Category: Daily Guide Network

History reminds us that nations prosper not because opportunities are absent elsewhere, but because they recognize and seize the opportunities before them. Today, Ghana stands at such a crossroads. As global consumers increasingly demand fresh fruits, vegetables and substantially produced horticultural products, our nation possesses every natural advantage to become a leading horticultural hub in Africa.

The numbers tell a compelling story. According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FA0), global trade in tropical fruits reached nearly 11 million tonnes in 2023, driven by rising demand from products such as pineapples, mangoes, avocados and papayas. These products command premium prices and generate substantial export earnings and employment across producing countries.

Ghana is uniquely positioned to benefit from this expanding market. Blessed with fertile soils, favourable climatic conditions and year-round production potential, our country already produces internationally recognised pineapples, bananas, mangoes, coconuts, vegetables and other horticultural crops. Yet, despite this enormous potential, we are still exporting only a fraction of what the global market is prepared to buy.

This is not because Ghana lacks capable farmers or visionary entrepreneurs. On the contrary, our producers continue to demonstrate remarkable resilience despite climate variability, inadequate irrigation, post-harvest losses, limited cold-chain infrastructure and constrained access to affordable finance. Every successful export shipment leaving our ports represents the determination of thousands of hardworking Ghanaians who believe agriculture remains one of the surest pathways to national prosperity.

The opportunity before us is enormous. A strategic Assessment by the World Bank concluded that with targeted investments in production, logistics, quality standards and market access, Ghana’s horticultural exports could generate US$250 million annually while creating more than 20,000 direct jobs across farming, processing, transportation, and export services. These are not merely statistics; they represent livelihoods for families, opportunities for our youth and stronger foreign exchange earnings for our economy.

The future of Ghana’s horticultural industry will therefore depend not on potential alone, but on purposeful collaboration. Government must continue creating an enabling policy environment. Financial institutions must recognize agriculture as a bankable investment. Development partners must deepen technical support. Researchers must continue driving innovation, while exporters and producers work together to meet the highest international standards of quality, traceability and sustainability.

At the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), we firmly believe that horticulture is more than an agricultural sector, it is a strategic economic pillar capable of accelerating industrialization, enhancing food security, creating dignified employment and strengthening Ghana’s position in global trade. It is against this background that FAGE proudly invites investors, policymakers, exporters, development partners, researchers, students and public to participate in the Ghana International Horticulture Expo 2026, scheduled for 5-7 September 2026 at the Palms Convention Center, La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Accra. More than an Exhibition, the Expo is a national platform where ideas will become investments, partnerships will become businesses, and innovation will become the engine of Ghana’s horticultural transformation. It is where the future of our industry will be shaped.

The seeds have already been planted. The world is waiting. Now is the time for Ghana to grow, compete and lead.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has urged the government to appoint the boards of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) strictly on merit as part of efforts to strengthen corporate governance and reduce growing fiscal risks.

In its latest country report on Ghana, the Fund stressed that stronger governance and oversight of SOEs are critical because many of the enterprises continue to record losses while their rising liabilities place increasing pressure on the government’s finances.

The IMF also called for the timely submission of audited financial statements by SOEs to improve transparency, accountability and effective monitoring of their financial performance.

According to the report, the government should undertake a comprehensive review of its SOE portfolio to determine which entities should remain under state ownership and focus oversight on those of strategic national importance.

‘A strategic review of the SOE portfolio is necessary to reassess the rationale for state ownership and concentrate oversight on strategically important entities,’ the report stated.

The Fund further highlighted weaknesses in the country’s tax administration, noting that low tax compliance continues to undermine domestic revenue mobilisation.

It observed that although the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has introduced digital tools to improve tax collection, significant compliance gaps remain due to structural weaknesses, limited use of risk-based compliance measures and operational inefficiencies.

The report identified delays in the partially digitalised Value Added Tax (VAT) refund process as one of the factors affecting the efficiency of revenue administration.

The IMF also called for further reforms to strengthen the public financial management (PFM) systems in order to consolidate the gains made under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) programme.

It recommended expanding the coverage of the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS) to all central government entities, ensuring full utilisation of the integrated GIFMIS and Ghana Electronic Procurement System (GHANEPS) platforms, enforcing competitive procurement practices instead of relying on single-source contracts, and achieving full visibility over government accounts to operationalise an effective Treasury Single Account (TSA).

On public investment, the IMF said stronger project planning and appraisal systems are needed as the government increases capital expenditure.

It noted that the 2025 Public Investment Management Assessment (PIMA) revealed persistent weaknesses in project appraisal and selection, and urged the government to ensure that all capital projects included in the national budget comply with the appraisal and selection procedures required under existing laws.

THE General Overseer of Open Arms Ministry in Kumasi, Saint Sark, has accused some Ghanaian prophets of misleading the public with false prophecies about football matches, both in Ghana and abroad, insisting that God does not reveal the outcomes of football games.

According to him, the numerous failed predictions made by some prophets over the years, particularly during the just-ended 2026 FIFA World Cup, have brought embarrassment to the church and damaged the credibility of Christianity in Ghana.

Speaking to journalists in Kumasi, Saint Sark disclosed that before the World Cup he had appealed to the media not to give publicity to football-related prophecies because God has no interest in football matches.

‘Before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, I warned journalists not to entertain these so-called prophets because our God does not involve Himself in football. Unfortunately, what we witnessed was another series of shameful and misleading prophecies that never came to pass,’ he stated.

He stressed that the problem goes beyond the FIFA World Cup, explaining that some prophets regularly claim to receive divine revelations about local league matches, international football competitions and other sporting events.

According to him, such predictions have repeatedly failed and only serve to mislead football fans while bringing the Christian faith into disrepute.

The outspoken preacher also criticised the Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, for visiting some churches during the World Cup, saying the move projected the wrong image.

‘I questioned why the Sports Minister went to some churches. That action brought shame upon the Ghanaian Christian community,’ he stressed.

Saint Sark maintained that ministers genuinely called by God should devote themselves to preaching the gospel instead of predicting the outcomes of football matches.

‘It saddens me that some men of God have abandoned the preaching of the gospel and are rather using their pulpits to make vain prophecies about football. This undermines the glory of God,’ he said.

He argued that God does not contradict Himself, wondering why different prophets often claim to receive different revelations about the same football match.

‘The most annoying part is that different prophets predict different scorelines for the same match, yet each claims God revealed it to them. How can God contradict Himself? Such prophecies only bring shame to the Body of Christ,’ he stated.

Saint Sark further claimed that football predictions fuel gambling, which he said is contrary to Christian teachings.

‘Football has become closely associated with gambling, and God does not endorse gambling. Therefore, prophets who predict football results are only encouraging betting,’ he asserted.

He, therefore, urged church leaders and the media to stop giving publicity to individuals who use prophecy to gain attention and instead encourage ministers of the gospel to focus on preaching messages that transform lives, promote unity and preserve the integrity of the Christian faith.

His comments come amid growing public debate over football-related prophecies after several predictions made by some Ghanaian prophets during the 2026 FIFA World Cup failed to materialise, rekindling concerns about the increasing trend of using football matches-both local and international-as subjects of prophetic declarations.

The Ghana Standards Authority’s decision to enforce the Pre-Export Verification of Conformity programme for used vehicles from October 1, 2026, is a step in the right direction.

Ghana cannot continue to accept vehicles with severe structural damage, flood histories, fire damage or questionable origins simply because they can be purchased cheaply. Under the new programme, imported used vehicles must comply with Ghana Standard GS 4510 before shipment. Vehicles more than 10 years old, originally manufactured as right-hand drive, assembled from spare parts or carrying major structural damage will not qualify.

The intention is sound. Ghana needs a safer, better-regulated and more transparent automotive market. Consumers deserve protection from ‘Painty na mi ntor’ vehicles that may look attractive after cosmetic repairs but have compromised chassis, safety cages, electrical systems or crash protection.

However, describing the policy as the solution that will make ‘everything else fall into place’ oversimplifies the challenge.

An automotive industry is an ecosystem. Regulation is only one component. Affordability, vehicle financing, taxation, local assembly, after-sales support, technical skills, roadworthiness enforcement and consumer education must all work together.

Vehicle age is not the same as vehicle condition

The proposed 10-year limit is easy to administer, but age alone is not always an accurate measure of safety or quality.

A properly maintained 12-year-old vehicle with a complete service history may be in better condition than a neglected six-year-old vehicle with hidden accident damage. The new pre-export inspection system is therefore potentially more important than the age limit itself.

Inspections must be detailed enough to identify flood damage, poor structural repairs, tampered identification numbers and compromised safety systems. At the same time, vehicles with minor and professionally repairable damage should not automatically be treated like dangerous salvage vehicles. The GSA has indicated that repairable vehicles may still be accepted where they can be restored to roadworthy condition.

The objective should be to keep unsafe vehicles out, not simply to keep old vehicles out.

Make room for special-interest vehicles

The policy also needs a clearly defined exemption for special-interest vehicles.

Classic, vintage, exotic, enthusiast and motorsport vehicles do not belong in the same category as ordinary ageing commuter vehicles imported primarily because they are cheap. Mr. Osei Kwame Despite should still be able to bring in cars for The Despite Automotive Museum.

A well-preserved classic Mercedes-Benz, a historic Volkswagen, a limited-production Ferrari, an enthusiast Japanese performance car or a purpose-built competition vehicle may be more than 10 years old by definition. Some may be several decades old.

These vehicles are imported in very small numbers. They do not pose a serious threat to local vehicle assembly, nor do they significantly affect the average age of Ghana’s daily transport fleet. On the contrary, they support automotive heritage, tourism, car shows, specialist restoration businesses, motorsport and technical education.

There should therefore be a controlled collector and competition vehicle category covering:

Classic and vintage vehicles of recognised historical interest, limited-production exotic vehicles, enthusiast vehicles with verifiable provenance, and vehicles imported specifically for sanctioned motorsport, exhibitions or museums.

This should not become a loophole for importing ordinary worn-out vehicles. Applicants must provide documentation, undergo strict inspection and satisfy all applicable structural and roadworthiness requirements. The exemption should apply to the age restriction, not to safety. Some of these vehicles do not need to be registered to run on the streets anyway.

Enforcement must not create another bottleneck

The greatest test of this policy will not be the announcement. It will be its implementation.

Pre-export inspections must be rigorous, independent and consistent across exporting countries. Inspection companies must be accredited, regularly audited and held accountable for vehicles they certify.

The process must also be transparent. Importers should know the applicable fees, documentation requirements, inspection timelines and appeals process before purchasing or shipping a vehicle.

Without these safeguards, the system could create delays, uncertainty and discretionary power. Those conditions often produce unofficial payments and corruption.

Ghana must avoid building a certification process in which vehicles technically comply with the rules but are delayed because someone has not been ‘seen’, while genuinely non-compliant vehicles find their way through the system because someone knows the right person.

Certification records should be digital and verifiable. Fees should be published. Decisions should be traceable. There should also be a clear appeals mechanism for disputed inspections.

The planned Vehicle Dealer Information System, which is expected to connect information held by the GSA, DVLA, insurers, Interpol and security agencies, could significantly improve traceability if implemented properly.

Local assembly must offer a realistic alternative

Restrictions on older used vehicles cannot be discussed separately from Ghana’s local assembly programme.

The Ghana Automotive Development Policy was designed not only to improve vehicle standards but also to establish a competitive automotive industry, create skilled employment and introduce asset-based financing to make locally assembled vehicles affordable.

However, the removal of the VAT exemption for locally assembled vehicles at the beginning of 2026 has weakened that affordability objective. Industry players say exposing locally assembled vehicles to the effective 20 per cent VAT charge has made their products less competitive and slowed production.

It sends a mixed signal to restrict the affordable end of the used-vehicle market while simultaneously removing an incentive that helped locally assembled new vehicles compete.

Local assembly should not be protected merely for the sake of putting vehicles together in Ghana. Assemblers must be encouraged to deepen local content, develop skills, create sustainable jobs and gradually move from basic assembly towards meaningful manufacturing.

In return, government must provide stable, predictable support that enables these companies to offer vehicles at prices ordinary businesses and households can realistically afford.

No one should be buying a new car with cash in 2026

This may sound provocative, but the point is simple: in a modern automotive economy, vehicle ownership should not depend almost entirely on whether a buyer can raise the full purchase price at once.

Ghana needs a government-supported, privately operated vehicle leasing and asset-financing system with strong local participation.

Banks, pension funds, insurance companies, local investors, assemblers and authorised dealers should be able to participate in a properly regulated leasing market. Buyers should have access to transparent monthly payments, fair interest rates, clear ownership terms and reliable insurance.

The government does not necessarily have to buy cars for people. Its role should be to reduce risk, establish the legal framework, support credit guarantees where appropriate and encourage long-term local funding.

Leasing could give households and businesses access to newer, safer and more efficient vehicles without requiring huge upfront cash payments. It would also create a dependable market for locally assembled vehicles, support fleet renewal and improve maintenance because leased vehicles are usually subject to scheduled servicing and insurance requirements.

The Auto Policy itself already recognises the importance of asset-based financing. That part of the policy must now move from paper to reality.

A good policy must balance three interests

Ghana is right to improve the quality of vehicles entering the country. We should not become a dumping ground for flood-damaged, dangerously repaired or structurally compromised vehicles.

But a successful automotive policy must balance three interests: safety, affordability and industrial development.

Ignore safety and consumers suffer. Ignore affordability and citizens are priced out of mobility. Ignore local industry and Ghana remains permanently dependent on imports.

The 10-year restriction and pre-export inspection programme can become important parts of a stronger automotive sector. But they require careful refinement, firm and transparent supervision, special provisions for legitimate collector and motorsport vehicles, renewed support for local assembly and a credible vehicle-leasing system.

The objective should not simply be to make it more difficult for Ghanaians to buy older cars.

It should be to make it easier for them to acquire better cars.

Lawyers representing former Chief Executive Officer of National Food Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba as well as former Director-General of National Signals Bureau (NSB), Kwabena Adu-Boahene, and two others, have written to the Chief Justice protesting the decision to conduct their trials during the legal vacation.

The lawyers contend that the decision to continue the trial of the two former appointees of the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) government is unprecedented and discriminatory.

They also point out the enormous toll this decision will take on them, having worked throughout the legal year, and their clients who have had to attended court throughout the period.

To this end, the lawyers have indicated their inability to comply with what they describe as unconstitutional directive to conduct part-heard cases during the legal vacation.

Hanan Trial

Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, are standing trial for allegedly causing financial loss of GHS62.6 million to the state.

The trial has not commenced yet as the court had just completed preliminary proceedings, including case management and interlocutory applications brought on behalf of the accused persons.

There is currently an appeal against the trial court’s decision to dismiss an application which urged it to strike out the charge sheet for being defective and not disclosing enough information as to the alleged crimes charged.

The lawyers have filed for a stay of proceedings pending the determination of the appeal.

On July 30, 2026, the court, presided over by Justice Francis Achibonga, adjourned the case to August 11 and 12, 2026 for the trial to start.

‘The judge further stated that he was just a ‘servant’ mandated by you to sit in the vacation for the conduct of the trial and therefore, a party who had an issue with it should take it up with you, His Lordship the Chief Justice,’ Godfred Yeboah Dame, counsel for Mr. Aludiba, indicated in his letter to the Chief Justice.

According to him, the warrant for Justice Achibonga to commence the hearing during the legal vacation without the consent of the parties in the matter, is irregular and contrary to law.

He pointed out that there is no urgency to this matter as the accused persons were arraigned before the court only on May 5, 2026, after earlier charges were withdrawn by the Republic through no fault of theirs.

Mr. Dame says he and his colleagues from Dame and Partners, having worked throughout the legal year, are not in the position to attend court in the vacation for the conduct of the trial, as they ‘will take advantage of the legal vacation to attend to many matters of immense importance (as all lawyers around the country do in the legal vacation).’

He further pointed out that Mr. Aludiba and his wife, who were denied the opportunity to take their child, who is suffering from a severe medical condition, out of the county for medical attention, would like to use the legal year to seek medical care for their child.

‘Respectfully, the directive for Justice Achibonga to sit in the legal vacation is unprecedented and may hint at discriminatory treatment,’ the letter said.

The letter added that the handpicking of a few criminal cases from among the many hundreds of criminal cases around the Greater Accra Region for hearing in the vacation may unnecessarily expose the Chief Justice to accusations of unfair and discriminatory treatment.

‘We humbly submit that the fact that our clients, who are politically exposed, are accused of crimes (which they vehemently deny) allegedly committed as a result of their previous political exposure, is no justification for a different set of laws, rules and regulations to be applied for the conduct of their trial.’

Adu-Boahene, 2 Others

Samuel Atta-Akyea, counsel for Adu-Boahene and his wife, in a separate letter to the Chief Justice, alleged the existence of ‘two criminal justice delivery systems’ – the track that has been set by the Chief Justice to hurry justice pertaining to some ‘special criminal cases’ programmed before specialised courts vis-à-vis the second track where criminal cases travel their normal course and never in an ambulance mode.

It said the legal vacation has long been a period for both lawyers and judges to rest after an exhaustive year and to recuperate for the year ahead, and the directive to conduct the trial in the legal vacation will throw in disarray all the private personal engagements and travel plans of the members of his law firm.

‘With respect, this directive to continue with the part-heard trial risks exposing Your Lordship to claims of selective justice. Numerous other cases of repute, both criminal and civil, have been placed at a standstill by the legal vacation and adjourned to October and November 2026, to afford both judges and lawyers rest during the vacation,’ the letter said.

The letter urged the Chief Justice to reconsider the directive and withdraw the warrant, with the hearing days vacated and the case adjourned to abide term-time in a manner consistent with the treatment afforded other pending cases.

A driver and his mate are receiving treatment at the Nyinahin Government Hospital after sustaining serious injuries in a road crash at Adiembra in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region.

The two men were travelling in a tipper truck that reportedly lost control, veered off the road and crashed, leaving both occupants with severe injuries.

The Assembly Member for the Adiembra Electoral Area, Ibrahim Issahak, who confirmed the incident, said residents and other road users rushed to the scene and rescued the victims before they were transported to the Nyinahin Government Hospital for emergency treatment.

According to him, medical personnel attending to the victims indicated that they were responding to treatment but remained under close observation due to the severity of their injuries.

Mr. Issahak expressed concern over the increasing number of road crashes on that stretch of the road, describing it as an accident hotspot.

He appealed to the government to take urgent steps to improve road safety by installing warning signs and implementing other measures to reduce accidents in the area.

Police officers visited the scene shortly after the crash and have commenced investigations to determine its cause. The damaged vehicle has since been towed from the scene.

The latest incident adds to the growing number of road accidents recorded in the Atwima Mponua District in recent months, prompting renewed calls from road safety advocates for motorists to exercise greater caution, particularly when travelling on rural roads.

The Northern Regional Police Command, has commenced investigations into the death of two females whose bodies were found in a room at Cab Hospitality Hotel, located in the Gbewa Residential Area of Tamale in the Northern region.

A statement signed by the Northern Regional Police Commander, DCOP Wisdom Lavoe, indicated that following a report from the hotel management, Police proceeded to the scene where the bodies of the two females believed to be Benin nationals were found.

He stated that the bodies have since been conveyed to the Tamale Teaching Hospital Mortuary for preservation and a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death.

DCOP Lavoe, disclosed that preliminary investigations have commenced to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths, identify the deceased persons, and liaise with the relevant authorities to facilitate contact with their families.

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has deployed a special team of Investigators, Intelligence Officers and a Crime Scene Team from the National Police Headquarters to assist the Northern Regional Police Command with the investigations.

The Northern Regional Police Command has urged the public with credible information to report to the nearest Police Station.

The Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) has banned two Port Health officers from working at the Accra International Airport and all other airports under its management after they were caught extorting money from a passenger, in the first major disciplinary action under its renewed crackdown on corruption at the country’s airports.

The officers, who were stationed at Terminal 3 of the Accra International Airport, were found on August 5 to have charged a foreign passport holder US$40 for a Yellow Fever Card instead of the approved US$20 fee.

In a statement issued yesterday, GACL announced that the officers’ identification cards had been withdrawn and deactivated, effectively barring them from operating at any airport managed by the company.

‘As of Thursday, August 6, 2026, the two officers are no longer permitted to work at Accra International Airport or any other GACL-operated airport,’ the statement said.

The sanctions come barely 24 hours after GACL unveiled a raft of measures aimed at eliminating extortion and other unethical practices at the country’s airports.

The latest action is the first known enforcement measure following a stakeholder meeting convened by GACL on August 5 to address what it described as the ‘unacceptable practice of extortion (begging)’ by personnel operating within airport facilities.

At the meeting, stakeholders agreed to introduce a ‘mystery shopping’ initiative, under which undercover operatives will monitor service delivery and identify officials who demand or receive unauthorised payments from passengers.

The company also announced a ‘name and shame’ policy intended to expose officers found engaging in extortion as part of efforts to deter misconduct and strengthen accountability.

According to GACL, personnel found culpable will face disciplinary sanctions and will no longer be allowed to work at any airport or within airport premises.

In a related development, the company disclosed that it had taken note of a viral video showing a Ghana Immigration Service officer allegedly demanding money for ‘breakfast’ from a traveller.

GACL said the Ghana Immigration Service had confirmed that the officer featured in the video had since been transferred from the airport.

The company stressed that the latest sanctions underscore its commitment to enforcing a zero-tolerance policy on extortion and warned that surveillance and enforcement measures would continue across all airports under its management.

‘Everyone is being watched,’ the statement cautioned.

As part of efforts to improve passenger experience and protect Ghana’s aviation reputation, GACL has also established a dedicated public reporting hotline through which travellers can report incidents of extortion and misconduct.

It urged passengers to support the campaign by reporting any officials who solicit unauthorised payments, adopting the slogan: ‘Spot it. Record it. Report it.’

Hundreds of supporters of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) yesterday marched to the Jubilee House and, after a brief standoff over protocol, presented a petition to President John Dramani Mahama under protest, accusing the government of undermining democracy, abusing state power and selectively administering justice.

The protest, dubbed ‘Democracy Under Attack’, saw party supporters dressed in red and black march through the principal streets of Accra, chanting party songs and carrying placards with messages, including ‘Two judges, two sets of laws in Ghana’, ‘Stop the abuse of power’, ‘Courts are for justice, not political revenge’, and ‘Stop criminalising free speech.’

The presentation of the petition was briefly delayed after NPP leaders objected to the government’s decision to assign a Presidential Staffer, Nana Yaa Jantuah, to receive it on behalf of President Mahama.

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, insisted that a petition presented by senior officials of the largest opposition party, including himself and the party’s General Secretary, deserved to be received by a senior government official.

Describing the arrangement as disrespectful, Mr. Afenyo-Markin initially declined to present the petition but later agreed in the interest of democracy. He subsequently designated the party’s Deputy National Youth Organiser, Sandra Sarkodie-Addo, to hand over the document to Nana Yaa Jantuah.

Presenting the petition, Mr. Afenyo-Markin cautioned the government against using state institutions to persecute political opponents, stressing that political power is temporary.

‘We are saying democracy is under attack, and let us all take steps as players in the governance structure to correct it and make Ghana a better place,’ he stated.

He added that assigning only Nana Yaa Jantuah to receive the petition amounted to disrespect for the NPP.

‘Without prejudice to your person, to nominate only you to come amounts to disrespecting us as a political party,’ he remarked.

The protest march drew several prominent figures within the NPP, including the General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong; the Deputy General Secretary, Haruna Mohammed; former National Chairman, Freddie Blay; National Organiser, Henry Nana Boakye; former Works and Housing Minister, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah; former Deputy Finance Minister, Abena Osei Asare; former Abuakwa South MP, Samuel Atta Akyea; former National Lottery Authority Chief Executive and MP for Akuapem North, Sammy Awuku; former Deputy Health Minister, Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye; and Weija-Gbawe MP and Minority Whip Jerry Ahmed Shaib.

Before arriving at the Jubilee House, the demonstrators had presented separate petitions to the Supreme Court and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), raising concerns over what they described as growing threats to judicial independence and the rule of law.

Responding on behalf of the Presidency, Nana Yaa Jantuah explained that senior government officials were unavailable because they were participating in activities marking the first anniversary of the military helicopter crash that claimed the lives of several government officials and security personnel. She also urged all political actors to operate within the country’s laws.

Addressing supporters after the petition was presented, Mr. Afenyo-Markin accused the Mahama administration of abandoning major campaign promises, including the proposed 24-Hour Economy, job creation initiatives and the ‘Nkoko Nkitinkiti’ programme.

Instead, he alleged, the government had shifted its focus to pursuing members of the opposition through weaponisation of state institutions.

He cited the imprisonment of the NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, as an example of what he described as political persecution and questioned the circumstances surrounding the case.

The Minority Leader further accused EOCO of imposing excessive bail conditions on opposition figures by demanding properties worth millions of cedis before granting bail.

In the petition, the NPP demanded that the Attorney General publish a comprehensive account of all criminal cases involving persons affiliated with the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) that had been discontinued, withdrawn or otherwise terminated since January 2025, together with the reasons for those decisions.

According to the party, such disclosure is necessary to promote transparency, accountability and fairness in the administration of justice.

‘Without a doubt, our democracy is under siege. The 1992 Constitution, for which so many sacrificed, is being hollowed out before our very eyes, and all well-meaning Ghanaians, irrespective of political affiliation, ethnicity or creed, must rise to defend it,’ Mr. Afenyo-Markin declared.

He thanked party supporters for their massive turnout and conveyed appreciation from the NPP’s flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and the National Council, saying the demonstration had shown that the party remained united and capable of mobilising despite being in opposition.

He urged members to remain united and work towards recapturing political power in the 2028 general election.

Actor and New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporter, Prince David Osei, has thrown his support behind the party’s ‘Democracy Under Attack’ demonstration, saying the voices of Ghanaians cannot be silenced.

Ahead of the protest, which was held on Wednesday, August 6, Prince David Osei took to social media to call for what he described as true democracy, urging citizens to stand up for their constitutional rights.

‘Our voices will never be silenced. We are not afraid. True democracy is what we seek as a nation – enough of the intimidation and arrests of citizens for exercising their constitutional rights. Ghana, wake up! Stand up for justice, freedom and the principles that unite us,’ he wrote.

The demonstration attracted scores of NPP supporters, sympathisers and party executives from across the country, who marched through the principal streets of Accra from the vicinity of the Supreme Court to the Jubilee House.

Protesters carried placards bearing inscriptions such as ‘Democracy Is Not a Crime,’ ‘Free Our TikTokers,’ and ‘Hostel Fees Are Too Much,’ as they expressed concerns over what they described as undemocratic practices by the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

According to the NPP, the demonstration was organised to defend the rule of law, constitutional governance and democratic accountability. The party said the protest was also intended to highlight what it considers growing threats to Ghana’s democratic principles under the current administration.

The NPP further stated that the demonstration forms part of its campaign against what it describes as political persecution, selective justice and the abuse of state institutions.

Among the issues raised by the party was the acquittal and discharge of former Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) Chief Executive Officer, Sedina Tamakloe Attionu, which it said raised concerns about the consistency and impartiality of the justice system.

The party also protested what it described as the arbitrary arrest, detention and harassment of some of its members by state investigative and security agencies, arguing that the actions were politically motivated and intended to intimidate the opposition.