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Gomoa-Akyempem Traditional Council outdoors new chiefs
• The newly gazetted chiefs
The Gomoa-Akyempem Traditional Council, Central Region, over the weekend outdoored some newly gazetted chiefs in the area, urging them to be selfless in discharging their duties to their communities.
The four chiefs were, Chief Mohammed Jakpa Dingoro Boresa Kanyiti 1, Chief of the Gonja Community in the area; Kabiesi Kasim Baba Ibo Kegumbe 1, chief of Yoruba community; Sarki Mohammed Issaka, Songhai Chief: and Wuro Issaka Mohammed, Chief of Kotokolis.
President of the Council, Sarki Tahirou Awudu Zaaki, speaking at the outdooring programme underscored the need for traditional leaders to also contribute towards the development of their various communities.
He said being a chief comes with many responsibilities including supporting government’s developmental efforts.
“As a chief you are in a position to serve your people so do not have it in mind that partner you have been put in that position to be served. You must not be proud of yourself if the community you lead is in a very deplorable state because there are some steps you can take to improve upon the state of wherever you have been put in charge of,” he stressed.
Development, he said did not always mean injecting huge sums of money into various projects, adding that efforts at promoting cleanliness, ensuring peaceful partner
coexistence and educating community members on the relevance of sending their wards to school and taking good care of their health are all forms of promoting development.
According to him it was high time misconceptions that Zongo chiefs were from slums and underdeveloped communities is changed by taking up the responsibility of developing the Zongos.
Sarki Zaaki also called the promotion of togetherness among all chiefs within the Akyempem Traditional Council and beyond, saying togetherness made the achievement of set down goals for the betterment of the whole country easy.
He was of the view that when chiefs are united and live in harmony, the people will also be united, saying “we must set good examples for the people to emulate.”
Touching on the need to harness the culture of the country, Muslims especially, he said more education in Zongo communities must be done so as to bring the “borrowed culture syndrome” to an end.
The Chief Imam of the Council, Imam Tajuddeen Gyaragari, also admonished chiefs and their elders to be extremely prayerful and should not take their leadership for granted.
The secretary to the Council, Mr Abdul Aziz Ismail Otoo, said it was with sense of pride to have such a wonderful and dedicated Council of Zongo Chiefs under their jurisdiction who were selfless and hard working towards the development of youth and the communities as well.
The Public Relations Officer to the Council Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed Ibrahim Sadique spoke about the need for the chiefs to take the opportunities in chieftaincy to better their lots and that of their people.
Other issues discussed included the Gomoa Akyempim Zongo festival and the benefits that come with it and then the need to take the chieftaincy institution seriously.
By Raissa Sambou
The Minority Caucus on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee has called for urgent and decisive action following recent xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians living in South Africa.
In a statement issued in Accra on April 29, the caucus expressed concern about what it described as a growing pattern of violence against foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, in areas such as KwaZulu-Natal, Durban and Gauteng.
The group noted that Ghanaian-owned businesses have been attacked, while some individuals have been harassed and assaulted. It added that, in certain cases, victims have also been denied access to essential services.
According to the statement, claims that foreign nationals are responsible for crime and economic hardship are unfounded and should be rejected.
The caucus referred to the widely circulated assault of a Ghanaian, Emmanuel Asamoah, as an example of the severity of the situation. It also raised concern about reports that some incidents occurred in the presence of law enforcement officers without effective intervention.
The Minority acknowledged steps taken by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, including his engagement with South African authorities and efforts to provide consular support to affected Ghanaians.
It noted the public condemnation of the attacks by President Cyril Ramaphosa, describing these as necessary but not sufficient.
The caucus called on the South African government to ensure the immediate arrest and prosecution of those responsible and to hold security agencies accountable where they fail to act.
It urged authorities to take practical steps to protect foreign nationals across the country.
On the part of Ghana, the Minority urged the government to adopt a stronger and more structured response.
It called for direct engagement between President John Dramani Mahama and President Ramaphosa to secure firm commitments on the safety of Ghanaians.
The statement further recommended increased consular support for citizens in affected areas and called for the issue to be escalated to the African Union for an urgent inquiry into recurring xenophobic attacks.
It urged the government to work with regional partners within ECOWAS to present a unified response.
The Minority suggested that Ghana should seek assurances from South Africa, including confirmed arrests, clear prosecution processes and a plan to protect foreign nationals.
It added that compensation should be considered for victims who have suffered losses.
The statement, signed by the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, urged Ghanaians in South Africa to remain cautious and maintain contact with the Ghana High Commission.
It stressed that Ghana must act firmly to protect its citizens and uphold the principles of cooperation and solidarity among African countries.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Climate Change and Sustainability Ministry backs WiSA International Festival to promote women-led climate action
The Office of the Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability has expressed support for the Women in Sustainability Africa (WiSA) International Festival, aimed at promoting inclusive climate action and sustainable development across the continent.
In a statement, the Office said it recognises WiSA as an important platform that brings together governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society to drive climate solutions and economic transformation.
The Festival is scheduled to take place on May 1, 2026, at the Cedi Conference Centre from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This year’s event under the theme: Empowering Women For The Economic Sustainability of Africa, will feature, Liu Yaw Nana, Acting Secretary of Ghana-Chinese Business Chamber of Commerce, Issifu Seidu, Minister of State for Climate Change and Sustainability, Dr.Agness Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender Children and Social Protection, Bishop E.O Ansah, General Overseer, Eternal Life Church, President, Women’s Development Association, Turkey, Nilgün Zaimoğlu and Chief of Government Relations and Africa UN Global Compact.
Additionally, it will host, Dr.Charity Binka, Chairperson, Chairperson, African Women Leaders Network , Pearl Opoku, Trader and GUTA National Organiser, Lydia Abbey, Makola Market Queen, actress Juliet Ibrahim, CEO of FZ Global Legacy, Francesca Zoppi, The Revival Founder, Yayra Agbofah and many others.
According to the statement, WiSA’s vision, led by Nana Yaa Serwaa Sarpong, aligns with national and continental goals on climate resilience, green growth and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Office noted that WiSA’s focus on empowering women as key drivers of sustainability and economic productivity is a practical approach to addressing climate challenges and development gaps.
It highlighted WiSA’s track record of engaging global institutions and organising multi-stakeholder events as evidence of its ability to mobilise partnerships and deliver results.
The Ministry said the 2026 Festival presents an opportunity to promote climate-smart investments, green innovation and scalable solutions in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable agriculture and the circular economy.
It added that the event will also support public-private partnerships and strengthen Africa-led solutions in global sustainability discussions.
As part of its commitment, the Office said it will support policy coordination, facilitate engagement with relevant government agencies, and promote an enabling environment for climate finance and green investments.
It also pledged to contribute to knowledge sharing, technical support and stakeholder mobilisation.
The statement emphasised that investing in initiatives like WiSA is key to driving inclusive economic growth, building resilience and achieving long-term development goals.
It further stressed that empowering women remains central to delivering sustainable and equitable outcomes.
The Office called on organisations to partner with WiSA to support climate action and sustainable development efforts across Africa.
By: Jacob Aggrey
