President John Dramani Mahama has dismissed suggestions of a strained relationship between his administration and the judiciary, reaffirming his government’s willingness to engage with the legal community.
During a meeting with the Ghana Bar Association on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, Mahama addressed concerns about perceived tensions, emphasizing his administration’s commitment to working with the judiciary to strengthen governance.
“Government is open to working with you, particularly on our side of the political divide. There’s this perception that we have a problem with the legal fraternity and things like that,” he stated.
He pointed to individuals such as Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong, who served in his government, as evidence of his administration’s respect for the judiciary.
Reiterating that there is no hostility between his government and the judiciary, Mahama assured, “We’re not people who have any such animosity towards the judiciary and the legal fraternity. So our doors are open.”
Ghanaian artist Trigmatic has pointed to leadership issues as a key factor behind the current challenges facing the nation.
In a recent interview with TV3, he shared his thoughts on accountability in leadership, which inspired his latest track, “Diplomatic Thief.”
Trigmatic expressed his discontent with the notion that merely holding a title equates to genuine leadership.
He argued that many individuals in power fail to take responsibility for their actions, resulting in growing dissatisfaction among the populace.
“When a person is given a position, it does not mean they are leading. Not all persons in positions are leaders. So I believe that the problem we have is a leadership problem. We lack accountability. Leaders don’t even want to be accountable for anything. Things are not going right as they should.
“However, everything you say or do will be politicized. Many people are afraid, so they tend rather not to talk or leave the country,” he stated.
He also noted the tendency for political discussions to be misconstrued, leading to fear among citizens who either choose to remain silent or leave the country.
Trigmatic emphasized the gravity of the situation, recounting his experiences meeting discontented Ghanaians during his travels.
“And this has been a cycle that’s been happening over and over. Anytime I travel, I meet a Ghanaian who is unhappy about the system. And then my question is, so when or how will it change? The only thing I can do is through my music… and so I put it in there,” he said.
Legendary Ghanaian actress Grace Omaboe, famously known as Maame Dokono, has shared her challenging experiences in the political arena.
Renowned for her roles in the popular Akan Drama series “Obra” on GTV and as the host of “By The Fire Side,” Maame Dokono ventured into politics during Jerry John Rawlings’ administration, aligning herself with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Her political involvement deepened through her connection with former First Lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.
However, her allegiance shifted when Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo became the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) flagbearer in 2008.
This change in political loyalty proved significant, as following the NPP’s electoral defeat, she faced severe backlash, with many attributing the party’s loss to her.
Maame Dokono, now 79, will celebrate 60 years in the showbiz industry on September 7, 2024. The milestone will be marked by events including a health screening and the release of her book.
At the event’s launch on July 30, she expressed her determination to stay out of politics, reflecting on her regrets. “If your party loses, it becomes a problem.
I joined both major parties and suffered as a result. Because of my current endeavors, I have decided not to engage in politics again,” she stated.
Ghanaian rapper Okyeame Kwame is advocating for a fundamental change in mindset as the key to tackling the nation’s challenges.
In his view, entrenched corruption within the political landscape has hindered significant progress, making it imperative to focus on shaping the mindset of the next generation.
Speaking candidly, Okyeame Kwame expressed doubts about the current political climate’s ability to effect substantial reforms, citing pervasive corruption and potential threats to those who challenge the status quo.
He asserted that neither the NDC nor the NPP can offer the solutions Ghana needs, emphasising that change must start within families.
“The issue we face is a mindset problem,” Okyeame Kwame stated, highlighting the inability of a corrupt system to rectify itself and the risks associated with challenging it. “It’s not about money; it’s about morality.”
“NDC/NPP cannot help Ghana; family is what can help Ghana. The problem affecting us as a people is a problem of the mind. The corrupt system cannot fix itself; it makes a lot of people rich and happy. If a president wants to come and fight corruption in the country right now, he will be dead in 2 weeks. It’s not about pay; it’s not about money; it’s about morality,” he asserted.
Attributing corruption to the prevailing mindset, Okyeame Kwame proposed instilling incorruptibility in youth early on as the most effective strategy.
He underscored the responsibility of every Ghanaian in shaping the nation’s future, urging parents to raise children with values that oppose corruption.
“Politicians reflect society; if they are corrupt, it reflects on us,” Okyeame Kwame remarked, stressing the importance of training children to reject corrupt practices.
“The politician was put in power by you and me; they are a representation of us, so if they are corrupt, it shows that you are corrupt. I agree that politicians are causing problems, but as you fight the politicians, train your child not to think like a politician. My vision is that we train our children to be incorruptible so that they will grow up and do away with this corrupt system. That is the only way I think Ghana would develop. Let us focus on training the young ones now,” he emphasised.
He envisioned a future where morally upright youth lead Ghana towards development by dismantling the corrupt system. Regarding current politicians, Okyeame Kwame adopted a pragmatic view, focusing on the inevitability of change over time.
He advocated for cultivating selflessness in children to ensure a more positive and transparent future for Ghana.
Members of Parliament’s (MP) express deep concern over the poor living conditions leading to the untimely demise of some ex-lawmakers.
The MPs caution their colleagues to plan carefully for life after their political tenure, emphasizing the need to transcend partisan lines for a secure future.
During heartfelt tributes to the late Likpalimor Kwajo Tawiah and Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, former MPs for Kpandai and Ayawaso North, respectively, Asawase MP Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak urges his fellow lawmakers to prioritise collaboration over unnecessary partisanship.
Muntaka emphasised the vulnerability of former legislators, highlighting the apparent lack of support once they exit public service.
Former Minority Chief Whip Muntaka underscored the prevailing neglect of retired MPs, questioning the state’s failure to provide adequate care for those who have served the nation.
He called for a collective effort to address this issue and ensure the well-being of former lawmakers.
First Deputy Speaker Joseph Osei-Owusu issued a stern warning, reminding MPs of their transient relevance to constituents.
Osei-Owusu emphasized the imperative of establishing protective measures and partnerships beyond their political careers to safeguard their futures.
Chad’s authorities have announced that the long-awaited presidential elections will occur in May, marking the culmination of a political transition initiated in 2021 following the passing of former President Idriss Déby after his three-decade rule.
Despite constitutional defiance, Gen Mahamat Déby, the late president’s son, was designated as his successor, pledging to restore civilian governance to the nation.
However, the transition process faced delays, with Mr. Déby anticipated to contest in the upcoming elections.
Concerns arise as analysts note the lack of impartiality within the electoral commission, fueling opposition fears of an extended reign of the Déby dynasty in Chad.
A political historian and Research Fellow at the African Studies Department of the University of Ghana, Dr. Ebenezer Ayesu, has voiced his disapproval of Ghanaians who advocate for the military to seize control of the democratic government.
Dr. Ayesu contends that coups have had detrimental effects on the well-being of numerous nations currently under military governance.
He further asserts that coup d’états hold no allure, and those advocating for them may not have the country’s best interests at heart.
“If you know the history of Ghana, if you love the country and you know where we are coming from, you will never about the presence of coup in the country. Ever since Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown, all the progress the country was making in development has stalled. Even those who started coups in this country allowed some space because of how it was destroying the country,” Dr. Ayesu said in Twi during an interview on Neat FM and monitored by GhanaWeb.
He also elucidated that some individuals might be advocating for a coup in Ghana because they believe it’s a means to accumulate substantial wealth and attain recognition.
“For some, they are able to speak in Ghana because of coups. It is through the coups they have properties and names. Some people don’t even deserve to be in parliament but they are there because of coups. Those are the people who want a coup in this country at all costs,” Dr. Ebenezer added.
The research fellow additionally contended that when a coup d’état occurs in a country, the progress and welfare of the population come to a standstill.
“As journalists, you can testify that when you go around the country, all the government projects that were started during Kwame Nkrumah and Busia’s reign have all stalled because of coup d’états. All these things would not have seen the light of day if not because of coups,” he concluded when he was speaking to journalists at the University of Ghana.
The Ghana Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (GHEITI) has strongly advocated for the inclusion of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) in the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE).
GHEITI has put forth the argument that having the state-owned oil company listed on the stock market would facilitate the generation of substantial capital, enhance its corporate governance framework, and ultimately support its goals as an independent operator and its aspirations for diversification.
As a globally recognized standard for enhancing transparency and accountability in the oil, gas, and mining sectors, GHEITI expressed confidence in its proposal to list the corporation on the GSE.
If taken into consideration, this move could potentially be the most pivotal step in transforming GNPC’s prospects and establishing it as a capable national oil company with an international reputation.
Dr. Steve Manteaw, GHEITI’s Co-chair, highlighted that the stringent accounting, auditing, and transparency standards required for stock market listing would address persistent issues like political intervention and excessive quasi-fiscal expenditures, among other challenges.
“We have done this before and we can do the same with GNPC. A similar situation occurred when SIC Insurance PLC was not making any gains and government at the time wanted to sell 70 percent to a strategic foreign investor – but CSOs kicked against it, asking for the company to get listed and that was done. The same thing happened with GOIL, and today the company is a market leader. So we have done it before and we can do it again,” he explained.
The proposal was made during a GHEITI workshop on the 2020 oil and gas, as well as mining sector reports held in Aburi, Eastern Region.
He added that the stock market remains the best route to getting the best out of the company without jeopardising the state’s interest in it as a strategic public entity in the upstream petroleum sector. The move will also position the GNPC to maximise returns from the country’s hydrocarbon resources.
Citing the Ghana Commercial Bank – now GCB Bank PLC – as another success from opening up the ownership of struggling state-owned firms for private participation, Dr. Manteaw said the lender’s marked turnaround is there for all to see.
Misplaced priority
The call for improved management of the GPNC is not new. The Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC) – a public watchdog over the use and management of petroleum revenues, in its 2022 annual report highlighted that GNPC engaged in several quasi-fiscal expenditures such as road construction, Astro-turf constructions and funding traditional festivities among others, to the detriment of its core mandate.
As a result, in 2022 GNPC’s expenditure on various line items such as capital projects and administration witnessed a significant increase of over 200 percent.
Since 2014, GNPC has spent over US$124.66million on constructing roads in the western corridor enclave, which is a primary responsibility of the central government and not a national oil company PIAC said.
GNPC’s financial standalone by 2026 is impossible
It will be recalled that in September 2022 Dr. Manteaw expressed worry over GNPC’s preparedness to be weaned off government support by 2026 as stipulated by its law, insisting that the company was not putting in place enough measures to that effect.
Government, as required under the Petroleum Revenue Management Act (PRMA), Act 815 section 7 (3), is to provide financial support to the corporation for 15 years from the date of promulgating the Act in 2011 – which ends in 2026.
However, with just about three years to reach the stated timeline, the corporation has over the years not managed its operations and revenues efficiently to be able to make a profit or even pay a dividend to the state.
Against this backdrop, Dr. Manteaw is concerned that if stringent measures are not taken to get the company listed on the stock market – to ultimately ensure accountability and rid it of political interference immediately – its standalone operator ambition for 2026 will remain a fantasy.
The host of the Metro TV program Good Evening Ghana, Paul Adom-Otchere, has responded to the leaked recording in which a politician and a senior police officer are purportedly heard discussing how to remove Inspector General of Police George Akuffo Dampare.
Adom-Otchere’s name and his program were mentioned in the audio, as the police officer makes reference to an episode in which he identified Dampare as a potential vice-presidential candidate for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in his analysis.
Dampare was cited as an outsider who might complement either an NDC or the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) ticket, according to Adom-Otchere, rather than as a politician.
He added that Dampare might be a liability for the NPP if Dr. Bawumia is selected as the party’s nominee.
“We do not know whether Dr. Dampare is NDC, as a matter of public record, we threw in the ticket of Dampare as running mate to John Mahama and also as Dampare as running mate to the NPP candidate if it is Dr Bawumia.
“If it is Dr. Bawumia, then Dampare’s ticket is being talked about by some people and that is true. People in both NDC and NPP have thought about the Dampare ticket, not as a partisan ticket but a ticket which brings in an outsider of sorts,” he stressed.
Current Chairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Nana Akosua Frimpomaa Sarpong Kumankumah, has stated that her party was and continues to be the best in Ghana.
The CPP Chairperson conclusively added that no other political party in Ghana has been able to match or outdo Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah’s CPP in terms of development.
To buttress her position, Nana Akosua Sarpong referred to the quality road networks (the motorway linking Tema and Accra Mall) the CPP government provided when they were in power.
She was speaking on Election Desk with Etsey Atisu on GhanaWeb TV.
“CPP is still the greatest party in Ghana. Do you know why? Nobody has matched our efforts. You see the motorway, till today, is the only road that really really has stood the test of time and it was done under the CPP government.
“Even though it was concrete, cement, after almost 60 years now, if there are potholes, they just use bitumen, ordinary coal tar to fill it and that’s the kind of factory we have,” she said.
The CPP flagbearer hopeful also chastised successive governments for allowing the country to deteriorate to its current state of unavailability of running factories.
“Something as basic as sugar that we all consume. Something even as basic as pencil, go to the pencil factory in Kumasi; it’s there and abandoned,” she added.
Political activist and entertainment pundit, Kwame A Plus, has reiterated his call for people to work hard and look for money because it can save a person even from going to jail.
He was reacting to a December 1, 2022, Accra High Court contempt ruling that pronounced fines on himself and others with jail time to be imposed in case of default.
A Plus said in a video posted on his Facebook wall that he was witness to how a co-convict opted to settle the GH¢65,000 fine slapped on all of them.
The person in question is Nana Ama McBrown, actress and hostess of UTV’s entertainment programme, United Showbiz.
“…when the amount was mentioned, GHC65,000 cedis, Nana Ama McBrown removed her cheque and offered to pay for everyone, Ama; you are brutal.
“When I went out of the court, I was almost accosted until I replied that ‘my Lord, we are going to take our chequebook and give the court money.’
He continued that McBrown asked the other accused Fadda Dickson: “Fadda should I pay for everyone so that you reimburse me? Fadda said she should relax, that the money was there.”
He did not disclose whether the total sum of GHC325,000 in lieu of the five persons had been settled and by who.
Fadda Dickson, Felicity Nana Ama Agyeman, aka Nana Ama McBrown; Valentina Nana Agyeiwaa, alias Afia Schwarzenegger; Kwame Asare Obeng, alias Kwame A Plus, and Emmanuel Barnes, alias Mr. Logic and UTV, were recently cited for contempt of court.
The parties were dragged to court by Chairman Wontumi after all except Fadda Dickson, the Executive Director of the United Showbiz programme, discussed the merits of Wontumi’s defamation suit against Afia Schwar whiles the issue was pending in court.
The High Court in its ruling on Thursday, December 1, 2022, convicted and fined all of them to pay GH¢65,000 each; in default, they are to spend two months in jail.
The Member of Parliament for Dome-Kwabenya, Sarah Adwoa Safo, has assured her constituents of her continuous service to them as their representative in the legislature.
The assurance comes few days after she returned from the United States, when tensions surrounding her political career seem to have abated.
Madam Sarah Adwoa Safo had been away since early months of 2021 on the back of an excuse to deal some personal issues.
By October 6, 2021, the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, had indicated an indefinite extension of her leave which was supposed to have ended on August 31, 2021.
Her continuous absence from the country and consequently parliament over the period thus breached parliament’s 15-sitting-day threshold for absenteeism.
This led to the Speaker’s decision to refer her together with two other MPs to Parliament’s Privileges Committee to inquire into her absence and make recommendations to the House.
Although efforts to get the embattled MP to speak about her absence have proved futile, the House will in the coming days debate whether or not her seat should be declared vacant.
That notwithstanding, her actions over the period had also fomented discussions in the public space, creating divisions even among her own constituents and party members, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), some of whom believed that she determined to hold the party and government to ransom.
But like a Phoenix rising out the ashes, the MP who has been stripped of her responsibilities as Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, has indicated that she will remain the lawmaker for the people of Dome-Kwabenya.
“Thanks to the whole constituency, especially Taifa, for all the prayers and all the support. I know I will be back and I will continue to be your Member of Parliament”, said the former Minister during her thanksgiving at some churches in her constituency on November 6, 2022.
Dr. Richard Amoako Baah, a Political Scientist and a member of the governing NPP, is of the view that the governing New Patriotic Party‘s (NPP) ‘break the 8’ agenda is mere rhetoric.
According to him, it will be difficult for the governing party to achieve that aim because going beyond the eight-year cycle as has been the case since 1992 can only be possible by deeds or performance and not words.
“When people are saying that you cannot break the 8, that is what they are saying, you cannot. What are you going to do to break the 8 anyway? It is your performance that breaks whatever you want to break not you yourself saying it…it is others who are going to vote to look at your performance and they thought that they will break it for you. So, we see these things because there is a lack of performance,” Dr. Amoako Baah said on Joy FM, Friday, October 21.
The political scientist was reacting to the Global InfoAnalytics survey report which revealed that 70% of eligible voters doubt the ability of the New Patriotic Party to win the 2024 general elections.
To him, the survey is not scientific although it gives an idea of where the country is heading.
He noted that the unpopularity of President Akufo-Addo is a clear testimony of the position of the NPP in the 2024 elections.
“The party in power and especially when the leader, the President becomes this unpopular it is very easy to decide where this is going. You will know the outcome beforehand but this research is unscientific that is all it is.”
Global InfoAnalytics survey in its October 2022 report stated that the majority of the voters have ruled out the possibility of the NPP ‘breaking the eight’.
“On the question of whether the NPP can ‘Break the Eight’, approximately 70% of voters do not believe the NPP can win the 2024 election, whilst 19% believe so and 10% have no opinion”, a summary of the survey disclosed.
The survey also revealed that former President John Dramani Mahama, if given the mandate as the NDC flagbearer, will beat any of the two frontrunners of the governing NPP in the 2024 elections.
The report noted that Ghanaians are likely to vote for John Dramani Mahama as the next president over Dr Mahamudu Bawumia or Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen.
“In the general elections, the poll shows Mahama (JDM) continues to lead his potential rivals from the NPP, Bawumia (DMB) and Alan Kyeremanten (AKK) by a significant margin if the elections were held today.
“The poll shows further that among voters who are likely to vote in the 2024 elections, JDM leads DMB 62% to 33%, representing a 29% lead. 6% of voters prefer to vote for someone else (SO). In the race between JDM and AKK, JDM leads AKK 60% to 36%, representing a 24% lead. 5% prefer to vote for SO”, excerpts of the survey read.
Global InfoAnalytics
Global InfoAnalytics Ltd, is a research company based in Accra. The company describes itself as “the trusted foundation for decision making; we earn that trust through the application of sophisticated methodologies to the real-world problems of companies, political organisations and policy and strategic decision-makers.”
Global InfoAnalytics has uniquely addressed the market demand for big data analytics solutions and services and provide clients with cost-effective and result-oriented service offerings that enable them to gain a competitive edge.
A Political Scientist Jonathan Asante Okyere has said President Akufo Addo’s statement that threats to vote against the NPP in the 2024 election does not frighten him, will surely affect the party’s electoral fortunes in the 2024 election.
The President in response to a question posed by his interviewer on a Kumasi-based radio station regarding what he made of threats by the people of Kwabre against the NPP in the 2024 election due to poor road infrastructure in the area, replied, “no problem. I am saying people make those kinds of threats; me they don’t frighten me.”
According to him, although he understands the masses may support a party with an expectation, he, however, does not see the need to threaten the government if it fails to deliver.
“If you decide to vote for the NDC in the general election, it is your choice and that is not my problem. No one will force you to vote for someone,” he stated.
He, however, admitted that he has been mandated with a responsibility to construct roads and will definitely execute it.
But commenting on the President’s pronouncement in an interview on Kasapa 102.5FM/Agoo TV, Political Science Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast, Jonathan Asante Okyere stated that the President was wrong in responding in such a manner.
“The President didn’t need to say that, these things are going to affect the electoral fortunes of the party, it’s obvious. The fact is that the economic quagmire the country finds itself in will not make the NPP retain power in 2024. It is even going to become more difficult for the party based on the fact that the President is disrespecting people who have stood solidly behind the NPP over the years.”
He added: “Is President Akufo-Addo doing this deliberately or out of frustration? Or it’s his arrogant nature that we already know about him that is now on full display publicly just because he’s had his two terms. If it is frustration, we can pardon him, but if it’s deliberate then he’s scuttling the chances of those NPP aspirants who want to lead the party to victory in 2024.”
Jonathan Asante Okyere urged the NPP National Council of Elders to speak to the President behind the scene on the need for him to be circumspect in his public political discourse so he does not cause more problems for the party going into the 2024 election.
The Bolewura Sarfo Kutuge Feso (I) has made a bold and emphatic prediction about the political future of the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Welcoming the Vice President to his Palace in Bole on Monday October 10, 2022, the Bolewura commended the Vice President for his service and care to the region and nation, and capped his complimentary words with a bold statement on the future of the Vice President.
“Your Excellency, this is the 3rd or so time that you have familiarised yourself with this Palace. The first time you came here during the campaign, I gave you only one sentence; that victory is a foregone conclusion. So victory for you is a forgone conclusion,” the Bolewura boldly told Dr. Bawumia.
“Take that sentence from this place. Your victory is a foregone conclusion,” the Bolewura added.
Dr. Bawumia, who briefed the Bolewura on a number of projects the Government is undertaking in the Savannah Region, thanked the Bolewura for his warm words and encouragement.
The Vice President was accompanied by a number of ministers of State, including the Minister for Works and Housing and MP for Damongo Abu Jinapor, Minister for Interior Ambrose Dery, Minister for Defence Dominis Nitiwul, as well as some senior Government officials.
The Vice President and his delegation were given a rousing reception into Bole, which is the hometown of former President John Mahama.
Your victory is a forgone conclusion – Bolewura tells Dr. Bawumia
Dr. Bawumia, who briefed the Bolewura on a number of projects the Government is undertaking in the Savannah Region, thanked the Bolewura for his warm words and encouragement.
A Senior Research Fellow at Kumasi Technical University, Dr. Smart Sarpong, has refuted assertions by some factions in Ghana that the Convention Peoples’ Party (CPP) is the third force in the country’s political landscape.
He explains that for any political party to become the third force behind the two leading parties, the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party(NPP), it must be able to amass at least 5 percent of votes in national elections.
Speaking in a TV3 interview monitored by GhanaWeb, on Monday, the political scientist added that the only political party that has come close to being the third force in Ghana’s political space is the Peoples’ National Congress (PNC) under the late former President Dr. Hila Liman.
“Apart from Dr. Liman in 1992, who provided a third force on the ticket of PNC, there hasn’t been any third force in the republic. The last Nkrumahist to have provided a third force was Dr. Hila Liman.
“Third force is not merely placing 3rd in any election we hold with any count of votes or any percentage of votes. You need to do at least 5 percent or more of the votes that will be counted and Dr. Hila Liman did 6.7 percent.
“As for CPP, it has never been the third force, let us put that on record. After His Excellency Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, CPP has virtually disappeared. All through the years coming down to the recent election, you and I know that we do not have a 3rd force,” he said.
“Nobody should think that a third force is just coming and getting something and placing 3rd. You need to work and enter into the plus 5 percent mode, then Ghanaians will feel that you have organized yourself a little and you need a little push,” he reiterated.
