President John Dramani Mahama has nominated Klottey Korle Member of Parliament, Dr Zanetor Agyemang-Rawlings, as Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, as part of a cabinet shake-up aimed at filling key government positions.

Subsequently, the Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has also been nominated for the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. As part of the changes, President Mahama reassigned Kenneth Gilbert Adjei from the Ministry of Works and Housing to the Ministry of Defence.

Former Local Government Minister, Ahmed Ibrahim, has been moved to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources.

If Dr. Zanetor passes her vetting with Parliament’s vetting committee, she will then replace the late Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, and Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, Murtala Mohammed.

Dr. Zanetor’s appointment comes after months of speculation over her possible elevation to cabinet, as the legislator having served on Parliament’s Environment, Science and Technology Committee and advocated for measures to address environmental challenges, including flooding.

The nominations were submitted to Parliament on Friday, August 7, 2026, in accordance with Article 78(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires parliamentary approval before ministers can assume office.

The Environment  and the Defence portfolios had remained without substantive ministers following the death of Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed and Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah in the August 2025 helicopter crash.

In lieu of this, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, who had been acting as Defence Minister since the death of Dr Omane Boamah, is expected to hand over the portfolio once the new nominee is approved.

The appointments were announced in a statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications. The nominees are expected to appear before Parliament’s Appointments Committee for vetting before their names are submitted to the House for approval.

This crucial changes come as part of President Mahama’s continued efforts to reset and replenish his administration and fill positions that became vacant following the August 2025 tragedy that claimed the lives of eight officials, including two cabinet ministers.

The Managing Editor of the Hawk Newspaper has launched a blistering response to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) claim that Ghana’s democracy is under attack, arguing that the party’s own record raises serious questions about the credibility of such accusations.

In a strongly worded commentary at Kessben Maakye show in Accra, the editor said Ghanaians must first understand the fundamental elements of democracy before concluding that the country’s democratic system is under threat.

He maintained that freedom of speech, tolerance of opposing views, respect for institutions and the peaceful transfer of political power are central to democracy and must be protected by all political actors.

The editor questioned the NPP’s position, particularly given its status as a minority in Parliament.
“Why would the minority want to have their say over the majority?” he asked, pointing out that the NDC holds a significantly larger number of parliamentary seats.
He argued that democracy does not mean that the minority should override the majority, stressing that parliamentary democracy operates largely on the principle of majority decision-making.

The editor also accused the NPP of selectively invoking democratic principles while ignoring controversies associated with its own period in government.
He cited several issues, including the passage of the Electronic Levy (E-Levy), alleged political interference with state institutions, the creation of a new voters’ register in less that 6 months ahead of the 2020 elections although it was unconstitutional and other political controversies.

He further questioned why the NPP criticised decisions taken by the current administration when, according to him, the party had previously used its parliamentary majority to push through controversial legislation despite opposition from the then-minority.

The commentary also raised concerns about the NPP’s handling of parliamentary and electoral matters, including disenfranchising of the SALL constituency from voting to elect a member of Parliament in the 2020 general election.

The editor argued that political parties must not attempt to manipulate democratic institutions and subsequently accuse their opponents of attacking democracy when political fortunes change.

He also referenced the controversy surrounding removal of the former Electoral Commission Chairperson and argued that due process and available legal remedies should be respected in all cases.

According to him, “when you manipulate the system, undermine the process, then you are attacking democracy.”
He claimed that President Akufo Addo was the only one who ever appointed his own daughter as head of a public institution.

The commentary further cited several controversies involving former government officials and political actors, including alleged arrests of Kwabena Bobi Ansah and presenting a radio show, and an incident involving Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin who slapped a police officer and was left off the hook.

Concluding his argument, the editor urged political actors to examine their own records before accusing others of undermining Ghana’s democratic credentials.
He suggested that the NPP’s past actions should remain part of the national conversation whenever the party raises concerns about threats to democracy.
“He who lives in a glass house must not throw stones,” he said, in a pointed warning to political leaders.

The commentary comes amid heightened political debate over the state of Ghana’s democracy, with both the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) and opposition NPP trading accusations over the conduct of democratic institutions and political governance.

NDC Deputy National Communications Officer hopeful, Joshua Sika Nartey, has urged the Mahama administration to consider appointing Kofi Atta Mills, the only son of late President Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, to serve in government, describing it as a fitting tribute to the former President’s enduring legacy.

In an interview on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, he disclosed, Prof. Mills was “a God-sent leader to Ghana” who inherited the country during a period of severe economic hardship but transformed challenges into opportunities for national development.
He praised the late President for strengthening Ghana’s financial sector while also making significant gains in agriculture, noting that under his leadership the country became the first in its history to export more than one million tonnes of cocoa.

Joshua Sika Nartey also credited Prof. Mills with initiating the Nkokɔ Nketenkete project by donating over 35,000 birds to about 1500 pourtry farmers nationwide. He reincarnated that the late President’s achievements were so remarkable that they inspired political opponents to write the book “Chasing the Elephant into the Bush” a notable book that outlined how Prof. Mills’ campaign strategy defeated the ruling New Patriotic Party and relegated their iconic Elephant into its natural habitat – the bush.

He argued that the Mahama administration would benefit from engaging Kofi Atta Mills, insisting that he possesses the expertise and competence needed to contribute meaningfully to national development if given the opportunity.
“No monument or legacy would be more meaningful to the soul of Professor Mills than seeing his only son, Kofi Atta Mills, offered the chance to serve and contribute his quota to this government,” he stated.

This conversation was staged following Joshua’s open commentary done at Asomdwee Park after president Mills’ 14th memorial and wreath- laying ceremony in Accra.
The NDC party hierarchy and the government are yet to respond to this assertion.

By Maurice Otoo

The National Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Henry Nana Boakye, popularly known as Nana B, has described the acquittal of former MASLOG boss, Sedinam Tamakloe as a “well-choreographed and executed” exercise, alleging that the decision reflects political interference and selective justice.

Addressing a press conference at the NPP’s national headquarters on Friday, July 31, 2026, Nana B strongly criticized the Court of Appeal’s decision to overturn Tamakloe’s conviction, insisting that the development raises serious concerns about the administration of justice under the current government.

He accused Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Dominic Ayine of rapidly discontinuing criminal cases involving former officials of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), describing the pace of nolle prosequi filings as “alarming.”
To support his claims, Nana B cited cases involving Kwabena Duffuor, Collins Dauda, Johnson Pandit Kwesi Asiamah, and the recent appeal involving Sedinam Tamakloe.

The NPP National Organizer further announced that the party will embark on a massive demonstration on Thursday, August 6, 2026, together with party supporters and what he described as “concerned Ghanaians,” to protest what the party believes is the selective application of justice.

Nana B also questioned what he called the unequal treatment of corruption-related cases, asking why individuals accused of causing financial loss to the state are being acquitted while Ashanti Regional NPP Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako remains in legal difficulty despite, according to him, possessing legitimate mining documents.

The NPP says the planned demonstration will send a strong message against what it considers growing political interference in Ghana’s justice system.

By Maurice Otoo

Private legal practitioner Lawyer K.K. Serbeh has argued that although the Attorney General (AG) holds the constitutional mandate to undertake criminal prosecutions, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) was established to insulate corruption-related prosecutions from political interference.

In a fierce argument held on Kessben Maakye show in Accra, he noted that the Attorney General recently sought clarification from the Supreme Court on whether the OSP requires the AG’s permission before prosecuting certain criminal cases.
Serbeh explained that while the Constitution vests prosecutorial authority in the Attorney General, that power can be delegated to another body or institution.

He noted that the OSP Act was enacted specifically to give the Special Prosecutor a measure of independence in handling corruption-related prosecutions, particularly where there may be concerns about political influence.
He argued that fears of government interference, especially in politically sensitive cases, were among the reasons Parliament created the OSP.

Citing the Supreme Court proceedings and legal submissions, Serbeh maintained that the current interpretation suggests the Attorney General may already have granted the OSP authority to prosecute cases under the OSP Act without requiring fresh approval for each prosecution.

However, he insisted that the Office cannot be considered fully independent as long as the Attorney General retains the constitutional power to discontinue prosecutions that are being handled by the OSP through a nolle prosequi.
He emphatically stated, “so long as the National Democratic Congress (NDC) is in power, I can’t foresee any NDC member ever fallen guilty of any offense under the OSP prosecution and the evidence is clear”.

Serbeh further claimed that the legal challenge stems from concerns that the OSP could one day prosecute members of the governing party NDC, adding that this has fueled attempts to limit the Office’s operational independence.

He concluded that the true independence of the OSP will remain in doubt for as long as the Attorney General retains overriding prosecutorial powers, arguing that the current legal framework leaves the anti-corruption body vulnerable to executive influence.

By Maurice Otoo