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Let’s support the 2023 Ghana African Games

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Dr Ofosu Asare - LOC Chairman, 2023 African Games

It is less than two years left for Ghana to welcome more than 5,000 athletes from over 50 countries to the African Games. It would be Ghana’s first Games, 56 years since it roared off in Congo Brazzaville.

The nation’s pace of preparations has come under a barrage of criticisms, with many wondering whether the desired facilities including an ultra-modern Olympic-size stadium would be ready for the Games in 2023.

Number without count, Dr Kwaku Ofosu Asare, Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 2023 African Games, has indicated strappingly the nation’s readiness to oblige the continent to the 13th quadrennial festival.

Without any shred of doubt, there is a huge workload on the shoulders of the Organising Committee and its stakeholders to make the Games an engaging reality.

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With the nation’s sporting infrastructure nothing to write home about as compared to our North African neighbours, it is important that we support the LOC to achieve its target.

Indeed, with the Government determined to claw back the halcyon days of Ghanaian sports, in athletics, boxing, football and table tennis, the provision of the requisite infrastructure, to this end, is critical if our nation is to recapture its pride of place in sports on the continent and in the world.

True, hosting the Games will afford Ghana the opportunity to address capacity deficiencies, by providing the relevant human resource capacity to run and manage sports in Ghana. The state-of-the-art sporting facilities, importantly, will support the development of sports as the Games serve as a pathway to reorganise less-financed sports in the country.

Apart from football, boxing and athletics, which are noted as big sporting disciplines in Ghana, over 25 other sporting disciplines are classified as ‘lesser-known’ or less-financed sports because of the lack of financial support and interest from government and the public – and the Games would be a perfect opportunity to realise the potential of these sports to make them burly disciplines.

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For instance, the Games will produce a 1,000-seater multi-purpose sports hall for badminton, boxing, volleyball, and weightlifting, and five tennis courts complex including 1,000 centre courts.  This should be a great heritage and huge elevation for the often disregarded disciplines in Ghana.

Obviously, that is not to say we should not whip the Committee into line when they go off beam or fail to live up to expectation. Members on the Committee are worth their salt and have to prove that mettle by wearing the skin off their hands to produce one of the finest Games ever in the annals of the multi-sports Pan African festival.

Member of the Committee, Ms Eva Okyere, may have put it more appropriate when she urged the media to treat the Ghana 2023 Games as a national project without any political colouration, “even as you go about your professional duties of keeping the LOC on its toes.” Great call!

We cannot wait for Ghana 2023. Let us prop up the effort, and make it a grand success story.

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By John Vigah

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Minority Caucus demands release of Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, alleges abuse of power by NIB

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The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called for the immediate release of Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, accusing the National Investigations Bureau (NIB) of abusing its powers in the conduct of investigations against him.

In a press statement dated February 11, 2026, and signed by Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, the Caucus described the actions of the NIB as “unacceptable” and politically motivated.

According to the statement, the issue began on February 3, 2026, when the Secretary to the President, Callistus Mahama, wrote to the Director-General of the NIB.

In the letter, he requested an investigation into an allegation reportedly made by Mr. Ofosu Nkansah on Sompa Radio 106.5.

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The allegation suggested that an individual had paid money to secure a scholarship to study abroad. The letter further directed the NIB to submit its findings.

The Minority said Mr. Ofosu Nkansah was first invited to the NIB office on February 5, 2026, to assist with investigations.

He reportedly honoured the invitation and appeared with his lawyer, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, who is also the Member of Parliament for Manhyia South.

After the meeting, he was allowed to go home without being charged.

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However, the Caucus said the NIB invited him again on February 9, while he was in Kumasi visiting his seriously ill father.

According to the statement, he informed the Bureau that he could not report immediately due to his father’s condition and requested to appear on February 11 instead.

The Minority claimed the NIB insisted he report earlier.

The statement further alleged that when Mr. Ofosu Nkansah reported to the NIB, heavily armed officers took him to his residence to conduct a search and later returned him to the NIB office at Nima in Accra.

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The Minority Caucus questioned the need for what it described as “forcible actions,” especially when, in its view, Mr. Ofosu Nkansah had been cooperative.

It also claimed that his rights were infringed upon and alleged that he had been taken to an unknown location without access to his legal counsel.

“As far as we know, Mr. Ofosu is at an unknown location,” the statement said, adding that the situation was worrying.

The Caucus argued that such actions could undermine Ghana’s democracy and the rule of law. It maintained that investigations should be conducted in a civil and lawful manner.

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The Minority also linked the incident to what it described as broader national concerns, including delays in payments to cocoa farmers, unemployment and the rising cost of living.

It urged the government to focus its attention on addressing these economic challenges instead.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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Vote buying alien to NDC values – Edem Agbana

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The member of parliament for Ketu North, Edem Agbana, has condemned alleged vote buying linked to Baba Jamal during recent political activities at Ayawaso East, describing the act as completely foreign to the values of the NDC.

During a discussion on Metro TV, Mr Agbana expressed concern about what he described as an open display of wealth during the event over the weekend.

He referred to videos circulating online which showed items such as television sets being distributed to people, stressing that such actions do not reflect the party he grew up to admire and join.

According to him, the NDC is built on core values of accountability, probity and transparency, and that explains why many party members have reacted strongly to the incident.

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He indicated that the outrage within the party shows a clear rejection of vote buying and similar practices.

Mr.Agbana also disagreed with comments attributed to the Greater Accra Regional Minister suggesting that vote buying happens in every election.

He maintained that such a view does not represent the position of the NDC and should not be normalised under any circumstances.

He pointed out that immediately the reports and videos emerged, the party leadership took a firm stance against the alleged acts rather than trying to justify them.

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He noted that the party was awaiting the release of an official report on the matter and expressed confidence that any recommendations would be fully implemented.

Mr.Agbana described the current leadership of the NDC as disciplined and principled, with a proven record of integrity.

He stressed that the party’s response to the issue shows that its reset agenda is not only directed at political opponents but also focused on internal discipline and self correction.

He further assured the public that the NDC will not protect any individual found culpable of vote buying. However, he added that anyone accused will be given a fair opportunity to respond, in line with the principles of natural justice.

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Mr.Agbana concluded that the party remains committed to building a strong and resilient political organisation that upholds probity, transparency and accountability at all levels.

By: Jacob Aggrey

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