News
Effiduase SSNIT flat residents receive threats from encroachers
• The encroachers operate at night
Residents of Effiduase SSNIT flats in the New Juaben North Municipality of the Eastern Region of late have been receiving threats of ejection from encroachers.
The reason is that some unscrupulous persons who are parading as land owners have been selling portions of land belonging to SSNIT to people in the community.
Other reason given indicated that, the government gave the land to SSNIT without paying any compensations to the land owners.
According to Mr Asiamah Yirenkyi, a resident and a management committee member of Effiduase SSNIT flats, all the metal drying lines, farms and playing ground in the area had been destroyed.
He mentioned the most affected areas as, Blocks 7,8,9 and 10 and called on the authorities concerned to protect them from such harassments.
He said the danger associated with their activities was that they operated in the night so it had been difficult for them to be recognised.
Mr Yirenkyi said the operatives came to the area about two weeks ago with bulldozers to pull down a warehouse belonging to SSNIT and started developing new houses.
“They have sold parts of the land, destroyed our farms and even portions of the drains that carry waste water from our homes have also been destroyed” he said.
He said the leaders of the SSNIT flats association had written to the Eastern Regional Minister, SSNIT Management, the Police, Town and Country Planning, Lands Commission, the two MCEs of New Juaben North and South, to come to their aid.
When The Spectator contacted the office of SSNIT in Koforidua, Mr Twum Twumasi, Deputy Data Operations Manager, confirmed the situation and said management was working hard to ensure that those selling government properties be are brought to book.
He said the SSNIT Legal Department had taken the matter up and requested for court injunction over the activities of the people.
The Eastern Regional PRO of SSNIT Mr Royal Nii Krotey Donkor also said that all the documents in possession of SSNIT showed that the land belonged to Trust and that compensations had been duly paid to beneficiaries and, therefore, no one had the right to own it.
He appealed to the people selling such lands and harassing occupants of SSNIT properties to desist from it, assuring the residents that his outfit would do everything possible to protect them.
By Spectator Reporter
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Africa Geopolitical Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
The election took place on October 19, 2025, during the ongoing 151st IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. His victory places Ghana at the center of continental and global parliamentary diplomacy.
With this new role, Speaker Bagbin will coordinate and harmonize Africa’s collective positions on major IPU decisions and policies.
He will also serve as the continent’s chief representative on key issues such as governance, peace, security, and sustainable development.
Speaker Bagbin currently serves as the President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (COSPAL) and is the immediate past Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) International.
In his remarks after the election, he thanked African delegations for their confidence and unity, particularly commending Nigeria for seconding his nomination and Senegal for withdrawing its candidate in the spirit of cooperation.
He pledged to strengthen collaboration among African parliaments and promote transparency, democratic governance, and sustainable development through stronger legislative institutions.
He succeeds Ms. Angela Thokozile Didiza, Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, who served with distinction.
The Africa Geopolitical Group, formed in the early 1950s, serves as a continental branch of the IPU, ensuring fair representation of African countries in the Union’s committees and decision-making bodies.
It also coordinates Africa’s common positions on major parliamentary issues discussed at IPU assemblies.
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
