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Development partners meet Gender Minister on Ghana’s Social Protection agenda
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Development Partners working in the social protection space have met with the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, to deepen collaboration and support efforts to address growing vulnerabilities among Ghana’s population.
Development partners including UNICEF, the World Bank and the Foreign Commonwealth Development Organization, sought to explore strategic ways of improving the design, coordination, and financing of social protection (SP) programmes in Ghana.
Discussions centred on key priorities such as increasing the national budget allocation for social protection, implementing reforms under the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme and the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), and introducing future increases in LEAP cash grants as part of efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
Development Partners highlighted the importance of operationalising the LEAP Indexation Mechanism, a benchmark introduced under the IMF programme to ensure that benefits are indexed to inflation and gradually cover at least 20% of household consumption.
The meeting also touched on the ongoing LEAP reassessment, the development of a shock-responsive SP strategy, and the need for a strong and inclusive national social registry that supports policy targeting and programme delivery.
Emphasis was placed on building partnerships with the private sector to enhance delivery and sustainability of social protection systems in Ghana.
Particular attention was given to interventions aimed at vulnerable groups, including adolescent girls.
The partners expressed interest in empowerment programmes, development of tools to combat teenage pregnancy, and strategies to engage boys and promote positive masculinity as part of the broader gender equality agenda.
Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey reaffirmed government’s commitment, led by President John Dramani Mahama, to ensuring that social protection is given the priority and visibility it deserves in public policy.
She stressed the importance of collaboration among government institutions to deliver integrated services, and called for improved coordination across programmes through tools that allow institutions to access and utilize data from the social registry.
The Sector Minister also emphasized government’s dedication to strengthening gender-responsive policies, ensuring that both boys and girls are not left behind in the drive for equality and sustainable development.
Development Partners welcomed government’s renewed commitment and pledged continued support in areas such as technical assistance, capacity building, policy development, and resource mobilization to ensure that social protection reaches all who need it – especially in the face of rising poverty and widening regional inequalities.
The Accra Regional Police Command has arrested former professional boxer Michael Ayitey Okai, popularly known as “Ayitey Powers,” over an alleged threat of death against the Director-General of the National Sports Authority, Yaw Ampofo.
According to the Police, the 46-year-old former boxer was arrested on Monday, August 24, 2026, in connection with the alleged threat.
The Police said the arrest followed a video circulating on social media in which Ayitey Powers is alleged to have issued the threat against Mr Ampofo.
He is currently in Police custody and is assisting with investigations.
The Accra Regional Police Command said investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged threat and determine the appropriate action to be taken in accordance with the law.
The Command has urged the public to refrain from sharing unverified information about the matter while the investigation continues.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Minority Leader in Parliament Alexander Afenyo Markin has sued the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, and Multimedia Group Limited over alleged defamatory comments made against him on the Newsfile programme.
In a writ filed at the High Court in Accra, Mr Afenyo Markin is seeking GH¢15 million in damages, an apology and retraction of the statements, among other reliefs.
The suit follows comments allegedly made by Mr Gyamfi during the Saturday, August 22, 2026 edition of Newsfile, hosted by Samson Lardy Anyenini.
According to the statement of claim, Mr Gyamfi described Mr Afenyo Markin as an “extortionist” while responding to a question about GoldBod’s reported profits and its position on losses arising from its operations.
The plaintiff claims that Mr Gyamfi repeated the allegation when the host sought clarification on whether he stood by the description.
Mr Afenyo Markin further claims that Mr Gyamfi challenged him to sue him and insisted that the allegation was true.
The plaintiff argues that the statements created the impression that he engages in extortion, uses his political influence to put improper pressure on public institutions and officials, and conducts himself in a manner inconsistent with the standards expected of a lawyer and public office holder.
He denies the allegations and maintains that he is not an extortionist and has never engaged in the conduct alleged by Mr Gyamfi.
The Minority Leader also argues that the comments were made maliciously and were presented as facts without evidence being disclosed.
He claims the statements have damaged his reputation, professional standing and public image, particularly because of his position as a senior political figure and legal practitioner.
The suit also names Multimedia Group Limited as a defendant because, according to the plaintiff, the alleged defamatory comments were broadcast through JoyNews and subsequently circulated on social media platforms, including X, Facebook and YouTube.
Mr Afenyo Markin claims Multimedia failed to stop the comments or deactivate Mr Gyamfi’s microphone after the allegations were made.
He is therefore asking the court to award him general, aggravated and exemplary damages, as well as GH¢15 million in compensation and legal costs.
He is also seeking an order compelling the defendants to issue a full, unconditional and unequivocal retraction and public apology.
The plaintiff wants the apology and retraction to be given similar prominence and reach as the original publication, including through JoyNews and the social media platforms where the comments were disseminated.
He is further seeking a permanent injunction preventing the defendants from repeating the alleged defamatory statements or words with a similar meaning.
The writ requires the defendants to enter an appearance within eight days after being served.
It warns that failure to do so could result in judgment being entered in their absence.
The case was filed by lawyer Paa Kwesi Abaidoo of Dehyena Chambers on behalf of Mr Afenyo Markin.
By: Jacob Aggrey
