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Ghana’s democracy fragile: it must be protected …IDEG cautions

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Dr Manyo speaking at the event

Dr Manyo speaking at the event

Ghana’s electoral system, despite the successful exchange of power in the past years, is still not immune to external interference, the Institute of Democratic Governance (IDEG) Ghana, has cautioned.

It has therefore called on the government to safeguard the process and ensure it is strong enough to resist any form of interference ahead of the upcoming 2024 general elections.

This came to light at a training workshop for the media and other stakeholders in Accra on Thursday on managing the risk of election interference in Ghana’s election 2024.

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According to the Civil Society Organisation (CSO), in a report presented by a Research Fellow at IDEG, Dr Joyce Manyo, the country’s democracy was fragile and must be protected.

Dr Manyo stated that recent developments in Africa showed that election interference was real, providing several reasons for the development.

She said IDEG observed following a recent research that Ghana was weak hence the need to take steps as a matter of urgency towards countering any possible interference to protect the country.

To help reduce instances of such interferences in Ghana, she said the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) needed to issue tighter cyber security guidelines and undertake public education on guidelines.

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In addition, she said, comprehensive training for individuals and organisations on how to recognise and reject misinformation and any form of interfering tools was also crucial.

She said, political parties and politicians must also be transparent about funding.

Contributing, a Political Security Expert and Head of the Political Science Department at the University of Ghana Legon, Prof. Seidu Alidu said, Ghana’s relatively insecure online communication structure, inadequate counter-disinformation capacity, unencrypted methods for checking voter’s data and the manual tabulation of electoral data among others puts the country at the risk of political interference.

He said the government needed to take such matters seriously and provide lasting solutions.

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By Michael D. Abayateye

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UGMC disputes Michael Blackson’s claims over late mother’s treatment

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The University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) has disputed claims made on social media by comedian Michael Blackson concerning the treatment given to his late mother, saying a review found that the allegations did not accurately reflect what happened during her stay at the hospital.

In a statement issued in Accra on August 5, 2026, the management of UGMC expressed condolences to Mr. Blackson and his family over the death of his 83-year-old mother, who died at the facility on July 16, 2026.

The hospital said it had taken the concerns raised by Mr. Blackson seriously and conducted a thorough review in line with its clinical and administrative procedures.

According to the statement, the facts presented by Mr. Blackson on social media contained “numerous inaccuracies” and did not accurately reflect the medical care provided to his mother.

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UGMC explained that she was referred to the facility from another hospital and received treatment there from May 27 to July 16, 2026, a period of about eight weeks.

The hospital stated that it would not release details of her diagnosis, treatment, medical records or other aspects of her care because it had a duty to protect patient confidentiality, even after death.

It said the decision was intended to respect the dignity of the deceased and the privacy of her family.

UGMC further stated that all clinical decisions at the facility are made by qualified healthcare professionals based on medical judgment, established standards of care and the best interests of the patient.

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The statement added that such decisions are made in consultation with authorised family representatives where necessary and that billing and financial procedures are governed by institutional policies and are separate from clinical decision-making.

The hospital noted that it values feedback from patients and their families and considers both positive and negative comments important for improving the quality of care.

Mr. Blackson had earlier used social media to criticise the care his mother received at UGMC, prompting the hospital’s response.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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NPP suspends Greater Accra campaigns ahead of “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration

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The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has directed all aspirants campaigning in the Greater Accra Region to suspend their campaign activities on August 5 and 6 and instead mobilise supporters for the party’s planned “Democracy Under Attack” demonstration.

The directive was issued by the party’s National Steering Committee in a statement signed by the NPP General Secretary, Justin Kodua Frimpong, on Tuesday.

According to the statement, the decision forms part of efforts to ensure a strong turnout for the demonstration, which is scheduled for Thursday, August 6, 2026.

The party said the protest would begin at 5:00 a.m., with participants expected to gather at the Supreme Court in Accra.

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It further directed Regional, Constituency and Polling Station Executives in Greater Accra to work closely to mobilise members and supporters for the event.

“The National Steering Committee is calling on all aspirants currently campaigning across the Greater Accra Region to temporarily suspend their campaign activities on the 5th and 6th of August and join in mobilising support for the upcoming demonstration,” the statement noted.

The NPP appealed to party members and supporters to remain peaceful, disciplined and orderly throughout the protest.

The demonstration forms part of the party’s response to concerns it has raised over issues relating to Ghana’s democratic governance and the justice system.

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The NPP leadership expressed confidence that party members would cooperate fully to ensure a successful and peaceful event.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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