News
Stray cattle “take over” Oil City
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Residents of Sekondi-Takoradi have continued to express their anger and frustration about stray herds of cattle which have invaded the metropolis and causing nuisance in the oil city.
They pointed to the danger the cattle posed to vehicular traffic while grazing especially on the Sekondi road, towards the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital.
They said all efforts by the city authorities to eject the cattle herders from the city centre to Whindo hit a snag.
Over the years, the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly(STMA) have taken bold steps to drive away cattle at the abattoir, on the GHACEM road, at New Takoradi.
A recalcitrant cattle owner had even established a kraal overlooking the Butua Lagoon, just about 50 metres, at the Takoradi Technical University (TTU) bus stop and had refused to quit the area.
At about 10.50 am last Tuesday, herds of cattle emerged from the kraal near the GOIL Depot, jammed the TACOTEL section of the Sekondi road and caused a gridlock as vehicles were trapped in traffic for about more that an hour from Paa Grant roundabout to Sekondi.
Besides the nuisance, the cattle posed danger to commuters especially motor riders.
A passenger complained : “ This cattle nuisance has become a permanent feature on this road in a metropolis christened ‘oil city’.Indeed, they are a threat to public safety.”
Another driver commented: “Massa, it’s a hell driving on the Sekondi road especially when the cattle block the road on their way to the Effia Nkwanta to graze.It’s frustrating and dangerous.Our authorities must be resolute and ensure that the city is rid of the cattle nuisance.”
The Spectator recalled that in September 2017, the late Metropolitan ChiefExecutive, Mr. Anthony K.K. Sam, had expressed serious concerns about stray animals and described them as a major causeof environmental pollution in the twin-city.
He, therefore, resolved to take drastic measures including prosecutions to tackle this menace.
The then Presiding Member of STMA, Mr John Davies, had also expressed similar concerns particularly about cattle roaming on various streets and competing with vehicles and also posing danger to residents.
He also called for strict enforcement of the bye laws to make the owners of the cattle more responsible. But, nothing has changed since then.
An STMA official who pleaded anonymity and his frustration last Tuesday remarked : “ We have been talking about this matter for a long time and still we have not been able to eject the cattle and their owners to Whindo as we planned.”
He told “The Spectator” that the cattle were to have been relocated from the New Takoradi road to Konfeku, but, “it appears nothing is happening.”
“Indeed, the safety of the society should be our paramount concern. We need to take action and remove the kraal near the GOIL Depot.” another source added.
A resident of Effia Nkwanta hospital quarters also confirmed that the animals came to graze in the area and evem destroyed crops of some farmers near the GBC offices.
Meanwhile, residents at the SSNIT Flats and the Anaji Estates have also complained about the nuisance posed by herdsof cattle grazing in th area.
The Spectator gathered that there is a kraal established in the bush behind Block I at the SSNIT Flats and the frontage of Block H and the environs including the Anaji cemetery.
As the cattle passed through the neighbourhoods, they destroyed crops,gardens and posed a threat to children who played in the open places.
“This is a nuisance and an embarrassment in a city like Takoradi. No! This nuisance must stop.” Mrs Akua Baduwa Dadzie, a resident at the SSNIT Flats complained.
The Assembly member of the AnajiElectoral area, Mr John Davies, also said: “We have reported the matter to the assembly and we think that, those involved should be given an ultimatum to relocate the kraals in the houses and also not allow the animals to move in the neighbourhood.”
From Clement Adzei Boye, Takoradi
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has become the new leader of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) after delegates approved a constitutional amendment making the party’s flagbearer its leader.
The amendment was approved on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the NPP’s National Delegates Conference held at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.
The decision makes Dr Bawumia the leader of the NPP as the party prepares for the 2028 general elections, having earlier been elected as its presidential candidate.
The change was contained in one of 14 constitutional amendments presented to delegates by the party’s Constitution Amendment Committee.
The amendments were approved through a voice vote, with delegates responding in favour of the motions.
The latest amendment reverses a provision approved at the party’s January 31, 2026 conference, which made the National Chairman the leader of the party at all material times.
The approved amendment provides for the flagbearer to assume the leadership of the party when the NPP wins an election and the flagbearer becomes President.
The amendment also reinstates the President as a member of the National Executive Committee when the party is in government.
The Chairman of the NPP Constitution Amendment Committee, Frank Davies, explained that the amendments were necessary to address gaps identified in the party’s previous constitutional review.
The constitutional amendments formed the first part of the conference before delegates proceeded to elect new national executives.
A total of 7,163 delegates from all 16 regions participated in the conference, with voting conducted at 31 polling stations for nine national executive positions.
The Electoral Commission supervised the elections and verified delegates.
Other approved amendments include changes to the election of Vice Chairpersons, allowing candidates to contest specific Vice Chairperson positions instead of being ranked according to the number of votes they receive.
Delegates approved the appointment of three additional Vice Chairpersons, the creation of Deputy Communications Officer positions and the elevation of the Information Technology Officer to an executive position.
Addressing delegates after the constitutional amendments and as the party prepared for the national executive elections, Dr Bawumia called for unity and peaceful voting.
He urged the 47 aspirants contesting nine national positions to accept the outcome of the elections and continue working together for the party.
“Let us vote in peace, accept the results in good faith and leave Kumasi as one family,” he told the delegates.
Dr Bawumia congratulated all the aspirants for putting themselves forward to serve the party and urged those who won to reach out to their fellow contestants.
He assured those who lost that the party would still need their experience and contribution.
The NPP flagbearer further reflected on the party’s reorganisation since the December 2024 general elections, saying the party had listened to its grassroots members and learnt lessons about its organisation, communication and engagement with supporters.
He noted that the party had elected its structures from the polling station to the regional level and had also begun preparations towards its next programme for government.
Dr Bawumia said his early election as the party’s presidential candidate had allowed him and the party to begin work on policy development ahead of the 2028 campaign.
He said various policy committees had been established and engagements with different groups and stakeholders were ongoing.
Turning to national issues, Dr Bawumia used his address to criticise the government over what he described as failures to fulfil several campaign promises.
He specifically questioned the progress of the NDC government’s proposed 24-hour economy, the women’s development bank, electricity tariffs, the cost of transportation and other economic challenges facing households and businesses.
On the economy, he defended the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, arguing that the programme introduced under the previous NPP administration had contributed to stability in the Ghanaian currency.
Dr Bawumia further criticised the government over the stalled implementation of projects including Agenda 111 and raised concerns about the management of the Free Senior High School programme.
He addressed recent drug seizures involving consignments traced to Ghana, calling for a bipartisan parliamentary committee to investigate how such shipments were able to leave the country.
On the fight against illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, he accused the government of failing to deliver on its promises to tackle the problem and restore polluted water bodies.
He criticised the government over promises relating to cocoa prices, teacher and nurse postings, the teacher licensure examination and payments to customers of collapsed financial institutions.
These claims formed part of Dr Bawumia’s political assessment of the NDC government’s performance and were presented by him as reasons why the NPP should return to government.
He accused the government of what he described as the “weaponization of state power” and alleged that different standards of justice were being applied to government supporters and opposition figures.
Dr Bawumia said the NPP would, if returned to power, pursue what he described as one standard of justice for all citizens regardless of political affiliation.
He ended his address by urging the incoming national executives to build a strong party organisation, focus on holding the government to account and communicate the party’s policies to Ghanaians.
The NPP’s new leadership structure and national executive team will now oversee the party’s reorganisation and preparations towards the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Newly elected National Organiser of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Nii Kwartei Titus Glover, has pledged to work to ensure peace, unity and respect within the party as it prepares for the 2028 general elections.
Mr Glover said he would work to strengthen the party and help actualise the vision of its flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, becoming President of Ghana in 2028.
He made the remarks in his victory speech at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi after winning the NPP National Organiser position at the party’s National Delegates Conference on Saturday, October 3, 2026.
Mr Glover polled 2,964 votes to win the election, defeating his closest contender, Ali Maiga Halidu, who obtained 2,231 votes.
Emmanuel Korsi Bodja polled 145 votes in the contest.
Mr Glover thanked delegates for electing him and promised to work hard to justify the confidence they had placed in him.
“I will work very hard. What I’ll bring is peace, unity, respect, and that we use for governance,” he said.
He explained that peace, unity and respect were necessary for the party to effectively organise and prepare for the elections.
“If you are doing governance and you don’t bring peace and unity and respect, the work will be hard,” he added.
Mr Glover acknowledged the task ahead of the newly elected national executives, describing it as a major responsibility that would require commitment from members.
“The job is big. There’s a lot of work ahead of us. We need love. We need peace. We need unity,” he said.
He urged members of the NPP to remain united and work together beyond the internal elections.
According to him, his focus would be to contribute to the party’s efforts to win the 2028 general elections, with Dr Bawumia’s presidential bid forming a central part of that objective.
“Dr Bawumia has to become the President of this country. That’s the vision for NPP, that we have to work hard for Dr Bawumia to become the President of the Republic,” Mr Glover stated.
He said he was determined to use his new position to contribute to the development of the NPP and Ghana.
Mr Glover’s election forms part of the new national executive team elected by delegates at the conference to lead the affairs of the party.
The newly elected executives are expected to oversee the party’s reorganisation and strengthen its structures as the NPP prepares for the 2028 general elections.
By: Jacob Aggrey
