Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability
Also known as: ACILA
Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability — organization advocating for political finance disclosure reforms across Africa to combat corruption and state capture.
… By William Nyarko The author, William Nyarko, is the Executive Director of the Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z The post Feature: T …
… By William Nyarko *The author is the Executive Director of the Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z The post Article 108: Mahama’s Lega …
… By William Nyarko *The author is the Executive Director of the Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA) For more news, join The Chronicle Newspaper channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBSs55E50UqNPvSOm2z The post Article 108: Mahama’s Lega …
… Unlike allegations concerning parliamentary procedure, Article 108 raises a substantial constitutional question that remains unsettled. *The author, William Nyarko is the Executive Director of the Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability (ACILA)
… ltimately be written not by the President alone, but by the interaction between Parliament, the Presidency and, quite possibly, the High Court and Supreme Court. – The author, William Nyarko, is the Executive Director for the Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability …
A legal practitioner warned at a CDD-Ghana workshop that the increasing monetisation of Ghanaian politics is weakening democratic institutions and allowing wealthy individuals with questionable interests to gain political influence. He called on media to investigate the financial interests behind political campaigns and urged Ghana's political system to promote integrity and commitment to public service over financial resources.
A legal practitioner warned at a CDD-Ghana workshop that the increasing monetisation of Ghanaian politics is weakening democratic institutions and allowing wealthy individuals with questionable interests to gain political influence. He called on media to investigate the financial interests behind political campaigns and urged Ghana's political system to promote integrity and commitment to public service over financial resources.
The POS Foundation's executive director says Ghana's participation in the UN Human Rights Council's Universal Periodic Review has produced tangible changes, including community-sentencing reform; however, significant commitments remain outstanding. He cited the Community Service Bill passed in July 2026 as a legislative outcome stemming from UPR recommendations to address prison overcrowding.
The National Media Commission's Executive Secretary said excessive money in politics could undermine democratic governance and urged the media and public to take interest in campaign financing. CDD-Ghana has developed a model law on political campaign financing for consideration, with participation from representatives of various political parties.
Ghana's Supreme Court ruled that limiting political party primaries to delegates is unconstitutional, requiring parties to expand participation to all members in good standing. The ruling creates an opportunity to reform Ghana's political finance architecture and address the escalating cost of politics, with parties given one year to amend their constitutions.
William Nyarko, Executive Director of ACILA, has advocated for reforms in political finance laws across Africa to require electoral candidates to disclose campaign donations and file financial returns, arguing that the current legal gap enables corruption and state capture.
William Nyarko, Executive Director of the Africa Centre for International Law and Accountability, called for African political finance law reforms requiring electoral candidates to disclose campaign donations and file financial reports, arguing that current legal gaps fuel corruption and state capture.
Niger's military government has formally requested to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, becoming only the third country after Burundi and the Philippines to complete the process, amid concerns that such withdrawals during periods of authoritarian consolidation and human rights allegations leave victims without recourse to international justice.
An opinion piece argues that former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo's resignation from Ghana's Council of State was not publicly disclosed until media reports emerged months later, raising concerns about democratic accountability and whether citizens should be informed when vacancies arise in this constitutional advisory body.
A U.S. immigration court has approved former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta's application for lawful permanent residency, terminating removal proceedings against him. The article notes that permanent residency and extradition are separate legal processes, and the ruling does not preclude Ghana from seeking his extradition.
An opinion piece argues that the quiet resignation of former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo from Ghana's Council of State, announced only months later through media reports, represents a democratic accountability gap: while Council appointments are publicly announced, resignations have been treated as private matters, preventing citizens from knowing whether the constitutional body operates with vacancies or delayed replacements.
An analysis of the U.S. immigration court's decision to grant Ghana's former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta permanent residency clarifies that a green card does not provide immunity from extradition, as immigration and extradition operate under separate legal frameworks. While the ruling grants him international freedom of movement, the Office of the Special Prosecutor maintains that Ghana's extradition protocols remain independent of the immigration decision.
Canadian authorities denied entry to Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey ahead of the nation's World Cup opener against Panama on June 17, sparking legal and diplomatic controversy. Ghana's foreign affairs ministry and football association protested the exclusion of an unconvicted athlete as unfair and discriminatory, while Canada has cited privacy protocols and FIFA deferred to Canada's sovereignty over its borders.
Canadian authorities denied entry to Ghana's midfielder Thomas Partey ahead of the national team's World Cup match against Panama, sparking legal and diplomatic controversy. Ghana's government and football association have protested, arguing the exclusion of an unconvicted athlete violates the Rule of Law, while Canada has cited privacy protocols and FIFA has deferred to Canada's border sovereignty.
President Mahama faces a constitutional choice to assent to or return the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025 to Parliament. Legal experts note that Article 106 of the Constitution may provide grounds for the President to return the bill based on alleged procedural irregularities, though these claims remain contested.
Parliament is expected to transmit the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025 to President Mahama for assent this month. The President may invoke Articles 106 and 108 of the 1992 Constitution to return the bill to Parliament, citing unresolved procedural questions and concerns about whether constitutional and parliamentary procedures were properly followed during its consideration.
Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025 on May 29 and is expected to transmit it to President Mahama this month for assent. The President's strongest constitutional grounds for returning the bill, if he chooses, may rest on procedural concerns under Articles 106 and 108 of the Constitution, though Speaker Alban Bagbin and President Mahama have raised allegations of procedural irregularities that the Majority Chief Whip contests.
Parliament passed the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill on May 29, shifting focus to whether President Mahama will assent to it. Though he indicated during campaigning that he would sign such a bill, his position has become more cautious since taking office; he has suggested alternative approaches like moral education, preferred a government-sponsored bill, and raised concerns about procedural irregularities in the bill's passage.