Tensions are high at Adum PZ in Kumasi following a clash between traders and city authorities over restrictions placed on the site of a recent fire outbreak.
A joint police and military team was deployed to the area after traders, angered by delays in resuming their businesses, defied Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) directives and dismantled barricades set up to cordon off the affected area.
According to officials, the KMA had restricted access to the site to allow for consultations and safety assessments before any rebuilding could begin. However, frustrated traders accused the assembly of dragging its feet, insisting they could no longer afford to stay idle.
Among those leading the protest was Daniel Oppong Kyeremeh, a trader and former executive member of the National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS).
He described the deployment of armed security personnel as unnecessary and called on the authorities to prioritize the concerns of affected traders.
As consultations continue between city officials and trader representatives, security remains on high alert in the area to prevent further escalation.
The Ghana Police Service has secured a court injunction against a planned three-day demonstration by pressure group, Generational Rights Protection Society (GRPS).
The protest, which was scheduled to take place between May 20 and 30, aimed to draw national attention to the worsening effects of galamsey and push for immediate government action.
However, the police cited security concerns and potential disruptions to public order in their application for the injunction.
Leaders of the GRPS are expected to appear in court tomorrow, Thursday, April 25, 2025, to respond to the legal challenge and argue for their constitutional right to protest.
The leadership of GRPS confirmed their commitment to pursuing legal means to have the demonstration approved, describing their cause as a fight for environmental justice.
The outcome of tomorrow’s hearing will determine whether the protest can proceed as planned in May.
A political marketing lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, Dr. Bernard Tutu-Boahen has appealed to the new Patriotic Party to consider giving Dr. Bawumia, the 2024 Presidential Candidate to lead the party again in 2028.
According to him, Dr. Bawumia, who led the NPP to defeat in the 2024 general election, deserves a second chance to lead the party.
His comment comes after the New Patriotic Party led by Dr. Bawumia officially out doored their post-election 2024 defat thank you tour at the party’s headquarters.
Some have described the move as an attempt by the party to force Dr. Bawumia on the party again attributing the lose by the party to Dr. Bawumia.
Reacting to the development on Atinka AM Drive with host, Ekow Budu Sam, Dr. Bernard Tutu-Boahen expressed confidence that Dr. Bawumia would be victorious in the next election if given the chance to lead the NPP, citing established precedents.
He believes every person deserves a second chance adding that former President Nana Akufo-Addo became president after his third attempt. Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Vincent Kwofie
Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources have expressed admiration for Zoomlion Ghana Limited, a subsidiary of the Jospong Group of Companies, significant investment in the country’s sanitation sector.
During a tour of the company’s state-of-the-art Accra Compost and Recycling Plant (ACARP) at Adjen-Kotoku in Accra on April 23, 2025, the members of the committee praised Zoomlion’s commitment to improving sanitation in Ghana.
The tour formed part of the committee’s mandate, aimed to explore ways the country can effectively address its sanitation problems. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the tour, the Chairman of the Committee, Mr. John Oti Bless, said: “I am truly impressed by the level of investment that has gone into these major companies.”
He noted that Zoomlion’s huge investment in sanitation management has been commendable, adding that its facilities and plants were functioning effectively.
“We’ve seen significant progress since 2000, and especially from 2004,” he said.
However, he noted that the current challenge lies in implementing effective sanitation management on the ground, particularly in streets and communities. “We want to see stronger action where it matters most in the streets and communities,” he emphasised.
While underscoring that there were sanitation issues that required urgent attention, the Chairman contended that after visiting ACARP and other state-of-the-art facilities of Zoomlion, including its Sewerage Systems Ghana Limited (SSGL), members of the committee were convinced that the capacity existed, but the major constraint was funding.
On this score, Mr. Oti Bless said the committee was working to address funding constraints and ensure prompt payments to service providers like Zoomlion, who the government owes to the tune of 1.2 billion Ghana cedis.
He was upbeat that the Finance Minister would fulfill a pledge to clear outstanding debts, including those owed to Zoomlion.
“About GHS 13 billion has been budgeted for this purpose, and we expect prompt action,” he said. “Zoomlion hasn’t received payments from the government for the past two years. How can a company function effectively without resources?” he quizzed.
He also highlighted the need for a dedicated sanitation fund, public education campaigns, and enforcement of local bye-laws to promote sanitation and accountability.
“Sanitation is a daily necessity that requires a dedicated source of funding,” he said. “If 40 pesewas is being raised through the levy, 20 pesewas should go to sanitation while the other 20 pesewas goes to energy. This will bring real change,” he recommended.
According to him, his committee plans to work with the media to promote public awareness and support for sanitation initiatives. “We need the media’s support for a nationwide public education campaign. We must ensure the enforcement of local bye-laws. Many district assemblies’ bye-laws are not gazetted, which renders them unenforceable,” Mr. Oti Bless said.
Furthermore, Mr. Oti Bless, who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North Constituency in the Oti Region, commended Zoomlion’s innovation and productivity, including the production of tricycles, waste processing, and furniture.
“We urge Ghanaians and civil society to support and buy local products from Zoomlion,” he said. “This fight is about public health. It’s not about us as individuals or political affiliations, it concerns every Ghanaian,” he noted.
He gave the assurance that his committee was committed to delivering positive change in Ghana’s sanitation sector over the next four years. “We have hit the ground running, and we will not stop until the right things are done,” Hon. Oti Bless declared.
Early, in a presentation, the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, made a passionate appeal to the committee to support Zoomlion by ensuring that the sanitation and environmental bye-laws are implemented to the latter and offenders prosecuted.
This, he stressed, will help curb the practice of indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the streets, waterways and other public spaces.
According to him, “What we [Zoomlion] do here goes beyond just cleaning.”
“We are tackling cholera, environmental issues, and even tourism-related concerns, all while improving public health and sanitation infrastructure,” he noted.
He intimated that the impact of a clean and safe environment cannot be overstated, insisting that “A clean and safe environment can significantly extend people’s lives.”
He however, lamented the lack of adequate incentives and support for the vital work being done in this sector. “The work we do often lacks the recognition it deserves, which is quite discouraging,” he expressed.
One pressing issue Dr. Agyepong highlighted was the taxes imposed on essential equipment. “We are currently engaging in discussions about the taxes imposed on some of our equipment, and we kindly appeal to the members present to take up this matter on our behalf,” he requested.
With the right support, he was of the firm belief that Zoomlion can do even more for the country. “Your support can help us do even more for the country
Ghanaian teacher Portia Dzifa Dzilah from Pakro Anglican Basic School, has made history as the first-ever Ghanaian regional winner of the 2025 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards organised by Cambridge University Press and Assessment in Sub-Saharan Africa. Selected by the judges for her incredible dedication to the young people in her community, Portia is the first Ghanaian teacher to be recognised as a regional winner in the competition’s seven-year history.
Portia is one of nine regional winners of the global Cambridge competition that celebrates the achievements of teachers around the world. As a regional winner, she will win £500 worth of books for her class, a trophy, take part in a regional awards ceremony presented with our education partner NNF Esquire, and receive publicity for herself and her school during the coming year. She will also appear on a ‘Thank you’ page at the front of a range of new Cambridge textbooks, available to the public from November 2025.
Portia is a subject teacher at Pakro Anglican Basic School situated in Akwapem South Municipal Assembly in the Eastern region of Ghana. Pakro is a farming community facing challenges like truancy, teenage pregnancy, and low school enrolment, especially for girls. Portia, through her dedication has mentored girls on food and sanitary initiatives and formed a gender club for her students as their first step to a transformed life.
Speaking on her nomination Portia said, “This recognition is not just about me; it’s about the children of Pakro and every girl who’s ever been told her dreams are out of reach. I became a teacher to do more than deliver lessons, I became a teacher to change lives. My mission has always been to make sure no child is left behind. Education is a lifeline, and I will continue to fight for every child to have access to it. Because when we invest in our children, we invest in the future of our communities.”
Rod Smith, Managing Director of International Education said, “At Cambridge, we are constantly inspired by the stories of teachers who go above and beyond, not for recognition but because they believe in the power of education to change lives. In an industry where AI is making all the headlines, it’s uplifting to see the warmth and humanity that this year’s winners have brought to their classrooms.
“These awards are a yearly reminder that teachers remain the most vital part of delivering a rounded education. Technology, no matter how sophisticated, cannot replicate the empathy, creativity, social guidance and the sheer inspiration that a great teacher like Portia can provide. I congratulate Portia on her immense accomplishments, which I’m sure will inspire teachers and learners across Ghana.”
About The Awards
The Cambridge Dedicated Teacher award nominations are set to appreciate educators who go beyond classroom to shape futures. The 2025 competition received over 5000 nominations for teachers in 101 different countries around the world.
Global winner voting now Open!
Portia now advances to the global finals where the public can vote for her to become overall 2025 Cambridge Dedicated Teacher Awards winner. Voting is open at dedicatedteacher.cambridge.org/vote. The deadline to vote is 30 April 2025 and the winner will be announced on 21 May 2025.
About Cambridge
Cambridge University Press & Assessment is part of the University of Cambridge.
Our International Education group works with over 10,000 schools in 160 countries to provide education that shapes knowledge, understanding and skills. Together, we give learners the confidence they need to thrive and make a positive impact in a changing world. We offer a globally trusted and flexible framework for education from age 3 to 19 (the Cambridge Pathway), informed by research, experience, and listening to educators. With internationally recognised qualifications (such as Cambridge IGCSE and International AS & A Level), high-quality resources, comprehensive teaching support and continuing professional development, we help schools prepare every student for the opportunities and challenges ahead. Together, we help Cambridge learners be ready for the world.
Commander of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Blue Army Movement, Moses Abor, has donated four brand-new motorcycles to the party’s grassroots in the Accra and Ashaiman and Upper East Region.
The donation, according to him, is part of efforts to empower the party’s base to enhance mobilization and protect the interests of the NPP at the community level.
Speaking during the presentation, Commander Abor emphasized the importance of unity within the party and the need to put aside personal ambitions for the greater good.
“The party is bigger than each of us. Personal interests must be put aside. We need to build a strong party and come back like ‘kakai’,” – he said.
He further underscored the need to shield party members from acts of intimidation and harassment, expressing confidence that equipping the grassroots with logistics like motorcycles would boost their visibility and effectiveness.
“This is to help our grassroots engage with the communities better. We cannot allow the intimidation and ransacking of party members’ homes to continue. It’s time to take a stand,” – he stressed.
Mr. Abor also encouraged other party members and leaders to support the grassroots, adding that no donation is too small in the collective effort to secure victory for the NPP in the 2028 general elections.
The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has strongly condemned the suspension of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo by President John Dramani Mahama, describing the decision as a direct threat to Ghana’s judicial independence and democratic foundations.
Addressing party supporters during the NPP’s “Thank You Tour” on Wednesday, the party’s National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, declared that the party would not sit idly by and allow what he called an unconstitutional action to stand.
He hinted that the party was considering massive protests across the country to demand the reversal of the suspension, calling on civil society organizations, legal practitioners, and the international community to join the fight in defending the independence of the judiciary.
“Our Judiciary is under attack do not think that this attack is on the person of Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo. No, it is the entire judiciary. Expect massive protest from us. We will agitate we will not sit down quietly; we will agitate this is unconstitutional” – he said.
The NPP’s reaction follows President Mahama’s move to suspend the Chief Justice, a decision that has sparked sharp divisions among political commentators and legal experts.
President John Dramani Mahama has nominated Constituency Chairman for Madina, Ibrahim F. Faila as the next Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipal Assembly, in the Greater Accra Region.
Faila’s nomination was part of a comprehensive list of 29 District Chief Executive (DCE) nominees released by the Office of the President on Tuesday, April 23, 2025.
The announcement, signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, names new appointees across the Greater Accra, Bono East, and Savannah Regions, subject to approval by the respective assemblies.
Ibrahim F. Faila, known for his community organizing skills and grassroots engagement, is expected to bring a renewed energy to the development drive in the fast-growing municipality of Madina.
Other key nominations from Greater Accra include:
Ebi Bright – Tema Metropolitan Assembly
Michael Kpakpo Allotey – Accra Metropolitan Assembly
Rudolph Collingwoode-Williams – Ayawaso Central
Felix Odartey Lamptey – Weija Gbawe
Israel Adjetey Otchwerewah – Ledzokuku
Raphael Uriel Nartey – Ningo Prampram
The nominees were appointed in accordance with Article 243 of the 1992 Constitution and the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), as amended. The nominations are subject to the approval of the respective district assemblies.
Faila’s expected appointment has been welcomed by many within the Madina community, where he is well known for championing local initiatives and inclusive development.
President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E John Dramani Mahama has nominated celebrated actress and political activist Ebi Bright as the next Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) for Tema Metropolitan Assembly, pending approval by the local assembly members.
Ebi Bright, who previously contested as a parliamentary candidate for the Tema Central Constituency on the ticket of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), now steps closer to leading the port city as its Mayor.
Her nomination was announced in an official list released by the Office of the President, which included a total of 29 nominees across three regions — Greater Accra, Savannah, and Bono East.
In the same announcement, Michael Kpakpo Allotey was nominated as the MCE for Accra Metropolitan Assembly, another high-profile nomination signaling a strong political direction for the capital cities.
Other notable names from the Greater Accra Region include:
– Raphael Uriel Nartey – Ningo Prampram
– Freeman Tseikpa – Ashaiman
– Rudolph Collingwoode-Williams – Ayawaso Central
– Felix Odartey Lamptey – Weija Gbawe
– Israel Adjetey Otchwerewah – Ledzokuku
– Paul Afoley Quaye – Krowor
– Ludwig Teye Totimeh – Tema West
– Ibrahim F. Falla – La Nkwantanang
The nominations are in accordance with Article 243 of the 1992 Constitution and the Local Governance Act, 2016 (Act 936), as amended. They are subject to approval by the respective District Assemblies.
Ebi Bright’s nomination has sparked excitement among her supporters in Tema, where she has long been admired for her activism and community work. If approved, she will take over from the outgoing MCE to steer Tema’s development agenda in the coming years.
The Western Central Regional Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a suspect linked to the theft of a Toyota Land Cruiser belonging to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Tarkwa.
Suspect
The suspect, identified as Salifu Gariba, was apprehended by officers of the Northern Regional Police Command on Tuesday, April 16, 2025, at Kukobila, along the Tamale-Bolgatanga highway. The stolen vehicle, with registration number GS 1845-23, was retrieved during the arrest.
According to police sources, initial investigations reveal that the vehicle was stolen in the early hours of Monday, April 15, 2025, from the residence of an EPA employee at Budo City, a suburb of Tarkwa in the Western Region.
Gariba is currently in police custody and is expected to face prosecution after further investigations.
The police have assured the public of their commitment to ensuring justice is served and urged citizens to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities.
