News
We shall take The Spectator to new heights – Editor
The new Editor of The Spectator, Mr Emmanuel Amponsah, says he will adopt an enterprising editorial culture to make it possible for the newspaper to appropriately inform, educate, entertain and inspire readers, so as to attract wider readership to rake in more revenue.
“The return to profitability to cope with the changing trends in the media landscape means The Spectator will be using creative and innovative approach to enhance consumer satisfaction experience, and loyalty,” he said.
Mr Amponsah was speaking on Monday in an interaction with the Editorial staff of this paper in Accra about what he plans to do to turn around the fortunes of the weekly newspaper.
He said in view of the thirst of people for quality news, and also their desire for exclusive stories, “there is the need to fill this vacuum in the newspaper to catch the eye of readers.”
The Editor said an aspect of life that was of great interest to readers, which The Spectator was going to aggressively pursue, was social-related matters in their various dimensions.
Amongst others, Mr Amponsah said the weekly newspaper would focus in-depth on the performance of various business entities in the country to catch the eye of readers.
“Dealing with business issues as well as highly social and human-interest stories will make The Spectator stand the chance of capturing the attention of a substantial number of readers and help rake in more revenue,” he said.
Mr Amponsah said that he intended making The Spectator venture big into digital/online media with in-depth analyses of credible news to capture more consumers, particularly the youth, who have acquired high taste for online news.
He noted that introducing attractive products and services would be of great interest to vendors, readers and other stakeholders, adding that, “with the needed support and cooperation from all of us, the sky will be the limit.”
Until his appointment, Mr Amponsah, who is a Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) graduate with more than 32 years experience in journalism, was the Deputy Editor of the Ghanaian Times, the flagship newspaper of the New Times Corporation (NTC).
Before assuming the role of Deputy Editor three years ago, Mr Amponsah was the Business Editor of the Ghanaian Times, where his job responsibilities involved selecting and analysing business and finance news for publication in the Ghanaian Times.
Prior to that, he was in charge of the Sports Desk of the Ghanaian Times and doubled as a columnist (The Watchdog) for the erstwhile Evening News.
A product of GIJ and Saint Thomas Aquinas Secondary School, both in Accra, Mr Amponsah’s areas of interest include sports, business/finance and environment.
He has attended a number of national and international conferences and tournaments, and written extensively on global and local events bordering on various fields of human endeavour.
The Board of the New Times Corporation (NTC) appointed him the new Editor of The Spectator, the weekly newspaper of the NTC on Monday, November 2, 2020.
He took over from Mrs Tina Aforo, who retired from the company in August, 2018.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
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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.
