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Parliament adjourns over Akwatia MP’s death
Parliament adjourned shortly yesterday after the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin sadly informed the House about the sudden death of the Member of Parliament of Akwatia Hon. Ernest Kumi.
Ernest Kumi was reported dead at the early hours of yesterday after short illness.
According to the Minority Leader, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Caucus, Akwatia Constituency and the Parliament of Ghana have been hit by the death of Ernest Kumi. He made the House aware that Ernest Kumi was seen going about his parliamentary duties whole-heartedly last week.
The Minority Leader later appealed to the First Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor who was in the Chair to adjourn the House to allow Members console themselves.
“Colleagues let’s take heart as we continue our service to mother Ghana” he consoled his colleagues.
Commenting on the sad news, the Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga described the moment as one of the saddest days of Ghana’s Parliament. He used the opportunity to extend condolences on behalf of the House to the immediate family of Hon. Ernest Kumi.
He later agreed to the appeal of the Minority Leader to adjourned the House and continue public business and proceedings tomorrow Tuesday July 8, 2025.
The House observed a minute of silence in memory of the late MP for Akwatia Ernest Kumi and adjourned.
The leadership of the House is expected to visit the family of the late MP and commiserate with them at the appropriate time.
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
