News
James Town Stool Saga: GAR House of Chiefs dismisses Asharku’s stay of proceedings
The Judicial Committee of the Greater Accra Regional House of Chiefs sitting at Dodowa on May, 25, 2021, have dismissed Prince Asharku Bruce Quaye’s application for a stay of proceedings, Pending the determination of a high court case.
He and Edward Adjiri Solomon (2nd respondent), were facing trial at the Regional house of chiefs after a petition filed against them by NiiOkpe family (King Makers) for performing rituals last year at KorleGonno, installing themselves as James Town Mantse, without involving the Okpe family.
The 2nd respondent, who was seen to be closer to be installed the James Town Mantse, voluntarily filed an application to the judicial committee on March 5, 2021, to be non-suited on the petiton, which was readily granted on March 26, 2021.
This followed his admission before the judicial committee that, he had never claimed to be the properly installed James Town Chief or Mantse but rather made a claim that he was a ryal who could become a chief one day at James Town.
The three-member judical committee chaired by NiiTettehOtu II, in dismissing Bruce Quaye’s application, held that, his application “did not show any special circumstances to warrant the stay of proceedings in the instant trial”.
“In that regard, the application for stay of proceedings of the trial of this petition is refused and same is hereby dismissed,” it read.
Other members of the judicial committee were King Prof. OdaifoWelentsi III, and GbetsolorNiiAshiteyAkomfra III.
The judicial committee had stated in its judgement that, the 2nd respondent, by applying to be non-suited, had closed the door to himself and would be “estopped from making claims against the petitioners as far as the Kingmakers of the NgleshieAlata James Town Paramount Stool and membership of the petitioners of Okpe family are concerned”.
The house has adjourned the case to June 15, 2021, for the continued hearing of the substantive petition.
By Francis Xah
National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Executive Committee member and Volta River Authority (VRA) Board Member, Wonder Victor Kutor, has described calls for the resignation of Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa as premature and unjustified.
He argued that there was no evidence to establish that the minister had committed any wrongdoing to warrant such demands.
Speaking on Joy News in Accra on Wednesday, October 28, 2026, Mr Kutor questioned what had changed to justify the growing calls for the minister to step down.
He recalled that the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Samuel Abu Jinapor, had earlier indicated that the opposition was not accusing Mr Ablakwa of any wrongdoing.
Mr Kutor, therefore, challenged those demanding the minister’s resignation to provide fresh evidence to support their position.
“The call for the Minister to resign is premature, it is untenable. There is no evidence. I mean, what has he done wrong?” he questioned.
He added that documents, including boarding passes, airline receipts and flight manifests relating to the minister’s return journey, had been provided.
Mr Kutor expressed concern that the calls for Mr Ablakwa’s resignation could discourage young politicians from speaking out against corruption and advocating transparency.
According to him, politicians should not be targeted or maligned for demanding accountability, warning that such treatment could create the impression that speaking against corruption could later become a liability when one is appointed to public office.
He maintained that calling for accountability and transparency should not be used as grounds to target public officials without evidence of wrongdoing.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana will host the Africa Festival of Arts, Culture and Creatives (AFESTAC) 2026 alongside Industrial Skills Week Africa (ISWA) 2026 in Accra from December 9 to 12, 2026.
On the back of these programmes, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, has called on corporate Ghana, the media and the general public to support the initiative through partnerships, sponsorships and active participation.
The events, supported by the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), will bring together stakeholders to celebrate Africa’s rich cultural heritage, strengthen the creative economy, promote industrial skills development and create employment opportunities for young people.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
