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Ntim Fordjour: Let’s Stop Politicising Tribal Conflicts

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Rev John Ntim Fordjour

Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South in the Central Region and the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, has urged political leaders to refrain from politicising tribal conflicts, warning that such actions only deepen divisions and worsen insecurity.

In a statement Posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday, September 4, 2025 Rev. Ntim Fordjour drew attention to the escalating violence in Gbinyiri in the Savannah Region, where the death toll has reportedly climbed to 31, with some 48,000 people displaced.

Rev. John Ntim Fordjour said “the Gbinyiri conflict in Savannah Region recorded death toll rises to 31 with 48,000 displaced. You see why it is dangerous to politicise tribal conflicts? Now your own backyard is sadly in crisis. Let’s say NO to politicising tribal conflicts. Let’s all pray for calm in Gbinyiri and Bawku.”

The comment comes as national concern mounts over renewed outbreak of violence in northern Ghana, particularly in Bawku, where long-standing tensions have frequently erupted into deadly clashes.

Rev. Ntim Fordjour stressed that peacebuilding, not partisanship, must remain the focus if lives are to be saved and displaced communities restored.

Mahama receives special message from Senegalese President

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President John Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has received a special message from Senegal’s President Diomaye Faye, delivered by the Senegalese Minister for Pan-African Integration and Foreign Affairs, Madam Yassine Fall.

A statement issued by the Presidency said the message included an invitation for President Mahama to deliver the keynote address at a special event scheduled for September 26, 2025.

President Mahama lauded the longstanding ties between Ghana and Senegal, recalling the two nations’ leadership in advancing Pan-Africanism.

“Ghana and Senegal have been at the forefront of Pan-Africanism and anything that has to do with the African personality in the struggle,” he said.

“Currently, we are the champions of reparations, and we need to continue to tell the story of how Africa was raided by countries that called themselves developed.

“It is on the back of Africa that they rode to become what they are. So, if genocide in the Second World War deserves reparations, slavery was far worse. More people died in slavery than during the Second World War.”

On behalf of President Faye, Madam Fall extended condolences to the President and the people of Ghana over the loss of eight citizens, including senior government officials, in the August 6, 2025, helicopter crash.

She also lauded President Mahama’s sterling leadership on the continent.

Present at the meeting were Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Presidential Advisor and Special Aide to the President, Joyce Bawah Mogtari.

GNA

Bawumia begins campaign tour in Ashanti Region

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RICHARD OWUSU-AKYAW
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Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential hopeful, Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia will begin an extensive campaign tour in the Ashanti Region from September 10 to 12, 2025.

The three-day engagement is aimed at rallying party delegates, strengthening the NPP base and outlining his vision ahead of the party’s crucial presidential primary, scheduled for January 31, 2026.

The campaign will span seven operational zones within the Ashanti Region, including Adansi, Amansie, Asante Akim, Sekyere-Kumawu, AfigyaKwabre, Mampong-Nsuta, Ahafo and Atwima, as well as Kumasi Zones 1 & 2.

At each stop, Dr. Bawumia will meet with regional and constituency executives, Members of Parliament, former MMDCEs and CEOs, the Regional Council of Elders and past party executives. He is expected to formally inform these key stakeholders of his intention to contest the upcoming primary

The tour begins on Wednesday with visits to the Adansi, Amansie and Asante Akim zones. On Thursday, he will continue with engagements in the Sekyere Effiduase-Kumawu, Nsuta-Mampong and Afigya Kwabre zones. The final day will cover Ahafo, Atwima and the two Kumasi zones.

Sources close to the campaign say the former Vice President will emphasise unity, peace and reconciliation throughout his meetings, calling on members to work together to strengthen the party ahead of the 2028 general elections.

Following this preliminary tour, Dr. Bawumia is expected to intensify his grassroots engagements with visits to Electoral Area Coordinators and polling station executives, who form the backbone of the NPP’s organisational machinery.

Mechanic jailed 10 years for robbery

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Jailed

The Ashaiman Circuit Court has sentenced Prosper Adjetey, an 18-year-old motor mechanic to 10 years in prison, with hard labour for robbery.

Prosper was sentenced by the court, presided over by Her Highness Priscilla Sophia Yeboah, after pleading guilty to the charge of robbery.

The court heard that on August 26, 2025 at about 21:30 hours, the complainant, Ms Gifty Dzomenor, a factory hand worker, was returning from Blessed Clemetina Church Middle East, Ashaiman, to the Ashaiman main lorry station to board a bus to her destination.

The facts stated that whilst walking, she received a call on her Infinix mobile phone, valued at GHC 1,900and indicated that upon reaching a section of the road, around Queens Hotel, she saw the accused trekking towards her.

It added that as she was about to put her mobile phone into her handbag, the accused forcibly snatched it from her hand and was about to bolt, when the complainant quickly held onto his shirt and struggled with him.

Adjetey dragged the complainant into a gutter, where he overpowered her and was about to escape from the scene with the mobile phone, but the complainant raised an alarm, leading to him being apprehended by a mob, who nearly lynched him, but for the timely intervention of the police patrol team, he was rescued and sent to the police station.

GNA

Mason convicted for stealing GH¢185,885 worth of construction items

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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A court gavel

A Circuit Court sitting in Dansoman and presided over by Her Honour Basilia Adjei-Tawiah has convicted a 29-year-old mason, Justice Armah, for his role in a high-value theft, involving construction materials and household items totalling GH¢185,885.00.

Justice Armah pleaded guilty on two counts – Conspiracy to commit a crime and stealing, under the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).

Although convicted, his sentencing has been deferred and he has been remanded into custody, pending further direction from the court.

According to Chief Inspector Christopher Wonder, who prosecuted the case, the complainant, Mr. Frederick Adjei Browne of Weija-Accra, owns a six-bedroom apartment under construction at 21 Pineapple Street, La-Nkwantan-Accra.

Justice Armah, who was in charge of the site, allegedly took advantage of the complainant’s absence since May 2025 and conspired with another suspect, John Taylor, currently at large, to steal several items from the construction site.

Items reported stolen include -10 tons of iron rods (22mm, 16mm, 14mm, 10mm), nine beams of iron rods, two iron rod mats, eight wheelbarrows and 10 shovels.

The rest are three plastic chairs, cooking utensils and a pestle and mortar. All stolen items are valued at GH¢185,885.00.

Investigations revealed that Justice Armah sold the stolen items to Adamu Seini, a 22-year-old scrap dealer, who then allegedly resold some of the items to Emmanuel Terka Yaw, a 41-year-old metal arc welder, residing at Oyibi.

The court issued a Bench Warrant for the immediate arrest of John Taylor (at large) ,while it remanded Adamu Seini (A3) after pleading not guilty to dishonestly receiving stolen property (Count 3).

The Fourth accused (A4), Emmanuel Terka Yaw, was granted bail of GH¢60,000 with two sureties – one must be justified and the second must be a public servant earning not less than GH¢3,000 monthly.

He is to report to the CID every other Friday

Prosecution’s Case

The prosecution stated that after Justice Armah sold the stolen items to Adamu Seini, the latter in turn sold iron rods valued at GH¢172,500 to Emmanuel Terka Yaw at a significantly lower price of GH¢4,000.

The complainant, acting on gathered intelligence, reported the matter to the police, leading to Armah’s arrest and subsequent confession implicating Seini and Yaw.

All accused persons reportedly admitted their involvement during police investigations. The matter continues as the court proceeds with the trials of Seini and Yaw.

Teacher in GH¢294K, US$3.5K Visa Scam

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BERNICE BESSEY
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Dansoman Circuit Court

A 48-year-old teacher, Elijah Phinehas Ayitey Okine, has been arraigned before the Dansoman Circuit Court for allegedly defrauding five individuals, including a mobile money vendor and a couple, of a total sum of GH¢294,000 and US$3,500 under the pretence of securing them Canadian visas and work permits.

Elijah Okine, who allegedly conspired with one Eugene Oppong, who is currently at large and believed to be in Finland, pleaded not guilty to five counts of defrauding by false pretence and one count of conspiracy to commit crime.

According to Prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Kwadwo Aboagye, between 2023 and 2024 the accused persons allegedly presented themselves as facilitators of Canadian visa and job placements.

They targeted their victims, mostly residents of Abeka-Lapaz and Akweteyman, through their association with MAB International Nursing School atDarkuman, where Okine was a teacher.

The victims, identified as Lydia Ofori, a mobile money vendor, Doreen OseiAppiah, businesswoman, Dorothy Eunson Ofori, businesswoman and Mr.&Mrs. Nicholas Bassel, a nurse and electrician respectively were each convinced to pay significant sums to secure Canadian travel documents.

Each of the first three complainants allegedly paid GH¢90,000 while the couple paid US$3,500 and GH¢24,000.

Payments were made through a GTBank account under the name Reliance Frontier Ltd, which police traced to Oppong, the absconded co-conspirator.

After failing to fulfil their promise and going into hiding, Okine and Oppong became unreachable.

The victims, frustrated and stranded in their dashed hopes of migrating, lodged a complaint with the police on August 4, 2025.

Okine was later lured out of hiding by undercover investigators posing as new clients seeking similar visa assistance.

He was arrested upon surfacing and reportedly confessed during interrogation that he had indeed collected the monies, but claimed to have handed them over to Oppong, who has since relocated to Finland.

Court Proceedings

On Friday, Her Honour BasiliaAdjei-Tawiah, presiding over the Dansoman Circuit Court, granted bail to the accused, in the sum of GH¢80,000 with two sureties, both of whom must be justified.

As part of his bail conditions, Okine is to deposit all travel documents, including his passport, with the court registry and report to the case investigator every Friday until further notice.

Charges

The accused faces the following charges under the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29):

Count One: Conspiracy to Commit Crime – Defrauding by False Pretence (Section 23(1) and 131(1))

Counts Two to Five: Defrauding by False Pretence (Section 131(1)) — involving specific complainants and the fraudulent sums collected under false promises

The case has been adjourned to allow for further investigations while efforts are underway to track and repatriate Oppong from Finland.

Police investigators confirmed that the case is still under active investigation and encouraged any additional victims who may have fallen prey to similar schemes to come forward.

Editorial: AMA Must Revisit New Property Rate Increments

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

The Chronicle has taken note of the sudden and astronomical increase in property rates within the Central Business District (CBD) of Accra. According to our investigations, property owners who were previously paying between GH¢1,000 to GH¢2,000 annually are now being slapped with figures ranging between GH¢10,000 to GH¢20,000.

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has sought to justify this sharp adjustment on the grounds that rates have been ridiculously low for too long, and that the time has come for a major upward review. While we do not dismiss the principle that property rates should reflect the true value of land and location, the manner in which this increment has been rolled out is deeply troubling.

First and foremost, it is grossly unfair to impose such drastic increases without prior notice or stakeholder consultation. Businesses were not given the courtesy of advance warning, nor the opportunity to plan for these unexpected costs. In any serious democracy, major adjustments of this nature are preceded by dialogue, public engagement and a phased approach. The AMA’s unilateral action not only undermines trust but also smacks of insensitivity toward the economic hardships already confronting ordinary Ghanaians.

We must remind the AMA that businesses in the CBD are already grappling with soaring utility bills, high inflation, rising cost of credit and dwindling consumer spending power. Many small shop owners are barely staying afloat, struggling each day to balance their books in an unforgiving economic climate. To suddenly increase their property rates by tenfold or more is nothing short of a death sentence for many of these businesses. Inevitably, the added burden to the property owners will be passed onto shop owners and finally the consumers, worsening the already unbearable cost of living.

The Chronicle is not against progressive reforms that will allow city authorities to mobilise the revenue they need for development. Indeed, property rates remain an important source of internally generated funds for local governments. However, reform must be anchored in fairness, gradualism and accountability. Gradual incremental increases could have been introduced over a period of years, instead of the colossal increasewe are witnessing. We hope the businesses do not collapse under the weight of this sudden financial shock.

The AMA must also bear in mind that if the businesses close down under this heavy taxes, there would be no shops for them to earn their internally generated funds.

Indeed, there must be a visible link between the rates being charged and the quality of services provided by the AMA. If property owners are being asked to pay ten times more in property rates, then they should expect cleaner streets, better waste management, improved security and infrastructure upgrades within the CBD. Anything short of that would be exploitation.

In the light of these developments, The Chronicle calls on the AMA to immediately revisit this policy. A more reasonable path would be to suspend the new rates, engage with stakeholders, including traders’ associations and property owners and agree on a phased plan that balances the Assembly’s revenue needs with the survival of local businesses.

The economy is already fragile. To impose such harsh and sudden levies on the very enterprises that fuel the city’s commercial heartbeat is not only reckless but counter-productive. The AMA must listen, explain and adjust.

Anything less, risks strangling the very businesses that keep Accra alive.

Language and Identity

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Opinion

Ethnicity may be slowly guiding this country into ethnic conflicts and it is about time that we all collectively stand up and resolve this issue. Asantes who seem to always be at the receiving end, used to ignore any tribal attacks on them, until now.

These days, the Asante youths have decided to return more than the measure they receive, as we see with their relationship with Dormahene, Osagyefo Agyeman Badu.

When the Ga Traditional Council took the decision to replace Akwaaba with Oobakԑ, suddenly some Gas took Asantes to the cleaners. This was unwarranted for.

But what is the problem? Akwaaba is the Akan word for welcome which is known by any Ghanaian, irrespective of his or her ethnicity. It is a word also known worldwide, with some musicians composing songs with it. So, Akwaaba should be seen as an icon that sells Ghana internationally and must be revered, as such.

But unfortunately, some Gas are not in favour of Asantes, taking their lands and language. And even though it was not an Asante, but the Nzema Kwame Nkrumah, who decreed that Akwaaba should be put at entrances of state and public edifices, the Asantes are being blamed for it.

During an exchange of opinions on this matter on Facebook, a beautiful Ga lady in summary had this to say: “For once we are fighting for our place in modern history. Why is that so hard for others? Considering how accommodating we have been throughout past history?”

To me this lady, speaking on behalf of Gas, is talking more about the Ga identity, and Ga language is what identifies the people.

In Ghana, it is estimated that there are more than 80 local languages, with the top ten being Twi (spoken by 85% of the population), Ewe, Ga, Dagbani, Dangme, Gonja, Nzema, Dagaare, Kasem, and Frafra. Hausa which is not a local Ghanaian dialect is the second language spoken in the North.

There are also the Guans who form 3.7% of the population. Unfortunately, even though the Guans are located across many regions of Ghana, they do not speak one dialect. If they spoke one tongue, their language could rate second or third. So, as it is even though he is a Guan, H.E. John Dramani Mahama cannot communicate with Hon Obed Asamoah in his Guan dialect, though both of them are Guans.

The Gas have course to worry, because the minute the last word of Ga is spoken, Ga is lost. However, their approach to finding a solution is all wrong. No one is preventing Ga from being spoken, except the Gas themselves. On their land, they form a minority with Akans and Ewes dominating. These two ethnic groups travel everywhere with their languages and so they speak it openly on Ga lands.

As their population keep increasing, Gas were compiled to learn how to speak like them so as to communicate better. Replacing Akan and Ewe words like Akwaaba and Woezor will not be the solution. The Akans in Accra will always say Akwaaba and the Ewes in Accra will always say Woezor. But until lately, even most Gas never knew the Ga word for welcome is Oobakԑ.

What the Ga traditional leaders should do as a matter of urgency, is to demand from the well-to-do Gas to open up radio and television stations to come out with majority of their programmes in Ga. The Dangmes have a private station in Somanya.

Those Gas in high places should insist that GES gets Ga teachers and this language should be taught alongside the top spoken languages in all schools, up to the JHS level. Asantes should not be blame for GES not promoting Ga in the schools, it is the Gas who should bear the blame. And who says Ga is not taught in private schools? Star International Preparatory/JHS, teaches Ga.

Notwithstanding, Ga should not be the only language to be given this privilege. At the moment it seems all local languages are on the verge of decline. The top most spoken languages and the language of the ethnicity where the schools will be located should be taught to pupils and students.

These days no paragraph of sentence will be spoken without adding some English words. And when anyone speaks like this, he or she is good to go, but should that person add a word of another local language, they would be mocked at. So, gradually English will eclipse our local languages and our identities will be lost.

In my opinion, government should set up a state institution which will gather data on all individual languages spoken in Ghana and spoken in their clear and original dialect, no mixing with other languages. Each language must have a complete dictionary of it words, how they are pronounced and their meaning.

From this data, it will be easy to go online and find out how a word is said in any language and what it means.

This data can be used to promote all the over 80 languages, so that when one is travelling to any part of the country, he or she could pick some common words spoken there as guide.

Our languages are our identity and we must protect them, but not in the way some Gas want to do by attacking Asantes for the Akan word, Akwaaba.

Hon. Daniel Dugan

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.

BCI launches Breast Cancer Awareness Walk for Cure 2025

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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Dr.Mrs. Beatrice WiafeAddai - CEO Peace and Love Hospital

Breast Care International (BCI) has launched the 2025 edition of Ghana’s largest Breast Cancer Awareness event – the BCI Ghana Walk for the Cure.

The Walk slated for Saturday, October 4, 2025, under the theme: “A Cure Worth Fighting For” is expected to draw over 30,000 participants across Ghana and beyond.

The event would as well mark a significant rebranding of BCI, after more than 23 years of tireless dedication to women’s health in Ghana, across Africa and globally.

The new brand identity is to reflect BCI’s continued growth, bold vision and reinvigorated commitment to leading the charge against breast cancer.

“This is more than just an event, it’s a movement, it’s a family, it’s hope in motion”, Dr. Mrs. Beatrice Wiafe Addai, Founder and President, BCI said.

Prof. Christian Agyare addressing the gathering

She indicated that the walk is organised annually to raise awareness, to break silence, reduce stigma surrounding breast cancer, to celebrate survivorship, encourage early detection and prompt action as well as its ’s treatment.

Dr. Mrs.Wiafe Addai, who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer of the Peace and Love Hospitals, stressed that it is not enough to say that early detection saves life, noting that one can find something in the breast and decide to stay home, and stressed that early detection must be followed with prompt action to seek treatment.

She noted that sharing one’s plight with someone is a step that brings “hope, strength and healing” to 1000s of women and families across Ghana and beyond.

The Founder indicated that cancer was a global problem, which accounts for 13 percent of all death worldwide and equates to more than seven million people every year, which is more than the number of people dying from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

She cautioned that fighting breast cancer should not be seen as just a personal battle for any woman, but a societal, developmental and economic one, which requires collective effort.

Addressing the myth and misconception of women dying from mastectomy (the surgical removal of one or both breast, partially or completely), Dr. Mrs. Wiafe Addai indicated that early detection facilitates breast-conservation surgery to preserve the breast.

She stressed  that breast cancer was still stigmatised in this part of the world due to lack of awareness, counselling immediately after diagnosis, hence the founding of BCI in 2002 to improve diagnosis and treatment, increase survivor rate as well as the establishment of a database.

Touching on the rebranding on BCI’s logo, the Founder noted that it was for every survivor, family and partner who believes in the course and that the rebranding “is for a stronger and more vibrant” face, one that speaks to the future of innovation and hope”.

Dr. Mrs. Wiafe Addai announced the installation of the first ever CoreView device (prototype) globally at Peace and Love Hospital for breast cancer diagnosis, which will be operational very soon.

She noted that bios, which takes months, will now take ten minutes to get the diagnosis.

Prof. Christian Agyare, Provost, College of Health Sciences at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) expressed his excitement and appreciation to the collaboration over the installation of the CoreView device.

The Provost indicated that BCI has been conducting outreach programmes for women, especially in the deprived areas, creating awareness, educating and screening the public for breast cancer, a killer disease that has a much less attitude to destroy lives of women in their prime.

Prof. Agyare also indicated that the rebranding is a refreshed brand identity that reflects BCI’s “growth, vision and renewed” energy to lead the fight against breast cancer in Ghana and across the continent.

He noted that the annual ‘Walk for Cure’ has become a symbolic rally point uniting survivors, opinion leaders, government and families, among others, in a shared vision to defeat breast cancer.

From Oswald P. Freiku, Kumasi

New Ashanti Region GJA executives sworn into office

By
SEBASTIAN R. FREIKU
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The new executives being sworn into office

The newly elected executive members of the Ashanti Regional chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) have been sworn into office to steer the affairs of the media practitioners in the region.

The GJA President, Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, performed the swearing-in ceremony at the Conference room of the Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) last Thursday, amid fanfare.

The newly elected executives are Kofi AduDomfe, Chairman; Nicholas Osei-Wusu, Vice Chairman; Beatrice Spio-Garbrah, Secretary and PasramNeta, Treasurer.

GJA President Dwumfour charged the new executives to work together, amplify the voices of the marginalised, unite the association’s base in the region and improve its membership.

GJA President and other dignitaries in a pose with the new executives

He emphasised the importance of unity and collaboration in advancing the interests of journalists in the region.

The new Ashanti GJA Chairman, Kofi Adu Domfe, expressed his gratitude to the association for the confidence reposed in them.

He pledged to chart a path of unity, inclusivity and progress for the association, ensuring that the interests of all members are represented and protected.

Mr. Kofi Domfeh outlined his vision for the Association, which includes expanding the membership base, prioritising continuous training and mentorship, and promoting the welfare of journalists.

He called on every journalist, blogger and media stakeholder to join him in building an Association that protects the profession and inspires the next generation of truth-seekers.

Kofi AduDomfeh was elected Ashanti Regional Chairman in a rerun held on Friday, August 22, 2025 securing 20 out of 31 valid votes cast. His opponent, Georgina AmaAnkomah, polled 11 votes.

The rerun was ordered by the GJA Elections Dispute Adjudication Committee (EDAC) after the June 30, 2025 elections were annulled due to irregularities, including a breach of the association’s constitutional provisions and issues of voter eligibility.

The Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), Mr. Yaw Boadi Ayeboafo, on his part reminded the media of their core responsibility to inform the public based on truth.He emphasised that while the media are permitted to say everything, they must not tell lies.

Mr.Ayeboafo stressed the importance of unity and professionalism in the media, urging journalists to always inform themselves and read their constitution and code of ethics.

He reminded the media that they must hold government accountable and speak out against ills in society.

Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, assured the Ashanti Regional branch of the GJA of the government’s support.

He emphasised the critical role of the media in driving the developmental goals of the region and the country.

The inaugural ceremony was witnessed by a wide range of dignitaries, including journalists, representatives from the police, MTN Ghana, Electricity Company of Ghana, OkomfoAnokye Teaching Hospital and other state departments and agencies.

The Ashanti Regional Police Commander, DCOP Emmanuel Teye-Cudjoe underscored the vital role of media collaboration in the fight against crime in the region.

He said timely and accurate information from journalists has helped avert several criminal activities and enhanced public safety.

The police chief noted that the contribution of the media had made the region more peaceful and assured that the police would continue to strengthen this partnership to ensure the effective protection of lives and property.

“We in the police service remain committed to building even stronger relationships with the media,” he said, urging journalists to continue working in the national interest and to educate the public on safety matters.

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