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 Let’s not sow seeds of division  …Pres Mahama cautions on maiden National Day of Thanksgiving

President John Mahama [left] with First Lady Mrs Lordina Mahama and Mr Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament

Ghana’s maiden National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving service was held on Tuesday at the State House in Accra.

It was attended by President John Mahama, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Bagbin, First Lady Lordina Mahama, Ministers of State and Members of Parliament (MPs).

Also in attendance were men and women of God, traditional leaders including the Ga mantse, Nii Teiko Tsuru II, Muslim chiefs and officers from some of the security agencies.

The event themed “Reset, Reflect and Renew for National Prosperity” was to unite Ghanaians of all faiths and express gratitude to God for the nation’s abundant blessings.

The sermon was preached by His Eminence Cardinal Appiah Turkson.

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That was preceded by prayer sessions led by various pastors amidst praise and worship sessions by seasoned gospel musicians in the country.

The Islamic Prayers and Thanks­giving Service was led by Sheikh Os­man Nuhu Sharubutu, the National Chief Imam at the Ghana National Mosque at Kanda, Accra.

President Mahama in his address called for togetherness and mutual respect as the nation seeks healing and transformation.

“Let us remain vigilant against the voices of tribalism, the voices of religious extremism and against the poison of political division. These are the seeds of division that we must never let take root in our precious nation, Ghana,” he declared

 By Linda Abrefi Wadie

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Court rejects Ofori-Atta’s challenge to arrest warrant — OSP

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) says the High Court has dismissed an application filed by former Finance Minister Kenneth Ofori-Atta to cancel a warrant for his arrest.

According to the OSP, Mr Ofori-Atta asked the court to strike out the arrest warrant and set aside all related steps taken by the OSP, including a request to Interpol for a Red Notice.

However, the OSP says the Criminal Division of the High Court ruled on Thursday that the application had no merit and dismissed it in full.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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GBC marks 90th anniversary celebrations with a public lecture at Broadcasting House

The Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) has held a commemorative lecture at the Broadcasting House to mark its 90th anniversary celebrations.

The event, held under the theme “GBC: The First Chapter, the Making of a National Radio”, sought to chart a new path for the national broadcaster while reflecting on its journey and achievements since its inception.

In his opening address, the Director-General of GBC, Professor Amin Alhassan, said the Corporation had over the decades remained committed to its core mission of informing, educating, and entertaining Ghanaians in all parts of the country.

He noted that GBC had evolved through various names and formats but had always strived to reflect Ghana’s cultural diversity.

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Prof. Alhassan described the history of Ghanaian radio as one that needed to be told in full, acknowledging that early broadcasts included local languages like Hausa and Mosi, which demonstrated the diverse roots of the station.

He used the metaphor of an eagle’s life cycle to describe the current state of GBC.

According to him, like the eagle at 40, GBC had reached a point where it needed to undergo a painful but necessary renewal process to remain strong and relevant.

“At 90, we must knock off the tired beak, pluck out old feathers, and grow new ones. This is the only way we can take flight again,” he said.

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The Director-General said this transformation would involve the introduction of a new scheme of service and a strategic plan that would shift the mindset of staff from entitlement to performance.

“Change is not pleasant, but it is necessary,” he emphasized, calling for a collective effort to prepare GBC for the next 90 years.

He also highlighted the need for a media historian to help uncover and document the full story of GBC’s past, which he said was crucial for the institution’s rebirth and future planning.

Chairperson of the National Media Commission (NMC), Professor Akua Biritwum, added that GBC had come a long way and proven skeptics wrong by demonstrating that Ghanaians could run and sustain a public broadcaster.

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She reminded GBC of its vital role in national development, saying it was not just a broadcaster but a guide in shaping public opinion and inspiring hope among citizens.

“You are the ones to point out where we are as a country and where we can go,” she noted.

Prof. Biritwum urged GBC to remain focused on producing content that reflected Ghanaian and African values while maintaining high standards and resisting the temptation of sensationalism.

She further emphasized the importance of creative collaborations with writers and artists to strengthen the Corporation’s cultural output.

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The NMC Chairperson expressed confidence that GBC’s efforts to rejuvenate itself would bear fruit, and pledged the Commission’s support in helping the broadcaster stay independent, relevant, and credible.

The lecture, which forms part of activities lined up for the 90th anniversary, brought together former and current staff, media scholars, and industry stakeholders.

It was aimed at reflecting on the broadcaster’s legacy and setting the tone for its future direction.

GBC was established in 1935 and remains Ghana’s only public service broadcaster with a constitutional mandate to operate independently and serve the interests of all Ghanaians.

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By Jacob Aggrey

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