Author: Political Desk

The bail application of former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi, has been adjourned to October 15, 2026. The adjournment came after Chairman Wontumi, who is currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for illegal mining, and his lawyers failed to appear in court for the hearing. Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem-Sai was present in court for the proceedings. The court is expected to hear the bail application when the case resumes on October 15. The bail application follows an appeal filed by Wontumi’s lawyers to challenge his conviction.

The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has declared that the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) owes it more than GH¢50 million in statutory payments. According to GMet, the outstanding arrears are placing additional strain on its finances and limiting its ability to sustain some of its operations. Under the amended Ghana Meteorological Agency Act, 2019 (Act 1002), the GCAA is expected to pay 10% of en-route, overflight and landing fees to GMet. The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), meanwhile, is mandated to pay 5% of airport passenger taxes to the agency. Speaking to Citi News on Tuesday, August 18, GMet Director-General,…

One person has been seriously injured in another multi-vehicle crash on the Ofankor-Pokuase stretch of the Accra-Kumasi Highway, less than a week after a separate accident on the same stretch claimed 12 lives. The latest crash occurred on Wednesday morning and involved four vehicles: a VIP bus, a military vehicle, a Toyota Vitz and a four-wheel-drive vehicle. No deaths were recorded in the latest incident, but one person sustained serious injuries and was rushed to a medical facility for treatment. The crash has, however, caused heavy traffic congestion on the Kumasi-bound lanes, with motorists facing significant delays. Authorities are yet…

The Madina-La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly taskforce, in collaboration with the Madina Police and its Environmental Health Unit, has arrested a woman suspected of selling unapproved chemicals allegedly used to artificially ripen bananas and plantains at the Madina Market. The woman, whose identity has not been disclosed, was arrested on Tuesday, August 18, following concerns raised by traders over the alleged use and sale of substances to accelerate the ripening of fruits sold to consumers. She was subsequently taken into police custody for questioning as investigations continue. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Madina-La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly, Ibrahim Fialla, said…

The Government of Ghana has paid GH¢10.82 billion to bondholders under the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP), according to the Ministry of Finance. The payment, totalling GH¢10,816,840,318.26, brings the total amount paid to DDEP bondholders since 2025 to GH¢41.36 billion. The Ministry said the latest payment was the third DDEP coupon payment to be made entirely in cash, adding that the obligation was settled in full and on schedule. According to the Ministry, the payment will help strengthen investor confidence, reduce Ghana’s sovereign default risk and reinforce the country’s financial credibility. The latest payment follows an assurance by Finance Minister…

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has stressed that its newly introduced 24-hour Prestige Centre at Labone is an optional service and does not replace the Authority’s regular district offices across the country. According to the NIA, the Prestige Centre, which commenced operations on August 1, 2026, provides an additional service option for people seeking greater convenience, flexibility and faster access to Ghana Card-related services. The facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including weekends. The Authority said the introduction of the facility should not be interpreted as making premium or prestige services compulsory for members of the…

The Chairman of the Hostel Owners Association, Bishop Dr Akwasi Owusu-Bi, has criticised the Rent Control Department’s approach to regulating hostel facilities, accusing the Acting Rent Commissioner, Frederick Opoku, of threatening operators and making public allegations against them without prior engagement. Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, Bishop Owusu-Bi said hostel operators were concerned about what he described as the Rent Control Department’s confrontational approach to assessing their facilities and rental charges. He argued that regulators should engage stakeholders and understand the challenges confronting them before making public statements about their operations. “Once you have…

The National Identification Authority (NIA) has clarified that the revised fees for Ghana Card registration and related services were approved by Parliament and were not introduced unilaterally by the Authority. In a statement signed by the NIA’s Williams Amponsah Emmanuel Darlas, the Authority said the current fee regime was approved under the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2512), pursuant to the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022 (Act 1080). The NIA said the revised charges took effect on February 2, 2026, and therefore predated the recent public discussion surrounding the cost of Ghana Card services.…

Lawyer Lom Nuku Ahlijah, an energy jurist and philanthropist in Keta, has supported the Keta Basic School Sports team with vital sporting gear ahead of the ongoing Basic Schools Inter-School Sports Festival at Akatsi in the Volta Region. The donation, comprising two sets of football jerseys and a set of volleyball jerseys, was presented on Saturday, August 15, on his behalf by Mr Julius Ceaser Beckly, a sports veteran in Keta. Speaking after the presentation, Mr Ahlijah said the donation was made in response to a request from the team, although the appeal came at a late stage. He pledged…

Two prosecution witnesses in the case involving former Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, have been placed under police protection following death threats. Deputy Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr Justice Srem-Sai, disclosed this on Joy News’ PM Express on Monday, August 17, 2026. He said the threats had intensified following Wontumi’s conviction, with the two lead witnesses and police investigators among those being targeted. “Our witnesses are every day threatened with death. The two star witnesses and even the police investigators… they threaten everybody. But I think it comes with the job,”…