The Executive Director of the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG), Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, insists that a “Yes” vote in the upcoming national referendum will enhance Ghana’s democracy. He has, therefore, called on all stakeholders, particularly the political parties and institutions that are against the “Yes” vote, to reconsider their position and see the overall benefits of supporting the referendum. Speaking ...

The Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo has issued new practice directives to judges and magistrates in trial courts across the country to be used in determining bail conditions and consequential orders. Per the directive which took effect from November 1, 2019, persons standing surety for accused persons will bear the cost of transportation to inspect their place of residence. It said ...

Overly expensive insulin could be a thing of the past – and life-changing news – for millions of diabetics under a plan launched by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Wednesday to diversify production globally, just ahead of World Diabetes Day. Announcing the initiative in Geneva, the UN agency said that it had already had informal expressions of interest from pharmaceutical ...

Most of the West African migrants who fail to reach Europe eventually return to their own countries, but it can be a bitter homecoming. In Sierra Leone, returnees are often rejected by relatives and friends. They’re seen as failures, and many stole from their families to pay for their journey. Some readers will find this story disturbing Fatmata breaks into ...

A public inquiry into rising cases of sexual and gender-based violence in Nigeria has started in the capital, Abuja. It will gather victims’ accounts and suspected violators’ defenses. This is following a documentary by the BBC’s Africa Eye investigative unit, exposing sexual harassment and misconduct by lecturers at prestigious institutions in West Africa. The BBC sent undercover journalists posing as ...

Government has revealed plans to provide accommodation for head porters or ‘kayayei’ in various parts of Accra. Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, said in the 2020 budget statement in Parliament on Wednesday that the construction of the hostel will begin in December 2019 at Agbogbloshie, a suburb of Accra. “Mr Speaker I am happy to announce that preparations are now complete ...

The government will not introduce any new taxes in the 2020 fiscal year, Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta noted while reading the 2020 budget.  Instead, Ken Ofori-Atta said the government would restructure the tax system and develop a comprehensive revenue policy and strategy to address the challenges of revenue mobilisation. This will involve lending the necessary support to the Ghana Revenue Authority ...

The Mpraeso District Police Command has arrested two suspected armed robbers believed to be part of a notorious gang terrorizing commuters at Kwahu Tafo enclave in the Eastern Region. The suspects -Osumanu Abubakari, 23, and Osumanu Omaru, 22, were arrested upon intelligence that connected them to a recent robbery attack on Adawso to Kotoso road which occurred October 29, 2019. ...

The Eastern Regional Health Directorate continues to grapple with the high maternal mortality despite the roll-out of numerous critical interventions including Passion, Innovation, Commitment, Compassion and Accountability for Maternal and Neonatal Health (PICCAM). Seventy (70) institutional maternal deaths have been recorded so far in the region as at the end of September this year. Out of 49,000 live births, neonatal ...

The Minister of Communications, Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful has stated that the introduction of the Common Platform (CP) monitoring in the telecommunications sector has resulted in a savings of US $1.1 million monthly over the previous contracts. This, the Minister said will result in a total of US$66 million over the 5 year contract period. Additionally, she says unlike the previous ...