CHRAJ Petitioned Over Alleged Misconduct by Free Zones Authority CEO
A formal petition has been filed with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) seeking a thorough investigation into the conduct of Dr. Mary Awusi, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Free Zones Authority. The petitioners allege that Dr. Awusi has misused official working time by making frequent media appearances unrelated to her official duties. The complaint, co-signed by Prince Owusu Bonnah, Christiana Acheampong, and Sebastian Ampah, points to Dr. Awusi’s participation in a radio discussion on Accra 100.5 FM on April 23, 2026. During the broadcast, she reportedly commented on national issues, including illegal mining, and made remarks concerning the leadership of the Church of Pentecost. The petitioners argue that such engagements fall outside her statutory responsibilities and may constitute a breach of public service ethics. According to the petition, Dr. Awusi’s comments during the interview questioned the moral authority and spiritual standing of the Church’s leadership, remarks the complainants describe as inappropriate for a public office holder. They further contend that her conduct may reflect a misuse of official time and public resources, potentially exposing the Free Zones Authority to reputational risk. The petitioners are calling on CHRAJ to determine whether Dr. Awusi’s actions amount to administrative impropriety, abuse of office, or a violation of the Code of Conduct for public officers as outlined in Ghana’s 1992 Constitution. They are also requesting a full investigation, the imposition of appropriate sanctions where warranted, and the establishment of stricter guidelines to ensure ethical conduct among public servants. To support their claims, the petitioners have attached media recordings and supporting materials said to document Dr. Awusi’s public engagements during official working hours. Copies of the petition have also been forwarded to the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, signaling the seriousness of their concerns. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Sports Minister Refutes Claims of Substandard Vaulting Poles at African Athletics Championships
Ghana’s Sports Minister, Kofi Adams, has firmly denied media reports suggesting that foreign athletes were forced to use substandard vaulting poles provided by Ghana during the African Senior Athletics Championships at the University of Ghana Stadium in Accra. Addressing the press, Mr. Adams clarified that while Ghana’s Local Organising Committee supplied vaulting poles for the competition, none of the athletes actually used them. “It’s a standard thing. Yours is to provide the landing surface, the cross bar, and then the stand poles,” he explained. He emphasized that the vaulting poles themselves are personal equipment, with athletes preferring to compete with their own poles for comfort and familiarity. “The only thing is that the ITOs will certify it for them,” he added, referring to the International Technical Officials who inspect and approve the athletes’ equipment. The minister recounted an incident involving a Beninese athlete whose vaulting pole broke during the event, stressing that the damaged pole belonged to the athlete and had not been supplied by Ghana. Similarly, South African competitors used their own vaulting poles, Mr. Adams noted. He further disclosed that the South African team had paid a deposit at Aviance at Accra International Airport for the equipment they brought into the country. This deposit, he assured, would be refunded once the athletes left Ghana with their equipment. Reflecting on the championship as a whole, Mr. Adams concluded that the event “generally went well,” with the exception of some early power issues that were promptly addressed. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Minority Caucus Charts Path to 2028: NPP Urged to Prepare for Power
The Minority Caucus in Parliament recently gathered in Accra for a strategic workshop designed to sharpen their parliamentary approach and enhance coordination as they gear up for the next legislative session. Addressing the assembled MPs, Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh delivered a candid assessment of the political landscape, asserting that the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) had lost public confidence far more rapidly than many anticipated. He stressed that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) must seize this moment to position itself assertively for victory in the 2028 elections. Annoh-Dompreh reminded his colleagues that their primary responsibility remains holding the government accountable through rigorous scrutiny and by challenging questionable decisions. He encouraged MPs to expose what he described as hidden wrongdoings within the current administration and to intensify pressure on the government whenever shortcomings emerge. “We cannot sit back while the cocoa farmer is wailing, teachers are crying, nurses are wailing, public servants are crying, market women are crying, this is the reflection of the scam of the NDC government,” he declared, urging MPs to fully utilize parliamentary procedures to bring national issues to the forefront. The workshop’s purpose, Annoh-Dompreh explained, was to refine the caucus’s communication strategy, align its parliamentary activities, and bolster its responsiveness to the pressing needs of Ghanaians. He pointed out that many citizens were increasingly turning to the NPP as a credible alternative, and that the party needed to present a united and disciplined front to meet those expectations. He also cautioned against complacency and internal divisions, warning that these could undermine the NPP’s chances in the crucial 2028 elections. “The NPP is a party of development, and its culture and tradition have proven to be effective and capable in turning around the fortunes of our country. Victory is in our hands!” he proclaimed, rallying his colleagues for the challenges ahead. The workshop brought together Minority MPs to deliberate on legislative priorities, constituency engagement, and strategies to strengthen parliamentary oversight of the executive. Participants left with a renewed sense of purpose, ready to apply lessons learned both in Parliament and in their constituencies as the opposition intensifies preparations for the next general elections. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah Tells Story of Arrests and Intimidation
Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi and former Information Minister, recently spoke out against what he describes as a worrying trend of political intimidation in Ghana. According to him, the current National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration is using arrests and detentions to silence critics, particularly those who express dissent on social media. In a candid conversation with the media in 2026, Oppong Nkrumah painted a troubling picture of life for opposition supporters under the present government. “Over sixteen NPP persons have been arrested for simply making comments on social media or posting things on social media that the government finds unpalatable,” he revealed. The MP claimed these arrests began shortly after the NDC assumed office and have continued, targeting more than sixteen members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP). His comments were made against the backdrop of the ongoing detention of Kwame Baffoe, widely known as Abronye DC, who serves as the NPP’s Bono Regional Chairman. According to Oppong Nkrumah, Abronye’s situation is especially grave. He recounted how Abronye was arrested, denied bail, and has now been detained for several days, with his lawyers, family, and political associates unable to see him since his arrest the previous week. Oppong Nkrumah did not mince words in his criticism of the government’s actions. “The government is using arrest, detention, remand as a tool to suppress voices that they do not feel comfortable with,” he alleged. He argued that these tactics are designed not only to punish critics but also to send a message to others who might consider speaking out. “The whole idea is to intimidate people and ensure that everybody keeps quiet when they are failing on delivering on the promises they made to the Ghanaian people.” Despite these challenges, Oppong Nkrumah made it clear that the opposition will not be cowed. He assured that the NPP would continue to protest the arrests both in public and in the courts, vowing, “We will use the platforms of public advocacy to call that out as well while we do what is necessary through the judicial system.” The story he tells is one of a political climate where fear and silence are tools of governance, but also one where the fight for freedom of expression and justice continues. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
PAC Grills Peki College of Education Over Soaring Losses
It was a tense morning in Parliament on Tuesday, May 19, as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) turned its attention to the troubling financial records of the Peki College of Education. The air in the chamber was thick with concern as members pored over the audit findings, trying to make sense of the institution’s deteriorating financial health. The numbers told a worrying story. Losses at the college had ballooned from GH¢916,000 in 2023 to more than GH¢1 million in 2024, a rise that set off alarm bells among committee members. The PAC wanted answers. How could the gap have grown so much in just a year? Was it the fault of Ghana’s high inflation rate, as the college’s Director of Finance, Hornesmus Quarshie, insisted? Or was there more to the story? Chairperson of the PAC, Abena Osei-Asare, wasn’t convinced by the inflation argument. Leaning forward, she challenged Quarshie directly. “Your loss of GH¢1 million from GH¢916,000 is purely due to inflation? You spent over GH¢800,000 on transportation costs alone. Looking at the strength of your income, you could have postponed some of these items to avoid incurring the losses.” Her words hung in the air, underscoring the committee’s frustration. “You make a loss of GH¢916,000, and you come here and you think you can come and sit here and explain it away? You are not doing your school any good thing,” she added sternly. As the session wore on, it was clear that the PAC expected better financial stewardship from the management of the Peki College of Education. The story unfolding in Parliament was not just about numbers, but about accountability, and the hope that lessons would be learned for the future. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
The Ashanti NPP Chairman Faces Court: The Dramatic Case of Chairman Wontumi
In a courtroom drama that has captured national attention, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, stood before the High Court in Accra to answer to four serious criminal charges. The charges, defrauding by false pretence, forgery, money laundering, and intentionally causing a financial loss of over GH¢30 million to the Ghana Export-Import Bank (Exim Bank), were read out in a session presided over by Justice Halimah El-Alawa Abdul-Baasit. Chairman Wontumi, represented by his lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, entered a plea of not guilty. After an application by his lawyer, which was not opposed by Deputy Attorney-General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, Wontumi was granted bail. Meanwhile, his alleged accomplice and Director of Wontumi Farms Limited, Thomas Antwi-Boasiako, remains at large, with authorities still seeking his whereabouts. The prosecution’s case paints an elaborate picture of deception. According to the charge sheet, Chairman Wontumi and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako are accused of using false pretences to obtain GH¢14.3 million from Exim Bank. They allegedly presented falsified documents, including a “Board Resolution Letter” with suspicious dates, and claimed to have secured 100,000 acres of land and employment for 38,000 people. Based on these representations, Exim Bank approved a mixed loan and grant facility of nearly GH¢19 million, ultimately disbursing over GH¢14 million to Wontumi Farms Limited by March 2018. The prosecution further alleges that in March 2018, Chairman Wontumi submitted a document labeled as a “Receipt” to secure an additional GH¢4 million from the bank, claiming it was for the purchase of agricultural machinery. However, state investigations revealed that the so-called receipt was in fact a doctored pro-forma invoice from KAS-SAMA Enterprise, originally issued only for a price inquiry. “No agricultural plant or machinery was bought. No person was employed to work on any farm. The accused persons did not own or secure the parcel of land they represented to the Bank as secured for the project,” prosecutors stated. Instead, large sums withdrawn from the company’s accounts were allegedly used for Wontumi’s personal investments and other business enterprises. As the case unfolds, the nation watches closely, awaiting the court’s verdict on one of the most high-profile financial crime cases in recent years. Source: Apexnewsgh.com