Member of Parliament for Ahafo Ano South East, Hon. Yakubu Mohammed, has issued an unreserved and unqualified apology following public backlash over a comment he made to a basic school pupil during a visit to Parliament House.

The Yakubu Mohammed apology, contained in a statement dated July 31, 2026, follows the circulation of a viral video showing the MP describing a pupil from The Citadel School in the Sagnarigu Constituency as “beautiful” and saying he would marry her when she grows up.

The remark sparked widespread criticism on social media, with many expressing concern over the appropriateness of the statement.

Addressing the issue, the legislator explained that his comment was made within the context of the long-standing playful cultural relationship between the Mossi and Dagomba ethnic groups.

According to him, as a Mossi speaking to members of the Dagomba community, his remarks were intended as part of the friendly exchanges that have historically existed between the two groups and were not meant to offend anyone.

He stressed that the statement was never intended to cause harm, disrespect, embarrassment or discomfort to the pupil, her family, the school authorities, the Dagomba community or the general public.

Despite the explanation, Yakubu Mohammed admitted that the comment was inappropriate because it involved a child.

“I fully acknowledge that, irrespective of my intention or the traditional context in which the statement was made, the comment was inappropriate because it involved a child,” he stated.

In the Yakubu Mohammed apology, the MP expressed deep regret over his choice of words and offered an unreserved apology to the relevant authorities, the management of The Citadel School, the pupil, her parents and family, and the general public.

He also reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the responsibilities of his office, noting that he recognises the impact of his words and public conduct.

“As a Member of Parliament, I recognise the responsibility attached to my words and public conduct. I remain firmly committed to protecting and respecting the dignity, welfare and rights of every child,” he said.

Yakubu Mohammed concluded the statement by once again extending his sincere and unqualified apology, saying he deeply regrets the incident and the offence his remarks may have caused.

President John Dramani Mahama on Friday honoured the late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho’s lifetime of dedicated service to Ghana and the international community, describing him as a distinguished statesman, diplomat and nation builder whose legacy will continue to inspire generations.

The President joined family members, government officials, members of the diplomatic corps and mourners at the state funeral of the former Foreign Affairs Minister and former President of the ECOWAS Commission.

In a tribute delivered on his behalf by Presidential Adviser and Special Aide, Madam Joyce Bawah Mogtari, President Mahama said Ambassador Gbeho embodied integrity, professionalism and patriotism throughout more than five decades of public service.

Born in January 1935 in Keta in the Volta Region, Ambassador Gbeho was the son of Philip Gbeho, who arranged Ghana’s National Anthem. According to the tribute, he inherited a profound sense of duty to the nation and devoted his life to advancing Ghana’s interests at home and abroad.

“Representing one’s country was not simply an assignment but a sacred trust,” the President said, adding that wherever Ambassador Gbeho served, “Ghana’s flag flew a little higher because it was represented by a man of exceptional integrity, sound judgment and remarkable intellect.”

President Mahama highlighted Ambassador Gbeho’s decade-long service as Ghana’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York from 1980 to 1990, describing it as one of the longest and most distinguished diplomatic postings in the country’s history.

He also praised the late diplomat’s tenure as Minister for Foreign Affairs under President Jerry John Rawlings from 1997 to 2001, recalling that he had the privilege of serving alongside him in Parliament during that period and witnessing his unwavering commitment to Ghana’s national interest.

The tribute further recognised Ambassador Gbeho’s international assignments as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, ECOWAS Special Representative for Liberia and later President of the ECOWAS Commission, where he played key roles in promoting peacebuilding, dialogue and regional integration.

President Mahama also acknowledged Ambassador Gbeho’s service as Senior Adviser to the late President John Evans Atta Mills, describing him as a trusted counsellor who continued to place his wealth of experience at the service of the Republic.

Describing him as one of Ghana’s rare nation builders, the President said Ambassador Gbeho never sought personal glory but remained committed to serving his country with honour.

“His voice may now be silent, but the respect he earned for Ghana will continue to speak long after his generation has passed,” the tribute said.

A child receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Police Hospital after the Dzorwulu Highway accident has died.

The sad development was confirmed by the Public Relations Officer of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Assistant Divisional Officer I (ADO I) Alex King Nartey, in a post shared on his Facebook page.

ADO I Nartey expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the deceased child to rest in peace.

The child was among several pupils who sustained injuries in the tragic Dzorwulu Highway accident, which occurred on Thursday, July 30, along the Dzorwulu–Accra Mall stretch of the N1 Highway in Accra.

The crash involved a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter school bus carrying about 11 lower primary school pupils and a loaded tipper truck.

According to preliminary investigations, the tipper truck reportedly rammed into the rear of the school bus, which bears registration number GT 5717-14.

The children, aged between three and 10 years, were travelling from Ashaiman to Accra in the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter bus when the collision occurred.

Following the impact, emergency responders rushed to the scene to rescue the injured children, who were transported to various health facilities for treatment. The deceased child had been receiving critical care at the Police Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit before succumbing to the injuries.

The Dzorwulu Highway accident has sparked renewed concerns over road safety, particularly the transportation of schoolchildren on Ghana’s highways. Authorities are expected to continue investigations into the circumstances that led to the fatal collision.

Parliament  has approved the electronic road tolls concession agreement, paving the way for the return of toll collection on roads and bridges across Ghana through a public-private partnership.

The agreement establishes the legal and commercial framework for financing, designing, constructing, operating, maintaining and eventually transferring a nationwide electronic toll collection system to the Government of Ghana.

The initiative is expected to modernise toll collection by introducing internationally recognised electronic tolling technology. It also seeks to restore a sustainable source of funding for road maintenance, improve operational efficiency, reduce revenue leakages and increase transparency in toll administration.

The concession agreement is between the Ministry of Roads and Highways, acting on behalf of the Government of Ghana, and a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to be incorporated by Rock Africa Limited. The company will mobilise private sector investment to develop and operate the electronic tolling system.

66 toll locations across Ghana

Under the agreement, the electronic tolling system will cover 66 toll locations spread across 13 operational corridors. These include 38 existing toll booths and 28 newly identified strategic toll points.

Revenue generated from the toll system will be shared between the government and the concessionaire. The Government of Ghana will receive 70 percent of gross toll revenue, while the concessionaire will retain 30 percent.

The concession will run for 20 years, with the first three years dedicated to the design and construction phase, followed by 17 years of operation and maintenance. At the end of the concession period, all project assets will be transferred to the Government of Ghana in accordance with the agreement.

Parliament approves concession agreement

The concession agreement was laid before Parliament on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, by the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources on behalf of the Minister for Roads and Highways.

The House approved the motion after the Chairman of the Roads and Transportation Committee, Isaac Adjei Mensah, presented the committee’s report and recommended that Parliament adopt it and approve the agreement.

MPs back return of road tolls

Seconding the motion, the Ranking Member on the Roads and Transportation Committee, Kennedy Osei Nyarko, said the committee concluded that reintroducing road tolls would generate more revenue for the Road Fund to support road maintenance across the country.

He noted that the previous administration suspended road toll collection in 2022 to create a better framework for an expanded tolling system. According to him, Cabinet had already approved a roadmap for the reintroduction of tolls before the change in government.

Mr Osei Nyarko welcomed the decision of the current administration to continue with the earlier plan instead of abandoning it.

Supporting the motion, the Member of Parliament for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, explained that the previous government suspended road tolls after introducing the Electronic Transfer Levy (E-Levy) to avoid placing an additional financial burden on Ghanaians.

He said government projected significant revenue from the E-Levy at the time, while road tolls generated comparatively lower income, making the decision to suspend toll collection more practical.

Mr Nitiwul, however, expressed support for the new electronic tolling system, saying the technology-driven approach would minimise delays and inconvenience for motorists.

“The road tolls are electronic and it is for 20 years. I think it is good for us to support it,” he said.

Source:Graphiconline