News
EC sets September 30 for Tamale Central by-election
The Electoral Commission (EC) has announced that a by-election will take place in the Tamale Central Constituency on Tuesday, 30th September 2025.
The Commission explained that the election has become necessary following the death of the Member of Parliament for the area, Hon. Murtala Muhammed Ibrahim.
In a statement signed by the EC Chairperson, Mrs. Jean Mensa, the Commission said nominations for the election will be received from Monday, 8th September to Wednesday, 10th September 2025, at the Tamale Metropolitan Office of the Commission.
The nominations will be accepted between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm and from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm each day.
The EC noted that interested candidates are required to download the nomination forms from its website (www.ec.gov.gh) starting from Tuesday, 19th August until 10th September 2025.
It noted that completed forms can be submitted personally by the candidate or delivered on their behalf by their proposer or seconder.
According to the Commission, each form must be supported by two registered voters as proposer and seconder, as well as 18 other registered voters from the constituency.
it said candidates are also required to submit two recent passport-size photographs with a red background, showing their full face and ears.
The commission set filing fee for candidates at GH¢10,000. However, female candidates and persons with disabilities (PWDs) will pay a reduced fee of GH¢7,500.
The EC urged the public to take note of the arrangements and assured that the by-election will be conducted in line with transparency, fairness, and integrity.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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.
