News
Nii Kofi Okpleng I, selected new Paramount Chief of Jamestown Ngleshie Alata
The Adanse Adjiri Moomli-Brofo Ashiyie Royal Family, custodians of one of the two royal gates to the Jamestown Ngleshie Alata Stool, has announced the unanimous selection and nomination of Nii Kofi Okpleng I, known in private life as Seth Nii Boye Hammond and the son of the late Emma Naa Ameley Tagoe, as the Paramount Chief of Jamestown Ngleshie Alata.
The selection follows extensive consultations and careful deliberations among the principal elders and family heads of the royal family.
According to tradition, the Jamestown Ngleshie Alata Stool can only be occupied by a chief nominated from either the Ajumako Dawurampong Royal Family or the Adanse Adjiri Moomli-Brofo Ashiyie Royal Family.
The late Oblempong Nii Kojo Ababio V, who passed away in 2017, was nominated and installed by the Ajumako Dawurampong Royal Family.
By the customary rotational system, the responsibility to choose the next chief now falls to the Adanse Adjiri Moomli-Brofo Ashiyie Royal Family.
The stool has remained vacant for more than eight years following the death of the late chief.
The family expressed hope that the new nomination will restore leadership, progress, and harmony to Ngleshie Alata.
The date for the coronation ceremony will be announced after the completion of customary rites and consultations with relevant traditional authorities.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) has held its Fourth Quarter Ministerial Advisory Board Meeting to review progress, discuss key policy matters, and strengthen collaboration towards achieving its strategic goals.
The meeting brought together members of the Advisory Board, which was set up under Section 39 of the Civil Service Act, 1993 (PNDCL 327), and the Civil Service (Ministerial Advisory Board) Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1961).
The Board serves as a platform for continuous engagement between the Ministry and its stakeholders.
Its role is to advise the sector Minister on policy planning and implementation, while ensuring that programmes on gender, social protection, and child welfare align with national priorities and government development goals.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, commended the Board for its consistent support and technical guidance in advancing the Ministry’s mandate.
She noted that the Ministry’s work in promoting gender equality, protecting the vulnerable, and ensuring the welfare of children and families depends on strong policies and effective partnerships.
Dr. Lartey stressed that the Advisory Board plays an important role in helping the Ministry deliver its mission in a sustainable and impactful way.
A major highlight of the meeting was a presentation on the Ministry’s achievements so far this year, followed by discussions on future policy direction and strategic focus areas.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has been unanimously elected as the Chairperson of the Africa Geopolitical Group of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU).
The election took place on October 19, 2025, during the ongoing 151st IPU Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. His victory places Ghana at the center of continental and global parliamentary diplomacy.
With this new role, Speaker Bagbin will coordinate and harmonize Africa’s collective positions on major IPU decisions and policies.
He will also serve as the continent’s chief representative on key issues such as governance, peace, security, and sustainable development.
Speaker Bagbin currently serves as the President of the Conference of Speakers and Presidents of African Legislatures (COSPAL) and is the immediate past Chairman of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) International.
In his remarks after the election, he thanked African delegations for their confidence and unity, particularly commending Nigeria for seconding his nomination and Senegal for withdrawing its candidate in the spirit of cooperation.
He pledged to strengthen collaboration among African parliaments and promote transparency, democratic governance, and sustainable development through stronger legislative institutions.
He succeeds Ms. Angela Thokozile Didiza, Speaker of South Africa’s National Assembly, who served with distinction.
The Africa Geopolitical Group, formed in the early 1950s, serves as a continental branch of the IPU, ensuring fair representation of African countries in the Union’s committees and decision-making bodies.
It also coordinates Africa’s common positions on major parliamentary issues discussed at IPU assemblies.
By: Jacob Aggrey
