The Coalition of Parents of Students in Private Institutions (COPOSIPI) has congratulated Mr John Dramani Mahama on his election as the President of the Republic of Ghana and wished him success in his tenure.
The Association has also commended Ghanaians for their peaceful participation in the democratic process, which has once again demonstrated the country’s commitment to democratic governance.
Mr Simon Gbene, Executive Secretary of COPOSIPI, stated these in a press release issued and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Tarkwa.
The statement explained that as a coalition, they were keenly aware of the importance of a peaceful and transparent electoral process.
The statement has, therefore, urged the Electoral Commission (EC) to take steps to digitalize the collation process in collaboration with political parties and civil society organizations such as Coalition of Domestic Election Observers (CODEO).
“This move will not only enhance the transparency and credibility of the electoral process but also help prevent unnecessary deaths at collation centers,” the statement added.
The COPOSIPI said they looked forward to work with the incoming administration to address the pressing concerns of parents and students in private institutions.
President-elect John Dramani Mahama has appointed Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the North Tongu Member of Parliament, as Chairman of a preparatory team towards the execution of his anti-corruption agenda.
The team is to receive and gather information from members of the public and other sources on suspected acts of corruption.
The members are Mr Daniel Domelevo, a former Auditor-General, Commissioner of Police (COP) Nathaniel Kofi Boakye (rtd), Mr Martin Kpebu, a Private Legal Practitioner, and Mr Raymond Archer, an Investigative Journalist.
The activities of the team form part of a preparatory measure towards the rollout of the President-elect’s promise to recover proceeds of corruption and hold such persons accountable when he assumes office.
A statement issued by Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson, Mahama Transition Team, copied to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday, said anti-corruption, with Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) was at the core of Mr Mahama’s 2024 campaign and he intended to hit the ground running on those commitments.
The Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adams, will present the Government’s expenditure in advance of the Appropriation Bill to Parliament this week.
This is to secure approval for the salaries of public sector workers from January to March 2025.
The document, which requests the House to approve GH₵68,134,674,527 from the Consolidated Fund, had been a subject of debate.
Minority Members of Parliament on Tuesday accused Dr Amin Adams of allegedly refusing to present the document to undermine activities of the next government.
However, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, debunked that accusation, saying the finance minister was engaged in Transition Team meetings and would do the needful.
“Mr Speaker, I think the Minister himself will be in charge. But as you know, there’s a role for him to play at the transitions team meeting.”
“… He has been there the whole day and Mr Speaker, there is also a cabinet meeting at 5 pm so I am just waiting to inform him that he needs to present the expenditure.”
“I guess tomorrow it should be ready or maybe latest the day after tomorrow but certainly in the course of the week it will be presented.”
The presentation of the expenditure in advance of the Appropriation is crucial to enable the government to meet its expenditure obligations before the coming into operation of the Appropriation Act for the 2025 fiscal year.
The Appropriation Bill, which outlines planned government expenditures for January to March 2025, when laid before the House would, will be referred to the Finance Committee for review before moving back to the House for debate and approval.
The delay in presenting the Bill during Parliament’s initial sitting on Monday, December 16, was attributed to the Finance Minister’s ongoing engagements with the transition team following the recently concluded general election.
The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, deferred the presentation on Monday noting the absence of an authorised representative to present the Bill on the Finance Minister’s behalf.
He assured the House that the Bill would be tabled within the week.
“…Honourable members, I know the report is ready because I was given a copy to admit for the consideration of the business committee which I did. But the challenge is who to present it on the Minister’s behalf.”
The work of the incoming National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration will be enhanced by this Appropriation Bill, which provides the fiscal framework for sustaining essential government operations in early 2025.
It is expected to enable the NDC to swiftly address fiscal imbalances, stabilise the economy, and lay the groundwork for implementing immediate policy priorities before presenting its first comprehensive budget later in the year.
Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, the Overlord of Gonjaland, has congratulated President-elect John Dramani Mahama on his victory at the December 7, 2024, polls.
The congratulatory message was delivered to the President-elect in Accra on behalf of the Yagbonwura by a delegation of Chiefs from Gonjaland led by Damongowura Seidu Kelly Boresa (I).
Other members of the delegation include Mankpanwura Achode (l), Kpembewura Ndefoso Banbange (lV), and the Linguist of Yagbonwura Adam Seidu (Adamsey).
The Yagbonwura urged President-elect Mahama to prioritise Ghana’s socioeconomic development, strive for a good name and leave a lasting legacy.
He noted that his son (President-elect Mahama) was a peace-loving person and that he had so much trust in him, believing that he would move this country very far in terms of development and peace.
He asked him to focus on development, so that at the end of the day, he would make a good name, which is what Gonjas stood for.
He also thanked Ghanaians for reposing trust in President-elect Mahama
The delegation, on behalf of the Yagbonwura, expressed gratitude to President-elect Mahama for constructing handing over a beautiful palace to the Yagbonwura some few weeks ago.
President-elect Mahama, who is royal of Gonjaland, thanked Yagbonwura for sending a delegation to congratulate him on his election; stating that “the victory is for him.”
He recounted that as tradition demands, upon winning the NDC flagbearership race, he visited the Yagbonwura, who received the news with joy.
“I know that since that day, he has been praying for me and traveling across the nation, visiting his colleague chiefs and speaking for me,” President-elect Mahama stated.
“I wish to go home during the festivities to thank him and take the victory to him.”
The President-elect reiterated that the real work begins after winning the presidential election, saying, “the easy part is done, the difficult part is working to ensure that Ghana takes its place as the black star of Africa.”
President-elect Mahama extended his condolences to the Yagbonwura on the demise of his wife.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Members of Parliament (MPs) elect from the Savannah Region, who were present at the meeting include Mr. Mahama Shaibu, the MP-Elect for Daboya-Mankrago; Alhaji Mumuni Alhassan, MP-Elect for Salaga North; Mr. Andrew Dari Chiwitey, MP/MP-Elect for Sawla/Tuna/Kalba; Mr. John Jinapor, MP/MP-Elect for Yapei Kusawgu; and Mr. Yusif Sulemana, MP/MP-Elect for Bole Bamboi.
The rest at the meeting were Mr. Adam Mutawakilu, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Damongo and also NDC Parliamentary Candidate for Damongo in the 2024 general election.
Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, Chairman, National Association of Charismatic and Christian Churches (NACCC), has presented a nine-point proposal for national development to the President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, for his consideration.
The proposal includes collaborative efforts to address poverty and unemployment; support for healthcare delivery; promoting national peace and social cohesion; support for education through mission schools, and tax incentives for corporate social responsibility.
The rest are community designated spaces for churches, institution of a National Day of Prayer, 120-Day Social Contract – Operation Recover All Loot (ORL) and addressing Illegal mining (Galamsey) and environmental degradation.
Archbishop Duncan-Williams, who is also the Presiding Archbishop and General Overseer of Action Chapel International, presented the proposal to the President-elect at his office at Cantonment in Accra, on behalf of the NACCC and the Apostolic Fathers of the Christian faith in Ghana.
Members of the delegation include Bishop Dr Gideon Titi-Ofei, Secretary, NACCC, Dr Lawrence Tetteh, President of Worldwide Miracle Outreach, Rev Sam Korankye Ankrah, Apostle General of the Royal House Chapel International, and Rev Dr Isaac Quaye, General Overseer, Word of Life Christian Centre.
Archbishop Duncan-Williams extended hearty congratulations to Mr Mahama on his victory in the December 7 polls.
“We commend your vision for national renewal and inclusive governance. He said as partners in Ghana’s progress, the church had long contributed to education, health, social welfare, and the spiritual development of citizens,” he said.
“…We know God will guide you, preserve you, and give you what it takes to move this nation, according to his mandate, to where he wants to take this nation to.”
“And we want to pray and believe that in your term of office, the negative narratives that have plagued the governments of this country will change and we will see a new and beautiful government.”
Mr Mahama expressed gratitude to Archbishop Duncan-Williams and all the Apostolic Fathers for their prayer support for him.
“I want to express my gratitude for the guidance and counsel you provided during my time in opposition.”
Touching on the circumstances leading to his victory in the December 7 polls, the President-elect said it had been evident that Ghana was crying for a reset and showed by the recent surveys, which indicated the people were yearning for change and a new direction.
“The responsibility has been placed on me to chart this new course. I pray that God grants us the spirit of unity to work together and move Ghana forward,” Mr Mahama said.
He said Ghana was once touted as the “Black Star” of Africa, but the nation had declined significantly.
“At several international conferences I attended, people were deeply concerned about what was happening to Ghana. However, we are determined to turn things around and restore our country’s pride,” he said.
President-elect Mahama mentioned cited the collapse of businesses, growing disillusionment among young people, and loss of faith in the nation’s democracy as some of the crises Ghana faced, adding; “We must address these issues and restore trust”.
He said recent security briefings showed that the security situation remained a significant concern, both internally and externally, and urgent measures were needed to protect the nation.
He hailed the role of the church in the educational and healthcare sectors of the economy and pledged to strengthen partnerships with the churches to manage schools and hospitals effectively.
The Founder and General Overseer of Action Chapel International, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams has earned his first-ever nomination for the prestigious Ghana Movie Awards for the role he played in the movie A Taste of Sin by Frank Rajah Arase Film.
He was nominated in the Cameo Actor category ahead of the awards ceremony, set to take place on December 24, 2024, at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
The Ghana Movie Awards is one of the most respected events in the Ghanaian film industry, celebrating outstanding achievements in filmmaking.
This year’s nominations highlight the contributions of talented actors, actresses, directors, and producers who have made a significant impact on the industry in the past year.
A total of 21 awards will be presented, with categories including Achievement in Cinematography, Achievement in Directing, Achievement in Editing, Achievement in Costume and Wardrobe, Production Design, and Achievement in Sound Mixing and Editing.
Other notable categories include Best Short Movie, Best Documentary, Best Movie African Collaboration, and Best Picture.
Among the competitive categories, nominees for Actor in a Leading Role include Kwadwo Nkansah Lilwin, James Gardiner, Adjetey Anang, Anthony Woode, and Jeffery Nortey.
The Actress in a Leading Role nominees are Nadia Buari, Jackie Appiah, Bless Fortune, Nana Ama McBrown, Emelia Brobbey, and Habiba Sinare.
Nominees for Actor in a Supporting Role include John Dumelo, Kofi Adjorlolor, Van Vicker, Majid Michel, and Clement Bonney (Mr Beautiful), while the Actress in a Supporting Role category features Sonia Ibrahim, Roselyn Ngissah, Sandra Ababio, Christabel Ekeh, Tracy Boakye, Kalsoume Sinare, Maame Ofosuah Anim, Sika Dzuali, and Chichi Neblett.
The Discovery of the Year category will see Rosemond Brown (Akuapim Poloo), Frank Ntiamoah, Mawena Azumah, Martina Dwamena (Asantewaa), Sherita Adu, Quesh, and Augustina Aboabo competing for the title.
Fred Nuamah, CEO of the Ghana Movie Awards, has promised an unforgettable night of glamour and entertainment, noting that the dress code for the ceremony is strictly formal, with tuxedos and Kente for men and evening gowns for women.
The Ghana Movie Awards, established in 2010, has become a key event in celebrating Ghanaian cinema.
The first edition of the awards ceremony was held on December 25 at the AICC.
The Supreme Court is set to deliver its judgment on two pivotal lawsuits challenging the legality of the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly referred to as the anti-gay bill.
The decision, expected to shape the nation’s legal and human rights landscape, comes after months of intense public debate and political contention surrounding it.
The anti-gay bill, widely criticised by human rights groups and supported by religious and traditional institutions, seeks to criminalise activities associated with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI) advocacy.
The bill, when assented to, will impose penalties on individuals promoting or funding pro-LGBTQI activities and even extend criminal liability to those who provide indirect support to such initiatives.
Proponents of the bill argue that it is necessary to safeguard Ghanaian cultural and family values, which they claim are under threat from what they see as the imposition of foreign ideologies.
Opponents, however, decry the bill as a violation of fundamental human rights, including freedoms of expression, association, and equality under the law.
The lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the anti-gay bill were brought by Richard Dela Sky, a journalist and lawyer, and Amanda Odioi, an equality and inclusive advocate.
Their petitions to the Supreme Court raise two critical legal arguments stating that Parliament did not meet the required quorum as outlined in Articles 102 and 104 of the Constitution when the bill was passed.
The plaintiffs allege that these thresholds were not met during the legislative process for the anti-gay bill. They argue that the lack of quorum renders the entire process unconstitutional and, therefore, null and void.
Barcelona striker Lamine Yamal got the 2024 Golden Boy title after helping Spain win the European Championship.
Yamal, who turned 17 the day before the Euro 2024 final, helped ‘La Roja’ capture the championship with a 2-1 victory over England.
The youngster was also named Young Player of the Tournament, as well as Goal of the Tournament, for his semi-final strike against France.
Yamal was supposed to travel to Turin to collect the Golden Boy award before his club announced earlier on Monday that he is expected to be sidelined for three to four weeks because of an ankle injury.
He sustained the injury in the team’s 1-0 loss to Leganes at home in the Spanish league on Sunday.
A high-ranking Russian general suspected by Ukraine of using chemical weapons against Ukrainian forces was slain in Moscow by Ukraine’s SBU intelligence service on Tuesday morning, in the most high-profile death of its type. Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, commander of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Protection Troops, and his aide were murdered outside an apartment building when a bomb placed in an electric scooter exploded, according to Russia’s Investigative Committee, which investigates severe crimes.
An SBU source told Reuters that the attack was carried out by Ukraine’s spy service. “The liquidation of the chief of the radiation and chemical protection troops of the Russian Federation is the work of the SBU,” a source informed me.
According to the source, a scooter with explosives detonated, killing Kirillov and his assistant as they stepped out of a building on Ryazansky Prospekt in Moscow.
Unverified video footage of the attack circulating on social media showed two men exiting the building to get into a car followed by a large explosion as the two men remained on the pavement. Reuters could not independently verify the footage.
Kirillov, 54, is the most senior Russian military officer to be assassinated inside Russia by Ukraine and his murder is likely to prompt the Russian authorities to review security protocols for the army’s top brass and to find a way to avenge his killing.
Former president Dmitry Medvedev, now a senior Russian security official, was cited by the state RIA news agency as saying that Ukraine’s military and political leadership now faced imminent revenge for Kirillov’s murder.
Moscow holds Ukraine responsible for a string of high-profile assassinations on its soil designed to weaken morale and punish those Kyiv regards guilty of war crimes. Ukraine, which says Russia’s war against it poses an existential threat to the Ukrainian state, has made clear it regards such targeted killings as a legitimate tool.
Reuters photographs and video from the scene showed a shattered entrance to an apartment building with bomb-blackened bricks and the doors hanging off their hinges and what looked like two bodies lying beneath black plastic sheets on the snow.
Investigators said they had opened a criminal case into the murder of two servicemen. Law enforcement sources told Russian media a terrorism case was likely to be opened.
Item 1 of 4 A view shows a scene of an explosion, which reportedly killed two army officers, in Moscow, Russia December 17, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov
[1/4]A view shows a scene of an explosion, which reportedly killed two army officers, in Moscow, Russia December 17, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
KIRILLOV WORKED ‘FEARLESSLY FOR THE MOTHERLAND’
Russia denies Ukrainian allegations it uses chemical weapons on the battlefield and Kirillov, who was married with two sons, was himself sometimes shown on state TV giving briefings at the Defence Ministry in which he accused Ukraine of violating nuclear safety protocols or the West of various alleged crimes.
Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, paid tribute to Kirillov, saying he had worked “fearlessly” for “the Motherland” to expose what she said were the West’s chemical weapons-related and other crimes and what Moscow says were cover-ups in Syria and elsewhere.
Britain in October imposed sanctions, opens new tab on Kirillov and his nuclear defence forces for using riot control agents and over multiple reports of the use of the toxic choking agent chloropicrin on the battlefield.
Such agents, Ukraine has alleged, are used to disorientate its troops leaving them unable to defend themselves against Russian attacks.
Kirillov was murdered a day after Ukrainian state prosecutors were reported to have charged him in absentia with the alleged use of banned chemical weapons, the Kyiv Independent, opens new tab cited the SBU as saying at the time.
The Lieutenant General was also listed in a sprawling unofficial Ukrainian database of people considered to be enemies of the country called Myrotvorets (Peacemaker). A photograph of Kirillov on the website was overwritten with the word “Liquidated” in red letters on Tuesday morning.
Russia says Ukraine has carried out a string of targeted assassinations on its soil since the start of Moscow’s full-scale war on Ukraine in February 2022.
The most high-profile cases include the 2022 killing of Darya Dugina, the daughter of Russian nationalist ideologue Alexander Dugin, in a car bomb attack, the murder of pro-war blogger Vladlen Tatarsky in a 2023 cafe bombing, and the shooting last year of a Russian submarine commander accused of war crimes by Kyiv.
Russia’s radioactive, chemical and biological defence troops, known as RKhBZ, which Kirillov commanded, are special forces who operate under conditions of radioactive, chemical and biological contamination and who are tasked with protecting ground forces operating in extreme conditions.
The Ghana Health Service (GHS), has donated tricycles and motorbikes to health facilities nationwide to help improve primary healthcare delivery in the country.
The donation, which took place at the Ghana Health Service, Central Medical Workshop in Tema, was aimed at enhancing the mobility of healthcare workers and strengthening access to essential health services.
The equipment, consisting of 250 motorbikes and 1,150 tricycles, were presented to representatives of various health centres to enable some of the facilities to run a 24-hour service.
Dr. Patrick Kumah-Aboagye, the Director-General of the Ghana Health Service, stated that the donation aligned with their broader mission to ensure that every Ghanaian had access to timely and quality healthcare, regardless of their location.
Dr. Kumah-Aboagye indicated that the move would enable service providers to bring patients to the facilities during outreach, pick up supplies, motivate them to intensify outreach comfortably, and not be hindered to render quality services.
He mentioned that the initiative was part of a World Bank project that sought to improve primary healthcare, emphasising the GHS’ commitment to investing in healthcare infrastructure and equipment to improve the well-being of Ghanaians.
He reiterated that the equipment would be purely used for service and not private use, saying that the backup suppliers for the vehicles would be provided to ensure maximum use of the motorcycle and tricycles.
The Director General of the GHS noted that local artisans would be trained through the health administration units to ensure maintenance for longevity.
Dr. Braima Baba Abubakari, Regional Director of Health Service, North-East Region, commended the GHS for their support and said the equipment would strengthen the work at the sub-district level to extend their services to the doorstep of residents.
He pledged that the equipment would be used solely for their purpose, adding that they would also adhere to maintenance modules.
