According to him, the GPRTU has established procedures for fare adjustments and will ensure that any approved increase is properly documented and communicated to the public.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Mr Amoah said the union keeps records of all previous fare adjustments and follows due processes before announcing new fares.

“For the past years, we have all our records. Whenever we are about to increase lorry fares, we put everything on paper, do things properly and keep records. We also display the new fares on social media, television and radio stations,” he said.

He explained that the public would be informed of the exact fares to be paid under any new adjustment to enable passengers to know the difference between the old and new rates.

“So when we display the new fares, every passenger will know how much they are supposed to pay under the new increment. They can also know the difference that has been added, and that is the record we will use to work,” he added.

Mr Amoah cautioned drivers against taking advantage of the proposed fare increase to charge passengers whatever amounts they want.

“So if you are a driver and you are increasing the fare on your own, immediately we get such information, we will deal with you. Now, it is about time we bring sanity to our transport sector,” he warned.

He said the union has made its contact numbers available to the public so passengers can report drivers who violate approved fares.

“We have displayed our contact numbers everywhere so passengers know those of us they can reach when they are having issues with any driver as far as the increment is concerned,” he said.

Mr Amoah therefore urged passengers to cooperate with the union by reporting any driver who charges unauthorised fares.

“We assure the passengers to help us so we can also help them. Then we can work together,” he added.

His comments come after the transport unions proposed a 30% increase in public transport fares and submitted a request to the Ministry of Transport for an adjustment to the existing fares.

The proposed increase has not yet taken effect, as the unions are awaiting engagement with the Ministry of Transport on the request.

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According to him, the union has engaged the Ministry of Transport on challenges within the transport sector and is working with relevant institutions to ensure that drivers comply with approved fares.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Mr Amoah said the GPRTU met with the Ministry of Transport recently and also submitted a formal letter on the proposed fare adjustment.

“We met with the Ministry of Transport and spoke to them about our challenges, where they started, and the issues we have been facing. Yesterday, we also took a letter to them,” he said.

He said the union raised concerns about fare increases by some transport operators, including VIP, as well as drivers who allegedly charge fares outside the approved rates.

“We told them about how VIP increased its prices and the Ministry did not do anything about it. We also talked about floating drivers who charge without following the laws and those who flout our union’s rules,” he said.

Mr Amoah explained that the previous Legislative Instrument (LI 2180) did not contain a specific provision to deal with drivers who charged fares above the approved rates.

“The old LI 2180 did not have any provision that stated that anyone who charges higher fares should be arrested. But in the new LI, that has been added,” he said.

He stressed that any fare increase must receive approval from the relevant authorities before drivers can begin charging the new rates.

“Before anyone can increase fares, it must be approved by the Ministry of Transport, the GPRTU and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC). Anything apart from that, the law must deal with the driver,” he stated.

Mr Amoah said the GPRTU would establish an internal task force to ensure that its members comply with the new fare structure once it is approved.

“We have put things together and we will get a task force to work internally to make sure all union members follow the new rules,” he said.

He added that the Ministry of Transport had also indicated that the police, assemblies, National Security, MMDCEs, and their respective task forces would collaborate to enforce the approved fares.

“The Ministry also said the police, assemblies, National Security, MMDCEs, and their task forces will come together to ensure that those drivers who always flout the laws do the right thing,” he added.

Mr Amoah expressed optimism that the measures being put in place would prevent confusion and overcharging if the proposed fare increase is approved.

“We have put things in place, so if we are able to finally confirm the price hike, we hope there won’t be any challenges,” he said.

His comments come after the transport unions proposed a 30% increase in public transport fares and submitted a request to the Ministry of Transport for an adjustment to the existing fares.

The proposed increase is subject to approval and has not yet taken effect.

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According to her, the two schools share a common boundary, which makes it easy for students to move from one institution to the other.

She said the Regional Coordinating Council, in collaboration with the relevant authorities, is working on measures to address the situation before students return to school.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Madam Awatey said the government would provide the necessary resources to complete the project.

“Apart from the common boundary they share, we will build a wall between them to prevent walk-ins and other things. So, we are planning on how to do it before the school resumes,” she said.

“With the help of God and the government, we have the financial capacity to put up the structures before the students resume again,” she added.

The minister also disclosed that security agencies have made some arrests in connection with the clashes, although she could not confirm the exact number.

“We have made some arrests, but I’m not sure of the number of arrests the Regional Commander has made, and investigations are still ongoing,” she said.

Madam Awatey said the incident was unusual and that it was the first time she had heard of such a situation involving students since becoming Eastern Regional Minister.

“This is the first time I have heard something like that from the students since I became the minister,” she said.

She explained that the outcome of the ongoing investigations would help establish what triggered the confrontation and determine what exactly happened.

“So, after the investigations, we will see what really happened,” she added.

On security, the minister said she had instructed the police to maintain a presence at the schools even during the vacation period.

She said she visited the area on Wednesday with the divisional commanders, the Regional Commander and officials from the Ghana National Fire Service to assess the situation.

“Leaving there yesterday, Wednesday, I went there with the divisional commanders, Regional Commander and the Fire Service, and I gave orders that the police should take care of their security until the school is finally back,” she said.

She added that security personnel would remain at the schools throughout the vacation and continue monitoring the situation when students return.

The minister further said discussions would be held with the relevant assemblies on the rehabilitation of school facilities affected by the fire.

“We will speak to the assembly to see how the school buildings where the fire has affected can be repaired,” she said.

Okuapeman SHS and Mount Sinai SHS were affected by violent clashes between students, resulting in injuries and damage to school property.

Six Okuapeman SHS students were injured, while classrooms, offices, and a Visual Arts studio were among facilities affected during the disturbances.

The exact circumstances that triggered the confrontation remain unclear as security agencies continue investigations into the incident.

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Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, said the proximity of the two schools makes it possible for students to easily move from one institution to the other, creating an environment where confrontations can quickly escalate.

According to her, the latest incident began on Sunday when students of Mount Sinai alerted their teacher on duty that students from Okuapeman were throwing stones.

“When you look at where Okuapeman and Mount Sinai are, they share a common boundary and you can even walk from Sinai to Okuapeman,” she said.

She explained that the teacher on duty intervened after being alerted and stopped the students from continuing with their activities.

“So that day, they seized them and told them no prep, so they could go back to their houses,” Madam Awatey said in an interview on Adom FMs morning show Dwaso Nsem.

The situation, however, escalated the following day when fires were reported at both schools.

According to the minister, some storerooms at Mount Sinai were affected, while the Visual Arts department office and two classrooms at Okuapeman were also burnt.

“Though the fire didn’t burn too much, the Fire Service and police there did well by getting rid of the fire,” she said.

The minister said authorities subsequently took steps to prevent further confrontation between students of the two institutions as they prepared for their scheduled vacation.

She stressed that the decision to release the students early should not be interpreted as a formal closure of the schools, explaining that the students were already due to vacate the campuses.

“Not that the school has closed down. It’s their normal holiday that they have to go on because of the situation,” she clarified.

Madam Awatey said buses would be used to transport students home, with assistance available for those who might require support with transportation.

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Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, he said there is no policy or arrangement within private schools that prevents parents from purchasing textbooks from other sources.

“The truth is that we don’t have any arrangement that says if your ward is in a school, they cannot go out and buy a book for their ward to learn. There is nothing like forcing parents to buy books from the school,” he said.

According to Mr Gyetuah, however, the practice of schools selling textbooks to parents is intended to make it easier for pupils to obtain all the required materials before lessons begin.

He explained that asking parents to purchase the books independently could result in some children obtaining only part of the required materials or buying different editions from those prescribed by the school.

“It is a good habit that private schools have inculcated by selling the books in the school. When you tell parents to go out and buy the books, they may buy some and leave the rest, and when that happens, it disadvantages the ward when learning is going on,” he said.

Mr Gyetuah also noted that differences between publishers could result in parents buying textbooks that do not correspond with those prescribed by the school.

“Some of the books the parents buy may be from different publishers. The way they write their books may be different, so they may buy a book from another publisher which is different from the one the school has prescribed,” he explained.

He further said some parents may not have enough money to purchase all the required textbooks at once. He explained that private schools often have arrangements with publishers that allow parents to receive the full set of books and pay in instalments.

“Some parents cannot raise all the money to buy all the books at a go outside. We, the private schools, have arrangements with publishers on how to pay for the books as schools reopen, and we can also schedule a payment plan,” he said.

According to him, the arrangement allows schools to provide pupils with the full set of textbooks while giving parents more time to settle the cost.

“This helps us to give all the books to the parents so they can have time to pay for their books in full by instalment. When you consider all these things, that is what helps us sit with parents and explain to them why buying the books in school can help education move on,” he said.

Mr Gyetuah said the arrangement was particularly important because the reopening of schools often leaves parents with limited time to shop for all the required learning materials.

“Very soon, private schools will resume and start learning. Not all parents will get the time to go out and buy all the books. So, when parents buy from the school, we can give the child all the books, and learning can be easier for them,” he added.

Communication remains a challenge

Mr Gyetuah, however, acknowledged that poor communication between some schools and parents contributes to the confusion surrounding textbook purchases.

He said some schools fail to adequately explain the reasons for selling textbooks directly to parents, creating the impression that the practice is intended to put undue pressure on families.

“The issue we have is communication. Some schools don’t explain well to the parents for them to understand that we are doing it with a good heart and not to stress the parents,” he said.

He added that improved communication between school authorities and parents would help reduce misunderstandings, particularly whenever schools are preparing to reopen.

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Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr Gyetuah said GNACOPS had engaged publishers after receiving complaints from parents who claimed they could buy the same textbooks at lower prices from bookstores and other outlets.

“We had a meeting and we told the public about the issue, and we also gave advice to parents and school heads.

“We met with the publishers because we heard parents saying that when they go out to buy the books, they are not as expensive as the ones sold in schools,” he said.

According to Mr. Gyetuah, publishers explained that the difference in prices was partly due to the payment arrangements between schools and publishers.

He said private schools could receive textbooks on credit and pay for them over several months, while retailers who purchase the books wholesale typically make full payment upfront.

“The publishers explained to us that the reason for the slight difference between the prices in private schools and those outside is that, for private schools, the publishers can give the books to you on credit for maybe one year, six months, or one academic term,” he said.

“But the person who buys the books wholesale to go and sell makes payment in full. So, there is no bank interest or anything on it, and that is what brings the difference.”

Mr. Gyetuah said GNACOPS subsequently appealed to publishers to review their pricing for schools to make the books more affordable for parents.

“So we met with the publishers and suggested that if they can give the books to the schools at a more competitive price, it will help reduce the pressure on parents. They have agreed to look at it and do something about the prices,” he said.

He said GNACOPS was also working with the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) to improve public awareness about approved textbooks.

“We have also asked NaCCA to come and check the approved books and publish the list so everyone will know which books have been approved,” he added.

Mr. Gyetuah stressed that the discussion around textbook pricing was not a one-time issue, saying GNACOPS would continue engaging schools, parents, and publishers whenever schools were preparing to reopen.

“This discussion comes up anytime schools are about to resume, so we have to continue creating awareness among parents so that we can all work together to help the children,” he said.

His comments come amid renewed concerns over the cost of textbooks and other learning materials, which have continued to create tension between some parents and school authorities.

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According to one of the affected beneficiaries, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the university has withheld certificates and results of some graduates until the outstanding tuition and accommodation fees are settled.

“Those who have finished, most of them have not gotten their certificates because the school has withheld them until they get their full payment,” the beneficiary said.

“The school has withheld their results until they pay.” he said in an interview on Adom FMs Dwaso Nsem morning show.

The students are beneficiaries of Ghana’s government scholarship programme and say the situation has left some graduates unable to complete the final processes required after their studies.

The development comes amid concerns over unpaid tuition and accommodation fees owed to the University of Memphis.

The affected students say they have repeatedly engaged the Scholarship Secretariat and other relevant authorities to resolve the matter, but have yet to receive a lasting solution.

The beneficiary said the problem has also created uncertainty for students who have completed their programmes and those still pursuing their studies.

The students fear that if the outstanding payments are not settled, the university could take further action against them.

They are therefore appealing to the government, the Scholarship Secretariat and other relevant authorities to urgently intervene and ensure that the outstanding fees are paid.

They also want the government to help secure the release of the certificates and academic records of graduates who have completed their programmes.

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The affected students say the situation has persisted for about three months, with no concrete communication from the authorities responsible for managing their scholarships.

Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, one of the beneficiaries, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said repeated attempts to get answers from the authorities had yielded no positive results.

“We have not gotten any concrete communication. When we ask them, they tell us they want this, and we communicate it to the school, but the school keeps giving us excuses,” he said.

According to him, the students have repeatedly contacted the relevant authorities but have been left without clear information on when the issue will be resolved.

“There is nothing that the authorities tell us to do. When we call them, they keep giving us excuses. It has gone on for the past three months, and currently, it is worse,” he said.

He said the lack of communication had left the students uncertain about their academic future.

“They cannot talk to the school, and we, the beneficiaries, are not being told anything positive about whether they will be able to solve the issue,” he added.

The beneficiary said the students had also reached out to Ghana’s diplomatic representatives in the United States in an attempt to find a solution.

“We have contacted the embassy in the US. We have written emails and sent them everything. We have done everything diplomatic within our power to get their attention, but we have had no response,” he said.

Students lose access to academic services

The outstanding fees have reportedly affected the students’ access to key university services.

According to the beneficiary, some students can no longer access their university portals or attend lectures.

“We have no access to lectures. We can’t go to lectures, we can’t open our portals, and we can’t do anything. As it stands right now, we are not students,” he said.

He explained that the affected beneficiaries are international students studying under the F-1 visa category.

He said about 120 beneficiaries are currently active, although the number was previously around 200 before some students completed their programmes.

“Currently, we are about 120 active beneficiaries. Earlier, we were about 200, but some have finished their programmes,” he said.

He added that some students had become so worried about the situation that they had left, although their colleagues were unsure of their whereabouts.

“Some of them are even scared and have left, and we don’t know where they are,” he said.

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According to him, he is not a member of the committee constituted by the Ministry of Health to investigate concerns raised following a protest by students of the school.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Adom said he could therefore not confirm reports about any recommendation by the committee for some officials of the institution to step aside.

“I am not privy to the committee’s decision that some people should step aside. I have no information on that,” he said.

“I am not a member of the committee the Ministry set up, so it will be difficult for me to speak to specific recommendations they may have made,” he added.

Mr Adom explained that the committee comprises representatives from the Ministry of Health, the nursing training school, the National Association of Nursing Students and other professionals involved in the supervision and management of nursing training institutions.

“The committee comprises members from the Ministry of Health, members from the school, executives of the National Association of Nursing Students, and some officials from the Ministry of Health who supervise the schools,” he said.

He said other professionals with experience in the sector were also part of the committee, expressing confidence in their ability to properly assess the concerns raised by the students and the community.

“When you look at the composition of the committee and read their profiles, you will know that they are professionals,” he said.

Mr Adom said he expected the committee to consider all the grievances raised, particularly concerns surrounding examinations and students’ preparation, to ensure that no student is disadvantaged.

“So, all these grievances we have raised about the examinations and preparation, I believe the committee, in its recommendations, will factor all these things in so that at the end of the day, no one will be disadvantaged,” he stated.

However, he maintained that he could not comment on specific decisions because he was not part of the committee’s deliberations.

“As to the specific recommendations that the committee has taken, I was not part of it, so it will be difficult to speak to that issue,” he said.

DCE follows up with Regional Minister

Mr Adom said the committee had informed local authorities that after completing its work, it would return to the Ministry of Health to submit its report.

“What I know is that they came to inform us that after their work, they were going back to the Ministry that sent them to report the results of their work as a committee,” he explained.

He said, as DCE, his immediate reporting line was to the Regional Minister, through whom further follow-up on the matter was being pursued.

“I am the DCE. I report to the Regional Minister before it gets to the President,” he said.

Mr Adom disclosed that he had contacted the Regional Minister to find out the progress of the committee’s work and was assured that the matter would be followed up.

“The follow-up I did was to speak to the Regional Minister to speak to them and see how far they have reached, and he assured me that they will do it,” he said.

He therefore urged caution in discussing the committee’s recommendations until its report is formally presented.

“So, it will be difficult to speak to any committee member about that when my Regional Minister can speak to them in Accra to see the way forward after the report,” he added.

The controversy follows a protest by students of the Techiman-Krobo Nursing and Midwifery Training College over concerns about the administration of the institution.

The protest subsequently attracted the attention of the community and authorities, leading the Ministry of Health to establish a committee to investigate the issues and make recommendations.

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According to him, both the Bono East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) and District Security Council (DISEC) initially formed a five-member committee to investigate the incident following a protest by students of the institution.

However, the Ministry of Health, which has supervisory responsibility over the school, later constituted its own seven-member committee to conduct a separate investigation.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Adom said the regional authorities decided to allow the Health Ministry’s committee to take over the investigation to avoid duplication.

“When the incident happened, we spoke to you, and the joint REGSEC and DISEC, led by the Bono East Regional Minister, set up a five-member committee to look into the matter,” he said.

“The Ministry of Health, which has the supervisory role, also set up a seven-member committee to look into the issue,” he added.

Mr Adom explained that once the Ministry of Health established its committee, the regional committee stepped aside to allow the supervising institution to conduct the investigation.

“It became very important that the regional committee we had set up pave the way for the supervising institution to also do its work so that, at the end of the day, there would not be duplication,” he said.

He said the Health Ministry’s committee subsequently visited the area and conducted its investigations.

According to the DCE, the committee later held a meeting with local authorities before leaving the region to submit its findings to the Ministry of Health in Accra.

“The committee also came and did its work. When it was time for them to leave, they held a meeting to inform us about the work they had done,” he said.

“They told us they would go back to Accra for the Ministry of Health to compile their report and submit it to the Ministry,” he added.

Mr Adom said authorities are now waiting for the report and recommendations to determine the appropriate way forward.

“So, we are all waiting for the report and recommendations so that we can see the real issues and determine the way forward,” he stated.

The controversy follows a protest by students of the Techiman-Krobo Nursing and Midwifery Training College over concerns about the administration of the institution.

The development attracted the attention of community leaders and authorities, resulting in investigations by both regional authorities and the Ministry of Health.

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According to GHAFTRAM General Secretary, Okogyeabibiduro Nana Kwadwo Obiri, the destruction and contamination of forests and water bodies through illegal mining are making it increasingly difficult for practitioners to obtain the plants and tree roots they need to prepare medicines.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, he said traditional medicine practitioners are often left out of national conversations and stakeholder engagements on galamsey, despite the direct impact of the practice on their work.

“We use plants and trees for our work and to prepare our medicines. Because of galamsey, we are no longer getting the roots and other plants that we need,” he said.

He explained that some of the medicinal plants found in areas affected by illegal mining appear to be contaminated, raising concerns about their safety and effectiveness.

“When we go there to collect some of these plants for medicine, even without putting them under a microscope, you can see that they have been contaminated. No one needs to tell you that such plants may not be safe to use,” Nana Kwadwo Obiri said.

He noted that research conducted by some local experts and institutions had also shown the negative impact of galamsey on medicinal plants and the practice of traditional medicine.

“Research that our leaders have conducted has also shown that galamsey has affected us and our medicines,” he added.

Nana Kwadwo Obiri said practitioners are now being forced to travel farther from mining-affected communities to search for medicinal plants in areas that have not yet been destroyed by illegal mining.

“Now, because of galamsey, we have to move away from areas where there is a lot of illegal mining to places where there is no galamsey just to get the plants we need for medicine,” he said.

He described the situation as worrying, saying practitioners are also struggling to protect the remaining medicinal plants from further destruction.

“We have to secure the remaining plants and the places where they are found so that we can continue our work. It is very worrying,” he stressed.

The GHAFTRAM General Secretary further accused relevant authorities of failing to take the concerns of traditional medicine practitioners seriously, despite repeated efforts to draw attention to the problem.

“I have made this part of my advocacy, but it looks like the authorities do not even care about what we are doing. We have informed the relevant authorities, but they have turned a deaf ear to our pleas,” he said.

He therefore called for traditional medicine practitioners to be included in national discussions and stakeholder engagements on illegal mining, particularly those focused on protecting Ghana’s forests and natural resources.

According to him, protecting medicinal plants is essential not only to the survival of traditional medicine practitioners but also to preserving an important part of Ghana’s healthcare system and natural heritage.

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According to her, several market women have resorted to using chemicals to ripen fruits and preserve food without fully understanding the potential health risks involved.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Madam Sowah said she had repeatedly contacted the FDA to organise an education programme for women at the market but was instead asked to submit a formal letter before officials would visit.

“When you call the FDA and ask them to come and educate the women in the market, they tell you to go and write a letter before they come,” she said.

She said the requirement was unfair, particularly because the women needed urgent education on the safe handling of food and chemicals.

“I am organising the women and asking you to come and educate them, but you tell me to write a letter. We have called them several times. It is very worrying,” she added.

Madam Sowah expressed concern that some traders use chemicals to treat fruits without knowing their potential effects on human health.

She said some women even taste the substances they mix with water before applying them to fruits because they are unaware of the dangers.

“Some women will just mix the medicine and taste it. Because they don’t know, they are endangering their lives,” she stated.

Her comments come after the FDA cautioned the public and traders against using unapproved chemicals to force-ripen plantains and other fruits.

Madam Sowah said the concerns go beyond fruits, alleging that similar practices are being used in the handling of other food products sold in markets.

“It is not only fruits. Even hard fish that they sell in the market, there are concerns,” she said.

She further alleged that some traders use chemicals to make deteriorated fish appear fresh again, a practice she said poses serious health risks to consumers.

According to her, such allegations make it even more important for the FDA to intensify public education among market women rather than wait for formal requests.

“The FDA people are not doing their job. If I see all these things and tell the FDA to come and educate our market women on the dangers, then you ask me, a woman who didn’t go to school to any level, to write a letter?” she questioned.

Madam Sowah called for closer collaboration between the FDA and market leaders to ensure that traders receive regular education on food safety, the proper use of approved products and the dangers associated with harmful chemicals.

She stressed that educating traders would help protect both the women who handle the products and the consumers who ultimately buy them.

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According to her, the use of chemicals on fruits has become a growing concern, yet authorities appear to be paying attention to the issue only after it has attracted public attention.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Madam Sowah alleged that the FDA must take greater responsibility for protecting consumers from potentially harmful food practices.

“Those who are allowing these things to happen to Ghanaians are the FDA people,” she said.

She questioned why the FDA had recently intensified its attention on the issue, suggesting that the problem had existed for some time.

“These things did not start long ago, so we don’t know why all of a sudden they are acting, just doing it for the cameras,” she stated.

Madam Sowah said she had previously raised concerns with authorities about the use of chemicals on fruits sold to the public.

“We have told them and spoken to them that the fruits from the bush are all chemicals, so I hardly eat fruits,” she claimed.

She, however, explained that not every fruit responds to chemicals in the same way, noting that some fruits are more susceptible to chemical treatment than others.

“For oranges, when you put chemicals there, it won’t work because even if water touches them, they can go bad. But watermelon, you can use chemicals on it,” she alleged.

She also mentioned pawpaw and other fruits as products that could potentially be subjected to chemical treatment.

Madam Sowah said consumers are often unaware of what happens to fruits before they reach the market, making stronger monitoring and education necessary.

“For banana and plantain, especially when they are being ripened, if they say chemicals are used, we will understand because we know they put chemicals on them,” she said.

She also accused some traders of withholding information when disciplinary action is taken against them for violating market rules.

According to her, she personally investigates complaints received about traders before taking action.

“When I see people doing that in the market and there are complaints, I always take time to go and see for myself,” she explained.

Madam Sowah said traders who are found using chemicals and refuse to heed warnings could face expulsion from the market.

“So if I see you doing that, I won’t forgive you at all. When we see you using chemicals and we advise you and you refuse to heed the advice, then we sack you,” she stated.

She said some traders subsequently present their dismissal as unfair treatment without explaining the circumstances that led to the action.

“They won’t tell the truth. They will rather say that we intentionally sacked them when, indeed, they know what they did in the market before we sacked them,” she added.

Madam Sowah stressed that her opposition to the practice was driven by concerns about public health and the wellbeing of consumers.

“I always speak against it in the market because it is not healthy for us to consume fruits with chemicals,” she said.

Her comments come amid growing concerns over food safety and the use of unapproved chemicals in the handling and ripening of fruits, with renewed calls for stronger enforcement and public education to protect consumers.

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According to her, the country’s difficulties are largely rooted in the actions and attitudes of its citizens rather than whether the government is led by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) or the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Madam Sowah said the situation had become worrying, particularly in relation to practices that could put the health and lives of Ghanaians at risk.

“Even if we beg Jesus Christ to be President in Ghana, we will still suffer. This is not about NDC or NPP or Mahama and Akufo-Addo. It is about the people in the country,” she stated.

Madam Sowah expressed concern about what she described as a decline in responsible leadership and public conduct, saying the situation had become frightening.

“All the good ones are gone. It is only left with ‘Alanga’. It is scary, and our lives are short-lived,” she bemoaned.

She said she was particularly worried about the impact of unsafe practices on children, who could unknowingly consume food products that may pose health risks.

Madam Sowah recounted an incident at the market where she confronted a woman for picking damaged fruits that had been discarded for disposal.

According to her, the woman would collect the rejected fruits, cut away the visibly damaged portions and prepare the remaining parts for sale.

“I pity the schoolchildren, especially because last year I beat up one woman mercilessly. Damaged fruits that we had dumped to be carted away by rubbish collectors; she would come and pick them and cut them nicely to sell. So what is the FDA doing? They are worrying us,” she said.

Madam Sowah questioned why such practices were allowed to continue, expressing concern about the potential health risks to unsuspecting consumers, particularly schoolchildren.

Her comments come amid growing concerns over food safety and the sale of potentially unsafe food products, with calls for stronger monitoring and enforcement to protect consumers.

She therefore urged the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and other relevant agencies to intensify monitoring and enforcement at markets to prevent the sale of spoiled or unsafe food.

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• Woman arrested at Madina market over alleged sale of fruit-ripening chemicals

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His comments follow concerns raised by Rent Commissioner Frederick Opoku over the conditions in some private student hostels.

Mr Opoku recently described some of the facilities as “appalling” and “shocking” after inspections triggered by a petition from the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS).

According to the Rent Commissioner, the inspections revealed overcrowded rooms, poor ventilation and facilities which, in his view, did not meet the basic standards expected of student hostels.

However, speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Bishop Dr Akwasi Owusu said hostel operators also face significant financial obligations that students may not be aware of.

He explained that the cost of acquiring land and constructing hostels is already high, while many operators have to rely on loans with high interest rates to finance their projects.

“Here in Ghana, if you are building, the land itself is very expensive. If you take a loan, the interest rate is also high, so by the time you finish the project, you have already spent a lot of money,” he said.

Bishop Owusu said hostel operators are also required to make several statutory payments and taxes, which he claimed take a significant portion of their revenue.

He explained that payments to regulatory institutions, including the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Tourism Development Fund, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Ghana National Fire Service and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), add to the financial burden.

According to him, hostel operators also pay property rates, operational permits and other charges, while some payments are calculated on gross revenue.

“By the time you finish paying all these statutory obligations, about 20 percent of the gross revenue is gone,” he said.

He stressed that these costs are incurred before hostel operators account for other expenses such as refuse disposal, maintenance, salaries and general upkeep of the facilities.

“The students do not know all these payments we make to the government. They think that if you charge GH¢5,000, all the money is going into your pocket, but that is not the case,” he said.

Bishop Owusu said operators had realised that charging GH¢5,000 per bed could, in some cases, result in losses after all expenses were considered.

He added that operators also incur additional costs when students damage facilities or leave rooms in poor condition.

“Some students leave the rooms dirty, break door locks and damage other things before they leave. They do not always keep the place neat, and all these things come at a cost,” he said.

According to him, the additional expenses make it difficult for some hostel operators to repay loans taken to construct or renovate their facilities.

He said hostel owners had raised concerns about the taxes and levies imposed on them and called for discussions with the relevant regulatory bodies to review the burden.

“We have raised the issue that the taxes being imposed on us are very high. We have asked that something be done about it because, after everything, we believe what we charge students is reasonable,” he said.

Bishop Owusu, however, acknowledged the concerns about hostel conditions and said operators must also ensure that students are provided with safe and decent accommodation.

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Mr Ahi said the Minority should focus on the facts surrounding the reported losses rather than singling out Mr Gyamfi for personal attacks.

His comments follow claims by the Minority that GoldBod must account for losses associated with the DGPP instead of taking credit for gains from the programme while distancing itself from reported transaction-related losses.

The dispute follows an August 2026 report by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), which indicated that the Bank of Ghana’s DGPP, implemented through GoldBod, recorded losses of more than US$1.7 billion in 2025, equivalent to about 1.5 per cent of Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

However, speaking during the government’s Accountability Series on Wednesday, August 19, GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi dismissed the Minority’s claims, saying GoldBod does not “take moral lessons from the brothel.”

In a statement responding to Mr Gyamfi, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin maintained that the reported losses constituted a financial loss to the state and therefore required accountability.

But speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, Sampson Ahi argued that GoldBod’s audited accounts and the Auditor-General’s report should be considered when assessing the institution’s financial performance.

“GoldBod has audited accounts for 2025, covering the entire year, and the Auditor-General has issued a report. Those reports show that GoldBod’s transactions within 2025 made a profit,” he said.

Mr Ahi said if the IMF report points to losses, the focus should be on understanding the circumstances that resulted in those losses rather than using them to advance what he described as a political agenda.

“If the IMF is saying there are losses, then let us look for the causes of those losses. But when you want to push an agenda that does not exist, then it becomes a problem,” he said.

He urged the Minority to criticise the government and its institutions based on verifiable information.

“I will urge the Minority that we agree you can criticise, but do it with facts. This time around, they are wrong and they should admit it,” he said.

Mr Ahi also accused the Minority of personalising the matter by focusing its criticism on Sammy Gyamfi.

“Why are they personalising it? They are engaging in propaganda,” he alleged.

He cited Mr Afenyo-Markin’s previous role as Board Chairman of Ghana Water Company Limited, arguing that losses recorded under his watch did not lead to him being singled out personally.

“Afenyo-Markin was a Board Chairman for Ghana Water. Under his watch, they made losses, but nobody singled him out. So the moment you single out Sammy Gyamfi, then you are personalising it,” he said.

According to Mr Ahi, the debate should be centred on the performance of state institutions rather than targeting individual officials.

“You are no longer talking about a state institution that has made losses. You single out Gyamfi and threaten him with huge bail. That is not right,” he said.

He warned that what he described as personal attacks on young public officials could discourage young people from participating in governance.

“When you continue like that, you kill youthful participation in governance,” he said.

Mr Ahi praised President John Mahama for giving Sammy Gyamfi the opportunity to serve and urged the public to support him in the discharge of his duties.

“The opportunity that Mahama has given to Sammy Gyamfi, he is doing his best. I think we should rather encourage, support, motivate and urge him to do more for the Ghanaian economy rather than running him down,” he said.

He maintained that Mr Gyamfi had not committed any wrongdoing and should be allowed to focus on his responsibilities at GoldBod.

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According to him, existing regulatory bodies, including the Ghana Tourism Authority, Ghana National Fire Service and the Police, already inspect and regulate student accommodation facilities before they are licensed to operate.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Bishop Dr Owusu said he had personally raised the issue with the Rent Commissioner and reminded him of the provisions of the Rent Act.

“I even told him that the law and the Rent Act do not permit him to go around inspecting hostels like that. There are already regulatory bodies responsible for these inspections,” he said.

He explained that hostel operators are subjected to regular inspections by the relevant agencies to ensure that their facilities meet the required standards before licences are issued.

“These regulatory bodies, including the Tourism Authority, Fire Service, Police and others, come every year to inspect the facilities. They check everything to ensure that it is in order before they license you,” he said.

Bishop Owusu argued that the Rent Commissioner’s actions could undermine the work of the institutions legally mandated to regulate and inspect such facilities.

He further said the definition of “premises” under the law should also be considered when determining the Rent Commissioner’s authority to inspect private hostels.

“The law has a definition of premises, and it is clearly stated there. He just wants to breach the laws, and we are not kids,” he said.

His comments come after the Rent Commissioner described conditions in some private student accommodation facilities as “appalling” and “shocking” following inspections triggered by a petition from the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS).

He explained that he decided to personally inspect the facilities after receiving the NUGS petition to determine whether the concerns raised reflected the actual conditions on the ground.

Bishop Owusu, however, maintained that hostel owners should be engaged through the appropriate regulatory channels and accused the Rent Commissioner of attempting to gain public favour by focusing on hostel conditions without adequately considering the existing regulatory framework.

READ:

KNUST students protest high hostel rent, petition management

Hostel owners challenge legality of Rent Control campaign over high fees

He also said hostel owners cannot comply with a directive from the Rent Commissioner, Frederick Opoku, to suspend what he considers excessive increases in hostel fees.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Bishop Dr Owusu said the association does not accept the characterisation of current hostel fees as unreasonable.

“We don’t admit that the fees are exorbitant. When we review hostel fees, I believe the new charges will even be higher because the cost of running the hostels has increased,” he said.

According to him, hostel operators take students’ ability to pay into consideration when setting their fees.

“When we started, we knew we were dealing with university students, so we set our fees according to what they could afford,” he said.

Bishop Owusu said the association also works to ensure that its members provide accommodation that matches the fees they charge.

“We regulate ourselves very well, and as an association, we make sure our conditions are good enough for what we charge,” he said.

He maintained that hostel owners would not allow the Rent Commissioner to unilaterally determine how much they should charge.

“We need to do the right thing. We cannot allow someone to decide for us because even I, for about three years, had not increased my hostel fees,” he said.

He added that some hostel operators who charge unusually high fees are not members of the association, making it difficult for the group to regulate or speak on their behalf.

“Some people have built big buildings and are not members of the Hostel Owners Association, so we cannot speak for them. Some of the prices they mention, even when we hear them, we are shocked,” he said.

Bishop Owusu said the association would continue to engage relevant authorities on hostel fees and operating standards but insisted that any decisions must take into account the rising cost of land, construction, taxes, maintenance and other operational expenses.

Rent Control boss, hostel owners chairman clash over regulation of private hostels

I was scandalised; people live in cubicles, not rooms – Rent Commissioner on condition…

Mr Opoku recently described conditions in some private student accommodation facilities as “appalling” and “shocking” following inspections triggered by a petition from the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS).

According to the Rent Commissioner, the inspections revealed overcrowded rooms, poor ventilation and facilities which, in his view, did not meet the basic standards expected of a hostel.

However, speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Bishop Dr Akwasi Owusu said the Rent Commissioner had embarked on what he described as a campaign against hostel owners over high accommodation fees.

He said he personally contacted Mr Opoku after hearing his comments and informed him that hostel owners had an established association that had existed since 2000.

“He started his campaign against the high hostel fees. I personally called him and told him that we have an association, but he said we don’t have any association,” Bishop Owusu said.

“I told him that when he comes to Kumasi, our association has existed since 2000, so I was surprised when he said there was no association.”

According to him, he subsequently invited the Rent Commissioner and his team to Kumasi for a meeting with leaders of the association.

He said Mr Opoku, however, told him that he did not have a budget to travel to Kumasi and that if the association wanted him to visit, it would have to bear his transportation cost.

“He told me he had no budget to come to Kumasi and that it was not part of his budget. He said if I wanted him and his team to come and meet our leaders, we would have to pay for their transportation,” he said.

Bishop Owusu said he questioned the arrangement, arguing that the Rent Commissioner was working for the government and should therefore have an official budget for such engagements.

“I told him that you are working with government, so the government will give you a budget. But while I was talking to him, he hung up the phone,” he said.

He claimed that after the disagreement, the Rent Commissioner proceeded to inspect several hostels without engaging the association.

“Since then, he went from hostel to hostel and started making these claims,” Bishop Owusu said.

He particularly rejected the Rent Commissioner’s description of some student accommodation as overcrowded, saying the comparison that students were being packed “like sardines” was unfair.

“He said some of the students were packed like sardines. I think that was not fair and it was not true,” he said.

Bishop Owusu accused the Rent Commissioner of making exaggerated claims to gain public sympathy and undermine private hostel operators.

“He is just lying and doing public sympathy just to disregard us,” he alleged.

He maintained that hostel owners should be engaged in discussions about accommodation challenges rather than being portrayed negatively, stressing that operators also face significant financial obligations, including taxes, loan repayments, maintenance and other operational costs.

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The clarification follows the arrest of two individuals over their alleged involvement in or cooperation with illegal mining activities in the Tanoso area.

The suspects have been identified as Nana Amoako Atta, popularly known as Aseda Ben, the Ankobeahene of the Tanoso Traditional Council, and Alhassan Adamu, identified as the Afrisipa Krom Youth Chairman.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme, the Tanoso Police Commander, ASP Edmond Adjei Kissi, said the police had not received any report confirming allegations that the traditional leader was involved in galamsey.

“I can’t tell whether the Ankobeahene of the Tanoso Traditional Council, Nana Okofo Dartey Amoako Atta, does galamsey or not. We have not received any report that he is involved,” he said.

According to ASP Kissi, the police only heard allegations about the traditional leader’s alleged involvement after an incident at an illegal mining site last Sunday.

“It was just last Sunday that the incident happened, and we also heard people saying that he is into galamsey, but we have no idea,” he explained.

He said the police had conducted an operation at the site and seized some equipment, which was taken to the police station.

However, while the officers were leaving the area, they received information that some equipment had allegedly been loaded and taken to the palace instead of being sent to the police station.

“When we were leaving, we heard that some equipment had been loaded and brought to the palace and not to the police station,” ASP Kissi said.

He said the police subsequently returned to the site but found no one there.

The commander explained that the officers later encountered a situation that made an immediate arrest risky, based on previous experiences with resistance from suspected illegal miners.

He recalled an earlier operation in which police officers were confronted by a group of illegal miners who allegedly seized four AK-47 rifles from them.

“We went to a town to conduct an operation. We encountered some gangs and they took our four AK-47s, so our commander sent us back for the guns,” he said.

ASP Kissi said the police therefore considered the situation carefully before deciding how to proceed with the Tanoso operation.

“When we see the situation and how the issue is, and we decide to make arrests based on intelligence, they will worry us. So we diverted back to the station,” he explained.

He said the police later decided to process the suspects for court rather than risk a confrontation at the site.

“We decided to take them to process them for court. Nananom even came to ask us when, but we never heard from them again,” he said.

ASP Kissi stressed that the police had not ignored the allegations or failed to act against suspected illegal mining activities in the area.

“So it’s not like we don’t do anything about it,” he said.

The arrests are reportedly linked to alleged illegal mining activities around Adengo/Ponwaakrom and areas associated with companies accused of contributing to the destruction of farmlands, forests and water bodies.

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The Tanoso Police Commander, ASP Edmond Adjei Kissi, said some individuals who seize or retrieve suspected galamsey equipment sometimes fail to hand them over to the police, instead taking them to traditional authorities.

He said the practice creates tension and makes it difficult for the police to properly process cases involving illegal mining.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, ASP Kissi said the latest incident occurred on Sunday when he was informed that a vehicle loaded with suspected galamsey equipment had been intercepted at a mining site.

He said he personally went to the location and escorted the vehicle to the police station.

However, according to him, the situation took an unexpected turn after some individuals, including the Ankobeahene, Nana Amoako Atta, popularly known as Aseda Ben, allegedly took the equipment to the palace instead of the police station.

“Sometimes these people will bring the galamsey equipment and, instead of bringing it to the police station, they divert them to the chief’s palace. They go and do what they want,” he said.

ASP Kissi explained that the incident nearly resulted in a confrontation after some youth became angry with the police over the handling of the seized equipment.

“They called me that they had arrested a car with a lot of galamsey items at a site. I went there, saw the items and escorted the car to the police station,” he said.

He said he was later informed that the vehicle had been taken to the palace after the Ankobeahene and others had intervened.

“When we met the Ankobeahene, they got down, loaded the items and brought them to the palace and refused to take them to the police station,” ASP Kissi said.

According to the commander, the development angered some youth who questioned why the police had taken the vehicle to the station when they expected the equipment to be sent to the palace.

“The youth were angry that when they reported the issue and we went to the car, why did we take it to the police station instead of the palace. It almost turned into chaos, but we resolved the matter,” he said.

ASP Kissi disclosed that the matter had also attracted the attention of the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) and the Municipal Security Committee (MUSEC) in the Tano North area.

He further revealed that the alleged ring leader behind the confrontation was arrested by the police, had his statement taken and was subsequently granted bail.

The Police Commander said the incident highlights the challenges security agencies face in dealing with illegal mining activities, particularly when seized equipment is not properly handed over for investigation and prosecution.

The development comes amid growing concerns over illegal mining in the Tanoso area, with allegations of mining activities contributing to the destruction of farmlands, forests and water bodies.

ASP Kissi said the police would continue to work with other security agencies and relevant stakeholders to tackle illegal mining while ensuring that seized equipment and suspects are handled in accordance with the law.

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Nana Amoako Atta said he and other traditional leaders, youth representatives, assembly members, and the police had on several occasions visited suspected illegal mining sites and reported their findings to the relevant authorities.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, he said on one occasion, the team visited a site where a young man admitted that he was responsible for the mining activities.

According to him, the team found rocks believed to have been extracted from the site in the man’s vehicle.

“We were all there. The police commander was there, some youth leaders, nananom and assembly members. When we went back, we made a case against the man, but up to now, he has not been sent to court,” he said.

Nana Amoako Atta also recounted another operation at Subri through Tano, where they allegedly discovered an excavator and changfang machines at a location believed to be prepared for illegal mining.

He said although no one was found at the site, they documented what they saw and reported the matter to the relevant security and local authorities.

“We took videos and showed the police what we saw. I sent them to the BNI in the area and the MCE and told them what we saw in the forest. I also informed the police commander and asked them to do something about it, but up to now, we have not heard anything about it,” he said.

He said he later learnt that the Tano North Municipal Chief Executive, Pius Sampson Opoku, and his taskforce had arrested some people in connection with illegal mining activities.

According to him, the suspects were put before court and remanded for two weeks, while their equipment was kept at the Tanoso Police Station.

“After two weeks, they were granted bail and returned to town, but their machines remained at the Tanoso Police Station,” he explained.

Nana Amoako Atta said concerns arose when the traditional authorities later received information that the same equipment had allegedly been released to the suspects.

He said he subsequently went to the police station to seek clarification from the police commander.

“I went to the police commander to ask why he was giving the items to the young men when the equipment was at the police station,” he said.

According to him, the commander explained that the police were acting on instructions from above.

“He told us that the police do their work on instructions and that it was an order from above. We did not understand the order, so we packed the things back into the police station,” Nana Amoako Atta said.

He said the development had raised concerns among traditional leaders and other stakeholders involved in efforts to combat illegal mining in the area.

Nana Amoako Atta stressed that the fight against galamsey required stronger coordination among the police, municipal authorities, traditional leaders, and other security agencies.

His comments come amid growing concerns over illegal mining in the Tanoso area, particularly allegations of the destruction of farmlands, forests, and water bodies.

• Two arrested over alleged galamsey activities in Tanoso

• Galamsey could cause major health crisis in Ghana soon – Medical experts warn

He said the Municipal Security Council (MUSEC), in collaboration with the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the Regional Security Council, continues to conduct operations against illegal miners in the area.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr Opoku said the authorities often act on intelligence received about illegal mining activities but are sometimes unable to arrest suspects because the miners flee before security teams arrive.

“MUSEC has a taskforce. Sometimes, when we get a tip-off, we go there and sack them. These people already have people on the ground who give them information, so when we get there, we don’t meet them,” he said.

He explained that illegal miners often abandon their operations as soon as they receive information that security personnel are approaching.

“They always run away when they hear we are coming to the site. So we are working very hard. It is not that we are sitting down,” he said.

Mr Opoku said the Assembly was working closely with NAIMOS and the Regional Security Council to intensify the fight against illegal mining and protect the municipality’s water bodies and other natural resources.

“We are working in conjunction with NAIMOS. I am fighting the galamsey with the Regional Security Council. We go there to raise the place,” he said.

The MCE also distanced himself from allegations involving a private or unofficial taskforce allegedly operating in the area.

“I have no personal taskforce and I have not sent anyone to go and do anything,” he stated.

According to him, the recognised bodies involved in anti-galamsey operations include NAIMOS and the Municipal Assembly.

“No one has a taskforce that is recognised aside from NAIMOS and the Municipal Assembly. So if someone has put together a taskforce and they are causing issues, it doesn’t mean the government has a hand in it,” he said.

Mr Opoku stressed that the Assembly remained committed to tackling illegal mining because of its impact on the environment.

“Illegal miners are destroying the water bodies and we are fighting it. So it is not like we are just sitting there and doing nothing,” he said.

His comments come amid growing concerns over illegal mining in the Tanoso area, where allegations have been made about the destruction of farmlands, forests and water bodies.

The Tanoso Police Command has arrested two individuals over their alleged involvement in or cooperation with illegal mining activities in the area.

READ:

• Two arrested over alleged galamsey activities in Tanoso

• Galamsey threatens fish farming in Ghana – Fisheries Commission warns

Nana Okofo Dartey Amoako Atta was reportedly arrested by the Tanoso Police Command over alleged involvement in or cooperation with illegal mining activities in the area.

However, speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, the traditional leader strongly dismissed the allegation, insisting that he has no connection with galamsey.

“I am a Methodist, and I believe in nananom. They can give me the Bible, and when it comes to spiritual matters, they can bring schnapps and eggs. I can boldly say that I don’t deal in galamsey,” he said.

Nana Okofo Dartey Amoako Atta also questioned the circumstances surrounding the allegations against him.

He said he had heard that a man had recently visited Tanoso to conduct an interview and later made comments about the issue.

“Yesterday, they said some man came to do an interview at Tanoso. I heard he is the Special Assistant to the MCE, Pius Sampson Opoku, and that he did a press conference,” he said.

According to him, the individual is not a native of Tanoso but comes from Susaso, a nearby community.

“He is not from Tanoso. He is from a different town close to Tanoso called Susaso,” he added.

The Ankobeahene’s comments come after the Tanoso Police Command arrested two individuals over their alleged involvement in or cooperation with illegal mining activities in the Tanoso area of the Ahafo Region.

The suspects have been identified as Nana Amoako Atta, popularly known as Aseda Ben, the Ankobeahene of the Tanoso Traditional Council, and Alhassan Adamu, identified as the Afrisipa Krom Youth Chairman.

Their arrest is reportedly linked to allegations surrounding illegal mining activities at Adengo/Ponwaakrom and other areas where mining activities have allegedly contributed to the destruction of farmlands, forests and water bodies.

The police have urged residents to support efforts to combat illegal mining by providing relevant information to the appropriate authorities.

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• Two arrested over alleged galamsey activities in Tanoso

Dr Okoe-Boye said he was aware that the contest would be difficult but remained confident in God throughout the campaign.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, he thanked constituency executives for their support and trust, saying they had shown that they wanted a leader they could relate to and work with.

“I knew that the contest was not easy, so I trusted in the Lord. What has happened is from heaven and earth, and I give thanks to all the constituency executives,” he said.

According to him, the delegates do not want a Regional Chairman who will simply sit in an office and issue instructions but one who will engage with them and work alongside them.

“They don’t see me as a chairman who will come and sit at the table to give them instructions. They want someone they can talk to and walk with like their brother, so together we can win the 2028 election,” he said.

Dr Okoe-Boye described his leadership approach as a “coalition of the willing”, stressing that he would work with all party members towards a common goal.

“This is not leadership and followers; rather, it is a coalition of the willing. So, I thank them all,” he added.

‘They said I was too young’

Dr Okoe-Boye also recalled criticisms about his age when he first contested the NPP parliamentary primaries in the Ledzokuku Constituency.

He said similar concerns were raised about his age at the time, but he was able to prove his critics wrong by helping to significantly reduce the gap between the NPP and its main political opponent.

“I told the delegates that some people were saying I am not old enough and that there is work at the regional level. I reminded them that 11 years ago, in 2015, I went for the parliamentary primaries in Ledzokuku,” he said.

“I was a young doctor, about 33 or 34 years old, and they said I was young. But in that election, we went in and closed the gap of 13,000 votes, which we did, and we won,” he added.

Drawing inspiration from the biblical story of David and Goliath, Dr Okoe-Boye urged party members to believe that the NPP can overcome the challenges ahead.

“It is the same thing they are saying about me now. I have become like David, who fought with Goliath. So, they should believe and trust that what we are going for, we will win,” he said.

He further cited his previous political battles as evidence that he was not afraid of difficult contests.

“I have even fought with a tiger and defeated it. So, they should see that we are going with faith, belief and trust in God,” he said.

Dr Okoe-Boye polled 490 votes to defeat his closest contender, Alfred Boye, who secured 172 votes, giving him a 318-vote margin.

His election comes at a critical time for the NPP in the Greater Accra Region as the party seeks to rebuild its structures, unite its members and regain its political fortunes ahead of the 2028 general elections.

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Dr Okoe-Boye said his approach to dealing with the divisions would be based on humility, listening and personally engaging members who feel alienated from the party.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, he said his medical training had taught him the importance of observation and understanding people before engaging them.

“By God’s grace, I am a doctor, and the training we had was that your observations should give you more clues and answers than even asking questions,” he said.

According to him, he is able to assess people and tailor his approach when interacting with them.

“When I meet you and I am talking to you for two or three minutes, I know how you are. So, when I meet you, I tailor my relationship with you,” he explained.

Dr Okoe-Boye said some of the divisions within the Greater Accra NPP were caused by individuals who felt superior and were unwilling to listen to others.

He, however, said his leadership would be based on a servant attitude, insisting that no member would be made to feel less important.

“Me, Okoe-Boye, when I am sitting with security men and they tell me to sit there, you will come and see me sitting and eating with them. They won’t even know I am the Regional Chairman,” he said.

He added: “When you have a servant attitude, all these factions, I will be their chief servant. I am a servant and I will serve, and so I will bring all the factions together.”

The NPP chairman-elect said he would personally reach out to party members who had become angry or withdrawn from the party due to grievances.

“If someone is angry and has reservations, if I hear of such people, I will go to their place and speak with them like we are all the same,” he assured.

Dr Okoe-Boye said his experience as a parliamentary candidate in the 2024 elections exposed him to the depth of dissatisfaction among some NPP members.

“When I went into the 2024 elections as a parliamentary candidate, I saw a lot of party members who, when they talked about our issues, it was even more painful than the NDC. These were people we were not even able to speak to,” he said.

He said his administration would therefore make efforts to identify such members, listen to their concerns and encourage them to reconcile with the party.

“We will try and deal with our own people who are angry and talk to them very deeply. After visiting them for a long time, they can trust you and speak to you. Then you ask them to forgive the party and move on,” he said.

Dr Okoe-Boye believes restoring unity within the Greater Accra NPP will be crucial to the party’s chances of winning the 2028 elections.

“So, this is the strategy I will use to ensure that we do all that we can. We will make sure we do a lot to ensure that the factions in Greater Accra are minimised, and then we can win the 2028 elections,” he said.

Dr Okoe-Boye was elected Greater Accra Regional Chairman in the NPP’s regional executive elections held on Saturday, August 15.

He polled 490 votes to defeat Alfred Boye, who secured 172 votes, giving him a 318-vote margin.

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Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Mr Tonto said he had carefully reviewed the Auditor-General’s 220-page report and found that his name was not listed among persons implicated in the alleged scheme.

“For a year now, the embassy issues have been going on. The minister said he was investigating, and the Auditor-General has now brought out its report. When you take the Auditor-General’s report, which is about 220 pages, and search for my name, Kofi Tonto, it appears twice,” he said.

According to him, both instances where his name appeared were in tables relating to welfare benefits paid to embassy staff.

“One was a table showing embassy staff who received something called welfare benefits. Table one has my name and table two has my name. Those were the only two times my name appeared in the report,” he explained.

Mr Tonto, who served as Head of Information and Public Affairs at the embassy from March 2019 to July 2021, said he was initially confused when he heard reports linking him to the alleged fraud.

“I worked for the embassy, so when I heard the reports, I was confused and wondering when I had received such money. I left there almost five years ago,” he said.

He said he subsequently spoke to some former embassy staff and officials who had knowledge of the welfare system to establish why he had received the US$800.

“I tried to investigate and spoke to some staff who have worked there for a long time, including people who were in charge of finances. They told me that when my second baby was born, I was at the embassy, and the embassy gave me a gift of US$800 for giving birth. They said they do that for everyone as part of welfare support for life-changing events,” he said.

Mr Tonto explained that although his child was born in January 2021, the payment was made in July when he was preparing to leave the embassy.

“I was there from March 2019 to July 2021. My baby was born in January, and they couldn’t give me the money at the time. So, when I was about to leave the embassy in July, they processed my final payment of US$800 and gave it to me for my newborn,” he said.

He described the payment as a legitimate benefit available to embassy staff and rejected claims that it formed part of the alleged fraud scheme.

“That’s my crime that Manasseh said I have committed. As someone who was working for the country, Ghana, the embassy had a system where they gave welfare donations for life-changing events, and that is what they did for me,” he stated.

Mr Tonto said he was particularly concerned that his name had been associated with the alleged fraud despite his explanation that the payment was a welfare benefit.

“Manasseh said the fraud scheme included my donation and that we planned to take that money. If we say we are uprooting corruption in this country, is that how we remove corruption from the country — by tarnishing the image of people who worked for God and country?” he asked.

He said what hurt him most was that he had personally contacted investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni to explain his position before the report was published.

“What pains me most is that when I was talking to him and trying to bring his mind to the fact that I had no idea about this, he went ahead and added my name to it because I am a public figure,” he said.

Mr Tonto further questioned why he would deliberately participate in a multi-million-dollar fraud scheme for a relatively small amount of US$800.

“Even if I had no sense, why would I plan a fraud and take US$800 just to tarnish my image?” he asked.

A forensic audit by the Auditor-General has revealed an alleged scheme involving staff of Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., through which money generated from visa and passport-related activities was allegedly shared between 2019 and 2025.

According to the audit report, the total amount involved was approximately US$19.4 million, generated between 2019 and 2025.

Mr Tonto has maintained that the US$800 he received was a legitimate welfare benefit and that all compensations, allowances, benefits and refunds paid to him during his tenure were processed through established procedures.

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• Kofi Tonto denies involvement in alleged $19m fraud at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington

Speaking on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Mr Tonto said he only became aware of the report after people started calling him about claims that he had received US$800 from the alleged fraud.

He explained that he had been suffering from the flu and had a high temperature, making him unaware of developments surrounding the report.

“I have been unwell for some time now, so I didn’t even have an idea of what was happening. It was yesterday that I had the flu and my temperature was very high when people started calling me that a story had come out that I took US$800 out of the US$19 million fraud scheme going around in Washington, D.C.,” he said.

Mr Tonto said after seeing the report, he contacted Manasseh Azure Awuni to seek clarification on the claims.

“When I saw the story, I sent Manasseh a message about the story he had written. He told me that he picked the story from the Auditor-General’s report, and I told him that if that was the case, at least he could have texted me,” he said.

According to Mr Tonto, he expected the investigative journalist to contact him before publishing the report, particularly because they had interacted on a previous story.

“I remember one time he did a story and there were some discrepancies, and I asked him to correct it. So, at least, you could have reached out to me on this particular one if you had such a story about me,” he said.

Mr Tonto said although he and Manasseh are not friends, they know each other well enough for him to have expected an opportunity to respond to the allegations before publication.

“Although we are not friends, we know ourselves, and so you could have asked,” he said.

He further alleged that while he was explaining his position to the journalist, Manasseh returned to the Auditor-General’s report and took a screenshot of the section containing his name, which he said was subsequently used in the report to suggest that he was involved in planning and sharing the alleged fraud proceeds.

A forensic audit by the Auditor-General has revealed an alleged scheme involving staff of Ghana’s Embassy in Washington, D.C., through which money generated from visa and passport-related activities was shared between 2019 and 2025.

The audit, which covers the embassy’s operations from 2017 to 2025, reportedly identified financial irregularities and other schemes through which millions of dollars were generated outside approved charges.

According to the audit report, the total amount involved was approximately US$19.4 million, generated between 2019 and 2025.

Mr Tonto served as Head of Information and Public Affairs at the embassy between March 2019 and July 2021.

He has denied any involvement in the alleged scheme and maintained that the US$800 he received was a legitimate child benefit, while all compensations, allowances, benefits, and refunds paid to him during his tenure were processed through established procedures.

“I have never been involved in any scheme, the sharing of, or the receipt of any ill-obtained funds,” he said.

Also read:

• Washington Embassy saga: Fred Kwarteng is a bad boy – Former staff makes damning…
• EVIDENCE: How Ghana’s Washington Embassy staff shared money extorted from visa and passport applicants

• Kofi Tonto denies involvement in alleged $19m fraud at Ghana’s Embassy in Washington

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr Kapi said examiners are not given information that identifies the type of school from which a candidate’s script originated.

“Per the WAEC system, an examiner doesn’t know whether the scripts are from a public or private school,” he said.

He explained that scripts are deliberately moved to different jurisdictions for marking to further prevent examiners from identifying the schools or candidates associated with them.

“If you are an examiner and we have given you scripts to go and mark, you can’t even tell where the scripts come from. If you are in Accra, your scripts will be taken to a different jurisdiction to be marked,” he said.

According to Mr Kapi, the system is designed in such a way that an examiner cannot determine whether a particular script belongs to a candidate from a private or public school and, therefore, deliberately treat it differently.

“There is no way our system will allow someone to know that these scripts are from a private school and decide to mark them anyhow,” he stressed.

Mr Kapi also explained how answer scripts are packaged before they are distributed to examiners.

He said the envelopes used to package the scripts, known as script envelopes, contain only a centre number and the range of index numbers of the candidates whose scripts are enclosed.

“What we use to pack the answer scripts are called script envelopes. The only thing we write on the envelope is a centre number and the range of index numbers,” he explained.

He said an examiner who receives a script envelope would only see the centre number and the number of scripts enclosed.

“If you get a script envelope, it will show you the centre and the number of scripts enclosed. That is what you will see on the envelope,” he said.

Mr Kapi added that although the candidate’s name and index number appear on the individual answer script, there is no indication of whether the candidate attends a public or private school.

“If you open it, you will only see the names and index numbers on the scripts, but you won’t know whether the candidate is in a private or public school,” he stated.

His comments come amid concerns from some private schools and parents over the 2026 BECE results, with allegations that some schools may have been unfairly targeted during the examination and results-processing exercise.

WAEC, however, maintains that its processes are guided by established examination rules and procedures and has challenged anyone alleging deliberate targeting of private schools to provide concrete evidence to support the claims.

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Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr Kapi said WAEC had conducted an internal assessment of the BECE results and found no basis for the allegations being made by some private schools.

“First of all, we have done our internal assessment of the BECE results that have come, and we have seen that there is no basis for whatever the private schools are saying,” he said.

Mr Kapi explained that WAEC has strict systems in place to protect examination scripts and ensure that examiners and other officials do not have unauthorised access to them.

“I know the system very well, and when we are working, we make sure no one sees what is happening with the scripts,” he said.

According to him, WAEC had also reviewed its processes to ensure that no individual could interfere with the examination or results-processing system.

“We have done our part to check and be sure that our system is foolproof and that we did not do anything that would allow people or examiners to even have access. It is simply not possible,” he stated.

Mr Kapi said WAEC had already addressed the concerns at a press conference held last Thursday, where the Council rejected the allegations of deliberate targeting of private schools.

“We had a press conference last Thursday and told them what the private schools are saying is not true, so they should disregard it,” he said.

However, he stressed that WAEC was prepared to investigate any specific concerns supported by evidence.

“If you have any issues with the results, we will accept you and allow you to prove that you have issues. Our doors are wide open,” he said.

Mr Kapi explained that where evidence presented by a school or candidate is found to be valid after checks against WAEC’s records, the Council would take the necessary action.

“If you bring proof and we check from our system and realise that you are right, then we will do something about it. But if it has no merit, then we cannot do anything about it,” he added.

His comments come amid concerns from some private schools and parents over the 2026 BECE results, with allegations that private schools and their candidates may have been unfairly treated during the examination and results-processing exercise.

WAEC, however, maintains that its processes are guided by established examination rules and procedures and has challenged anyone alleging deliberate targeting to provide concrete evidence to support the claims.

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• BECE results: Nobody has a reason to target private schools – WAEC

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Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Bobena said he was not surprised by reports that the headteacher had allegedly been involved in an incident involving the burial of a baby, adding that his daughter’s experience had already raised serious concerns for him.

“I was not shocked when I heard reports that he had allegedly buried a baby at dawn because of what he did to my daughter. He could have easily killed her,” he alleged.

Mr Bobena said the incident had left him deeply hurt and called on the IGP to ensure that all allegations are thoroughly investigated and that justice is served.

“I urge the IGP, we trust him, to listen to such incidents and ensure that there is justice in Ghana. It is not only my daughter who may have gone through this; there could be others who have suffered the same thing,” he said.

He said the matter had caused him emotional pain and appealed to authorities to protect the girl child in schools.

“This incident has hurt me, and I am heartbroken,” he added.

Mr Bobena also appealed to Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, as a woman and a mother, to support efforts to ensure justice for affected students.

“I also urge the Vice President to ensure that justice is done, and I plead with President Mahama to help address such issues in our schools,” he said.

He called on the government to strengthen measures to protect students in senior high schools and ensure that teachers who engage in inappropriate acts are held accountable.

He urged stakeholders to work together to create a safe environment where students can focus on their education.

“Let us all come together because this is not only about my child. It affects all children. We need to help them get peace of mind to learn,” he said.

Mr Bobena’s comments follow unrest at Obuasi SHTS after some students alleged that the headteacher was involved in an incident involving the burial of a foetus in a nearby bush.

Some students have also accused the headteacher of having inappropriate relationships with female students, with claims that the foetus was linked to an alleged abortion involving a student.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and the headteacher has not publicly responded to the claims.

Authorities are currently investigating the matter.

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Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Bobena said his daughter, who is currently in Form Three, called him last Monday to report the incident after she felt she had no one else to turn to for support.

According to him, his daughter told him that she had gone to retrieve her clothes from a drying line located near the headteacher’s residence when the alleged incident occurred.

He alleged that after she removed her clothes, the headteacher asked her to come back so he sends her, and upon her return, he began making sexual advances towards her.

Mr Bobena claimed his daughter told him that the headteacher ignored her attempts to stop him, pushed her into his bedroom and had sexual intercourse with her without her consent.

“She told me that when she left the room, she was devastated. She later went to her madam, who teaches her, and reported what had happened, but the teacher allegedly told her to keep quiet,” he said.

According to Mr Bobena, his daughter questioned the teacher, asking whether she would give the same advice if the situation involved her own child.

He alleged that efforts were made to prevent the matter from becoming public after the incident, which he said occurred on June 25.

“My daughter didn’t have anyone to talk to or support her, so she called me last Monday because the issue was affecting her,” he said.

Mr Bobena said he later visited the school but did not immediately disclose the reason for his visit.

He explained that he told school authorities his daughter was unwell and needed an exeat to seek medical attention.

He said when the staff member processing the exeat questioned why his daughter had not reported the matter to the school but had instead called him, he explained that she needed medical support.

Mr Bobena said he subsequently took his daughter to the police station, where she was referred to a government hospital at Mangoase for medical examination.

“After the hospital confirmed that something sexual had happened, it was already around 8:00 pm, so I gave her the letter to take to her teacher so they could report the matter to the police and we would see the way forward,” he said.

He said his daughter, who is 20 years old, had never experienced such an incident involving the headteacher before, adding that he was shocked by the allegation.

“This is the first time the headmaster has done something like this to her, and I was shocked,” he said.

Mr Bobena said he has confidence in the police and expects the appropriate action to be taken after investigations.

“I believe in the police, and I expect them to do the needful. That is why I have not gone back to the school to report anything. The police told me that when they need me, they will call me,” he added.

His comments follow unrest at Obuasi SHTS after some students alleged that the headteacher was involved in an incident involving the burial of a foetus in a nearby bush.

Some students have also accused the headteacher of having inappropriate relationships with female students, with claims that the foetus was linked to an alleged abortion involving a student.

The allegations have not been independently verified, and the headteacher has not publicly responded to the claims.

Authorities are currently investigating the matter.

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According to him, the NPP should have considered the significance of the day, which coincided with the first anniversary memorial service for the victims of the tragedy.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr Gbande questioned why the party chose to hold its demonstration on the same day government officials, families and members of the Ghana Armed Forces were commemorating the lives of the deceased.

“Didn’t they know what we were mourning? Don’t they know? Or are they witches? Are they happy about what happened in this country?” he asked.

He said the Chief of Staff, whom the NPP delegation intended to meet to present its petition, was attending the memorial service for the crash victims and questioned why the party could not have considered the circumstances.

“The Chief of Staff they wanted to meet was even sitting at the one-year anniversary of the helicopter crash victims. So is Nana Yaa a small girl?” he said.

Mr Gbande also questioned whether the NPP was more interested in media attention than the actual presentation of its petition.

“Or were they just interested in the pictures and videos, or the petition and who would receive it?” he asked.

He explained that on normal occasions when political parties organise demonstrations, the Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations is usually the official who receives petitions on behalf of the Presidency.

He said if he had been assigned to receive the petition under the circumstances, he would have declined because of the emotions surrounding the memorial service.

“If someone is mourning at funeral grounds and you want them to come for your petition, do you think that is right? I am very angry about this,” he said.

Mr Gbande further questioned whether the NPP understood the pain caused by the helicopter crash and the feelings of members of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

“If someone is mourning and you are there blaming them, do you think it is nice? Should we continue like that? What does the NPP want? Do they think blood doesn’t run through the veins of NDC members?” he added.

The NPP’s “Democracy Under Attack” protest, held in Accra on Thursday, August 6, saw the party accuse the government of selective justice, political persecution and the misuse of state institutions.

The timing of the demonstration attracted criticism from some members of the public because it coincided with the National Interfaith Memorial Service attended by government officials, religious leaders, members of the Ghana Armed Forces and families of the crash victims.

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According to him, political disagreements should not lead to disrespect for individuals, especially public officials carrying out official duties.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr Gbande said Nana Yaa Jantuah was acting on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama when she was assigned to receive the NPP’s petition at the Jubilee House.

“You are protesting and you get to the Jubilee House. We all have our families at home and in Ghana, and we all know that when you are addressing a woman, there are certain things that must be considered,” he said.

He added that the NPP’s conduct towards the presidential staffer was unacceptable and should not be encouraged.

“Nana Yaa Jantuah was sent to receive the petition on behalf of government, and you disgrace her, someone who works at the Jubilee House. I think such behaviour should not be tolerated by anybody,” Mr Gbande stated.

He urged Mr Afenyo-Markin, who has been involved in politics for several years, to uphold proper conduct and respect the traditions associated with the seat of government.

“Even though Afenyo-Markin has done politics for long, he should know how the house is run. You cannot go to the Jubilee House and disrespect the workers of the Jubilee House,” he said.

Mr Gbande recalled that similar protests were organised when the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was in opposition, but he claimed the party did not insult officials at the Presidency.

“When we were in opposition and we organised demonstrations, we did not insult people the way they are doing today. If you disrespect and insult someone, we must condemn it,” he added.

He stressed that political activities should not come at the expense of Ghanaian values and cultural norms.

“We don’t throw away ethics and culture because we are doing politics. We were all brought up with good home training before we came into politics, and we must demonstrate Ghanaian culture in the politics we practise,” he said.

Mr Gbande further appealed to the NPP, describing it as a party with experienced and respected members, to address the matter.

“If the NPP knows what is best for them, they should bring Afenyo-Markin to apologise to Nana Yaa. It is demeaning,” he said.

His comments follow Nana Yaa Jantuah’s decision to petition the Speaker of Parliament over comments allegedly made by Mr Afenyo-Markin during the NPP’s “Democracy Under Attack” protest at the Jubilee House.

Mr Afenyo-Markin is alleged to have described her as “a nobody” after she was assigned to receive the party’s petition on behalf of the Presidency.

Madam Jantuah said the remarks were disrespectful not only to her but also to President John Dramani Mahama, who delegated her to receive the document.

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Deputy Secretary of the GPRTU, Samuel Amoah, said although the union operates some vehicles, the majority of commercial cars on the roads belong to individual owners registered under the union.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr Amoah said the union has appealed to the government to support transport operators with vehicles to help address the shortage.

He explained that the vehicles could be provided under a work-and-pay arrangement rather than being given out for free.

“Most of the cars we are using are owned by individuals who have registered with the union. Although the union has some vehicles, we don’t have many,” he said.

“So we have appealed to the government to support us with vehicles just as it has done for some government institutions. We are not asking for free vehicles; if they can provide them for us to work with and pay later, we can manage that,” he added.

According to him, many commercial vehicles have been taken off the roads because their owners cannot afford expensive spare parts and repair costs.

He noted that the situation has contributed significantly to the shortage of vehicles at various stations across the country.

“Most of the cars have broken down and are at workshops because of the high cost of spare parts. That is why people don’t see many commercial vehicles on the roads,” Mr Amoah explained.

He cited his station as an example, saying the number of vehicles available for operations has reduced significantly.

“The last time we checked our records, the vehicles we normally submit their registration numbers for municipal assembly processes were over 150. But this year, the number has reduced to 105. It means the rest are at workshops,” he said.

Mr Amoah said the union is exploring other measures to increase the number of vehicles available to commuters, including discussions to acquire electric buses from China.

He disclosed that the GPRTU’s National Vice Chairman has been engaging some stakeholders in China to explore opportunities for bringing electric buses into Ghana.

“As I speak, efforts have been made to clear some vehicles into the country to test and see how they can help ease the pressure on commercial transport,” he said.

He assured commuters that the union is working to find lasting solutions to the vehicle shortage and improve transportation services across the country.

The shortage of commercial vehicles in major urban areas, including Accra and Tema, has resulted in long queues at some stations, longer travel times and increased pressure on commuters.

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According to him, the school’s board of governors had not held any meeting or communicated concerns about the running of the school for the past two years until after the student demonstration.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Donkor said the situation has raised concerns among students and parents, particularly because final-year students risk missing their examinations and practical assessments.

“For two years, the school board has not held any meeting or said anything about the operations of the school. It was only after the demonstration on Thursday that they came out to speak,” he said.

The Ministry of Health has constituted a seven-member committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the unrest at the institution and make recommendations.

Mr Donkor said the committee has been given two weeks to complete its work, but he is worried about what will happen to students if the investigations are not concluded within that period.

“They told us the committee will use two weeks for the investigations. So until they bring their findings, it means the students will still be at home,” he stated.

He explained that the delay could affect practical examinations, which students had already started preparing for.

“The practicals have started, and they have been given 15 days. Every school chooses a day they want to conduct theirs. So if the two weeks pass and the findings are not ready, it means they cannot do the practicals,” he said.

“Does it mean we are postponing it to next year? That is our worry,” he added.

Mr Donkor said community members have repeatedly been told that investigations are ongoing, but they want urgent action to protect the academic interests of students.

“We keep hearing that they are investigating the matter. I am told our chief is also part of the committee, so we hope he listens to our concerns,” he said.

He further blamed the lack of an active board of governors for some of the challenges at the school, arguing that students had no proper channel to present their grievances.

“The sad part of this matter is that the board of governors, for two years, did not meet. It was only last Thursday, after the issue happened, that they spoke,” he said.

“So when students have issues, they don’t have anyone to share their concerns with because the principal does not have the authority to address everything,” he added.

Mr Donkor said the board only held its first meeting after the unrest, which he believes contributed to the escalation of the situation.

The Ministry of Health, in a statement issued on Monday, August 3, and signed by its spokesperson, Tony Goodman, said the seven-member committee has been tasked to establish the facts surrounding the incident and recommend appropriate action.

The investigation follows an unlawful assembly by students of the Krobo Nursing Training College near Techiman, which turned violent and resulted in the arrest of two students.

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According to him, the increasing prices of spare parts have become a major challenge for commercial vehicle operators, as many struggle to maintain their vehicles.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Amoah explained that spare parts dealers have attributed the high prices to difficulties in sourcing parts for some vehicles currently used by drivers.

“We are really in talks with the leadership of the Abossey Okai Spare Parts Dealers Association because the way things are going, our vehicles are becoming difficult to maintain,” he said.

“They have told us that the parts for some of the cars we are using now are difficult to get, and because of the limited supply, they cannot reduce the prices. They always talk about demand and supply,” he added.

Mr Amoah noted that although prices of some spare parts have reduced, those items are not commonly used for repairing the vehicles operated by commercial drivers.

“There are some parts whose prices have come down, but unfortunately, those are not the parts we normally use to fix our vehicles,” he explained.

He said the GPRTU is seeking the intervention of the Transport and Trade Ministries to engage the spare parts dealers and find ways to reduce the burden on drivers.

“We are trying to speak with the Transport Minister and the Trade Minister so they can engage the Abossey Okai dealers and see how best they can help reduce the prices of spare parts for us,” he stated.

Mr Amoah said addressing the high cost of vehicle maintenance is crucial to improving public transport operations and reducing pressure on commercial drivers.

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The Nkosuohene of the Atronie Stool Land, Nana Krampah Hagan, said the decision was taken after a series of unsuccessful attempts to engage the minister on the worsening destruction of water bodies caused by galamsey activities.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Nana Krampah Hagan said the traditional council had reached out to the minister several times to discuss the issue but was not given the needed attention.

“That is why we have rejected the letter from the Regional Minister. Everything has its reasons. Before you take any decision, there have been a series of issues, and if you cannot handle them anymore, that is what happens,” he said.

According to him, when the issue first emerged, the chiefs invited the minister for a meeting, but he was unable to attend because he was participating in the June 4 anniversary programme for the third time.

He explained that during a recent press conference on the state of the community’s water bodies, the minister was expected to visit the Atronie Traditional Council with his committee to discuss the matter before proceeding to the affected sites.

“Recently, when we held a press conference on the state of our river bodies, the minister was supposed to come with his committee so we could discuss the issue at the Atronie Traditional Council and from there go to the site,” he said.

Nana Krampah Hagan said the chiefs later declined to meet the minister at another location after they were informed that he had travelled to a different town and was waiting for them there.

He said the explanation given was that the minister had encountered an unexpected issue from Berekum and, due to delays, had asked the chiefs to meet him halfway before proceeding to the site.

However, the traditional leader described the request as disrespectful and said the chiefs decided not to attend the meeting.

The Atronie Traditional Council is calling on the government and security agencies to urgently intervene to halt illegal mining activities and protect the community’s environment before the situation reaches what they describe as irreversible traditional measures.

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The Nkosuohene of the Atronie Stool Land, Nana Krampah Hagan, alleged that landguards and members of the Security Coordinating Council prevented the minister from accessing certain areas during a visit and ordered him to get down from his vehicle and walk.

According to him, the minister refused and insisted on using his vehicle to inspect the affected areas.

“When they managed to meet the minister, these landguards were threatening him just like that. They ordered him to get down and walk, but he told them he would not get down and would take his car,” Nana Krampah Hagan alleged.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, he said the situation was worrying, adding that even during a visit with the Regional Minister, the illegal miners and landguards made disrespectful comments without any intervention from authorities.

“I was walking with the Regional Minister when these landguards were making unsavoury comments, but the Regional Minister could not say a word to stop their actions,” he alleged.

Nana Krampah Hagan appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to personally visit the area and assess the extent of destruction caused by illegal mining activities.

“We are urging the President to come himself and see what is happening in Sunyani East Constituency. He should not send anyone; he should come and see the damage for himself,” he said.

He claimed that about 80 per cent of water bodies in the constituency had been destroyed due to illegal mining, including the Amama River, which he said serves several communities.

“The big Amama River that serves many communities has been destroyed, starting from Berekum. I want to ask the Regional Minister if he will allow his own family to fetch water from this river. Will he allow it to be destroyed like this?” he questioned.

The traditional leader called for urgent action to protect the remaining water bodies and prevent further environmental damage in the area.

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According to him, the current approach by VALCO and the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) does not adequately consider the interests of workers and ordinary Ghanaians.

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr Owusu said organised labour has strategies to protect what he described as Ghana’s sovereignty and the interests of VALCO workers.

“That is what they want to do. It has always been like that. VALCO wants to do whatever they want to do through GIADEC, but we also have a strategy to find a way to protect Ghanaian sovereignty,” he said.

He warned that organised labour would resort to further action if its concerns were not addressed.

“There is always a last resort, and when we get to the last bridge, we will resort to that,” he added.

The TUC Chairman called on authorities to suspend the process and return to the negotiation table to find a solution that protects the company and its workers.

“They should halt whatever they are doing. Come to the drawing table for us to sit and discuss what we feel is in the best interest of the ordinary VALCO worker and VALCO as a company,” he said.

Mr Owusu also argued that VALCO’s current management and board should be allowed to continue with their plans, which he believes are more beneficial to the company’s future.

“The President has shown that the trajectory they are pursuing is not going to dwell. It is in their best interest to continue what the board and management are doing than what they are bringing,” he stated.

His comments come after the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) dismissed claims that VALCO is being sold to businessman Ibrahim Mahama, describing the allegations as false and misleading.

In a statement signed by GIADEC Chief Executive Officer Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah and issued on Monday, July 27, the corporation said claims circulating in the public domain and attributed to some individuals claiming to be VALCO staff, led by Samuel Watchman Agyeman, had no factual basis.

GIADEC stated that neither Ibrahim Mahama nor any company linked to him had expressed interest in the ongoing process to secure a strategic equity partner for the retooling and modernisation of VALCO.

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According to him, his position is based on reports from the VALCO Board and discussions he has had with some board members.

He said the information available to him suggests that the current process may not be in the best interest of the country.

“What I am saying is not like I am just talking. I have the reports of the board and what the board has said,” he said.

“Clearly, what they are trying to do with VALCO will not be in the best interest of Ghanaians or Ghana.”

Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Mr Owusu said although he has not engaged the Ministry or the sector minister directly, he has had discussions with some members of the VALCO Board and intends to engage the relevant authorities.

“I have not spoken to the ministry or the minister, but I have had the opportunity to speak to some of the board members. I will have that engagement with them,” he added.

The TUC Chairman also accused some authorities involved in the process of adopting an anti-union approach, which he believes is making it difficult for workers’ concerns to be properly addressed.

“As I speak today, there is some kind of anti-union activity going on in what they are doing, and that is making it difficult to assess them,” he said.

Mr Owusu said workers and organised labour often face resistance when they raise concerns over national assets, citing previous experiences during the fight over issues involving the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).

“When workers start talking, I can produce some reports or things that have gone on or happened to some of us when we were fighting the TOR issue,” he stated.

“We always become victims, as if we are stepping on the toes of people who just want to get away with what they want, and we become a stumbling block to them.”

He, however, assured that organised labour would continue to defend what it believes is in the interest of ordinary Ghanaians.

“But for God and country, we will stand firm and make sure what is right for the ordinary Ghanaian is protected with the last blood of ours,” he said.

His comments come after the Ghana Integrated Aluminium Development Corporation (GIADEC) dismissed claims that VALCO is being sold to businessman Ibrahim Mahama, describing the allegations as false and misleading.

In a statement signed by GIADEC Chief Executive Officer Reindorf Twumasi Ankrah and issued on Monday, July 27, the corporation said claims circulating in the public domain and attributed to some individuals claiming to be VALCO staff, led by Samuel Watchman Agyeman, had no factual basis.

GIADEC stated that neither Ibrahim Mahama nor any company linked to him had expressed interest in the ongoing process to secure a strategic equity partner for the retooling and modernisation of VALCO.

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Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Mr Boahen said he fears for the country’s future despite its abundant natural and human resources.

“I always say that I am more than 60 years old, and at any moment I may go into my grave. But when I look at the things happening in this country, I weep for Ghana because the future looks bleak,” he said.

According to him, both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) have failed to fully deliver on the promises they made to Ghanaians.

“When I compare what the NDC promised and what the NPP promised, and I look at what some of their leaders have done in this country, I become very worried,” he stated.

Mr Boahen stressed that his criticism was not directed at one political party, insisting that it would be dishonest to pretend only one side was responsible for Ghana’s challenges.

“It will be dishonest on my part to say that because I am an NPP member, my party has done nothing wrong. No. We must be honest with ourselves,” he said.

Reflecting on Ghana’s history, he lamented that the country’s enormous potential had not translated into the level of development many citizens had hoped for.

“When we gained independence, we had the resources, brilliant intellectuals, and strong institutions. We had every opportunity to become a prosperous nation, but look at where we are today,” he lamented.

Mr Boahen criticised successive governments for failing to address corruption and improve public services.

“The NPP comes to power and leaves. The NDC comes to power and leaves. We keep rotating governments, yet corruption continues, public funds are stolen, our roads remain in poor condition and hospitals still lack essential medicines,” he said.

He warned that unless Ghana’s political leadership changes its approach to governance and accountability, the country’s future would remain uncertain.

“All these things make me weep for Ghana because the future is bleak,” he said.

Reiterating his concerns, Mr Boahen added, “I am over 60 years old and I can go to my grave any day, but I worry about the kind of country we are leaving behind for the next generation.”

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Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Mr Boahen said he had anticipated the outcome following Madam Tamakloe Attionu’s extradition to Ghana.

“I said it already. I knew that once she was extradited, she would either be granted bail pending the appeal or the appeal would be expedited and she would be discharged. So I am not shocked by her acquittal,” he said.

According to him, the ruling should not come as a surprise because there have been several instances where high-profile individuals facing criminal cases have been acquitted by the courts.

“We have seen high-profile cases where people have been acquitted. Some have even gone on to hold ministerial positions after being discharged. So why should this one be surprising? It is not surprising at all,” he stated.

However, Mr Boahen noted that the development raises important legal and governance issues.

“But you know, it is quite serious,” he added, without elaborating further.

His comments follow the Court of Appeal’s unanimous decision on Thursday, July 30, 2026, to acquit and discharge Madam Tamakloe Attionu, setting aside her earlier conviction and 10-year prison sentence.

In its 94-page judgment, the three-member panel held that the trial judge lost sight of the constitutional principle that an accused person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The court further ruled that the prosecution failed to prove the charges against the former MASLOC CEO beyond reasonable doubt.

The appellate court also criticised the manner in which the prosecution conducted the case, concluding that the evidence presented did not justify the conviction.

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Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, Mr Boahen said his support for Dr Bawumia was not based solely on party affiliation but on his personal assessment of his character and leadership qualities.

“I am a staunch member of the NPP, and my only prayer in this world is that Dr Bawumia becomes President of Ghana. It is not because I am an NPP member, but because I see him as a God-fearing person who can put the odds together,” he said.

Touching on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, Mr Boahen said he does not believe banning the activity completely is the best solution.

According to him, government should rather focus on regulating small-scale mining and providing the necessary documentation for operators to work legally.

“During the 2024 elections, galamsey was one of the major issues we campaigned on. I said there was no way we could completely ban it. Instead, we should give them documents to regularise their activities so they can also make a living,” he stated.

Mr Boahen argued that large-scale mining companies also benefit from government support, while the state receives limited returns from their operations.

He questioned why young people engaged in small-scale mining to support themselves should be treated differently.

“Large mining companies come in, and government receives only about 10 percent from them. They use our roads, destroy them with their trucks, yet government is left to fix those roads. Meanwhile, when young people are mining to feed themselves, we turn around to attack them,” he said.

The lawyer also expressed disappointment in some Ghanaian leaders since independence, comparing Ghana’s development trajectory with countries such as Malaysia.

“Some of our leaders from independence until today have disappointed us. Jerry Rawlings ruled for 18 years when Malaysia was nowhere near where it is today, but look at Malaysia now,” he noted.

Mr Boahen, however, acknowledged the contributions of some former presidents, mentioning former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s introduction of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy.

“President Kufuor gave us NHIS, Akufo-Addo gave us Free SHS, and when Mahama came to power, there was supposed to be free tertiary education” he said.

Mr Boahen said he speaks with sadness when reflecting on Ghana’s future and what legacy the current generation will leave behind.

“I talk with sadness because very soon I will leave this world, and when we are gone, what will we say our mission on earth was? Sometimes, I see no hope,” he added.

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Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, during the funeral rites of the late apostle at Gomoa Mpota in the Central Region, Mercy Asiedu said Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka supported her at a time when she was young and uncertain about pursuing acting.

“He is my father. He was the one who raised me when I was young. The impact this man had in my life is about 90 percent, so I have to give him that befitting last respect,” she said.

According to her, the late apostle played a significant role in her personal and professional growth, offering guidance, support and opportunities that helped shape her career.

“He has done me well. He put me in a job before, his advice and everything he did for me have really helped me,” she added.

Mercy Asiedu explained that before becoming a recognised actress, she had doubts about her ability to perform, but Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka encouraged her and other young talents to believe in themselves.

“At that time, I didn’t even know I could act, but because of his influence, today I am a well-known actress in Ghana,” she said.

She recalled how the late apostle started a Kristo Asafo concert party group with herself, Nkomode, Akrobeto and other performers, providing them with stories and guidance to develop their acting skills.

“I told him I couldn’t act, but he said no, I could, and that he would give us stories. Those days, myself, Nkomode, Akrobeto and others started the Kristo Asafo concert party with him,” she said.

She said Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka’s discipline, mentorship and encouragement shaped the performers they became.

“He taught us how to act. That is what has made me who I am today. Apostle is part of my life and he has been a great help to me,” she added.

Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners have gathered at Gomoa Mpota for the funeral of Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka despite an interim injunction issued by the Accra High Court seeking to halt the ceremony.

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Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show, Dwaso Nsem, during the funeral rites of the late apostle at Gomoa Mpota in the Central Region, Mercy Asiedu said one of the lessons she continues to remember was his encouragement to overcome fear and believe in herself.

She recalled how Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka motivated her and other young performers while preparing them for performances at the National Theatre.

“What I remember about him most is when he was teaching us a story to go and perform at the National Theatre. He told me that as a human being, I should not allow anything to create fear in me when I want to achieve something in life,” she said.

According to her, the late apostle constantly encouraged them to develop a “can-do spirit” and trust that God would help them achieve their goals.

“He told us that we should always have that can-do spirit within us and say, ‘I can do it.’ When that spirit is in you, God will also help you achieve the results you desire,” she added.

Mercy Asiedu said Apostle Safo Kantanka challenged her whenever she doubted herself and pushed her to become a better performer.

“He told me that whatever I said I could not do, he would make sure I did it and became a bigger person in acting in the future. That is exactly what we are seeing today,” she said.

The actress credited much of her success and recognition in the Ghanaian movie industry to the influence and guidance of the late apostle.

“I am a great and popular actress because of him,” she stated.

Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners have gathered at Gomoa Mpota in the Central Region for the funeral of Apostle Kwadwo Safo Kantanka despite an interim injunction issued by the Accra High Court seeking to halt the ceremony.

The funeral grounds were filled with sympathisers from across the country, with several VIP buses transporting mourners to the venue. Workers were also seen making final preparations, arranging chairs and canopies as funeral activities got underway.

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Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Asamoah said the chiefs and residents were not comfortable joining the inspection team because they were not assured of adequate security protection throughout the exercise.

He explained that although security arrangements were made for the journey, the community was uncertain whether they would receive protection after leaving the main road and entering the mining area.

“We were supposed to meet the minister on the road and then go together to the galamsey site, but we were not sure about our security. We did not know whether they would take us there and bring us back safely,” he said.

According to him, some landguards at the site allegedly threatened to harm them, including cutting off their heads.

“They threatened us that they would cut our heads. The National Security officers were there, and we were asking ourselves whether in Ghana these guards had become more powerful than the national security,” he added.

Mr Asamoah questioned why individuals he described as landguards were allowed to determine who could accompany the minister to the site.

“A whole minister was going for a meeting, but these people were deciding who should join and who should not join, while the minister was there and nothing was done,” he said.

He alleged that the landguards, who were reportedly brought in by persons operating at the galamsey site, were armed and prevented some members of the inspection team from accessing the area.

“The macho landguards were holding guns. They allowed the minister’s vehicle to go to the site, but the soldiers’ vehicle and other cars following the minister, including ours, could not enter,” he claimed.

Mr Asamoah said the situation raises serious concerns about the safety of residents and chiefs who are engaging authorities to address the destruction caused by illegal mining.

The Atronie Traditional Council is calling on the government and security agencies to urgently intervene to halt illegal mining activities and protect the community’s environment before the situation reaches what they describe as irreversible traditional measures.

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The Abusuapanyin of the Atronie Traditional Area, Omono Asamoah, said the community was disappointed with the approach adopted during a planned visit by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources to inspect areas affected by illegal mining activities.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Asamoah said the minister was expected to meet the chiefs at Atronie before proceeding with them to the site where the alleged galamsey activities were taking place.

He explained that the chiefs waited for several hours for the minister, only to be informed by some officials that they should meet him halfway so they could continue the journey together.

“The plan was for the minister to come here, meet the chiefs, and from here we would all go to the place where the galamsey activities were ongoing,” he said.

“We waited for some hours, but later some people came to tell us that the minister wanted us to meet them halfway so we could all go together. That was not the arrangement we had agreed on,” he added.

Mr Asamoah said the chiefs were reluctant to follow the new arrangement because a similar incident in the past nearly resulted in a dangerous situation.

He alleged that when they previously went to confront illegal miners at a mining site, the situation became tense and could have turned violent.

“If we had not retreated at that time, what would have happened? It could have ended in bloodshed. So this time, we told them that if we were going to meet the minister, we needed to see police protection because the minister himself cannot move without security,” he said.

He stressed that the community’s main concern was to ensure peace, protect residents and secure safe drinking water for the people.

“We all want the best for Atronie. We want peace to prevail, we want our water bodies restored, and those affected by galamsey activities must be supported or compensated. Those engaging in illegal mining must also stop,” he said.

Mr Asamoah said after discussions, security arrangements were made for the visit, with a police vehicle carrying six officers and a military vehicle with six personnel joining the minister’s team.

His comments come after the Bono Regional Security Council (REGSEC) directed all mining companies operating in the region to submit their operational licences, permits and other statutory documents for verification following concerns over the pollution of the Atronie River.

The directive followed a viral video by the chiefs of Atronie alleging that illegal mining activities had polluted the river. REGSEC subsequently visited the site with the chiefs to assess the situation.

In a statement, the Council said the chiefs indicated that the Atronie River flows from the direction of Anomaa, suggesting that the pollution could have originated from upstream mining activities.

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Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme, Dr Domfeh said issues such as youth unemployment require urgent attention and should be a top priority for government.

He pointed to concerns which indicated that youth unemployment remains a major challenge, with the rate reportedly reaching 32 per cent nationally and about 49 per cent in the Greater Accra Region.

According to him, the unemployment situation makes it difficult to claim that Ghanaians are better off simply because some economic indicators have improved.

“If you come and boast that Ghanaians are better because a lot of young people are employed, that does not reflect the reality on the ground,” he said.

Dr Domfeh said the number of unemployed young people seeking jobs remains worrying, adding that the situation is evident in the increasing number of job applications received by individuals and organisations.

“If I tell you the number of CVs on my desk, it is shocking and not easy. That is why I keep saying that job creation must be our number one priority,” he stated.

He also raised concerns about Ghana’s increasing dependence on imports, describing it as a threat to the country’s economic future.

Dr Domfeh criticised what he described as excessive reliance on imported goods, arguing that Ghana must focus more on strengthening local production.

“I don’t like the aggressive promotion of imports. A country cannot build a sustainable future when it continues to depend heavily on imported goods,” he said.

He cited Ghana’s import figures as a concern, noting that the country’s total imports increased significantly within a short period.

“Our total imports for March were about US$3.99 billion, and by May it had increased to US$9.4 billion. Three months later, we are using huge amounts of money to import, and that is not the right direction for the economy,” he explained.

Dr Domfeh stressed that government must prioritise policies that create jobs, support local industries and reduce the country’s dependence on foreign goods.

He said while economic stability is important, the ultimate measure of success should be whether ordinary Ghanaians, particularly young people, have access to decent employment opportunities.

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Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem programme, Dr Domfeh said the debt-to-GDP ratio had already started declining before the current administration took office, largely due to measures introduced under the previous government’s debt restructuring process.

His comments follow Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson’s assurance that government is not in a hurry to return to the international capital market despite renewed investor interest.

Dr Forson, while presenting the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review in Parliament on Thursday, July 23, said Ghana’s debt situation had improved significantly, with the debt-to-GDP ratio falling to 45 per cent and continuing to decline.

However, Dr Domfeh argued that the reduction was largely influenced by the debt restructuring agreement reached with creditors.

“When Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo was leaving office, Ghana’s debt-to-GDP ratio had dropped to 61.8 per cent in December 2024,” he said.

He explained that after the new administration assumed office, Ghana’s creditors met with government on January 29, 2025, as part of the debt restructuring process, leading to further reductions in the debt burden.

“About US$2.8 billion, which was part of the debt restructuring, contributed significantly to the reduction in the debt-to-GDP ratio. The restructuring moved the ratio from about 80 per cent to 51.8 per cent, and further adjustments helped bring it down to around 45 per cent,” he explained.

According to him, it would therefore be inaccurate to attribute the entire reduction to the current government’s policies.

“So, if you say it is because of the things you have done well that the debt-to-GDP ratio has reduced, then that is not entirely true,” he stated.

Dr Domfeh said although international credit rating agencies have acknowledged Ghana’s economic progress, the improvement has also been linked to the successful debt restructuring exercise.

“Let us pay attention and stop the propaganda and politics we attach to the economy,” he urged.

He said the Finance Minister could have simply stated that Ghana’s debt-to-GDP ratio had fallen to 45 per cent instead of comparing it to previous figures and suggesting that the reduction was solely due to the current government’s efforts.

“It would have been better for Ato Forson to say the debt-to-GDP ratio is at 45 per cent and leave it there, rather than saying it was 61 per cent and because of their management they have brought it down to 45 per cent. That is not entirely accurate,” he said.

Dr Domfeh further explained that the previous government’s debt restructuring efforts, particularly the Eurobond restructuring, created some fiscal space for the economy.

He said Ghana’s US$13.1 billion Eurobond debt was subjected to a restructuring process, which resulted in a significant reduction in the country’s repayment obligations.

“The creditors agreed to a haircut, which reduced part of the debt we owed. They also extended the maturity period of some debts because the economy was struggling, giving the country more time to repay,” he explained.

According to him, those measures contributed to improving Ghana’s fiscal position before the current government took over.

“Some of the fiscal space we are enjoying today is because of the work done under the previous government. So, if the Finance Minister says the reduction is only because of their fiscal prudence, then that is not the full picture,” Dr Domfeh added.

He, however, acknowledged the importance of maintaining economic discipline and ensuring that the gains from the debt restructuring are sustained.

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