An Accra High Court has granted a GH₵200,000 bail with two sureties, one to be justified to Charles Bissue, a former Secretary of the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) and one Andy Thomas Owusu.
They are standing trial for 15 counts of corruption-related offences, including abuse of office for profit. Both accused persons pleaded not guilty.
The accused persons were to deposit their passports with the Registry of the Court and to report to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) once every month.
The case has been adjourned to May 29, 2025 for a Case Management Conference.
According to the charge sheets, Charles Bissue was accused of using his public office for profit, contrary to Section 179C(a) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29).
It was alleged that he received GH₵15,000 from one Bemanin Adjapong, through Andy Thomas Owusu on or around January 22, 2019, in Accra.
The OSP alleged that Charles Bissue corruptly abused his position as IMCIM Secretary by accepting the money to circumvent established procedures outlined in the Committee’s 2018 “Road Map for Lifting of Ban on Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining.”
These procedures included the verification of documents, acquisition of relevant permits, demarcation and mapping of concessions, and vetting processes.
Through this action, Charles Bissue was alleged to have unlawfully fast-tracked the renewal of mining permits for specific operators.
The 15-count charge sheet details multiple offences involving the abuse of office, corruption, and efforts to undermine lawful mining regulations at the peak of Ghana’s crackdown on illegal mining activities, popularly known as “galamsey”.
The Director of Communication at the Bank of Ghana, Dr Bernard Otabil, has stated that his outfit plays a pivotal role in the management of Ghana’s economy.
According to him, it is not the notes and coins that the central bank issues that makes the bank what it is, but trust and integrity as well.
“It is not the notes and coins we issue that make us who we are, but we issue trust and integrity as well,” he said.
Dr Bernard Otabil has, therefore, cautioned the media to desist from going into propaganda spin when it comes to issues about the central bank.
This is because, the bank is a very serious business that affects everything in the economy and its impact is felt by all.
Speaking at opening of a two day workshop for Journalists in the Western and Western North regions in Takoradi recently, the BOG Communication Head appealed to them to take the BOG out when it comes to spin-doctoring.
This is because, spin doctoring clouds the substance of a story and that “what our country stands to get in the end when the media engages in spin doctoring about the central bank, is killing of investor confidence and this would affect all of us.”
The two day media workshop attended by journalists drawn from both print and electronic media educated the reporters on accurate reporting, inflation, responsible borrowing amongst other topics.
BOG Head of communication stressed that the Bank considers journalists as partners in its communication.
Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak addressing the gathering
The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) has commissioned a state-of-the-art Centre of Excellence, a modern 84-unit residential facility, an executive lodge and a fully equipped clinic at South Odorkor, in the Greater Accra Region.
The event, which took place on Monday May 5, 2025 brought together top government officials and security service personnel to celebrate what was described as a significant milestone in Ghana’s quest to improve migration and border security management.
The commissioning ceremony was performed by the Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, with the Comptroller-General of Immigration, Mr. Samuel Basintale Amadu and other senior officials of the GIS in attendance.
The new facility
In his address, Alhaji Mubarak underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening the logistical and infrastructure base of the country’s security services, particularly the Ghana Immigration Service, whose role in national security continues to grow in importance amid evolving migration dynamics.
“This project highlights our nation’s commitment to enhancing migration and border security management. It is not just a facility, it is a demonstration of our dedication to capacity building, innovation and effective service delivery in the area of migration,” the Minister stated.
The newly commissioned residential facility comprises 84 apartments, split evenly between two-bedroom and three-bedroom units, aimed at easing the accommodation challenges faced by officers of the GIS.
The Centre of Excellence, on the other hand, features executive lecture halls, a Cafeteria, executive hostels and a medical clinic. The centre is expected to serve as a hub for post-entry training and advanced capacity-building for immigration officers and partner institutions.
Alhaji Mubarak praised the previous administration for initiating the construction of the project and acknowledged the efforts of King’s School Ltd., the Contractor, for delivering the infrastructure to standard.
However, he emphasised the need for a strict maintenance culture to sustain the facility’s quality over time.
“Most people don’t even want to rent their buildings to security agencies because of the perception that they do not maintain properties well. I want each and every officer who will live in these apartments to treat them like they built it with their own money. Take care of them, clean them and report minor faults promptly. This is the only way we can preserve our investments.”
He added that quarterly inspections would be conducted to ensure adherence to occupancy regulations and that officers who fail to comply would be evicted.
“If you are not ready to maintain your space, you will be evicted. It’s as simple as that,” he stated.
For his part, the Comptroller-General Samuel Basintale Amadu expressed profound gratitude to President John Dramani Mahama’s administration for initiating the project and to the current Minister for the Interior for his unwavering support.
“Honourable Minister, your presence here today testifies to your personal commitment to addressing the housing needs of the GIS. This facility will significantly enhance the morale and productivity of our officers,” he said.
The Comptroller-General also paid tribute to his predecessors, including Mr. Felix Yaw-Sapong and Mr Kwame Asuah Takyi, for their invaluable roles in advancing the project from its conception to completion.
He noted that the Centre of Excellence would help address the capacity needs of the service by offering advanced training tailored to modern migration challenges.
“It will strengthen our ability to manage migration effectively, ensure the safety and dignity of migrants, and promote national security and development,” he said.
On the residential front, Mr. Amadu emphasized that the new apartments would improve the welfare of GIS personnel and reduces the logistical bottlenecks associated with staff deployment and accommodation.
As a measure to preserve the facilities, he announced that quarterly inspections would be conducted by the State Department to monitor the condition of the apartments.
“If you’re found to be keeping your place poorly, you will be ejected. We are not going to compromise on that,” he stressed.
The commissioning of these critical infrastructure projects forms part of the government’s broader plan to improve the welfare and operational efficiency of security agencies across the country.
The Centre of Excellence is expected to become a model for training and innovation in border and migration management, while the residential complex and clinic provide essential support for officers and their families.
ACFOII Peter Tetteh, Ashanti Regional Fire Service Commander addressing the media
The Ashanti Regional Ghana Fire Service Command has recorded about three separate mob attacks on its personnel and fire appliances at Konongo, Mamponteng and Ejisu in the first quarter of 2025.
ACFOII Peter Tetteh, the Ashanti Regional Fire Commander, disclosed this at the International Fire Fighters Day on Monday May 5, 2025 at the Regional Headquarters.
According to him, there were about nine attacks on their fire fighters within the region in 2024 alone, and noted that those involved in the criminal acts are not the victims of the fires but rather the lawless, undisciplined criminals.
He lamented that through their acts, innocent and vulnerable victims of fires who needed the services of the fire fighters were denied, leading to loss of properties and lives.
From left – Ashanti Regional NADMO Director, Mayor of Kumasi, Ashanti Regional Minister, Fire Commander Regional Police Commander, the Prisons and Immigration Commanders at the event
He said most of the public do not understand the technicalities in fire management, as the Ejisu Fire appliance dispatched to Konongo is almost 40km away only to get there to be attacked for coming late.
He argued that fire Service does not cause any incident, but are called in to render service in terms of the management of those incidents and asked why they vent their anger on fire-fighters, disrupting or even preventing them from carrying out their legitimate functions.
ACFOII Tetteh made a passionate appeal to the public to understand and support them to execute their mandate of saving life and property.
He disclosed that fire-fighters when entering the hot zone from the cold through the warm zone are full of uncertainties, but are committed and motivated with confidence.
He said they also take consolation in the concluding part of the fireman’s prayer after promising to give out his best to guard every neighbour and protect properties.
ACFOII Peter Tetteh paid tribute to the late DOII Ebenezer Sedor, ADOII Joseph Baidoo, DOII Hannah Yawson, SUBO Isaac Newton and RFM Ebenezer Boakye, who died in the line of duty.
Dr Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister at the event, commended the Ashanti Regional Fire Service for their commitment to protect lives and properties at all times.
He said their work is for the development of Ghana and the region, adding that the government was committed to ensure the proper way of handling explosives by individuals.
According to him, there was a loss of about GH¢200 million in the Konongo explosion, while GH¢916,000,000 lost in the Blue light fire incident.
He assured that service equipment and cars as well as logistics for the Fire service would be rehabilitated to facilitate their operations.
He disclosed that the government was planning to get new fire tenders for the Fire Service and urged those putting up building shops, stores and structures on fire hydrants in the city to immediately desist from the practice.
He expressed the need to drill mechanized boreholes at strategic areas to support their work in terms of fire fighting and prevention.
He expressed worry over the attacking and assault and damage caused to fire tenders, “because one is not happy with the approach of an incident”, and assured protection of personnel by the government.
The Minister disclosed that the government, through the Youth Employment Authority (YEA) was partnering to recruit about 5,000 youth to assist the fire fighters, and urged the Ghana Fire Service to design a very good module to complement the work they are doing in order not to compete with personnel, but to provide information before fire outbreaks.
Dr. Amoakohene suggested the establishment of a Standing Taskforce (Inter-sectorial team) by the security agencies and services to help identify risk elements in the outbreak of fire or criminal activities looming and to help respond appropriately to protect the region and the country as a whole.
In a smart move to combat illegal mining, popularly known as ‘Galamsey’, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ellembelle, in the Western region, Joseph Agyekum, has directed that all excavators in the District be tracked and registered with the Assembly.
The move is aimed at curbing the rampant use of excavators in illegal mining activities in the District.
The directive was issued after a meeting held with the Divisional Police commander in the area. This is the maiden meeting of the DCE since he was confirmed last week after securing 100 percent endorsement from the Assembly members.
The Police Command is expected to spearhead the implementation of these directives with assistance from the staff of the assembly.
According to the DCE, registration forms and unique identification stickers would be issued to owners of the excavators.
That aside, the assembly, in order to prevent influx of excavators into the District, would mount barriers at Ankobra and Salma, the main entry points into the district.
The exercise is in line with President John Mahama and the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah Kofi’s vision and mission to regulate the use of excavators and prevent their involvement in illegal mining activities.
The directive is expected to promote responsible mining practices and support environmental conservation in the district. This task is scheduled to commence from Monday, May 12, 2025.
The measures also forms part of the District Chief Executive’s broader goals and strategies to reverse the tide of illegal mining menace that plunged the district into mess in the past.
In a related development, the Ellembelle DCE and some staff of the Assembly have inspected ongoing reshaping of roads in the northern part of the District.
The project, which was started two months ago was an initiative of the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area who is also the minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah.
The cost of the reshaping project is fully funded by the MP, and the beneficiary communities in which the DCE visited were Santaso, Mandumgbane, Aidoosuazo, Shell, Kwesikrom and Ewereko.
Speaking to members of beneficiary communities, DCE Joseph Agyekum assured them that the road rehabilitation would be a continuous programme.
A former Minister for Foreign Affairs under the Kufuor regime, Mr Akwasi Osei Adjei has expressed his “worry, pain and anger” over the current happenings within the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
The former Legislator for the then Ejisu/Juaben Constituency disclosed that he was not happy when he heard of the Thank You Tour (TYT), which was to be led by Dr. Bawumia, former Flagbearer of the party, noting that constitutionally, the National Chairman of the party should be the one leading such mandate.
He noted that the TYT is not necessary at this juncture and that what the NPP needed now is “reconciliation and unification”.
Akwasi Osei Adjei, in an interview on Kumasi-based radio station, Silver FM, last Wednesday told the host, William De Bordes (Loving Cee) that party members should not go contrary to the party’s constitution, which sees the National Chairman as “supreme” and who must lead the Tour.
He further queried the organisation and funding of the TYT!, stressing that if it is not the party but an individual, the TYT must be condemned.
Mr Osei Adjei observed that Ghanaians wanted to see the NPP rectifying the mistakes that prevented Ghanaians from not going to the polls to vote, as well as why a lot of the populace voted against the party. He said “that is required of the NPP now, not a TYT”.
He explained that the party as an entity has to sit back, analyse and act on the findings and recommendations of Prof. Mike Quaye’s report which was commissioned by the party elders.
He further explained that the party needed to apologise to its members as well as seek their forgiveness to foster the reconciliation and unification noting that the masses are needed to establish a political party.
According to him, the forebears of the NPP administered with “love and unity” and not on selfish motives.
Mr Osei Adjei said Ghanaians love the NPP because of its tradition and values for which he stressed arrogance and monetisation of electioneering system is not part of issues followers used to volunteer to work for the NPP.
He indicated that the party needed to reconcile and unite, and fetch out the individuals who pioneered and supported the monetary system into the party and let them go, noting that unhealthy competition within the party should be addressed.
According to the former foreign Minister, the way forward is for the party to work and investigate the recommendation and findings of Prof. Quaye and subsequently concede its mistakes and apologise to members for not heeding their advice.
He also suggested that the electioneering process of the party must be reviewed based on Prof. Quaye’s findings and recommendations and that, all breakaway factions of the party should be called back to strengthen the reconciliation process.
Mr Goosie Tanoh, the Presidential Advisor for 24-Hour Economy, has explained that the Government’s Accelerated Export Development Programme (AEDP) is built around three fundamental pillars: Production Transformation, Market Systems Efficiency and Human Capital Development.
He made the disclosure during the inauguration of the 19-Member Accelerated Export Development Advisory Committee, which is under the Chairmanship of President John Dramani Mahama, at Presidency in Accra.
Mr Tanoh said through Production Transformation, they could move Ghana away from its dependence on raw commodity exports and towards exports of value-added products.
“Through Supply Chain and Market Efficiency, we will reduce logistics costs to our producers, strengthen trade facilitation and radically reduce post-harvest losses,” he stated.
“And through labour power development, we will build a digitally fluent, technically skilled, culturally formidable and globally competitive workforce.”
The inauguration of the Committee marks the fulfilment of President Mahama’s campaign promise to Ghanaians in 2024, to personally work with industry leaders to remove the bottlenecks and disincentives to rapid expansion of Ghana’s export sector, making Made-in-Ghana goods available and loved across the African Continent and in the International Market Place.
This move comes alongside his 24-Hour Economy plan, aimed at boosting economic growth and creating job opportunities for the country.
Mr Tanoh said the government would only claw their way out of the economic crisis they sustainably inherited by helping the nation’s producers to expand and diversify production and export especially within the West African sub-region and the continent.
He noted that despite decades of heroic effort, the nation’s non-traditional exporters earned only $3.5 billion annually.
This figure, he said, was underwhelming for an economy of the nation’s potential. He said most of the nation’s export earnings still come from cocoa beans, gold and crude oil commodities, to which they add little value.
“This is the principal reason that we appear to be permanently in crisis. The only way out is to expand our self-reliance and our export industries,” Mr Tanoh stated, adding “we must assist our industries to expand and diversify our exports competitively.”
Mr Tanoh said the President’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development programme was Ghana’s strategy for structural transformation to be rolled out in tandem with prudent macro-economic management and radically improved governance.
He said the programme envisions a resilient, self-reliant, and globally competitive economy that optimises asset utilisation and creates value for all its citizens, especially the most vulnerable.
Touching on the challenges they must confront head-on, Mr Tanoh said the barriers were well known and that they were not insurmountable.
He said there was a maze of regulatory hurdles with exporters facing up to 16 regulatory steps just to obtain necessary pre-export documentation; adding that navigating their ports involves long delays, informal payments, and high costs.
Mr Tanoh said a deficit in accredited laboratories means that international standard compliance documentation was always a struggle.
“No wonder so few Ghanaian firms want to venture into exports,” he said.
Concerning Ghana’s Strategic Opportunity in Regional and Global Markets, Mr Tanoh said Ghana, being a home to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, was not just attributes but a strategic lever to boost Ghana’s export.
He said: “With clear investment in a diversified production base, scrupulous adherence to quality, efficient logistics, and a well-calibrated market strategy for our goods, Ghana can become a central production and export hub in West Africa.”
He said President Mahama’s establishment of the Committee, which was composed of some of the most accomplished champions of Ghanaian industry signals that transformation would not be driven by bureaucracy, but by partnership with people who build, create, innovate and deliver.
Jury selection started on Monday, May 5 in the federal trial of Sean Combs, which is expected to last into the summer.
The judge overseeing the case, Arun Subramanian, questioned potential jurors gathered at Federal District Court in Manhattan about what they have seen and read about the accusations against the high-profile defendant, whose alleged misdeeds have been nearly inescapable in the news and on social media for the past year and a half.
He has pleaded not guilty to charges of racketeering and sex trafficking.
Many of the potential jurors said they had been exposed to the case: on a television at the gym, through “water-cooler talk” among co-workers, via a comedian making jokes on Instagram.
That exposure was not necessarily disqualifying as long as the potential jurors — who are not being identified by name — said they could decide the case based only on the evidence they saw in court.
“You understand that Mr. Combs is presumed innocent?” Judge Subramanian asked one potential juror, who said she had heard about the case on the radio and had been aware of Mr. Combs’s music and celebrity since the 1990s.
“Absolutely,” she replied.
Mr. Combs has been accused by the government of running a criminal enterprise that is responsible for facilitating a pattern of crimes over two decades, including sex trafficking, kidnapping, arson and drug violations.
rosecutors have accused Mr. Combs of coercing four women into sex, including his former girlfriend Casandra Ventura, who is expected to be a star witness in the trial.
The music mogul’s lawyers have said that the sex at the center of the government’s case was consensual.
Mr. Combs, who is being held at a Brooklyn jail, was permitted by the judge to have five button-down shirts, five pairs of pants, five sweaters and two pairs of shoes without laces to wear for his trial.
Afrobeats singer David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has reflected on his career success after achieving a personal milestone on Spotify.
The OBO crooner recently reached 11 million monthly listeners on Spotify for the first time in his career, following the release of his fifth studio album, 5ive.
In response, Davido proudly stated that he built his career from the ground up, unlike many of his peers who had musical godfathers, such as record label executives, at the start of their journeys.
He nonetheless acknowledged that his success was due in part to God, quality music, and the unwavering support of his fans.
On his X handle, he wrote, “No co-sign, built from the ground up! Just God, good music and the best fans! Appreciate you guys fr [for real]!”
Ghanaian dancehall artiste, Shatta Wale, has criticised government and players in the creative arts sector for what he describes as a lack of understanding and appreciation for the work of content creators.
In a post on X, May 3 Shatta Wale lamented the disregard that content producers receive from the very institutions that are supposed to promote the arts.
“I don’t think the creative arts industry in Ghana and even Ghana government truly understands who content creators are,” he wrote.
The ‘On God’ hitmaker believes content creation is a full-time career, a business, and a lifeline for many, rather than just a some random job that it has been perceived to be.
He referenced some content creators who toil diligently in the background, frequently with little to no assistance in their work.
“These individuals have chosen this path, sacrificing their time, investing in equipment, building teams, and creating platforms from scratch. It’s not just a hustle; it’s a serious business,” he stated.
The “dancehall king” further explained the connection between content creation and the broader entertainment ecosystem, emphasising that the two cannot be separated.
“We need to understand that entertainment and content creation go hand in hand, and with the right support, these platforms can grow and contribute massively to the industry,” he explained.
Shatta Wale criticized the prevalent misconception that YouTubers and other digital creators are just “making money from YouTube” without any effort, strategy and consistency.
“Please don’t say they’re ‘making money from YouTube’ like it’s some overnight success. The education and discipline required to build on YouTube is far deeper than what you’ve been told. It’s not easy, my guy,” he stated.
