Mustapha Ussif and the Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng.

And the arrest attempt followed a recent press address held in Parliament by the Assin South MP, which was made for and on behalf of the Minority caucus on a matter of national importance, in execution of his parliamentary duties.

Again, the action taken by the NIB undermines the authority of the office of the Rt. Hon. Speaker, but also direct violation of the privileges and immunities of a Member of Parliament as established in the constitution of the Republic.

“They pose serious threat to the separation of powers and the respect accorded the elected representatives in the performance of their duties”.

He urged the Speaker to take steps to re-affirm his earlier directives and engage the relevant security heads to ensure that such interactions with the MPs are conducted in a manner that conforms with the constitution and with decorum.

The Minority Chief Whip appealed to the Speaker to ensure that the procedure adopted by the security agencies in dealing with MPs is befitting of the status of an MP who is the representative of the people, The Minority chief whip appeal to the Rt. Hon speaker.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Ghana’s Parliament has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering greater transparency and inclusivity by engaging civil society organisations (CSOs) and think tanks in high-level dialogue. The Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, spearheaded the initiative, lauding the critical role that CSOs play in shaping governance and policy.

Addressing the forum on the theme “Embracing Inclusivity, Engagement, and Collaboration with the Parliament of Ghana,” Speaker Bagbin called for a governance framework that transcends traditional parliamentary democracy to incorporate broader participation from civil society. He stressed that no one should be left behind, stating that CSOs are a fundamental pillar of Ghana’s democratic architecture.

Speaker Bagbin commended civil society organisations (CSOs) for their contributions to policy development, particularly through research and data-driven advocacy. He referenced key parliamentary initiatives, including anti-corruption efforts and local government reforms, that were supported by the input of civil society. “With Ghana ranking top in the 2022 Africa Open Parliament Index, these reforms demonstrate Parliament’s commitment to enhancing its democratic processes through a continuous partnership with civil society,” he noted.

One area in which the Speaker is particularly passionate is gender equity. He reiterated the importance of the Affirmative Action Act, which mandates more significant gender equity across all sectors of governance. “Equity, not equality,” he stressed, urging the implementation of gender equity policies within Parliament and government institutions. He acknowledged that progress has been slow and called for more robust gender equity initiatives in governance. He also urged support for the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, ACT 1121.

The Chair of the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus in Parliament, Hon. Emmanuel Bedzrah, announced Ghana’s recent recognition at the Regional Meeting for Africa and the Middle East. He noted that technology and innovation have been essential in enhancing Parliament’s engagement with citizens, mentioning that Parliament’s website and data platforms have been continuously updated to meet the public’s needs. However, he stated that more can be achieved through collaboration. He alluded to an Action Plan that is yet to be launched, which would further strengthen these efforts and ensure that Parliament meets its commitments to an open and accountable government.

The Clerk to Parliament, Mr Ebenezer Djietror, emphasised that the theme of the meeting aligns with Parliament’s Corporate Strategic Plan, which seeks to enhance engagement with media, CSOs, and think tanks. He reiterated that Parliament’s role is to reflect the people’s will, as outlined in Ghana’s Constitution, ensuring that all governmental powers serve the welfare of its citizens.

The CSOs lauded Speaker Bagbin for his commitment to inclusive governance, particularly in promoting female leadership. However, some participants raised concerns about the lack of female representation in certain parliamentary committees, especially in areas such as health, where women’s perspectives are vital. They urged constitutional amendments to strengthen gender representation in government.
Additionally, they advocated for sustained collaboration with Parliament, calling for the full implementation of the Open Government Partnership Action Plan to enhance transparency and accountability.

Requesting an expansion of oversight responsibilities in Parliament, the Speaker presented copies of the Code of Conduct for Members of Parliament to CSOs to support their role in holding legislators accountable.

Members of Parliament, including Hon. Emmanuel Akwasi Aquah, Hon. Agyeman Prempeh, and Hon. Abednego Bandim, along with Deputy Clerk Dr./Mrs. Gloria S. Kumawu and other parliamentary officials, attended the engagement.

Among the participating CSOs were IMANI Africa, the Ghana Integrity Initiative, the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-GH), Parliamentary Network Africa, the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG), Star Ghana, ACEPA, the Media Foundation for West Africa, the Gender Center for Empowering Development, CAMFED, the Legal Resource Centre, and Youth Advocate Ghana.

Ghanamps.com

As Ghana leads in the crusade of addressing waste menace in the system in Africa and the West Africa sub-region, Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP), a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies is attracting some countries from both Africa and the sub-region to understudy its operation and replicate same in their respective countries.

A tour by members of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC) to ACARP on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, saw a high-powered delegation from Ethiopia visiting the facility.

Managing Director of the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP) Michael Padi Tuwor in an interview noted that after ten, fifteen, and twenty years, the Jospong Group is stepping out as they have invested and built capacity.

“We have built enough resources and replicating this in Africa and the West Africa sub-region. We are in Nigeria Lagos, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Guinea Conakry and Liberia”.

Almost every week they have a country visiting their facility to learn what they are doing.

Mr. Michael Padi further pointed out that their mandate is to receive waste generated in the capital from respective homes, marketplaces, among others. And when they are brought to their facility their duty is to recover as much as they can from the waste, add value to it, and send it back into the system for re-use.

“The organic component of the waste, because the waste that we generate is not separated at source, it is mixed, that is the reason for all the investment you see here. So, when the waste comes here, we use the MRF that is the material recovery facility, to recover the various fractions like organic fractions, the plastics, card boards and scrap metals.”

“We add value to these ones – the organic we turn it into compost for agriculture purposes, all the plastics we process into pellets and then also give it out to the plastic manufacturing companies for further production into Household items.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Managing Director of the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP) Michael Padi Tuwor said the culture of separating plastic waste from other wastes is catching up well with Ghanaians in the capital.

According to him, in the homes people are separating the plastics waste from other things. But the problem is that it’s only one truck that would usually come for the waste; hence everything that is separated ends up in the same truck. If we have more trucks like the way Zoomlion has and the truck can come twice in a week it will help, because then in the first day in the week it will come for organic materials, and the second day its coming for recyclable things that in a way would have helped; but it’s a gradual process, we are getting there once people get to understand what we call waste is not a waste but resource.

He affirmed that there is value in waste and people will keep it and sale, stating that these days people wait for you at events to finish drinking just so they can pick the empty bottles because they know there is value in it. “That is where we are heading to, and for us that is what we expect into the future”, he added.

The ACARP MD further noted that Jospong Group has introduced campaigns on free dustbins and one million free dustbins to households, just so to store the waste.

He asserts that per our by-laws the polluter has a responsibility, once you generate the waste you are to store it; once it is lifted the responsibility and liability is transferred to the government, that is why you are charged for the lifting. When it comes to the downstream treatment and disposal that is when the government also comes in and its paid for, he added.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

General Manager for Private Sector Business (PSB) of Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited (SSGL), Lola Asise Ashitey has appealed to the government for increased and timely financial support to expand the company’s liquid waste treatment plants across all 16 regions of Ghana.

This appeal was made during a media briefing as part of a five-facility tour of Zoomlion Ghana’s liquid waste treatment plants on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.
According to Ashitey, SSGL currently operates six liquid waste treatment plants in Accra, Kumasi, Tamale, and Takoradi. She emphasized the impact these facilities have had on public health, particularly in reducing the incidence of cholera in the Greater Accra Region.

“Since we started operations in 2017, we don’t have cholera in Greater Accra like we used to. The records are there. This must be replicated in all other regions to make sure that our people are healthy and can contribute to the nation’s development,” she stated.

Challenges with Improper Waste Disposal

Lola Ashitey mentioned a significant challenge faced by SSGL — the improper disposal of solid waste into liquid waste systems.

She described how people often dump diapers, sanitary pads, and even human remains into public toilets and streams, which disrupts the treatment process and clogs their pumps.

“Ghana is our country. If we do it right, we do it right for ourselves. But when people dump solid waste in public toilets and streams, it comes back to us. It makes it difficult for us to treat the waste properly. Maybe without these challenges, we could be having 10 treatment plants by now instead of six,” she noted.

A Call for Collective Responsibility

She urged Ghanaians to adopt responsible waste disposal practices, stressing that the fight against cholera and other sanitation-related diseases requires a collective effort.

“We don’t want what is happening in other regions with cholera outbreaks to happen to our people. We cannot do it alone. We all need to put our hands on deck to make sure we’re doing things right,” she appealed.

Future Plans and the Need for Support

SSGL aims to expand its operations to all 16 regions, ensuring better sanitation and healthier communities.

Ashitey expressed hope that with increased government support and prompt payments, this vision can become a reality.

She said, “Our key is for the government to support us more. We are already getting some support, but we would love to be paid regularly so we can replicate these plants across the country,” she added.

The expansion of liquid waste treatment facilities could significantly reduce the spread of waterborne diseases, improve public health, and create a cleaner environment across Ghana.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

Rt Hon Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has inaugurated the 9th Parliamentary Service Board where he urged lawmakers to prioritize accountability, bipartisan collaboration, and responsive governance as the 9th Parliament works to address pressing national challenges.

During the ceremony, he underscored the Board’s pivotal role in strengthening institutional integrity and fostering a legislative environment anchored in public trust and democratic principles.

The Board, which Is chaired by the Rt Hon Speaker, has the following members:

Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror – Clerk to Parliament
Mahama Ayariga – MP for Bawku Central and Majority Leader
Alexander Afenyo-Markin – MP for Effutu and Minority Leader
Angela Oforiwa Alorwu-Tay – Former MP for Afadjato South
Dr. Mark Assibey-Yeboah – Former MP for New Juaben South
The first and second deputy Speakers

Hon. Bernard Ahiafor-MP for Akatsi South and Hon. Andrew Asiamah -MP for Fomena and 2nd Deputy Speaker are co-opted members.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com

The Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) on Sunday, March 16, 2025, abstained from participating in the question-and-answer session on the 24-Hour Economy Policy at the ongoing 2025 post-budget workshop in Parliament.

Mr Augustus Goosie Tanoh, President John Mahama’s advisor on the 24-Hour Economy was on the floor of the House to explain the policy to MPs.

But when it got to question time, some Minority MPs rose to their feet to ask questions but were prevailed upon by their leadership not to ask their questions.

Meanwhile, MPs on the Majority side of the House took the opportunity to either offer explanations, suggestions or ask questions for more light to be thrown on the 24-hour economy policy of the John Mahama led administration.

Kwaku Sakyi-Danso/Ghanamps.com