The head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, Professor Seidu Alidu, has called for the enactment of laws that will prevent youth groups from attacking public institutions after a change in government.

President John Dramani Mahama has revoked the appointment of Edward Nana Yaw Koranteng as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Minerals Income and Investment Fund (MIIF), effective immediately.

The revocation, announced in a letter dated January 13, 2025, was signed by Mr Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President. 

Mr. Koranteng was appointed as CEO of the Minerals Income and Investment Fund in March 2021. 

The Executive Director of Child Rights International, Bright Kweku Appiah, has stated that any review of the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) policy should not include asking parents to shoulder the cost of feeding and accommodation for students. 

The 76th Annual New Year School and Conference, which provides the platform to discuss national issues and proffer solutions to them, will open at the University of Ghana today. 

The Minister of Energy and Green Transition designate, John Abdulai Jinapor, has said the government will explore private sector involvement in the operation of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to improve its efficiency and revenue collection.

The Volta Regional chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mawutor Agbavitor, has assured the people in the region that President John Mahama will consider qualified persons from the region for appointments in government.

Some lands reclaimed from the scourge of illegal mining have been handed over to the chiefs and people in the Bosome Freho, Bosomtwe, and Asante Akyim Central districts in the Ashanti Region.

The Chairman of the Operation Recover All the Loot (ORAL) Committee, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has underscored the need for legislation to prevent political appointees and exposed persons from acquiring state assets.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has concluded investigations into allegations of using public office for personal profit by the former Secretary to the Inter-Ministerial Committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM), Charles Bissue.

The accuracy and reliability of the prosecution’s scientific report on lithovit fertiliser in the trial of former Chief Executive of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni and two others became the subject of the evidence-in-chief of the ninth defence witness. 

Oluwatimileyin Ajayi, purported to be a gospel musician, has been arrested in Orozo, a border community between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, and Nasarawa State, after being found with a decapitated head in a black nylon bag during a church service on Sunday.  

Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, the Attorney General and Justice Minister-Designate, has staunchly defended the government’s newly established Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) team, describing it as a critical tool for accountability and the recovery of misappropriated state resources.  

Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Designate, addressed the Appointments Committee of Parliament, responding to questions about a potential conflict of interest arising from his previous private legal practice and his prospective role as Attorney-General.

The National Council of Elders of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has issued a strong appeal to its members and supporters to desist from engaging in campaign activities for internal party positions. 

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Limited will carry out a revenue mobilisation exercise from Wednesday, January 15 to Friday, January 31, 2025, across all its operational areas.

The exercise, dubbed "Operation Keep the Lights On," will target all categories of customers in arrears and include inspections of prepaid meters to ensure their integrity.

The Minister designate for Energy, John Jinapor says an approximate 2.9 million meters belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) requires urgent replacement as part of efforts to improve revenue generation for the company.

He said out of the about 5.2 million ECG meters in the system, about 2.9 million of them were not working well hence contributing to the revenue generation lapses for the ECG. 

Energy Minister designate John Abdulai Jinapor has expressed grave concerns over Ghana’s ballooning energy sector debt, which has surged to over $3 billion as of January 12, 2025.

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson who has been nominated by President John Dramani Mahama to handle the Finance portfolio as a minister, was vetted by the Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday,

When he appeared before the committee, the provided some justification for the new government's decision to repeal certain taxes such as the e-levy and betting taxes.

Refreshingly, President John Dramani Mahama appears on track to keeping his campaign promise to govern with 60 ministers.

Already, he has realigned the ministries, reducing the number from 29 to 23. This seeks to achieve the much-talked-about lean government and realize the government’s vision of strategic governance to address critical national challenges.

Of particular interest is the birth of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs. 

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who has been nominated for the Finance portfolio as a Minister, has rejected claims that the government needs to adjust tax rates to generate revenue for the country’s rebuilding efforts.

While addressing questions before the Parliamentary Appointments Committee, Dr. Forson outlined his strategy for boosting revenue without increasing taxes. He emphasized the importance of improving tax compliance as a key measure.

Finance Minister-designate Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced during his vetting before Parliament's Appointments Committee on Monday, January 13 2025 that betting and other "nuisance taxes" will be scrapped while government revenue is set to increase.

The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo Markin, has called on the Minister of Finance designate to present a concrete plan for the removal of certain taxes when finally approved by the house.

In its half-year report from July to December 2024, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has explained that it was investigating 197 additional complaints at various stages of review. 

In the report released on Monday morning (Jan 13, 2025), the Special Prosecutor said it will publicise and proceed with cases that meet the threshold for full investigation and fall within the Office’s remit.

The Appointments Committee of Parliament on Monday morning starting vetting the three ministerial nominees of President John Dramani Mahama.

But before the committee started asking questions when the first nominee, Cassiel Ato Forson appeared, the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin pointed to some elementary mistakes in the letter from the presidency, that communicated to Parliament, the names of the nominees.

Permit me a space in your prestigious newspaper to draw attention to a critical yet overlooked issue of national importance: the arbitrary and often restrictive entry requirements of Ghanaian universities.