News
Democracy will not survive by itself if we don’t work for it– Pres. Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has warned that democracy cannot sustain itself unless leaders and citizens take deliberate steps to protect and strengthen it.
He was speaking at the 2025 Democracy League Dialogue, held at the Accra International Conference Centre yesterday.
The event is a high-level forum organised by the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in partnership with the Government of Ghana to examine the state of democracy in Africa under the theme “Why Democracies Die.”
The Dialogue brought together former heads of state, policymakers, civil society leaders, faith figures, and scholars to reflect on the erosion of democratic norms, challenges facing governance in West Africa, and ways to make democracy more sustainable.
It aims to generate practical recommendations to prevent democratic backsliding and to strengthen institutions across the continent.
Recalling his inauguration years ago, President Mahama said the loudest applause at the time was reserved for leaders from countries under military rule, a reaction he described as troubling.
“That should give us a pause for thought. That should make us think and ask ourselves questions,” he said.
He stressed that democracy must deliver opportunities and prosperity to citizens if it is to remain relevant. Quoting Omar Touré, he noted, “Whatever system of government you have autocracy, democracy, theocracy, whatever, if it does not deliver opportunities and prosperity to the people, it will not survive.”
The President also cited surveys such as Afrobarometer, which reveal that many young Africans were losing faith in democratic governance.
He said it was alarming that some young people indicated they would prefer to live under military governments, warning that such sentiments pose a serious threat to democratic stability.
President Mahama urged African leaders and citizens to work together to strengthen institutions, deliver development, and restore confidence in democracy, insisting that the system can only endure if it truly works for the people.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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