A Historic Moment for Africa: Mahama Hails UN Adoption of Reparations Resolution as Major Diplomatic Breakthrough
On Wednesday, March 25, 2026, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a landmark reparations resolution, one that Ghana had championed, and in doing so, opened a new chapter in the long and unfinished conversation about justice for the transatlantic slave trade. President John Dramani Mahama did not mince words about what the moment meant. Writing on X the following day, he described himself as “overjoyed”, a word that captured not just personal satisfaction, but the weight of history finally being acknowledged on the world’s most prominent multilateral stage. “I am overjoyed by the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the resolution declaring the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity,” the President wrote. The resolution, which secured 123 votes in favour, calls for renewed global commitment to reparative justice for African countries and descendants of enslaved people. It urges member states to engage in structured dialogue and take concrete, measurable steps to address the deep and lasting social, economic, and cultural wounds inflicted by slavery, wounds that, for many communities, have never fully healed. The vote was not without opposition. The United States, Argentina, and Israel voted against the resolution, while 52 countries chose to abstain. Washington, in particular, described the motion as “highly problematic,” acknowledging the historical reality of slavery but raising questions about who the intended beneficiaries of reparations should be. Fifty-two countries abstained, reflecting the complexity and sensitivity that still surrounds this conversation on the global stage. Yet the numbers told a story of their own. With 123 nations voting in favour, the resolution passed with a clear and commanding majority, a signal that the international community’s appetite for reparative justice is growing, not fading. For President Mahama, the outcome was the fruit of determined international cooperation. He credited the African Union, CARICOM, and a coalition of committed partners whose collective effort transformed what began as a proposal into a binding resolution of the world’s foremost international body. The President framed the resolution as far more than a diplomatic achievement; it is, in his view, an act of moral recognition. It honours the millions of Africans who were stolen from their homelands, stripped of their humanity, and subjected to one of history’s most brutal systems of exploitation. And it places that recognition not in the margins of history, but at the centre of international law and conscience. Drawing on the enduring words of Toussaint Louverture, the Haitian revolutionary who himself became a symbol of resistance against slavery and oppression, President Mahama underscored the principle that has driven this effort from the beginning. “The greatest weapon against oppression is unity,” he referenced — a reminder that the resolution’s passage was itself a product of that unity, and that the work ahead demands even more of it. Because for Mahama, the vote is not the destination. It is a beginning. He called on nations across the world to sustain the momentum, to stand in solidarity, and to commit to the deeper, harder work of restoration. “We must stand united in seeking the restoration of the humanity and dignity of our forebears who were enslaved and sold,” he urged. In the halls of the United Nations, history was made. But in the words of Ghana’s President, the truest measure of this moment will be what the world chooses to do next. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Mahama Champions Transparency and Accountability in Bold Governance Overhaul
From the heart of Philadelphia, President John Dramani Mahama stood before a gathering of Ghanaians in the diaspora and delivered a message that resonated far beyond the walls of the meeting hall, a promise to transform how Ghana is governed. With conviction in his voice and urgency in his words, the President laid out a sweeping agenda of reforms designed to root out corruption, restore public trust, and redefine what it means to hold public office in Ghana. “We are committed to building a government that Ghanaians can trust — a government that is accountable, transparent, and fully responsible to the people,” President Mahama declared. At the center of this agenda are two landmark initiatives: a new national anti-corruption strategy and the Public Office Accountability Bill. Both, the President stressed, are being fast-tracked for implementation, a signal that his administration is not content with promises alone, but is moving with deliberate speed toward action. The anti-corruption strategy, as President Mahama described it, is not a routine policy document. It is a direct assault on systemic graft, a comprehensive framework built to detect, prevent, and prosecute corruption at every level of government. Beyond enforcement, it aims to cultivate a culture of ethical conduct among public officials, reinforcing the idea that integrity is not optional but foundational. Complementing this is the Public Office Accountability Bill, which will enshrine in law the standards expected of those who serve in public roles. It will create binding legal frameworks to hold officials answerable for misconduct, drawing a clear line between public service and personal impunity. “Public office is a public trust,” the President said firmly. “If you choose to serve the people, you must be prepared to be held accountable. These reforms are about ensuring that trust is never violated.” For Mahama, these are not merely regulatory measures, they are transformative tools, the bedrock upon which Ghana’s development must be built. He painted a vision of a nation where public resources are managed with care, where leadership is guided by conscience, and where institutions are strong enough to stand on their own. “Our people deserve a government that works efficiently, responsibly, and transparently,” he said. “With these initiatives, we are ensuring that the systems managing our resources are accountable, and that leadership is guided by integrity and service to the nation.” The Philadelphia engagement also carried a deeper symbolism. By taking this message to Ghanaians abroad, President Mahama acknowledged the diaspora not merely as spectators of Ghana’s story, but as active partners in writing it. He described them as vital contributors to the country’s socio-economic growth, a community whose investment, ideas, and influence are woven into the fabric of national development. As the President concluded his address, his words carried the weight of both a challenge and a commitment. “These reforms are central to Ghana’s progress,” he said. “They are about protecting our democracy, empowering our institutions, and ensuring that public service remains a noble calling, guided by the highest standards of integrity.” In Philadelphia, far from Accra, President Mahama made one thing unmistakably clear, the work of rebuilding Ghana’s public trust has already begun. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Nkwanta Violence: IGP Deploys Armoured Vehicles as Five Bodies Recovered
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno has deployed additional security personnel and armoured vehicles to Nkwanta in the Oti Region following renewed violent attacks in the area. The Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, moved swiftly on Wednesday night, ordering the deployment of two armoured vehicles and officers from the National Police Operations unit to the Nkwanta South Municipality in the Oti Region, following a fresh wave of violent attacks that sent shockwaves through the area. The deployment, confirmed in a statement issued by the Oti Regional Police Headquarters in Dambai on Thursday, March 26, was a direct response to the deteriorating security situation on the ground. According to the Police, the IGP’s decisive overnight intervention has since helped restore calm, with authorities indicating that the situation is currently under control. A joint team comprising personnel from the Police, Military, Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI), Defence Intelligence, and the Ghana National Fire Service recovered five bodies in the aftermath of the attacks. The victims, three males and two females, were found at two separate locations, a grim testament to the scale of the violence that had gripped the community. Investigations have now been launched to establish the full circumstances of the incident and to identify and prosecute those responsible. In the meantime, the Police are appealing for the cooperation of residents. Authorities are urging people in Nkwanta and surrounding communities to remain calm and to share any information that could assist the ongoing investigations. The statement, signed by Deputy Superintendent John Nchor, also carried a pointed warning against the spread of misinformation, cautioning that false information and inflammatory actions risk undoing the fragile calm that security forces have worked to restore. The deployment of armoured vehicles to Nkwanta signals the seriousness with which the IGP is treating the situation. For residents of the Oti Region, the hope now is that the presence of reinforced security will hold, and that answers about what happened and who is responsible will not be long in coming. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
IES Sounds Alarm: Ghana’s Power Sector Drifting Into Dangerous Territory
Ghana’s power sector is edging into a “higher-risk zone” as rising electricity demand continues to outstrip critical investments in transmission infrastructure. Ghana’s power sector is drifting into dangerous territory, and the alarm is growing louder. As electricity demand climbs on the back of stronger economic activity and rising household consumption, the infrastructure meant to carry that power across the country is struggling to keep pace. The result, analysts warn, is a system under mounting stress, and one that may not hold if urgent action is not taken. That is the sobering assessment of the Institute for Energy Security (IES), whose latest analysis paints a picture of a grid buckling under the weight of its own growth. Peak demand has now surpassed 4,280 MW, a figure that reflects a busier, more energetic economy, but the transmission network has not grown with it. “The system is increasingly characterised by congested transmission corridors, rising technical losses, overloaded infrastructure, and ageing, obsolete equipment,” the IES analysis noted, warning that these combined pressures “pose a direct threat to grid stability, system reliability, and the efficiency of power delivery.” In plain terms: Ghana’s power system is entering a higher-risk zone, and without timely intervention, supply shortfalls, especially during peak demand periods, are no longer a distant possibility. The economic stakes could hardly be higher. A power sector riddled with inefficiencies drives up operational costs for businesses, erodes industrial productivity, and slows economic growth. For a country with ambitious development targets, an unreliable grid is not just an inconvenience; it is a structural liability. The IES is not merely sounding the alarm. It is also offering a roadmap out. The think tank is calling on government, regulators, and development partners to treat transmission network reinforcement as a matter of national strategic importance. The proposals it has put forward are wide-ranging and technically specific, but they share a common thread: the grid needs to be modernised, expanded, and made more resilient, now, not later. At the heart of the recommendations is the need to upgrade existing transmission infrastructure with high-capacity conductors to ease system overloading and reduce technical losses. Alongside this, the IES is pushing for the development of additional high-voltage transmission circuits to boost bulk power transfer across the grid and shore up supply to major load centres, particularly when demand peaks. Reinforcing key transmission corridors is also on the list, to create alternative power flow paths and reduce the risk of single-point failures that could cascade into wider outages. Investments in reactive power compensation, the think tank adds, would improve voltage stability and support the integration of renewable energy sources, an increasingly important consideration as Ghana looks to diversify its energy mix. The replacement of ageing transformers and substation equipment, the IES argues, has become non-negotiable. These are the bottlenecks quietly undermining system reliability, and clearing them is essential to meeting modern technical standards. Expanding transformation capacity at critical nodes would not only accommodate growing demand but also build in the redundancy needed for a more stable supply. Reducing both technical and commercial losses across the network is equally critical, improving transmission efficiency and making power delivery more cost-effective for consumers and operators alike. Finally, the IES points to the untapped potential of stronger regional interconnection. Boosting cross-border electricity trade would not only improve Ghana’s competitiveness in the West African power market but also open the door to generating revenue through electricity exports. The message from the Institute is unambiguous: the decisions made today about transmission infrastructure will shape the reliability and competitiveness of Ghana’s power sector for decades to come. “Decisive action is not optional,” the IES stated. “It is imperative.” Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Galamsey Fight: NAIMOS Cries Out for Vehicles, Funds to Sustain Operations
The National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat has called for increased logistical and financial support to strengthen its operations against illegal mining. The men and women fighting Ghana’s galamsey menace need more than resolve; they need resources. That was the candid message from Col. Dominic Buah, Director of Operations at the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS), as he addressed journalists at the Secretariat’s Editors’ Forum and Quarterly Press Briefing on Wednesday, March 25. Standing before the gathering, Col. Buah did not mince words. The fight against illegal mining, he made clear, is being waged with one hand tied behind its back. Operational vehicles are in short supply, funds are stretched thin, and the tools needed to sustain the campaign in the field are simply not enough. “We need vehicles, we need money, we need all the resources,” he said plainly. His appeal was directed not only at the government but at the private sector and civil society as well. Col. Buah urged corporate organisations and non-governmental bodies to step in and fill the gap, offering a straightforward incentive: public recognition. “Corporate bodies who want to support, why not? We will acknowledge you and then make it known to the whole nation,” he said, framing contributions as both a patriotic duty and an opportunity for goodwill. But the briefing was not all about stretched budgets and resource gaps. Col. Buah had a sharper message for a different audience, the illegal miners themselves. NAIMOS’s operations in the field have not gone unchallenged. In several mining communities, anti-galamsey task force members have met with resistance, raising serious concerns about the safety of personnel on the ground. Col. Buah addressed this directly and without ambiguity. He warned that his operatives would not stand down in the face of armed confrontation. The Secretariat’s personnel, he stressed, are trained, equipped, and prepared to defend themselves, and anyone who tests that readiness will face the full consequences. “We will not stand and watch anyone use weapons against us. We are better trained in weapons and therefore warn that anybody who dares, NAIMOS will deal with them ruthlessly,” he declared. He pressed the point further, leaving no room for misinterpretation: “It is a problem we are trying to address, and we have the right to self-defence, and let no galamseyer miss that. If you go to the field with weapons and you try to fire them, a lot more will be at you.” The message from NAIMOS on Wednesday was twofold: a hand extended to potential partners and a firm warning to those who would stand in the way of the law. The Secretariat is asking for help, but it is also making clear it will not be intimidated. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
ECOWAS Court Saves AG From Deadline Miss in Torkonoo Rights Battle
The ECOWAS Community Court of Justice has granted an application by Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem Sai to regularise a defence filed out of time in a human rights case brought by former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo. When former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo found herself removed from office under Article 146 proceedings of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, she did not go quietly. Convinced that the process had trampled on her fundamental human rights, she took her fight to the Human Rights Court. But the battle did not end there. Following her subsequent dismissal, Justice Torkonoo carried her case further, this time to the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, amending her application to challenge not just her suspension, but her outright removal from the bench. The ECOWAS court had earlier allowed that amendment, though not without resistance. The Attorney-General objected, but the court overruled those objections and directed the state to file its defence within 30 days. It was a clear instruction with a firm deadline, March 1, 2026. The Attorney-General’s office, represented by Deputy Attorney-General Dr Justice Srem Sai, missed it. When the defence was eventually filed, it arrived late, accompanied by a quiet appeal to the court’s discretion to admit it anyway. Justice Torkonoo’s counsel was having none of it. They argued that the filing was out of time, that no formal application for an extension had ever been made, and urged the court to strike out the defence entirely. Dr Srem Sai pushed back. His position was that the state had never been properly served with the court’s directive in the first place, that the Attorney-General’s office had been in the dark about the timeline until a hearing notice landed on their desk. Once aware, he told the court, the defence was filed without delay, even with a public holiday interrupting the process. He appealed to the court to act in the interest of justice. The court was not entirely persuaded by that reasoning. It pointed out that under common law practice, counsel who are present in court when an order is delivered are deemed to have notice of it, no separate service required. It also noted that the proper course of action would have been to file a formal application for an extension of time, not simply attach a request to the late defence. Counsel for Justice Torkonoo pressed the point further, reminding the court that the directive had been issued in the presence of the Attorney-General’s own representatives, making any claim of ignorance difficult to sustain. Yet, in a notable turn, Justice Torkonoo’s legal team stopped short of opposing the state’s oral request for an extension. They asked only that, should the court grant it, they be given the opportunity to file a response. In its ruling, the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice granted the extension of time, admitted the state’s amended defence, and gave Justice Torkonoo’s side seven days to file their reply. The procedural battle has been settled, for now. The deeper fight over the former Chief Justice’s removal from office continues. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Roads Minister Reveals How Big Push Rescued 23 Abandoned Road Projects
When the previous administration left office, it did not just leave behind a transition binder. It left behind 23 unfinished road projects, abandoned by contractors, starved of funding, and slowly fading into the landscape of Ghana’s infrastructure failures. On Tuesday, March 24, 2026, the man now responsible for fixing that mess stood before Parliament and told the country exactly what had been inherited, and what is being done about it. Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza, used his address on the floor of Parliament to pull back the curtain on a significant but little-discussed dimension of the government’s flagship Big Push infrastructure programme: a large chunk of it is not new at all. “Mr. Speaker, additionally, 23 road projects valued at GHS 14.88 billion, which were awarded by the previous administration and abandoned by contractors due to lack of dedicated funding, were absorbed as part of Big Push,” he told the House. “These projects were novated with a new funding source.” In plain terms, what the minister was describing was a rescue operation. Projects that had stalled, not because they were bad ideas, but because no one had secured the money to see them through, were given a second life under the Big Push. Among the rescued projects are some of Ghana’s most critical road works: the Suame Interchange, the Takoradi–Agona road dualisation, the Kasoa–Winneba road expansion, and a range of upgrading projects spanning the Upper West, Oti, and Volta regions. These are not minor repairs. These are transformational pieces of infrastructure that communities have long been waiting for. The Big Push programme itself, the minister explained, is built around 12 major economic corridors stretching across the country, a framework he referred to as the “12 disciples.” To drive competition and speed up delivery, those corridors have been broken down into 54 lots, ensuring that no single contractor can bottle up progress across the board. But it was the minister’s remarks on procurement that are likely to generate the most discussion. Addressing concerns about sole sourcing, a method that has drawn criticism from some quarters, Agbodza defended its use in specific, legally recognised circumstances. “It is globally acceptable to use sole sourcing even in situations where there is the need to extend the implementation of works which were previously competitively procured to speed up completion,” he told Parliament. He went further, acknowledging that some of the inherited projects had not originally been awarded through competitive procurement processes in the first place, a candid admission that adds important context to the complexities the current administration faces in continuing and financing them. For the minister, the message was straightforward: the Big Push is not about politics or shortcuts. It is about finishing what was started, funding what was abandoned, and building what Ghana needs, regardless of who first broke the ground. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
How Politicians Turned the Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom Road Into a 117-Year Election Stunt
For over a century, the people of Ghana’s Upper East region have been waiting. Waiting for a road. Not just any road, but a road that was first laid out with human labor in 1909, during the era of British colonial rule. A road that, in 2026, remains unfinished. A road that has become the single greatest symbol of political betrayal in the Upper East region. According to historian Mr. Christopher Azaare, the Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom Road has its origins in 1909, when British colonial administrators mobilized local chiefs to rally communities for its construction. That means this road predates Ghana’s independence by nearly five decades. Yet here we are, 117 years later, and the road still has not seen the light of day. He made the revelation in an exclusive engagement with Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh during a segment dubbed SpeakOut Upper East(SoUE) This is not simply a story about poor infrastructure. It is a story about a region that has been systematically failed by the very people entrusted to serve it. Since the return of democratic governance in 1992, the Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom Road has been recycled as a campaign promise by successive governments. Both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have made it a fixture in their manifestos, a crowd-pleasing pledge rolled out at every election cycle to win the hearts of Upper East voters. The pattern is painfully predictable. A party campaigns on completing the road. They win power. They do a little work on it. Then funding dries up, contractors abandon the site, and the road becomes “a story for another day.” The next government inherits the same road, the same promise, and the same cycle of disappointment begins again. In 2016, the NDC government commenced construction with funding from the Road Fund, but the project stalled before they left office. The NPP administration that followed continued the work, only for contractors to once again leave the site due to a lack of funding. As of 2026, construction remains stalled. What makes this situation particularly troubling is the attitude of some politicians toward those who dare to demand accountability. Journalists and citizens who raise the issue of the Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom Road are often branded as NPP or NDC sympathizers, a tactic that silences legitimate voices and shields politicians from scrutiny. This deliberate politicization of development is not just irresponsible. It is a betrayal of the people of the Upper East region. When those in positions of authority treat development as a political weapon rather than a civic duty, it is the ordinary people who suffer, navigating dangerous, deteriorating roads year after year while their leaders trade promises for votes. The Upper East region is not a battleground for political point-scoring. It is home to real people with real needs, people who deserve the same quality of infrastructure enjoyed by citizens in other parts of Ghana. President John Dramani Mahama and the current NDC government must act decisively. Contractors who have abandoned the Bolgatanga–Bawku–Pulmakom Road must be recalled to site. Funding must be secured and protected. And this project must be completed, not as a political gesture, but as a matter of justice owed to a people who have waited 117 years too long. A road that was started in 1909 should not still be making headlines in 2026 for all the wrong reasons. The people of the Upper East region deserve better. And it is long past time they got it. Source: Apexnewsgh.com/Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen
Tema Microlight Crash: Lawmakers Demand Transparent Probe, Stronger Aviation Safety Standards
The fatal microlight aircraft crash in Tema that claimed the lives of two brothers has sparked urgent calls from both sides of Parliament, with lawmakers demanding accountability, transparency, and sweeping reforms to aviation safety standards. Leading the charge from the Minority side, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has called for a thorough, transparent, and time-bound investigation into the crash, and has made clear that the findings must not be buried in bureaucratic silence. The Effutu Member of Parliament is insisting that the results of the probe be made public, that aviation safety protocols be comprehensively reviewed and strengthened, and that the bereaved families receive adequate support as they come to terms with their devastating loss. Beyond the immediate tragedy, Afenyo-Markin raised a broader and troubling question: how was a private aircraft permitted to operate over a densely populated area in the first place? His concern points to what he sees as a worrying pattern, noting the recent uptick in aircraft-related incidents and questioning whether existing oversight mechanisms are fit for purpose. On the other side of the aisle, Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor echoed the gravity of the moment as he presented a statement on the tragedy. While sharing in the grief over the loss of the two brothers, Dafeamekpor directed his message squarely at those responsible for operating microlight aircraft, urging them to strictly observe maintenance and safety standards to ensure that such a devastating incident is never repeated. Dafeamekpor also called on the Ghana Air Force to step up its engagement with private aircraft owners, stressing the need for a collaborative approach to safety that protects not only pilots but the communities over which these aircraft fly. Both lawmakers agreed on one thing: the incident has left a deep wound, on the bereaved family, and on all those touched by the tragedy. Whether their calls translate into meaningful reform now rests with the relevant authorities. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
NIA Rolls Out Strict New Data Protection Guidelines for Agencies Accessing National Identity Register
Ghana’s National Identification Authority (NIA) has taken a decisive step to tighten control over how personal data is handled across the country, rolling out new guidelines governing the security, storage, and retention of information drawn from the National Identity Register (NIR), effective March 19, 2026. The directive, which targets user agencies, institutions that access the national database in the course of their operations, marks a significant move by the Authority to close gaps in data protection and hold organisations to a higher standard of accountability when dealing with sensitive personal information. The NIA’s authority to issue such guidelines is firmly grounded in law. The new requirements are anchored in the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750) and its amendment, the National Identity Register (Amendment) Act, 2017 (Act 950), both of which vest the Authority with the mandate to regulate how personal data from the NIR is managed across institutions. At the core of the guidelines is a clear principle: personal data must be securely stored and retained only for as long as it is genuinely needed. Beyond that, the NIA is pushing for a culture shift, one that places responsible data management at the heart of how user agencies operate. The guidelines are also designed to significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access, misuse, or loss of personal information, while bringing Ghana’s data handling practices in line with both domestic legislation and internationally recognised standards on information security. The timing of the directive reflects a broader strategic push by the NIA to shore up public trust in Ghana’s national identification system. In an era where data breaches and privacy concerns are increasingly in the spotlight globally, the Authority appears determined to ensure that the NIR, which holds some of the most sensitive personal information of Ghanaian citizens, is treated with the highest level of care. User agencies have been put on notice: compliance with the new requirements is not optional. The NIA has signalled that it will be intensifying its oversight of how personal information from the National Identity Register is handled, leaving little room for institutions to fall short of the standards now expected of them. Source: Apexnewsgh.com