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Scrap Presidential Immunity -Lawyer Kwame Jantua calls
Private legal practitioner, Lawyer Kwame Jantua, has called for a total cancellation of presidential immunity for former presidents in order to ensure accountability and prevent financial losses to the state.
Lawyer Jantua made the call on Monday when he blamed former President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for causing financial loss to the state in relation to the 58-million-dollar National Cathedral project.
“Let’s wave it. You know why? This land that you see there is causing financial loss to the state. They should waive President Akufo-Addo’s immunity so that we can question him,” he said.
According to him, the decision to build the cathedral was a personal pledge to God and not a national project or part of the manifesto. Hence, it is imperative for the former president to give account of how the money was spent.
“If they are not prepared to question him, they should question President Bawumia to tell us what he knew about the project, which is causing financial loss to the state,” he added.
He bemoaned the situation, indicating that some of the buildings demolished for the project were listed colonial-era structures that held significant historical value for Ghana.
He further advised Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, aspiring flagbearer for the New Patriotic Party in the 2028 elections, to give more depth and clarification on the project.
He believes Dr. Bawumia was part of the government at the time and, as such, was complicit and aware of decisions taken regarding the construction of the cathedral.
“This is a lot of money. They are now saying from 58 million to 97 million dollars, which could have built good schools and good hospitals for the people of Ghana,” he lamented.
He called on duty bearers to take pragmatic steps to ensure accountability to the Ghanaian people.
By Jacob Aggrey
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
