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At 2025 Sankofa National Prestige Honours …Ken Agyapong adjudged ‘Statesman of the Year’
Mr Ken Ohene Agyapong a flagbearer hopeful of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) was adjudged the Statesman of the Year at the 2025 Sankofa National Prestige Honours held in Accra on Thursday.
The award was in recognition of his role in redefining modern statesmanship through bold leadership, fearless advocacy, and unwavering service to the nation.
This recognition “belongs to the courageous builder, the unapologetic patriot, and the visionary who challenges Ghana to rise higher, even when it’s uncomfortable. You are honoured for redefining modern statesmanship through bold leadership, fearless advocacy, and unwavering service to the nation across political, economic, and social spheres,” a citation accompanying the award read.
Mr Agyapong who was the special guest of honour for the occasion was also presented with a plaque and certificate of honour.
Delivering the keynote address, he called on Ghanaians to return to the virtues of patriotism, honesty, discipline and love in order to rebuild national trust and advance development of the country.
Mr Agyapong said the symbolism of the Sankofa bird, which looked back while moving forward was a reminder that the nation’s future could not be secured without drawing from the wisdom of the past.
“Corruption has weakened trust, division has stolen unity, and short-term thinking has crippled long-term vision,” he stated. “Sankofa calls us now to return not to nostalgia, but to wisdom,”
Mr Agyapong who is also the immediate past Member of Parliament for the Assin Central Constituency, noted that Ghana stood at a crossroads, with an economy under strain, young people seeking opportunities abroad, and politics becoming more about power struggles than progress.
“This is the reality we must face not with despair but with determination. If we are bold enough to acknowledge our challenges, then we are strong enough to overcome them,” he declared.
He identified corruption as one of the country’s greatest enemies, stressing that “It is not merely the theft of money, but the theft of hope. When leaders enrich themselves dishonestly, ordinary citizens lose faith in hard work and in the state’s ability to protect their interests.”
To rebuild Ghana, he said the nation must first rebuild trust, adding that “Trust will come only when corruption is confronted without fear or favour. However, the responsibility did not rest on leaders alone but on all citizens, including traders, teachers, civil servants and students.”
Mr Agyapong urged the youth to resist shortcuts to success and to reject corruption as a norm.
“The egg of Sankofa is in your hands, the future of Ghana depends on your innovation, courage and sense of accountability,” he stressed.
He used the opportunity to express his gratitude to the organisers, stressing that “To the organisers, and to all who continue to believe in my vision, I say thank you. The journey continues, together, we will build a Ghana that works for all.”
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has amended the charges in the ongoing case against former National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Chief Executive, Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, and nine others.
The number of counts has risen from 25 to 54 after investigators uncovered new evidence.
The accused are facing trial for alleged large-scale extortion, abuse of public office, and money laundering involving over GH¢291 million and US$332,000.
According to the OSP, the accused persons allegedly extorted huge sums of money from bulk oil transporters and oil marketing companies under the pretext of carrying out official duties.
The proceeds were reportedly laundered through the purchase of properties and investments in business entities to conceal their source.
The accused persons include Mustapha Abdul-Hamid, Jacob Kwamina Amuah, Wendy Newman, Albert Ankrah, Isaac Mensah, Bright Bediako-Mensah, Kwaku Aboagye Acquaah, Propnest Limited, Kel Logistics Limited, and Kings Energy Limited.
The OSP has also seized and frozen several assets, including tanker trucks, fuel stations, houses, apartments, and parcels of land valued at more than GH¢100 million pending the outcome of the trial.
The case, titled The Republic v. Mustapha Abdul-Hamid & 9 Others (Cr/0603/2025), is currently being heard at the Accra High Court.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The National Operations Directorate (NOD) Surveillance Unit, of the Ghana Police Service has arrested a 32-year-old man, Akoto Nelson, for posing as a police officer during a public event at the Black Star Square in Accra.
The suspect was arrested on Sunday, 19th October 2025, by a team of officers deployed to provide security at a musical concert. The team observed the suspect dressed in a police uniform with the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) behaving suspiciously. Upon interrogation, he admitted that he was not a police officer.
Investigations revealed that the suspect impersonated a police officer to gain free entry to the event, claiming he did not have money to pay the entry fee. He further disclosed that the uniform belonged to a deceased Chief Inspector, identified as Gyasi, from whom he obtained the police accoutrements in 2022.
A subsequent search conducted at his residence in Taifa-Ashaiman uncovered several items that were retained as exhibits. These include one toy P99 pistol, one pepper spray, two ZTE mini handsets, one pepper spray pouch, one ZTE charger, one Xinfa cutter knife, some complimentary cards, one voter ID in the name of Akoto Nelson Elikem, and one birth certificate in the name of Nelson Akoto.
Preliminary investigations further established that the suspect works as a security guard and a messenger at a private company. He remains in police custody and will be put before the court.
