Kofi Baah Agyepong Resigns as YEA CEO, Citing Personal Commitments
Kofi Baah Agyepong, the Chief Executive Officer of Ghana’s Youth Employment Agency (YEA), has officially resigned from his position, effective January 24, 2025. Apexnewsgh reports In a resignation letter addressed to President John Dramani Mahama, Agyepong cited personal commitments and aspirations as the reason for his decision. Agyepong reflected on his two-year tenure as CEO, calling it “an honour and a privilege” to serve the agency. He expressed his well wishes for the President, saying, “I wish you continued wisdom and strength in your service to the nation,” while expressing confidence in the agency’s future successes. During his tenure, Agyepong oversaw key initiatives aimed at addressing youth unemployment and enhancing vocational and entrepreneurial skills among Ghanaian youth. His leadership at YEA was marked by efforts to reduce unemployment levels and create opportunities for young people across the country. Agyepong’s resignation comes at a critical time when the Youth Employment Agency continues to play a pivotal role in tackling youth unemployment in Ghana. His departure leaves a significant gap in leadership as the agency moves forward with its mandate. The new government has yet to announce Agyepong’s successor. Agyepong’s achievements during his tenure include implementing various programs and partnerships, such as the Community Protection Assistants (CPAs), which employed 1,500 individuals, and the Apparel and Textiles Sector, which supported 90 large companies and 500 Medium and Small companies, benefiting 2,000 youth. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
President Mahama to Ministers: No Room for Arrogance, Disrespect
In a strong message delivered at the Jubilee House on January 22, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama warned his newly sworn-in ministers that arrogance and disrespect toward the Ghanaian people will not be tolerated under his administration. Apexnewsgh reports The President reiterated his commitment to delivering good governance and holding his government to the highest standards. He reminded the ministers that Ghanaians have declared their intention to demand the highest standards of governance, and it’s their responsibility to deliver. President Mahama charged the ministers to serve with humility and accountability, emphasizing that their authority comes from the people. He stressed the importance of tolerance, modesty, and prudence in their governance. “We must exhibit tolerance for their views and work to meet their aspirations. This government will not tolerate arrogance or disrespect for the people who elected us into office,” he said. The President also highlighted the need for transparency, fairness, and accountability, empowering anti-corruption institutions to investigate and act against any appointee found guilty of wrongdoing. The six newly sworn-in ministers include: Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson: Minister for Finance Dr. Dominic Ayine: Attorney General and Minister for Justice John Jinapor: Minister for Energy and Green Transition Haruna Iddrisu: Minister for Education Eric Opoku: Minister for Food and Agriculture Governs Kwame Agbodza: Minister for Roads and Highways These ministers were approved by Parliament on January 21, 2025, and are expected to work towards delivering good governance and meeting the aspirations of the Ghanaian people. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Advocacy Group Demands Captain Smart’s Arrest Over AngloGold Incident
A Ghanaian advocacy group, Advocacy for Citizens Ghana (ACG), is calling for the immediate arrest of Captain Smart, a journalist with Onua TV, over his alleged role in inciting unlawful actions that led to the deaths of eight individuals at AngloGold’s Obuasi concession. Apexnewsgh reports According to ACG, Captain Smart made inciteful remarks during his morning show and in a widely circulated video on social media, encouraging individuals, including supposed National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters, to trespass on the AngloGold mining site. The group claims that Captain Smart’s comments, including his statement that “this country is for everybody,” directly contributed to the violent clashes that ensued. ACG’s demand for Captain Smart’s arrest comes despite President John Dramani Mahama’s call for an investigation and the Ghana Armed Forces’ official report on the incident. The group is also concerned about the rise in vandalism and lawlessness following President Mahama’s election victory, citing cases of police station burnings, destruction of property, and unauthorized seizures of state offices. The group is urging the authorities to take the following actions: Arrest and Prosecution: The Inspector General of Police (IGP) should arrest Captain Smart and prosecute him for his alleged role in inciting the violence. Presidential Condemnation: President Mahama should publicly condemn the acts of violence and ensure that order is restored. Media Accountability: The Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) and the National Media Commission should hold Captain Smart accountable for violating media ethics. Employment Termination: Media General should terminate Captain Smart’s employment due to his unprofessional conduct. ACG warns that failing to take action against Captain Smart would set a dangerous precedent and embolden reckless journalism in the country. Source: Apexnewsgh reports
New Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson Pledges Unwavering Support to President Mahama
In a ceremony held at the Jubilee House on Wednesday, January 22, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Ghana’s new Minister for Finance, vowed to support President John Dramani Mahama in becoming the best president in Ghana’s Fourth Republic. Apexnewsgh reports Dr. Forson Vowed to Work Diligently Across All Sectors. Speaking on behalf of the newly sworn-in ministers, Dr. Forson expressed gratitude for the trust placed in them and assured the president of their collective determination to work diligently across all sectors. “I want to assure you that we will work in a way to make you the best president in the Fourth Republic of Ghana,” he said. The ceremony marked the official commencement of roles for six ministerial nominees, including Dr. Dominic Ayine as Attorney General, John Jinapor as Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Haruna Iddrisu as Minister for Education, Eric Opoku as Minister for Food and Agriculture, and Governs Kwame Agbodza as Minister for Roads and Highways. President Mahama charged the ministers to remain focused on delivering their mandates, emphasizing that Ghanaians expect tangible progress in all critical areas of governance. With this assurance, Dr. Forson reiterated their commitment to elevating the administration’s legacy and leaving a lasting impact on Ghana’s development. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Minister-Designate George Opare-Addo Aligns Vision with President Mahama’s
George Opare-Addo, the Minister-Designate for Youth Development & Empowerment, has reaffirmed his commitment to President John Dramani Mahama’s vision, stating that his own goals align perfectly with those of the President. Apexnewsgh reports Opare-Addo made this declaration while responding to questions from the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on Wednesday, January 22, 2025. When asked to elaborate on his vision, Opare-Addo outlined his ambition to create a merit-based society where opportunities are equally accessible to all young people. He emphasized the importance of empowering the youth to take on the challenges of national development, saying, “…it’s to build a merit-based society, where opportunities avail themselves to every young person; where we empower them for them to take up the challenges of national development that await [confront] all of us.” As the National Youth Organiser for the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Opare-Addo’s experience and passion for youth development make him an ideal candidate for the position. When questioned about his plans to resign from his current role, he replied that it would happen when the time is right. Opare-Addo, affectionately known as Pablo, brings a wealth of experience to the table, having served as Municipal Chief Executive under former Presidents John Evans Atta-Mills and John Dramani Mahama. His dedication to empowering Ghana’s youth is evident in his vision, and his alignment with President Mahama’s goals bodes well for the country’s future. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Minister-Designate Vows to Revamp School Feeding Program
Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister-Designate for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, has pledged to tackle the long-standing challenges plaguing Ghana’s School Feeding Program. Apexnewsgh reports Speaking during her parliamentary vetting on January 22, 2025, Lartey emphasized her commitment to resolving the program’s issues, including payment delays to caterers and concerns over food quality. The School Feeding Program, a flagship government initiative, aims to boost school enrollment and provide nutritious meals to pupils. However, the program has faced significant challenges in recent years. Lartey revealed that while payments for 40 days have been made to caterers, 31 days of arrears remain. She assured the public of her dedication to resolving this issue promptly. Lartey commended the government for initiating payments and reaffirmed President Mahama’s commitment to sustaining the program. She emphasized her readiness to collaborate with stakeholders, including caterers, school authorities, and civil society organizations, to address these challenges and improve the program. According to Lartey, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) manifesto outlines plans to extend the program to private schools and address bottlenecks in school feeding and capitation grants. “This is something I am committed to resolving. One of my strengths is fostering dialogue with all involved to achieve sustainable outcomes,” she said. With payments already initiated, Lartey expressed confidence in President Mahama’s commitment to maintaining the program and ensuring the quality of food is upheld. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Leadership Reshuffle Looms in Ghana’s Parliament
A significant leadership reshuffle is set to take place within the Majority Caucus in Ghana’s Parliament on Thursday, January 23, 2025. Apexnewsgh reports This development comes on the heels of the recent appointment of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as Finance Minister and Kwame Governs Agbodza as Minister for Roads and Highways. The outgoing Majority Leader announced the upcoming changes on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, stating that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) would finalize decisions regarding the party’s front bench leadership on Thursday. Until he is officially sworn into his ministerial role, he will remain the Majority Leader. Sources within the Caucus indicate that Bawku Central MP, Mahama Ayariga, is favored to succeed Dr. Ato Forson as Majority Leader. Additionally, South Dayi MP, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, is expected to replace Governs Agbodza as Majority Chief Whip. Other anticipated changes include: – Deputy Majority Leader: Cape Coast South MP, Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, is projected to assume this role, replacing Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah. – First Deputy Whip: Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe-Ghansah, currently the Second Deputy Whip, is likely to be elevated to this position. The reshuffle aims to strengthen leadership within the Majority Caucus as the NDC-led government embarks on its governance agenda. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
President Mahama Directs Appointees to Declare Assets
President John Dramani Mahama has instructed all his appointees to declare their assets, emphasizing transparency and accountability in his administration. Apexnewsgh reports During the swearing-in ceremony of his ministers at the seat of government in Accra on Wednesday, January 22, President Mahama directed the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, to ensure compliance with this directive. “I expect all of you to begin the process of declaring your assets,” President Mahama said. “The Chief of Staff will announce the cutoff date by which time all eligible appointees should have deposited their assets declaration forms with the Auditor General.” The President also outlined specific expectations for his ministers. To Energy Minister John Jinapor, he emphasized the need for a stable and efficient power supply. For Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, President Mahama stressed the importance of stabilizing the Cedi, reducing inflation, and bringing the national public debt to sustainable levels. The ministers sworn in include Haruna Iddrisu (Education), Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson (Finance), John Jinapor (Energy and Green Transition), Dr. Dominic Ayine (Attorney General and Minister for Justice), Governs Kwame Agbodza (Roads and Highways), and Eric Opoku (Food and Agriculture). President Mahama’s directive on asset declaration is part of his commitment to promoting transparency and accountability in government, as outlined in his speech on governance. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Nitiwul Criticizes President Mahama’s Decision to Ditch Presidential Jet for Commercial Flights
Former Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul has expressed strong disapproval of President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to forgo the use of Ghana’s presidential jet for international travel. Apexnewsgh reports Speaking during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, January 22, Nitiwul described the practice as unnecessary and wasteful, given the jet’s current operability. The discussion arose after Members of Parliament from the New Patriotic Party (NPP) raised questions about the President’s mode of transport for an official trip to the United Arab Emirates. Minister-designate for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, clarified that President Mahama had used a commercial airline for the journey. Nitiwul criticized the move, asserting that the presidential jet is in good condition and should be utilized for official duties rather than ignored. “The jet Ghana purchased with taxpayers’ money is fully operational and available. It is wrong for the President to use commercial flights when the presidential jet is serviceable,” Nitiwul remarked. The former Defence Minister compared the current administration’s practices with that of the previous government, alleging that former President Akufo-Addo often chose a luxury private jet under the pretext of the presidential jet being unavailable. Nitiwul argued that the same standard should be applied under Mahama’s presidency to avoid waste and maintain the dignity of the office. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana’s New Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson Pledges Economic Growth and Global Partnerships
Ghana’s newly approved Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has reassured Ghanaians of his commitment to driving economic growth and fostering global partnerships. Apexnewsgh reports His appointment, approved by Parliament on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, reflects the widespread confidence in his ability to lead the country’s financial sector under President John Dramani Mahama’s administration. Upon his confirmation, Dr. Forson took to social media to express his deep gratitude to God, President Mahama, Parliament, and the people of Ghana for entrusting him with this significant responsibility. He pledged to discharge his duties with humility, integrity, and transparency. Dr. Forson outlined his vision for the nation, emphasizing plans to tackle pressing economic challenges. His key objectives include: Reducing Inflation: Bringing down inflation to stabilize the economy Stabilizing the Cedi: Strengthening Ghana’s currency to boost economic growth Creating Jobs: Fostering inclusive growth and creating opportunities for all Ghanaians Promoting Sustainable Development: Welcoming partnerships and investments that drive sustainable development and prosperity for all Declaring Ghana “open for business,” Dr. Forson called for unity and resilience, expressing confidence in achieving remarkable progress for the nation’s economy. Source: Apexnewsgh.com