News
Minority leader raises concerns over delayed ruling in Kpandai election case
The Minority Leader in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has raised serious concerns about delays and missed timelines by the High Court in Tamale in the ongoing Kpandai parliamentary election dispute.
In a facebook post, Mr Afenyo-Markin drew attention to the conduct of Justice Manuel Bart-Plange Brew, who was expected to deliver a ruling on December 18 2025 but did not sit.
According to him, no ruling was delivered, no new date was announced, and parties were only informed that the judge was indisposed.
He stressed that the incident was not isolated and formed part of what he described as a troubling pattern in the same case.
The Minority Leader recalled that on November 24 2025, the High Court nullified the entire Kpandai parliamentary election and ordered a fresh poll, even though the election petition focused on alleged irregularities in only some polling stations.
The decision removed Matthew Nyindam from office, despite him winning the election with 27,947 votes against 24,213, a margin of 3,734 votes.
He noted that after the judgment, lawyers for Mr Nyindam requested the written ruling but faced delays before it was eventually released days later. He explained that the delay already raised concerns, given the serious impact of the decision.
Mr Afenyo-Markin further stated that Parliament went ahead to treat the Kpandai seat as vacant and notified the Electoral Commission of Ghana, even though an appeal and an application for certiorari were already before the courts.
He added that the Minority protested this move and called for restraint until all court processes were completed, but their objections were ignored.
According to him, Mr Nyindam later filed a stay of execution application, and Justice Brew fixed a mid-December date to rule on it. December 18 2025 was publicly announced as the ruling date, making it significant for Parliament and the Electoral Commission, which had already begun acting on the assumption that the seat was vacant.
However, when the date arrived, the judge did not appear, no ruling was delivered, and no fresh date was announced.
The Minority Leader explained that the matter is now before the Supreme Court of Ghana, which on December 16 2025 issued an interim order directing the Electoral Commission to suspend all steps toward a rerun election in Kpandai until the case is determined.
He questioned why courts fix firm ruling dates but fail to meet them and called for clearer explanations when such delays occur, especially in cases with national and constitutional importance.
Mr Afenyo-Markin stressed that respect for the judiciary remains important but added that fairness, transparency and timely justice are also critical.
He called on Justice Brew to promptly deliver a clear ruling on the stay application to bring certainty to the case.
He concluded that the people of Kpandai, Parliament and all state institutions involved deserve clarity, warning that justice delayed, especially after a far-reaching judgment, undermines public confidence in the justice system.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has called for urgent and decisive action following recent xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians living in South Africa.
In a statement issued in Accra on April 29, the caucus expressed concern about what it described as a growing pattern of violence against foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, in areas such as KwaZulu-Natal, Durban and Gauteng.
The group noted that Ghanaian-owned businesses have been attacked, while some individuals have been harassed and assaulted. It added that, in certain cases, victims have also been denied access to essential services.
According to the statement, claims that foreign nationals are responsible for crime and economic hardship are unfounded and should be rejected.
The caucus referred to the widely circulated assault of a Ghanaian, Emmanuel Asamoah, as an example of the severity of the situation. It also raised concern about reports that some incidents occurred in the presence of law enforcement officers without effective intervention.
The Minority acknowledged steps taken by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, including his engagement with South African authorities and efforts to provide consular support to affected Ghanaians.
It noted the public condemnation of the attacks by President Cyril Ramaphosa, describing these as necessary but not sufficient.
The caucus called on the South African government to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible and to hold security agencies accountable where they fail to act.
It urged authorities to take practical steps to protect foreign nationals across the country.
On the part of Ghana, the Minority urged the government to adopt a stronger and more structured response.
It called for direct engagement between President John Dramani Mahama and President Ramaphosa to secure firm commitments on the safety of Ghanaians.
The statement further recommended increased consular support for citizens in affected areas and called for the issue to be escalated to the African Union for an urgent inquiry into recurring xenophobic attacks.
It urged the government to work with regional partners within ECOWAS to present a unified response.
The Minority suggested that Ghana should seek assurances from South Africa, including confirmed arrests, clear prosecution processes and a plan to protect foreign nationals.
It added that compensation should be considered for victims who have suffered losses.
The statement, signed by the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, urged Ghanaians in South Africa to remain cautious and maintain contact with the Ghana High Commission.
It stressed that Ghana must act firmly to protect its citizens and uphold the principles of cooperation and solidarity among African countries.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Climate Change and Sustainability Ministry backs WiSA International Festival to promote women-led climate action
The Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability has expressed support for the Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA) International Festival, aimed at promoting inclusive climate action and sustainable development across the continent.
In a statement, the Office said it recognises WiSA as an important platform that brings together governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society to drive climate solutions and economic transformation.
The Festival is scheduled to take place on May 1, 2026, at the Cedi Conference Centre from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This year’s event under the theme: Empowering Women For The Economic Sustainability of Africa, will feature, Liu Yaw Nana, Acting Secretary of Ghana-Chinese Business Chamber of Commerce, Issifu Seidu, Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Dr.Agness Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender Children and Social Protection, Bishop E.O Ansah, General Overseer, Eternal Life Church, President, Women’s Development Association, Turkey, Nilgün Zaimoğlu and Chief of Government Relations and Africa UN Global Compact.
Additionally, it will host, Dr.Charity Binka, Chairperson, Chairperson, African Women Leaders Network , Pearl Opoku, Trader and GUTA National Organiser, Lydia Abbey, Makola Market Queen, actress Juliet Ibrahim, CEO of FZ Global Legacy, Francesca Zoppi, The Revival Founder, Yayra Agbofah and many others.
According to the statement, WiSA’s vision, led by Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, aligns with national and continental goals on climate resilience, green growth and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Office noted that WiSA’s focus on empowering women as key drivers of sustainability and economic productivity is a practical approach to addressing climate challenges and development gaps.
It highlighted WiSA’s track record of engaging global institutions and organising multi-stakeholder events as evidence of its ability to mobilise partnerships and deliver results.
The Ministry said the 2026 Festival presents an opportunity to promote climate-smart investments, green innovation and scalable solutions in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and the circular economy.
It added that the event will also support public-private partnerships and strengthen Africa-led solutions in global sustainability discussions.
As part of its commitment, the Office said it will support policy coordination, facilitate engagement with relevant government agencies, and promote an enabling environment for climate finance and green investments.
It also pledged to contribute to knowledge sharing, technical support and stakeholder mobilisation.
The statement emphasised that investing in initiatives like WiSA is key to driving inclusive economic growth, building resilience and achieving long-term development goals.
It further stressed that empowering women remains central to delivering sustainable and equitable outcomes.
The Office called on organisations to partner with WiSA to support climate action and sustainable development efforts across Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
