Election 2024 will be free, fair and transparent – Akufo-Addo assures UN General Assembly

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has assured the United Nations and the international community of peaceful general elections in Ghana this December.

According to him, Ghana’s upcoming general elections will be conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.

He made this promise during the world leaders’ address at the annual UN General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.

President Akufo-Addo stated that “As my presidency draws to a close, I want to assure this assembly that the upcoming 2024 elections in Ghana will be free, fair and transparent.”

He emphasized the country’s commitment to democratic principles and the rule of law, highlighting the measures being put in place to ensure the integrity of the electoral process.

“Ghanaians have demonstrated time and again in the last three decades the strong attachment to democracy which they will not permit to be undermined,” he added.

He concluded, “The EC supported by Ghana’s security services is well equipped to ensure that the will of the Ghanaian people is well respected.”

By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme

President John Dramani Mahama to kick off 2025/26 Premier League season in Accra

The 2025/26 Premier League will officially kick off on Friday, September 12, 2025, at the Accra Sports Stadium, with the President of the Republic, John Dramani Mahama, performing the ceremonial kick-off ahead of the season opener between Accra Hearts of Oak and league debutants Hohoe United.

President Mahama will be joined by Football Association President Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, members of the Executive Council and football fans from across the capital as the curtain rises on what promises to be one of the most exciting campaigns in recent years.

Giants Hearts of Oak will open their quest for a league title when they take on newly promoted Hohoe United under the floodlights of the Accra Sports Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm local time (19:00 GMT).

The Phobians, bolstered by new signings and a strong pre-season campaign, are eager to end a four-year run without an opening-day victory, while United will be aiming to make a statement in their first-ever top-flight match.

Before the main fixture, there will be a curtain-raiser between the Black Starlets (Ghana U-17) and Auroras FC, the youth side of Hearts of Oak, at 4:00 pm local time.

Adding to the celebratory atmosphere, top Afro-dancehall and reggae musician Stonebwoy (Livingstone Etse Satekla) will deliver a live performance at the venue, ensuring fans enjoy not only football but also top-class entertainment on opening night.

This season is expected to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, with traditional heavyweights, ambitious newcomers and revitalized clubs all targeting glory. From title races to survival battles, fans are set for months of excitement, drama and unforgettable moments.

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GES opens promotion applications for teaching staff

The Ghana Education Service (GES) has invited applications from qualified teachers and officers for promotion to higher ranks within the service.

In a notice signed by the Acting Deputy Director-General for Management Services, Prof. Smile Dzisi, the GES said the ranks available are Deputy Director, Assistant Director I, Assistant Director II and Principal Superintendent.

According to the statement, applicants must meet the minimum years of service required for each position.

Teachers seeking promotion to Deputy Director must have been promoted to Assistant Director I in or before 2021.

Similarly, those applying for Assistant Director I should have held the rank of Assistant Director II since 2021 or earlier.

Applicants for Assistant Director II must have been Principal Superintendents from 2021 or earlier, while those applying for Principal Superintendent must have been Senior Superintendent I since 2021 or before.

The GES stated that teachers with approved Master’s or PhD degrees may use their certificates to apply for promotion out of turn if the qualifications meet set conditions.

These include completing an approved course of study and obtaining the certificate after their previous promotion but not later than 2023.

Applicants are to complete the online application form and upload all required documents in PDF format, except for the passport-size photograph.

The application window runs from Thursday, September 11, to Thursday, October 2, 2025. The GES urged all applicants who had applied earlier to re-apply.

By: Jacob Aggrey