General News
Ablakwa: Late Defence Minister Omane Boamah Had Mahama’s Full Backing to Deploy Military Against Galamsey
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has praised the late Defence Minister, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, for his unwavering commitment to eradicating illegal mining, revealing that he enjoyed the full support of President John Mahama to deploy the military against galamsey operators.
Speaking on The Point of View on Monday, August 11, 2025, Mr. Ablakwa described Dr. Omane Boamah as a visionary leader whose determination could have transformed Ghana’s battle against illegal mining.
“We have really lost people who had so much potential to change the destiny of our country,” he said. “I have no doubt Dr. Omane Boamah would have solved this galamsey crisis.”
Mr. Ablakwa recalled private conversations with the late minister, in which he insisted on deploying troops without yielding to political pressure.
“He told me, ‘The military will be deployed. I’m getting calls — sometimes from top political figures — but I’m not yielding. These troops are risking their lives, and I won’t cut political deals. I won’t be part of that,’” Ablakwa recounted.
According to him, Dr. Omane Boamah’s firm stance was fully endorsed by President Mahama. “President Mahama said, ‘You have my full blessings, go ahead!’” he noted.
Dr. Omane Boamah was among eight people who died in the August 6 military helicopter crash in the Ashanti Region. The victims also included Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation; Muniru Mohammed, Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator; Samuel Aboagye, former parliamentary candidate; and Samuel Sarpong, Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The crew members who perished were Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah.
The Ghana Armed Forces reported that the Z-9 helicopter, carrying five passengers and three crew members, went off radar shortly after departing Accra at 09:12 GMT for Obuasi, where the officials were scheduled to attend an anti-illegal mining event. A search-and-rescue operation later confirmed that all eight aboard had died.
General News
German President Steinmeier to Visit Ghana — High-Level Talks with President Mahama Set for Monday
President of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will arrive in Ghana on Sunday, November 2, 2025, for a three-day State Visit aimed at strengthening relations between Ghana and Germany.
According to a statement from the Office of the President, the visit will run until Tuesday, November 4, 2025, and will feature a series of high-level engagements between the two countries.
Official activities will begin on Monday, November 3, with a Guard of Honour inspection at the Forecourt of The Presidency in Accra. President Steinmeier will then hold a closed-door meeting with his host, President John Dramani Mahama, followed by bilateral talks between their respective delegations in the Credentials Room.
The discussions will focus on deepening Ghana–Germany cooperation in key sectors including trade, investment, technology, and development partnership.
A State Luncheon will be held in honour of President Steinmeier and his delegation at the Presidential Banquet Hall in the afternoon.
Later in the day, the German President will visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, where he will lay a wreath at the tomb of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. He will also interact with young Ghanaian IT professionals before attending a reception at the German Ambassador’s Residence in Accra.
On Tuesday, November 4, President Steinmeier will travel to Kumasi in the Ashanti Region, where he will perform a sod-cutting ceremony at the Kumasi Technical Institute. He will also engage with the Vice Chancellor, staff, and alumni of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
The German leader is also expected to visit the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research before paying a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace.
President Steinmeier will depart Ghana on Tuesday evening, bringing his three-day official visit to a close.
Source: Office of the President
Issued by: Felix Kwakye Ofosu (MP)
Spokesperson to the President | Minister for Government Communications.

General News
President Mahama Arrives in Cairo for Grand Egyptian Museum Opening
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Cairo ahead of the grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), scheduled for Friday, November 1.
The historic event, taking place under the patronage of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, will be attended by world leaders, kings, and dignitaries from across the globe.
Overlooking the Giza Pyramids, the GEM is the world’s largest archaeological museum, showcasing over 5,000 years of Egyptian civilization. The $1 billion facility — two decades in the making — houses thousands of ancient artifacts, including 4,500 treasures from the tomb of King Tutankhamun.
President al-Sisi has described the museum as a “symbol of Egypt’s leadership in global culture.” Initially planned for a July launch, the opening was postponed due to regional tensions and is now regarded as one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year.
The project reflects strong cooperation between Egypt and Japan, with Japan providing ¥84.2 billion (approximately $800 million) in soft loans through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC). Japanese experts also trained hundreds of Egyptian professionals in artifact conservation and museum management.
The inauguration comes amid a revival of Egypt’s tourism industry, which recorded revenues of $14.4 billion for 2023–2024 and welcomed over 15 million visitors in the first nine months of 2025.
For Ghana, President Mahama’s participation highlights Africa’s growing presence in global cultural diplomacy. The President was accompanied by Dr. Callistus Mahama, Executive Secretary to the President; Lt. Col. Abdul-Wahab Issah, Aide-de-Camp; Stanislav Dogbe, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations; and Ambassador Aikins Abrokwa, Director of State Protocol.
The Grand Egyptian Museum stands as a landmark of shared human heritage — uniting ancient history, modern innovation, and international collaboration.
Crime and Investigation
DVLA Boss Questioned by Special Prosecutor Over Alleged GH¢4 Million Bribe Offer
The Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has appeared before the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) for questioning in connection with an alleged GH¢4 million bribe attempt.
This development follows Mr. Kotey’s recent public disclosure that some influential individuals had offered him GH¢4 million to stop the rollout of the new Digitalised Vehicle Registration Plate (DP) policy.
According to him, the bribe was meant to persuade him to abandon the initiative, which seeks to reduce vehicle-related fraud and enhance road safety across Ghana.
In a statement, the OSP confirmed that the DVLA boss was invited to assist in ongoing investigations. The Special Prosecutor’s office noted that it aims to verify the details of the alleged bribe and identify those involved.
Sources say the interrogation is currently underway at the OSP’s headquarters, though specific details are yet to be released.
Meanwhile, the OSP has also launched a separate investigation into a sitting member of the Council of State over alleged corruption and corruption-related offences linked to gold trading.
According to reports, the probe focuses on suspicions that the Council member may have used his position to influence the granting of a gold licence to a company in which he allegedly holds undisclosed interests.
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