News
National Cadet Corps commemorates Feb 28 Crossroads shooting
As part of the celebration of the country’s 68th Independence anniversary the National Cadet Corps has organised a route march of student cadet corps from some chosen Senior High Schools (SHSs) to commemorate the 1948 riots that led to Ghana’s independence.
More than 1,000 students from Accra Girls’ SHS, Accra Wesley Girls High School, Labone SHS, St. Mary’s SHS, and St. Thomas Aquinas SHS attended the event on Friday, February 28. The remaining ones are Holy Trinity Cathedral SHS, Presbyterian SHS, Osu, Accra Technical Training Centre, and Presbyterian SHS, La.
The route march which covered three kilometres distance started from the Efua Sutherland Children’s Park, through the National Theatre road to the Ministries Police Station, National Lotteries and then to the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park Mausoleum where a brief ceremony was held to commemorate the day.
The National Cadet Coordinator, school coordinators, and a few agency heads were also in attendance.
The event was on the theme “Discipline and Loyalty among the Youth, Reflect, Review, and Reset.”
Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, encouraged the cadet corps to maintain their strong commitment to discipline and teamwork because these are lifelong skills that will benefit them whether they choose to work in the military, tourism, or any other field.
Discipline, in her opinion, is about establishing objectives and putting forth great effort to meet them.
“It’s about accepting accountability and responsibility for your actions. Being loyal means sticking to your ideals and beliefs, even when it’s challenging. Non-violence is about finding solutions that work for everyone and settling disputes amicably,” she added.
The minister reminded the youth that not only are discipline, loyalty, and non-violence ideals, but they are a way of life that “make us one people even though we come from diverse backgrounds and cultures.”
She exhorted them to always act honourably and with respect for others, and to keep aiming for excellence in all that they do.
“Remember, your positive attitude and enthusiasm are contagious. You can be an inspiration to your peers in many ways. Dare to be different positively, be known for the positive vibes you bring around,” she said.
She also urged them to pick up positive traits from others and contribute to Ghana becoming a great nation with leaders prepared to assume leadership positions and have an influence on their communities.
The National Cadet Coordinator General, Mr Nicholas Nii Tettey-Amarteifio, said in an interview that the government cannot accomplish its goals on its own and that everyone should work together to help it reach new heights, whether or not funding is available.
He further reiterated that, “we need to rest the mindset of the youth to help them review and reflect on the positive development of Ghana.”
He said, “If the student cadet can perform so well at such an event without receiving any funding from the government, then the governm
ent should be able to inspire them by showing up whenever they are called upon.”
According to Mr Tettey-Amarteifio, the National Cadet will institute the possibility of establishing a National Discipline award for schools at the regional and national levels for students who exhibit exceptional discipline. The President of Ghana will present these schools with a special award during the national cadet youth parade on July 1.
The director of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park Mausoleum, Mr Edward Quao, urged the government to support the remembrance so that it can become an annual event. Miss Pearl Adjetey-Larbie of Holy Trinity Cathedral (HOTCASS) stated in a solidarity message that the lack of activities that brings students from two or more schools together is one of the primary reasons for inter-school conflict.
She expressed optimism that further educational initiatives like this one will lessen student disputes and assured that “Never again will students fight with one another.”
By Georgina Quaittoo
News
Declare a state of emergency in parts of the country affected by illegal mining – Coalition Against Galamsey to Mahama
The Coalition Against Galamsey is asking President John Mahama to declare a state of emergency in areas badly affected by illegal mining.
According to the Convenor of the Coalition, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the situation has gone beyond control and requires urgent action to save lives and protect the environment.
He explained that the Constitution allows a state of emergency to be declared when the actions of criminals threaten essential resources such as water, safety, and the survival of communities.
He said illegal miners were destroying water bodies and depriving large communities of clean drinking water, which is an “essential of life.”
Dr. Ashigbey stressed that the call was not for the entire country, but only for parts of Ghana where the destruction is severe.
He added that declaring a state of emergency in these areas will give government the legal power to act quickly and decisively.
He also called on the President to provide clear timelines and targets to guide the fight against galamsey.
This, he said, would help demonstrate government’s seriousness and commitment to ending the menace.
The Coalition insisted that declaring a state of emergency was no longer a last resort but an immediate step needed to save Ghanaians and protect the future of the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
The Ghana Bar Association must be non-partisan in the discharge of their duties – Dominic Ayine urges
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, has called on the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to remain non-partisan in the discharge of its duties.
He said the credibility of the legal profession would be at risk if the bar allowed itself to be influenced by political interests.
Speaking at the GBA 2025/ 2026 annual general conference, Dr. Ayine reminded members that their first allegiance was to the Constitution and the Republic, not to any government or opposition party.
He stressed that for over three decades, the GBA had played an important role in helping the Supreme Court interpret and enforce the law, but outside the courtroom, its advocacy had often lacked consistency.
Dr. Ayine pointed to past cases such as the 2015 petition against the former CHRAJ Chairperson, Loretta Lamptey, and the 2017 petition for the removal of Electoral Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, where the bar remained silent.
He noted that the association only found its voice during the petition against former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, a stance he said coincided with the position of the opposition.
He questioned why the bar acted differently in those situations, especially since all three cases involved women of repute who held positions in key constitutional bodies.
Dr. Ayine urged the GBA to be the conscience of the republic, saying lawyers must defend the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the rights of citizens regardless of which political party was in power.
He warned against inviting foreign interference in Ghana’s constitutional matters, saying international collaboration should be limited to professional exchanges and not politics.
He further encouraged the GBA to promote integrity among its members, strengthen pro bono services to support the poor, and embrace digital reforms such as e-filing and electronic court records to modernize the justice system.
According to him, the destiny of Ghana is tied to the integrity of the legal profession.
He added that if lawyers stand firm, the country will also stand firm, but if they falter, the republic will stumble.
By: Jacob Aggrey
