The Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has rendered an unqualified apology to the leadership of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), especially the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and other party officials. In a video circulating on social media, Adwoa Safo explained that she was struggling with both personal and family issues during her extended absence from Parliament. She begged for forgiveness from the NPP leadership and supporters. Adwoa Safo was absent from her post for over a year after travelling to the United States. Her seat became vacant, with some MPs calling for her seat to be declared vacant. She was dragged to the Privileges Committee of Parliament in 2022. “I would like to use this opportunity to apologise to my New Patriotic Party members, the leadership. Firstly to the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, our mother, the Chief of Staff Hon. Akosua Frema Osei-Opare, Majority Leader Osei Kyei- Mensah Bonsu and the entire leadership of Parliament, my colleague MPs, Majority caucus. “I would like to apologise to all of you for my behaviour sometimes back, I would like to say that it wasn’t intended or planned to respect you all. “I was faced with so many personal and family issues. I would like to plead with you in the name of the Lord, my regional executives, Greater Accra, constituency executives, the headquarters of NPP, the General Secretary and National Chairman and all your workers. I beg all of you, supporters, and sympathisers, who loved me and have faith in the constituency, please forgive me for all that has happened”. Credit: Citinewsroom

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) says the decision by the Electoral Commission (EC) to restrict registration centres to their district offices will deprive many eligible Ghanaians of their right to be registered as voters and lead to voter suppression. THE NDC made these remarks while addressing Journalists in Accra on Tuesday. Addressing the Journalists, National Chairman of the NDC, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah said "Article 42 of the 1992 Constitution provides that every citizen of Ghana, 18 years and above and of sound mind is entitled to be registered as a voter and to vote in public elections and referenda" "Also, whereas Article 45(e) of the 1992 Constitution mandatorily enjoins the EC to undertake programs to expand the registration of voters, the EC’s decision to restrict registration centres to their district offices will reduce access to voter registration. Hence contravenes Article 45(e) of the Constitution" He added that the EC’s decision to restrict registration centres to their district offices violates Regulation 2(2)(b) of C.I 91 (Amended by C.I. 126),  the law that governs centres for voter registration. "Regulation 2(2)(b) of C.I 91 provides; in designating a place as a registration centre, the Commission shall take into consideration the suitability of the place for use as a polling station on election day; and the accessibility of the place to prospective applicants for registration.” He stressed that given the fact that the district offices of the EC are not suitable for use as polling stations on Election Day, the decision by the EC to restrict voter registration to its district offices is not only unreasonable but unlawful. "Also, given the long distances that many eligible voters will have to travel and the exorbitant fares they will have to pay to transport themselves to district offices of the EC under the excruciating hardships Ghanaians are presently confronted with, the decision is insensitive, unreasonable, unlawful and unconscionable" "Ladies and gentlemen, it’s instructive to note that Regulation 30 of C.I 91 enjoins the EC to revise the voters’ register annually and to do so at the electoral area level" The National Chairman noted that the Jean Mensah-led EC has violated the law in the last two years by not conducting any limited registration in 2021 and 2022. This, he noted, has created a huge backlog of about 2.8 million eligible persons including unemployed youth who are entitled to be registered. "This huge backlog is the more reason why the EC’s decision to restrict voter registration to their district offices is unconscionable and preposterous" "In 2019, the EC conducted limited voter registration in 1500 electoral area centres. Why will the EC reduce this number of registration centres to 268 now that they have a huge backlog of about 2.8 million persons to register? It simply doesn’t make sense" "This irresponsible and unconscionable decision of the commission confirms the NDC’s long held view that the Jean Mensah-led EC is determined to rig the 2024 elections through voter suppression. But she will fail because we are ready for them" "Aside it’s potential to suppress registration and voting, the EC’s decision to restrict voter registration to its district offices can promote and facilitate gerrymandering as agents of political parties will find it difficult to challenge persons who may be bused from one constituency to another to register" Mr. Asiedu Nketiah noted that aside the NDC, there are 4 other political parties who are plaintiffs in the instant case at the Supreme Court. "In fact, CODEO, Care Ghana and other stakeholders in our electoral space have all criticized this unreasonable decision of the NDC" "Apart from the ruling and corrupt New Patriotic Party, no other political party or stakeholder has supported this decision by the EC. This clearly shows that the EC is the problem and not the NDC" "And we know the only reason why the NPP is supporting this unreasonable and unlawful decision is because they are the masterminds and sole beneficiaries of same" "In an unusual twist – when our lawyers filed the injunction application last week Thursday – we were informed by the Registrar of the Supreme Court that the due date for the Application for Interlocutory Injunction to be moved will be given on Monday upon the expressed instructions of the Chief Justice of our dear Republic of Ghana" He added that the decision by the registry of the Supreme Court to defer giving a hearing date for the injunction application on grounds that the Chief Justice is currently out of Accra leaves much to be desired as the CJ should have delegated someone to act in her absence as the practice is. "The administration of justice in our apex court cannot come to a stand-still simply because the Chief Justice is indisposed or unavailable to give hearing dates. What happened to the e-Justice system the John Mahama led NDC administration toiled for? This deliberate delay should not happen in any civilized country. This is completely unacceptable!" "This is yet again another clear evidence of judicial manipulation and we condemn it in no uncertain terms" "We are aware that the EC has also been served with two applications for injunction from Courts of Competent Jurisdiction, specifically the High Court. Yet, the lawless Jean Mensah-led EC has decided to flout these injunction applications by going ahead with the registration exercise in flagrant disregard of the letter and spirit of the rule of law" "We wish to emphasise that the EC’s decision to proceed with the limited voter registration exercise today despite being served with two injunction applications from the courts contradicts an important precedent set by they themselves during the 2023 NDC Presidential and Parliamentary primaries when they publicly announced the suspension of their supervision of our primaries on grounds of a suit and injunction application filed by Dr. Kwabena Duffour. What has changed? Why this inconsistency?" The NDC hinted that currently it have its agents and officers in all 268 district offices of the EC. "We are keenly and actively monitoring the process and will ensure that the manipulations of the EC & the ruling NPP calculated to suppress votes and rig the process are defeated. NDC shall always stand and fight for the masses" "We therefore wish to call on all NDC officials at all levels, members, sympathizers and Ghanaians as a whole to encourage and fund and assist all eligible persons or prospective registrants to defy the EC and participate in the ongoing registration exercise" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare has clarified that he us no hand in the interdiction and de-interdiction of the two police officers in the leaked tape aimed at ousting him. According to him, that decision was taken by the Police Council and also in his absence. Speaking at the Parliament’s Committee on the leaked tape, he said "This is another thing. People have tried to use this against me. The truth of the matter is this, when all these things happened, whiles we were focused on ensuring that we work as a team across the country, and also across all the other security agencies, we got to a point and these things happen, and you feel pained that your own brothers can go and do these things against you, but you forgive them because such is nature, the more you forgive, the more you become stronger and preserve your health so I moved on but I said whatever is going on, I recuse myself from the whole process" "So I was not part of whatever decision that was taken to interdict or de-interdict anyone. It is a matter that was considered at the Police Council and they handled it in my absence" "And anytime, any issue about this particular incident is discussed anywhere within the Police leadership, they fill my absence because I think and believe that is the right thing to do and that is what happened" "I am not involved in the interdiction and de-interdiction of anyone. I thank you" He charged the officers in the leaked tape to stop trying to put heads of the leaders of the various security agencies against eachother. "It is shameful and not good for this country and you cannot do this. You should stop it. They can use any other thing to get what they want but they should not use that. They should be patriotic, because that is the only place we have called home (Ghana)" "So in their quest to achieve their selfish interests, they should not create confusion. We will continue to work as various institutions for our beloved country" It will be recalled tat the two officers at the centre of the leaked tape aimed at ousting the IGP were said to have been interdicted over the saga. However, the two officer have however been re-interdicted. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare says there is no hold-up of promotion of any Junior Officer in the Ghana Police Service. According to the IGP, such allegations are baseless and thus should be disregarded. Responding to questions before Parliament's Committee on the leaked tape, the IGP said "There is no hold up of promotion of any Junior Officer in the whole Police Service" "Even as we speak, the structure has been that any Junior Officer who is four years are sent to training and they are promoted. They are sent to the Eastern Region to reshape and recalibrate them. We are also making sure that they are promoted in December" "It has become the preserve of the Police Council and from that level make recommendations to the President and for that to be effected. So as it stands, everybody who is supposed to be promoted based on the Junior rank has been done, everybody who is based on the Senior rank has also been done. That is where we are" The IGP clarified that there is no unit called 'Special Dampare Unit' in the Ghana Police Service. "Stop trying to put our heads against eachother. It is shameful and not good for this country and you cannot do this. You should stop it. They can use any other thing to get what they want but they should not use that. They should be patriotic, because that is the only place we have called home (Ghana)" "So in their quest to achieve their selfish interests, they should not create confusion. We will continue to work as various institutions for our beloved country" Responding to the interdiction of the two officers in the leaked tape, the IGP said "This is another thing. People have tried to use this against me. The truth of the matter is this, when all these things happened, whiles we were focused on ensuring that we work as a team across the country, and also across all the other security agencies, we got to a point and these things happen, and you feel pained that your own brothers can go and do these things against you, but you forgive them because such is nature, the more you forgive, the more you become stronger and preserve your health so I moved on but I said whatever is going on, I recuse myself from the whole process" "So I was not part of whatever decision that was taken to interdict or de-interdict anyone. It is a matter that was considered at the Police Council and they handled it in my absence" "And anytime, any issue about this particular incident is discussed anywhere within the Police leadership, they fill my absence because I think and believe that is the right thing to do and that is what happened" "I am not involved in the interdiction and de-interdiction of anyone. I thank you" Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo Dampare says he is ready to answer to allegations made by his colleague officers to cover their shame despite a leaked tape aimed at ousting him. The IGP made these remarks as he appeared before the Parliamentary Committee to speak on the leaked tape aimed at ousting him. He said "Honourable Chair, I am here, being asked to answer to wild allegations, unsubstantiated by my brothers in order to cover up their shame, I am ready" The IGP added that he has coexisted peacefully with all three police officers involved in the alleged plot against him. "I have been asked to come and answer to these allegations which are wild and baseless ans I felt it in my spirit that this is just not fair" "Are we killing patriotism that anybody can just get u, make allegations upon allegations and people who go across the country at times 48 hours without sleep just keeping the country at peace, will be called to come and answer allegations that are unfounded" "Anyways, I am here, I have no choice and have come and I say it to the glory of God, my maker who sustains me everyday, I will speak to tye matter as directed" "And I am doing this because of the respect I have for myself, for my family, office that I occupy, for my brothers and sisters who are sitting behind me that we have pulled ourselves together in an unprecedented manner in a teamwork to get thes things done for this country and for the respect I have for the Institutions of State including the Parliament, more importantly the respect I have for Mr. President and also the respect I have for the good people of this country" The Inspector General of Police, also noted that he did not get anyone taped. "Honourable Chair, the most important thing is this, elections involves so many stakeholders and each one has its role and the police has its role" "Elections is a simple matter, where each stakeholder plays its role and collectively we up ending that it is over and the people then decides who becomes their leaders." "So nobody has some supremacy in terms of when it comes to its role in ensuring that elections are successful. As far as I am concerned, all the stakeholders, has to play their roles and the point is that since each role is unique, you can not compare to see which one is one top and which one is not, so as far as I am concerned, all the stakeholders have critical roles to play in ensuring that our elections ends successfully" Dr. Akuffo Dampare noted that the IGP cannot determine the outcome of any election. The IGP further stressed that his personality has nothing to do in connection with the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) breaking the 8. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

The Director of Elections and IT for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr Edward Omane Boamah has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of deciding to punish first-time voters by insisting they travel all the way to district offices to register in the limited voter registration. The registration starts on Tuesday, September 12 to Monday, October 2. In a Facebook post, he said “Institutional Decay! The Electoral Commission has decided to punish first-time voters on behalf of the NPP government insisting they travel all the way to district offices to register. “The courts too are in no mood to prioritise the plight of the youth. Don’t worry. Just endeavour to register and punish the NPP in 2024.” The National Chair of the NDC Johnson Asiedu Nketia also urged all eligible voters to take advantage of the limited voter registration exercise to have their names in the electoral roll. Mr Asiedu Nketia said this in a statement to announce a change in date of the Minority’s avowed protest against the Governor of the Bank of Ghana. In confirming the new date, the NDC said the decision was necessitated by the limited voter registration. As a result, the Minority has decided to stage the demonstration on Tuesday, October 3. It is after this decision that the NDC urged all eligible voters to partake in the exercise. “By this change, we are also urging all eligible voters to avail themselves of the opportunity to get their names onto the Voters Register,” Mr Asiedu Nketia stated. It added that after the registration exercise, “we shall mobilise our teeming supporters to join in the demonstration against the rot and corruption that has eaten deep into the management of the central bank”. The NDC a few days ago led some four political parties to file a suit at the Supreme Court against the decision by the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) to have the registration at its district offices. The opposition parties demanded that the exercise be done in all electoral area. Credit: 3news.com

The Electoral Commission (EC) is set to begin the Limited Voter Registration exercise at its district offices across the country today in spite of a pending interlocutory injunction filed at the Supreme Court by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and four other minority parties. The 21-day exercise is scheduled to end on October 2. It will start from 8a.m. to 5p.m. each day, including weekends. The EC has targeted to register at least 1,350,000 persons in the 2023 Voters Registration exercise based on its projection that such a number might have attained 18 years since the last registration exercise in 2020. A Deputy Commissioner of the EC in charge of Corporate Services, Dr Bossman Eric Asare, told the Daily Graphic that since the exercise had not taken place over the last three years for persons who have turned 18 years and above, “we expect the numbers to be huge in the opening few days and hopefully after a week it will normalise.” He said the commission expected to register an average of 300 people daily in all its district offices, urging Ghanaians to take advantage of the programme to exercise their civic responsibility. “Don’t forget, this is not the first time we are doing this; it happened in 2016, 2019, 2020 and even in 1996. We have taken into account the concerns of the disability group and those who will travel long distances for them to be taken care of first,” Dr Asare said. Dr Asare stressed that the main documents for the registration are the Ghana Card or the Ghanaian Passport. He said in the absence of these, two individuals, who have already registered, could vouch for such persons as guarantors. He gave an assurance that the EC would monitor and take a post-registration action in order not to disenfranchise any eligible Ghanaian. Registration will be done online using the District Management System (DMS), as well as offline by way of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kit. Copies of daily reports of the registration exercise from the beginning to the end will be given to political party representatives at the various registration centres, while each political party will be allowed to present one representative to observe the exercise. Supreme Court application Meanwhile, the five political parties had earlier filed an application for interlocutory injunction at the Supreme Court to restrain the EC from proceeding with the limited voter registration exercise, pending the determination of the substantive matter. The parties: the NDC, Convention People's Party (CPP), All People's Congress (APC), Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG) and the Great Consolidated People's Party (GCPP) were of the view that limiting the exercise to the EC’s district offices would not be suitable and accessible to every Ghanaian who is desirous of exercising his or her constitutional right to be registered as a voter. As part of their reliefs, the parties asked the Supreme Court to declare that upon a true and proper interpretation of Articles 42 and 45 (a) and (e) of the 1992 Constitution and Regulation 2 sub-regulation 2(a) and (b) and Regulation 30(1) of the Public Elections (Registration of Voters) Regulations 2016 - (C.I. 91) (as amended by C.I. 126), the EC shall designate registration centres that are suitable and accessible to every eligible Ghanaian who is desirous of exercising his or her constitutional right to be registered as a voter. They also asked the Court to declare that upon a true and proper interpretation of the above provisions, the EC’s decision to undertake the limited voter registration at its district offices would result in voter suppression, hence it was unconstitutional since it would violate first-time voters’ right to vote. GFD appeal In a related development, the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) has appealed to the EC to put in place measures to make the limited voters’ registration process more inclusive for persons with disability (PWD), reports Dickson Worlanyo Dotse. It said the current process was fraught with challenges that could potentially disenfranchise PWDs in many ways. The federation said the EC’s decision to conduct the registration exercise solely at its district offices across the country had the likelihood of excluding many PWDs from participating in the exercise due to the challenges, including accessibility and proximity to various registration centres and communication. At a press conference in Accra yesterday, the Executive Director of the Ghana Blind Union (GBU), Dr Peter Obeng Asamoah, who spoke on behalf of the GFD, said most of the commission’s district offices were not disability-friendly, making it difficult or impossible to reach them. “Even though there may be some intentions to hold them at the ground floors, the presence of steps and maybe gutters could present barriers to our members in wheelchairs or those with callipers, thereby denying them of their constitutional rights,” he said. Dr Asamoah also stated that due to the EC’s decision, members who did not reside close to the district offices could potentially be left out of the registration process and be ultimately denied the right to participate in the elections. He explained that many PWDs were unemployed and as a result might not be able to afford the cost of transporting themselves and their assistants or their assistive mobile devices such as wheelchairs all the way from their immediate communities to the EC offices. “So for example, if you’re a blind person you’re going to have to pay double transportation because of your assistant and if you’re physically disabled, you’ll pay for your wheelchair too" “Yet, a recent study has shown that some drivers are unwilling to transport wheelchairs because they take up too much space,” Dr Asamoah lamented. The GFD, therefore, urged the EC to decentralise the process and use a community-based approach to ensure that all interested PWDs are able to participate in the process and exercise their franchise. Communication It also urged the EC to include sign language interpreters in the dissemination of information concerning the entire process, as well as during the registration process so that persons who are deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind could communicate effectively with officials and receive proper assistance during the exercise. “Initial awareness videos shown on television about the exercise did not have sign language interpretation to target the deaf community. This means that they even watch the adverts and will not know what is happening,” Dr Asamoah stressed. He also called on the EC to work hand in hand with the organisations of persons with disability to provide technical support and advice for effective inclusion of all persons with disability in the registration exercise. Credit: Graphiconline.com

A mechanical issue with the backup oxygen system is what forced the emergency landing of a Delta Airlines Accra to New York flight, the airline company has explained. The Delta Airlines flight from Ghana to New York had to do an emergency landing five hours into the flight due to an oxygen malfunction on the plane. The incident happened on September 8, 2023, where the Delta Air Lines (DL) flight from Accra (ACC), Ghana, to New York (JFK) underwent a diversion and emergency landing at Praia da Vitória (TER) located on Terceira Island in the Azores. This diversion was reportedly initiated due to concerns related to oxygen levels on board the aircraft. The aircraft involved in the incident is a Boeing 767-300ER, registered as N191DN. Delta Ghana to New York Emergency Landing While Praia da Vitória Airport in the Azores is relatively remote, it serves Azores Airlines. It has connections from airlines such as Ryanair, TAP Air Portugal, TUI Fly (seasonally), and SATA Air Acores. The airport boasts a nearly 11,000-foot runway, making it well-prepared for diversions, and its geographic location means diversions there are not uncommon. However, Delta Air Lines does not have its own ground staff at this airport. In situations where the airline lacks its own ground staff, passenger assistance at the airport is likely to be limited. Information provided to passengers may also be restricted, primarily relying on crew members who may not prioritize customer service. Below is a copy of a statement from Delta Airlines explaining the incident Delta Air Lines Statement on DL157 Emergency Landing “Delta flight 157 from Accra to New York-JFK diverted to Lajes Airport following a mechanical issue with a backup oxygen system. The crew descended to a lower altitude out of an abundance of caution during the diversion and the aircraft landed safely. An alternate aircraft was dispatched from Lisbon to help our customers more quickly get to their final destinations while the original aircraft was repaired by maintenance technicians. We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels.” Additional background information: • Boeing 767-300ER aircraft • 215 customers and 6 crew onboard • Customers were provided meals at TER and deplaned into a secure area while waiting for the alternate aircraft for the alternate aircraft from Lisbon, which has now departed for Lajes. • Refunds and an additional gesture of goodwill were provided to our customers for the experience. • The original aircraft and crew have also since made it to JFK Delta Air Lines Statement on DL157 Emergency Landing “Delta flight 157 from Accra to New York-JFK diverted to Lajes Airport following a mechanical issue with a backup oxygen system. The crew descended to a lower altitude out of an abundance of caution during the diversion and the aircraft landed safely. An alternate aircraft was dispatched from Lisbon to help our customers more quickly get to their final destinations while the original aircraft was repaired by maintenance technicians. We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travels.” Additional background information: • Boeing 767-300ER aircraft • 215 customers and 6 crew onboard • Customers were provided meals at TER and deplaned into a secure area while waiting for the alternate aircraft for the alternate aircraft from Lisbon, which has now departed for Lajes. • Refunds and an additional gesture of goodwill were provided to our customers for the experience. • The original aircraft and crew have also since made it to JFK

The Ghana Bar Association (GBA) has taken on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for engaging in politics when he addressed members at the 23rd Ghana Bar Association Annual Conference in Cape Coast. President Akufo-Addo had equally condemned former President John Dramani Mahama for an earlier accusation of the judiciary as being strewn with judges sympathetic towards the New Patriotic Party (NPP). The 2024 National Democratic Congress (NDC) flagbearer assured of balancing this out by appointing legal professionals who are also inclined towards his party. This, President Akufo-Addo condemned in no uncertain terms on Monday, September 11 at the Conference. “Not only are these concepts of ‘NPP’ and ‘NDC’ judges new in our public discourse, but are also extremely dangerous and represent the most brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary by any allegedly responsible politician of the 4th Republic,” he said. “They provide another reason, if more were needed, why right-thinking citizens should ensure the defeat in 2024 of the man whom the first Special Prosecutor identified as Government Official No.1 in the still unresolved Airbus Bribery Scandal.” But speaking on Ghana Tonight on TV3 later in the day, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Association Saviour Kudze suggested that the President went too far. “Regarding today’s comments that the President made relative to the condemnation of what [former] President Mahama said in respect of the allegation regarding the packing of the bench by the current President of people he described as NPP-inclined judges, I think we will not fault the President for that because already we have gone ahead to condemn that same statement,” he indicated. “But to go ahead and say that because of that and other reasons, citizens should reject him come 2024, we condemn that because we wouldn’t like any politician to use our platform to campaign because that amounted to political campaigning.” The legal practitioner also questioned the basis for which the President referred to Mr Mahama as a “perennial” candidate because he stressed that the reference better suits him, having contested elections several times in the past. “So by and large, it is not true and we will not agree that our platform can be used by the current President to attack his political opponents. It just happened that he is a lawyer who has always been attending our conferences before he had become a president.” He absolved the Association of any blame, saying it does not usually have the opportunity to know the content of the speeches of guests at such conferences. Credit: 3news.com

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is urging all eligible voters to take advantage of the limited voter registration exercise to have their names in the electoral roll. This was contained in a statement signed by National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketia to announce a change in date of the Minority’s avowed protest against the Governor of the Bank of Ghana. In confirming the new date, the NDC said the decision was necessitated by the limited voter registration, which starts on Tuesday, September 12 to Monday, October 2. As a result, the Minority has decided to stage the demonstration on Tuesday, October 3. It is after this decision that the NDC urged all eligible voters to partake in the exercise. “By this change, we are also urging all eligible voters to avail themselves of the opportunity to get their names onto the Voters Register,” Mr Asiedu Nketia stated. It added that after the registration exercise, “we shall mobilise our teeming supporters to join in the demonstration against the rot and corruption that has eaten deep into the management of the central bank”. The NDC a few days ago led some four political parties to file a suit at the Supreme Court against the decision by the Electoral Commission, Ghana (EC) to have the registration at its district offices. The opposition parties demanded that the exercise be done in all electoral areas. Credit: 3news.com

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has criticised former President John Dramani Mahama’s recent attack on the judiciary. Mr Mahama addressing a National Democratic Congress (NDC) annual lawyers conference on September 2, 2023 said President Akufo-Addo has appointed the highest number of judges in Ghana. He said the court has been packed with NPP-inclined judges, “He has appointed the biggest number of judges onto the bench, it is more than 80 towards 100 and counting. He has packed the court and we know they have packed the court because they want to avoid accountability after they have left office.” Mr Mahama, therefore, urged the NDC lawyers to ready themselves for similar appointments when he ascends the presidency again. At the 23rd Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Conference in Cape Coast today [Sept 10] President Akufo-Addo reacted to Mr Mahama's comment and said the attack is “extremely dangerous” to the independence of the judiciary. “I have gone into this matter in detail because of a new issue which has been introduced into our public discourse by no less a public figure than the fourth president of the fourth republic, John Dramani Mahama, who has told the world that I have packed the courts with so-called NPP judges and that one of the key purposes a putative NDC victory in 2024 will be to enable him to balance the courts with so-called NDC judges.” “Not only are these concepts new in our public discourse but they are also extremely dangerous and represent the brazen attack on the independence of the judiciary by allegedly responsible politicians,” he said. President Akufo-Addo therefore urged the public to hold Mr. Mahama accountable for his “reckless” comments that is aimed at undermining the Judiciary. He said the importance of respecting the integrity and impartiality of the judicial system, which plays a crucial role in upholding the rule of law in the country must not be underestimated. Credit: Graphiconline

"My government has fought and is fighting corruption not just in high-sounding words, but, actually, in concrete deeds," President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said. Speaking at the 2023 Bar Conference in Cape Coast on Monday morning, President Akufo-Addo said: "We have shunned mere exhortations and showy denunciations of unproved corruption." "It has been a holistic approach. We have made institutional reforms, we have enacted additional, requisite laws, and we have resourced more adequately the accountability organs of state. Our fight against corruption has been grounded on legislative, financial and institutional action, and not on mere lip-service," the President added. On Monday, 11th September 2023, I delivered an address at the 2023 Bar Conference of the Ghana Bar Association at Cape Coast, in the Central Region. I used the theme of the Conference, “Ensuring High Standards and Integrity in Public Life; The Role of the Legal Profession”, to place, once again, my government’s record on corruption for public scrutiny. I showed that my government has undertaken, arguably, the boldest initiatives since our nation attained independence, nearly sixty-six (66) years ago, to reform and strengthen the capacity of our institutions to tackle corruption in the public sector. "My government has fought and is fighting corruption not just in high-sounding words, but, actually, in concrete deeds. We have shunned mere exhortations and showy denunciations of unproved corruption. It has been a holistic approach" "We have made institutional reforms, we have enacted additional, requisite laws, and we have resourced more adequately the accountability organs of state. Our fight against corruption has been grounded on legislative, financial and institutional action, and not on mere lip-service" Credit: Graphiconline