Council of State — Ghana's advisory body whose composition has faced calls for reform; currently discussed regarding presidential appointee limits and constitutional vacancy-filling procedures.
… The platform also announced plans to seek meetings with President Mahama, the Speaker of Parliament, leaders of both the Majority and Minority caucuses, the Chairman of the Council of State and leaders of political parties to discuss the way forward for the reform agenda. …
The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has rejected suggestions that former Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo stepped down from the Council of State in protest against the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo. …
… According to him, the Council of State has already been presented with a nominee to replace Mr Tettey and is currently considering the appointment. …
… He disclosed that a nominee has already been submitted to the Council of State for consideration as part of the constitutional process guiding appointments to the Electoral Commission. …
The government has confirmed that processes are underway to replace former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, on the Council of State following her resignation from the advisory body. …
… Friday, June 12, the Platform announced its intention to formally request consultations with key national stakeholders, including the President, the Right Honourable Speaker of Parliament, the leadership of both Majority and Minority caucuses, the Chairman of the Council of State …
Nigerian veteran actor Pete Edochie has been named the first personality outside Ghana to receive King-Dawie Publishing's Legacy Project award, which has previously celebrated Ghanaian creative industry figures including Grace Omaboe, Asamoah Gyan, Fred Amugi and Adjetey Anang. The award recognises his contributions to African cinema as the initiative expands beyond Ghana's borders.
Nigerian veteran actor Pete Edochie has been named the first personality outside Ghana to receive King-Dawie Publishing's Legacy Project award, which has previously celebrated Ghanaian creative industry figures including Grace Omaboe, Asamoah Gyan, Fred Amugi and Adjetey Anang. The award recognises his contributions to African cinema as the initiative expands beyond Ghana's borders.
President John Mahama announced a presidential pardon for 863 convicted persons, but Wontumi's spokesperson said the team has not yet received official confirmation on whether he is among the beneficiaries and will await formal communication from relevant authorities.
President John Dramani Mahama has exercised presidential mercy to pardon 863 convicted persons as part of Ghana's 70th Independence Anniversary commemoration. The pardons include 819 first offenders released outright, 13 prisoners aged 70 and above, 6 seriously ill prisoners, 11 death sentences commuted to life imprisonment, and 6 life sentences commuted to 20 years' definite imprisonment.
President John Dramani Mahama has granted presidential pardon to 863 convicted persons to mark Ghana's 70th Independence Anniversary, exercising the prerogative of mercy under Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution. The beneficiaries include 819 first offenders granted outright release, 13 persons aged 70 and above, six seriously ill persons, 11 persons whose death sentences have been commuted to life imprisonment, and six persons whose life sentences will be commuted to 20 years.
Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, a Council of State member and Patron of the NDC UK and Ireland Chapter's Aldershot Branch, donated $5,000 at the branch's second anniversary fundraising event to support potable water and social intervention projects in Ghana communities.
Three newly inaugurated Supreme Court Judges—Sophia Rosetta Bernasko Essah, Edward Amoako Asante, and Tony Forson—were sworn in by President Mahama at the Presidency. Justice Essah assured on behalf of the judges that they would be independent enough to decide according to law, interpreting and applying it faithfully, impartially, and courageously.
Three newly sworn-in Supreme Court Justices have pledged to discharge their judicial responsibilities with fairness, impartiality and fidelity to the Constitution, promising to decide cases according to law without allowing personal preferences to influence their interpretation.
The Trades Union Congress is calling for reforms to Ghana's Council of State, demanding that the President be allowed to appoint no more than five members. The TUC says the current dominance of presidential appointees undermines the Council's effectiveness and responsiveness to citizens' expectations.
A private citizen has filed a suit at the Supreme Court seeking to compel President Mahama to appoint a former Chief Justice to the Council of State, following the resignation of retired Chief Justice Sophia Akuffo from her ex-officio position. The suit argues that the Constitution requires the President to fill the vacancy and requests the court declare any failure to do so unconstitutional.
A Council of State member representing Volta Region said Ghana lacks linear accelerator (LINAC) equipment for modern radiotherapy and needs investment in advanced medical equipment, skilled professionals, research capacity and institutional management to strengthen cancer treatment. The concern emerged during discussions about a potential research partnership between a diaspora organization and the University of Health and Allied Sciences.
A Council of State member has urged Ghanaians living abroad to contribute professional knowledge, technology and networks to strengthen institutions and create businesses in Ghana, beyond sending money to relatives.
Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, a Council of State member representing the Volta Region, has criticised petty rivalries among traditional leaders and politicians as undermining unity and limiting the region's collective advocacy for development. He urged leaders and residents to put aside differences and work towards common development goals.
Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, a Council of State member representing Volta Region, called for targeted investments that create jobs, transfer skills and technology, and support local businesses. He argued that investment value should be measured by tangible contributions to communities, not merely by the arrival of investors.
The NPP has called for the Chief Justice's immediate resignation, alleging he made partisan political comments during a visit to state institutions, praising their performance and questioning Ghana's progress over the previous eight years.
The Institute of Economic Affairs has opposed the current Council of State composition, which it says effectively allows the President to select his own principal advisers. The IEA backs a Constitutional Review Committee proposal for a 33-member Council with wider institutional and regional representation, though the government rejected the recommendation.
Justice Edward Amoako Asante, appearing before Parliament's Appointments Committee, rejected suggestions that his nomination was influenced by any individual, saying he followed constitutional process and qualifies based on his qualifications and 20+ years as a judge.
The Volta Regional Representative on the Council of State, Dr Gabriel Tanko Kwamigah-Atokple, held discussions with American businessman John P. Rochon and CEO Al Lewis of Catalyst Green LLC on investment opportunities in the region, particularly lithium exploration and other natural resources. Dr Kwamigah-Atokple said his objective was to help translate the region's natural resources into sustainable investments that add value locally rather than exporting raw materials.
Yaw Owusu Obimpeh, a Council of State member for Ashanti Region, has stated that no one is above the law and that friendship with political leaders cannot shield anyone from accountability, responding to Rev. Victor Kusi Boateng's comments about being willing to return to prison rather than abandon his friendship with former Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia.
Ghana's Parliament is considering constitutional changes to remove restrictions preventing dual citizens from holding certain high public offices, even as countries like Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom increasingly enforce rules requiring dual nationals to prioritize their citizenship according to each country's laws. The Council of State has advised against the proposed amendment, raising questions about whether those with legal obligations to other countries should occupy Ghana's highest offices.
An opinion piece argues that ordinary Ghanaians who supplied food items under the Free Senior High School Policy in Q4 2024 are waiting for payment, citing a norm that government pays for fourth-quarter services in the first quarter of the following year. The writer calls for President Mahama to ensure justice for these suppliers.
Ghana's Local Government Minister announced plans to formalise waste transfer loading stations and integrate tricycle waste collectors into the country's long-term sanitation strategy. Five of six designated waste transfer stations in Greater Accra are now operational following President Mahama's directive to intensify waste removal efforts after recent refuse accumulation.
Former NPP National Chairman Paul Afoko has called for the party to resolve internal challenges through reconciliation based on experience and members willingly setting aside past grievances, rather than through simple calls for unity alone.
Former NPP National Chairman Paul Afoko has called on party members to set aside personal grievances and work towards unity, stating that rebuilding cohesion requires members to move beyond past hurts and emotional reactions. He offered himself as an example based on his long association with the party and understanding of its structures and traditions.
Traditional leaders in the Waala State have expressed deep concern over the deteriorating condition of the 109-year-old Wa Municipal Hospital, which serves patients across the Upper West Region. The Medical Superintendent cited severe staff shortages (six doctors instead of 30, two specialists instead of 10), obsolete equipment, lack of surgical capacity, and debts exceeding GH¢5 million, warning the facility is on the verge of collapse.
Mama Atrato II, Queen Mother of Ho-Dome, has alleged that delegates in the Volta Region's Council of State election were paid GH¢5,000 each to vote for particular candidates, and that delegates were transported and accommodated at a hotel in Sogakope. She attributed the Volta Region's slow development to the monetisation of the electoral process over competence.
The Queen Mother of Ho-Dome has expressed optimism that abolishing the delegate system in Council of State elections will enable the election of representatives genuinely committed to Volta Region's development, and address what she sees as the growing influence of money in selecting public office holders.
The government has accepted recommendations from the Constitutional Review Committee to reduce the minimum age qualification for the presidency from 40 to 35 years, amending Article 62(b) of the 1992 Constitution. The author argues this demonstrates confidence in young Ghanaians' capacity for national leadership and challenges age-based perceptions of political fitness.
Ghana's government has accepted a proposal to introduce a citizen-initiative mechanism allowing Ghanaians to propose constitutional amendments, subject to meeting specified support requirements including minimum regional representation and gender-balance requirements. The government is proposing a higher threshold than the Constitution Review Committee recommended, though the article does not specify what threshold the committee proposed.