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Veteran journalist and former NMC Chairman Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng passes on
Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, a veteran journalist and former Chairman of the National Media Commission has passed on in London. He is said to have died on Monday.
He was 74.
Nana Gyan-Apenteng became Chairman of the 8th NMC from November 2015 to November 2018 after Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere had finished serving his tenure,
He was a Consultant in Communication, Media and Culture and was also the President of the Ghana Association of Writers (GAW).
He had an extensive experience in media having practised for over 45 years as a reporter, editor, writer, teacher and trainer.
He was a former editor and columnist of The Mirror weekly newspaper, as well as the Apagyahene of Tafo Eti in the Eastern Region.
He was deputy editor of the erstwhile London-based West Africa magazine in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Returning to Ghana in the 1990s, Nana Gyan-Apenteng worked with the Third World Network as head of the non-governmental organisation’s communication unit and editor of its monthly magazine, Africa Agenda.
He served as media trainer and communication consultant for several corporate, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations including MTN Ghana, some UN agencies, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), STAR Ghana and others.
He was a graduate of Apam Secondary School and the University of Ghana, Legon.
He began work formally as a journalist at Daily Graphic in 1982 as a Staff Writer. He subsequently became Foreign News Editor and later had a stint as acting Editor.
He was subsequently appointed editor of the Mirror where he introduced news features, which have endured till today.
Nana Gyan-Apenteng relocated to the United Kingdom where he co-founded Ghana News magazine before being invited to be the Deputy and Acting Editor of West Africa magazine.
He also founded and edited African Topics magazine, the only Pan-African publication dedicated to governance and human rights.
He also worked with the Third World Network, Cultural Initiatives Support Programme, the European Union Culture Fund for Ghana, among others as a communications expert.
He also served as a part time lecturer at Vauxhall College in London and the European University Centre for Peace Studies in Austria.
He also provided training for both state and private sector institutions and was a columnist for The Mirror Newspaper.
Source:graphic.com.gh
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.
