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Makola No. 2 traders jubilate as regional minister orders handover of market to AMA
Traders at the Makola No. 2 Market in Agbogbloshie have welcomed a directive by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, to hand over the management of the market to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA).
The traders burst into jubilation when the minister announced the decision during a meeting with market women aimed at addressing concerns about sanitation, management, and the cost of doing business at the market.
According to the minister, the current state of the market showed that business was not progressing well.
She said many traders had complained that the money collected from them was not reflected in visible improvements in the market.
Ms. Ocloo said the concerns of the traders were first brought to her attention by the First Lady of Ghana, Lordina Mahama, after traders staged a demonstration over conditions at the market.
She explained that she later discussed the issue with the Mayor of Accra, Michael Kpakpo Allotey, and urged him to visit the market to listen to the traders and work with them to find practical solutions.
The minister said that when the mayor visited the market, there was a heap of refuse on the premises. However, she noted that arrangements had since been made to clear the waste.
She added that some streetlights in parts of the market had been repaired, while work was ongoing to improve the area where traders buy water through tiling and proper pavement.
Ms. Ocloo further explained that under the Local Government Act (Ghana), markets or shops that are built and operated for a period must eventually be handed over to the local assembly.
She said although there had been challenges with the management of the market, the traders were pleased with the decision because it would allow their concerns to reach the appropriate authorities and ensure better administration.
For his part, the mayor of Accra, Micheal Kpakpo Allotey said the assembly had already started responding to some of the traders’ concerns.
He recalled that during his previous visit, the market was engulfed in filth but said the waste was cleared shortly afterwards.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The founder of the Base Movement and former Financier of the New Patriotic Party, Dr George Oti Bonsu has cut the sod for the opening of the new movement headquartered in Accra.
The launch, held on Monday, April 20, 2026, saw multitudes of supporters gather at the Obra spot at the Kwame Nkrumah interchange, adorned in The Base Movement T-shirts and colours symbolising Ghanaian heritage.
Supporters marched in the hot sun from the Obra Spot through Caprice, Avenor and to Tesano, where the party headquarters is based.
The event also saw a good number of supporters register to be part of the movement.
During the event, leaders and sub-leaders took turns calling for an end to the duopoly of the New Patriotic Party and the National Democratic Congress, advocating for the Base Movement to take over the country’s leadership.
In his opening remarks, the founder of the party, Dr George Oti Bonsu, indicated he preferres a businessman, either Ibrahim Mahama or Kennedy Agyapong, take over the reigns of the country.
He noted that as long as such individuals bring job opportunities to the youth, he would support that direction.
According to him, he has nothing to lose in life but wants to see the youth succeed in the future.
He added that The Base Movement has 98 branches across the country.
He appealed to supporters to welcome potential members rather than discard them.
He urged supporters to form as many branches as possible in their various constituencies to increase support for the movement.
He called for unity in the new movement and prayed for a good leader to lead it in the future.
The launch drew participants from the clergy, traditional leaders, academia, grassroots and many others.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Aspiring National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, has been granted a final deadline to file his witness statement.
This was after he appeared before an Accra High Court today and prayed the court to stay proceedings pending an appeal before the Court of Appeal.
Against this backdrop, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, was granted a final deadline of May 5, 2026, to file witness statements in the Samreboi illegal mining case after missing an earlier court-ordered deadline.
This was after the Deputy Attorney General, Justice Srem-Sai, prayed the court to convict Mr.Antwi Bosiako for failing to file his witness statement.
Speaking to the media after court proceedings, the lawyer for Mr.Antwi Boasiako said it was very unfortunate for the Deputy Attorney General to pray the court to convict the accused person, who has not even opened his defence.
He said coming from him (Justice Srem-Sai) left much to be desired because he is a Minister of Justice who should preside over fair decisions from the court.
According to Andy Appiah-Kubi, this is unbecoming of the AG, who is in a hurry to seek a conviction of someone in a criminal trial.
He said they did not file a witness statement because of a process filed at the Court of Appeal, whose determination may affect the matter at the High Court.
According to him, the constitution has a provision that requires an accused person to to be given adequate time, preparation and resources to be able to defend themselves when they are on trial.
He said, having filed this, they thought the High Court should will stay off proceedings until their application at the Court of Appeal is heard.
Chairman Wontumi and his company are facing six counts of allegedly permitting Henry Okum and Michael Gyedu Ayisi to mine on the company’s concession without prior approval from the sector minister, as well as facilitating unlicensed mining activities.
It wil be recalled that in March this year, the High Court ruled that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the accused persons and directed them to file their witness statements, on or before April 14, 2026.
