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No burial for man who died of suicide…Traditional Council declares
As custom and tradition in some parts of Ghana frown on “disgraceful deaths” such as suicide, the Apremdo Traditional Council in the Effia-Kwesimintsim Municipality of the Western Region, has vehemently kicked against the burial of a 33-year-old returnee who died of or committed suicide after killing his mother-in-law with a gun.
The deceased, Mr. Emmanuel Kwofie, who returned from Spain shot and killed Madam Elizabeth Nkrumah, 66, on August 15, 2021, at Apremdo.
The collective decision taken by the Chiefs and elders in the traditional area is to serve as a deterrent to those who may be contemplating embarking on such ignominious act.
Confirming the story to The Spectator, the Divisional Chief of Apremdo, Nana Egya Kwamina XI,explained that the nature of Kwofie’s death was an abomination and not in tune with customs and traditions of the land.
He added that the decision of the chiefs to debar Kwofie’s family from burying the corpse at the communitycemetery was to serve as a strong warning to others.
“Yes, it was a collective decision that was taken on August 16, because we deem the act as an abomination, and if nothing is done,others willfollow suit.We need to take this drastic decision to serve as a lesson to others not to go on that path.” Nana Kwamina told The Spectator.
The chief said, the family of the deceased had been notified about the palace’s decision and hoped that they would abide by it.
He, however, assured that if the family appealed to the palace, the chiefs and elders would sit to reconsider the matter, saying “we are all human.”
Nana Kwamina added that, if there were any explanations, that could also be considered and put the matter to rest.
“Because of greed, there’s so much violence in our communities, and we need to take disciplinary action to maintain social cohesion and not feuds in families and the community. We must maintain calm and restore peace for our collective good and development.” he stressed.
It is recalled that Emmanuel Kwofie, 33, killed his mother – in- law, Elizabeth Nkrumah, 66, and, later, shot himself with a single barrel gun, on Sunday, August 15, 2021.
The Police Public Affairs Officer,Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Olivia Ewurabena Adiku said, at about 9:40pm, on that day, Kwofie rushed to House Number 101/2 – Apremdo, with a single barrel gun and shot Elizabeth Nkrumah, on the left thigh.
She explained that, initial investigations revealed that the deceased (Kwofie) and Dora Nkrumah, had been in a relationship for the past 10 years and even had a boy aged, about eight years.
DSP Adiku said that, about three years ago, Kwofie left for Spain for greener pastures and on his return, found that,Dora Nkrumah, whose marriage rites he had not performed had taken another man .
“According to the complainant, the deceased(Kwofie) was not remitting her whilst he was in Spain so she had no option but to go in for another man.” she added.
From Clement Adzei Boye, Apremdo
The Global Network of Export-Import Banks and Development Finance Institutions (G-NEXID) successfully held its sixth (6th) Exchange Programme, hosted by the Ghana Export – Import Bank (GEXIM) Bank in Accra from March 22 to 23 March.
The event brought together member institutions, partner organisations and Ghanaian public entities to advance dialogue on South-South trade, investment and development finance, while also creating opportunities for knowledge-sharing and institutional cooperation.
Organised as a capacity-building and networking platform, the 2026 edition of the G-NEXID Exchange focused on GEXIM’s experience in developing innovative solutions to promote intra-African and extra-African trade.
It also highlighted trade and investment opportunities in Ghana, particularly in the context of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and broader national development initiatives.
The Exchange Programme forms part of G-NEXID’s mandate to foster cooperation among export-import banks and development finance institutions in support of South-South trade and investment.
This 6th edition follows earlier successful programmes hosted by India Exim Bank (2016), BNDES (2017), Indonesia Eximbank (2018), Afreximbank (2019) and Saudi EXIM Bank (2025).
On the first day, participants were presented with G-NEXID institutional information and received an update on the Network’s 2026 work programme.
There were a series of substantive presentations, including an overview of the Ghanaian economy by the Ministry of Finance, with particular attention to debt-related challenges; a presentation by the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), on investment opportunities in the country; and institutional presentations by GEXIM and Development Bank Ghana (DBG) on their respective mandates, initiatives, products and services.
Discussions during the sessions underscored strong interest in sector-focused webinars and business dialogues, particularly in agribusiness value chains such as poultry and rice.
Participants also emphasized the importance of continued information exchange and the sharing of best practices, especially in the area of guarantees.
The second day opened with a presentation on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, a national economic transformation strategy launched by President John Dramani Mahama in July 2025.
The initiative aims to enhance economic productivity through continuous industrial activity, accelerated export development and strategic import substitution.
As the programme is expected to mobilise both private and development capital, it presents concrete opportunities for G-NEXID members in areas such as co-financing, guarantees, trade finance and technical cooperation.
The programme also featured institutional presentations by guest organisations, namely the African Guarantee and Economic Cooperation Fund (FAGACE) and the West African Development Bank (BOAD), which shared their mandates, initiatives, products and services.
Following these exchanges, the G-NEXID Secretariat held bilateral discussions with both institutions as part of the Network’s ongoing membership drive.
Participants further benefited from a presentation by the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB), as well as a showcase of GEXIM’s key pipeline projects.
On the margins of the Exchange Programme, G-NEXID members also held their 20th Annual General Assembly Meeting to review progress and discuss strategic priorities.
Following the event, participants joined the GEXIM@10 International Conference, held from March 24-25, 2026 under the theme, “A Decade of Enabling Export Trade and Industrial Transformation: Resetting GEXIM for the Next Frontier.”
The conference provided an important platform for exploring how Ghana can strengthen its transition from a primary commodity exporter to a more competitive player in value-added trade and industrial development.
Source – G-NEXID
President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, signed five bills including three amendment bills passed by Parliament into law.
They are: Security and Intelligence Agencies Bill, 2025; University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Bill, 2025; Ghana Deposit Protection (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Growth and Sustainability Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2026; and Education Regulatory Bodies (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
In a brief remark after assenting to the bills, President Mahama explained that the Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2026, scraps the Office of Minister of National Security and frees the President’s to appoint any Minister to supervise the security agencies.
He said it also reverses the name of the office of National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), to the original name, Bureau of National Intelligence, (BNI).
This the President said, addresses the confusion between that security agency and a well-known Ghanaian financial institution, the National Investment Bank.
President Mahama also noted that the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Act, 2026, establishes another University in the Eastern Region, at Bonsu, with three campuses – the main campus at Bonsu in the Eastern Region, with the second campus to be cited at Ohawu in the Oti Region.
The third, the Presdient assed will be located at Acherensua in the Ahafo Region.
Touching on the Amendment to the Growth and Sustainability Levy Act, the President said, “As you’re aware, the act was amended to increase it from 1% to 3%, and so this act reduces it again. That is the levy on mining companies. It reduces it again to 1%, because of the introduction of the sliding scale of royalties.”
He also spoke to the passage of the Government Education Regulatory Bodies Amendment Act, emphasising that amends Act 1023 to grant greater flexibility to private tertiary institutions and the option to Charter.
The Ghana Deposit Protection Amendment Act, the President concluded, is an amendment to an original act that was supposed to guarantee deposits held in commercial banks or financial institutions.
It basically expands protection to include mobile money wallets and other digital platforms, ensuring a wider scope of digital financial assets are secured.
The signing ceremony, was witnessed by the Clerk of Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, Dr Dominic Akrutinga Ayine, Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, a Senior Presidential Advisor and a Special Aide to the President, Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, and the Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.
