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Bawku – Case Of Self Determination?

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Bawku township

I am a Ghanaian from “the South”. Forgive me for venturing into the Bawku conflict, which has defied all attempts at finding a solution. I may be naive in my understanding of the intricate underpinning of the conflict, the fine details of the history and traditions of the people involved.

For that, I ask for pardon and understanding of the rantings of an ignorant man from “the South”.

On a day when the media space has been inundated with news of the Asantehene’s imminent beginning of his mediation attempt in the Bawku conflict, it is my hope that anything written here may not be deemed prejudicial to his efforts. This write-up is done in good faith and for the ultimate realization of PEACE.

I have been to Bawku a number of times in the past. However, I’m not sure I can venture at this time with all the reports of active fighting and general insecurity in and around Bawku.

Bawku is dear to me, as is the entire Upper East Region.

My roommate in the first year at Legon was from Bawku. Azinim, I salute you.

I shared a bungalow with a Bawku boy by name Braimah who was quick to tell everyone who would listen that he was a Busanga boy from Bawku. Not that it mattered to me. All this happened in the 1970s.

Fast forward to the 90s and beyond and it has been the same conflict over and over again. Government continues to contain and resolve the conflict with deployment of security forces all the time. In the ensuing insecurity, workers posted to Bawku vacate their posts and no new personnel are attracted to the place.

It is generally agreed that the Bawku conflict is an ethnic contest between two rival tribes over which tribe has the right to  enskin the Bawku Na-ba. In other words, who is the rightful chief of Bawku?

From information pieced together, it appears to me that we have a classic case of a people fighting for SELF DETERMINATION. Why? This is where history comes in.

An acephalous community welcomes into their midst another community that practices the system of chieftaincy. The two communities live together, side by side, trade, intermarry, all in peace. Nothing wrong with that. Each community practices its sociocultural system as it sees fit. But evolution is inevitable and assimilation occurs over time. The community that did not practice chieftaincy begins to accept it with time and want a chief of their own.

Then the community that had always been practicing the system and therefore had the advantage over the other community that had hitherto not practiced chieftaincy feel reluctant to let go.

That for me is the Bawku conflict in a nutshell, even if some may disagree. All the arguments about which court or political power did what in the past to vary the status quo are simply attempts to muddy the issue. You are for or against SELF DETERMINATION.

History teaches us that a people determined to free themselves from “oppression” will usually go to every extent to fight for it and their motivation is a key factor in the struggle/conflict.

This is my understanding of the Bawku conflict.

By Ambassador Kwame Tenkorang, 

Teshie/Nungua

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

Editorial: Galamsey: Is Ghana Not Hurting Itself?

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Editorial

Despite numerous military raids and significant investments aimed at curbing illegal mining, the situation in Ghana’s forest reserves, particularly the Tano Anwia Forest Reserve, in the Ashanti Region, continues to deteriorate.

Media reports indicate that illegal miners – commonly referred to as galamseyers – remain defiant, violating environmental laws with impunity. What is unfolding before our eyes is no longer a mere threat; it is a full-blown environmental catastrophe.

Efforts by successive governments have barely made a dent in the fight against this menace. From Operation Vanguard to the deployment of drones that reportedly cost the nation $2 million and the GH¢70 million spent on personnel and other logistics, between 2021 and 2024, Ghana has really poured vast sums into fighting galamsey. Yet the crisis deepens, exposing the systemic failures within our enforcement institutions.

Recent developments in the Western Region, especially the burning of Abrewa Ne Nkra, a known illegal mining settlement housing over 10,000 squatters, further highlights the gravity of the crisis.

What is most troubling is the involvement of foreign nationals, who exploit Ghana’s hospitality and weak immigration controls to partake in environmental destruction and lawlessness. If illegal immigrants can brandish weapons and openly threaten our security forces, we must ask ourselves, is our immigration service functioning or are our borders secure?

Even more baffling is how heavy mining equipment finds its way into protected forest areas despite the numerous security checkpoints across the country. Someone is clearly sleeping on the job – or worse, colluding with the very criminals they are tasked to stop.

Ghana is steadily marching toward a dangerous precipice, risking the fate of countries like Nauru – a stark example of the ‘resource curse.’ Once rich in phosphate, Nauru became one of the world’s wealthiest nations per capita, only to lose it all to short-sighted resource exploitation. Today, it stands as a cautionary tale of how a nation can mine itself into oblivion.

If we fail to act decisively, Ghana too will become the country that hates itself – consuming its forests, poisoning its rivers, sacrificing its future for fleeting riches. We urge the government to overhaul the security and immigration systems, hold complicit officials accountable and adopt a more sustainable, technology-driven approach to resource management.

The Chronicle also welcomes the announcement by the Minister for Interior, Mohammed Muntaka that he had instructed the police administration to transfer all Regional Commanders in the mining enclaves. Though The Chronicle does not have any evidence to suggest that these regional police commanders have been compromised in the galamsey fight, it beats our imagination that despite all the huge resources the state had made available, this battle has still not been warned.

But much as we support the transfer of the police commanders, the government may be wrong if it focuses on only the police and leave out other state actors. We suggested to President Mahama, in an earlier editorial, to sack Municipal and District Chief executives in the mining areas if they fail to bring the galamsey menace under control in their respective areas.

We still stand by this because it is only compromised MCEs that will sit down idle whilst illegal miners are devastating the very environment they are supposed to protect. As MCE or DCE, he or she knows every nook and cranny of the district. These DCEs cannot, therefore, give any alibi that they are unaware of what is going on their areas.

Though our military, as we all know, is a well-respected institution, it came out two or so years ago that some of the personnel deployed to the mining areas had been compromised. The Chronicle, therefore, expects government to keep an eagle eye on them whenever they are deployed.

As we have always stated in this column, illegal mining and the accompanying pollution of water bodies is an existential threat to the survival of this country. Every Ghanaian must, therefore, put his or her shoulder to the wheel to ensure that the battle against galamsey is won for the generation yet unborn. Our natural wealth should be a blessing – not a curse. The time to act is now!

New Keta MCE holds familiarisation meeting with government institutions

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Keta Municipal Assembly

Mr Wisdom Seade, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Keta, in the Volta Region, has engaged various government institutions in the area to introduce himself and discuss issues that would foster development.

The institutions visited include; the Ghana Police Service, Ambulance Service, Municipal Hospital, National Commission for Civil Education (NCCE), Nurses and Midwifery Training College, Ghana Education Service and others within the Municipality.

Mr Seade, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, said the experience within the first-two days at work was encouraging and said the collaboration from workers would help the assembly to progress.

“My first day at work as MCE was very interesting one. I used the opportunity to have a meeting with the Coordinating Director, Human Resource Management Department, Municipal Finance Department and others for the way forward,” he said.

He said the visit to the various heads of institutions was to learn at first hand successes and challenges for immediate resetting actions for the development of the municipality.

“My brother, you know previously I was here as an assembly member, but now am here as the new Municipal Chief Executive, so l deem it necessary to have proper details of the personnel I am coming to work together with and the offices as well, we will do that before leaving for the Easter break.”

He said that serious administrative works would commence after the Easter break and urged all heads of institutions, individuals and workers to get ready for action to restructure the assembly to meet the resetting agenda of the ruling government.

The MCE said the assembly was committed to addressing the numerous challenges identified in collaboration with Mr Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe, the Member of Parliament of Keta, the Presiding Member (MP), Mr Christopher Mensah, assembly members and other stakeholders and urged the public to also provide the necessary support to achieve the targeted goals.

He said the assembly would outline plans to improve infrastructure, education, economic development, sports, agriculture and health among others, for the assembly to create a better and enabling living environment for residents and promote economic growth and development.

Mr Seade commended the Keta Municipal Coordinating Director, Mr Innocent Gawuah, heads of institutions and all other individual assembly workers for their support to previous MCEs over the years and demanded for same collaboration to work hard to fix challenges and make Keta a favourite destination for all.

Some heads of institutions GNA engaged during the meeting expressed satisfaction about the MCE’s visit and pledged to work together with him for the progress and development of the Keta municipality.

They described the MCE’s engagement as a move that demonstrated the assembly’s commitment to work hand in hand with other government institutions within the area to reshape the structures of the assembly for effective solutions and answers.

From Evans Worlanyo Ameamu, Keta

GNA

 

Juapong ECG educates staff on safety, security

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Chief Inspector Obiri and Ing Ahenkorah in a group picture with the participants

The staff of the Juapong District of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have been taken through a seminar on security and safety as they go about their duties.

The keynote Speaker, Chief Inspector Eugene Osafo Obiri, of the Ghana Police Service, who is in charge of Juapong, Frankadua, Nudu, Apegusu, Mpakadan and surrounding areas, explained to the staff the importance of  improving on their customer relations.

He said, “In some instances, the way you speak about your reasons for being on the field, expectations from customers and possible sanctions could lead to some anger and possible violence.”

Chief Inspector Obiri told the workers to always scan their environments to sense any possible danger and quickly retreat and report to their supervisors and the police.

He admonished that “as staff of ECG dealing with different kinds of people, you need to exercise and show very high levels of patience and restraint so as to possibly diffuse tension where necessary for work to go on smoothly.”

Expressing his disappointment in the activities of some of the staff and other non-staff of the ECG who extort money from unsuspecting customers in the name of the company, Chief Inspector Obiri admonished the staff to always be in the right attire and also be ready to show their staff identity cards to customers when necessary and to be diligent in their duties.

Ing William Ahenkorah, the District Manager for ECG Juapong District, which is under the Tema Region, on his part, cautioned the staff to inform and educate customers that ECG has gone cashless.

Given this, he said the staff must teach their customers how to make cashless payments, and warned the staff never to take money from customers in a bid to make their payments for them.

He cautioned, “Always be mindful that any act, which can be interpreted as contrary to company policy, such as staff not accepting cash payments could mean that the said staff could lose his or her  job if found to have gone against the policy.”

The seminar was necessitated by some field workers of the utility service provider who, sometimes, face threatening instances during their mandated field work.

Chief Justice Launches Sweeping Jury Reformsat Opening of 2025 Criminal Assizes

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BERNICE BESSEY
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Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo

The Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo, has announced a significant overhaul of the country’s jury system, during a landmark address at the official opening of the 2025 Criminal Assizes. The reforms, which aim to enhance the speed and integrity of trials on indictment, mark a pivotal shift in Ghana’s criminal justice landscape.

Delivering her speech in Accra yesterday, the Chief Justice highlighted the culmination of a year-long justice reform journey that began with the launch of her Leading Justice Initiatives on April 8, 2024.

The initiatives sought to identify and address systemic weaknesses in the Judiciary while promoting legality, due process, and institutional efficiency.

Among the most notable reforms unveiled today is the expansion of the national juror pool. Traditionally drawn from a narrow group of clerical and public sector staff, jurors will now be selected from a broader cross-section of Ghanaian society, including private sector professionals. The reform targets the elimination of what the Chief Justice described as “professional jurors”—individuals who had served on multiple juries for years, sometimes over a decade.

“This change is long overdue,” Her Ladyship stated, adding “we are taking steps to ensure that jurors reflect a true cross-section of society and that the time of those on jury duty is used efficiently to promote swift justice.”

The Chief Justice outlined a series of administrative directives aimed at accelerating trial processes across the country.

Among them: No juror shall be listed in more than one court to avoid scheduling conflicts. Trials are to run continuously—day-to-day—until concluded.

Full prosecution disclosures must be filed before empaneling juries, a move designed to avoid delays and encourage plea bargaining.

Judges must prepare Case Completion Plans before the start of trials, in line with established practice directions.

In certain cases, such as rape, judges may opt to try cases with the aid of assessors rather than juries, further optimizing the system.

Justice Torkornoo also indicated that Justices from the Superior Courts could be authorized to hear criminal cases nationwide, helping to ease case backlogs and bring speedy justice to affected parties.

The Chief Justice called for strict compliance with laws governing juror conduct, attendance, and accountability.

She warned that jurors who fail to attend proceedings without justification could face sanctions, including loss of allowances.

Other key stakeholders were also given a clarion call to uphold their responsibilities. Lawyers were reminded to observe the Legal Profession (Professional Conduct and Etiquette) Rules, 2020.

Police and Prison officers were urged to ensure the timely production of accused persons and evidence, while judges were directed to use judicial powers to compel witness attendance to prevent undue delays.

“These reforms are not mere administrative tweaks,” the Chief Justice emphasized. “They are a national call to all actors in the justice system to work with urgency, accountability and fairness.”

In closing, Justice Torkornoo saluted the planning team and key partners who made the reforms possible.

Court nullifies Obasa’s removal as Lagos Speaker, voids Assembly proceedings

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Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa

The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has declared the removal of the re-instated Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, as illegal, unconstitutional, null and void.

In a judgment delivered on Wednesday, the court also nullified the proceedings and resolutions of the House held on January 13, 2025, during which Obasa was ousted.

Trial judge, Justice Yetunde Pinheiro also awarded N500,000 as damages for the unlawful and illegal removal of Hon. Obasa and for the psychological embarrassment he suffered as a result of the illegal removal.

Obasa had filed a suit against the House of Assembly and the newly appointed Speaker at the time, Mojisola Meranda, to challenge the legality of his removal.

In the suit, filed on February 12, 2025, by his counsel, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Afolabi Fashanu, Obasa argued that his removal by 36 lawmakers occurred while the Assembly was on recess and while he was out of the country.

He urged the court to declare the process unlawful, arguing that the sitting was invalid as it was held without the Speaker’s authority or any formal delegation of power.

In a judgment which lasted about three hours, Justice Pinheiro first dismissed the preliminary objections challenging the competence of the suit. The court held that non-compliance with pre-action notices does not make the suit inactive.

On the objection that the court does not have the jurisdiction to review the proceedings of the State House of Assembly, the judge held that, “ a court of law can intervene where the provisions of the constitution have not been met during any proceedings of the house of assembly”.

Credit: dailypost.ng

 

 

Women protest in Rivers, demand end to emergency rule, sack of CP

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Women protesting in Rivers

A group of women have again staged a protest in Port Harcourt, calling for an immediate end to what they described as ‘illegal state of emergency’ in Rivers State.

The protesters are demanding the removal of the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adepoju; the urgent and total end of the emergency rule in the state; the full restoration of democratic institutions; and the reinstatement of the duly elected Governor, SiminalayiFubara, and his Deputy, Ngozi Odu.

They also called for the redeployment of military personnel to regions of the country where they are truly needed, areas where citizens are being killed and communities devastated by terrorists.

Wednesday’s protest marks the fourth demonstration in the state involving women from both pro-Fubara and pro-Wike factions.

On Monday, protests were stage in two different locations in the state.

While one group protested against the emergency rule, the other protested in support of the state of emergency while backing the sole administrator.

Credit: dailypost.ng

Yahaya Bello petitions IGP, demands prosecution of Sen Natasha over alleged defamation

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Yahaya Bello and Sen Natasha

Former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP) over alleged defamatory statements made against him by the suspended senator representing Kogi Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

In the petition, written and signed by his solicitor, Mr. N.A. Abubakar Esq, to the IGP on Wednesday, Bello called on the Nigeria Police Force to invite Akpoti-Uduaghan to substantiate her allegations against him with credible evidence.

“Where she fails to do so, cause her to be arrested and prosecuted in accordance with the provisions of the law for criminal defamation, inciting public disturbance and spreading false information injurious to public peace,” the lawyer wrote.

The petition said the utterances made against the former governor were not only false, reckless and inciting, but “they constitute serious criminal defamation, false accusation and incitement to public disorder, all of which are offences under the Nigerian law”.

The former governor has also written to Akpoti-Uduaghan, through his counsels, Chief R.O. Balogun, SAN & Co, demanding retraction and public apology over defamatory statements made against him in two national dailies, or face legal consequences.

“Our client’s attention has been drawn to a most disturbing, damaging and criminally defamatory statement made by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, during her public address at a political event tagged ‘Homecoming Rally’ held on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, in Okehi LGA of Kogi State.

“That while addressing attendees at the rally, Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan falsely and maliciously uttered the following words in reference to our client: ‘(Senate President Godswill) Akpabio sent for Yahaya Bello. And it was actually Senator Asuquo from Cross River that drove Yahaya Bello from Hilton Hotel.”

Credit: dailypost.ng

Obi Asks Tinubu To End France Trip, Address Insecurity

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Peter Obi and President Bola Tinubu

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to suspend his France trip and urgently return to Nigeria to address the deteriorating security situation, particularly in Plateau and Benue states.

In a post shared via his official X handle on Wednesday, the 63-year-old criticised the President’s absence amid worsening violence and insecurity across the country.

“Mr President, domestic problems beckon,” Obi wrote. “I am compelled at this time in our lives as a nation to call on our retreating President’s attention to the security challenges at home, which entail that he immediately suspend his ongoing retreat in a foreign land and come home to address the overwhelming security situation across the country.”

The former Anambra State governor lamented that over 150 Nigerians have been killed in the past two weeks, citing renewed attacks in Plateau and Zamfara States, while pipeline explosions in the Niger Delta further highlighted the country’s dire state.

“In the two weeks you have been away, over 150 Nigerians have lost their lives to insecurity across Nigeria, especially in Plateau and Zamfara states,” he said.

“The primary duty of any government is securing the lives and property of its citizens, and one wonders the type of retreat going on in another country where peace has been secured by their leaders, while blood continues to flow in our country.”

Obi described the nation as being in distress and likened the President to a retreating CEO far from the headquarters of his failing company. He urged the President to take swift and decisive action.

“Amid all these, the CEO of the troubled company called Nigeria, is retreating in a faraway land in France, detached from the company’s headquarters.

“I therefore urge Mr President to quickly suspend whatever he is doing in France and rush home to take responsibility by addressing these disturbing issues. That is the new Nigeria the nation seeks,” he noted.

Credit: channelstv.com

Mahama outlines four strategic benefits of Coders Programme to Ghana 

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President Mahama at the launch of the code

President John Dramani has outlined four strategic benefits Ghana would gain, following the launch of the Government’s One Million Coders Programme.

Speaking at the Programme’s launch in Accra, the President said it would ensure job creation and economic growth.

He noted that as of this year, the global Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) market was valued at $410 billion, projected to grow to nearly $490 billion by 2029.

He said countries like India and the Philippines dominated the space, offering services in software development, data management, customer support, and more.

He said Ghana had the potential to be Africa’s premier BPO hub; saying “We are strategically located on the Greenwich Meridian, we are English-speaking and we have a vibrant, tech-savvy youth population.

“With the right digital skills and infrastructure, our young people can attract outsourced jobs from around the world and jobs that pay well and keep families and communities thriving right here at home.”

The President said the second benefit of Coders Programme to the country was entrepreneurship and innovation.

He said Coding skills would enable the nation’s youth to create apps, to launch startups, develop digital solutions to their local programmes, whether in agriculture, in healthcare, education, or governance.

He said in this digital era, one idea could transform an entire community, and one startup could create hundreds of jobs.

He said education and lifelong learning was the third benefit to be derived from the Coders programme.

He said through the OMCP (Online Marketing Certified Professionals Company), the government was not only scaling the youth but was reshaping the national approach to learning.

The President said the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation was already working closely with the Minister of Education to integrate digital literacy and coding into the nation’s university and technical school curriculum.

President Mahama said the aim of this was clear, to make digital education not just a short-term initiative, but a permanent, strategic part of our educational system.

He said the fourth point was inclusion, stating that digital transformation must not leave anyone behind.

“And that is why this OMCP programme places a strong emphasis on equity, ensuring access for rural communities, for women and for persons with disabilities, and others who are often left on the periphery,” he said.

The President said the first cohort of 560 trainees participating in the launch in Accra, Kumasi, Sunyani, and Bolgatanga, already reflected their commitment to gender balance and regional inclusivity.

He said, moreover, within just 48 hours of opening applications, over 50,000 young Ghanaians registered their interest, and that the sector Minister had updated that figure to 90,000.

“This overwhelming response is a powerful reminder of the hunger for opportunity and the urgency of the task ahead of us,” he said.

President Mahama said in the next phase of the Programme, the government would activate training and community information centres across all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies.

He reiterated that the decentralised approach would ensure that no matter where one lives, in the city or in a remote village, one would have access to the opportunity of the One Million Coders Programme.

He said the Government was also building the digital infrastructure required to support this vision.

He said from broadband expansion to the provision of devices and learning platforms, every layer of the initiative had been designed for skill and for sustainability.

“Let us not underestimate what this represents for our country. We are changing the national narrative from one of limitations to one of limitless potential,” President Mahama said.

The President commended Mr Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, for the speed, vision, and diligence with which he had pursued the Million Coders Programme.

“You are not just participants in this initiative you are the architects of Ghana’s digital future.”

Mr Samuel Nartey George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, described the Government’s Coders’ Initiative as a bold and transformative initiative that marked a new chapter in Ghana’s digital journey.

By Iddi Yire

GNA 

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