News
Macron’s presence at reparations conference ‘totally unacceptable’ – Kwesi Pratt
Veteran journalist Kwesi Pratt has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the participation of French President Emmanuel Macron in the ongoing High-Level Consultative Conference on the next steps following the landmark United Nations resolution on the trafficking of enslaved Africans.
Speaking during a session on reparatory justice on the second day of the conference in Accra, Pratt argued that the gathering should focus on securing justice for Africans and people of African descent who suffered from slavery and colonial exploitation.
He said he found Macron’s presence at the conference “totally unacceptable,” insisting that the forum should not become a platform for what he described as hollow expressions of sympathy from countries and institutions linked to historical injustices against Africa.
According to Pratt, reparations must be understood as justice rather than charity. He maintained that the transatlantic slave trade was organised and supported by governments, companies, churches and institutions that benefited from the exploitation of Africans.
The veteran journalist argued that reparatory justice must go beyond apologies and compensation to include restitution, rehabilitation, institutional reforms, cultural restoration and educational correction.
He called on African governments and the African diaspora to ensure that the recent United Nations resolution becomes the foundation of a concrete international programme of action rather than a symbolic declaration.
Mr. Pratt also advocated the establishment of a permanent reparations mechanism involving the African Union, CARICOM, African states, legal experts, historians, economists and civil society organisations to coordinate the global campaign for reparatory justice.
He further called for legal action and research into states, companies, banks, churches and other institutions that participated in or profited from slavery and colonial exploitation, saying responsibility must be clearly established.
The journalist stressed the need for a global reparations education campaign to challenge narratives that portray Africa as poor and underdeveloped by destiny.
According to him, Africa’s present condition cannot be separated from centuries of slavery, colonialism and exploitation, which contributed to the wealth of industrialised nations.
Mr. Pratt maintained that reparations are not about begging but about correcting a historical injustice and addressing the lasting consequences of slavery and colonialism.
Despite what he described as political resistance to the reparations agenda, he expressed confidence that the campaign would succeed.
“We are not alone, and we are not begging. We are engaged in a struggle for justice,” he said, adding that nothing would stop the fight for reparatory justice.
The conference brought together African leaders, policymakers, academics, activists and members of the African diaspora to discuss practical steps for implementing the UN resolution and advancing the global reparations agenda.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the commencement of enforcement of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), warning institutions that fail to comply with the new requirements of possible fines of up to 2,000 penalty units.
The Authority says it will deploy a Biometric Verification Implementation Task Force to inspect institutions and ensure they comply with the regulations, following the expiration of a three-month grace period granted to businesses and public institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, November 2, 2026, the NIA’s Corporate Affairs representative, William Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, said the Authority had completed its public education and stakeholder engagement activities and was now moving into the enforcement and compliance monitoring phase.
He explained that the regulations require institutions that verify the identities of customers or applicants as part of their operations to use the NIA’s approved biometric verification platform instead of relying solely on visual inspection of the Ghana Card.
Under the new rules, institutions are prohibited from photocopying, scanning or keeping copies of the Ghana Card for identity verification purposes.
Mr Darlas stressed that simply collecting a customer’s Ghana Card, looking at the photograph and comparing it with the person presenting it would no longer be accepted as a valid method of identity verification.
He, however, clarified that the Ghana Card remains the country’s official national identity document and that citizens are not required to register for a new card or capture their biometrics again under the new regulations.
He said the new system is intended to reduce identity fraud, impersonation and other crimes by ensuring that the person presenting the Ghana Card is the actual owner.
According to him, the biometric verification process will rely on information already captured during Ghana Card registration, including fingerprints, iris details and facial features stored in the card’s chip.
Mr Darlas warned institutions against using third-party companies or individuals to access the NIA’s identity verification platform, insisting that the Authority does not work with intermediaries.
He said institutions seeking access to the National Identity Register must deal directly with the NIA and complete its official onboarding process.
The process requires institutions to prove that they are legally registered companies in Ghana, obtain certification from the Data Protection Commission and work with the NIA’s technical team to establish the necessary connection to its platform.
He further cautioned institutions already connected to the platform against subletting their access to other businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
He disclosed that the Authority had received reports of some institutions providing their verification services to other businesses without the NIA’s approval and warned that those involved would face legal action.
Mr Darlas said organisations that fail to comply with L.I. 2523 could face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units, depending on the nature of the offence.
He explained that the NIA does not have the authority to impose the fines directly but would take offenders to court for the appropriate punishment.
He indicated that Institutions found guilty could also face additional administrative measures, including being barred from accessing the NIA’s verification platform in the future.
The NIA representative further clarified that the new regulations do not prohibit all institutions from physically using the Ghana Card during transactions.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, Nana Kwesi Boatey, has revealed how he transformed a major overstaffing challenge into a success story through the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, November 2, Mr. Boatey disclosed that when he assumed office in February 2025, and inherited a bloated workforce of 250 employees doing work that could be efficiently handled by 150 people, a situation that created serious liquidity challenges for the state-owned company.
Instead of resorting to downsizing, he adopted an innovative approach by instituting a 24-hour operational system.
Under the new system, staff were redistributed across three shifts: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
This not only ensured optimal use of labour but also maximized machine utilization and improved overall output.
According to him, the single move redefined the productivity culture within the company, reinforcing discipline, accountability, and efficiency.
The Ghana Publishing Company’s turnaround is being cited as a practical example of how the 24-Hour Economy policy can drive growth without job losses.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
