Politics
Latest politics stories from Ghana's newsrooms
politics|
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng Names "Persons of Interest" in $1m Bribery Case Amid Major Anti-Corruption and Security Reforms
Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has announced a "rebirth" of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) following a Supreme Court ruling affirming its constitutional authority. In a high-profile press briefing, Agyebeng identified five individuals, including former Power Minister Dr. Kwabena Donkor, as "persons of interest" in an investigation into the local aspects of a $1 million bribery case involving Kwaku Asante Berko. Berko, a former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery, was recently convicted in the United States for conspiring to bribe Ghanaian officials. While Agyebeng emphasized that being named a person of interest does not imply guilt, the move has drawn sharp criticism from legal representatives like KT Hammond, who called the public identification "unprofessional," and Fuseini Donkor of the National Service Authority, who argued it could jeopardize the investigation. Beyond the AKSA energy scandal, Ghana’s judiciary is managing several other high-stakes political cases. The criminal case against former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta regarding the Strategic Mobilization Ghana Limited (SML) contract has been adjourned to late September 2026 to allow time for the service of summons to officials currently in the U.S. Similarly, the Accra High Court granted a third extension for former officials of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) to file witness statements in the $2 million SkyTrain case. Amid these legal proceedings, Special Prosecutor Agyebeng highlighted the OSP’s recent successes, reporting the recovery of GH"8.5 million and $2 million, and claiming to have saved the state over GH"100 million through loss prevention and asset confiscation. Parallel to anti-corruption efforts, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ghana Police Service are implementing strict new security protocols. Deputy Minister Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi warned vehicle retrofitting companies that converting vehicles into Armoured Bullion Vehicles (ABVs) without permits will result in the revocation of licenses. This follows a surge in armed attacks on cash-in-transit operations between 2021 and 2023. Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno has also urged motorists to yield to ABVs on the road and announced a three-day suspension of concrete mixer trucks in Accra and Tema to address road safety concerns. In a separate matter of institutional discipline, the police interdicted Deputy Superintendent Alhassan Malaika Jibril following his alleged involvement in the controversial demolition of the Accra Race Course in Borteyman. In the energy and environment sectors, Minister for Energy and Green Transition Dr. Abdulai Jinapor announced drafting legislation to regulate electric vehicle (EV) charging stations. The move aims to prevent unregulated charging points from overwhelming the national grid and causing infrastructure failures like transformer blowouts. Meanwhile, Minister-designate for Environment, Science and Technology Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings appeared before Parliament’s Appointments Committee, pledging a coordinated, multi-agency strategy to combat illegal mining (galamsey). She emphasized that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and local governance must be integrated to assess and mitigate the environmental damage caused by these operations. On the economic front, Minister of State Dr. Rashid Pelpuo gave the government a "B+" grade for job creation, citing the partial success of the 24-hour economy policy and the registration of over 400 private companies in the initiative. Pelpuo also noted that 90% of planned strikes by organized labor were averted during his tenure through proactive engagement. As the administration continues these reforms, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has bolstered legislative security by outdooring 74 newly trained parliamentary guards. These developments collectively signal a period of intense regulatory and legal activity as Ghana seeks to strengthen its governance frameworks and public safety standards.
politics|
Minister Ahmed Ibrahim Launches Kaneshie Flood Control Project Amid National Infrastructure Push
The Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, Ahmed Ibrahim, has officially assumed office under the administration of President John Mahama, pledging a non-partisan mission to tackle Ghana’s housing deficit and infrastructure challenges. Taking over from Gilbert Kenneth Adjei, who now serves as the Defence Minister, Mr. Ibrahim emphasized that resolving national housing issues requires bipartisan cooperation and a political will that extends beyond electoral cycles. His first major undertaking is the launch of critical drainage improvement works in the Kaneshie enclave, a project scheduled to begin on September 7, 2026, aimed at mitigating the perennial flooding that has long plagued the capital. The Kaneshie project, part of the Greater Accra Resilient and Integrated Development (GARID) initiative, involves constructing a 10-meter-wide double-cell underground stormwater drain to replace existing inadequate systems. This follows a devastating flood in June 2026 that caused significant loss of life and property. To facilitate the construction, sections of the Dr Busia Highway will be closed in phases, with the first phase expected to last until late 2026 and the final completion set for October 2027. This infrastructure push aligns with long-standing calls from Lions Clubs International, whose District Governor Ebo Prah Manson has urged the government to prioritize permanent flood prevention measures, such as clearing blocked watercourses, over temporary disaster relief efforts. While the government advances new projects, current road developments are facing increased scrutiny. The Minister of Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, recently expressed frustration over the slow progress of the 17-kilometre Tema-Roundabout to Dawhenya road rehabilitation. Despite being initiated in 2020, the project remains less than 25% complete, leading the Minister to demand that contractors increase manpower to alleviate public traffic distress. Simultaneously, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has announced plans to mandate better coordination between road contractors and utility providers to prevent damage to water and power lines, an issue that has frequently disrupted services during the government’s ‘Big Push’ infrastructure programme. At the local level, development efforts are being mirrored by the Ablekuma North Municipal Assembly. Municipal Chief Executive Kalamu Musah Adamu recently detailed a suite of projects including the construction of 300 boreholes, a new clinic, and educational facilities to improve living standards. However, experts suggest that local impact could be enhanced through systemic reform. Professor Joseph Atsu Ayee of the University of Ghana has advocated for a restructuring of the decentralization system to grant local authorities greater autonomy and accountability. These reforms, discussed at a recent Citizen Forum in Accra, seek to address funding constraints and ensure that local governance remains inclusive and resilient through various political transitions.
politics|
Israeli Ambassador Urges President Mahama to Pressure Iran Amid Shifting Global Political and Legal Landscapes
In a significant diplomatic move, the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, Roey Gilad, has called upon President John Mahama to join international efforts in pressuring Iran to cease its destabilizing activities in the Middle East. Speaking at a press conference in Accra, Ambassador Gilad addressed recent criticisms from the Mahama administration regarding Israeli military operations in Gaza, asserting that civilian casualties are collateral damage in defensive actions. Despite these tensions, Gilad emphasized the strengthening of bilateral ties, marked by the reopening of the Ghanaian Embassy in Tel Aviv, even as he noted a decline in domestic Israeli support for a two-state solution following the October 7 attacks. Across the African continent, regional power structures are facing similar volatility. In Tanzania, Emmanuel Nchimbi has been expelled from the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party for indiscipline, following his historic resignation as vice-president. Nchimbi, the first VP in Tanzania's history to step down, had publicly advocated for a new constitution, signaling a rift with President Samia Suluhu Hassan; Energy Minister Deogratius Ndejembi has been named as his successor. Meanwhile, in Uganda, a succession battle is intensifying as the President's son and military chief, Muhoozi Kainerugaba, reaffirmed his intent to run for the presidency in 2031, facing a challenge from his brother-in-law, Odrek Rwabwogo. In Southern Africa, Zambian opposition leader Brian Mundubile recently surrendered to police to face treason allegations following a disputed election, amidst concerns over the temporary closure of the nation's judiciary. On the global stage, sports governance and international justice systems are grappling with high-stakes legal proceedings. UEFA has initiated criminal legal action against FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, over an abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors through a subsidiary known as FIFA Forward Enterprise. UEFA alleges that Infantino sought to enrich himself and select investors through a process that lacked independent valuation and proper oversight. Simultaneously, a U.S. military judge has finally set a trial date for Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11 attacks. The trial is scheduled for June 2028 at Guantanamo Bay, following decades of delays caused by legal disputes over torture evidence and overturned plea agreements. Adding to the global sense of transition, the Trump administration has issued an ultimatum to demolish the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., if court-ordered blocks on renovations and the reinstatement of Donald Trump’s name on the building are not lifted. In Europe, the death of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić, known as the "Butcher of Bosnia," at the age of 84 in a UN prison, marks the end of a dark chapter of the Yugoslav wars. These diverse developments, from diplomatic friction in Accra to criminal proceedings in Switzerland and The Hague, underscore a period of profound restructuring in the international political and legal order.
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