He was released after a variation of his bail conditions, bringing a respite to the high-profile legal saga surrounding his acquisition of a luxury vehicle.

His manager, Samuel Atuobi Baah, also known as Sammy Flex, confirmed the artiste’s release to JoyNews, revealing a crucial revision to the initial bail terms.

He said that the initial bail sum of GH¢10 million was reduced by half to GH¢5 million with two sureties to be justified.

The new conditions also require Shatta Wale to report to EOCO three times a week as the investigation continues.

Shatta Wale’s detention and subsequent release are part of a broader, internationally coordinated investigation.

He was originally invited to EOCO to assist in a probe into the purchase of a 2019 Lamborghini Urus, a car authorities believe is linked to the proceeds of a US$4 million crime.

This financial scam was orchestrated by a Ghanaian national, Nana Kwabena Amuah, who is currently serving a prison term in the United States.

The luxury car was seized by EOCO in a joint operation with the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice (DOJ).

According to an official statement from EOCO, Shatta Wale was questioned for nearly four hours and was unable to identify the person who sold him the car.

He instead claimed that he bought it from “the street”.

The EOCO statement further highlighted Shatta Wale’s inability to provide any ownership documentation for the vehicle, except for a customs declaration form bearing Amuah’s name.

The release of the artiste on the revised bail conditions comes after days of legal processes and public scrutiny.

His fans, known as the “Shatta Movement”, gathered outside the EOCO offices, chanting and showing support during his detention.

The case has underscored the growing collaboration between Ghanaian and U.S. law enforcement agencies in combating financial crimes and has sparked a national conversation about celebrity wealth and accountability.

Source: Myjoyonline

ALSO READ:

Shatta Wale’s fans block roads, mount motorbike displays at EOCO

Shatta Wale’s fans storm EOCO to demand his release [Video]

Speaking during a Public Accounts Committee session, Mrs Kyei cited the Auditor-General’s report, which revealed that the Department of Urban Roads in Kumasi had expended over GH₵62 million on various road projects, many of which have been left unattended for between 48 and 56 months.

She particularly drew attention to the Maakro/Agogo road project in her constituency, which she noted has been left abandoned for far too long. “I am particularly conversant with the Maakro road, and I know how long it has taken,” she said, while demanding its urgent completion.

Responding, officials from the Department of Urban Roads admitted that several projects had stalled primarily due to delayed payments to contractors.

They revealed that the prolonged delays had made it more expensive to continue some of the projects in their current form, and therefore recommended that some contracts be terminated and repackaged for re-award.

The officials indicated that they hope to repackage and restart some works “before the end of the year,” subject to the availability of funds.

Mrs. Kyei, however, insisted that funds were already available, pressing the ministry to prioritize road completion in order to ease the suffering of constituents. “We already have money,” she emphasized.

The abandoned road projects in the Ashanti Region continue to fuel public discontent, with MPs like Shirley Kyei increasing pressure on government agencies to take decisive action and bring relief to affected communities.

Source: Opeinu Woyome

ALSO READ:

EOCO flags Honda CR-Vs, Ford F-150s, Range Rovers, and Dodges in…

Agradaa ineligible for presidential amnesty – Prisons Service

This initiative, under the directive of the Ministry of Health (MoH) and the Ghana Health Service (GHS), marks a strategic shift from controlling malaria towards its complete elimination.

The programme, a core component of the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), moves beyond treating symptoms and targeting adult mosquitoes to systematically destroying larvae before they can hatch and spread disease.

The multi-faceted approach includes land reclamation to permanently alter breeding sites, routine clearing of streams, and the targeted application of environmentally sensitive biological and chemical agents.

“We are not just controlling the mosquito population; we are working to break the chain of transmission entirely,” a statement from the company read.

“By stopping the mosquito before it becomes a flying, biting adult, we prevent malaria, dengue, and other vector-borne diseases from ever reaching our communities.”

The implementation is a collaborative effort, leveraging the expertise of the Noguchi Memorial Institute, the School of Public Health, and regional health authorities.

A key to its success is the mobilisation of community volunteers, empowering locals to identify and help clear standing water in their immediate surroundings.

The benefits of this source-based strategy are profound. It is a cost-effective method that reduces the need for large-scale insecticide spraying, minimizes environmental impact, and protects the efficacy of other malaria control tools.

Most importantly, it directly translates to improved public health through fewer infections and fatalities.

Against this backdrop, Zoomlion has urged all citizens to join this critical mission. Communities are encouraged to be vigilant—reporting stagnant water sites, covering water containers, and clearing clogged gutters to deny mosquitoes a place to breed.

“Eliminating mosquito breeding sites is synonymous with eliminating malaria,” officials emphasised. “This is a long-term fight, and with nationwide participation, victory is within our grasp.”

Source: Zoomlion

ALSO READ:

Two dead, six injured in Tamale–Kintampo highway accident

Volta Media Coalition champions anti-open defecation drive in WASH week 2025

While domestic detentions and deportations have been the primary focus of the current immigration crackdown, Trump’s policy bill passed earlier this summer, also allocated $46m (£34m) for additional wall construction.

About a half mile (0.8km) of wall is going up each day along the nearly 2,000 mile (3,218km) border, according to Noem.

The number of border crossings has plummeted in recent months, and the Trump administration says sweeping arrests and detentions are acting as a deterrent to illegal migration.

Speaking to reporters along a section of the border in New Mexico, Noem said on Tuesday that the black paint was “specifically at the request of the president”.

“[He] understands that in the hot temperatures down here, when something is painted black it gets even warmer and it will make it even harder for people to climb,” she added.

Border Patrol officials also say that black paint will help prevent the wall from rusting.

Additionally, Noem said the administration is planning to install more “waterborne infrastructure” along the Rio Grande, which makes up more than half of the border between the two countries.

While Noem did not provide any more details on those projects, Texas authorities have previously installed floating barriers – large orange buoys – and fortified riverbank fencing guarded by state troopers, local police officers and the Texas National Guard along parts of the river.

Crossings and detentions of undocumented immigrants have plummeted since Trump returned to the office, with record lows of approximately 4,600 in July and 6,000 in June – a 92% year-on-year reduction.

During the Biden administration, detentions sometimes spiked to averages of 6,000 per day.

Earlier in August, Noem said that a total of 1.6m undocumented immigrants have left the US during the first 200 days of the Trump administration, although she did not specify how many have been deported and how many left on their own.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier in August that a total of 300,000 undocumented immigrants had been detained in the interior of the US since January.

While the administration continues to say it is prioritising those with criminal histories, immigration advocates have warned that many with no criminal charges or only minor infractions have been caught up in the sweeps.

White House officials also contend that increased border security and mass deportations have been deterrents, saying they are the primary reason for plummeting figures at the US-Mexico border.

Source: BBC

Trump admitted the conflict was “a tough one” to solve and conceded it was possible the Russian president was not interested in ending hostilities.

“We’re going to find out about President Putin in the next couple of weeks,” he said on Tuesday. “It’s possible that he doesn’t want to make a deal.”

Putin faced a “rough situation” if that were the case, Trump added, without offering any details.

Trump suggested “it would be better” if Putin and Zelensky met without him, in an interview with conservative radio talk show host Mark Levin late on Tuesday night.

He added that he would attend a meeting with the two leaders “if necessary”, but wanted to “see what happens”.

The Russian president told Trump on Monday that he was “open” to the idea of direct talks with Ukraine, but the next day Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov watered down that already vague commitment.

Any meeting would have to be prepared “gradually… starting with the expert level and thereafter going through all the required steps”, he said, repeating a frequent Kremlin line.

Dmitry Polyanskiy, a Russian deputy representative to the UN, told the BBC “nobody [had] rejected” the opportunity for direct talks, “but it shouldn’t be a meeting for the sake of a meeting”.

Nato’s military chiefs are expected to hold a virtual meeting on Wednesday, while the UK’s military chief, Admiral Tony Radakin, is travelling to Washington for discussions on the deployment of a reassurance force in Ukraine.

It was reported on Tuesday that Putin had suggested to Trump that Zelensky could travel to Moscow for talks, something Ukraine was never likely to accept.

The proposal may have been Russia’s way of putting forward an option so far-fetched Kyiv could not possibly have agreed to it.

Talks over the last few days appear to have given Trump a renewed understanding of the complexities of the war and the gulf between Moscow’s demands and Kyiv’s position.

The much-vaunted ceasefire he said he could get Putin to agree to has not materialised, and now the US president has said Ukraine and Russia should move directly to a permanent peace deal instead – but some headway was made in terms of security guarantees for Ukraine.

Zelensky and European leaders seem to have convinced Trump that such commitments would be paramount to Kyiv’s sovereignty in the event of a peace deal.

On Tuesday, Trump said the US was willing to help the Europeans “by air” if they provided boots on the ground in Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire or peace deal, although he ruled out deploying US troops.

The US president, however, did not go into the specifics of whether such air support may entail intelligence or the use of fighter jets and war planes.

While Trump’s commitments remain vague, the France and UK-led “coalition of the willing” said it had been working to firm up plans for a reassurance force that could be sent to Ukraine if the hostilities end.

After a virtual meeting of the group on Tuesday, a Downing Street spokesperson said the group would meet US counterparts in the coming days to “further strengthen plans to deliver robust security guarantees”.

Following his summit with Putin and latest talks with Zelensky, Trump now appears to think direct talks between Ukraine and Russia could bring a peace deal closer – although he acknowledged there had been “tremendous bad blood” between the two leaders.

The last time they met was in 2019. Since then, Moscow’s war on Kyiv has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties as well as widespread destruction and ongoing aerial attacks on civilian targets.

Putin considers Zelensky illegitimate and views him as responsible for Ukraine’s growing proximity to the West. For years now, he has made baseless claims about Kyiv being ruled by a “neo-Nazi regime” and has said any ceasefire with Ukraine would need to entail a change in Kyiv’s leadership.

Russia also has little interest in agreeing to talks while its troops have the upper hand on the front line.

Still, European leaders and Zelensky have spoken in favour of the idea of a bilateral meeting. The Ukrainian president said on Monday he was open to “any format” of meeting Putin, while the Europeans have been putting forward ideas for potential summit locations.

By enthusiastically supporting direct talks, they are likely hoping to convince Trump to revert to a tougher stance against Moscow should Putin remain unwilling to take steps to end the war.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s European partners appear significantly less optimistic than Trump that a resolution of the conflict could be within reach.

On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron called Putin “a predator, and an ogre at our doorstep” and expressed “the greatest doubt” that the Russian president was willing to work towards peace.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said Putin was “rarely to be trusted”, adding he was sceptical about a meeting with Zelensky materialising.

More high-level talks are planned for the coming days as questions over Trump’s level of support for Europe remain.

Source: BBC

Proposed class actions were filed against United in the San Francisco federal court and against Delta in Brooklyn, New York federal court, seeking millions of dollars in damages for more than 1 million passengers at each carrier.

The complaints say some Boeing 737, Boeing 757 and Airbus A321 planes contain seats that would normally contain windows, but lack them because of the placement of air conditioning ducts, electrical conduits or other components.

Passengers said Delta and United do not flag these seats during the booking process, unlike rivals such as Alaska Airlines and American Airlines, even when charging tens or occasionally hundreds of dollars for them.

The lawsuits say people buy window seats for several reasons, including to address fear of flying or motion sickness, keep a child occupied, get extra light or watch the world go by.

“Had plaintiffs and the class members known that the seats they were purchasing (were) windowless, they would not have selected them, much less have paid extra,” the United complaint said. The Delta complaint contained similar language.

Delta is based in Atlanta, and United is in Chicago. Neither immediately responded to requests for comment.

Ancillary revenue from seat selection, baggage fees, cabin upgrades, airport lounges and other services helps carriers generate more cash when they fly while keeping base fares lower.

The Delta lawsuit is led by Nicholas Meyer of Brooklyn, and the United lawsuit is led by Marc Brenman of San Francisco and Aviva Copaken of Los Angeles. Copaken said United refunded fees for her windowless seats on two flights, but not a third.

Passengers can use websites such as SeatGuru to find pluses and minuses of specific seats, including those lacking windows.

Carter Greenbaum, a lawyer whose firm filed the two lawsuits, said the ability to find information from third-party websites doesn’t excuse Delta’s and United’s conduct.

“A company can’t misrepresent the nature of the products it sells and then rely on third-party reviews to say a customer should have known that it was lying,” he said in an email.

The cases are Meyer v Delta Air Lines Inc, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, No. 25-04608; and Brenman et al v United Airlines Inc, U.S. District Court, Northern District of San Francisco, No. 25-06995.

Source: Reuters

Eemeli Peltonen, 30, who was an MP for the Social Democratic Party, is believed to have taken his own life in the building and was found on Tuesday morning, local media reported.

His sudden death has shocked Finland, with politicians on all sides expressing their sadness.

“He was a much-loved member of our community, and we will miss him deeply. A young life has ended far too early,” said Tytti Tuppurainen, chair of the Social Democratic parliamentary group, in a statement.

Although parliament is in summer recess, all official political work was suspended by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo for the rest of the day.

Orpo held a minute’s silence in honour of Peltonen, who, he said, had been well liked by colleagues, public broadcaster YLE reports.

This was shared by the parliamentary speaker, Jussi Halla-aho, who wrote on X that Peltonen had been a “well-liked colleague who was respected across party lines”.

Police were called to the Eduskuntatalo – the parliamentary building – at 11:06 (08:06 GMT) on Tuesday. They said no foul play was suspected.

Peltonen’s death was confirmed about three hours later in a short parliamentary statement, which said the community shared in “the grief of his relatives”.

Peltonen, who represented the southern region of Uusimaa, was in his first term as a member of parliament, having been elected in 2023.

His political ambitions started early – Peltonen was elected as a city councillor for the town of Jarvenpaa at just 18 years old.

When he was 22 he was elected chairman of the city board – the youngest person to hold the title, media reported at the time.

In late June, Peltonen posted on his social media accounts that he had been “away from a lot of parliamentary work in the last weeks” because he had “a kidney problem” that led to an infection.

In the post, he explained that he was being treated with “an intravenous antibiotic cure in Meilahti [a suburb of Helsinki], which takes its time”.

“I’m already discharged from the hospital, but due to the situation, I’m on summer sick leave and I’m now fully focused on recovering from the illness,” he wrote.

Source: BBC

The Ministry of Finance in a statement confirmed that the whopping sum of GH¢9,698,815,220.17 was disbursed on Tuesday, bringing the total payout under the programme this year alone to a jaw-dropping GH¢19.4 billion.

Officials say the move is not just another routine payment, but a strong signal to investors and the public that government is determined to honour its word, protect confidence in the economy, and restore credibility to Ghana’s debt management efforts.

To further back its promise, government has rolled out two brand-new safety nets — a Cedi Sinking Fund and a US Dollar Sinking Fund — which will serve as financial cushions for repaying bonds maturing in 2026, 2027 and 2028.

“This payment shows our unwavering commitment to meeting our obligations on time,” the Finance Ministry assured in a statement, stressing that all future debts — including those under the DDEP — will be paid in full.

The DDEP, launched in 2022 as part of Ghana’s economic recovery strategy, has often sparked heated debate. But with this latest payment, observers say government has made it clear it is ready to put its money where its mouth is.

For bondholders and ordinary Ghanaians alike, today’s announcement may mark a much-needed boost in confidence — and a reminder that despite the turbulence, Ghana’s debt ship is still being steered.

Source: Finance Ministry

ALSO READ;

Brouhaha over arrest of Asante Akim North MP in UK settled [Video]

GRNMA gives gov’t 48-hour ultimatum to arrest Ralph over assault on…

Speaking in an interview on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen show, the Minister said the matter is now in the hands of the police.

“I can tell you that some arrests have been made. Anybody who says otherwise is not speaking the truth and is not ready to help solve the issue,” Mr. Akandoh stressed.

When asked if the man identified as Ralph Saint Williams and his accomplices, who allegedly attacked a nurse, were among those arrested, he explained that the police must be given the space to do their work.

“We should leave the police to do their job. I won’t sit down for things to go wayward in my sector. No one is above the laws of this country,” he added.

According to him, government is fully on top of the matter and has been receiving regular briefings from the hospital.

“The system is running, and as we speak, I’m getting updates. We are on course,” he assured.

His comments follow the circulation of a viral video showing relatives of a patient physically attacking medical staff at the emergency department of Ridge Hospital, sparking public outrage and renewed concern about the safety of frontline health workers.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association (GRNMA) has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to government to arrest Ralph Saint Williams and his accomplices, warning that failure to act could lead to further action by the Association.

Source: Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy

ALSO READ:

• Health Minister orders one-week probe into Ridge Hospital assault

• RTI Commission understaffed, needs logistics – Executive Secretary
• EC to begin printing ballot papers for Akwatia by-election on August 20

A statement signed by lawyer Gary Nimako Marfo, demanding a retraction and apology from the publishers, described the publication as seeking to link the respected serviceman to a stockpile of ammunition.

The demand notice reads in part: “We act as solicitors for Brigadier General Michael Kwadwo Opoku and write pursuant to his instructions. Our client’s attention has been drawn to a defamatory publication on your online news portal in which you published that our client was arrested following a National Security operation, which led to the discovery of ammunition. We wish to bring to your attention that our client has not been involved in any such incident. It is unethical journalism for basic verification not to be carried out prior to the publication of such defamatory material online.

We are therefore instructed to demand an immediate apology and retraction of the defamatory publication on your online portal. Please be advised accordingly.”

Source: Adomonline

ALSO READ:

“It was a dark moment; they painted me as the worst…

Former NDC MP dies after short illness

Cocoa farmers revolt over prices, as coalition threatens mass smuggling

Several European leaders also flew to Washington to attend the meeting, days after Trump met Russia’s President Vladimir Putin in Alaska for a summit that failed to result in a ceasefire.

Despite optimistic words by Trump and some more lukewarm assessments from his European partners, by Monday evening, there were no concrete commitments to security guarantees or steps towards a peace deal.

Here are the key takeaways from the talks.

A Putin-Zelensky meeting on the cards?

Following the summit, Trump posted on Truth Social that he had called Putin to begin arranging talks between the Russian leader and Zelensky.

Trump said that following such a bilateral, at a location to be determined, there would be a trilateral where the US president would join them.

A Putin adviser said afterwards that Trump and Putin spoke for 40 minutes by phone on Monday.

Before European leaders sat down with Trump in the East Room at the White House, a hot mic picked up remarks between the US leader and French President Emmanuel Macro

“I think he wants to make a deal. I think he wants to make a deal for me. You understand that? As crazy as that sounds,” Trump told Macron, appearing to refer to Putin.

It remains to be seen how straightforward it will be to bring two such bitter enemies face-to-face at the negotiating table for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

For months, Zelensky has been pushing to meet Putin, although this was likely a way of proving his argument that Russia is not serious about pursuing peace, as he believed the Kremlin had no interest in such a meeting.

Moscow has repeatedly turned down the idea of a Putin-Zelensky sit-down.

A noncommittal statement from Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov on Monday night said it was “worthwhile” to “explore the possibility of raising the level of representatives” from the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in negotiations.

Europeans push back as Trump backs away from ceasefire

Trump seemed to dismiss the need for any ceasefire before negotiations to end the war can take place.

In the past, that has been a key demand of Ukraine, which made clear it sees an end to the fighting as a prerequisite for further talks with Russia and, ultimately, for a longer-term settlement.

A ceasefire could also be marginally easier to agree than a full peace deal, which would take many months of negotiations, during which Russia’s assault on Ukraine would probably continue.

“I don’t know that it’s necessary,” Trump said of a ceasefire.

But the European leaders appeared to push back, with the strongest rebuttal coming from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

“I can’t imagine that the next meeting would take place without a ceasefire,” Merz said. “So, let’s work on that and let’s try to put pressure on Russia.”

When asked to speak, Zelensky did not reiterate his previous calls for a ceasefire to be put in place.

Trump hints at security guarantees

Trump told Zelensky the US would help guarantee Ukraine’s security in any deal to end the war, without specifying the extent of any assistance.

The US president did not offer boots on the ground. But when asked by reporters whether US security guarantees for Ukraine could include any American military in the country, Trump did not rule it out.

He said Europe was the “first line of defence”, but that “we’ll be involved”.

“We’ll give them good protection,” the president said at one point.

This is the most decisive Trump has ever sounded on the issue of security guarantees, which are generally seen as paramount to any sort of deal with Russia.

He also said that during last week’s Alaska Summit, Putin had accepted that there would be security guarantees for Ukraine as part of any peace deal.

At a news conference after Monday’s meetings, Zelensky said part of the security guarantee would involve a $90bn (£67bn) arms deal between the US and Ukraine.

He said this would include US weapons that Ukraine does not have, including aviation systems, anti-missile systems, “and other things I will not disclose.”

Zelensky also said the US would buy Ukrainian drones, which would help fund their domestic production of the unmanned craft.

The Ukrainian president told reporters that security guarantees for Kyiv would probably be worked out within 10 days.

Zelensky launches charm offensive

Given his acrimonious last visit to the Oval Office in February, the Ukrainian president went to considerable lengths to charm his American hosts – including a flurry of six “thank yous” within the first few minutes of the meeting.

The last time he was at the White House, Zelensky was scolded by Vice-President JD Vance for a perceived lack of gratitude for US support for Ukraine.

This time, Zelenksy was wearing a dark suit rather than his traditional military garb, which drew a gibe from Trump last time that his guest was “all dressed up today”.

Zelensky also sought to forge family ties during the meeting, handing his host a letter from Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska to be delivered to US First Lady Melania Trump.

“It’s not to you – [it’s] to your wife,” he told Trump.

European leaders dialled up the flattery with Trump ahead of their multilateral meeting, heaping praise on him for his work in bringing them around the table.

“I really want to thank you for your leadership,” said Nato chief Mark Rutte.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni said while there had previously been no sign that Russia wanted to move towards peace “something had changed” thanks to Trump.

Despite the warm tones, the Europeans tried to convey that they, too, feel exposed to any future Russian aggression.

French President Emmanuel Macron told fellow leaders somberly: “When we talk about security guarantees, we’re also talking about the matter of the security of the European continent.”

Source: BBC

The vast red timber structure in Kiruna, dating back to 1912, has been hoisted on giant rolling platforms ahead of the move to the new city centre.

Travelling at a maximum speed of 500m an hour, the journey is expected to take two days.

The old city centre is at risk from ground fissures after more than a century of iron ore mining. The church’s move is the most spectacular and symbolic moment of the wider relocation of buildings in Kiruna, which lies 145km north of the Arctic Circle.

In the words of culture strategist Sofia Lagerlöf Määttä, “it’s like finally, let’s get it done. We’ve been waiting for so many years”.

“We’ve done so much preparation,” says the man in charge of the move, project manager Stefan Holmblad Johansson.

“It’s a historic event, a very big and complex operation, and we don’t have a margin of error. But everything is under control.”

His composure reflects years of planning.

By the mid-2010s, other buildings in Kiruna were already being shifted to safer ground. Most were demolished and rebuilt, but some landmarks were moved intact.

These include buildings in Hjalmar Lundbohmsgården, such as the so-called yellow row of three old wooden houses and the former home of mining manager Hjalmar Lundbohm, which was split into three parts.

The clock tower on the roof of the old city hall was also moved and can now be found next to the new city hall.

Under Swedish law, mining activity can not take place under buildings.

Robert Ylitalo, chief executive officer of Kiruna’s development company, explains: “There’s no risk of people falling through cracks. But fissures would eventually damage the water, electricity and sewage supply. People have to move before the infrastructure fails.”

The iron ore mine’s operator, LKAB – also Kiruna’s biggest employer – is covering the city’s relocation bill, estimated at more than 10bn Swedish krona ($1bn; £737m).

Kiruna Church is 35m (115ft) high, 40m wide and weighs 672 tonnes. It was once voted Sweden’s most beautiful pre-1950 building.

Relocating such a large building is an unusual feat. But instead of dismantling it, engineers are moving it in one piece, supported by steel beams and carried on self-propelled modular transporters.

“The biggest challenge was preparing the road for such a wide building,” says project manager Mr Johansson.

“We’ve widened it to 24 metres (79ft) and along the way we removed lampposts, traffic lights as well as a bridge that was slated for demolition anyway.”

Among the most delicate aspects of the move is the protection of the church’s interior treasures, especially its great altar painting made by Prince Eugen, a member of Sweden’s royal family.

“It’s not something hanging on a hook that you just take off,” says Mr Johansson.

“It’s glued directly onto a masonry wall so it would have been difficult to remove without damage. So it will remain inside the church during the move, fully covered and stabilised. So will the organ with its 1,000 pipes.”

The move is much more than an engineering marvel for local residents – it’s a deeply emotional moment.

“The church has served as a spiritual centre and a gathering place for the community for generations,” says Sofia Lagerlöf Määttä, who remembers walking into the church for the first time as a young child with her grandmother.

“The move has brought back memories of joy and sorrow to us, and we’re now moving those memories with us into the future.”

That feeling is also shared by project manager Stefan Holmblad Johansson, an engineer who doubles as a member of the church’s gospel choir.

“This is a very special task for me,” he says.

“The church was built over 100 years ago for the municipality by LKAB. Now we move it to the new city. There simply can’t be any other way.”

For the church’s vicar, Lena Tjärnberg, the moment carries added meaning.

“The church is leaving a place where it truly belongs,” she says.

“Everyone knows it has to be relocated: we live in a mining community and depend on the mine. I’m grateful that we’re moving the church with us to the new city centre but there is also sorrow in seeing it leave the ground where it became a church.”

As the massive walls of Kiruna church begin to inch forward, thousands of residents and visitors – Sweden’s King Carl Gustaf among them – are expected to line the route.

Swedish television will also broadcast the entire journey live as “slow TV”, marking a rare moment when a piece of history does not just survive change – it moves with it.

Source: BBC

The agency said the “vast majority” of the violations were assault, driving under the influence (DUI), burglary and “support for terrorism”.

The move comes as the Trump administration continues its crackdown on immigration and international students.

While the State Department did not specify what they meant by “support for terrorism”, the Trump administration has targeted some students who have protested in support of Palestine, arguing they had expressed antisemitic behaviour.

Of the 6,000 student visas that were revoked, the State Department said about 4,000 of those were revoked because visitors broke the law.

Another 200-300 visas were also revoked for “terrorism done under INA 3B”, the State Department said, referring to code that defines “terrorist activity” broadly as acts that endanger human life or violate US law.

• US resumes student visas but orders enhanced social media vetting
• Students say they ‘regret’ applying to US universities after visa changes

Earlier this year, the Trump administration paused scheduling visa appointments for international students. In June, when they restarted appointments, they announced they would ask all applicants to make their social media accounts public for enhanced screening.

They said they would search for “any indications of hostility toward the citizens, culture, government, institutions, or founding principles of the United States”.

State Department officers were also instructed to screen for those “who advocate for, aid, or support designated foreign terrorists and other threats to national security; or who perpetrate unlawful anti-Semitic harassment or violence”.

• Why has Trump revoked hundreds of international student visas?

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers in May that he estimated “thousands” of student visas had been rescinded since January.

“I don’t know the latest count, but we probably have more to do,” Rubio told US lawmakers on 20 May. “We’re going to continue to revoke the visas of people who are here as guests and are disrupting our higher education facilities.”

Democrats have pushed back against the Trump administration’s effort to revoke student visas, describing it is an attack on due process.

More than 1.1 million international students from over 210 countries were enrolled in US colleges in the 2023-24 school year, according to Open Doors, an organisation that collects data on foreign students.

Source: BBC

Unlike the shockingly ill-tempered previous meeting in February, US President Donald Trump and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky seemed determined not to look confrontational – despite their remaining differences.

Zelensky wore a collared suit (although not of the classical variety), and Trump complimented his attire. The Ukrainian president also repeatedly said “thank you”, which must have pleased his host, too.

At his opening appearance in the Oval Office, Zelensky spoke little – or maybe he was not keen to, fearing that what he had to say was different from what Trump wanted to hear.

Differences showed later, when the US and Ukrainian presidents appeared before journalists together with European leaders.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron both said a ceasefire in Ukraine should be the next step, even though Trump had argued that it was not necessary before a more permanent solution is found.

Zelensky remained conspicuously quiet on the issue.

What we heard from the leaders suggests that their discussions behind closed doors focused on security guarantees for Ukraine and prospects for a meeting between Zelensky and Putin.

No details were revealed about what guarantees were discussed, or how being face-to-face in the same room with Putin will help end the war.

But following the day of talks, Zelensky described security guarantees as a necessary “starting point for ending war”.

At an earlier news conference outside the White House, he said security guarantees could include a $90bn (£67bn) deal between Kyiv and Washington to acquire US weapons, including aviation systems, anti-missile systems and other weapons he declined to disclose.

Zelensky also said the US would purchase Ukrainian drones, which would help boost domestic production of the unmanned aircraft. Though no formal agreement has been reached, Zelensky said a deal could be worked out over the next 10 days.

The Ukrainian leader, however, was more willing to talk about his possible meeting with Putin, telling reporters he was ready to meet directly with his Russian counterpart, and if Moscow agreed, Trump could join the negotiations. Putin has so far resisted a direct meeting with Zelensky.

“Ukraine will never stop on the way to peace,” he told reporters, adding that no date had been set.

One issue the leaders seemed reluctant to bring up before the media were possible territorial concessions by Ukraine.

Zelensky also mentioned how he showed his US counterpart a map of Ukraine, stressing that Russia has managed to occupy less than 1% of the Ukrainian territory in the last 1,000 days. This was news to the White House, he said. And it helped swing Trump’s mood, apparently.

“I have been fighting with what is on that map,” Zelensky told reporters, adding that he pushed back on what the Oval Office map showed as Russian-captured territories.

“It isn’t possible to say this much territory has been taken over this time. These points are important.”

The Ukrainian leader seemed mostly upbeat about his latest White House appearance, describing his meeting with Trump as “warm”. His optimism, however, appeared deliberate as he sought to avoid a repeat of his last Oval Office visit and convince his American hosts to embrace the European position on ending the war.

But perhaps thekey outcome of the trip was that it helped Ukraine to buy more time. The call that Trump had with Putin following his first meeting with the European leaders suggests that Russia has managed to do just the same.

Despite widespread fears, no catastrophe has happened at the summits in Alaska and Washington – at least nothing from what has been made public.

The status quo remains.

Source: BBC

The decision, delivered on August 13, 2025, followed an application by Regimanuel Gray Limited and some third-party homeowners.

The court also suspended the enforcement of the Kofi Anum Family’s judgment dated March 2024 until an appeal is concluded.

In its ruling, the court criticised the family for acting “chaotically” in executing the writ between June and August 2025, disturbing the peace and security of residents. It noted that the family, their agents, and contractors destroyed properties and harassed residents, exceeding the scope of the court’s judgment.

Some of the targeted properties, the court further found, were not part of the original dispute. The family’s conduct, it said, fell far short of lawful and civil behaviour.

Confirming the decision, Regimanuel Gray Limited, in a statement issued on August 15, 2025, said:

“An Accra High Court has in a joint order dated 13th August, 2025 set aside a Writ of possession earlier issued to the Numo Kofi Anum family of Tesa/Teshie on 24th June, 2025 and stayed the execution of its judgement dated March, 2024 pending the hearing and determination of the substantive appeal.”

The statement added: “This was after an application for same was made by Regimanuel Gray Limited and some affected third parties. Other applications filed by Regimanuel Gray in the Supreme Court are yet to be determined. The court in its ruling of 13th August noted the chaotic conduct of the Kofi Anum Family along with their agents, contractors and assigns in the purported execution of the Writ of possession over the fully developed Regimanuel Gray Estate at East Airport between June and August 2025.”

The company reaffirmed its commitment to pursuing justice through due process, assuring residents and stakeholders that lawful means would be used to resolve the matter. It also urged homeowners to remain calm and steadfast.

Below is the full statement:

“He’s been told in no uncertain terms by Trump… that he is going to have to accept that the territory that’s been lost is mostly lost for the long term,” Robert English, Director of Central European Studies at the University of Southern California, told CNN’s Polo Sandoval.

English said “any illusions of getting back Crimea and much of the Donbas are over.”

“There’s behind the scenes, a clear understanding that that bitter pill Zelensky will have to swallow. And now we need to focus on security guarantees for Ukraine going forward and make those robust.”

A delegation of European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, Germany’s Friedrich Merz, Britian’s Keir Starmer and the European Commission’s Ursula von der Leyen, will join Zelensky in Washington, DC, in a coordinated effort to support Kyiv and shape the future of Western support for Ukraine.

“The very fact that they’re all there together and trying to reach a common understanding is critical,” English said, but highlighted that the focus in the multilateral talks would likely be on crafting long-term security arrangements for Ukraine without formal membership in NATO.

“As long as they are providing troops and promises to come to Ukraine’s aid, and the US Is providing supplies, intelligence, logistics that all together, especially if there’s a kind of an agreement, a treaty that could last years and be renewed indefinitely, that’s pretty close to NATO-like protection and gives Ukraine what it hasn’t had up until now.”

Source: CNN

Hours before he was due to host Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, Trump also said there would be “no getting back” of the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014, eight years before launching its full-scale invasion.

It follows Trump’s summit with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska that resulted in the US president dropping a demand for a ceasefire and calling instead for a permanent peace deal.

A US envoy said on Sunday that Putin had agreed to a possible NATO-like security pact for Ukraine.

The Russian president has consistently opposed the idea of Ukraine joining the military alliance.

Posting on his Truth Social platform on Sunday night, Trump said: “President Zelenskyy of Ukraine can end the war with Russia almost immediately if he wants to, or he can continue to fight.

“Remember how it started. No getting back Obama given Crimea (12 years ago, without a shot being fired!), and NO GOING INTO NATO BY UKRAINE. Some things never change!!!” Trump added.

Before Trump’s return to power in January, Nato countries agreed on Kyiv’s “irreversible path” to membership in the alliance.

Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte, alongside European leaders including UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, will join Zelensky in Washington for talks on Ukraine’s future on Monday.

Also attending are French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It is unclear how many of them will go to the White House.

Trump later added, “Big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honour to host them!!!”

For so many heads of state to travel with such little notice across the Atlantic to what is essentially a wartime crisis meeting appears without precedent in the modern era, underscoring the sky-high stakes.

Diplomatic sources say European officials are concerned that Trump may try to press Zelensky to agree to terms, after the Ukrainian leader was excluded from the Trump-Putin meeting on US soil last Friday.

But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the BBC’s US partner CBS that any suggestion Zelensky might be bullied by Trump into accepting a peace deal was a “stupid media narrative”.

Nato leaders also appear eager to avoid a repeat of Zelensky’s February trip to the Oval Office that ended abruptly after an argument with Trump and US Vice President JD Vance.

The altercation – which saw Trump accuse Zelensky of “gambling with World War Three” – left Washington-Kyiv ties in tatters.

But European leaders have been working diligently behind the scenes since then to mend the relationship. The Ukrainian leader has been coached to talk in terms of deal-making – language that resonates with Trump.

In April, Ukraine signed a minerals agreement that gave the US a financial stake in the country, and Trump and Zelensky spoke privately at the Vatican before Pope Francis’s funeral. Ukraine made clear it was willing to pay for US weapons.

By July, the two leaders had a phone call that the Ukrainian president described as “the best conversation we have had”.

Meanwhile, Trump had begun to express exasperation with Russia’s unrelenting onslaught in Ukraine. He called Putin “absolutely crazy”, drastically shortened his deadline for a peace deal, and threatened economic sanctions on Moscow.

As these deliberations grind on, Russian forces continue to advance on the battlefield. They now occupy almost a fifth of Ukraine since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

A virtual summit was held on Sunday between Zelensky and the so-called coalition of the willing – a group of nations including the UK, France and Germany that have pledged to protect peace in Ukraine once it is achieved.

Afterwards, Emmanuel Macron told reporters their plan was to “present a united front” for Monday’s talks with Trump.

Zelensky and the Nato leaders said they were keen to learn more after US envoy Steve Witkoff told US television that Putin had agreed on Friday to “robust security guarantees that I would describe as game-changing”.

Witkoff said such an agreement could see Europe and the US protect Ukraine from further aggression with a NATO-like defence agreement.

“We were able to win the following concession: that the United States could offer Article 5-like protection, which is one of the real reasons why Ukraine wants to be in NATO,” Witkoff told CNN on Sunday.

Putin has long opposed Ukraine joining NATO, and Witkoff said the arrangement could be an alternative if the Ukrainians “can live with it”.

Article 5 is a principle at the heart of the 32-member transatlantic military alliance that says its members will come to the defence of an ally that is under attack.

Witkoff also told CNN that Russia made “some concessions” around five heavily contested regions of Ukraine.

In talks with European allies after the Alaska summit, Trump said Putin had reiterated that he wants the key Donetsk and Luhansk regions that make up Donbas, eastern Ukraine, according to European officials.

But at Sunday’s virtual summit with Nato leaders, Zelensky stressed that the Ukrainian constitution makes it impossible to give up territory – and that this should only be discussed by the leaders of Ukraine and Russia at a trilateral summit with the US.

The US secretary of state, meanwhile, sought to temper hopes that a deal to end Europe’s deadliest conflict for 80 years could be imminent.

“We’re still a long way off,” Rubio said on Sunday.

Source: BBC

More than a commemoration of the end of colonial rule, the occasion is honoured as a sacred symbol of resilience, unity, and progress, marking Indonesia’s transformation into the world’s third-largest democracy, the largest Muslim-majority nation, and one of Asia’s most dynamic economies.

In a statement to mark the anniversary, H.E. Paskal A.B. Rois, Honorary Consul of Indonesia in Ghana, reflected on the nation’s remarkable journey over the past eight decades.

“Indonesia has grown to become a diverse and vibrant nation, rich in culture and opportunity. This milestone is not just about independence from colonialism, but about development, peace, and global cooperation,” he said.

Ghana–Indonesia Solidarity

H.E. Rois also highlighted the enduring bonds between Ghana and Indonesia, forged during the era of independence struggles and strengthened at the historic Bandung Conference of 1955, where leaders like President Soekarno and Dr. Kwame Nkrumah stood together to champion freedom, equality, and South-South cooperation.

That solidarity has since evolved into a broad-based partnership spanning diplomacy, trade, culture, and education.

Notably, Indonesia is supporting Ghana’s first vaccine production initiative through a collaboration between its state-owned Bio Farma and Ghana’s Atlantic Life Sciences. Knowledge transfer and training are already underway, laying the foundation for enhanced self-sufficiency in healthcare.

Investment in Education

Indonesia continues to provide fully funded scholarships to Ghanaian students across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. For the 2025 academic year, seven Ghanaian students have been awarded the prestigious KNB Fully Funded Indonesian Scholarship, with the government of Indonesia covering all costs including tuition, airfare, visas, accommodation, and stipends.

“This is more than an investment in education — it is a bridge of people-to-people connection that will shape the future of Ghana–Indonesia relations,” H.E. Rois noted.

Expanding Cooperation

Looking to the future, the Honorary Consul underscored Indonesia’s readiness to deepen collaboration with Ghana in key areas such as trade, investment, agriculture, aviation, energy, digital innovation, and education. Both nations, he said, serve as strategic gateways — Ghana to West Africa and Indonesia to Southeast Asia — making closer cooperation mutually beneficial.

He also welcomed the appointment of H.E. Bambang Suharto, the new Indonesian Ambassador to Nigeria with concurrent accreditation to Ghana and other West African nations, expressing optimism that ties will be further strengthened under his leadership.

A Shared Vision

Reaffirming the Consulate’s commitment to advancing bilateral cooperation, H.E. Rois extended his warmest congratulations to the government and people of Indonesia:

“May the red and white flag continue to fly high as a symbol of freedom, unity, and progress. And may the friendship between Ghana and Indonesia continue to grow stronger, fulfilling the dreams of our founding fathers and inspiring generations to come.”

Published Message by:
H.E. Paskal A.B. Rois
Honorary Consul of Indonesia in Ghana

The three-month pilot programme also includes modules in gari and rice processing, designed to equip participants with practical and employable skills.

As part of the initiative, participants are being provided with basic Personal Protective Equipment, including Wellington boots, overcoats, gloves, and sanitizers, as well as a monthly stipend to support them throughout their training.

In her remarks at the opening session, the MP encouraged participants to take the training seriously, emphasising that the knowledge and skills they acquire will position them for sustainable income generation.

She further reaffirmed her commitment to supporting trainees beyond the classroom by helping to secure buyers for their products once they begin production.

The programme, which is currently being implemented in Awate, Wusuta, and Tsrukpe as a pilot, is expected to be expanded to cover other traditional areas in North Dayi by October this year.

Source: Ohene Amponsah

The incident, which happened earlier today, involved a Sprinter bus with registration number GW-5535-24.

According to eyewitness accounts, the bus was moving at top speed when one of its tyres suddenly burst, causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

The collision was so severe that five passengers died instantly. Rescue efforts were delayed, with emergency teams arriving at the scene about 30 minutes after the crash.

The injured victims were later transported to the Suhum Government Hospital for medical care.

Source: Adomonline

ALSO READ:

Nkwanta South police Charge Office battles severe leakage

Galamsey fight: We’ll withdraw our cooperation if… – Miracles Aboagye to…

Speaking at the 20th Grand Durbar and Homecoming celebration of St. John Methodist Church at the Tema Manhean Circuit, Mayor Bright said the new streetlights will be all-inclusive units, designed to prevent theft and tampering—problems often linked to drug-related activities.

“The planned installation of all-inclusive LED streetlights will not only brighten our streets but also address security challenges,” she explained.

In addition to the streetlight project, Mayor Bright highlighted other government initiatives aimed at transforming the community, including youth employment and skill development programs. These projects are intended to equip young people with marketable skills, create jobs, and tackle drug and substance abuse.

“We are rolling out several transformative initiatives to improve lives and build a brighter future. The Youth Employment Programme will equip our young people with employable skills while addressing drug and substance abuse in our communities,” she said.

These efforts, the Mayor emphasized, are part of a broader strategy to create safer, more vibrant, and empowered communities in Tema.

Source: Adomonline

Tears flowed on Friday when the wives of the 8 compatriot heroes, who lost their lives on August 6 helicopter disaster in the Ashanti Region, took turns to eulogise their departed loved ones.

Source: Graphiconline

Beautiful English. Gallops like a racehorse. Then it reaches Ghana’s junction and politely joins the queue behind verification, protocol, and that ever-helpful signboard: System Is Down.

To be fair to our distant cousins, their letter asks for more than a sprint. In plain daylight, here’s the substance beneath the drumroll:

• Reinstate the CJ now—don’t wait for tomorrow’s tomorrow.
• Guarantee due and fair process—including full and transparent access for her lawyers to the proceedings.
• Publish clear rules of procedure to guide the disciplinary process.
• Set and announce a real timeline so the committee concludes its work without further delay, and communicate the result to everyone who still believes in the rule of law.

Ghana’s reply, carried by the Attorney-General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, is the kind of smile that can slice red tape. Translation: Thank you; also, we are not a colony. The suspension, he says, follows Article 146 to the letter: petitions received; Council of State advice taken; prima facie established; an independent committee chaired by a Supreme Court Justice empanelled; attempts to halt the process dismissed by the Supreme Court and High Court as lacking merit; and a side-quest now before the ECOWAS Court because regional whistles exist. The punchline? The President is bound by the committee’s findings; this is not executive karaoke.

So whose clock should we use—the Commonwealth stopwatch or the Ghanaian wall clock that runs on “as and when”? Our elders would say: both the drum and the dancer must keep time. Sovereignty is the generator; accountability is the bulb. If the room is still dark, shouting “We have a generator!” is karaoke, not illumination. Switch it on. Show the wiring. Let the light fall where the doubts are hiding.

And yes, the optics matter. If you begin a case with “she’s assisting,” explain—clearly—when “assisting” became “suspended,” what the rules are, how counsel participates, and when this drama ends. Publish the procedures in human language; give the timeline teeth that can bite through Monday traffic and Friday rain. When due process is visible, even your loudest critics will wash their hands in it.

Meanwhile, the online square—God bless its data bundles—has been auditioning for stand-up night:

“Dear Commonwealth, ‘immediate and without delay’ is a lovely phrase. Kindly find Pokuase at 5 p.m. and demonstrate.”

“Advising Ghana on Article 146 without reading Article 146 is like stirring banku without a bowl. Energetic—but where are you putting it?”

“We accept flowers for our national mourning. Lectures are received on Tuesdays. Bring photocopies.”

“They should come and reinstate her themselves.”

“Reinstate today? Great. Also reinstate electricity in my area—immediate and without dumsor.”

Mockery aside, the jokers are onto something. Advice travels best when it kneels, not when it climbs onto the table. If the Commonwealth wants to help, bring bulbs, not bullhorns. If government wants to be believed, bring rules and a timetable, not slogans. It’s not either/or. A wise house lights both signboards at the gate—Sovereignty and Rule of Law—so even those seated at the back can see the stage and recognise the actors.

As for “immediate and without delay,” let the phrase keep its elegance and gain a calendar. Here, immediacy wears court shoes, not track spikes. The committee will speak; the law will point; the President will do what the Constitution says—no more, no less. If that sounds boring, good. Rule of law is supposed to be boring. It’s how nations sleep at night without needing a Commonwealth lullaby.

Until then, let’s cool tempers, sharpen procedures, and keep our humour. After all, a republic that can mourn with dignity, argue with civility, and laugh at itself still has its compass. And if the Wi-Fi placard insists on marching through our courtyard, it should kindly wipe its feet—and read the house rules posted by the door.

The writer, Jimmy Aglah, is a media executive, author, and sharp-eyed social commentator. His latest book, Once Upon a Time in Ghana: Satirical Chronicles from the Republic of Uncommon Sense, now available on Amazon Kindle, delivers a witty, piercing take on Ghanaian society and governance. When he’s not steering broadcast operations, he’s busy challenging conventions—often with satire, always with purpose.

Source: Jimmy Aglah

The incident, which took place on Saturday afternoon, sent shockwaves through the local community and highlighted the dangers of venturing too close to these powerful animals.

According to eyewitnesses, the group was enjoying a leisurely paddle along the river when they inadvertently got too close to a hippopotamus, one of Africa’s most dangerous animals.

Feeling threatened, the animal charged at the canoe, causing it to overturn violently.

Panic ensued as the occupants were thrown into the water, struggling to stay afloat amid the chaos. Local authorities and rescue teams were quickly alerted.

Fortunately, all seven individuals who fell into the water were rescued safely, albeit shaken and cold. They were saved by nearby fishermen who witnessed the incident and rushed to help.

The eighth member of the group, who managed to cling to the overturned canoe, was also rescued shortly afterward.

This incident serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of wildlife and the importance of keeping a safe distance from potentially dangerous animals.

The Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission has since issued warnings to canoeists and boaters in the area, urging them to remain vigilant and respect the habitats of hippopotamuses and other wildlife.

As the community reflects on this harrowing experience, the safe recovery of the seven individuals stands as a testament to the quick response of local rescuers and the importance of prioritizing safety in nature.

Source: Obrempongba K. Owusu

ALSO READ:

Five dead, several injured in Kumasi–Accra highway crash at Asuboi

Adele Traditional Council performs libation after helicopter crash

He disclosed that a “crunch Cabinet meeting” had been held on the controversial instrument, which many critics have called to be completely abolished.

Speaking on Newsfile on Saturday, August 16, he stated:
“I could say authoritatively now here is that there’s a renewed conversation on LI 2462, and in the not-too-distant future there would be an appropriate communication in that particular respect where the repeal is concerned. That conversation has been had. Indeed, there was a crunch Cabinet meeting that exhausted that possibility, and so the final outcome will be communicated very soon.”

His comments come amidst mounting pressure on government to take stronger action against illegal mining, following the tragic helicopter crash that claimed eight lives near Obuasi on August 6.

The casualties, which included two Cabinet ministers, have since been given state burials, plunging the nation into grief.

The incident has intensified calls for government to deal decisively with what many experts describe as “environmental terrorism.” Critics have also faulted the President for failing to declare an immediate state of emergency.

Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has emphasized that government will now embark on a ruthless nationwide fight against illegal mining. He stressed that President Mahama will personally lead what he described as a relentless and unprecedented campaign to eradicate the menace.

Source: Myjoyonline

Speaking on the maiden edition of Prime Insight on Joy Prime on Saturday, August 16, Mr. Mustapha described galamsey as a deep-rooted problem that existed long before today’s politics.

“I dare say the fight against galamsey has proven quite a very stubborn one that has unfortunately plunged the nation into grief beyond all the shenanigans and the politics. It didn’t start now. This menace has been around for a very long time,” he said.

He warned that reducing the issue to “political football” only worsens the situation and distracts from real solutions.

“If we were to pick it on that basis, we would have dealt with it well, but to reduce it to politics and weaponise it like they did in the last elections against the NPP speaks volumes. It was weaponised through demonstrations and slogans, with hands placed on the neck of former President Akufo-Addo,” he said.

He compared the fight against galamsey to America’s decades-long battle with drug cartels, stressing that both involve powerful interests beyond the control of politicians.

“These are enterprises controlled by cartels, powerful blocs and people who don’t care about politicians or politics. Their interest is in wealth, influence and money,” he added.

When asked whether former President Akufo-Addo set himself up for criticism by publicly vowing to put his presidency on the line to fight galamsey, Mr. Mustapha admitted that leadership must be held accountable but insisted the NPP paid a heavy political price for its efforts.

“Because of the fight, in the 2020 elections we lost 19 seats on the mining radar and virtually all the mining constituencies except for a few around Obuasi and Akwatia.

“You would not believe that the NPP lost a seat like Akrofuom in the Adansi area of the Ashanti Region. The ramifications are dire, and the weaponisation of it is what has made it so,” he said.

Source: Myjoyonline

In a heartfelt message, Nana Amanfo Monfankye of Dadiase expressed profound shock and sorrow upon learning of the tragedy involving the Ghana Armed Forces’ Z-9 helicopter, which was en route to Obuasi.

The tragic incident claimed the lives of eight courageous individuals who were serving their country.

The Council described the crash as one that had “plunged the country into total darkness and national mourning,” while paying tribute to the fallen ministers, government officials, and service personnel, whose voices will now remain silent forever.

They assured President John Dramani Mahama and the bereaved families of their prayers for God Almighty and Allah’s grace, mercy, and comfort during this difficult time.

Nana Monfankye further urged Ghanaians to use this moment of grief to remain united and support the government in the fight against illegal mining.

Ohema Nsifor Okolor also emphasized the importance of peace among all ethnic groups in Nkwanta to foster unity and promote development.

She noted that the municipality is gradually losing its status as a developing area, leading to hardships for both women and men in the community.

While acknowledging the significant void left by the deceased, the Council affirmed that the legacy of these fallen heroes will forever be remembered.

“May the good Lord and Allah comfort you and all Ghanaians,” the statement concluded.

Source: Obrempongba K. Owusu

ALSO READ:

Nkwanta South police Charge Office battles severe leakage

World Bank: Ghana’s disinflation gains momentum as cedi strengthens

The victims were rushed to the Mankessim Government Hospital for treatment.

Eyewitnesses reported that the Toyota Hiace, with registration number GW 8661-14, was traveling from Mankessim to Accra, while the Toyota Vitz, with registration number GG 1375-22, was headed from Accra to Mankessim.

Following the crash, both vehicles veered into nearby food vendors, destroying property at the junction.

One eyewitness, Kwesi Bronya, confirmed that the injured were transported for medical care and appealed to the Minister of Roads and Highways to construct speed ramps at the junction to curb the frequent accidents in the area.

Source: Kofi Adjei

ALSO READ:

Five dead, several injured in Kumasi–Accra highway crash at Asuboi

NPP did a sustained strategy to destroy our forest reserves –.

Speaking on the maiden edition of Prime Insight on Joy Prime on Saturday, August 16, Mr Tanko recalled the party’s controversial justification for allowing mining in protected areas, describing it as proof of misplaced priorities.

“These people pursued a sustained strategy of destroying the forest cover. You remember the phrase they used, ‘party hia sika’. And Ghanaians were quiet about it. When they said ‘party hia sika’, therefore they should allow them to go in there. Even government officials were importing excavators and moving heavy machines into the forest areas, destroying everything,” he said.

Mr Tanko argued that the NPP’s actions showed that the party was never committed to protecting the country’s natural resources.

“They used 96 months—that is eight years—to destroy the forest. The evidence abounds; everybody can see it. When they went to Parliament and passed that act that allowed them to go into forest reserves to mine, what were they thinking?” he asked.

According to him, those who resisted the destruction were victimised. “Even people who demonstrated against galamsey were arrested and locked up,” he claimed.

He further noted that it is unfair to expect the new government to undo years of destruction in just a few months.

“If somebody uses 96 months to destroy something, do you expect us to use eight months to resolve that problem? The presidency was not committed. This is a president who said he had put his presidency on the line, yet his own committee members were involved in galamsey,” he said.

The NDC’s Deputy Director of Elections and IT also criticised the previous government’s handling of the galamsey report by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining, led by Prof Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng.

“When the minister wrote a fine report about the activities of that committee on galamsey, what did they do?” he questioned.

Mr Tanko said that the Akufo-Addo-led administration failed because the presidency itself lacked the will to stop illegal mining.

“So at that time, if the presidency was committed and ensured that those activities ended at that level, we wouldn’t be where we are,” he argued.

He explained that the NDC government is reviewing the legal framework that enabled mining in forest reserves and is preparing a new bill to address the gaps.

“Initially, we thought we could just amend the part that allowed the president to give permits for mining in forest areas. But others said, no, let’s repeal the whole act and come with a new one. The Attorney-General has worked on it, and the bill is ready. We are going to remove it,” he disclosed.

Mr Tanko-Computer further revealed that the late ministers and security chiefs who died in the recent Ghana Air Force helicopter crash were on their way to help launch a new programme to fight illegal mining.

“When those eight gallant men died, they were in the process of trying to resolve galamsey because we were going to launch a programme known as Responsible Mining,” he said.

Source: Myjoyonline

Constructed many years ago, the police station has not undergone any renovations, posing a serious threat to officers and inmates.

A visit to the station by Adom News after Saturday’s heavy rainfall revealed the devastating conditions the officers and inmates are enduring.

The leaking roof has turned the station’s office into what resembles a swimming pool.

Although Adom News previously reported on the situation, no action has been taken in response.

The police officers are urgently calling on authorities to intervene, as their books and other important records continue to be destroyed.

Source: Obrempongba K. Owusu

Galamsey fight: We’ll withdraw our cooperation if… – Miracles Aboagye to…

Kojo Asante calls for review of GAF resources after helicopter crash

The suspect, Fuseini Ibrahim, was arrested on August 14, 2025, at Dumasua in the Sunyani West Municipality and has been placed in police custody.

A statement issued and signed by Chief Inspector Thomas Akeelah, the Public Relations Officer of the Bono Regional Police Command, and made available to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, said three other accomplices, only identified as Musa, Baba and Malik Mustapha, were at large.

They allegedly stole the tricycles at Drobo in the Jaman South Municipality, it stated, adding that the suspects, together with the accomplice, were intercepted at the Dumasua checkpoint.

However, the other three suspects managed to escape.

The statement added that the police had retrieved the tricycles, saying that a manhunt had been mounted for the other suspects.

Source: GNA

The incident occurred during a dispute over a stray piglet in Kpongunor, a suburb of Odumase-Krobo in the Eastern Region.

According to the prosecution, led by Chief Inspector John Brahene, the incident occurred on August 9, 2025, at about 5:00 p.m.

He noted that the complainant, Mr Emmanuel Ofoe, an animal farmer, discovered that one of his piglets had escaped from its pen and was feeding behind the accused’s house.

The prosecutor stated that while attempting to retrieve the animal, Ofoe saw Adjei throw a stone at the piglet, injuring it.

The farmer confronted Adjei, who initially apologised and promised to address the matter, but later failed to do so.

He said that when the farmer later visited Adjei to discuss the piglet’s worsening condition, the accused became angry, went into his room, retrieved a cutlass, and inflicted deep wounds on Mr Ofoe’s head and left arm.

The victim managed to escape and, with the help of his sister, reported the matter to the police.

He was issued a medical form, treated at a local hospital, and later referred to the Regional Hospital for further care.

Inspector Brahene stated that Adjei was subsequently arrested and, during police interrogation, admitted to the offence.

He was charged with causing harm, contrary to Section 69 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and was subsequently convicted to serve as a deterrent to others.

Police have since cautioned the public to use lawful means in resolving disputes to prevent violence.

Source: GNA

This follows the government’s announcement of the creation of the Children’s Support Fund at the State Funeral in honour of the departed souls at the Black Star Square in Accra.

The Fund would cover education from primary school through to tertiary or technical training, health care, including medical insurance and specialised care as needed, and welfare support such as clothing, shelter and essential living expenses.

The President said the children should not be used as collateral damage of the tragedy; rather, a new moment to uphold a culture of collective responsibility to secure their lives must be the focus.

He spoke about Ghana’s communal living, where people took on the responsibility of raising children of their relatives who were not financially capable, paying the school fees of a domestic worker’s child, and sometimes, footing the medical bills of strangers.

He encouraged Ghanaians to extend such kind gestures to the children of the eight helicopter crash victims.

The President recalled how he took responsibility for a nine-year-old physically disabled boy, including paying the full cost of surgery and writing a poem to encourage the boy before his surgery.

“Let us also leave our eight comrades today with the promise that their children will not be alone and that they’ve got us, and we will always be there to share. We will probably walk with them into their future,” he said.

Expressing appreciation to all who mourned with the country and the bereaved families, including the diplomatic community, President Mahama said: “It is this solidarity that affirms the strength of our national and international spirit.”

The magnitude and manner through which the eight individuals died, irrespective of the investigations and technical explanations, “will never make sense to the grieving hearts,” he said.

However, the President expressed the hope that the country would come out of the tragic experience with renewed optimism to fight for a prosperous future for Ghana, encouraging citizens to move in the direction of peace within communities and families.

“I pray that this funeral will bring closure to a grieving nation and that a new dawn will break, which we can look forward to with pride as Ghanaians. And that today, we pray that this will be the beginning as the Almighty God heals our land,” he said.

Ghana lost eight individuals through a tragic military helicopter crash at Sikaman, in the Adansi Akrofuom District, while heading for the launch of the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) at Obuasi in the Ashanti Region.

The deceased were Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister of Defence, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology and Alhaji Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator.

The others were Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman NDC, Samuel Aboagye, a former Parliamentary Candidate, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Twum Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo, Flight Engineer, all of the Ghana Armed Forces.

All eight were given a state burial and laid to rest at the Military Cemetery at Tse-Addo in the La Dade-Kotopon Municipality of Accra.

Source: GNA

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 16, Dr Asante stressed that adequately resourcing the military is critical to ensuring safety and efficiency in their operations.

“We need to look at GAF and the resources available to them. This tragic accident must push us to reflect on whether our military has what it needs to work safely and effectively,” he stated.

He emphasised that beyond mourning the fallen officers and government officials, the nation must confront systemic challenges that may have contributed to the crash.

The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, August 6, claimed the lives of eight people, including Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed.

Also killed were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

A state funeral was held on Friday, August 15, at the Black Star Square in Accra, where national leaders, military personnel, and citizens paid their final respects.

Dr Asante noted that while the tragedy has plunged the nation into grief, it must also serve as a wake-up call to strengthen the capacity and preparedness of the armed forces.

Source: Ernest K. Arhinful

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 16, the former Tamale Central MP said only a credible and impartial probe would uncover the true cause of the tragedy and restore public confidence.

Mr Fuseini noted that while the state has the capacity to conduct its own inquiry, an independent investigation would guarantee transparency and dispel any perceptions of political interference.

“We must have an independent third party look into the helicopter crash,” he stressed, adding that the gravity of the incident demanded absolute accountability.

The crash, which occurred on Wednesday, August 6, claimed the lives of eight prominent figures, including Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong, and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed.

A state funeral was held on Friday, August 15, at the Black Star Square in Accra, where leaders, security personnel, and citizens gathered to honour the victims.

The tragedy has plunged the nation into mourning, with mounting calls for a transparent and thorough investigation to prevent future occurrences.

Source: Ernest K. Arhinful

ALSO READ:

Galamsey fight: We’ll withdraw our cooperation if… – Miracles Aboagye to…

Galamsey fight: Declare state of emergency now – Miracles Aboagye to…

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 16, he cautioned that arrogance and partisanship could undermine efforts to tackle the menace.

“We’ll withdraw our cooperation if you don’t check your posture,” Mr Aboagye stated, stressing that the government must work with all groups, regardless of political affiliation, to save Ghana’s environment.

He argued that alienating critical partners through divisive rhetoric or selective engagement would be counterproductive.

According to him, the consequences of withdrawing such cooperation would be severe for the government’s anti-galamsey agenda.

“When our cooperation is withdrawn, the NDC government cannot achieve even 20% of its policies to deal with the galamsey menace,” he added, highlighting the need for consensus and inclusivity.

Mr Aboagye urged the government to demonstrate humility and a willingness to engage broadly with communities, civil society, and political actors.

He noted that the scale of environmental destruction required a united national front, not a partisan struggle.

“This fight is too important to be reduced to political competition. It is about Ghana’s survival,” he concluded.

Source: Ernest K. Arhinful  

ALSO READ:

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 16, he criticised the government for what he described as excuses in dealing with the menace.

“I want them to declare the state of emergency now as you believed in it in opposition,” Mr Aboagye stated.

He argued that the administration cannot continue to downplay the urgency of the crisis when its effects on the nation’s rivers, forests, and communities are so severe.

According to him, the government’s reluctance to invoke such a drastic measure raises questions about its true commitment to ending the galamsey menace.

“It is absurd for them to be now giving excuses not to do that,” he remarked, insisting that a firm and bold step was long overdue.

Mr Aboagye maintained that political will was the missing link in Ghana’s fight against illegal mining and urged the Mahama government to back its rhetoric with concrete action.

He emphasised that only a decisive approach, free of political considerations, could restore confidence in the state’s ability to protect the environment.

Source: Ernest K. Arhinful

After consulting with multiple specialists, she was diagnosed with labial hypoplasia, a condition in which her outer labia were only partially formed. Following surgery to correct the issue, she found significant relief and remained relatively pain-free, incorporating yoga into her routine to further support her healing.

But the pain returned six years later, this time during the initial stages of penetration.

The 33-year-old California resident has been fighting for three years to receive a formal diagnosis, as the root of her discomfort remains unclear. She requested that only her first name be used out of privacy concerns.

“I get a lot of ‘it’s probably anxiety or related to mental health,’” she said. “It’s disappointing since I made a ton of progress and now feel like I’m being tossed aside.”

Nicole’s experience of painful sex isn’t unique. Nearly 3 in 4 women will experience painful intercourse at some point in their lives, whether it’s a temporary or long-term problem, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

“Sex should never be painful,” said Eva Dillon, a sex therapist based in New York City. “It’s something that women should never have to endure.”

What causes pain during intercourse?

Painful intercourse can be caused by several common issues.

Women who experience pelvic pain or pain with sexual activity, gynaecological exams or tampon use may have tight pelvic floor muscles.

The condition can increase tension and cause pain, according to Dr. Anna Falter, a physical therapist specialising in pelvic floor therapy at the Cleveland Clinic, via email.

Pelvic pain can also be linked to tightness in other areas of the body, including the neck, lower back and hips — issues that might not immediately seem connected to sexual discomfort. Stress, previous surgeries, traumatic experiences or even unconscious muscle tensing can also contribute to this pain.

Additionally, hormonal changes, such as decreased estrogen levels during menopause or postpartum, especially while breastfeeding, can lead to vaginal dryness, which can make intercourse uncomfortable or painful.

Getting treatment

For women experiencing pelvic floor muscle tension, pelvic floor physical therapy is often an effective treatment option to reduce pain and prevent muscles from becoming overly tight in the future, Falter said.

One commonly used technique in pelvic floor physical therapy is trigger point therapy, which involves applying pressure to tight muscles to help them relax. A pelvic floor physical therapist may perform this method vaginally, using a gloved and lubricated finger to target and massage specific tight areas or trigger points, Falter said.

Patients can also learn to perform self-trigger point release at home using their own fingers, a partner, a pelvic wand or vaginal dilators to help relax the internal muscles.

Falter also noted that partners are welcome to attend pelvic floor therapy sessions, where they can learn strategies to support their partner if both parties are comfortable.

Another approach is pelvic floor lengthening exercises, which differ from the more commonly known Kegel exercises, Falter explained. Lengthening involves relaxing the pelvic floor muscles, often paired with diaphragmatic breathing, where the patient inhales deeply, allowing their abdomen, rib cage and pelvic floor to relax.

This movement is more challenging, so Falter recommends seeking help from a pelvic floor physical therapist to ensure you’re using the proper form.

Falter also advises women to check in with their bodies throughout the day, especially during activities such as brushing their teeth or sitting on the couch, to check that they aren’t unconsciously tensing their pelvic muscles.

Certain yoga poses and stretches, such as child’s pose, butterfly stretch and deep squat, can help release pelvic tension.

Still, it’s good to remember that seeking individualised treatment is always the best approach, Falter said.

Supporting a partner experiencing pain

If your partner is experiencing pain during sex, there are steps you can take to provide comfort and support.

Most importantly, if there’s any pain during intercourse, it’s crucial to stop immediately. Continuing despite discomfort can create negative associations between sex and pain, making future encounters even more challenging.

“At the end of any sexual encounter, you want to be able to look forward to the next time with anticipation and delight,” Dillon said. “And, if sex is painful, you can begin to dread the next time, and it sets up a cycle, which you don’t want.”

Communication is also key, and it’s important for both partners to be open and understanding about the pain and treatment journey, especially if shame or feelings of inadequacy arise.

“It can be helpful if the partner takes time to learn about what their partner is experiencing, as well as the treatment strategies they are working on, so they can support and encourage them through the treatment journey,” Falter said.

For couples who are temporarily unable to engage in intercourse, there are still many ways to stay connected physically. Dillon recommends trying outercourse — non-penetrative sexual activities like manual stimulation or oral sex — to maintain intimacy and pleasure.

If intercourse or other forms of sexual activity are off the table, simple gestures such as a meaningful kiss or affectionate hugs can strengthen the emotional bond between partners.

“These (forms of touch) are really important for us,” Dillon said. “They tell our nervous systems we’re safe and not alone.”

Physical intimacy is still important

Despite the lack of a clear diagnosis, Nicole has not given up on her desire for a fulfilling intimate relationship. Alongside her partner, she has taken matters into her own hands, exploring alternative solutions.

“I tend to feel really frustrated with my body and the pain since I don’t want to have these issues,” Nicole said via email. “Physical intimacy can be such a huge part of a relationship, and sometimes I feel like I’m missing out.”

Nicole and her boyfriend have found creative ways to maintain intimacy without intercourse or penetration. They have also incorporated pelvic floor therapies into their routine, which have helped alleviate some of the pain during their intimate moments. But that doesn’t mean she lives without disappointment.

“There was a lot of education that had to be done, which cannot be so fun and sexy when things are new,” she said. “In the end, it has really brought us closer together and created a more emotional, intimate connection pretty early on since we had to have these less fun and pretty technical conversations.”

Source: CNN

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 16, Mr Aboagye argued that after several years in office, it was disingenuous for authorities to present a fresh commitment as though the menace had only just been discovered.

“What have you been doing all this time if you’re now going to renew the galamsey fight?” he asked.

According to him, citizens expected decisive action from the outset, not recycled promises that cast doubt on government’s credibility.

“It is not enough to say you are renewing the fight. The people want to see results, not rhetoric,” he stressed.

Mr Aboagye further accused the administration of lacking consistency in policy and political will, pointing out that measures introduced in the past had been abandoned without explanation.

He argued that such inconsistencies had emboldened illegal miners and eroded public confidence in the state’s commitment to protect the environment.

Mr Aboagye therefore urged government to adopt a more transparent and accountable approach, stressing that safeguarding the country’s water bodies and forests must be treated as a national priority.

“This is about the future of our children and the survival of our communities. We need leadership that will act firmly and consistently, not one that revisits the same promises every few years,” he emphasised.

Source: Ernest K. Arhinful

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 16, the former Tamale Central MP argued that the initiative, which was intended to provide an alternative to illegal mining, instead worsened the problem.

According to him, community mining legitimised activities that mirrored the destructive methods of illegal miners.

“Community mining was an escalated form of galamsey,” he said, adding that instead of curbing the menace, the programme expanded access to unsafe and unregulated mining practices.

The Akufo-Addo government had introduced community mining as part of efforts to fight illegal mining, with the aim of offering regulated small-scale mining opportunities to local communities.

However, critics like Mr. Fuseini insist the policy lacked effective monitoring and regulation, which allowed environmentally harmful practices to continue under official cover.

His comments come in the wake of renewed debate on responsible mining following the tragic helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofuom on Wednesday, August 6, which claimed the lives of eight high-profile figures.

The incident has reignited scrutiny of Ghana’s mining policies, with calls for more sustainable approaches to safeguard the environment while ensuring livelihoods in mining communities.

Source: Ernest K. Arhinful

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 16, the former Tamale Central MP noted that the government was committed to ensuring Ghana’s mineral resources were exploited responsibly and sustainably.

According to him, the measures introduced by the Mahama government were aimed at protecting both the environment and the livelihoods of communities in mining areas.

He stressed that promoting responsible mining practices was central to the administration’s agenda, emphasising the need to mine natural resources without destroying the environment.

Addressing concerns about whether stronger measures might be required, Mr Fuseini indicated that a state of emergency could be declared in affected areas if the situation demanded.

“The Mahama government has taken steps to end the menace, and a state of emergency will be declared when necessary,” he said.

He added that the government’s approach was to balance enforcement with the promotion of sustainable mining practices.

Mr Fuseini’s comments come in the wake of the tragic helicopter crash at Adansi Akrofoum on Wednesday, August 6, which claimed the lives of eight national figures, including Defence Minister Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.

The incident has reignited conversations about the fight against galamsey and the broader issue of responsible mining in Ghana.

Source: Ernest K. Arhinful

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 16, the former Tamale Central MP explained that the assignment was focused on safeguarding the environment while ensuring communities benefit from their natural resources.

“What our fallen heroes were going to do was to promote responsible mining, which means mining the natural resources without damaging the environment,” Mr. Fuseini said. “That is what they were going to do, and not to fight galamsey.”

He stressed that their task was to advance sustainable practices in the mining sector, describing it as crucial for Ghana’s long-term development.

The crash occurred on Wednesday, August 6, at Adansi Akrofrom in the Ashanti Region, claiming the lives of eight prominent figures.

Among the dead were Defence Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, former parliamentary candidate Samuel Aboagye, NDC Vice Chairman Samuel Sarpong, and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed. Their sudden deaths have left the nation in shock and mourning.

A solemn state funeral was held on Friday, August 15, at the Black Star Square in Accra, where leaders, security officials, and citizens gathered to pay their final respects.

The tragedy has sparked widespread calls for a full-scale investigation, with many stressing the need to establish the exact cause of the crash to prevent future occurrences.

Source: Ernest K. Arhinful

ALSO READ:

Honour Omane Boamah’s memory by ending galamsey – Kwesi Pratt Jnr

Moment Titus Glover broke down in tears at state funeral for helicopter crash victims

He says if public funds were properly tracked and invested where they matter most, the country could raise billions within a few years and deliver real transformation.

Speaking at the close of a two-day ACEP Media Fellowship for selected journalists, Mr. Boakye called on the media to become relentless watchdogs, insisting that without aggressive accountability, politicians will continue to spend on fanfare while citizens die for lack of basic medical care.

Despite an annual budget of about GH₵50 billion, he noted that basic medical equipment costing under $10 million remains absent in health facilities, forcing the country to send blood samples abroad. Meanwhile, millions are spent instantly on ceremonies and fanfare.

“Governments will prioritize anything, but what impacts you? That’s the problem,” he said. “If there’s a need for fanfare today, they will find the money immediately. But to save lives with equipment, we hesitate.”

Mr. Boakye painted a grim picture of wasted public resources — unsafe school buildings, poorly built offices, and substandard projects executed without proper materials, all under official supervision.

“You see schools where pupils are barred from upper floors because they could collapse. This is public money — and public danger,” he stressed.

He urged journalists to take up the “hard job” of monitoring, exposing, and questioning governance lapses, describing it as a national duty to prevent inefficiency and save lives.

“This is not about charity from politicians. The taxes we pay should deliver value. If we fail to demand it, the cycle of poor service delivery will continue, and people will keep dying unnecessarily,” he warned.

The fellowship, organized by ACEP, was designed to build journalists’ capacity to track public spending, investigate resource management, and amplify citizen demands for accountability.

Source: Ivy Priscilla Setordjie

ALSO READ:

Winneba: Police foil attempted robbery at bank

I don’t see any serious commitment to end galamsey – Awula…

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, August 16, she said successive administrations had paid lip service to the fight while the destruction of the country’s water bodies and forests continued unchecked.

“I don’t see any serious commitment to end galamsey. If government was genuinely committed, we would not be where we are today,” she argued.

According to her, political leaders tend to use strong rhetoric when in opposition but fail to act decisively once they assume power, thereby deepening public distrust.

Awula Serwah also criticised the inconsistent enforcement of mining laws, which she said has emboldened illegal operators.

“The laws are there, the regulations are clear, but what we have is selective enforcement. Some people are arrested and prosecuted while others with political connections are shielded,” she observed, stressing that this double standard undermines the rule of law and weakens the fight.

She called for a non-partisan and community-driven approach to tackle the menace, warning that the ecological and health consequences of galamsey are becoming irreversible.

“This is not an NPP or NDC issue; this is about Ghana’s survival. We need leaders who will prioritise the national interest over political expediency,” she urged, adding that citizens must also hold duty bearers accountable.

Source: Myjoyonline.com

Speaking on the maiden edition of Prime Insight on Joy Prime on Saturday, August 16, Mr Bosu said the fight against illegal mining has been characterised by half-measures, broken promises, and a lack of genuine commitment.

“I think that if you look at where we came from and the promises made, we really wasted a lot of effort, not only that, wasted a lot of resources, wasted a lot of time pretending to fight galamsey,” he stressed.

Mr Bosu argued that both the current and previous governments had sufficient information and resources to deal with the menace but failed to act decisively.

“When we knew the people, when we knew the issues that would have been dealt with right from the word go… we failed blatantly to implement the provisions of the very laws we passed,” he said.

He also highlighted contradictions in policy, noting that while initiatives such as Operation Vanguard and a year-long moratorium on small-scale mining were introduced, illegal mining persisted.

“In the same period that we said there was a moratorium, that was when we also had more exports of gold than ever. Even when we said we were clamping down on these miners, people were still in the pits,” Mr Bosu observed.

According to him, the outcomes prove that the efforts yielded little impact.

“By the end of the eight years of the previous administration, we were really back to nothing. A lot of sentiments and commitments, and promises were just thrown away because people still wanted to do galamsey,” he stated.

Mr Bosu stressed that the tragedy of the August 6 helicopter crash, which claimed eight lives during an anti-galamsey mission, should compel the nation to reflect.

He extended his condolences to the families of the victims, adding:

“That moment of reflection brings all of us to maybe ponder a bit more on what we do to address galamsey going forward.”

He urged that Ghana must move beyond rhetoric and act with urgency.

“It’s not about the structures you put in place, but about the results and the outcomes. Right now, what we need to be talking about is that it failed; it wasn’t successful. We must face that truth and do better,” he said.

Source: Myjoyonline

According to the World Bank Group’s 9th Economic Update on Ghana, this trend marks a positive shift after the disinflationary process stalled in 2024.

The report notes that headline inflation has been on a continuous decline since December 2024, reaching 13.7 percent in June 2025.

This six-month-long reduction reflects a broad-based easing of price pressures across core, food, and non-food categories.

“The decline was influenced by a tighter monetary policy rate of 28 percent, improved macroeconomic conditions, and a significant rebound of the currency,” the report states.

A key factor in this progress has been the strong performance of the Ghanaian cedi, which appreciated against all major currencies in the year to June 2025 — a dramatic turnaround from its struggles in previous years.

The cedi’s appreciation was supported by a combination of tight monetary policy, ongoing fiscal consolidation, and interventions by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) in the foreign exchange (FX) market, the report added.

The World Bank also acknowledged the crucial role of the BoG’s interventions in managing liquidity and supporting the currency.

However, it cautioned that such interventions “should be managed carefully to avoid distortions in the currency market and allow for a more flexible exchange rate regime.”

This advice underscores the need to strike a balance between maintaining stability and ensuring market efficiency.

The strong disinflationary trend and the rebound of the cedi are seen as positive indicators that Ghana’s stabilization and recovery reforms are taking hold.

This is giving the Mahama administration confidence to pursue its ambitious reform agenda aimed at restoring growth and achieving long-term fiscal sustainability.

Source: Myjoyonline

According to the police, the incident occurred around 1:00 a.m. on Friday, August 15, 2025, when the bank’s alarm system was triggered, alerting a patrol team on duty.

The team, sensing unusual activity, proceeded to the bank to investigate.

“Upon arrival, they were met with sporadic gunfire from the robbers. After a brief exchange of fire, the robbery gang fled, abandoning a pump-action gun and other implements,” the police said in a statement.

The AARU team retrieved one pump-action gun and an empty cartridge from the scene.

Preliminary investigations suggest the robbery was attempted by about five armed men who tried to break into the bank’s vault. The swift response of the patrol team, however, foiled their plan.

“The modus operandi of this robbery gang is similar to that of the group involved in earlier rural bank robberies, suggesting that the same gang is responsible,” the police noted.

Intelligence reports further indicate that the suspects may be hiding in Kumasi. AARU surveillance teams have since been deployed to the area to track them down.

Source: graphic.com.

ALSO READ:

Honour Omane Boamah’s memory by ending galamsey – Kwesi Pratt Jnr

EPA cautions against state of emergency approach to galamsey

After meeting for nearly three hours, the two men emerged to proclaim progress. But they exited their scheduled news conference without explaining what, exactly, they have achieved.

One thing that was evident: There was no deal made. And the ceasefire Trump said he wanted in place when the summit ended was far from becoming a reality as he increasingly put the onus on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “make a deal.”

“There were many, many points that we agreed on – most of them, I would say,” Trump said at the news conference, speaking after Putin. “A couple of big ones that we haven’t quite gotten there, but we’ve made some headway.”

“There’s no deal until there’s a deal,” Trump pronounced.

He and Putin departed the stage without answering questions.

It was an inconclusive end to a showy summit that — for all its unknowns — did seem to decisively welcome Putin back into the diplomatic fold.

Still, for all of the pomp and protocol, the indications of how difficult Trump’s task will be were evident from the moment the meeting began.

Emergency services workers extinguish a fire, causeed by the explosion of a Russian drone, at the central market in Sumy, Ukraine, earlier in the day on Friday. Francisco Richart Barbeira/NurPhoto/Getty Images

Just as the presidents were greeting each other on the Elmendorf Air Force Base tarmac, alerts went out in Ukraine about incoming Russian drones and aircraft — a sign of Putin’s intent to keep up his war, even as Trump was lavishing him with trappings of respect on US soil.

Here are key takeaways from Friday’s summit in Anchorage:

Progress but not a deal

Both Trump and Putin offered a vague accounting of a meeting that stretched for hours.

“We had an extremely productive meeting, and many points were agreed to,” Trump told reporters. “There are just a very few that are left. Some are not that significant. One is probably the most significant, but we have a very good chance of getting there. We didn’t get there, but we have a very good chance of getting there.”

In an interview immediately after the summit, Trump was asked by Fox News’ Sean Hannity about territorial concessions that would give Russia land it didn’t previously have and about potential US security assurances for Ukraine.

“Well, I think those are points that we negotiated, and those are points that we largely have agreed on,” Trump said without elaborating.

He stressed that Ukraine “has to agree to it.” Asked what his advice was for Zelensky, Trump responded: “Gotta make a deal.”

In the lead-up to the talks, it was always clearer what an unsuccessful outcome would look like than a successful one. Trump had vowed to “walk” if he didn’t like what Putin was saying, threatened to downgrade the joint news conference to a solo appearance and said “severe” consequences would come for Moscow if the war didn’t end.

But as he flew to Anchorage, Trump said he didn’t know what success would look like — suggesting he would recognize it when he saw it.

It turns out, success was just as hard to identify after the summit as it was when it began.

Trump says he’ll be at potential Putin-Zelensky meeting

In his Fox interview, Trump said both Putin and Zelensky want him at a potential second meeting — which he had said before the summit would be his ultimate objective.

“They both want me there, and I’ll be there,” he told Hannity.

Trump said nothing about the prospect of a trilateral meeting at the news conference, only indicating he would get on the telephone with “the various people that I think are appropriate” — including Zelensky — to update them on the talks.

But the only forthcoming meeting mentioned during Trump and Putin’s joint appearance was a potential follow-up with the Russian leader.

“We’ll speak to you very soon, and probably see you again very soon,” Trump said.

“Next time in Moscow,” Putin responded in English — a suggestion that would appear to exclude Zelensky from the discussion.

Putin back in from the cold

Soon after his arrival in the US, Putin’s grin as he peered out the window of Trump’s limousine said everything: after years of western isolation, he was back in the most powerful nation on earth.

It had been 10 years since Putin was last in America and several more since he was welcomed to the country for a major presidential summit. After he invaded Ukraine in 2022, the Russian leader was made a pariah by many leaders, unwelcome in most western nations and even threatened with an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court. (Alaska was a desirable location for the summit, in part, because the US is not a member of the ICC.)

But Putin’s isolation ended when his plane landed in Anchorage. With a red carpet welcome, a flyover of fighter jets and a round of applause from the US president himself, the message from Trump was clear: Putin was back in from the cold. Their smiling greeting was hailed on Russian state television as a “historic handshake.”

Though Putin is still not welcome in many places in Europe, the decision to host him by Trump — who oversees the world’s largest economy and its most powerful military — does more to erode attempts at diplomatic shunning than any other leader could attempt.

That became clearer when Putin climbed into Trump’s armored vehicle, an unusual gesture that seemed to capture in an instant the Russian leader’s return to global diplomacy. Even without any major progress, it was, for him, a victory.

Aides were added to what had been billed as a one-on-one

The surprise came just as Trump was landing: No longer would he be meeting Putin one-on-one, with only their translators present. Instead, two aides would join each leader for their bilateral talks.

That was different from earlier in the week, when the White House said the summit would include a one-on-one component. A US official said it was a late change but offered no explanation for why the format shifted.

Trump’s one-on-one meetings with Putin during his first term were shrouded in a degree of mystery. With only a translator inside the room, it was often unclear what exactly was discussed. Aides sometimes had a difficult time ascertaining if the two men reached any agreements. After one such meeting, in Germany, Trump asked his interpreter to discard his notes.

The addition of two aides to Friday’s session — Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US special envoy Steve Witkoff — could allow for greater clarity in the coming days, particularly if Russia offers an accounting of events that differs from the US perspective.

Still, there was one moment that only Trump and Putin will be able to recount: their brief ride in the presidential limousine from the tarmac to the room where the meeting took place. No one else was in the car with them except Secret Service agents — no advisers or even translators.

That leaves the contents of their brief chat known only to them.

Source: CNN

His remarks come in response to growing calls from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and sections of the public for stronger measures against galamsey, following the August 6 helicopter crash that claimed eight lives, including that of the Minister for Environment, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed.

The victims were travelling to Obuasi for the launch of the government’s Cooperative Mining Initiative, designed to curb illegal mining.

Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Friday, August 15, Prof. Ayamga-Adongo acknowledged the urgent need for action but urged caution, stressing that poorly designed interventions could backfire.

He advocated for a comprehensive strategy that not only confronts the environmental destruction caused by galamsey but also addresses the economic factors that sustain it, including the livelihoods of those engaged in the practice.

According to him, enforcement alone will not suffice unless the underlying incentives driving people into illegal mining are removed.

“The solution to fighting galamsey is not stopping mining. Some confuse legal mining with illegal mining. Yes, people are calling for a state of emergency, but we must remember that such a move could also produce negative consequences, including abuses and further destruction.

A holistic approach is required – one that recognises galamsey as both an economic and environmental problem. It is about creating jobs, retraining young people who have spent years in galamsey without skills for other sectors, and funding initiatives that help them start small businesses. That is how to reduce the appetite for galamsey,” he explained.

Source: Adomonline

ALSO READ:

Helicopter crash difficult to accept, but who are we to question…

Honour Omane Boamah’s memory by ending galamsey – Kwesi Pratt Jnr

Dr. Omane Boamah was among the eight victims of the August 6 helicopter crash.

Speaking on Eyewitness News on Friday, August 15, Mr. Pratt described the late minister as a student activist, political leader, and medical doctor who devoted his life to national service.

“He died in the line of duty, no doubt. But I think that those of us who want to honour his memory should carry on the fight that took his life – the fight against galamsey. Galamsey has had a devastating effect on the nation,” Mr. Pratt stated.

He added, “If we truly respect Omane Boamah, if we truly believe he was worth the honour we have all showered on him, then we must renew our commitment to fighting galamsey. If we fail, it will be a huge dishonour to his memory and to all those who died in the helicopter crash.”

Mr. Pratt warned of the severe consequences of illegal mining, pointing to a 60% decline in cocoa production, widespread environmental damage, and increasing health complications, including water contamination and birth defects.

“Cocoa production has gone down by 60%, and galamsey is largely to blame. Medical experts are reporting many children being born deformed – some without eyes or arms. Water bodies are destroyed, food is poisoned,” he lamented.

He also fondly recalled the health advice Dr. Omane Boamah once gave him, which helped him avoid recurring malaria attacks.

On Friday, August 15, Ghana bid farewell to Dr. Omane Boamah and five other victims of the crash at a solemn burial at the Military Cemetery in Tse Addo, Greater Accra Region. The ceremony, attended by top government officials, the military high command, grieving families, and mourners from across the country, followed an emotional interfaith service at Black Star Square where tributes poured in.

The farewell was conducted with full military honours, featuring performances by the Ghana Air Force and Ghana Armed Forces bands.

This marked the second burial for victims of the tragedy. On August 10, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, and Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Limuna Muniru Mohammed, were laid to rest.

Those interred on August 15 included Dr. Omane Boamah, Samuel Aboagye, NDC Vice Chairman Dr. Samuel Sarpong, Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.

Source: Adomonline

ALSO READ:

Bolgatanga Technical Institute shut down over violent student unrest

Ghana Mourns: Caskets lowered during final salute at Military Cemetery –…

Julius Debrah closes African Political Parties Summit 2025