The project, which commenced in February 2025 and ends in August, focused on bridging the gap between citizens and duty bearers, enhancing public understanding of rights and responsibilities, and promoting active citizen participation in governance processes.

Addressing participants at the closing session, Abdul Hafiz Yussif, Programme Officer at GDCA, explained that the project was introduced in response to the shrinking civic space in Ghana and aimed to empower citizens to engage constructively with state authorities.

“This project came as a result of the concept of the shrinking civic space in the country over the years. We initiated the ‘Claim Your Space’ initiative to strengthen civic engagement and ensure that citizens can interact with duty bearers for better governance,” he said.

He emphasized that governance thrives when citizens know and exercise their rights, including freedom of expression and peaceful demonstration. According to him, the initiative helped to inform and educate citizens, enabling them to play a more active role in democratic governance.

Funded by Global Focus, the pilot phase of the project brought together diverse stakeholders, including the media (led by the Ghana Journalists Association, Northern Region Chapter), the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), and the Ghana Police Service, all of whom played key roles in public education and outreach efforts.

Superintendent Odartey Nartey, Operational Commander with the Ghana Police Service, highlighted the police’s role in the initiative, particularly in educating students and community groups about their rights and responsibilities under the law.

“Security organizations work within the framework of the law. Once you understand and respect the laws of the country, you will not have issues with the police,” he noted.

On his part, the Northern Regional Director of the NCCE, Alhaji Aliyu Mohammed, stressed the need for both citizens and non-citizens living in Ghana to familiarize themselves with the country’s laws and constitution.

“Whether you are a citizen or non-citizen, once you are on the soil of Ghana, you need to understand the laws that govern us. Rights and responsibilities go hand in hand,” he stated.

Source:Fiilafmonline/Walkiyatu Issahaku

Speaking during the organization’s mid-year review meeting in Tamale, Mr. Awal emphasized that the figures represent more than statistics — they reflect lives meaningfully touched and transformed.

“From January to June this year, we have reached 54,538 lives across our programs directly. But numbers alone do not tell the story — behind each statistic is a face,” he stated.

He expressed concern over the negative impact of shrinking donor support, revealing that NORSAAC has suffered a 70% budget cut due to the withdrawal of international assistance, particularly from the United States.

“The city opposition has stripped 30% of our external talent. And global peace dynamics forced us to make hard choices. The withdrawal of the U.S.A. from the development space affected us severely, leading to over 70% budget cuts,” he noted.

Despite these challenges, NORSAAC continues to deliver on its mission. The Northern Regional Minister, Ali Adolf John, who attended the event as a special guest, praised the organization for its dedication to youth empowerment, women’s advancement, and inclusive development.

“For years, NORSAAC has been at the forefront of championing youth empowerment, women’s advancement, and inclusive development for those too often left behind,” the Minister said.

He further commended the alignment between NORSAAC’s livelihood initiatives and the Government’s Women’s Development Bank initiative, which seeks to enhance economic opportunities for women and promote grassroots resilience.

“Let me be clear, the partnership between Government and civil society is not a matter of convenience but a strategic imperative. Over the past six months, we have witnessed the power of collaboration,” he added.

The review meeting brought together civil society actors, development partners, and government representatives to assess the organization’s performance in the first half of the year and strategize for the months ahead.

Source:Fiilafmonline/Walkiyatu

Burkina Faso’s military rulers have disbanded the country’s electoral commission calling it a waste of money.

The interior ministry will handle elections in the future, state-run RTB TV reported.

Since seizing power in September 2022, the coup leaders have initiated sweeping reforms, including the postponement of elections which would lead to a return to civilian rule.

A nationwide vote was due last year, but the junta extended the period of transition to democracy until July 2029, allowing leader Capt Ibrahim Traoré to remain in power and free to contest the next presidential election.

US President Donald Trump says he’s ordered the justice department to produce some additional documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

“Based on the ridiculous amount of publicity given to Jeffrey Epstein, I have asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to produce any and all pertinent Grand Jury testimony, subject to Court approval,” Trump said in a social media post.

It’s unclear whether Trump is authorising the public release of these documents or when that could come – though such action would typically require the approval of a court.

The development comes after days of sustained pressure from some of Trump’s most loyal supporters demanding further disclosures in the Epstein case.

The minister emphasised that while Ghana embraces its Pan-African identity and welcomes all, foreign nationals must strictly adhere to Ghanaian laws and customs and refrain from any actions that could be “unlawful, divisive, and incendiary.”

The diplomatic intervention follows the circulation of a viral video showing Chukwudi Jude Ihenetu discussing plans to acquire land for the purported purpose of creating an Igbo Kingdom within Ghana.

This sparked significant public outcry in Ghana, with many citizens, traditional leaders, and political figures expressing concern that such an endeavour undermines Ghana’s sovereignty and its established chieftaincy institutions.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, July 17, Mr Ablakwa confirmed that he had invited Ihenetu for a meeting to address the alarming claims.

During the meeting, Ihenetu clarified that the viral video was an old interview from 2013, which he now “deeply regrets.”

He assured the minister that he had “long abandoned that idea and has not purchased any piece of land for that purpose.”

Ihenetu “conveyed profuse apologies to the President, Government, Chiefs, and People of Ghana for the unfortunate agitations his rather ill-advised interview has created,” according to the minister’s post.

Mr Ablakwa underscored Ghana’s foundational principles during the discussion.

“As I emphasised in the meeting, Ghana is exceptionally proud of its celebrated friendly foreign policy, which is welcoming of all to our beautiful and peaceful country, particularly Africans and people of African descent. We are determined to keep championing that Pan-African identity, for which we have attained global renown.”

However, he firmly added a crucial caveat: “We, however, expect all our fellow Africans and guests to adhere to our peaceful and law-abiding traditions and desist from conduct or pronouncements considered unlawful, divisive, and incendiary even as they enjoy our famed hospitality.”

This caution directly addresses concerns about potential violations of Ghanaian law.

Under Ghanaian law, while foreigners can acquire interests in land, this is typically through leasehold arrangements, not outright freehold ownership, especially for individuals.

The Ghanaian Constitution (Article 266) and the Lands Act, 2020 (Act 1036) restrict freehold ownership of land to Ghanaian citizens.

Foreigners can generally lease land for up to 50 years, renewable, but the concept of establishing an independent “kingdom” within Ghanaian territory—complete with its own “king”—directly challenges Ghana’s sovereignty and the traditional governance structures recognised by the Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759).

The incident, though clarified, briefly reignited historical tensions between Ghana and Nigeria—two West African powerhouses with a complex relationship, often characterised by strong brotherhood and intermittent flare-ups.

• “Ghana Must Go” (1983): Refers to the mass expulsion of over one million Ghanaians (and other West African nationals) from Nigeria in 1983, during an economic downturn when foreigners were blamed for rising unemployment and crime.

• Aliens Compliance Order (1969): Earlier, Ghana, under Prime Minister Kofi Busia, implemented the “Aliens Compliance Order,” leading to the expulsion of hundreds of thousands of undocumented foreign nationals, many of whom were Nigerians.

• Recent Trade Tensions: In recent years, trade disputes have led to the closure of Nigerian-owned shops in Ghana by local traders who accuse them of violating retail trade laws (e.g., the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 2013, which restricts certain retail activities to Ghanaians or requires high foreign equity). These tensions have occasionally sparked anti-foreigner sentiments.

Source: Myjoyonline

The Ministry of Education has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Voorhees University, a renowned higher education institution based in the United States of America, to strengthen teacher education and promote global academic exchange.

This payment, which covers six months, forms part of a broader initiative by the government to provide financial support to students in Nursing Training Colleges.

In a statement sighted by Citi News on Thursday, July 17, the Ministry noted that the allowance, which was a key commitment made by President John Dramani Mahama during the recent electioneering campaign, has now been fulfilled.

“The Ministry views this development as a significant step in improving the welfare of nursing trainees and sustaining the motivation of future health professionals. It further aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen the health sector by ensuring that critical human resources receive the needed support throughout their training.”

“The Ministry extends its appreciation to the president of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for fulfilling his promise to the nurses, as well as all other stakeholders involved in facilitating the timely release and distribution of the funds.”

The Ministry reiterated its commitment to working closely with nursing institutions to ensure the continued delivery of quality healthcare education across the country.

Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews

The OSP confirmed the scheduled court appearance in a statement posted on its official Facebook page on Thursday, July 17, 2025.

According to the OSP, Dr. Abdul-Hamid is alleged to have masterminded an extortion scheme that led to the collection of GHS280,516,127.19 between 2022 and December 2024. Of that amount, the Special Prosecutor claims GHS24 million was paid directly to the former CEO, while the remainder was allegedly funneled through intermediaries and laundered using three companies.

According to the OSP, all accused persons are currently on inquiry bail pending trial. They include: Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Wendy Newman, Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bernako-Mensah, and Kwaku Aboagye Acquah.

However, Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s legal team has refuted these claims, stating that as of July 17, no formal charges had been served, nor had he been arraigned before any competent court. They described the allegations as inconsistent and lacking legal foundation.

In a statement, his lawyers noted that the original accusations—announced by the OSP at a February 2025 press conference—involved embezzlement of GHS1.3 billion from the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), as well as procurement breaches.

The accusations have since been revised to extortion and money laundering, with the alleged amount reduced to GHS280 million.

“Our client denies initiating or being involved in any extortion scheme, either directly or indirectly, and further denies receiving any personal benefit from such alleged conduct,” the statement read.

The legal team also pointed to what they described as “unprecedented financial growth” during Dr. Abdul-Hamid’s tenure, highlighting that the UPPF grew from GHS53 million in 2021 to over GHS1.1 billion by the end of 2024. They argued that this growth is proof of his competence and transparency as NPA CEO.

“This is a man who served with utmost integrity and competence,” his counsel added. “He is fully prepared to contest any charges leveled against him and is confident that the truth will vindicate him.”

The upcoming court appearance marks the latest development in a case that has attracted significant public and industry attention, as it involves one of the highest-profile former executives in Ghana’s petroleum regulatory sector.

Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews

Speaking at the Absa-UPSA Law School Quarterly Roundtable in Accra, Dr. Asiamah emphasised the need to preserve the integrity of the Ghana cedi, warning that rising cases of currency counterfeiting threaten the stability of Ghana’s monetary system.

“So in Ghana, if we are to safeguard the cedi’s role in our economy, we must begin by reclaiming its prestige in our everyday lives. Let us price in cedi, and let us transact in cedis. Let us teach our children that the cedi is worthy of their trust, their savings, and their ambition,” he said.

“Because in the end, the strength of a currency is not determined only by central banks or financial markets. It is determined by the people who use it, the people who protect it, and the people who believe in it.”

Dr. Asiamah also expressed deep concerns over reports of criminal activity involving counterfeit currency, particularly in urban areas and urged citizens to report any such illegal activity directly to him or law enforcement agencies.

“Recently, I heard a story somewhere within Accra about individuals involved in counterfeiting currency. These people are producing fake notes illegally,” he revealed.

“If we allow these practices to thrive in society, why are we surprised when the currency loses value? If you find anyone engaging in currency counterfeiting, whether it’s the cedi, the dollar, or whichever currency, please my phone number is all over the place. Send me a WhatsApp”, he mentioned.

Dr. Asiamah expressed further concern about reports that foreign nationals are also participating in counterfeiting operations, including Ghana’s historical currency designs.

“The heartbreaking part is that I’m told a lot of foreigners are involved in that. They are counterfeiting Kwame Nkrumah’s cedis, the cedi he introduced. They are destroying it. And Ghanaians know these people.”

The Absa-UPSA Roundtable brought together legal experts, regulators, financial leaders, and students to explore the link between monetary policy, currency integrity, and national development.

The event underscored the critical role of public trust and citizen engagement in strengthening Ghana’s economic systems.

Source:Fiilafmonline/JoyBuss

Speaking in an interview on Hitz FM, Poloo, without naming the player, recounted that the incident began at Rockstone’s Office, a popular hangout spot at the time.

She said the footballer approached her while she was out having fun with friends and later invited her on a solo date.

According to her, the date started off well but took a troubling turn when the player lured her into his car and made inappropriate advances.

Poloo revealed that he exposed himself and offered her a large sum of money in exchange for sexual favours, which she declined.

Feeling unsafe, she said she quickly left the scene and never responded to his subsequent attempts to contact her.

She shared the experience to caution young women and highlight the pressure they often face, especially in unfamiliar spaces.

Poloo added that walking away was an act of self-respect and strength, particularly because the money offered was tempting.

Source:Fiilafmonline/JoyEnt