Former Deputy Upper East Regional Minister Daniel Awenyue Syme Dies After Defying the Odds for Years
The doctors had written their verdict years ago. They said he would not make it this long. But Daniel Awenyue Syme, a man who had spent a lifetime in quiet, steadfast service to others, was not one to bow easily, not to illness, and not to fate. On Sunday, March 16, 2026, he finally let go. The family of former Deputy Upper East Regional Minister Daniel Awenyue Syme announced his passing on Sunday, confirming that he died after years of battling health challenges. His son, Jonathan A. Syme, shared the news in a statement that was equal parts grief and gratitude. “Doctors told him years ago that he would not make it this long, but he defied all odds,” Jonathan said. He added that the family found solace in the fact that his father did not suffer in his final moments — a small mercy at the end of a long and meaningful journey. Syme’s story is one of steady, purposeful ascent through the corridors of public service. He began his administrative career as District Secretary of the Builsa District, a role that would eventually grow into that of District Chief Executive — a position he held from 1990 to 2001. During those years, he became known as a man who showed up, rolled up his sleeves, and got things done, earning credit for his contributions to local governance and development in the area. But his ambitions and abilities were not confined to the district level. He climbed the ranks of the audit service with the same quiet determination, eventually reaching the position of Assistant Auditor General, a testament to a career built on integrity and discipline. His public service journey culminated in his appointment as Deputy Upper East Regional Minister, a role he served in from 2012 to 2016. To those who knew him best, he was more than the titles he carried. Family members remembered him as a “model politician and auditor”, a rare combination of words that speaks to a man who managed to hold onto his principles in two fields where principles are often tested. “He gave everything he had to the betterment of others and always put himself last,” Jonathan Syme said of his father, words that, in a few short sentences, paint the portrait of a man whose greatest investment was always in the people around him. Since the announcement, tributes have begun to flow in from community members and colleagues who knew Syme as a leader of dedication, integrity, and quiet strength. The outpouring of remembrance reflects a life that touched far more people than perhaps even he knew. Funeral arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days. For now, a family mourns — and a region pauses to remember a man who, by all accounts, gave his best to the end. Rest well, Daniel Awenyue Syme. You made it further than they said you would. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Cardiothoracic Surgeons Take Prof. Frimpong-Boateng and Son to Court Over Land They Say Is Rightfully Theirs
They built these homes with their own money, moved in, paid the bills, and lived there for nearly two decades. Now, four cardiothoracic surgeons and a former secretary say someone is trying to take it all away, and they are fighting back in court. Former Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, and his son, Dr Yaw Frimpong-Boateng, have reportedly been sued over alleged land fraud, according to a report by Asaase Radio on Monday, March 16, 2026. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, March 12, 2026, by five individuals through their lawyers, Amenuvor and Associates, has cast a long shadow over a land allocation story that dates back more than two decades. The five plaintiffs are not strangers to the world of medicine. They are Dr Kow Entsua-Mensah, Professor Ernest Adibuer Aniteye, Dr David Abraham Kotei, Dr Lawrence Agyeman Sereboe, all cardiothoracic surgeons at the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCC) at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and Lucy Agyemang, a former stenographer secretary at the same institution. Together, they have taken their grievances before the courts, seeking justice over properties they claim are rightfully theirs at Okpoi Gonno in Accra, along the Spintex Road. The roots of the dispute stretch back to around the year 2000, when the National Cardiothoracic Centre, then under the leadership of Prof. Frimpong-Boateng himself, acquired land at Okpoi Gonno with the intention of providing housing for medical practitioners working at the centre. Portions of that land were subsequently allocated to the four doctors, the former secretary, and some nurses, who were asked to complete the buildings themselves and take occupation. Between 2006 and 2009, the plaintiffs say they did exactly that, pouring their personal resources into completing the structures. They moved in, settled down, and have since lived in those properties continuously and without interference from anyone. For nearly two decades, they paid utility bills, maintained the homes, and exercised what they describe as full ownership rights over the properties. Then came February 2026, and with it, a jarring development. According to the statement of claim, Prof. Frimpong-Boateng reportedly filed a complaint at the Rent Control Department in Accra, claiming ownership of the properties and asserting that the occupants had only been allowed to stay there temporarily out of goodwill. In other words, after 17 years, the plaintiffs were suddenly being described as tenants. The five plaintiffs are having none of it. They insist that no landlord-tenant relationship has ever existed between them and Prof. Frimpong-Boateng, and that the attempt to paint them as mere tenants is not only false and misleading, it is, in their words, “unconscionable, wrongful, and contrary to equity and good conscience.” They argue that the defendants allowed them to invest substantial personal funds into completing the buildings and occupying them as homes, and cannot now turn around and deny them ownership of those same properties. Through their lawyers, the plaintiffs are seeking five reliefs from the court. These include a declaration that they are the lawful owners of the properties at Okpoi Gonno, a perpetual injunction to prevent the defendants and their associates from interfering with their ownership and enjoyment of the properties, general damages for trespass and unlawful interference with their property rights, and legal costs. What began as a goodwill gesture, land allocated to dedicated medical professionals to build homes for themselves, has now become a courtroom battle over ownership, equity, and the meaning of home. For the four surgeons and the former secretary at the heart of this case, the message is clear: they built these houses, they have lived in them for nearly 20 years, and they are not leaving without a fight. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Former NPP National Chairman Freddie Blay reportedly arrested
He dodged police invitations, missed court dates, and slipped through attempted arrests at his East Legon home. But on Monday, March 16, 2026, the law finally ran out of patience, and so did the bench warrant with Freddie Blay’s name on it. The former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, has reportedly been arrested by the Ghana Police Service, according to a report by The1957News. The arrest, long in the making, was executed on the strength of a bench warrant issued by the Akropong Circuit Court over alleged property destruction, a case that has been quietly building for well over a year. The story begins on January 31, 2025, when a landowner at Kitase in the Akuapem area paid a visit to his property and was met with a disturbing sight. Structures that had been under construction on the land had been destroyed. A complaint was formally filed with the police the very next day, on February 1, 2025. Investigators who responded to the scene did not leave empty-handed. Five individuals were arrested on the spot, allegedly caught in the act of clearing the land using a backhoe. During interrogation, the plot thickened considerably, one of the suspects pointed the finger directly at Freddie Blay and a man identified as Nana Osae Ntifo I, also known as Dada, naming them as the individuals who had allegedly given the order to carry out the destruction. Nana Osae Ntifo I was arrested shortly afterwards, reportedly found near the police station. Blay, however, proved harder to pin down. Initially invited by the police to assist with investigations, he indicated he would report, and then simply did not. As the months wore on, investigators made multiple attempts to reach him through various channels in May 2025, but he allegedly remained unresponsive. On April 24, 2025, Blay was expected to appear before the Akropong Circuit Court alongside Nana Osae Ntifo I and other suspects. He did not show up. The court responded by issuing a bench warrant for his arrest. A subsequent attempt to execute that warrant at his East Legon residence also came up short. Meanwhile, the wheels of justice continued to turn. One of the co-accused petitioned the Office of the Attorney General, which reviewed the docket and advised the police to proceed with the charges as originally filed. The accused persons were formally charged and arraigned on February 5, 2026 — and once again, Blay was conspicuously absent. For weeks, the bench warrant hung over him like a dark cloud. Then came Monday, March 16, 2026. After more than a year of alleged evasion, missed appearances, and unanswered messages, Freddie Blay was arrested. What began as a land dispute complaint in a quiet corner of the Akuapem area has now evolved into one of the more dramatic legal sagas surrounding a senior figure of the NPP, a reminder that in Ghana’s judicial system, a bench warrant, once issued, does not simply disappear. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
A Political Earthquake in Assin South: How One Man’s Loyalty Shifted the Balance and Brought 15,000 Supporters to the NDC
For years, Joseph Kofi Nyarko-Damptey fought his battles under different banners, first as a hopeful within the New Patriotic Party, then as a lone wolf on the independent trail. Each time, the Assin South Constituency watched him rise, contest, and fall short. But in a dramatic turn that no one saw coming, Nyarko-Damptey has closed one chapter of his political life and flung open another, and he didn’t come alone. In a ceremony held at the NDC Constituency Office at Assin Ngresi, the former parliamentary aspirant officially crossed the aisle to the National Democratic Congress, bringing with him a staggering army of over 15,000 supporters. It was not merely a defection; it was a statement. Nyarko-Damptey’s political journey reads like a story of stubborn resilience. Back in 2016, he threw his hat into the ring during the NPP’s parliamentary primary, hoping to clinch the ticket for Assin South. The incumbent Member of Parliament, John Ntim Fordjour, proved to be an immovable wall. Undeterred, Nyarko-Damptey returned in 2020, this time as an independent candidate, only to be turned back again by the same opponent. He tried once more in 2024, and once more, the result was the same. Three attempts. Three defeats. Yet his supporters never wavered. It was that unwavering loyalty that ultimately wrote the next chapter of this story. At the ceremony, Central Regional Vice Chairman of the NDC, Shaibu Bukari, formally handed Nyarko-Damptey his NDC membership card, a symbolic gesture that sealed his official entry into the party. Cameras clicked, hands were shaken, and a new political alliance was born. Speaking to the media after the event, Nyarko-Damptey was candid about what drove his decision. He pointed to the NDC’s development agenda and cited what he described as the tangible achievements of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration within its first year in office. For him, this was not a leap in the dark; it was a calculated step toward a party he believes is delivering for the people. He urged his supporters to stand firmly behind him in this new home, calling on them to embrace the NDC’s core values of discipline, unity, and commitment. His supporters, many of them former NPP faithful, echoed a similar sentiment, one tinged with a sense of betrayal. Several of them said they felt their loyalty had been taken for granted by the NPP, and that their allegiance had always been to the man, not just the party. Where Nyarko-Damptey goes, they go. The NDC wasted no time rolling out the welcome mat. Deputy Central Regional Secretary Eric Offei, speaking on behalf of the party, hailed the mass defection as a powerful testament to the NDC’s growing appeal across the region. He assured the new members that they would be treated as equals within the party’s ranks, and encouraged them to work hand in hand with existing members to strengthen the NDC’s foundations ahead of future elections. In the ever-shifting landscape of Ghanaian politics, the events in Assin South serve as a vivid reminder that loyalty is earned, and when it is not, it walks out the door, sometimes with 15,000 people in tow. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana Armed Forces Marks 47th Guard Changing Ceremony at Jubilee House
With precision and pageantry, the Ghana Armed Forces on Monday, March 16, 2026, held the 47th Guard Changing Ceremony at the Jubilee House. This time-honoured tradition signals the seamless transfer of responsibility for protecting the seat of the Presidency. The ceremony, steeped in military discipline and national symbolism, is part of a long-standing security arrangement in which different branches of the armed forces take turns guarding the presidential residence. Every three months, one unit steps aside and another steps forward, ensuring that the Presidency remains under continuous, comprehensive protection. This time, it was the Ghana Army’s turn to take the baton. In a formal handover, the Army officially assumed security duties at the Jubilee House, relieving the Ghana Air Force, which had completed its three-month deployment with distinction. The occasion drew a distinguished gathering of dignitaries, including Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang and Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, alongside senior government officials and heads of the country’s security services, a reflection of the weight and significance the state places on the ceremony. Beyond the pomp and ritual, the Guard Changing Ceremony carries a deeper meaning. Held every quarter, it stands as a visible testament to the spirit of inter-service collaboration that defines the Ghana Armed Forces, a reminder that the protection of the nation’s highest office is not the duty of one unit alone, but a shared responsibility borne collectively by all branches of the military. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Transport Fares Hang in the Balance as Fuel Prices Threaten to Rise
Commuters in Ghana may soon feel the pinch at the lorry station. The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has sounded a cautious warning: if fuel prices go up, transport fares will likely follow. The alert came on March 15, when the union’s Industrial Relations Officer, Abass Imoro, sat down for an interview to address growing concerns about the cost of moving people across the country. He revealed that some drivers, already buckling under rising operating expenses, had taken matters into their own hands by quietly hiking fares without authorization. The union, however, was quick to intervene, rolling back those increases and restoring the officially approved rates. Drivers had held onto hope that the recent weakening of the dollar would bring some relief, particularly on the cost of lubricants and other essential inputs. That hope, Mr. Imoro admitted, has largely gone unfulfilled. Prices have remained stubbornly high, and the financial pressure on transport operators continues to mount. Still, Mr. Imoro was keen to reassure the public that the union would not act in haste. Should fuel prices rise and trigger a review of fares, he said, the leadership would first take time to study market trends before announcing any changes, a measured approach aimed at protecting commuters from sudden, unplanned increases. But the clouds on the horizon are darkening. Duncan Amoah, Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers, has issued a stark warning: petrol and diesel prices could surge to between 13 and 15 cedis per litre. He pointed to supply disruptions fuelled by escalating tensions in parts of the Middle East as the key driver behind the anticipated spike. For everyday Ghanaians who depend on commercial transport to get to work, school, and market, the coming weeks may demand closer attention, and perhaps a tighter grip on their wallets. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
NABDAM NPP Constituency Chairman Ontoyen resigns
The Chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Nabdam Constituency has officially resigned. Denis Kolog Ontoyen Yennilorgit, a man once considered a pillar of the party in the area, has resigned, citing a profound lack of appreciation and respect from the very leadership he served. In a succinct but weighty resignation letter dated February 17, 2026, titled “Resignation as Constituency Chairman Nabdam,” Mr. Ontoyen made his decision official. “I, Denis Ontoyen Kolog, hereby tender my resignation letter as Constituency Chairman of Nabdam effective 17th February 2026,” the letter stated. While he graciously acknowledged the opportunity to serve, writing, “I appreciate the opportunity to have served the party and the people of Nabdam in this role. I am committed to supporting my successor,” the circumstances surrounding his exit tell a far more painful story. Speaking exclusively to ApexNewsGh, a visibly disheartened Mr. Ontoyen pulled back the curtain on the silent struggles that led him to walk away from a party he once fervently fought for. He revealed that his decision was not sudden, but a painful culmination of years of feeling invisible to the party hierarchy, both at the Constituency and Regional levels. According to the former chairman, his dedication to the party came at a great personal cost. Far from reaping any rewards of political office, his tenure was marked by financial hardship. “Since I became party chairman, I have become poorer,” he confessed. He explained that his commitment to the party’s well-being meant he could never turn away a fellow party member in need, often depleting his own resources to offer support. He said, unfortunately, his efforts are unnoticed and not appreciated. However, the final, crushing blow was the party’s deafening silence in the wake of his resignation. Mr. Ontoyen revealed that despite submitting his letter on February 17th, not a single soul from either the Constituency or the regional office has reached out to him. No phone call. No visit. No inquiry into why a man who had given so much had decided to leave. “According to actions alone, the level of disrespect I have witnessed as a Constituency party chairman,” he lamented, his words painting a stark picture of a loyal servant left to walk away without a second glance. His resignation now leaves a void in the Nabdam Constituency, but more importantly, it raises uncomfortable questions about the value the party places on its grassroots leaders. Source: Apexnewsgh.com