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Speaker Inaugurates Management Committee of Parliamentary Friendship Associations of the Ninth Parliament
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has officially inaugurated the Management Committee of the Parliamentary Friendship Association, an event that marks a significant step toward strengthening parliamentary diplomatic engagement.
In his remarks, the Speaker emphasized that the formation of this committee is a critical milestone in the continuous efforts to institutionalize and enhance parliamentary diplomacy.
He noted that the establishment of the management committee is a clear testament to Parliament’s commitment to providing strategic direction for the operations of the Parliamentary Friendship Associations.
The objective, he said, is to ensure these associations operate with transparency, structure, and measurable impact.
The Speaker cautioned against viewing the Parliamentary Friendship Associations as mere ceremonial groups or opportunities for members to travel abroad.
Instead, he urged that they be recognized as strategic instruments of soft diplomacy.
The Majority leader, Mahama Ayariga, highlighted the power and importance of Parliamentary Friendship Associations in enhancing international relations and diplomacy among legislators.
He noted, “We don’t just want to see the association inaugurated. We want to see reports from the association presented on the floor of Parliament, indicating that they are actively working.”
He further urged members to play visible roles in representing Ghana on the global stage.
“When it’s the independence anniversary of one of these countries, we expect members to make a statement recognizing the relationship between Ghana and that country. And if there’s a disaster, we want you to be the first to express heartfelt condolences on the floor of Parliament,” he added.
Speaking on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the 2nd Deputy Minority whip, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, underscored the global practice of Parliaments using friendship associations to strengthen cooperation, build networks.
He emphasized that the Ghanaian Parliamentary Friendship Associations must not remain ceremonial.
“These associations must translate into tangible benefits for the Parliament of Ghana,” he said.
The Ambassador of Lebanon to Ghana, Maher Kheir, encouraged the newly inaugurated management committee to carry out its responsibilities with diligence, ensuring that its mission leads to productive and impactful results.
In his remarks, the Chairperson of the Committee, Ricketts-Hagan expressed the commitment of the new members to take their oversight role seriously.
He pledged that the committee would work to bring renewed hope to the formation of the friendship associations, and ensure that the associations operate efficiently and fulfill their intended functions.
The Deputy Clerk Legislative Management Services, Mr. Camillo Pwamang, highlighted the growing significance of parliamentary diplomacy, especially in light of the current complexities of international relations.
He further noted that by the end of the Eighth Parliament, forty (40) friendship associations had been officially recognized. At the commencement of the Ninth Parliament, and in accordance with the directive of the Speaker, two (2) additional friendship associations were established, bringing the current total to forty-two (42).
Ahyiresu and Abofrem, two quiet communities in the Atwima Mponua District, have been shaken to the core by a chilling midnight drama that reads like a nightmare.
A pastor and a young mother stand accused of attempting to bury a five‑month‑old baby girl alive, a crime that has ignited outrage and disbelief across the township.
According to police, Apostle Richmond Akwasi Frimpong, 36, Head Pastor of the Anointed Grace Prayer Ministry at Kuffour Camp, conspired with his uncle Emmanuel Appiah, 53, and the child’s mother, 23‑year‑old Beatrice Agyapomaa, to dispose of the infant, Anaya Achiaa, under the cover of darkness.
A fourth suspect, Emmanuel Donkor, remains on the run.
The suspects were caught near a refuse dump around 10 pm on April 9, 2026, after a vigilant resident, Akwasi Twezor, noticed their suspicious movements.
When confronted, they claimed the child was already dead and had palace approval for burial. But Twezor’s instincts proved right—the baby was still alive, gasping faintly for breath.
Chief Linguist, Nana Yaw Badu, later confirmed that Frimpong had misled him earlier in the evening, securing permission for burial by falsely declaring the child dead.
The infant was rushed to the Abofrem Clinic, where she is now responding well to treatment. Police described her as “very beautiful.”
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Evelyn Yitamkey, Commander of DOVVSU in Bibiani, confirmed that the suspects have been provisionally charged.
Frimpong faces attempted murder and conspiracy charges, while Agyapomaa and Appiah are charged with conspiracy and abetment.
They were remanded by the Bibiani Circuit Court, presided over by Judge Frank Asiedu Nimako, to assist investigations.
The docket has been forwarded to the Attorney General’s Department for advice, ASP Yitamkey indicated.
The attempted crime has provoked fury among residents, many suspecting ritual motives aimed at bolstering the pastor’s influence.
Crowds attempted to attack the suspects outside court, but police intervention prevented mob justice.
The Assembly Member for Ahyiresu, Yusuf Suleiman, has assured residents that justice will be pursued swiftly.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The forecourt of the African University of Communications and Business (AUCB) in Accra came alive on Friday with colour, creativity and innovation, as Level 300 students transformed the space into a lively exhibition of ideas.
Under the theme “Building meaningful brands beyond the logo,” the students invited patrons into a world where ordinary products were reimagined through storytelling, design and purpose.
From scented candles to innovative food concepts, each stand told a unique story, one that went beyond aesthetics to capture identity, value and human connection.
For many of the students, the event was more than just an academic exercise; it was a moment to dream out loud.
Guided by their lecturer, Peter Wonders, they explored what it truly means to build a brand in today’s competitive world where trust, consistency and experience matter just as much as logos and slogans.
Chairman of the occasion, Nana Kum Gyata VI, in his remarks said a brand is what people say about you when you are not present.
At the end of the presentations, awards were presented to deserving groups with Vida Nyaneba emerging as the overall best branding student.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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