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Five envoys present letters of credence to President Mahama
The President of the Republic, John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday March 13, 2025, received the Letters of Credence of five Envoys at a ceremony held at the Jubilee House.
At the ceremony to present their credentials were H. E. Ms. Laura Ranalli, Ambassador of the Republic of Italy, H. E. Mr. Julio Enrique Pujol Torres, Ambassador of the Republic of Cuba, H. E. Mrs. Musu Jatu Ruhle, Ambassador of Republic of Liberia.
The rest were H. E. Dr. Abdulla Murad Sulaiman Mohammed Al Mandoos, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, and H. E. Mr. Ali Ghomshi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
During the ceremony, the envoys congratulated John Dramani Mahama for his election to the Presidency and expressed their excitement to be serving in Ghana.
The envoys enumerated several programmes they would be executing in collaboration with the Government as they took turns to present their Letters of Credence.
Additionally, the envoys, assured the President of their cooperation and collaboration during their tenure to further deepen the ties between Ghana and their respective countries.
President Mahama welcomed and congratulated the Envoys on their appointments, stating that he was looking forward to more fruitful collaborations with their respective countries, which he envisaged would grow during their tenures in Ghana.
He mentioned that Ghana was looking forward to partnerships in the agribusiness sector to reduce food inflation, improve value addition, especially with cocoa and sugar production.
He informed the envoys that Ghana was in the process of initiating the signing of the Ghana Labour Export Programme agreement with her various partners, where trained Ghanaian youth would be sent abroad to legally work to curb exploitation and trafficking.
Other areas raised included the formalisation of the export of gold through the Gold Board, the revamping of the national airline, among others.
In the health sector the President sought for partnerships in completing and managing the uncompleted hospitals to augment the quality and availability of health care delivery in the country.
Concerning peace and security, the President encouraged collaboration to help countries in the Sahel Region to mitigate terrorist activities and maintain lasting peace in the region and the ECOWAS Sub-Region.
The ceremony ended with the newly accredited Envoys reaffirming their commitment to upholding the good and friendly relations that exists between Ghana and their various countries.
Also present at the ceremony were, the Chief of Staff, Mr. Julius Debrah, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), the Executive Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama and the Legal Counsel to the President, Mrs. Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew, Officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other government officials.
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.
