News
New Catholic Dean for Madina Deanery
Very Rev Fr Bernard Kyei
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, Most Rev John Bonaventure Kwofie has appointed Very Rev Fr Bernard Kyei as the new Dean for Madina Deanary.
Very Rev Bernard Kyei who is the Priest-In- Charge of St John of God Catholic Church, Amrahia, on the Adentan -Dodowa highway,takes over from Very Rev Fr Nimorius Kwabena Adomanzing.
The appointment which will last for five years, makes him an ex-oficio member of the Diocesan Council of Priests.
Preaching the homily last Sunday to mark the feast day of the church, Fr Bernard Kyei called on Christians to take advantage of God’s unlimited mercy and forgiveness to be cleansed of their inequities.
He said Christians ought to rejoice because Jesus the son of God had nailed their sins on the cross and won for them salvation.
He said lent should serve an ideal opportune time for all to amend their lives, forgive the wrongs of others in order that God would forgive them their sins.
He advised them not to condemn anybody, even prostitutes, because God the merciful judge would pardon all manner of sins, provided one returned to God with a contrite heart.
Very Rev Fr Kyei said God the arbiter of our lives was constantly calling us to come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved.
He asked them to imitate Jesus in all aspects of their lives, eschew sin because so long as they sinned, they crucified Jesus daily on the cross.
By Raymond Kyekye
Minister for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, has dismissed claims that staff salaries at the Presidency have increased under the current administration, describing the allegation as a “flat lie”.
In a response to a post on Facebook, Ofosu Kwakye said the current staff at the Presidency inherited the same salaries and conditions approved for their predecessors.
He argued that once arrears owed to former Article 71 office holders are paid, the total wage bill for the current administration will actually be lower due to a reduction in staff numbers.
“It is in fact a mathematical certainty that the total amount paid in salaries to the current staff will be smaller compared to yours once your arrears are paid because of the reduction in numbers,” he stated.
The Minister noted that delays in paying arrears to past Article 71 office holders are not new.
“Arrears owed to past Article 71 office holders is nothing new or unheard of. Many others before you have suffered same,” he said.
Ofosu Kwakye also stressed that the salaries and conditions in question were approved by Parliament on 6th January 2025, under the previous government.
He pointed out that the Constitution bars any changes to those salaries until a new committee is set up to determine emoluments for Article 71 office holders under the new administration.
“No such committee has been set up by President Mahama and no alteration has been made,” he clarified.
“So on what basis, apart from pure lies and mischief, can a claim of ballooning be made?” he concluded.
The response follows public debate over the size and cost of the presidential staff, with critics alleging a spike in the wage bill.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi and the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, has initiated plea negotiations with the Attorney General’s office in the GH₵30 million Exim Bank fraud case.
Information available to ghanaiantimes.com.gh indicates that lawyers for Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi & 2 other accused have formally written to the Attorney General to enter into plea negotiations on the charges of defrauding by false pretenses, money laundering, and intentionally causing financial loss to a public body.
A plea bargain, under Section 162C of the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) (Amendment) Act, 2022 (Act 1079), allows an accused person to plead guilty to lesser charges in exchange for a reduced sentence.
The agreement must be approved by the court after the Attorney General assesses factors such as the strength of evidence, recovery of state funds, and public interest.
Wontumi is facing four counts after his arrest by the Economic and Organised Crime Office in May 2025.
Prosecutors allege he used forged documents to secure a GH₵30 million facility from the Ghana Export-Import Bank to finance equipment for his mining company, Akonta Mining Ltd.
The state further charges him with money laundering and causing financial loss to the state.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and was granted GH₵50 million bail with two sureties. The case is currently before the Accra High Court.
The Attorney General’s office is yet to confirm whether negotiations will proceed.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
