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Eyewitness News
4 days ago
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
Ghana opposition boycotts parliament over leader's arrest
ACCRA - Dozens of opposition lawmakers from Ghana's main opposition boycotted parliamentary on Thursday and staged a march in protest at the detention of a senior leader facing financial irregularities investigation. New Patriotic Party (NPP) chairman in the party's political stronghold of Ashanti Region, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, has been in custody at the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in Accra since Tuesday. The attorney general said he is being investigated for fraud, causing financial loss to the state and money laundering. The lawmakers marched from parliament and staged a sit-in outside the heavily-guarded EOCO offices. "Until EOCO does the right thing, we... will protest by absenting ourselves from parliament," leader of the opposition Alexander Afenyo-Markin told local media. He condemned the "Rambo style" arrest of their colleague and labelled the GHS50 million ($4.8 million) bail ordered on him as "outrageous" and "unreasonable". Boasiako was arrested after responding to a police invitation. He was granted bail on Wednesday, but he remains in custody after failing to raise the money. The protest drew scores of mostly youth NPP supporters, who blocked streets near EOCO premises with car tyres, chanting slogans. Police then dispersed the crowds. Boasiako's company, Akonta Mining, has come under scrutiny in recent years for allegedly operating illegally in protected forest reserves. In April, the Lands Ministry revoked its mining licence, citing environmental breaches. The controversy has fuelled political tensions within one of west Africa's stable democracies and raised questions about the impartiality of President John Mahama's anti-corruption drive. Mahama beat the NPP candidate and then vice president Mahamudu Bawumia in last year's presidential elections.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ghana protesters accuse president of power grab after chief justice's suspension
Hundreds of opposition protesters dressed in red and black have condemned a decision by Ghana's president to suspend the country's chief justice, and are demanding that she be reinstated with immediate effect. They accuse President John Mahama of violating the constitution by failing to follow due process, and say he is interfering in the independence of the judiciary. Gertrude Torkornoo was removed from her post last week pending investigations into her conduct - the first time a chief justice has been suspended in Ghana's history. Action was taken after the president said three people had sent petitions to him containing undisclosed allegations against Chief Justice Torkornoo. Monday's demonstration in Accra was led by the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), who were in power when Chief Justice Torkornoo was appointed by then-president Nana Akufo-Addo two years ago. The NPP's national organiser Nana Boakye Yiadom told the BBC her treatment was politically motivated and an attack on democracy. Also taking part in the protests were three smaller opposition groups. The opposition's demands echo those made by the Ghana Bar Association last week. The grouping of top legal professionals said suspending the chief justice was unconstitutional and President Mahama must reverse it. But that view is not shared by all. A number of lawyers in the country argue it is within the president's power to act when there is evidence of misconduct by a public officer, no matter the position. This view is also backed by the president's supporters. By law, chief justices in Ghana enjoy security of tenure, which means that they remain in office until retirement. Yet Ghana's constitution does empower the president to appoint, suspend or even fire the chief justice where there is evidence of wrongdoing, including incompetence and misbehaviour. However some Ghanaians argue due process has not been followed in this instance. One protester, Serwaa Akoto, told the BBC: "The judiciary is under attack and we want the right thing to be done. Why is he suspending the chief justice?" Also at the protest was Charles Oteng, who told the BBC: "We want to send a strong signal to the president. Yes, indeed, he has all the powers as a president, but the way he is attacking our judiciary is very alarming - and we the youth will not sit for him to do whatever he wants to do." Chief Justice Torkornoo is the third woman to hold the position in Ghana. Since winning power, Mahama's National Democratic Congress has stepped up accusations of bias in her rulings of high profile political cases, which she denies. She is expected to be summoned to answer questions in person in front of a committee investigating the allegations against her. 'An African pope would be inspirational' 'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me' Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crack Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ghana protesters accuse president of power grab after chief justice's suspension
Hundreds of opposition protesters dressed in red and black have condemned a decision by Ghana's president to suspend the country's chief justice, and are demanding that she be reinstated with immediate effect. They accuse President John Mahama of violating the constitution by failing to follow due process, and say he is interfering in the independence of the judiciary. Gertrude Torkornoo was removed from her post last week pending investigations into her conduct - the first time a chief justice has been suspended in Ghana's history. Action was taken after the president said three people had sent petitions to him containing undisclosed allegations against Chief Justice Torkornoo. Monday's demonstration in Accra was led by the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), who were in power when Chief Justice Torkornoo was appointed by then-president Nana Akufo-Addo two years ago. The NPP's national organiser Nana Boakye Yiadom told the BBC her treatment was politically motivated and an attack on democracy. Also taking part in the protests were three smaller opposition groups. The opposition's demands echoes those made by the Ghana Bar Association last week. The grouping of top legal professionals said suspending the chief justice was unconstitutional and President Mahama must reverse it. But that view is not shared by all. A number of lawyers in the country argue it is within the president's power to act when there is evidence of misconduct by a public officer, no matter the position. This view is also backed by the president's supporters. By law, chief justices in Ghana enjoy security of tenure, which means that they remain in office until retirement. Yet Ghana's constitution does empower the president to appoint, suspend or even fire the chief justice where there is evidence of wrongdoing, including incompetence and misbehaviour. However some Ghanaians argue due process has not been followed in this instance. One protester, Serwaa Akoto, told the BBC: "The judiciary is under attack and we want the right thing to be done. Why is he suspending the chief justice?" Also at the protest was Charles Oteng, who told the BBC: "We want to send a strong signal to the president. Yes, indeed, he has all the powers as a president but the way he is attacking our judiciary is very alarming - and we the youth will not sit for him to do whatever he wants to do." Chief Justice Torkornoo is the third Ghanaian woman to hold the position. Since winning power, Mahama's National Democratic Congress has stepped up accusations of bias in her rulings of high profile political cases, which she denies. She is expected to be summoned to answer questions in person in front of a committee investigating the allegations against her. 'An African pope would be inspirational' 'I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me' Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crack Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
BBC News
05-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Ghana protesters accuse president of power grab after chief justice's suspension
Hundreds of opposition protesters dressed in red and black have condemned a decision by Ghana's president to suspend the country's chief justice, and are demanding that she be reinstated with immediate accuse President John Mahama of violating the constitution by failing to follow due process, and say he is interfering in the independence of the Torkornoo was removed from her post last week pending investigations into her conduct - the first time a chief justice has been suspended in Ghana's was taken after the president said three people had sent petitions to him containing undisclosed allegations against Chief Justice Torkornoo. Monday's demonstration in Accra was led by the main opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), who were in power when Chief Justice Torkornoo was appointed by then-president Nana Akufo-Addo two years NPP's national organiser Nana Boakye Yiadom told the BBC her treatment was politically motivated and an attack on taking part in the protests were three smaller opposition opposition's demands echo those made by the Ghana Bar Association last week. The grouping of top legal professionals said suspending the chief justice was unconstitutional and President Mahama must reverse that view is not shared by all. A number of lawyers in the country argue it is within the president's power to act when there is evidence of misconduct by a public officer, no matter the position. This view is also backed by the president's law, chief justices in Ghana enjoy security of tenure, which means that they remain in office until retirement. Yet Ghana's constitution does empower the president to appoint, suspend or even fire the chief justice where there is evidence of wrongdoing, including incompetence and misbehaviour. However some Ghanaians argue due process has not been followed in this protester, Serwaa Akoto, told the BBC: "The judiciary is under attack and we want the right thing to be done. Why is he suspending the chief justice?" Also at the protest was Charles Oteng, who told the BBC: "We want to send a strong signal to the president. Yes, indeed, he has all the powers as a president, but the way he is attacking our judiciary is very alarming - and we the youth will not sit for him to do whatever he wants to do." Chief Justice Torkornoo is the third woman to hold the position in Ghana. Since winning power, Mahama's National Democratic Congress has stepped up accusations of bias in her rulings of high profile political cases, which she is expected to be summoned to answer questions in person in front of a committee investigating the allegations against her. More BBC stories about Ghana: 'An African pope would be inspirational''I was duped into leaving London for school in Ghana - but it saved me'Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crack Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ghana's ex-finance minister declared a fugitive
Ghana's former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta has been declared a fugitive by prosecutors over his alleged involvement in multiple corruption cases when he was in government. Ofori-Atta had left Ghana to evade investigations, and all necessary steps would be taken to bring him back, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyabeng said. Ofori-Atta has been accused of causing financial losses to the state, including over a controversial national cathedral, which remains a hole in the ground despite the alleged spending of $58m (£46.6m) of government money. Ofori-Atta has not commented on the allegations. According to Agyabeng, the ex-minister's lawyers said he was out of the country for medical reasons. Agyabeng told a press conference that Ofori-Atta, 66, failed to attend an interview with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), despite being told he was a suspect. Ofori-Atta left Ghana in early January, and had no intention of "willingly" returning, Agyabeng said. The OSP was, therefore, declaring him a "wanted person". "He is a fugitive from justice," the special prosecutor added. Ofori-Atta was finance minister from January 2017 to February 2024, when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) was in power. It lost elections in December to the National Democratic Congress (NDC). President John Mahama, who was inaugurated in January, went on to establish an investigative committee known as Operation Recover All Loot. The committee has received over 200 complaints of corruption, amounting to more than $20bn in recoverable funds. Mahama has directed the attorney general and minister of justice to launch investigations into these allegations, stating that Ghana will no longer be a safe haven for corruption. However, some Ghanaians have criticised him for discontinuing cases against his former allies on trial. The Maths Queen with a quantum mission to mentor girls Why some Ghanaians are fighting in insurgency-hit Burkina Faso Ghana wants more for its cashews, but it's a tough nut to crack Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Africa Daily Focus on Africa
