In a statement, she wrote: “Let dialogue and respect for one another lead. The conversations around mission schools reveal how much of our rich history many are yet to discover or choose to overlook. We need to understand how the history of colonial education policies manifests in today’s challenges.”

Highlighting historical disparities, she noted: “The first secondary school in Ghana, Mfantsipim, is 149 years old, established in 1876 by the colonial Methodist missionaries. The first secondary school in the entire Northern Region—Tamale Secondary School—was established by the British Colonial Authorities in 1951, making it 74 years old. The historical gaps in educational infrastructure across the country are neither the doing of today’s Christians nor Muslims.”

She warned against religious segregation in schools, stating: “To say that Christians should only attend mission schools and Muslims only attend Muslim schools misses the point and is a dangerous proposition for our national cohesion. This is not in line with the vision of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah through the boarding school system.”

Urging measured discussions, she added: “Let us put aside emotions and talk to each other as citizens, friends, and neighbours. When faced with difficult matters involving religious sentiments, let us be guided by the values of the same faiths we seek to protect—whether Muslim, Christian, Traditionalist, etc. God help us all.”

The petition was delivered after a march dubbed “Agro Ne Fom,” organised by a group of citizens who argue that the Special Prosecutor has not effectively carried out his mandate.

Lead convenor Apostle Abraham Larbi Lincoln said the demonstration was intended to draw attention to what the group views as inefficiencies at the Office of the Special Prosecutor.

Receiving the petition on behalf of the President, Shamima Muslim underscored the government’s commitment to upholding civil liberties, particularly freedom of expression.

“It is good when people exercise their constitutional right to freedom of expression. His Excellency has assured all citizens—across the political divide—that he is a president who believes firmly in the rights of the people.

“No citizen must feel fearful in expressing their rights. Your demonstration today is simply an activation of our constitution, which is a living document,” she stated.

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According to Ms. Muslim, the short political cycle not only fuels instability but also promotes wasteful spending on frequent elections and disrupts long-term national planning.

“It is true that the four-year term is wholly insufficient if we are truly to change the path and trajectory of our development. Expensive elections that begin and start upon the end of another election don’t look like a practical way of managing very scarce resources,” she said in an interview with TV3.

She explained that Ghana’s governance system leaves limited time for effective leadership, as administrations spend much of their tenure on appointments and election preparations.

“Year one is literally spent making appointments. By year two, even in year one, people are already talking about who leads which political party and who takes over from which political party,” Ms. Muslim noted, adding that frequent elections drain resources that could otherwise be channelled into development priorities.

Acknowledging concerns about potential abuse of power, she suggested constitutional reforms that could balance continuity with accountability.

“Even if we do not want to extend the term limits, we must look at the possibility of allowing multiple terms for political party candidates. Once a political party elects someone to lead, that person should be able to go more than two terms if the people themselves see that we are on a certain transformative path that requires continuation.”

She stressed that voter power would remain the ultimate safeguard against poor leadership.

“If we have a bad president, we are not stuck with them. You simply don’t vote for that person for a second term. But if a political party feels it has a long-term plan depending on its performance, the mentality towards development will be different from one that feels it has so limited a time,” Ms. Muslim said.

She further proposed that allowing political parties the flexibility to retain high-performing leaders could enhance policy continuity and strengthen accountability.

“Allow the parties to decide who they want to lead them, even beyond a two-term limit. If a party decides to vote someone for three terms because that person’s vision is delivering results, let them. Then the nation goes into an election to decide if it still wants this party or not,” she added.

Ms. Muslim suggested that such an arrangement could provide governments with a 12- to 15-year window to pursue consistent development policies but cautioned that longer terms do not automatically guarantee better leadership.

“It is true that longevity doesn’t always guarantee good leadership. In that case, it is the people who will make the difference. Citizens must assert their right to choice and push for the necessary reforms when leadership goes off track,” she said.

Concluding her remarks, Ms. Muslim urged policymakers to leverage the ongoing constitutional review process to rethink Ghana’s governance framework for long-term national progress.

“Possibly, the Constitutional Review Committee will give us what we need to have this conversation because it would be detrimental to the country if we don’t.”

Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, Shamima said the late former First Lady was a powerful figure in Ghana’s political and social development, noting that her contributions through the 31st December Women’s Movement transformed the lives of countless Ghanaian women.

“You cannot talk about women’s empowerment in Ghana without mentioning Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings. Her movement mobilized women across the country to engage in economic activity and unleashed their creative potential. Even those who disagreed with her can only honour her legacy,” she said.

She praised the late former First Lady for standing firmly by her husband, former President Jerry John Rawlings, throughout the PNDC and NDC eras.

Shamima Muslim described the late Nana Konadu as “a strong and inspiring personality who championed girl-child education and women’s rights.”

Meanwhile, President John Mahama has directed that all national flags fly at half-mast from Friday, October 24, to Sunday, October 26, 2025, as part of a three-day national mourning period.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady, passed away on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at the Ridge Hospital in Accra after a short illness.

Source: Farida Seidu| Adomonline

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Speaking on the Citi FM, Madam Muslim acknowledged the media’s critical role in informing the public but urged restraint in the use of graphic visuals, out of respect for the deceased and their families.

“We pray that the media continue to do a dignified coverage of the disaster,” she said.

“We have pleaded for platforms to delete the harrowing visuals from various networks so that we can provide dignified coverage and still balance the need for the public to know what happened, respecting the family and their spouses.”

Ms. Muslim stressed the need to avoid the circulation of distressing images, particularly those captured shortly after the crash in the Adansi Akrofuom District of the Ashanti Region.

In the same interview, she disclosed that the government has formed a planning committee to oversee the funeral and burial arrangements of the deceased.

“We will communicate in real time the various actions that we are going to be taking,” she noted. “It is safe to say that we are all doing what it takes to ease the pain for the families, the government, and put in place all the necessary plans.”

She added that the planning committee is working to ensure a smooth and solemn process for honouring the victims.

“There is a planning committee at work to ensure a smooth process towards what should be a very simple process,” she said.

The crash, which claimed the lives of Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, and six others, has prompted a wave of national mourning, with flags flying at half-mast and tributes pouring in from across Ghana and the international community.

Source :Citinewsroom

The incident, which took place on Friday, July 11, at the St. Peter’s Polling Station, resulted in chaos and injuries to several individuals, including New Patriotic Party (NPP) stalwart and former minister, Mavis Hawa Koomson.

Speaking on Joy News’ AM Show on Monday, July 14, Ms Muslim urged political parties to reassess their mobilisation strategies, particularly where young people are placed in harm’s way.

“We have all agreed that political parties have mobilised vigilante groups in the past. They have also used individuals to protect the ballot. Sometimes, those activities lead to violence,” she noted.

Drawing on her personal experience as a mother, she issued a heartfelt plea:
“And I, as a mother of two boys and two girls, would never encourage my son to go and put himself in a line of risk that could lead to his death. I won’t do that as a person.”

She called on political parties to dismantle structures that endanger the lives of their members.
“I think political parties ought not to organise around vehicles that would threaten the lives of their own members,” she added.

Ms Muslim’s remarks come amid heightened national concern over the resurgence of political vigilante groups and their involvement in Ghana’s electoral process.

Source: Emmanuel Tetteh

She made the comment in response to a viral video that captures the CEO of GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, handing out large sums of US dollars to self-styled evangelist Patricia Oduro Koranteng, popularly known as Nana Agradaa.

Speaking on the AM Show on Joy News, Shamima Muslim confirmed that the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has summoned the acting CEO of Ghana GoldBod for questioning regarding the incident, which has attracted significant public attention.

She was quick to add, however, that she was not aware of the specifics or outcome of the meeting.

Shamima Muslim emphasized that the government is treating the matter with the utmost seriousness, regardless of its perceived scale.

“Every action, however minor or major, is taken seriously by the government—as we should,” she remarked. “One of the greatest tests of this administration will be its congruence with its stated values.”

She further noted that the government’s high standards for governance require it to be accountable to the public.

“If we set a high standard for ourselves, then it is fair that Ghanaians will want to hold us to those standards,” she explained.

“Especially after years of eroded governance practices, it’s essential that we live up to the progress people recognise in our efforts to clean up governance,” she added.

Shamima Muslim concluded by saying, “To whom much is given, much is expected—even if those expectations are ones we’ve brought upon ourselves.”

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Her remarks followed the March 19, 2025, raid on the residence of former Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Ernest Addison by National Security operatives.

On the same day, journalist Okatakyie Afrifa Mensah was reportedly arrested and later released. Additionally, security personnel allegedly searched the home of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta on February 11, 2025.

These incidents have drawn criticism from NPP leaders, including Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, who raised concerns about potential political persecution and the need to uphold democratic principles.

Speaking on Accra-based TV3 on Thursday, March 20, 2025, Shamima Muslim stated that these operations are part of ongoing investigations targeting individuals of interest.

“I’m yet to get to the office to receive a full briefing on the matter, but what I can say is that there are some investigations ongoing, and persons of interest will be invited or engaged to assist in the process,” she said.

She emphasized that as long as due process is followed, there should be no cause for concern.

“We should execute these processes with due recourse to due process, and once that is done, there should be no concerns,” she added.

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Speaking on Joy FM’s PM Express, Shamima Muslim stressed the need for Ghanaians to demand accountability from public officials, emphasizing that no administration should be allowed to misuse public funds without consequences.

“We must not give political actors any power, and that includes us, the NDC. We must not give them any power to think that at any point in time, they can take the citizens for granted, do what they want, do as they please with our collective resources, and go and enjoy whatever loot they may have illegally acquired through the instrument of their position of power,” she stated.

Shamima Muslim noted that several major corruption scandals occurred under the Akufo-Addo government, yet no significant action was taken.

She referenced the infamous moniker of President Akufo-Addo as a “clearing agent,” arguing that his administration actively dismissed corruption allegations rather than investigating them thoroughly.

“There’s a reason why His Excellency, the former president, was called a clearing agent. Why should we not take a second look at that? If the outgoing administration showed no commitment in even investigating some of these matters but rather cleared some of these cases even before investigations were to commence or be completed, then there’s a fundamental problem with governance,” she asserted.

Citing specific cases, she mentioned the controversial National Cathedral project, where $58 million was spent with little to show for it, and the Pwalugu Dam project, which reportedly saw $12 million expended without any tangible development.

“These are the main questions that require looking into,” she emphasized. “And of course, the raft of cases of politically exposed persons acquiring state assets for pittance are issues we need to ask questions about. If they need to return those assets, they should return those assets.”

She assured the public that under the incoming administration, accountability would be prioritized without unjust persecution.

“If I need to assure Ghanaians of anything, it is that under the watch of His Excellency, no one will be unjustifiably persecuted,” she said, adding that the Attorney General is expected to outline measures to address these concerns.

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She reassured the public that the reintroduction of the tribunals is solely intended to enhance the participation of local communities in the delivery of justice, and there should be no cause for alarm or fear.

The incoming Attorney General (AG) has announced the reintroduction of tribunals within the judicial system as a means to help alleviate the heavy workload on the country’s traditional courts.

According to the constitution, the establishment of regional tribunals is designed to allow local communities to engage in the justice process, thereby reducing the burden on national courts.

However, in 2002, the then-NPP government abolished various community and circuit tribunals.

The NDC now seeks to amend this and reintroduce those tribunals.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, January 18, she criticized Afenyo-Markin for taking an overly dominant role in the proceedings and shaping the tone of the process to suit his agenda.

“It is too early to say that the Chairman has been weak or has allowed Afenyo-Markin to act like a co-chair, but observations show that Afenyo-Markin has been very deliberate and intentional in overshadowing the Chairman,” she stated.

Shamima noted that the Chairman of the Committee has faced criticism, even from within his own party, for granting Afenyo-Markin too much freedom during the vetting.

According to her, this approach risks disrupting the process. “You can see a marked difference in how the NDC facilitates a freer discourse compared to the NPP when they are in power,” she said.

Citing past examples, she compared Afenyo-Markin’s conduct to that of Joe Osei-Owusu (Joe Wise), who chaired the Appointments Committee during the NPP’s administration. She claimed Joe Wise adopted a dismissive and authoritarian tone, especially towards younger members like Alhassan Suhuyini, creating an atmosphere of palpable disdain.

Madam Muslim also criticized the NPP for failing to implement the reforms they often advocate while in opposition.

“It seems the NPP and their agents preach reforms when in opposition but abandon these ideals when they gain power,” she added.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Newsfile, Madam Muslim emphasised that equality is about providing equal opportunities and removing barriers, rather than women overtaking men in positions of power.

“Ghana has ratified many conventions around the issues of gender equality, but we are so consumed with names and framing that we think equality…

“There is a misconception about the meaning of equality that makes people quite sensitive to the use of it,” she expressed.

She pointed out that these misunderstandings contribute to resistance against gender equality initiatives.

She therefore clarified that equality is about ensuring everyone has the same opportunities and eliminating obstacles that hinder participation.

“If we understood that equality at its base is about equality of opportunities and removing barriers to participation, we wouldn’t think that it is women coming to lord it over men or women wanting to take over their positions,” she explained.

Her statement comes after the passage of the Affirmative Action Gender Equity bill on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.

Madam Muslim believes that the implementation of the Act after it becomes a law and its accompanying instruments will bridge the gender gap.

She believes that such legal frameworks are essential for fostering true gender equality in Ghana.

The purpose of the Act is to effectively address social, cultural, economic, and political gender imbalances in the country, stemming from historical discrimination against women and persistent patriarchal socio-cultural systems and norms.

The Act seeks to ensure gender equity in both the public and private sectors.

In an interview on Channel One TV, the media professional and gender activist cited the underrepresentation of women in politics as a significant factor in her decision to enter the field.

Reflecting on her previous career as a journalist, she expressed satisfaction with her professional conduct.

She highlighted her commitment to professional integrity, emphasizing that she had never used any media platform to promote the agenda of any political party, regardless of her personal inclinations.

“The decision to go into politics was not forced on me and perhaps from my history, my family and where I am currently, I could still be active behind the scenes. There are a lot of people who support political parties behind the scenes, but I wasn’t going to use a media platform to execute the political agenda of any political party whether that party was traditionally my preference in terms of ideology and some other considerations. I wasn’t going to do that. ”

“I am glad that I was able to do a very professional job that people today can say that yes you did execute your job professionally guided by the ethics of the profession and we wouldn’t even had known that you had any sympathies whatsoever for the NDC. I am happy about that,” Ms Muslim stated.

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According to her, Mr. Mahama is as an honest leader who acknowledges challenges and takes steps to address them.

Speaking during the launch of the NDC campaign in Tamale on Saturday, July 27, she said “he [Mahama] is a trusted human being and an honest leader who concedes when there are challenges.

In contrast, she criticized President Akufo-Addo for attributing all issues to the outbreak of COVID-19.

Ms. Muslim urged Ghanaians to vote massively for the NDC and John Mahama in the December polls.

“Today our nation is in crisis, our nation is at the cross roads because of the deep mismanagement and recklessness of the NPP under the leadership of Nana Akufo-Addo, Bawumia and Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh (Napo),” she stressed.

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