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Confusion Galore At NPP Headquarters … Acting Chair Allegedly Side-Lined, …Treasurer Reportedly Petitions National Council

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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The flag of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

An investigation by The Chronicle has uncovered deepening cracks within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) national leadership, pointing to a growing power tussle that threatens to shake the party’s stability, ahead of its crucial internal and national decisions.

At the centre of the controversy is the alleged side-lining of the party’s First National Vice-Chairman, Dankwa Smith Butey, who, by constitutional hierarchy, should be acting as National Chairman, due to the ill health and effective absence of the substantive National Chairman, Stephen Ayensu Ntim.

Mr Stephen Ntim, known for his longstanding service to the NPP, has reportedly been battling ill health, with family sources confirming he is no longer in a condition to carry out the demanding responsibilities of his office.

According to internal party sources, the Chairman’s family has communicated concerns to the party, signalling his inability to continue in the role.

Per the NPP’s constitution and longstanding tradition, the First Vice-Chairman should step in as acting National Chairman, under such circumstances.

However, the individual who is supposed to occupy that position, Dankwa Smith Butey, has allegedly been side-lined, in what is described as a “calculated coup” by a powerful faction within the party’s top hierarchy.

The spark that ignited this growing rift was a letter dated July 5, 2025and signed by the party’s General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong.

The letter, which was widely circulated to members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), summoned an emergency NEC meeting scheduled for Monday, July 7, 2025 at the party’s headquarters in Asylum Down.

Crucially, the letter stated that the meeting was “by the order of the National 2nd Chairperson, Madam Rita Talata Asobayire,” a move that has raised significant constitutional and ethical concerns, because originally the First Vice-Chairperson was supposed to call for the meeting.

According to the party’s own hierarchy, the Second Vice-Chairperson is not constitutionally mandated to assume the Chairperson’s role, in the absence or incapacitation of the substantive Chairman.

That responsibility falls squarely on the First Vice-Chairperson, who was reportedly not informed about the NEC meeting in advance.

Our intelligence sources confirm that the acting chairman was receiving medical treatment, when he got wind of the planned meeting. Outraged, he contacted a high-placed person in the party, demanding an explanation for the unauthorised move.

Sources told The Chronicle that a clique has emerged within the party headquarters, hence the going ‘feud’.

In a separate but equally controversial development, intelligence picked up by The Chronicle indicates that Dr. Charles Dwamena, the National Treasurer of the NPP, has petitioned the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) over what he considers an unconstitutional and procedurally flawed attempt to restructure the party’s internal financial oversight.

The issue revolves around Motion 38, one of the 54 motions adopted during the party’s National Delegates Conference on Saturday, July 19, 2025, held in Accra. While many of the motions aimed to reform constitutional and structural aspects of the party ahead of the 2028 elections have been well received, Motion 38 is being challenged.

The motion seeks to amend Articles 10(7)(3) and 10(8) of the party’s constitution to require the National Treasurer to report directly to the General Secretary, a significant shift from the current structure, where the Treasurer operates independently as one of the three core arms of the party’s National Headquarters.

Our sources also revealed that Dr Dwamena is resisting this move, arguing that the motion was not part of the circulated proposals ahead of the Conference. Many delegates reportedly only learned about it on the eve of, or during the Conference itself, leaving little time for proper scrutiny and debate.

Though details of the petition remain undisclosed, our sources say Dr Dwamena believes the motion seeks to collapse the independence of the Treasurer and place it under the General Secretary, who already oversees the National Secretariat the administrative wing of the party.

He is said to have cited both the party’s constitution and official records submitted to the Electoral Commission, which recognise the National Chairman, General Secretary and Treasurer, as heads of three distinct arms of the party: the Executive, the Secretariat and the Treasury.

There is growing concern that the implementation of Motion 38 could lead to conflicts of interest and weaken internal checks and balances, especially given that the General Secretary serves as a spending officer, while the Treasurer is responsible for managing the party’s finances and assets.

This emerging standoff adds to the growing list of leadership tensions within the NPP, coming at a time when unity and internal cohesion are seen as critical to the party’s future electoral prospects.

Daddy Lumba Deserves State Burial –Bawumia

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Bawumia at Daddy Lumba's house

Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has appealed to the government to grant a state burial to Ghanaian highlife legend, Daddy Lumba. He made the request during a visit to the late musician’s residence to commiserate with the grieving family.

Dr. Bawumia also pledged for the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) support for funeral arrangements, while praising Daddy Lumba’s enduring influence on Ghana’s music culture.

Daddy Lumba

Dressed in black mourning attire, Dr. Bawumia reflected on Daddy Lumba’s illustrious career and national stature.

He described the musician’s death as a huge blow, not only to the music industry, but to the entire country.

He explained that Lumba’s legacy transcended entertainment, helping to unite Ghanaians through his music.

While expressing sympathy to the family, Dr. Bawumia highlighted the importance of honouring a life that shaped Ghana’s cultural identity, adding that such a gesture would immortalise Lumba’s name and contributions.

The former Vice President also assured the family of the party’s support during the funeral period, reaffirming the NPP’s commitment to upholding Lumba’s memory with dignity and respect.

Though no funeral arrangements have been finalised, his visit added to a growing cascade of tributes by public figures and institutions.

Meanwhile, thousands of Ghanaians assembled at the Independence Square on the night of August 2, 2025 to honour the late music legend.

This candlelight vigil was a poignant tribute to one of the country’s most cherished artists, whose melodies have resonated with generations.

Daddy Lumba died at The Bank Hospital, located in Cantonments, Accra, in the early morning hours of July 26, 2025.

Land Owner Sues TDC MD Over Alleged Takeover Of Land

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Sued

Derrick Hope Gidzi, a private resident of Tema Community 25, has filed a civil lawsuit against the Tema Development Corporation (TDC) and its Managing Director, Mr. Courage Makafui Nunekpeku, accusing them of unlawfully seizing his land with the help of armed military personnel.

Accordig to court documents filed at the High Court in Tema, Mr. Gidzi alleges that on June 26, 2025 the TDC Managing Director led a team of heavily armed soldiers to forcibly enter his land and commenced unauthorised development works, despite Mr. Gidzi having occupied the property peacefully for over a decade.

“I have exercised exclusive control and possession of the land since I acquired it from the TDC,” Gidzi said in his affidavit, referencing multiple supporting documents and receipts to prove his ownership, which he claims predates Mr. Nunekpeku’s appointment as Managing Director.

Mr.Gidzi further alleges that all construction materials he had gathered on the property, such as stones, sand and cement blocks were destroyed by the team that arrived with Mr. Nunekpeku.

He attached photographs (Exhibit DHG6 series) showing military personnel and workers operating heavy-duty equipment on the disputed land.

In an effort to stop what he terms an “unlawful development” and to prevent further destruction, Mr. Gidzi filed a motion for an interlocutory injunction at the Tema High Court on June 26, 2025.

The motion seeks to restrain the defendants, their agents, and assigns from entering, developing, or selling the land until the case is fully determined by the court.

The plaintiff claims the TDC and its Managing Director are currently building commercial shops on the property, contrary to the residential use he had planned.

He warns that the ongoing development risks permanently altering the character of the land and causing him “irreparable damage.”

Mr. Gidzi also contends that restraining the defendants during the legal proceedings would not cause them any harm, whereas allowing them to proceed unchecked would undermine the justice system and set a dangerous precedent.

The motion was heard by the Tema High Court on July 22, 2025 at 9:00 am and it was adjourned to August 14, 2025.

The Chronicle is following the case closely to give the public a regular update.

Police Recover 43 Stolen Luxury Vehicles Smuggled from Abroad

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Ghana Police Headquarters, Accra

Police have intercepted and recovered a total of 43 high-end luxury vehicles that were stolen from several countries and illicitly shipped into Ghana between January and July this year.

The vehicles, which include Rolls Royce, Audi Q8, Porsche, BMW i7, and Mercedes-Benz V-Class were reportedly stolen from countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium, Canada, the United States, Germany, Italy and France.

This was revealed by Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Donkor at a press briefing in Accra on Monday.

The operation was part of a broader transnational vehicle crime investigation led by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, in collaboration with international partners, including INTERPOL, Digitpol and the FBI, as well as national agencies like the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

Out of the 43 impounded vehicles, COP Donkor said investigations have been completed on several of them, resulting in a court order for the repatriation of 18 vehicles to their countries of origin.

Eight of the vehicles have already been returned, while ten remain pending repatriation. The remaining 25 cases are still before the courts.

“It is sad to note that in almost all the cases mentioned, those who cleared the vehicles in Ghana have failed to provide any proof of ownership or purchase from the country of origin,” COP Donkor stated.

“Let me be clear — the payment of customs duties does not equate to legitimate acquisition of a vehicle,” he added.

To intensify the crackdown on the illicit vehicle trade, the CID has formed a special task force to conduct intelligence-led operations. As of now, the task force has impounded six more vehicles – four Toyota Tundras, a Toyota RAV4 and a Range Rover – all stolen from Canada. Investigations are ongoing into these cases.

She said the police have uncovered sophisticated tactics used by transnational criminal networks to smuggle the vehicles into Ghana.

These include; Renting vehicles with fake identities and secretly shipping them abroad while the rental agreement is still active.

Disabling tracking systems on stolen vehicles and transporting them across borders, purchasing vehicles using fake or stolen credit card information and then defaulting on payments once the cars are sold.

Using proceeds from crimes such as romance scams and sextortion to import luxury cars as a method of money laundering. COP Donkor also issued a strong warning to Ghanaians to be cautious when purchasing imported vehicles.

“We urge the public not to rely solely on customs documents. Insist on proof of purchase or ownership from the country of origin before buying any imported vehicle,” she advised.

In her closing remarks, COP Donkor reaffirmed the Ghana Police Service’s commitment to fighting organized crime and upholding justice.

She acknowledged public concerns over the pace of some investigations but assured the public that all cases are being handled with professionalism and due diligence.

She also extended appreciation to law enforcement partners, prosecutors, and international collaborators for their continued support.

“Together, we can ensure that Ghana remains safe and secure,” she concluded.

Police arrest 2 men in connection with separate robbery incidents 

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Handcuff

The Ghana Police Service has announced the arrest of an ex-convict, Abubakari Sadick and Vincent Gbetorglo, in connection with separate high-profile robbery cases across the country.

The arrests, described as a major breakthrough by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), were confirmed by COP Lydia Donkor, Director-General of CID, at a press briefing in Accra yesterday.

The Police say the arrest of Abubakari Sadick, who previously spent 25 years in prison, has led to the unravelling of a vehicle robbery syndicate that has been operating across multiple regions in Ghana.

According to the CID boss, Sadick and his accomplices posed as members of NGOs or religious organizations to deceive car rental companies into providing vehicles for purported missionary work in the Northern Region.

Midway through the journeys, typically in remote areas, the suspects would overpower the drivers, tie them up and steal the vehicles.

Notable incidents include:11th November 2022; A Toyota Land Cruiser was stolen near Malzeri, close to Yendi, after the driver was tied to a tree.

January 2023: Another Toyota Land Cruiser was stolen under similar pretences. April 2023, A Toyota Vitz was taken and later sold in Bolgatanga.

The Cape Coast High Court had earlier sentenced Sadick in absentia to 25 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for a 2021 robbery in Breman Asikuma.

He had previously been placed on the Police Wanted List, the Immigration Stop List, and was subject to an Interpol Red Notice. He narrowly evaded extradition after escaping custody in Burkina Faso in February 2023.

Sadick was finally apprehended on July 28, 2025 in Accra, through a coordinated operation by the CID’s Anti-Armed Robbery Unit and National Security operatives. He is currently in police custody and assisting with investigations.

Authorities are urging individuals, especially car rental operators and victims of similar vehicle thefts, to report to CID Headquarters with any relevant information.

Efforts are ongoing to apprehend other members of the syndicate.

Vincent Gbetorglo, the Ex-convict 

In the case of Vincent Gbetorglo, a 40-year-old ex-convict, he was arrested in connection with the violent robbery of a taxi driver earlier this year.

On January 1, 2025, taxi driver Vic Martin Obeng was hired by three young men from MadinaZongo Junction to Haatso.

When they got to the ICGC Church area, the suspects attacked him inside a moving vehicle. He was tied up, blindfolded with his shirt and robbed of his mobile phone, daily earnings and GH¢13,000 in mobile money. He was later abandoned near Westland.

Investigators, acting on intelligence, arrested Gbetorglo on July 30, 2025 at the Accra Mall. A search revealed the victim’s stolen mobile phone and three others.

Although Gbetorglo claimed to have purchased the phones at Kwame Nkrumah Circle, he could not assist police in identifying the alleged seller.

Further checks revealed that Gbetorglo was previously convicted by the Cocoa Affairs Court in 2011 and sentenced to 40 years’ imprisonment, but was released in 2023 after a successful appeal.

Investigations into the case are ongoing, and police are actively pursuing the remaining suspects involved in the New Year’s Day robbery.

Police Call for Public Assistance

The CID is, meanwhile, appealing to the general public for support in locating accomplices and recovering stolen items.

COP Donkor praised the collaboration between local and international agencies, noting that these arrests signal a “significant step forward” in tackling organized robbery networks in the country.

Members of the public with relevant information are encouraged to contact the CID Headquarters or the nearest police station.

Alleged Murder of Immigration Officer: Police Order DNA Test on Blood-Stained Fufu pestle 

By
BERNICE BESSEY
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Murder

The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Yaako Donkor has revealed that forensic Scientists are conducting a DNA analysis on blood-stained evidence suspected to have been used in the murder of Assistant Inspector of Immigration, Stephen King Amoah.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, COP Donkor confirmed that a bloodied fufu pestle, wrapped in polythene, was discovered in a bush just 100 meters from the residence of the key suspect, Bright Aweh.

The item is suspected to be the murder weapon used in the brutal killing of the immigration officer.

Stephen Amoah, popularly known as “Otumfuo Nana,” was reported missing on July 4, 2025 after he failed to return home the previous night.

He was last seen leaving his residence at Ashongman Estate around 8:00 p.m. on July 3, 2025 after receiving WhatsApp messages containing images of cash from Bright Aweh.

The suspect had allegedly arranged to meet Amoah to settle a longstanding debt.

According to the CID boss, Aweh admitted to giving the deceased GH¢500,000 during their meeting, but provided contradictory accounts regarding the source and intended use of the money.

These inconsistencies raised suspicions, and he was subsequently arrested and provisionally charged with kidnapping on July 8.On July 9, a severely burnt body was discovered in a gutter near GBC Satellite, opposite Comet Estate. Relatives of Amoah later confirmed the identity of the body despite the extent of the burns.

Further investigations at Aweh’s residence uncovered bloodstains in the living room, signs of a hasty clean-up including freshly painted walls, and a discarded white spray paint can. A second search on July 24 led to the discovery of additional bloodstains and the fufu pestle believed to be the weapon used in the crime.

“Initial tests confirm that the blood found at various crime scenes is of human origin,” COP Donkor stated, adding “Samples from the deceased’s mother and son are currently being used for DNA comparison to establish a match with the blood found on the pestle and other items.”

Aweh’s vehicle was also impounded and blood samples retrieved from it are undergoing analysis.

With the weight of forensic evidence mounting, Aweh has now been rearrested and formally charged with murder. He remains on remand, following an appearance at the Adabraka District Court and is scheduled to reappear on August 8, 2025.

Meanwhile, police operations are ongoing to locate and apprehend suspected accomplices. “The Ghana Police Service remains committed to bringing all perpetrators of this heinous crime to justice. We urge the public to remain calm and cooperate with us as we pursue all leads in this matter.”

Editorial: Prisons Must Be Transformed Into Institutions Of Reform & Skill-Building

By
THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

For decades, the Ghana Prisons Service has operated under an outdated, punitive model marked by overcrowded cells, poor infrastructure and minimal inmate support. With feeding grants as low as GH¢1.80 per prisoner per day, conditions are dire and reform minimal. Globally, correctional institutions are shifting toward rehabilitation and productivity, with countries like Norway, South Africa and Kenya using prisons as centers for training, agriculture and manufacturing.

In contrast, Ghana’s prisons are underutilised despite access to arable land. The Service must transform its facilities into centers of reform, skill-building and self-sufficiency. Inmates could be trained in trades such as farming, carpentry, shoemaking and bakery to aid reintegration into society and reduce repeat offenses.

The Chronicle calls on the Ghana Prisons Service to rebrand its image and structure. The prisons do not only serve to punish but also correct and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Our prisons today, as numerous reports confirm, are overcrowded, unhygienic and failing in their most fundamental duty to correct. They remain relics of a punitive past, where prisoners are warehoused in crumbling buildings, dressed in depressing uniforms and fed on a paltry GH¢1.80 per day,barely enough for one decent meal, let alone the three that basic human dignity demands.

And yet, within these broken walls lie hundreds and thousands of able-bodied men and women. Many of them are young, energetic and eager to make something of their lives.

Let us be honest, our prisons are not reforming anyone. If anything, they are producing repeat offenders. The same people who enter these institutions for petty crimes come out hardened, angrier and more desperate only to return again, often for even more serious offences.

Around the world, prisons are being transformed into spaces of redemption and productivity. Most prison facilities are located on large tracts of government land, land that remains mostly unused, while inmates languish in inactivity. Why can’t these prisons become self-sufficient? Why can’t they raise poultry, grow vegetables, build furniture, bake bread or manufacture shoes for themselves and for the whole nation?

The answer is not in capability but in will. For instance, Ankaful, Nsawam and Kumasi Central Prisons all sit on lands that could easily be used for farming and small-scale manufacturing. The inmates, many of whom are serving short sentences for minor crimes could be taught trades, allowed to work and even earn a small wage. The food produced could feed them better than GH¢1.80 allows.

It is commonly believed that inmates in Ghana’s prisons learn skills that help them reintegrate into society upon release. Unfortunately, this belief does not match the reality. Many ex-convicts return home with nothing to show for their time behind bars. Not even a basic idea of how to find a job or run a business. Some end up homeless, jobless and stigmatised. Without a support system or employable skill, crime becomes their only option.

We must shift this narrative. Skill training must become the cornerstone of our prison system. Every inmate who learns a skill and receives mentorship is one less burden on society and one more potential contributor to our economy.

It is time for the Ghana Prisons Service to rebrand itself not as a punitive institution but as a reformative, productive and self-sustaining body. The first step is rebranding both in image and in philosophy.

There is no excuse for prisons to be a financial drain on the state. With efficient leadership and structured productivity systems, prisons can become self-sufficient. Imagine a Ghana where each prison produces its own food, sells crafts and agricultural products, and trains inmates to be contributors to the national economy.

We call on the Ministry of Interior, the Ghana Prisons Council, the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior and civil society to champion a national conversation around prison reform. This must not be a bureaucratic workshop exercise but a decisive shift in our national priorities.

Prisons are a mirror of our justice system and by extension, our humanity. We can and must do better.The time to act is now. Let us transform our prisons from places of despair into places of hope, productivity and true correction.

Protecting Primates: Ghana’s Conservation Efforts

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admin
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The writer, Anna Liv Myklebust

From forests around the world such as the Amazon, to the rainforests in West Africa, animals are disappearing at alarming rates. Human activity is found at the core of this matter; primates experiencing habitat loss, climate change, hunting and illegal trade. In Ghana, efforts are being made to combat the loss.

A monkey perched on a tree

Approximately 64% of all primate species face extinction, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. In Ghana, primate conservation is vital for protecting the country’s rich biodiversity and delicate web of life that supports the country’s unique ecosystems, as they play a role in seed dispersal and forest regeneration. Ghana is home to several endangered species, including but not limited to, the White-naped mangabey monkey.

The Accra Zoo is known as the Accra Zoological Garden, and hosts a collection of wildlife from Ghana and different species from around the world. The zoo specifically focuses on the rehabilitation and reintegration of White-naped Mangabey, back into the wild.

Only 1,000 White-naped Mangabeys remain in the wild today, according to Akowiah, making them one of the most endangered primates in West Africa, alongside the Roloway monkey, and the White-Thighed Black-and-White Colobus. These primates are battling against extinction.

The Accra Zoo currently holds 24 adult White-naped Mangabey monkeys, of whom they are breeding and in the process of working towards integration into the wild.

“The plan is that they (zoo employees) breed them in the Accra Zoo and then we reintegrate them into their natural habitat,” says Raymond Akowiah, a tour guide and administrative assistant at the Accra Zoo.

A primate in Ghana

The plan for reintegration was championed by an NGO called West African Primate Conservation Action, also known as WAPCA.

WAPCA focuses on working towards the conservation of endangered primates. This includes the Roloway Monkey, White-naped Mangabey and the White-Thighed Black-and-White Colobus monkey. WAPCA states their overall mission is to “Discover, Protect, Reinforce and Connect” as listed under their website.

This is the organisation that partners with the Accra Zoo in its efforts to reintegrate White-naped Mangabeys into their natural habitat. This critical mission gives hope to save the species from its declining numbers. The Accra Zoo’s other conservation efforts include education.

“Wildlife education has helped to promote wildlife welfare,” says Akowiah. The Accra Zoo helps with different wildlife clubs that are at Senior High Schools and Universities. Their goals are to educate the young generation on the welfare of wildlife and the conservation of species.

Moving forward, these initiatives will provide a basis for the protection and conservation of primate species in the world, and especially in Ghana. The Accra Zoo and WAPCA stand as examples of what collaboration can lead to, a dedication to protection in the face of biodiversity loss.

This work will not only help safeguard endangered species like the White-naped Mangabey, but also educate generations moving forward in Ghana. As human-driven threats continue to endanger primates on a global scale, it is crucial to continue conservation efforts, such as those we see in Accra.

The loss of primates affects our ecosystems and biodiversity, not only in Ghana but around the world. In Accra, these efforts are being taken seriously at the Accra Zoo with programs like WAPCA. Continued efforts will be essential to expanding conservation.

Public awareness and long-term commitment can ensure that species, such as the White-naped mangabey not only are preserved, and their numbers rising, but are also thriving once again in the wild. The work in Ghana, however large or small it may be, serves as a reminder that it is still possible to rewrite the endangered future for primates.

By Anna Liv Myklebust

Ghana-China Media Fellows Pay Courtesy Call on Hualong Construction Ltd

By
JENNIFER AMBOLLEY
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Ghana-China Media Fellows in a group photo with officials of Hualong Construction Ltd

As part of the ongoing Ghana-China Media Fellowship 2025, selected journalists from television, radio, print and online platforms across the country paid an industrial visit to China State Hualong Construction Ghana Ltd (CSHCL) on Saturday, July 19, 2025.

The visit, held at the company’s office in GS Plaza Hotel, Accra, was led by Paul Frimpong, Executive Director of the Africa-China Centre for Policy and Advisory (ACCPA).

It provided fellows a rare opportunity to engage directly with one of the most prominent Chinese companies operating in Ghana’s infrastructure sector.

The session featured a corporate presentation, an interactive Q&A session with senior management, and discussions on CSHCL’s longstanding contributions to Ghana’s development since its establishment in 1985.

China State Hualong has played a major role in shaping Ghana’s infrastructure. The company is behind several national landmarks, including the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Independence Square.

It has also delivered key public projects such as the Eastern Regional Teaching Hospital and road networks like the Awoshie-Pokuase and Teshie Link roads.

Welcoming the delegation were key CSHCL officials: Chief Financial Officer Chen Xiaoming, Deputy Manager of Planning and Development Zhang Huxiang, and Deputy Manager of the General Office Hu Changhuai.

They highlighted the company’s commitment to long-term partnerships and its broader contributions beyond construction.

“Our mission in Ghana is rooted in mutual respect and cooperation. We don’t just build infrastructure; we aim to build relationships and invest in communities,” the leadership stated.

During the engagement, fellows posed questions about project execution, local employment, sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Many expressed appreciation for the company’s transparency and openness throughout the session.

Paul Frimpong emphasised the value of such visits in helping journalists develop informed perspectives.

“This is about grounding the fellowship in real-world exposure. For journalists to report with accuracy and nuance, they must see and experience it for themselves. Today’s visit achieved exactly that,” he said.

The visit forms part of several hands-on learning components embedded in the 12-week fellowship programme, which seeks to enhance the capacity of Ghanaian journalists in covering Ghana-China relations. Participants have so far engaged in sessions on Chinese history, global governance, and the Belt and Road Initiative.

Fellows described the experience as eye-opening and professionally rewarding. Many said they gained new insights into the scope of Hualong’s work and its engagement with local communities.

The Ghana-China Media Fellowship 2025 continues in the weeks ahead, with more field visits and dialogue sessions aimed at equipping journalists with the tools to tell deeper, balanced and evidence-based stories on Ghana’s evolving relationship with China.

FDA intensifies food safety campaign in Kumasi markets

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Mr. John Laryea Odai-Tettey

The Ashanti Regional Office of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has intensified its outreach programmes to sensitise the public, especially market women, on the need to ensure food safety and discourage the use of additives in food preservation.

Mr. John Laryea Odai-Tettey, Ashanti Regional Head of the FDA, who led the outreach programmes, pointed out that the FDA was committed to comprehensive food safety, adding that, the programme was part of activities marking this year’s World Food Safety Day.

He said: “As the Food and Drug Authority is celebrating World Food Safety Day, a series of activities has been carried out and it is all about education.”

Mr.OdaiTettey detailed efforts to educate market women on protecting food from contaminants and warned against using additives in palm oil and other foodstuffs.

He stressed the importance of hygienic food handling from production and transportation to display in the markets.

“We want to achieve food safety in totality,” he stated, focusing on proper display methods, emphasising “some of them, they put it on the bare floor, and that’s what we are against… they are not supposed to put the food items on the floor to sell, and those that are supposed to be covered, they have to do that,” he stated.

Mr. Odai-Tettey expressed concern about the dangerous practice of some women using formalin to preserve fish and meat and warned that it was illegal and harmful practice, stating that offenders would face severe sanctions.

He called on members of the public to report unhygienic and suspected contaminated food they buy in the market to environmental officers and the FDA for them to take action.

Mr. David Oppong Darko, Regional Environmental Health Officer of the Food and Drug Authority (FDA), said a series of activities had been carried out as part of the World Food Safety celebration.

He said: “Even yesterday, we had one and today we are with the Santasi Market Women, and it is all about education.”

Mr. Darko detailed the FDA’s efforts by indicating that the authority provided education on how to protect the food they are selling from contaminants.

He emphasised the FDA’s commitment to achieving comprehensive food safety.

“We want to achieve food safety in totality, looking at transportation of food items, production, transportation, display at the markets, especially when you come to the market, the way they display the food,” he announced.

He warned against the use of harmful preservatives, saying, “We have heard that some market women are using formalin to preserve the fish and the meat that they are selling.

“And it’s a crime. So, we have made it bare to them that if any of them is doing that, then they should desist, because when the law catches with them, it will not be easy at all”, he warned.

He further urged consumers to be vigilant, advising that “When you go out to buy food items, look at the environment. Don’t just buy from anywhere, look at the environment so that those who don’t sell at the hygienic areas, you avoid them.”

GNA

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