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Parliamentary Committee on Chieftaincy, Cultural and Religious Affairs engages key institutions
The Parliamentary Select Committee on Chieftaincy, Cultural and Religious Affairs has embarked on a familiarisation visit to some key institutions.
The institutions are the Ministry of Local Government, the Christian Council, and the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts.
The purpose of the visit was to gain insight into their roles, challenges and to explore how the committee can best offer its support.
In his remarks, the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, emphasized that a major issue being addressed is the resolution of chieftaincy disputes. He highlighted that the government is treating this matter with the utmost seriousness.
A notable achievement, he noted, was the decision to ensure that a ruling party member does not chair the committee—a move aimed at avoiding partisan decisions and ensuring fairness in resolving chieftaincy disputes.
According to him, “Mr. Chairman, we will put our political affiliations aside to confront these matters in a neutral, impartial, and transparent manner; once we do that, we will be able to resolve most of our chieftaincy issues.”
He highlighted sanitation as one of the core municipal functions under his Ministry and urged the Committee to work closely with the Government to help sustain the National Sanitation Day exercise across the various MMDAs.
During the committee’s visit to the Christian Council of Ghana, the Chairman, Rt. Rev. Dr. Hillard D. Dogbe, stated that although the Council has established standards and entry requirements for membership, it does not have absolute control over rogue pastors, a major challenge that could bring the image of the institution into disrepute.
He therefore called for self-regulation within the religious community and urged parliamentarians to refrain from endorsing rogue pastors, as such endorsements give them the zeal to continue operating with the impression that they have official support.
The Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts Dzifa Abla Gomashie, urged Ghanaians to celebrate, support and protect our culture, as it not only generates income but also sets us apart from the rest of the world, giving visitors a reason to return.
“Our uniqueness is reflected in our food, clothing, fashion, and heritage,”she noted.
The Minister expressed hope that the Ministry will be supported in its efforts to secure the recognition and resources it deserves to be able to do more.
The Chairman of the Committee, Fred Kyei Asamoah, commended the institutions for the good work done and gave the assurance that the committee would not be an armchair body, but rather an action-oriented one and would work closely to achieve results for the betterment of the country.
Ghana’s Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has pledged Ghana’s continued commitment to advancing women’s rights and empowerment.
She made the statement at the UN High-Level Meeting marking 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Dr. Lartey said the Beijing Declaration, adopted in 1995, was a bold vision that recognized the advancement of women and girls as key to peace, justice, and sustainable development.
She added that while much progress had been made, the journey to full equality was still not complete.
She explained that the commemoration was of special importance to Ghana as it coincided with the 50th anniversary of the country’s national machinery for women.
She also highlighted that Ghana made history in January this year when its first female vice president was sworn into office, describing it as a breakthrough that showed the country’s determination to give women’s voices space in governance.
According to the minister, Ghana has strengthened its legal and policy framework by passing the Affirmative Action Act in 2024 and adopting a new gender policy to guide actions from 2025 to 2035.
She added that protection systems had been reinforced through the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit of the Ghana Police Service.
She pointed to Ghana’s focus on economic empowerment through programs such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), the School Feeding Program, and the Microfinance and Small Loan Centers (MASLOC).
Plans, she said, were underway to establish a Women’s Development Bank to expand financial inclusion and provide affordable credit, especially for women in underserved areas.
Dr. Lartey stressed that the Beijing Declaration was not just a promise written on paper but a call to action.
She urged the international community to recommit to removing barriers and giving women and girls equal opportunities.
She affirmed Ghana’s commitment to a future where no woman or girl is left behind.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), DCOP Lydia Donkor, has commended the Ashanti Regional Police Commander and his team for their professionalism during an operation that dismantled a notorious armed robbery syndicate.
Speaking at the Police Headquarters in Accra, DCOP Donkor said the success of the operation was due to effective teamwork and tactical execution by the regional command.
She stressed that their dedication and courage played a major role in bringing down the gang, which had been terrorizing banks and rural financial institutions across the country.
She further praised the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), COP Christian Tetteh Yohuno, for his leadership and direction, which she said has strengthened the fight against armed robbery and improved public confidence in the police.
DCOP Donkor assured the public that investigations are ongoing and pledged that the police will not relent in pursuing the remaining suspects still at large.
She called on Ghanaians to continue to support the police with information that can help in combating crime.
By: Jacob Aggrey
