News
NPP member petitions party leadership to discipline Kennedy Agyapong over alleged misconduct
A Deputy National TESCON Coordinator of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Charles Opoku, has petitioned the party’s leadership to initiate disciplinary proceedings against former flag-bearer aspirant and former Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, over what he describes as repeated attacks on the party and its members.
In a petition dated June 18, 2026, and addressed to the General Secretary of the NPP, Mr. Opoku accused Mr. Agyapong of making public statements that have allegedly damaged the image of the party, created divisions among members, and caused disaffection within the NPP.
According to him, Mr. Agyapong’s conduct over the years has been inconsistent with the values and principles outlined in the party’s constitution.
Mr. Opoku, who said he has served the NPP for more than 14 years in various capacities, including as TESCON President and Eastern Regional TESCON Coordinator, argued that while party members have the right to express their views, such expressions should strengthen rather than weaken the party.
He specifically cited Mr. Agyapong’s recent criticism of the NPP’s position on the impasse surrounding the Afari Military Hospital project.
According to the petitioner, the former lawmaker used what he described as false claims and fabrications to criticize efforts by the party’s Minority Caucus to push for the completion and operationalisation of the hospital.
Mr. Opoku contended that such actions violate provisions of the NPP constitution, which require members to be truthful, loyal, and committed to protecting the party’s reputation.
The petition raised concerns about the activities of a group known as “The Base,” which emerged after the NPP presidential primaries.
He argued that structures operating outside the recognised organs of the party could undermine party authority and create divisions among members.
Another major concern highlighted in the petition relates to recent media comments attributed to Mr. Agyapong.
Mr. Opoku claimed the former presidential aspirant had threatened to disclose confidential information about the party and had indicated that he would attack the NPP in June or July 2027.
He further alleged that Mr. Agyapong had stated he would not campaign for the party ahead of the 2028 general election.
Mr. Opoku said such comments had generated anxiety among party supporters and members across the country.
He therefore called on the National Executive Committee and the party’s disciplinary bodies to review Mr. Agyapong’s public statements and determine whether they are consistent with the letter and spirit of the NPP constitution.
The petitioner also urged party leadership to invite Mr. Agyapong to submit any evidence he may have regarding alleged wrongdoing, corruption, abuse of office, or breaches of party rules by any member or official.
According to him, if such evidence exists, it should be presented to the appropriate party organs or state institutions for investigation and possible action.
Mr. Opoku argued that no individual should be allowed to repeatedly make allegations or suggest the existence of damaging information without formally presenting evidence.
He maintained that doing so places the party under suspicion and unfairly affects the reputation of innocent members.
Among other requests, he asked the NPP leadership to review Mr. Agyapong’s conduct, take appropriate measures to preserve party unity and discipline, and encourage members to resolve disagreements through established party structures rather than through the media.
The petition was accompanied by what Mr. Opoku described as supporting materials, including media reports, transcripts, and recordings of interviews containing the statements attributed to Mr. Agyapong.
He said the petition was submitted in the interest of party unity and the long-term success of the NPP.
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
