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Public lecture held in Accra to honour late general Ignatius Kutu Acheampong
After 46 years of his passing, a public lecture has been held in Accra to reminisce and honour the memory of General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, Ghana’s fifth Head of State after independence.
The maiden lecture, which drew participants from academia, government agencies, students and the corporate world, was on the topic: “May Abrewa And The Ancestors Absolve Me: A Reflection On General Acheampong From Public Memory And Ghana’s Leadership Historiography.”
General Acheampong, who ruled from 1972 to 1978, introduced key national development policies such as Operation Feed Yourself and Operation Feed Your Industries to improve food production and support local industries.
His government also worked on major road projects, supported state enterprises and pushed for economic self-reliance through the “Yen Tua” idea, which aimed to renegotiate Ghana’s debt for the country’s benefit.
Speaking to journalists after the event, the Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, author and cultural historian, Nana Kobina Nketsia V, said the lecture was important because it allowed the nation to revisit the life and ideas of the late general.
He said some parts of Acheampong’s story had been buried over the years and needed to be brought back into public discussion.
He noted that the country must examine both the strengths and weaknesses of Acheampong’s leadership if Ghanaians are to learn useful lessons for the future.
According to him, the late general served with sincerity and a pure heart, even though some of his decisions were misunderstood and some faulted.
Nana Nketsia added that many Ghanaians had become cautious about issues of national instability, unlike in the past when coups were welcomed.
He stressed that learning from such periods would help prevent the mistakes that caused past tensions.
He further called on Ghanaians to reflect on their own values, saying leaders rise from the people and often reflect the society that produces them.
He said examining Acheampong’s life honestly will give meaning to his death and help shape a more responsible national identity.
The son of the late leader and Director of the Kutu Acheampong Foundation, Anthony Kutu Acheampong, described the event as historic, saying that few imagined a public lecture for his father would ever be held, especially at the University of Ghana, which once opposed his rule.
He explained that the Foundation was set up to help the public understand Acheampong’s personality and leadership.
He noted that the Foundation commissioned a balanced book on the general’s life to present both the positive and negative sides of his story.
Anthony said the public lecture series aims to create a platform for discussions on Ghana’s history and leadership.
He encouraged Ghanaians to learn from the past and work together to improve the country, which he described as the only home for all its people.
Renowned Professor of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Prof. Yaw Adu-Gyamfi, commended the book on Acheampong, saying it helped restore parts of Ghana’s political history that had been nearly forgotten.
He said many young Ghanaians were unaware of Acheampong’s contributions until the publication of the work.
He emphasised that Ghana must tell its national story honestly, without distortion, so that citizens can clearly understand the past and use it to shape a better future.
According to him, political independence alone is not enough if the country does not achieve economic independence.
Prof. Adu-Gyamfi added that Ghana is at a crossroads and must rethink its direction, especially in areas of resource control, patriotism and national development.
He stressed that examining Acheampong’s leadership could offer lessons that help guide the country forward.
By: Jacob Aggrey
News
Oxfam in Ghana donates medical equipment and essential drugs worth GH¢1.5 million to Kasoa Polyclinic
Oxfam in Ghana has donated medical equipment and essential drugs worth about GH¢1.5 million to the Kasoa Polyclinic to strengthen maternal and reproductive healthcare services in the municipality.
The presentation, which took place on Tuesday, June 24, 2026, at the premises of the clinic in Kasoa, formed part of the sustainability and legacy activities under the Power to Choose (P2C) Project.
The donated items included delivery beds, maternity beds, oxygen cylinders, neonatal resuscitation equipment, blood pressure monitors, newborn weighing scales, suction machines, delivery kits, essential medicines, medical theatre wear and other critical supplies to support quality healthcare delivery.
The Power to Choose Project is a seven-year initiative being implemented by Oxfam in Ghana in partnership with the Planned Parenthood Association of Ghana (PPAG), WiLDAF Ghana, SEND Ghana, Norsaac and PARDA, with funding from Global Affairs Canada through Oxfam Quebec.
The project seeks to improve sexual and reproductive health and rights for young people, particularly adolescent girls, young women and young men living in vulnerable and marginalised conditions.
Addressing nurses and management of the hospital, the Country Director for Oxfam in Ghana, Mohammed-Anwar Sadat Adam, said the project, which began in 2021 and will run until early 2028, is being implemented in seven countries across Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.
He said Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo are the two African countries benefiting from the project.
Mr. Adam noted that the project has already trained about 102 health workers in areas including youth-friendly services, emergency obstetric and neonatal care, family planning, gender-based violence response, respectful maternity care and inclusive healthcare delivery.
He said Oxfam and its partners conducted assessments at beneficiary facilities and identified equipment needs to help improve healthcare delivery.
According to him, the donation would create safe spaces where young women and girls could seek healthcare services without fear or stigma and would improve health outcomes in the community.
Mr. Adam thanked the Government of Canada, the Ghana Health Service, the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ghana (SOGOG), World Health Ghana and other partners for supporting the implementation of the project.
He urged the beneficiary facilities to ensure that the equipment is properly used and maintained to serve the community for many years.
A speech by the Municipal Health Director for Awutu Senya East, Dr. Stanley Kweku Yaidoo, which was read on his behalf by the Municipal Accountant, Rev. Dr. Askari Thomas, described the donation as timely and important.
He said quality healthcare delivery depends on manpower, financial resources and equipment, adding that healthcare workers cannot effectively deliver services without the necessary tools.
Dr. Yaidoo thanked Oxfam and its partners for selecting Kasoa as one of the beneficiary facilities and assured them that the equipment would be put to good use.
The Acting Medical Superintendent of Kasoa Polyclinic, Dr. Papa Kojo Arthur, expressed appreciation to Oxfam for its continuous support over the years through training and capacity building.
He said the equipment would greatly support the effective management of patients, particularly in maternal and child healthcare.
According to him, the donation would help reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in the municipality.
The donation formed part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of youth-friendly health facilities in eight implementing districts across five regions of Ghana to continue providing quality and accessible sexual and reproductive healthcare services beyond the lifespan of the project.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts (MoTCCA) has announced that an electronic copy of Ghana’s revised National Cultural Policy is now available online for free access by the public and stakeholders in the creative sector.
In a statement issued on June 22, the ministry said the revised policy was officially launched on June 9, 2026, at the National Theatre of Ghana in Accra.
According to the ministry, the decision to upload the document on its official website is aimed at ensuring widespread dissemination, increasing public awareness and promoting the effective implementation of the policy.
The ministry encouraged sector practitioners, stakeholders and members of the public to visit its website and read the document.
“The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, in the spirit of the Black Star Experience, remains committed to a transparent, inclusive and collaborative approach to building the better Ghana we want,” the statement said.
It added that it looks forward to the active participation of stakeholders in implementing the policy for the benefit of the country.
The ministry urged the public to take advantage of the free access to the policy document and familiarise themselves with its contents.
By: Jacob Aggrey
