*Gov’t Pays GH¢107 Million In Assembly Members’ Allowances, GH¢1,300 Each For 9,090 Members - Ahmed Ibrahim* Government has disbursed GH¢107 million to assembly members across the country for 2025, with each of the 9,090 assembly members receiving GH¢1,300, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim has said. Appearing before Parliament’s Government Assurance Committee, Hon. Ibrahim said the payment was made before the December 31, 2025 deadline as promised in the 2025 budget. According to the Minister, the payment covers both elected and appointed assembly members nationwide. “The president has paid hundred and seven million cedis to all the assembly members in the country. And each assembly member, all the nine thousand and ninety. We have six thousand two hundred and seventy-two elected assembly members and two thousand eight hundred and thirteen appointed assembly members,” he stated. Hon. Ibrahim said the funds were re

*Gov’t To Sanitize Accra’s Signage Space, Urges Advertisers To Go Digital - Ahmed Ibrahim* The Accra Metropolitan Assembly, in collaboration with the Ghana Independent Advertisers Association, has begun removing unauthorized structures and signages in the capital as part of efforts to sanitize the city. The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, disclosed this when he appeared before Parliament’s Government Assurance Committee. Hon. Ibrahim said a committee chaired by his deputy, Hon. Delasie, has been established to oversee the removal of illegal signages. “There’s a committee working on the unauthorized structures and signages established by my good self who are approaching those signages and taking away those things,” he said. He noted that his deputy, a former member of the Ghana Independent Advertisers Association, was chosen because “he has the expertise” for the job. The Minister said the AMA faced strong opposition from the

*Gov’t Installs 1,370 Fire Extinguishers, Sets Up Temporary Fire Station At Kantamanto After Fire Outbreak last year* The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, says government has rolled out urgent safety measures at the Kantamanto Market following the fire incident last year. Appearing before Parliament’s Government Assurance Committee, Hon. Ibrahim said the interventions are aimed at protecting traders and preventing future fire outbreaks at the market. “Following actions have so far been undertaken. We have installed one thousand three hundred and seventy fire extinguishers across all sections in the Kantamanto markets,” he told the committee. According to the Minister, government, in collaboration with the Greater Accra Regional Fire Service, has Installed 1,370 fire extinguishers across all sections of Kantamanto, Trained 682 traders on the proper use of fire extinguishers Also Sensitized over 12,000 market members on

*Gov’t Sets Up Committee To Create National Database On Shrines, Churches And Religious Sites - Ahmed Ibrahim* The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has established a working group to compile a national database on shrines, churches, and other religious sites across the country. The Minister, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, disclosed this when he appeared before Parliament’s Government Assurance Committee. “Honourable chair, the Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has set up a working group comprising officers from the Chief and Religious Affairs, Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Research, Statistics and Information Management directorates to create the database on shrines and other religious sites in the country,” he stated. According to Hon. Ibrahim, the exercise will be supported by the various Regional Coordinating Councils and is necessary because the issue of “shrines” is complex and often misunderstood. “A shrine is

*"Tribunals Will Complement, Not Undermine Courts" - Attorney-General Dr. Ayine Defends Tribunals Bill* The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Hon. Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has defended the Tribunals Bill 2026, saying the reintroduction of Regional and District Tribunals will complement, not undermine, the existing judicial system. Addressing a press conference, Dr. Ayine disagreed with arguments that tribunals should not be brought back because of past excesses. "I think that the whole argument about the tribunals is based on what I’ve said, that there were excesses and so we shouldn’t bring back anything resembling what existed in the past. I disagree with that," he said. He further dismissed claims that bringing back tribunals means government is abandoning the current court system. "I also disagree with the view that bringing back the tribunals means that we are not working with the existing judicial system in order to expedite trials in our country. In fa

Health Ministry Prioritises Upgrades at Weija Gbawe Hospital to Improve Healthcare in Ga South The Minister for Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has assured Parliament that the government remains committed to expanding access to quality healthcare in the Ga South Municipality, even though the proposed elevation of the Engleshi Amanfro and Botianor polyclinics to municipal hospitals is not captured in the 2026 budget. Addressing Parliament, the Minister explained that the decision was influenced by limited financial resources and competing infrastructure priorities within the health sector. He noted that the Ministry is instead investing in existing facilities to deliver better healthcare services to residents. As part of this effort, the Ministry is undertaking major expansion works at the Weija Gbawe Municipal Hospital. The project includes the construction of a 120-bed paediatric block, expansion of critical service units, and improvements to secondary and specialised healthcare ser

Council of State advises Parliament against dual citizenship bill The Council of State has advised the Speaker of Parliament Rt Hon Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin not to proceed with the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which seeks to lift current restrictions on dual citizens holding public office. The legislation, popularly called the dual citizenship bill, was endorsed by the Council during the eighth parliament. It however did not reach the consideration stage before that House was dissolved, prompting its reintroduction in the current parliament. Speaker Alban Bagbin disclosed the development on Tuesday while reading a statement to the House. He said the Council raised constitutional questions about the proposed amendments. According to the Speaker, the Council’s advice does not prevent Parliament from considering the Bill. He stressed that it is important for the issues raised to be properly interrogated, noting that the House has the constit

The Council of State has written to the Speaker of Parliament, advising against the passage of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (Amendment) Bill, 2025, a legislation that is seeking to remove the current restrictions imposed on dual citizens on holding public office. This law, also known as the dual citizenship bill, received endorsement from the Council during the eighth parliament, but it did not reach the consideration stage before the House was dissolved, warranting its reintroduction. Reading a statement on Tuesday, Speaker Bagbin stated that the Council raised constitutional questions about the proposed amendments to the Constitution.

Misrepresentation Took Away From Beauty of Family Values Conference" - Salaga South MP The Member of Parliament for Salaga South, Hon. Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah, has criticized sections of the media for misrepresenting the 4th African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family Values and Sovereignty held in Accra. Contributing to debate in Parliament, Hon. Zuwera said while the conference was themed _“Consolidating Parliamentary Consensus: Advancing the African Charter on Family Values and Sovereignty”_, some media houses reported that _“Speaker of Parliament suspends Parliamentary sitting for three days to hold an LGBTQ conference in the Chamber.”_ "Mr. Speaker, this alone takes away from the beauty of this otherwise very important conference," she stated. The MP defended the conference as a platform for African consensus, quoting political theorist Chantal Mouffe’s concept of _“antagonistic democracy”_ which holds that democracy is built on consensus without eliminating the

Assurances Committee Urges Interior Ministry to Inform Disqualified Applicants of HIV Test Results The Chairperson of Parliament's Assurances Committee and Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, has called on the Ministry of the Interior to ensure that applicants who tested positive for HIV and other health conditions during the recent security services recruitment screening are informed of their medical status. According to Mr. Nitiwul, communicating the test results to affected applicants will enable those diagnosed, particularly those in the early stages of illness, to seek timely medical care and take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of infection. His comments follow the Interior Minister's disclosure that about 1,300 applicants out of more than 100,000 screened tested positive for HIV, resulting in their disqualification from the recruitment process. Mr. Nitiwul stressed the importance of handling the communication professionally and confidentially wh

Assurances Committee Urges Interior Ministry to Inform Disqualified Applicants of HIV Test Results The Chairperson of Parliament's Assurances Committee and Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, has called on the Ministry of the Interior to ensure that applicants who tested positive for HIV and other health conditions during the recent security services recruitment screening are informed of their medical status. According to Mr. Nitiwul, communicating the test results to affected applicants will enable those diagnosed, particularly those in the early stages of illness, to seek timely medical care and take appropriate measures to prevent the spread of infection. His comments follow the Interior Minister's disclosure that about 1,300 applicants out of more than 100,000 screened tested positive for HIV, resulting in their disqualification from the recruitment process. Mr. Nitiwul stressed the importance of handling the communication professionally and confidentially wh