The Save the Republic pressure group, led by Kwesi Botchwey Esq, has raised alarm over what it describes as a disturbing rise in drug trafficking involving Ghana, demanding accountability from key state officials.

In a press conference held at the Ghana International Press Centre, the group insisted that recent cocaine seizures and arrests linked to Ghana risk damaging the country’s international reputation and turning it into a hub for illicit drug trafficking.

According to the group, several incidents since 2025 require urgent investigation. It cited an alleged March 2025 incident involving an aircraft reportedly arriving from Gran Canaria which was suspected to contain some amount of cocaine, the arrest of a man allegedly possessing 120 slabs of cocaine amounting to $150million around Cape Coast, and the reported seizure of 3.3 tonnes of cocaine at Pedu.

They also referenced reports of Ghanaian-linked drug arrests abroad, including an alleged June 18, 2026 arrest in Australia involving illicit drugs said to be worth about $208 million, as well as a cocaine seizure in France reportedly valued at $269 million.

The group claims cocaine seizures connected to Ghana since 2025 are collectively valued at about $976 million.
Against this backdrop, Save the Republic is demanding the resignation or removal of officials it believes should be held accountable, including the Interior Minister and heads of Customs, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the Narcotics Control Commission and other agencies responsible for securing the country’s entry and exit points.

The group further urged President John Dramani Mahama to treat the situation as a national security threat, warning that unchecked drug trafficking could fuel money laundering, terrorism financing and other forms of organised crime.

U.S. President Donald Trump has rejected growing calls for stronger government oversight of artificial intelligence, describing concerns about the technology’s potential dangers as a “hoax” and arguing that excessive regulation could weaken America’s position in the global AI race.

Trump made the comments as prominent technology executives and AI researchers increased pressure on Washington to introduce additional safeguards for increasingly powerful AI systems.

Trump backs continued AI development

Trump has argued that the United States must continue advancing artificial intelligence to maintain its technological and economic advantage over China.

He said the U.S. already has mechanisms capable of dealing with companies that misuse AI and suggested that strong presidential leadership is sufficient to provide the necessary oversight.

The president has also warned that slowing AI development could allow China to gain an advantage in a technology he considers strategically important to the American economy and national security.

Tech leaders push for safeguards

Trump’s position comes amid growing warnings from some of the industry’s leading figures.

Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei has called for regulations requiring independent safety assessments of the most advanced AI models. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and xAI founder Elon Musk have also expressed support for greater coordination and measures to reduce risks associated with rapidly developing AI technology.

Some lawmakers are now considering legislation that could require AI companies to demonstrate that they are taking reasonable steps to prevent their systems from causing serious harm.

Political debate intensifies

The issue is increasingly becoming a political divide in Washington. Democrats are pushing for stronger federal safeguards, while Trump and several senior Republicans have questioned whether government intervention would do more harm than good.

Vice President JD Vance has also expressed skepticism about technology companies asking the government to regulate their own industry, arguing that the motivation behind such requests deserves scrutiny.

The debate comes as concerns grow over AI’s potential impact on cybersecurity, employment, misinformation and national security, alongside longer-term fears about highly autonomous systems.

For now, the Trump administration appears determined to prioritize rapid AI development and competition with China rather than impose broad new federal restrictions, setting the stage for a major policy battle in Washington over how much control governments should have over the technology.

Donald Trump Jr. and his wife, Bettina Trump, have confirmed that Russian businessman Umar Kremlev helped finance celebrations surrounding their wedding in the Bahamas, describing the contribution as a generous gift from a personal friend.

The revelation emerged after an investigation reported that Kremlev covered significant expenses connected to the couple’s May wedding weekend, including the rental of a private island, event arrangements and a fireworks display. The total cost was reportedly in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. 

Bettina Trump said the couple’s actual wedding ceremony was a private family event and took place separately from the larger celebrations. According to her account, the Bahamas weekend had already been planned as a gathering with friends, and the couple decided to marry before the trip after their original plans changed.

She described Kremlev as a “dear friend” who hosted two nights of celebrations after the wedding, calling the assistance an “extraordinarily generous wedding gift.” The couple rejected suggestions that the financial support had a political motive, arguing that a personal gift should not automatically be interpreted as an attempt to gain influence.

Who is Umar Kremlev?

Kremlev is the president of the International Boxing Association and has longstanding connections to Russia’s political establishment. Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded him the Order of Friendship earlier this year, and Kremlev has also appeared alongside Putin at official events.

Investigators reported that some of the wedding-related expenses were paid through an entity connected to the boxing organization. Kremlev’s office and Trump Jr.’s representatives have described the relationship between the two men as personal and said they have no business relationship.

The revelation has nevertheless triggered questions about foreign influence and potential ethical concerns, particularly because Donald Trump Jr. remains closely connected to his father’s political and business circles. A senior House Democrat has already requested information about the wedding-related payments and communications involving Kremlev.

President Donald Trump did not attend the wedding or the subsequent celebrations, saying at the time that his responsibilities in Washington prevented him from participating.

For now, the Trumps maintain that the money was simply a wedding gift from a friend, while critics are questioning whether accepting such a substantial contribution from a businessman with close ties to the Kremlin creates an appearance of potential influence.

The European Union is preparing to propose new restrictions that could prevent children under the age of 15 from accessing major social media platforms, AI chatbots, video-sharing services and online games.

The proposal, expected to form part of the European Commission’s planned EU Kids Act, is aimed at strengthening protections for children from potential online harms. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen are expected to present the initiative on September 17.

Under the proposed age-based system, children younger than three would have no access to the covered services. Those aged three to 12 could use child-friendly services under parental control, while 13- and 14-year-olds could potentially access limited introductory accounts with strict parental supervision. Teenagers aged 15 and above would be allowed to operate their own accounts.

The measures would affect some of the world’s largest digital platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and ChatGPT. Companies could also be required to introduce stronger age-verification systems, parental controls and mechanisms for reporting harmful content.

The EU is also considering measures aimed at reducing addictive design features that can encourage excessive use among young people. Platforms could be required to take greater responsibility for protecting minors and may have to contribute to the costs of regulatory supervision.

The move comes amid growing international concern over children’s exposure to social media, online gaming and artificial intelligence. EU institutions have already been developing measures focused on safer online environments, including stronger privacy protections for minors, restrictions on harmful recommender systems and safeguards for AI chatbots.

However, the proposed restrictions are not yet law. The Commission’s proposal would still need to go through negotiations involving EU member states and the European Parliament before any final legislation could take effect. The exact age thresholds and other provisions could also change during the legislative process.

If adopted, the initiative would represent one of Europe’s most significant attempts yet to regulate children’s access to the digital world, while forcing technology companies to take greater responsibility for the safety and wellbeing of younger users.