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NZEMALAND CRIES FOR ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT
It is incontrovertible that once upon a time the Nzema State, the birth place of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana, was forgotten following the blackest moment that cloaked Ghana when his administration was toppled in a February 1966 coup that gave birth to the National Liberation Council made up of such people as General Ankrah, Colonel E. K. Kotoka and Major Akwasi Amankwah Afrifa, all of blessed memory now.
Today, Nzemaland is the economic powerhouse of our energy mix. God, in His infinite wisdom, protected the Nzemaland for about 40 years and in May 2007 turned the rejected and forgotten stone to become the cornerstone for the builder (Government). Nzemaland (the forgotten source) is back again in the scheme of things in the country because of an expansive deposit of black gold in commercial quantity found there.
It is a trite knowledge that Nzemas are fortunate to have oil in their area but this ostensibly is not reflecting in the lives of the youth in particular in terms of employment and scholarships. This was clearly amplified some few years ago by the loquacious and ubiquitous MP for Assin Central, Hon Kennedy Agyapong, that “the Nzemas were getting nothing from the oil in spite of them being owners of the land”.
It is regrettable that a lot of people who have risen to prominence in the Nzema area have stood on the shoulders of some prominent Nzema giants but have always hornswoggled (shortchanged) the youth with all sorts of El Dorado and utopian promises. It is even sadder to find out that a whopping US$15,000 000 out of a colossal pay-out to the Ewusie Osei Group in 2011 by the Kosmos Energy meant for the entire West Cape Three Point is missing as referenced by the Special Prosecutor, Mr Martin Amidu, on Ghanaweb on 27th August, 2019.
As at the time of this publication, nobody had succeeded in tracing the whereabouts of the ‘People’s Dough’(that amount) from the national kitty. To add insult to our injury, which we are quietly bearing like a Saint, in November 2019, during the gift spree occasioned by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation as revealed by the Vice Chairman of PIAC, Dr Thomas Stephens, GNPC doled out large sums in Ghana Cedis to support the following institutions and events:
1. Damba Festival 400, 000.00
2. Ghana JournalistsAssociation 50, 000.00
3. Ghana Boxing Association 30, 000.00
4. First Lady’s Rebecca Foundation 120, 000.00
5. EOCO 550, 000.00
6. Okyenhene’s 20th Anniversary Celebration 1, 500, 000.00
We the Nzema youth in the Diaspora, in collaboration with Youth for Development in the Nzemaland, feel it is very disingenuous and troubling if all this largesse of GNPC could be enjoyed by all these institutions, without it considering causing a similar economic windfall on the Nzema people.
In the midst of this plethora of resources in the Nzemaland, the Nzema State is suffering debilitating economic bottlenecks in development such as bad roads, unwholesome water, poor health facilities, lack of funding and scholarships, poor school buildings and inadequate instructional materials, and lack of jobs. We believe, at this critical juncture of our historic consciousness, the Nzema Youth in the diaspora and the Youth for Development can no longer look on with blasé attitude as our resources are carted away without compensatory royalty and equity, all in the name of national development. The people and the Nzema State deserve better.
The Nzema Youth in the Diaspora and the Youth for Development of the Nzemaland, in collaboration with the Great King Kaku Aka III of the Nzema State, who, since his ascension to the throne, has shown commitment to the development of the youth and the entire Nzemaland, are appealing to the Government, GNPC, Ghana Gas, ENI and all companies drilling oil not to skirt the Nzemas out of their Corporate Social Responsibility and other compensations.
Another area where the Nzemas have been shortchanged, which is of much concern to the youth both home and abroad, is the naming of the oilfields. How can a raw material be found in a vicinity or district and some different names are put on where it is sourced? The oilfield is in the Tano Basin, which is part of the three offshore basins in Ghana, namely the Tano Basin, Saltpond Basin, and the Accra-Keta Basin. The Tano Basin was strangely named West Cape Three Point Basin. It is interesting to note that the Voltaian Basin, which is still under exploratory stage, is called the Voltaian Basin. The name should be changed to Tano Basin or Nzema Oilfield to classify Nzema among areas where oil is produced to enable this rich resource area to attract investments.
We believe if Obuasi Goldfield, which is now AngloGold, was once called Obuasi Goldfield, then West Cape Three Point should be changed and called Nzema Oil. Adamus Gold Mines should bear the name Nkroful or Nzema Goldfield like the Chirano Gold Mines and Tarkwa Gold Mines; all these can promote accelerated economic development and improve the living standard of the Nzemas.
This blatant disregard for the Nzema tradition and culture and disrespect for our traditional authority should stop with the utmost immediacy. The oil find in the Nzema state should be a catalyst for accelerated development in the area. Period.
The Nzema Youth in the Diaspora
A new international whitepaper on democracy in Africa has placed Ghana’s Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, at the centre of a major research study on the role of opposition parties in strengthening democratic governance across the continent.
The study is being conducted by the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP) in partnership with the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Ghana.
It uses Ghana’s 2025/2026 parliamentary session as a case study to examine how opposition parties can contribute to peace, development and democratic stability.
President of the ACCP, Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, said the research forms part of a wider continental project aimed at identifying successful governance models in Africa.
He explained that the chamber is interested in promoting positive African stories and finding practical democratic systems that other countries can adopt.
Mr. Dwomoh-Doyen said political differences should not create division or hostility among leaders and citizens.
He stated that despite belonging to different political sides, people must work together in the interest of national development.
According to him, Ghana’s democratic journey and parliamentary system made the country an important case for the study.
The whitepaper, titled “A Strong and Responsible Opposition in Africa: A Ghanaian Case Study (2025/2026 Review)”, reviews the Minority Leader’s parliamentary activities, including his statements, motions and media engagements.
Researchers are also conducting public opinion surveys in Accra, Kumasi and Tamale as part of the study.
Head of ACCP’s Liberia branch, Dr. Murphy T. Jackson, said African countries should formally recognise and support the office of the Leader of the Opposition through legal structures and institutional resources.
He noted that such systems would help reduce the chances of unconstitutional changes of government on the continent.
Head of Research at ACCP Ghana, David Adofo, described Ghana’s opposition institution as one of the strongest in Africa.
He said although the current research focuses on Ghana, future studies would examine opposition institutions in other African countries.
Deputy Secretary General of UPF-Ghana, Tegha King, stressed the importance of a responsible opposition in national development.
Speaking on behalf of the Universal Peace Federation and the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), he said opposition parties should not be seen as enemies of progress.
According to him, respectful debate, alternative policy ideas and cross-party dialogue are necessary for strong democratic institutions and national peace.
The research comes at a time when some African countries are experiencing political instability and military takeovers.
Despite these challenges, Ghana continues to be recognised as one of Africa’s stable democracies, having recorded several peaceful transfers of power since 1992.
The completed whitepaper will later be submitted to an international peer-reviewed journal, while the abstract has already been made available upon request.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
NuGhana Expat Center to launch ‘AfroTango Platform’ to support diasporans in Ghana and Africa — Nana Kofi Opoku-Agyemang
The Executive Director of the NuGhana International Expat Center, Nana Kofi Opoku-Agyemang, has disclosed that the organisation is preparing to launch the “AfroTango Platform” to support diasporans with integration in Ghana and across Africa.
According to him, the platform is intended to help diasporans navigate African systems, which many often find difficult to understand after relocating from Western countries.
“The AfroTango Platform will provide a structured bridge, offering orientation, vetted service referrals, and a trusted community to help them integrate smoothly for business or relocation,” he said.
Mr. Opoku-Agyemang made the disclosure while speaking about a proposal submitted by the NuGhana International Expat Center to the government of President John Dramani Mahama for the establishment of a specialised multi-agency Diaspora Protection and Human Capital Task Force.
According to their statement, the proposal has been submitted to the President and shared with key institutions, including the Bureau of National Intelligence (BNI), the Ministry of the Interior, the Office of National Security, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Office of Diaspora Affairs, and the Black Star Experience Secretariat.
Mr. Opoku-Agyemang explained that the proposed task force would help protect diasporans and foreign nationals from organised fraud and exploitation while also helping the country benefit from their expertise, investments, and professional skills.
He noted that many diasporans relocating to Ghana often face challenges such as land disputes, business fraud, and difficulties finding trusted people to guide them through local systems.
President of the African Chamber of Content Producers (ACCP), Nana Dwomoh-Doyen Benjamin, who endorsed the proposal, described the initiative as timely and necessary.
According to him, the leadership of NuGhana understands the realities and expectations of diasporans because of their experience living in Western countries.
He appealed to the government to consider the proposal seriously, stating that it could help protect lives and investments while encouraging more diasporans to contribute to national development.
The statement identified key challenges facing diasporans, including organised land and business scams, the absence of a unified system to engage skilled professionals entering the country, and fears over investment security.
Some diasporans who spoke on condition of anonymity also welcomed the initiative and said a state-backed protection system would give them more confidence to relocate and invest in Ghana.
NuGhana said it has already built a human capital and risk database over the past four years to catalogue diasporans and foreign nationals according to their professions, skills, investment interests, and reported incidents.
The organisation added that it is ready to engage the President’s designated team to demonstrate its database and begin a pilot phase of the proposed framework.
By: Jacob Aggrey
