Author: johnmahama

I urge President John Mahama, the Minister of Education, and the NDC national leadership to tread carefully when handling the issue of trainee allowances. The cancellation of these allowances played a significant role in the party’s defeat in the 2016 elections. During the 2024 campaign, we assured Ghanaians that we would not cancel the trainee allowance. So why are we now sending conflicting signals after winning power? This raises serious credibility concerns.I understand that some NDC officials who are provoking Ghanaians with their stance on the trainee allowance did not actively engage in grassroots campaigning. Many of them simply follow…

The camp faces severe challenges, including overcrowding and inadequate living conditions Correspondence from North East RegionThe Gambaga witches camp, established many years ago, is home to 83 alleged witches and 33 school-going children.The camp, situated in the East Mamprusi Municipality, faces severe challenges, including overcrowding and inadequate living conditions.The inhabitants, who were forced to flee their communities due to accusations of witchcraft, are seeking better shelter and living conditions. The current thatch rooms, provided by the Chief of Gambaga, are no longer sufficient, leaving the residents to struggle with overcrowding and discomfort.Zenabu Boabe, one of the alleged witches, expressed her…

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is expected to present the 2025 Budget to Parliament on March 10. This is the date that the ministry has proposed to parliament for consideration. This is subject to Parliament’s acceptance and approval depending on developments in the House. Based on the country’s Financial Administration Act, the budget must be presented before March 31, 2025. Parliament in January this year approved an Expenditure in Advance of Appropriation (Mini Budget) to cover government’s spending from January to March 2025. The House approved about GH₵68.1 billion for the John Mahama administration to spend for…

Political neutrality is often seen as a noble ideal, especially in governance and public discourse. It suggests the ability to remain fair, objective, and focused on national progress without being swayed by political allegiances. But in reality, is it possible to stay truly neutral? Can a nation be built without individuals taking a stand? And what happens when politically neutral people take up government roles—do they remain outspoken, or does the system silence them? These are important questions in Ghana’s political space, particularly in light of former President John Dramani Mahama’s appointment of key advocates, including Professor Ransford Gyampo.Does political…

A British citizen, Ezekiel Ojay Gilbert-Smith, has been remanded into prison custody by a High Court in Accra for allegedly conspiring and attempting to export 142.9 kilograms of cocaine to the United Kingdom (UK) through the Kotoka International Airport.He was arrested on July 17, 2024, whilst he was going through departure formalities at the Kotoka International Airport to board a British Airline flight to the United Kingdom, after he was identified as the person who contracted two convicts to transport the drug.His arrest followed an earlier arrest of two of his accomplices – Omar Adel Graham and Ethline Shamin Hall,…

Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo former Director-General of SSNIT The government has officially revoked the appointment of Kofi Bosompem Osafo-Maafo as the Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).According to a Citi News report, the president has also terminated the contracts of three deputies in a recent directive by the presidency. The affected deputies include Kwame Adu-Darkwa, Deputy Director-General for Finance and Administration; Juliana Kpedekpo, Deputy Director-General for Operations and Benefits; and Nana Serwah Bonsu Amoako, Deputy Director-General for Investment and Development. Osafo-Maafo’s removal comes less than a year after he was appointed to the position in April 2024…

Richard Ahiagbah, the National Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has called on Chief of Staff Julius Debrah to rescind the directive to annul all appointments made by the previous government after December 7, 2024.On Tuesday, February 11, the Chief of Staff announced in a statement that the appointments and recruitments in question were not in compliance with established good governance practices and principles.As a result, the statement directed: “Heads of Government Institutions…to take the necessary steps to annul any such appointments or recruitments and submit a comprehensive report on the actions taken to this Office by February…

The US Justice Department has told prosecutors to drop the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, instructed federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York to drop all charges on Monday. In a memo, he said the indictment could impact the upcoming mayoral election and it had “restricted” Adams’ ability to address “illegal immigration and violent crime” in the city. Adams is accused of accepting illegal campaign funds and gifts from Turkish businessmen in exchange for his influence as mayor. He pleaded not guilty to…

Richard Ahiagbah, the National Communications Director of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), has slammed the government of John Dramani Mahama for revoking recruitments made after December 7, 2024.Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, on Tuesday, February 11, announced in a statement that the appointments and recruitments in question were not in compliance with established good governance practices and principles.As a result, the statement directed: “Heads of Government Institutions…to take the necessary steps to annul any such appointments or recruitments and submit a comprehensive report on the actions taken to this Office by February 17, 2025.”Reacting to this in a social…

The Ghanaian cedi has matching the United States dollar, with GHS15.28 buying rate per dollar and the selling rate at GHS15.76 for those converting cedis to dollars as of Wednesday, February 12, 2025.This marks a 1-pesewa and a 2-pesewa rise in the buying and selling rates respectively compared to Tuesday’s averages.At forex bureaus, the cedi is still trading at GHS15.50 for those exchanging dollars for cedis and GHS15.90 for those converting cedis to dollars.This data is sourced from Cedirates.com, a reputable Ghanaian platform for currency and fuel updates.On the interbank market, the cedi is trading at GHS15.44 for buying dollars…