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Editorial: MMDAs Must Act Now Or Be Held Accountable

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THE CHRONICLE
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Editorial

The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has issued a firm warning to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) within the Greater Accra Region, threatening legal action against those who fail to remove unauthorised billboards from road medians by Monday, June 2, 2025.

Following a failed attempt at engagement, where many of the relevant assemblies failed to attend a crucial meeting, the NRSA has made it clear that it will resort to legal action against any MMDA that refuses to remove unauthorised billboards mounted along road medians.

This move, though unfortunate, is necessary and must be supported by all well-meaning Ghanaians.

The NRSA, led by its Director-General, Abraham Amaliba, has made multiple efforts to engage the assemblies. It initially provided a 21-day deadline for the removal of these hazardous structures and even attempted to convene a meeting to discuss the possibility of an extension. The intention was not to punish but to partner with the assemblies for a safer city.

However, the poor response and the reported “defiant posture” of assembly members leave the NRSA with little option but to escalate the matter through legal means.

Let us be clear: the billboards in question are not only unauthorised but dangerous. Erected haphazardly on road medians, many obstruct drivers’ views, distract attention and in some cases compromise pedestrian safety. This is not just a matter of regulatory compliance but a matter of life and death.

We are already grappling with an alarming rate of road accidents. According to data from the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), thousands of lives are lost each year, due to a mixture of poor road conditions, indiscipline and infrastructural inefficiencies. Adding the menace of unauthorised billboards to this tragic equation only worsens the situation. These structures turn road medians, which are meant to enhance safety, into visual traps and collision points.

The refusal of the assemblies to attend a clearly communicated meeting reportedly due to a misunderstanding of the scope of the invitation is, at best, an excuse and at worst, a display of dangerous apathy. The Local Government Ministry transmitted the invitations and due diligence ought to have been done by each MMDA to clarify the matter if there was any confusion. The fact that assemblies outside Accra made the effort to attend, while those directly affected stayed away, is telling.

This dereliction of duty cannot continue to go unchallenged. Assemblies exist to enforce local laws, protect the public interest and ensure community well-being. When they fail to act or worse, when they appear to resist efforts aimed at protecting lives – they betray the very people they are meant to serve.

The NRSA must be commended for holding its ground and seeking to enforce the law through legal channels. Ghana needs more regulatory bodies willing to use the full extent of their mandates to compel action. Too often, leniency and endless engagements have allowed public institutions and private actors to flout regulations without consequence.

There is no justification for inaction. Assemblies should also take the initiative to audit all roadside infrastructure within their jurisdictions and ensure that every billboard, kiosk or structure conforms to safety standards and permits.

Now, the MMDAs must do their part by removing the unauthorised billboards and enforcing the law.

37 Manhyia South apprentices benefit from the Make Ghana Proud Shoemakers Hub Project

By
ERNEST BEST ANANE
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Nana Sanwoansan, Kwabre Hemanhene

About 37 Apprentices at the Make Ghana Proud Shoemakers Hub Project, initiated by Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the former Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, towards reducing unemployment in the constituency have graduated.

Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, who launched the Project during his tenure as MP for Manhyia South, affirmed his commitment to empowering the youth and artisans through skills development.

Speaking under the theme: “Empowering Hands, Elevating Dreams: Crafting Ghana’s Future”, Dr. Prempeh, also known as NAPO emphasised the critical role of vocational skills in nation-building.

The Graduates pose with Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh and Lawyer Agyei Baffuor-Awuah

According to him, the future of Ghana will not be written by what we import, but by what we build with our own hands, stressing that skills are not alternatives, but the foundation of national greatness.

The event featured the recognition of pioneer master shoemakers who have successfully completed structured training under the project’s first face.

Nana Agyei Baffuor Awuah, the current Manhyia South MP, commended Dr Opoku Prempeh for the laudable initiative and described it as a legacy that would help reduce unemployment and criminal activities within the Constituency.

He promised to ensure that the initiative is sustained to benefit more youth, especially those interested in the apprenticeship.

Nana Apau Wiafe Ababio Sanwoansan, Chief of Kwabre Heman, who presided over the event, commended the Members of Parliament for the initiative towards reducing unemployment and job creation to reduce criminal activities and immoral lifestyle among the youth, especially in the Manhyia South constituency.

He also entreated the Shoemakers to consider going into making royal (ahenemma) sandals, also known as ‘kyawkyaw’ for festive occasions, besides funerals and other occasions.

He also advised them to take the profession seriously because it is their life and future.

Kumasi Mayor donates boxes of Sanitary Pads to SHSs in Metropolis 

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ERNEST BEST ANANE
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The Mayor being assisted by Metro Director to present sanitary pads to Girls prefect at Islamic SHS

Mr. Richard Ofori Agyemang, aka King Zubah, the Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of Kumasi has donated about 5,000 boxes of sanitary pads to students in selected Senior High Schools in the metropolis.

Some of the beneficiary schools include; Kumasi Girls Senior High School, Islamic Senior High School, Watania JHS, Asem JHS and Adabia Islamic.

The gesture is meant to complement government’s efforts to provide free sanitary pads to girls in Senior High Schools nationwide.

At the presentation ceremony at Islamic Senior High School at Abrepo, a suburb of Kumasi, the Mayor re-affirmed the NDC government’s commitment to ensure that girls reach their full potential while in school, in order to become responsible adults in future.

According to him, the sanitary pads would enhance their cleanliness. He expressed the government’s commitment to always encourage them to learn hard and to realise their dreams in life.

Madam Juan Quarshie Junior, the Metropolitan Girl Child Coordinator of Ghana Education Service (GES), explained that the exercise formed part of activities to mark global menstrual hygiene day, which falls on May 28 every year.

This year’s celebration is under the theme: “Period Friendly World.”

She emphasised that it is natural to menstruate when a girl is of age and that there was no need to discriminate against anyone who menstruates.

She stressed that every girl deserves menstrual dignity and that it is the responsibility of society and parents to partner the government to ensure that the menstrual hygiene of the girl child, especially those in school, is prioritised to always keep them in school, especially during their menstrual periods.

AGA awards rehabilitation of Obuasi Roads on contract

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MD of AGA, Nananom, MCEs and other stakeholders in a group picture

AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) Obuasi Mine has awarded the stretch of road at the ETS area on contract for rehabilitation under its facelift programme.

Justmoh Construction Company Limited, a reputable road contractor, will execute the GHC7 million projects with pavement blocks in three months.

AGA’s gesture is in response to public uproar over the deteriorating nature of the 6,800 metres square stretch of Obuasi Town roads between Golden Pride Savings and Loans office at Wawasi, through the ETS area to the Multi Credit Savings and Loans office of the Obuasi West Municipal.

The Managing Director of AGA, Mr. Samuel Pobee, noted at a sod cutting ceremony on Tuesday that “The road is bad and affects productivity since movement to and from the community is impaired, hence the urgent need for rehabilitation”.

According to him, anyone who has stayed in Obuasi will attest to the fact that the area in question is a principal street and the resultant congestion on a daily basis is outrageous, because of the bad nature of the road.

Mr Pobee stated, “The ETS stretch is iconic to the Obuasi Mine and, for that matter, we have no choice but to fast track the reconstruction of the place.”

The Managing Director further disclosed that there was going to be a facelift and beautification around the statue of the miner in the middle of the roundabout, so that anyone who comes to visit Obuasi will know that he is in a mining town.

Mr. Edmund Oduro Agyei, Community Relations Manager of AGA noted that apart from the rehabilitation of the ETS area, new health centers are being built and new school buildings are being constructed. He, therefore, called for support from all stakeholders towards the total development of Obuasi.

Supt. Owusu Aboagye, Obuasi MTTD Commander expressed delight over the proposed facelift to the stretch and promised to provide ‘men’ to direct traffic to ensure drivers, passengers and pedestrians are comfortable.

The Obuasi West MCE, Madam Faustilove Appiah Kannin, while thanking AGA for stepping in to fix the problems at the ETS stretch, promised to collaborate effectively with the company to address the challenges facing people of Obuasi.

From Frederick Danso Abeam, Obuasi

LASTMA impounds 235 vehicles for indiscriminate parking

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LASTMA officers impound vehicles in Lagos

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said it has impounded 235 vehicles for indiscriminate parking, flagrant environmental violations, and general traffic anarchy across the state.

In a statement on Thursday by LASTMA spokesman Adebayo Tofiq, the Lagos traffic managers said the vehicles were seized during a clean-up enforcement campaign across critical traffic corridors within the state.

“This expansive operation, meticulously coordinated under the leadership of Mr. Olalekan Bakare-Oki, General Manager of LASTMA, commenced today with full deployment across high-density zones, notably Oyingbo, Iddo, Eja-Lonibu, Adeniji Adele, Sabo, Jibowu (Inter-State Terminal), and Oshodi,” he said.

According to the agency, no fewer than 235 vehicles comprising 38 private automobiles,156 painted Volkswagen commercial buses (Danfo), 19 Minibuses (Korope)/tricycles, five haulage trucks, and 17 inter-state passenger buses were impounded for various breaches of the Lagos State Transport Sector Reform Law of 2018.

The offences ranged from unlawful encroachment upon pedestrian pathways, obstruction of vehicular flow, establishment of illegal terminals, to reckless disregard for established traffic regulations.

Credit: channelstv.com

WAEC apologises for logistics delay that forced candidates to write WASSCE at night

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WASSCE candidates sit for their exam in the night

The West African Examination Council (WAEC) has apologised for the logistics delay that forced candidates to write the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) at night.

The Head of the Nigeria National Office of WAEC, Amos Dangut, told Channels Television’s The Morning Brief crew on Thursday that the examination body got information that the paper to be taken on Wednesday was about to be compromised, hence the need to take immediate action.

Many had raised concerns when videos showed some secondary school students in Taraba State, North-Eastern Nigeria, and Ogun State, in the South-West zone of Nigeria, sitting for WASSCE at night on Wednesday.

Addressing the matter, the WAEC boss apologised and stated that the incident won’t recur.

Dangut said when the examination body got information that the paper was about to be compromised, “we went to the drawing board and quickly came up with a solution to the compromised paper”.

“We were able to achieve the aim we set out to achieve, which is to prevent leakage, but unfortunately, some other issues lurking in the dark reared their heads and affected the timely conduct of the examination, and that is particularly with regard to logistics.

“We had serious logistical problems – the vehicle that was conveying the exam materials to Taraba broke down in the middle of the night, and efforts to ensure that materials were recovered and sent to the place could not be achieved in time.

“We deeply regret it and we have taken all steps necessary to ensure this is nipped in the bud and that it does not recur,” he said.

Credit: channelstv.com

Court rejects Govt’s exhibits in Nnamdi Kanu’s terrorism trial

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Nnamdi Kanu

Justice James Kolawole Omotosho of the Federal High Court in Abuja has thrown away key exhibits tendered by the Federal Government to establish the terrorism charges brought against Biafra agitator, Nnamdi Kanu.

The exhibits are the statements dated October 21, 24 and November 4, 2015 made by Kanu to operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, during his interrogation sessions.

Also rejected by the judge are the video recordings of the statements by Kanu on the ground that they are inadmissible in evidence.

Justice Omotosho rejected the exhibits while delivering ruling on Thursday on the admissibility of the documents following allegations by Kanu that he made parts of the statements under duress.

The ruling followed the trial within trial conducted by the court to ascertain the veracity of Kanu’s allegations that he was coerced, molested and harassed to write what was dictated to him.

In the ruling, Justice Omotosho said that he had listened to both counsel for Kanu and the Federal Government and had gone through the evidence and concluded that the burden of proof of Kanu’s statements is on the prosecution to prove that confession was obtained voluntarily.

He said Kanu did not establish involuntariness in any way during his evidence.

The judge also said that the video showed that the statement was taken in a cordial environment and no sign of coercion was noticed contrary to Kanu’s allegations.

He however held that the court cannot close its eyes to the fact that Kanu was regularly complaining about the absence of his counsel during interrogation, especially when making statements.

Credit: dailypost.ng

 

21 dead, 50 houses washed away as flood ravages Niger communities

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Flood ravages Niger communities

The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has confirmed the death of 21 persons in a deadly flood disaster
that ravaged two communities in the early hours of Thursday.

The affected communities are Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa in Mokwa town of Mokwa Local Government Area.

The incident occurred during a heavy downpour that lasted several hours.

The NSEMA in a statement issued by the Director General, Abdullahi Baba Arah, said the surging flood waters submerged and washed away over 50 residential houses with their occupants. In response to the disaster, he said the agency in collaboration with Mokwa LG Authority, local divers and very brave volunteers, are currently conducting search and rescue operation to rescue survivors and recover corpses.

According to him, as at the moment, three persons have been rescued, including a woman and her two children. They are receiving treatment for wounds and shock at the Mokwa General Hospital.

The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has expressed shock at the development.

NHYPPADEC in a statement by Nura Tanko Wakili, Head, Press and Public Affairs, said preliminary reports indicate that the flood swept away hundreds of properties and left several persons, including children, unaccounted for.

“The incident has left the entire community devastated and in distress. As we assess the situation and prepare for an appropriate response, we urge residents to remain vigilant and comply with safety directives from relevant emergency and disaster management agencies to prevent further loss,” the statement said.

The Commission also appealed to relevant stakeholders to act swiftly in providing relief and support to cushion the impact of the disaster on the affected communities.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Ghana-Germany trade hits €180.9M in first quarter of 2025

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Mr Daniel Krull, German Ambassador to Ghana addressing the media

Ghana’s trade volume with Germany reached €180,923,000 in the first quarter of 2025, Mr Daniel Krull, German Ambassador to Ghana, has said.

Total exports to Germany stood at €85,660,000, while imports amounted to €95,263,000, reflecting a growth rate of approximately 49 per cent from the same period in 2024.

In the first quarter of 2024, trade totalled €127,673,000, with exports at €63,682,000 and imports at €63,991,000, representing a 44 per cent growth from 2023.

Mr. Krull made this known during a press briefing at his residence to introduce a project titled “New Northern Dimensions – Delights from Northern Ghana and Northern Germany.”

The project is a cultural and diplomatic initiative that blends culinary creativity, cultural exchange, and outreach. It forms part of activities marking the 836th anniversary of Hamburg, a city in northern Germany.

The initiative aims to highlight the rich cultures of northern Ghana and northern Germany while strengthening ties between the two regions.

Mr. Krull said the trade figures were encouraging, noting that over recent years, trade volumes had ranged between $500 million and $700 million.

He explained that Ghana’s exports largely comprised cocoa, gold, tropical foods, and other raw materials, while Germany’s exports included vehicles, machinery, and spare parts.

The Ambassador stressed the importance of sustained bilateral trade, particularly given Ghana’s preferential access to the German and broader European market—an advantage not extended to all countries.

“We have a strong and stable market to enable Ghanaian manufacturers and agribusiness people to focus their businesses on. They must have a reliable framework of investment and planning,” he said.

Mr. Krull added: “Germany is not only the home of car manufacturers but trade fairs, so we organised some of the specialised trade fairs for machinery, construction and mining. If you take food logistics for instance, it is the basic route for the Ghanaian investor to enter the European market.”

The 836th Hamburg anniversary celebration will be held on Thursday, May 29, at the Ambassador’s residence, with members of the Diplomatic Corps, business community, government officials, and private sector representatives expected to attend.

By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi

GNA 

SSNIT opens branch office at Adentan

By
MAXWELL OFORI
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The front view of the Adentan branch of SSNIT

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has opened a branch in Adentan, in the Greater Accra Region.

The inauguration of the Adentan branch at a colourful ceremony that took place on Wednesday, May 28, 2025, brought the total branches of the Trust to 53.

Prior to the opening of the Adentan branch, customers within the catchment area had to visit the Legon office to access the services of the Trust.

Last week, SSNIT opened its 52nd branch at Spintex, Accra, as part of its broader move aimed at improving access to social security services and enhancing convenience for workers.

PARTNERSHIP

In his address, the Acting Director General of SSNIT, Kwesi Afreh Biney, indicated that the Trust, beyond opening its own branches, was also partnering with banks to expand their reach.

The Acting DG, Kwesi Afreh Biney speaking with journalists inside the Adentan office

He mentioned that the Trust was in discussions with three banks to utilise their extensive branch network for rapid service expansion across the country.

According to the Acting DG, the partnership will position SSNIT staff at some selected banks and banking halls to render full services to SSNIT members.

“We also began conversations with three banks, and the strategy is to leverage their branch network to extend our services rapidly across the country,” he said in his address.

Mr. Biney explained further that “there are banks in almost every district in the country, and we’ve decided that to bring convenience to our members at the least cost to serve, it was important to leverage partnerships, and in so doing, our aim is to scale up quickly with an additional 25 to 50 touch points before the end of this year.”

The acting DG extended an invitation to stakeholders to join SSNIT in its transformative journey of accessibility, convenience, value creation, and professionalism.

In furtherance to expanding the Trust’s reach, a virtual branch is in the offing. The acting DG, who announced this at the Adentan branch opening, said by ‘Quarter Three’ of this year, the virtual branch of SSNIT is expected to go online.

SERVICE

The Acting General Manager of SSNIT-Operations mentioned that the new branch was set up to enhance service delivery for the people of Adentan, “including the self-employed within this fast-growing community.”

He stated that the Adentan branch was a testament of significant steps in the Trust’s efforts in bringing its services closer to the public and expressed their commitment to delivering quality services and support.

The Acting DG, Kwesi Afreh Biney speaking with journalists inside the Adentan office

COMMITMENT

In a speech delivered on his behalf by Victor Azuma Mejida, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA), the CEO, Christopher Boadi Mensah, emphasised that the establishment of the Adentan branch demonstrated SSNIT’s commitment to accessibility and efficiency.

He said the move underscored the forward-thinking approach of SSNIT to meet the changing scenes in the pension industry.

He pledged the support of NPRA to SSNIT and called for continuous collaboration to expand the scheme.

The Member of Parliament for Adentan, Mohammed Adamu Ramadan, who was the guest of honour, was excited that SSNIT had opened a branch in his constituency to serve the constituents.

He said that apart from providing financial security, SSNIT was also positioning itself as a people-centered insurance company.

“This development presents a good opportunity for our residents, particularly the many self-employed workers in Adentan and its adjourning communities who form the backbone of our community,” he remarked.

 

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