Over 100 Buildings Collapse as Floods Displace Nearly 1,900 in Samreboi – NADMO
The Wassa Amenfi Municipal Directorate of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has disclosed that approximately 100 buildings have completely collapsed in Samreboi following devastating recent floods, with an additional 20 structures partially destroyed. The aftermath has left large sections of the community unsafe for habitation as recovery and relief efforts continue. According to the Deputy Municipal NADMO Director, Christopher Bevel, nearly 1,900 residents have been affected and remain displaced as a result of the disaster. “We have about 100 buildings that are totally collapsed with 20 partially collapsed. For the population which was affected by the flood, it is about 1,900 for now. Although the floodwaters have receded, the houses are currently not safe for habitation,” The flooding was triggered by heavy rainfall, which caused the Samre and Tano rivers to overflow their banks. The resulting deluge swept through Samreboi, leading to widespread destruction of property and displacement of residents. While the water levels have since dropped, NADMO has cautioned that the structural damage and potential contamination mean that it is still unsafe for people to return to their homes. Authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage and coordinate relief for those displaced, as the community works to recover from one of the worst flooding incidents in its history. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Supreme Court Dismisses All Suits Over Removal of Former Chief Justice Torkornoo
The Supreme Court has unanimously dismissed all four suits challenging the constitutional process that led to the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, bringing to an end month of legal battles over one of Ghana’s most closely watched judicial controversies. On Thursday, July 2, a seven-member panel of the highest court delivered its verdict, upholding the legality of the proceedings that culminated in Justice Torkornoo’s ousting from office. The court’s decision marks a definitive conclusion to a heated national debate and affirms the procedures followed in the removal process. The four separate legal challenges came from various parties, including the former Chief Justice herself, Old Tafo MP Vincent Ekow Assafuah, the Centre for Citizenship, Constitutional and Electoral Systems, and Theodore Kofi Atta Quartey. Each sought constitutional interpretations regarding the suspension and removal of a Chief Justice, arguing that due process had not been observed and that certain aspects of the removal procedure violated the 1992 Constitution. Justice Torkornoo was removed following a suspension by President John Dramani Mahama, after which a committee of inquiry was established under Article 146 of the Constitution to investigate petitions filed against her. The process triggered spirited public debate, with legal experts, civil society groups, and political parties expressing divergent views about its implications for judicial independence and constitutional governance. With the Supreme Court’s ruling, all domestic legal challenges to Justice Torkornoo’s removal have now been dismissed. This decision follows closely on the heels of a similar outcome at the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, which also rejected Justice Torkornoo’s claims that her rights had been violated during the suspension and removal process, further bolstering the state’s legal position. Legal observers are now awaiting the Supreme Court’s full judgment, which is expected to provide comprehensive reasoning behind the ruling and set an important precedent for future cases involving the removal of high constitutional officeholders in Ghana. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Do We Really Care About Persons with Mental Health Disorders During Flood Disasters?
The Editor-in-Chief of Apexnewsgh, Mr. Ngamegbulam Chidozie Stephen, who also serves as a member of the Mental Health Alliance in the Upper East Region, has raised critical questions about the government’s efforts to protect persons with mental health disorders during disasters. His concerns come in the wake of the recent devastating flooding in Accra, which displaced more than 30,000 households and claimed at least a dozen lives. Reflecting on the tragedy, Mr. Ngamegbulam shared his thoughts: “I have been thinking about this since the unbearable flooding incident in Accra recently. It appears we are actually not concerned about persons with mental disorders. I’m talking about those roaming the streets, those who sleep anywhere they find or wherever they feel comfortable. Some of these people even have children with them, children who, in many cases, were born from circumstances we may never fully understand, yet we see them every day.” He questioned whether society ever truly considers the survival of such vulnerable individuals, particularly during disasters. “While we’re counting submerged cars, over a thousand, we hear, and tallying up the lives lost or disrupted, do we pause to consider those in our midst with severe mental health conditions? Those who may not even comprehend what’s happening around them, who might be asleep in a corner when the floods come, with no one to call for help, no voice to shout their name?” Mr. Ngamegbulam pointed to the lack of attention given to the mentally ill in disaster response efforts. “These people are among the most vulnerable. Who checks on them after a disaster? Who ensures they are safe, alive, or accounted for among the victims? The number of deaths we record, do we ever know if some of those lost were people with mental health disorders, people whose families may not even be able to identify or claim them? These are questions that demand answers.” Drawing parallels to the Ebola crisis, he highlighted a recurring pattern of neglect: “We made a similar oversight during the Ebola crisis. While everyone was rushing for vaccines and taking measures to protect themselves, who paused to think about the predicament of our brothers and sisters with mental health issues? It seems, too often, we only care about ourselves, the so-called ‘right-thinking’ or ‘normal’ people. Those who find themselves living with mental disorders are overlooked, left out of our planning and response in times of crisis.” Mr. Ngamegbulam emphasized that the challenges of a city like Accra make survival difficult even for the healthy. “Accra is a choked city, and this last flood proved how challenging it is for anyone to survive such disasters, even those of us who are healthy. How much harder, then, is it for those with mental health challenges, who may not understand the danger or know how to seek safety?” He called for a more inclusive approach to disaster response: “In times of challenges like flooding or other disasters, we must find a way to consider and actively save our brothers and sisters who are living with mental health issues. They did not choose their condition, circumstances led them there. We must include them in our emergency plans and activities, not avoid or ignore them because of their situation. This is a shared responsibility, and it is time we act on it.” Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ministry of Finance Releases GH¢350 Million for Emergency Flood Relief and Mitigation
In the wake of devastating floods that swept through several regions of Ghana, most severely impacting the Greater Accra Region, the Ministry of Finance has disbursed GH¢350 million from the Contingency Fund to bolster emergency relief and flood mitigation efforts. This significant release of funds, following a directive from President John Dramani Mahama, is aimed at providing immediate assistance to flood victims and laying the groundwork for long-term solutions to Ghana’s persistent flooding crisis. Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, was tasked with swiftly mobilizing resources, resulting in the transfer of funds into a dedicated National Disaster Management Committee account at the Bank of Ghana. The government’s National Emergency Flood Response Programme will channel GH¢200 million toward humanitarian assistance for those affected, supporting families forced from their homes and businesses devastated by the floods. The remaining GH¢150 million is earmarked for critical flood mitigation projects aimed at protecting vulnerable communities and reducing future risks. The recent disaster, caused by hours of unrelenting rainfall from Sunday into Monday, left communities across Accra and beyond submerged. Homes, businesses, roads, and vital infrastructure suffered extensive damage. Markets and commercial centers faced heavy losses as traders saw their goods and equipment destroyed. The floods killed dozens, stranded hundreds of commuters, and forced many families into temporary shelters. Major roads became impassable when drains overflowed, and low-lying neighborhoods experienced severe inundation. Emergency responders, from the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Police Service, and the Armed Forces, were quickly deployed to rescue trapped residents and restore a sense of normalcy. Government officials say the intervention underscores their commitment to delivering swift humanitarian support while investing in long-term flood prevention. With the dedicated funds now in place, authorities hope to bring much-needed relief to affected communities and begin work on measures to prevent such disasters in the future. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
GWJN Calls for Bold Action as Floods Ravage Accra Again
Once more, devastating floods have swept through Accra and its surrounding communities, leaving a trail of loss, destruction, and anguish. The Ghana WASH Journalists Network (GWJN) has voiced its profound sadness over the tragedy, as lives have been lost, homes and businesses destroyed, and thousands of residents traumatized by yet another round of flooding. In a statement, GWJN extended heartfelt condolences to grieving families and expressed solidarity with all whose livelihoods have been upended. “Every life lost to flooding in Ghana is one too many,” the network lamented, adding that the recurrence of such tragedies is now unacceptable and demands urgent, lasting solutions. Year after year, governments make promises, form committees, and launch emergency interventions, yet the same communities flood whenever the rains come. GWJN insists that Ghana deserves better and that the national flood management strategy requires a complete overhaul. The network identified the well-known causes of Accra’s flooding: illegal developments on wetlands and waterways, poor land-use planning and enforcement, choked drains from indiscriminate dumping, rapid urbanization without matching drainage infrastructure, and weak institutional coordination, among others. “Floods are natural, but disasters come from human failure,” GWJN stressed. GWJN argued that flood prevention must become a permanent national development priority, not just a seasonal emergency. The network called on the Ghana Hydrological Authority (HYDRO), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority (LUSPA), Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), and the Ministry of Works and Housing to move decisively to protect all remaining wetlands and drainage corridors from encroachment. “No road project should proceed without comprehensive drainage engineering, and the destruction of wetlands for housing and infrastructure must end immediately.” Recalling the formation of the Anti-Flood Taskforce in March 2025 by President John Dramani Mahama, GWJN questioned what had become of its findings and recommendations. The network demanded transparency and accountability, pressing for measurable progress in preventing a repeat of these tragic scenes. GWJN called on the government to demonstrate bold political leadership, enforcing planning laws, reclaiming wetlands, strengthening engineering standards, and holding public officials accountable for negligence. “This is not the time for temporary solutions or annual emergency responses. Permanent engineering solutions and strong political will are needed.” Citizens, too, have a role to play. The network urged Ghanaians to end indiscriminate dumping and illegal building on waterways, warning that these actions worsen the crisis. GWJN pledged to intensify media advocacy on environmental sanitation, drainage protection, and flood prevention, and to expose those who undermine the nation’s safety. Flooding, GWJN insisted, should not define Ghana’s rainy seasons. The expertise and institutions exist, what remains is coordinated action, enforcement, and sustained political commitment. The network also called for immediate protection of safe water sources, proper testing and treatment of submerged pipes and boreholes, and, if possible, the provision of emergency safe water supplies to affected communities. “The time to act decisively is now,” GWJN concluded, urging all stakeholders to rise to the occasion and end the cycle of flooding once and for all. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Engage the Military to Build Pavilions: Prof. David Millar’s Solution to Eradicate Schools Under Trees
At the last session of the recent launch of the PEARL (Prosperity through Enterprise, Agriculture, Resilience and Livelihoods) Framework, a bold 10-year plan set to transform Ghana’s regions through agriculture, enterprise, and responsible mining, an urgent and innovative proposal stirred the room. Professor David Millar, President of the Millar Institute for Transdisciplinary and Development Studies, who also doubles as the Chairman of the launch, presented an important suggestion to the President’s Representative, Mr. Augustus Obuadum Tanoh (Presidential Adviser on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development), and the Deputy Education Minister, Hon. Clement Apaak, with a message both practical and visionary. With a voice marked by concern, and hope, Prof. Millar painted a troubling picture: nearly 5,000 basic schools across Ghana are still operating under trees or in crumbling structures. This crisis, he explained, strikes hardest in rural and underserved communities, where children are forced to learn in punishing conditions with no protection from the elements, scant furniture, and constant disruptions. But Prof. Millar brought more than a lament, he brought a solution. “If we engage the military, specifically the engineering regiments who have already proven their capability building highways, to construct simple but durable pavilions, we could remove all schools from under trees in record time,” he declared. The military, he argued, can rapidly build thousands of such structures, far faster and more cost-effectively than traditional contractors. “Furniture and other amenities can come later. The priority must be getting children into proper shelters.” Prof. Millar reminded his audience of historical precedent: “Years ago, under Rawlings and the NDC, pavilions were built for junior secondary schools, simple one-block structures that are now used as classrooms. Originally designed as open carpentry workshops, these pavilions have stood the test of time.” His vision is methodical and inclusive: “We should start from the north, where the need is greatest, and gradually eliminate all schools under trees as we move southwards. The military’s field engineers regiment is both cheaper and faster. There are about eight field units, these could be deployed across Upper East, Upper West, and beyond. Since we already know where these schools are, soldiers could build pavilions one after another, moving steadily toward the coast.” Prof. Millar’s proposal is clear: only by harnessing the speed and efficiency of the military can Ghana end the era of schools under trees, a solution that would be a landmark achievement for government, the military, and, above all, for Ghana’s children. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana Government Condemns Killing of Ghanaian in Cape Town, Demands Justice and Protection for Nationals
The Government of Ghana has expressed profound shock and sadness following the fatal shooting of Mr. Bashiru Isak, a 40-year-old Ghanaian national, in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. The tragedy occurred on Monday, June 30, 2026, during demonstrations tied to ongoing xenophobic attacks against foreign nationals in South Africa. In a strongly-worded press statement released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Ghanaian authorities condemned the killing and the wider pattern of violence targeting African nationals. “The Government of Ghana condemns, in the strongest terms, this senseless act of violence and the rising tide of xenophobia targeting African nationals, including Ghanaians, in South Africa. The taking of any life is unacceptable, and those responsible must be brought to justice without delay,” the statement read. Acting on instructions from the Ministry, the Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has lodged a formal protest with South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation. Additionally, the High Commission has filed an official complaint with the South African Police Service after confirming Mr. Isak’s identity and notifying his family. Ghana is now calling for a comprehensive, transparent, and expedited investigation into the killing, insisting that South African authorities identify, arrest, and prosecute those responsible. The government also urged South Africa to bolster security measures for Ghanaian nationals and other foreign residents who may be at risk from xenophobic violence. “We also reiterate our call on the South African authorities to ensure enhanced protection for all Ghanaian nationals in affected communities,” the Ministry stressed. The Ghanaian government’s statement underscores the urgent need for justice and safety for its citizens abroad, particularly in the face of rising xenophobic tensions in South Africa. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghanaian Tailor Killed Amid Anti-Immigration Unrest in Cape Town
Tragedy struck the Ghanaian community in South Africa this week as a long-time resident and tailor was shot and killed in his Cape Town shop during a surge of anti-immigration violence. The Ghana High Commission, confirming the incident, revealed that the victim had made South Africa his home for two decades, building a life and business before his untimely death on Tuesday, June 30, 2026. He leaves behind three children, the oldest just 10 years old. According to the High Commission, steps are already being taken to repatriate the tailor’s remains to Ghana, and diplomats are working closely with South African officials to support the ongoing investigation and offer assistance to the grieving family. The fatal shooting unfolded amidst protests organised by the civic group March and March, which had announced a “30 June deadline” for undocumented foreigners to leave the country. Demonstrations erupted across all nine provinces and quickly devolved into violence, with xenophobic attacks targeting foreign nationals and their businesses. South African authorities, anticipating unrest, had ramped up security measures, committing R600 million to the operation, cancelling police leave, and putting the military on alert. President Cyril Ramaphosa had issued stern warnings against violence, but the campaign nevertheless sparked deadly incidents. The tailor’s death is the latest in a series of xenophobic attacks tied to the anti-immigration movement, which has already claimed at least two lives and triggered a wave of repatriations by several African countries seeking to protect their citizens. As of now, South African police have yet to release further details about the shooting or announce any arrests. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana Gold Board Launches Dual Pricing Regime Aligned with Global Standards
On July 1, 2026, a new era began for Ghana’s gold trading industry. The Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) rolled out a gold pricing system designed to match the precision and transparency of the world’s leading markets. Effective immediately, gold prices in Ghana will now be set twice daily, tracking the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) AM and PM pricing windows. For gold dealers and buyers, this means that each trading day will feature two official purchase prices, one set in the morning and another in the afternoon, mirroring the global benchmarks. The AM pricing window spans from 9:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m., while the PM window stretches from 2:30 p.m. through to 9:20 a.m. the following day. To keep transactions in step with these changes, GOLDBOD has instituted precise booking windows: gold purchases during the AM session must be booked between 9:30 a.m. and 2:20 p.m., while PM session bookings are accepted between 2:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and again from 6:00 a.m. to 9:20 a.m. the next day. Brief scheduled trading suspensions, daily from 2:21 p.m. to 2:29 p.m. and from 9:21 a.m. to 9:29 a.m., allow for smooth transitions between these key windows. During these short intervals, trading pauses and no bookings are accepted, before operations quickly resume. GOLDBOD made it clear: all licensed gold buyers are now required to book purchases in real time and within the prescribed windows. Any attempt to trade outside these periods, or during a suspension, will result in the transaction being rejected and shifted to the next appropriate window. The Compliance Directorate of the Ghana Gold Board, in its official statement, urged every licensed buyer to swiftly adapt their practices to uphold the new standards. Stakeholders were encouraged to reach out to GOLDBOD through official channels for any further clarification as the industry embraces this landmark change in gold pricing and trading. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Prof. David Millar Challenges Planners to Rethink the Meaning of Markets at PEARL Launch
At the grand launch of Prosperity through Enterprise, Agriculture, Resilience and Livelihoods (PEARL) framework, a visionary 10-year framework plan for the Upper East Region, Professor David Millar, serving as Chairman, took center stage to address the congregation. The initiative, spearheaded by the Regional Coordinating Council, drew stakeholders from across the region, eager to hear from one of its most respected academics. As he spoke, Prof. Millar offered a thought-provoking perspective on the heart of economic development. “A market economy,” he began, “is just a space and a place.” He paused, glancing around the room before continuing, “I’ve heard comments like, ‘Oh, they are just building markets.’ But marketing, as many great economists will affirm, is a transaction arena. You don’t even need a physical structure for a market to exist, it’s all about transactions.” To illustrate, he pointed to the example of gold. “If there were no market for gold, we wouldn’t even be talking about it. No one would be struggling to sell it. That is the essence of a market.” Prof. Millar then turned to the concept of a 24-hour economy, a term buzzing in policy circles. “For us, at my university, the 24-hour economy is not just about a structural m arket. It’s about a transactional space, and we are positioning ourselves to contribute to this broader discourse.” He emphasized that the real value lies in the transactional spaces created for the benefit of the entire economy. “Physical structures can be labeled NDC or NPP,” he cautioned, referencing the leading political parties, “but the economy itself is more generic, more nationalist. I hope the planners capture this in their designs.” With a gentle challenge, Prof. Millar urged the planners not to fall into the trap of viewing markets as mere buildings equipped with electricity and cell towers. “The true price of the challenge,” he concluded, “is to look beyond the visible structures and focus on the vibrant transactions that drive our economy.” His words set a thoughtful tone for the event, reminding everyone present that the future of the Upper East Region depends not just on what is built, but on how people connect, trade, and innovate within those spaces. Source: Apexnewsgh.com