The National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, has kicked off his Building Ghana Tour in the Northern Region. During the two-day tour, the opposition NDC leader will visit the Mion, Gushegu, and Yendi constituencies on Monday, 5th February 2024. Day two of the tour includes activities in the four constituencies within Tamale Township (Tamale Central, Tamale North, Tamale South, and Sagnarigu constituencies). This transformative journey aims to connect with supporters, instil hope, and fulfil promises made to NDC branch executives. The Building Ghana Tour provides Mahama with a platform to meet and interact with Ghanaians from various backgrounds, including supporters and sympathizers of the NDC. The tour encompasses diverse activities, such as courtesy calls on chiefs, town hall meetings, community durbars, and extensive conversations with various stakeholders. Credit: Citinewsroom

The Ghana Police Service has arrested 25 persons in connection with an attack on its officers and the destruction of some properties at Kwahu Bepong in the Eastern Region. The individuals reportedly assaulted police officers and destroyed properties in the area. The police were called in to restore calm after some residents decided to take the law into their own hands to deal with an alleged murder suspect. The residents were unhappy with the police intervention and pelted stones at them and destroyed their motorbikes. The police in a statement said a reinforcement team working with the local Police have restored calm and “things have been normalized while efforts are ongoing to get the other suspects arrested to face justice.” The police stated that full details of the incident will be communicated in due course. Read below the statement by the police TWENTY-FIVE PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR AN ATTACK ON POLICE AT KWAHU BEPONG The Ghana Police Service has arrested 25 people in connection with an attack on Police officers and the destruction of some properties at Kwahu Bepong in the Eastern Region. Police reinforcement team working with the local Police have restored calm and things have been normalized while efforts are ongoing to get the other suspects arrested to face justice. Full details of the incident will be communicated in due course. Credit: Citinewsroom

Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, has called on the investor community to partner Government to establish a large scale mining operation in Dollar Power in the Bole District of the Savannah Region. He said available geological data shows that the Dollar Power enclave is highly mineralised, with huge deposits of gold that make it viable for the establishment of large scale mining operations. Dollar Power, formerly known as Sindi Community, is a community along the Ghana – Ivory Coast International Boundary Line in the Savannah Region, and lies about 20km from the District Capital, Bole. Inhabitants of this area were raided by slave traders sometime in 1897, leaving the place uninhabited. However, in 1928, the colonial Governments of the then Gold Coast and Ivory Coast, established an International Boundary Line between the two countries, with the erection of Boundary Pillars at mutually agreed positions. This Boundary Line was reaffirmed by the two countries in 1973 with the planting of teak trees along the border. The large deposits of gold in the area, however, attracted people from across both countries, whose activities has led to the destruction of Boundary Pillars and the teak trees. In 2005, a small group of Ghanaians begun moving to the area to take advantage of the gold deposits, and prevent Ivorians from exploiting the mineral resources. Currently, there are about three thousand (3,000) inhabitants in the area, mainly involved in small scale mining. The gold deposits in the area have made the people to name parts of the community Dollar Power Obuasi. Since 2021, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, through the Ghana Boundary Commission, has been working with their counterparts in Ivory Coast to reaffirm the Boundary Lines. The Ministry has, also, been working with the Chiefs and people of the area to regularise their small scale mining activities. On Wednesday, 31st January, 2024, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources led a team from the Ministries of Lands and Natural Resources and Roads and Highways to inspect progress of work on the road and other infrastructure in Dollar Power. At a durbar with the Chiefs and people of the community, Hon. Jinapor said geological data from the Ghana Geological Survey Authority indicates huge deposits of gold in the area that makes it commercially viable for large scale mining. He said the traditional notion that gold was found only in the south no longer holds, as large scale mining operations are currently taking place in the Upper East and Upper West Regions. According to the Minister, Dollar Power is even more mineralised than some of these areas, and with the right investment, large scale mining operations can be established to exploit the huge deposits of gold. The Minister said to attract the needed investment into the community, which is currently only accessible by water, Government is constructing a 24km feeder road from Ntereso in the Bole District to Dollar Power, and another 25km feeder road from Sapelliga in the Upper East Region to Dollar Power. He said these constructions being undertaken by the 48 Engineers of the Ghana Armed Forces are far advanced, and would be completed by the middle of this year. In addition to the construction of the roads, he said Government is, also, committed to bringing a community mining to the area, to regularise activities of small scale miners. The Minister directed the Minerals Commission and the Ghana Geological Survey Authority to expedite action on the establishment of a community mining scheme. The Minister called on the people to support Government to regularise their mining operations, and serve as watchdogs to fish out people in the community engaged in illegal mining, particularly, on river bodies. The Chief of Dollar Power, Sindiwura Mahama Awudu Abott, speaking through his Secretary, thanked Government for the road construction which will link the community to other parts of the country. He said the construction has, also, enhanced economic and social activities in the area, and will ensure effective border control when completed. The Chief, also, thanked Government for the commitment to establish a community mining scheme in the area, as well as bring large scale mining operations to the community. He said most of the community members are miners, and are willing to work with Government to regularise their activities or work in an established large scale mine. He pleaded with Government to construct a bridge over the Black Volta to aid transportation and trade, as well as enhance safety of community members. He, also, called on Government to restore the destroyed Boundary Pillars and teak trees to secure the safety of the border and prevent encroachment. Story by: Abraham Otabil

Former President John Dramani Mahama, has reiterated his opposition to LGBTQ rights. At a breakfast meeting with the clergy on Wednesday, Mr Mahama, who is the flag bearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for Election 2024 and a member of the Assemblies of God Church emphasised that his personal faith aligns with his stance against the activities of the LGBTQ community. “I am against LGBTQ. I am a member of the Assemblies of God Church, and my faith is against it,” he said. This declaration comes amid ongoing debates and controversies surrounding LGBTQ issues in Ghana. aV arious religious and political leaders have expressed strong opposition to LGBTQ rights and existence. Mr Mahama said, ”as a man, I don’t see how you can wake up one day and say I feel like I am a woman although I was born a man”. Credit: Graphiconline

The Institute for Energy Security (IES) has projected that prices of petrol and diesel will increase by 2 to 3 percent at the various pumps. According to the Executive Director for IES, Nana Amoasi VII this will take effect from February 1, 2024 in the first pricing window. He explained that two key variables – the cedi stability against the dollar and the increase in prices of gasoline, fuel and gas oil at the international market accounts for the projected increase in fuel prices. “I just got indication from analysts at the IES that international prices of fuel, gasoline and gas oil have gone up and LPG prime market. In view of that, it could increase the prices on the local market. “To make the matter worse, the cedi stability against the US dollar is also called into question and that should say that the cedi is depreciating against the dollar,” he said on Ghana Tonight, Wednesday, January 31. He added that an intervention from government will resolve the projected fuel price increase. Meanwhile, the implementation of the new Emissions Levy Act, 2023 (Act 1112) also takes effect today, February 1. The Emission levy which was passed by Parliament last year will impose a levy on carbon dioxide equivalent emissions on internal combustion engine vehicles. According to the Ghana Revenue Authority, the implementation of the emissions levy aims to promote the adoption of eco-friendly technology and green energy, contributing to improved environmental management and the control of air and water pollution. The authority stated that individuals obligated to pay the Emissions Levy must complete the registration process and make the levy payments exclusively through the ghana.gov platform. The GRA added that renewal and issuance of Vehicle Licensing would require persons to submit receipt of payment of the levy before receiving their license. Credit: 3news

One of the sponsors of the Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-gay in Parliament, Samuel Nartey George, has expressed hope that the bill will be passed before the end of March this year. He hopes that Parliament will pass the bill and present it as an Easter gift to Ghanaians. The bill as it stands has 25 clauses, before Parliament had the break on December 23 last year they had done about 11 of the 25 clauses, he said. “Hopefully, if everything is equal, within two weeks it should be, I hope that we can give it as an Eater break to the people of Ghana, the time we celebrate easter by the end of March the bill will have been passed,” the Ningo Prapram lawmaker said on the Ghana Ton8ght show on TV3 Wednesday, January 31. Earlier, the Chairman of the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee in Parliament, Kwame Anyimadu-Antwi, said there is a need to pass the bill in a form that will stand the test of time. He noted that even men of God are divided on the bill, saying, some are against it whilst others are in favor. Addressing the press in Parliament on Thursday, December 7, he said “I must warn that any attempt that anybody would want to clothe this bill with political colors will suffer non-passage of the bill. When we met as a committee it was not a one-sided thing, we spent some time on this until we presented our report" “Some members of the public, even some reverend members are saying that this bill is a bad bill and we must not pass it but] most Reverend ministers are saying it is a good bill we must pass it. We must pass a bill that will come into an act that would withstand the test of time.” He had earlier denied claims by Ningo-Prampram Member of Parliament, Samuel Nartey George, that the Majority in Parliament was fighting the bill. He said leadership of Parliament has not drawn his attention that the committee should go ahead and submit the bill for consideration. “The bill has been here, and we have not prosecuted it because the religious bodies came to the Speaker.  It got to a point that we were looking at the rehabilitation of people that will fall as victims of the LGBTQ+ and the Speaker suggested that we meet with the religious bodies to see how best we can incorporate that into the bill and our initial response was that it may not be sustainable. But I discussed it with the Ranking Member, who said that we have to do one workshop and iron out quizzes. And last week, I went to the Speaker’s office, and he asked me about this bill and I told him that we need to do something on this bill before we can go ahead and do it or prosecute it" “Leadership has not drawn my attention that we should go ahead and do consideration on this bill and at any rate, this is not the only bill at the consideration stage. The Intestate Succession Bill has also been there and nobody thinks of prosecuting it, and then we have the Proper Human Sexual Rights andGhanaian Family Values Bill on page 24. If we start today, there is no way we can finish these amendments before this meeting ends. So why should I start it?” He told journalists while responding to Sam George who is one of the sponsors of the  Anti-Gay Bill who had indicated that the leadership of the Majority in Parliament reached out to sponsors of the bill to step it down. The opposition lawmaker was livid over the inability of Parliament to consider the bill on Wednesday, December 6 as scheduled. He accused Mr Anyimadu-Antwi of refusing to show up in Parliament to allow for the process to be moved to consider the bill. Speaking to journalists in Parliament, the Ningo-Prampram lawmaker said “As sponsors of the bill, we are livid and angry at the conduct in the chamber today. This morning Speaker Alban Bagbin called and said to all of us as sponsors that the consideration of the amendment was going to be taken today. When we got to Parliament he said again to indicate that he wanted for all of us to be present" "Since 8:00am this morning, we have been calling the chairman of the committee, but he refuses to pick up the call, he is not returning the call" The Ranking Member of the Committee,  Bernard Ahiafor, has been present in Parliament since 10:00am and was in the chamber when the mace came in with the Speaker ready for us to handle this. The Speaker came in earlier this morning and indicated that he was going to take only one urgent question and then take the laying of papers and that it was a very important bill that had to be dealt with. “The Speaker indicated that he also had a meeting he had to attend. When the Speaker called the first Deputy Speaker, Joseph Osei Owusu, to take the chair he indicated to him to finish with questioning and proceed to take our bill, the anti –LGBTQI bill. In fact, when Mr Speaker went into his lobby, Honorable Helen Ntorso and  Hon Dela Sowah followed up with the speaker to find out from him if the bill would still be taken. The Speaker, Rt. Honorable Alban Bagbin indicated that he had instructed the First Deputy Speaker to start the consideration and that when he finishes with his meeting he was going to come back to complete the consideration stage. "Our frustration is that this is not the first time this is happening, this is not the second, this is the third time the Speaker has given such an instruction and it has been disregarded in his absence.” He added “We need to understand from the Majority side, what their issues with the bill are. We need to understand those who take the chair when the Speaker gives the instructions what their opposition to the bill is. We are very well aware of people in leadership on the Majority side who are reaching out to the sponsors of the bill asking us to step down the bill. Is that why the Majority side is fighting against the bill? The excuse given today that the Chairman of the Committee is not in the chamber, so we can’t take the amendment is alien to the practice of this house because the ranking member was present" "Even government bills when the Chairman is not present, the Ranking Member is able to take the amendment that comes in the name of the Chairman, because amendments of the Committee always stand in the name of the chair" "The amendments, about 43 of them, that have been tabled are amendments that have been agreed upon between us as sponsors and the Committee, so they won’t stand in my name, they will stand in the name of the Committee chair" "But it doesn’t mean that only the Committee chair can move it. If the government business, the Ranking Member can move the amendment,  how is it that in a private members’ bill  when the private members say that they are comfortable with the private member moving the bill, the sit-in Speaker says we can’t take the bill because the Chairman is not there.” Regarding the passage of this bill, Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, said that Parliament would consider the bill. Speaking at a Leaders’ Media Briefing in Parliament on Tuesday, November 7, he assured that the House would find space for its consideration. "If we are not able to deal with it this meeting, we have to deal with it in the early part of the next succeeding meeting, which will be the First Meeting of the Fourth Session,” the Suame lawmaker said. Credit: 3news

Award-winning Ghanaian media personality, Nana Yaa Brefo, has officially joined Media General after her recent departure from Angel Broadcasting Network. The announcement of her inclusion in the Media General family was made through TV3’s official Instagram page with a warm welcome message. Nana Yaa Brefo’s resignation from Angel Broadcasting Network became effective on December 1, 2023. Previously, she served as the co-host for the Morning Show and Head of News TV at Angel FM/TV. Explaining her decision to leave, Nana Yaa Brefo expressed a desire to explore new opportunities and avenues in her career. Her transition to Media General marks a significant move in her professional journey. Credit: Ameyaw Debrah

Maame Tiwa Addo-Danquah, the Executive Director of the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO), is advocating for a unified effort to combat corruption in the country. Addressing the issue, the EOCO boss emphasized the need for a shift in the mindset of Ghanaians to effectively tackle corruption. In an interview, she expressed concern about the pervasive nature of corruption and called on every citizen to play a role in the fight against this societal menace. “Every Ghanaian is concerned, you are concerned I am also concerned. Everybody should be concerned. We must all put our hands together and we must fight what is fighting us. If we need to fight it then everybody must fight it.” Meanwhile, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has expressed disappointment in Ghana’s stagnated position on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), highlighting the country’s lack of progress in the fight against corruption. Ghana attained a score of 43 out of a possible 100, securing the 70th position out of 180 countries and territories in the Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) 2023, released by Transparency International (TI) on Tuesday, January 30, 2024. This marks the fourth consecutive year of stagnation in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts, according to the CPI. Four out of six Sub-Saharan African countries that maintained a stagnant score for four or more consecutive years experienced a subsequent decline in their CPI score the following year, representing a concerning trend. In response to the CPI findings, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng expressed his disappointment, stating, “We are standing at a single spot spinning around slowly on one foot in a circle, much like a gyroscope, the conversation is becoming sterile. “The fight against corruption is proving to be an unruly bride indeed…we are not recording much success and progress is hampered, and we are unable to move the needle appreciably to improve our scorecard.” He highlighted the awareness of the solution to address corruption but emphasized a lack of commitment to implementing effective measures. Agyebeng lamented, “We certainly know the cure to the malaise but we are unwilling to take the medication fully, it is as if we don’t want to actually cure it though we reckon it is slowly killing us. it is as if we do not know what we want.” The Chief of Staff Akosua Frema Osei-Opare called on civil society organizations (CSOs) to trust anti-graft bodies. She urged CSOs to refrain from harbouring suspicions once anti-graft bodies have exonerated individuals under investigation for alleged misconduct. Osei-Opare made these remarks during a roundtable discussion on the Corruption Perception Index 2023, where Ghana scored 43 out of a clean score of 100. The discussion aimed to address the challenges and perceptions surrounding corruption in the country. Credit: Citinewsroom

A group calling itself Concerned Muslim Youth of Ghana have voiced their apprehensions against Bel Beverages, producers of Bel products. The youth group expressed concerns over the potential threat to public health and religious standards posed by the company’s manufacturing practices. The key issues addressed include the alleged use of the same production line for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, without adhering to the religious [halal] of their Muslim consumers. Additionally, the organization raised concerns about the company’s use of children under 18 years in their advertising and promotional campaigns, citing it as a violation of ethical standards and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Children. The concerns raised include: 1. Dual-use Production Line: The Concerned Muslim Youth strongly disapproves of Bel Aqua using the same production line for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, neglecting the halal guidelines and standards. 2. Involvement of Children in Advertising: The organization condemns Bel Aqua’s use of children in promotional campaigns for alcoholic beverages, deeming it a violation of children’s rights and ethical standards. Call to Action: The group has called on the FDA, government, and other regulatory agencies to urgently investigate these allegations and provide transparent findings to the public. They emphasized the importance of ensuring the halal status of products and protecting the rights of children in adherence to religious and ethical principles. The Concerned Muslim Organization’s Mandate: Highlighting their role as a civil society organization, the Concerned Muslim Organization reiterated its mandate to serve as a mouthpiece, championing public health and the general well-being of Ghanaian Muslims against business interests and threats. The Concerned Muslim Youth urged regulatory institutions, including Allah institutions under the office of the National Chief Imam of Ghana, to investigate and address these religious violations promptly. They also stressed the promotion of tolerance and interfaith harmony among all religions in Ghana Story by: Yaw Plug

The Ghana Football Association (GFA) has issued an apology to Ghanaians for the Black Stars’ subpar performance at the AFCON 2023 tournament. The statement was released after an Executive Council meeting on Tuesday, with the GFA acknowledging that the team’s display was unsatisfactory and fell short of the high expectations of Ghanaians. Black Stars had a tough run, failing to secure a win. They lost 2-1 to Cape Verde in the opening game, managed a 2-2 draw against Egypt, and faced another draw against Mozambique in a must-win match. Despite initially holding a two-goal lead, Ghana couldn’t maintain it, and in the final six minutes, Mozambique levelled the score, leading to Ghana’s elimination from the tournament. “The Ghana Football Association extends our sincerest apologies to the good people of Ghana and all stakeholders for the recent disappointing performance of the senior national team, the Black Stars at the Africa Cup of Nations Cote D’Ivoire 2023,” the statement read. The GFA emphasised that it understands the frustration and disappointment that such results can bring to the country’s fervent football fans. The organisation took full responsibility for the team’s lacklustre performance and guaranteed that measures were being taken to address the issues. “We understand the disappointment and frustration that such results can bring to our passionate football-loving nation. Our team’s performance fell short of the high expectations we all share, and we take full responsibility for the disappointment,” the statement continued. The GFA assured stakeholders that a comprehensive review of the team’s strategies, training, compensation, and overall structure is currently underway. The organization stressed that it values the unwavering support of its stakeholders and is committed to collaborating with them to create a stronger and more competitive team. “We value the unwavering support of our stakeholders, and we commit to working tirelessly with you to ensure a stronger and more competitive team. Your loyalty and passion are the driving forces behind our efforts to rebuild and elevate the standard of Ghanaian football,” the statement read. The GFA expressed gratitude to Ghanaians for their continued support and vowed to work diligently to restore the pride and success associated with the Black Stars. “We appreciate your understanding during this challenging time and remain dedicated to restoring the pride and success we all desire for the Ghana Black Stars. Together, we will emerge stronger and more resilient,” the statement concluded. The apology from the GFA has been met with mixed reactions, with some welcoming the move while others feeling that it is too little, too late. Nonetheless, the GFA’s willingness to acknowledge its shortcomings and commit to improvement is a positive step towards rebuilding the team’s reputation and performance. Credit: 3news

The incumbent Member of Parliament for the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo has expressed appreciation to the rank and file of the New Patriotic Party in the area. In a press release dated January 30, Madam Adwoa Safo thanked them for giving her the opportunity to serve them for three consecutive terms. “I take the opportunity to express my eternal appreciation to the good people of Dome-Kwabenya Constituency, especially our hard-working Polling Station Executives for the opportunity to represent their interests and aspirations in the august house of Parliament in the last 12 years. "It has been a real honour and privilege working for and with you on matters and issues that border on our common interests and for which I do not take lightly. From the depths of my heart, I say Thank You,“ she stated in a letter that refuted widespread speculations that she intends to run as an independent candidate in the December 7 2024 elections. The incumbent MP lost the parliamentary slot of the NPP to her long-standing contender, Mike Oquaye Junior in the primary held on January 27. According to the incumbent Member of Parliament, she will not compete in the December 7 parliamentary election as an independent candidate as being speculated in certain circles. “My attention has been drawn to several recent misinformation and speculation in the media regarding my political future in the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency in particular and the New Patriotic Party as a whole. I wish to clarify, that despite the setback and outcome of last Saturday’s parliamentary primaries in Dome-Kwabenya, I remain steadfast in my commitment to the shared values of the New Patriotic Party and our corporate quest to break the 8 with H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia come December 7,2024,” she said in a press release dated January 30. Madam Adwoa Safo assured that “As a three-term Member of Parliament and a true party person, I am cognizant of the fundamental principles which underpin the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition for which internal competition and afterwards cooperation, remains the guiding light. For the avoidance of doubt and without any shred of ambiguity, I reiterate that I have no intention whatsoever of running as an Independent Candidate in the upcoming December 7,2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections and for that matter, at any point in the foreseeable future.” “For the next few months, I remain dedicated to working collaboratively with the Leadership of the party in the constituency in collectively pursuing goals to unite us for the task ahead in campaigning to maximize our votes for both Parliamentary and Presidential candidates and in Parliament, to execute Government business expeditiously,” she further assured. Credit: 3news

The defeated candidate in the recently held parliamentary primary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has expressed her commitment to the party. According to the incumbent Member of Parliament for the Constituency, she will not compete in the December 7 parliamentary election as an independent candidate as being speculated in certain circles. “My attention has been drawn to several recent misinformation and speculation in the media regarding my political future in the Dome-Kwabenya Constituency in particular and the New Patriotic Party as a whole. I wish to clarify, that despite the setback and outcome of last Saturday’s parliamentary primaries in Dome-Kwabenya, I remain steadfast in my commitment to the shared values of the New Patriotic Party and our corporate quest to break the 8 with H.E. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia come December 7,2024,” she said in a press release dated January 30. The incumbent MP lost the parliamentary slot of the NPP to her long-standing contender, Mike Oquaye Junior in the primary held on January 27. Madam Adwoa Safo assured that “As a three-term Member of Parliament and a true party person, I am cognizant of the fundamental principles which underpin the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition for which internal competition and afterwards cooperation, remains the guiding light. For the avoidance of doubt and without any shred of ambiguity, I reiterate that I have no intention whatsoever of running as an Independent Candidate in the upcoming December 7,2024 Presidential and Parliamentary elections and for that matter, at any point in the foreseeable future.” The MP used the opportunity to express appreciation to the, “good people of Dome-Kwabenya Constituency, especially our hard-working Polling Station Executives for the opportunity to represent their interests and aspirations in the august house of Parliament in the last 12 years. It has been a real honour and privilege working for and with you on matters and issues that border on our common interests and for which I do not take lightly. From the depths of my heart, I say Thank You.” “For the next few months, I remain dedicated to working collaboratively with the Leadership of the party in the constituency in collectively pursuing goals to unite us for the task ahead in campaigning to maximize our votes for both Parliamentary and Presidential candidates and in Parliament, to execute Government business expeditiously,” she further assured. Credit: 3news