General News
Mahama, Hichilema Hold Bilateral Talks to Deepen Ghana–Zambia Relations
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Zambia, describing cooperation between African states as essential to achieving sustainable development and shared prosperity on the continent.
Speaking at the Zambian State House during bilateral talks with President Hakainde Hichilema, President Mahama expressed deep appreciation for the warm reception accorded him and his delegation upon arrival in Lusaka.
“Let me express my appreciation for the hospitality that has been extended to us since we arrived yesterday. From the warm welcome at the airport to the enthusiasm of the people, the dancing, and the presence of the Ghanaian community, we truly felt at home,” President Mahama said.
He noted that relations between Ghana and Zambia are rooted in a shared liberation history, forged by the friendship between Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and Zambia’s founding leader, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda.
“President Kaunda and President Nkrumah were friends and comrades in the African liberation struggle. Ghana virtually became the headquarters for freedom fighters, guided by the belief that the independence of Ghana was meaningless unless it was linked to the total liberation of the African continent,” he stated.
President Mahama reflected on Africa’s post-independence journey, noting that historical divisions created during colonial rule continue to slow the continent’s development.
“As Ghana prepares to celebrate 70 years of independence next year, we can clearly see that the divisions created by the Berlin Conference have made it difficult for Africa to develop at an optimal speed and create the prosperity our people deserve,” he said.
The President emphasized that while continental cooperation through the African Union remains important, stronger bilateral relations between individual countries can deliver more immediate and practical benefits.
“While we cooperate at the continental level, bilateral relations between countries can make a very big difference,” he noted.
President Mahama also conveyed the appreciation of the Ghanaian community in Zambia, describing them as well-integrated and thriving.
“They asked me to extend their thanks to you and your government for the hospitality they enjoy here. They feel comfortable and at home, and many of them are now part of multinational families — Ghanaian and Zambian, but above all African,” he said.
Highlighting economic parallels between the two countries, President Mahama observed that Ghana and Zambia are navigating similar challenges, particularly in debt restructuring and fiscal consolidation.
“Incidentally, Ghana and Zambia seem to be on the same trajectory. We have both faced economic challenges and implemented reforms, and there is a lot we can learn from each other,” he remarked.
Discussions between the two leaders covered cooperation in mining, agriculture, and trade, including shared challenges in artisanal and large-scale mining.
“Both of us have mining industries that face similar challenges, and we are determined to share experiences and best practices,” President Mahama said.
On continental trade, he stressed that the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) must be supported by strong bilateral economic foundations.
“We cannot develop continental free trade in a vacuum. We must strengthen bilateral relations to identify what products we can exchange and create the conditions for those exchanges,” he said.
President Mahama concluded by calling for deeper economic engagement beyond political dialogue.
“We must go beyond political dialogue and move into economic consolidation and strong bilateral economic relations between our two countries,” he said.
The visit marks a renewed push by both leaders to elevate Ghana–Zambia relations and expand cooperation across key economic sectors.
Anti-graft agency releases photographs, appeals for public help in tracking suspects
Ghana’s Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has issued public wanted notices for three women Esther Osaah Boateng, Mercy Korang, and Rita Ewura Abena Appiah each accused of causing financial loss to the state, in a move that signals the agency’s inability to locate the suspects through routine investigative channels.
The notices, released simultaneously with photographs of all three individuals, mark an escalation in EOCO’s pursuit of the women, as public declarations of this nature are typically reserved for cases where suspects are believed to be evading arrest.
EOCO has not disclosed the specific amounts allegedly involved, the nature of the transactions under scrutiny, or the state institutions believed to have been affected details that would ordinarily help establish the scale and character of the alleged offences.
Three Named, Same Charge
All three suspects face the same allegation: causing financial loss to the state a criminal charge commonly brought under Ghana’s financial accountability laws and frequently associated with misappropriation of public funds, procurement fraud, or abuse of official positions.
Esther Osaah Boateng is the first individual named in the agency’s appeal. Mercy Korang is the second, while Rita Ewura Abena Appiah completes the list. Beyond their names, photographs, and the stated charge, EOCO has provided no further biographical or case-specific details about any of the three women.
Public Urged to Come Forward
The agency is appealing to members of the public to provide any information that could lead to the arrest of the three suspects. Tipsters may contact EOCO directly at its Head Office, situated adjacent to the Old Parliament House on Barnes Road in Accra, or reach out to any of its regional offices or the nearest police station.
Two dedicated telephone lines have been made available for public use: 0579723307 and 0579709066.
About EOCO
Established under the Economic and Organised Crime Office Act, 2010 (Act 804), EOCO is mandated to investigate and prosecute serious economic and organised crime, including corruption, money laundering, and fraud. The agency holds broad powers to freeze assets, conduct searches, and seize property in furtherance of its investigations.
The publication of wanted notices — placing suspects’ names and images in the public domain — is among the more assertive tools in EOCO’s enforcement arsenal, typically deployed when conventional investigative methods have failed to establish a suspect’s location.
Ghanaian police have arrested eleven suspects accused of using artificial intelligence to create fake videos of President John Dramani Mahama — and using those videos to trick ordinary people into sending money and handing over personal information.
The arrests were carried out by the Cyber Vetting Enforcement Team between May 1 and 4, 2026, following intelligence reports about a group spreading AI-generated content across online platforms. Operations were conducted across five locations in the Volta Region — Sogakope, Dabala, Tongu, Akatsi, and Aflao.
Among those arrested are both Ghanaians and Nigerian nationals. The police identified them as: Anipah Jonathan (23), Dzamesi Bright Kofi (35), Thomas Ayoyo (17), Louis Segbawu (18), Raphael Ablordeppey (32), Bishop Esiri (46), Wisdom James (25), Ali Lucky (23), Edwin Edos (22), John Kofi Darlington (20), and Danu Peter (19).
Investigators recovered laptops, mobile phones, internet routers, 120 pre-registered SIM cards, and a Nigeria-registered Mercedes Benz ML 350 bearing Lagos licence plate LSR 138HR.
According to police, the suspects used AI-generated videos of the president to deceive members of the public convincing victims to part with money or sensitive personal data through various online channels.
“The suspects are part of a wider network engaged in the creation and dissemination of fraudulent digital content designed to impersonate high-profile personalities for financial gain,” a police situational report stated.
Nine of the eleven suspects have been remanded into police custody and are due to reappear in court on May 25, 2026. Two Thomas Ayoyo and Louis Segbawu have been granted bail with two sureties each.
Deepfakes are AI-manipulated videos that make it appear as though a real person is saying or doing something they never did. They are increasingly being used in online fraud globally.
CNN founder and billionaire media mogul Ted Turner has passed away at 87, according to the CNN.
Turner made history in 1980 when he launched Cable News Network (CNN), the world’s first 24-hour news channel. The innovation reshaped global media and established round-the-clock news as a central part of modern broadcasting.
Tributes have poured in from world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, who described Turner as “one of the greats of broadcast history, and a friend of mine.”
CNN’s current CEO and chairman, Mark Thompson, also honoured Turner, calling him “the giant on whose shoulders we stand,” and noting that his legacy continues to shape the network and the wider media landscape.
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