Ghana Broadcasting Corporation

Ghana’s history will be incomplete without the mention of the role played by Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia who was Prime Minister in the Second Republic. He was in office for 27 months and 12 days and was overthrown in a military coup led by Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong while in London for a medical check-up. Professor Busia was born on the 11th of July 1913 in Wenchi in the Brong Ahafo region. He had a very rich educational background and was appointed the first African lecturer at the University College of Gold Coast now University of Ghana. Professor Busia also lectured in a number of Universities abroad. He authored six books and wrote many articles. The books include “The position of the Chief in the Modern Political system of Ashanti and the Sociology and Culture of Africa”. Before entering into full time politics, Professor Busia was one of the few blacks to be District Commissioners under the colonial government, serving as a District Commissioner for Sekondi-Takoradi. In ac...

Over six centuries ago, slavery and human trafficking caused despair and little or no regard for human dignity in the world. More than one hundred and fifty years after the abomination has been condemned to the ruins of history, there are numerous indications that slavery is not yet a thing of the past, but rather a dark secret in present day society and its name face-lifted to modern-day slavery. Today is International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. The day was instituted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO on the 23rd of August 1998.  Each year, the United Nations invites people all over the world, including educators, students and artists to organize events that centre on the theme of informing people about the historical events associated with the slave trade, the consequences and to promote tolerance and human rights. It is astonishing that after over 150 years of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Pro...

For some people in society, when death lays its icy hands on them, remembrance of their lives on earth tends to be shrouded in doubt, especially when no remarkable achievements can be tagged to such people. In the case of the late J.H Mensah, Ghanaians will remember him for the things he stood for. In fact, as a veteran politician and elder statesman who died at the age of 89, J.H Mensah fought against dictatorship in the country at various times in his political career. He was imprisoned by the National Redemption Council from 1975 to 1978. Also, in 1983 he led a group of people that was greatly opposed to the Provisional National Defence Council, PNDC. All these happened because of his disgust for dictatorial tendencies on the part of certain governments. As a well-educated person, he served in various capacities in public life. After attending the University of the Gold Coast, now University of Ghana, between 1948 and 1954, he headed to the University of London and continued his ...

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has the overall supervisory and regulatory authority in all matters relating to deposit-taking and lending business as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. The BoG increased the minimum capital requirement for banks to GH¢400 million, based on an analysis of the inherent vulnerabilities within the banking system. Banks have the responsibility to ensure prudent management of funds, and engage in practices and behaviours that make them safe and sound to attract and retain the trust and confidence of the public. The BoG recently revealed that the banking sector is afflicted with solvency challenges, poor corporate governance practices, weak risk management practices, liquidity challenges and regulatory breaches. In August 2017, the BoG closed two banks; UT Bank and Capital Bank and appointed KPMG as official administrator of UniBank to help protect the interests of depositors and avoid the possible collapse of the bank. To save five struggling banks; Sovereign Ba...

Ghana was this week shown a warning yellow card by FIFA for its attempt to dissolve the Ghana Football Association, GFA.  In a letter to the Government of Ghana, FIFA threatened to suspend the country from the world football governing body, if government does not withdraw the Ghana Football Association liquidation case it has filed in Court. Led by the Attorney General Madam Gloria Akuffo and the Registrar General’s Department, government is in court seeking to liquidate the GFA to pave way for the formation of a new football body to oversee football administration in Ghana. The liquidation process follows the Number 12 expose by Ace Investigative Journalist Anas Aremeyawo Anas and his Tiger PI team which indicted the then GFA President Kwasi Nyantakyi and a number of referees and football officials  were caught on tape engaging in corrupt practices which include match fixing, dubious sponsorship deals, under hand dealings, influence peddling among other unacceptable practice...

The youth are Ghana’s greatest asset and driving force of the economy. However majority of the youth who have acquired knowledge and employable skills do not have stable economic opportunities. Unemployment is a big problem. According to the Ghana Labour Force Survey report published in 2016, the unemployment rate for Ghana is 11.9%. The rate is higher among females than males. The National Youth Policy of Ghana published in 2010 by the Ministry of Youth and Sports defined the youth as “persons who are within the age bracket of 15 and 35”. By this definition, 59.6% of the youth are employed while 12.1% with employable skills are unemployed; the rest are outside the labour force. By 2011, Ghana was one of the fastest-growing countries in the world, with GDP growth estimated at about 15%.The country was elevated to lower middle-income status. Sadly, however, the rapid rate of growth did not benefit the largest share of the Ghanaian population, especially the unemployed. Economic growth ...

Human Trafficking has become one of the most sophisticated crimes of all time, according to analysts. They contend that perpetrators continue to multiply and complicate their elusive skills in the trade in a bid to lure victims and elude investigators. One thing which is however concrete is that with concerted efforts globally, this dreadful Human trafficking, which has brought suffering and inflicted indelible pain on many can be brought to the barest minimum. We hear of devastating stories where some victims have been promised greener pastures, only to arrive in the said European or Middle Eastern countries, and have their passports seized, in some cases sexually exploited, or made to engage in long hours of work only to be paid a pittance. Some victims especially women have returned home, unbalanced as a result of their ordeal. The question is why will these people keep leaving their shores? Some complain of lack of opportunities, especially for the youth. This is a problem clearly ...

Death is inevitable but the headache of man is when, where and how? Mr. Amissah-Arthur met his untimely death on June 29 during a routine physical exercise with his wife at the Ghana Armed Forces Gym in Burma Camp. He was the fifth former Vice President of the country after independence and the fourth under the fourth Republic. Unfortunately, four out of the five are dead. The death of Mr. Amissah-Arthur was sudden and least expected. This was because he was not reported sick. The news of his death therefore hit the nation like a tsunami and left many in tears. Paa Kwesi as he was affectionately called was born in April 1951 in Cape Coast to Jabesh Amissah-Arthur, an educationist and first headmaster of Akyem Oda SHS in the Eastern Region, and Mrs. Effie Amissah-Arthur. Mr. Amissah-Arthur was among the key architects of the Better Ghana Agenda manifesto of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for the 2008 campaign, which brought the late President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills to powe...