Former spokesperson for the Ministry of Education, Kwasi Kwarteng, has challenged Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu to learn from the record of his predecessor, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, instead of dismissing the policies and achievements of the previous administration.

Kwarteng argued that the current Education Minister should approach the sector with a willingness to build on existing initiatives rather than attempting to discredit everything introduced under the previous government.

His comments come amid an increasingly heated debate over Ghana’s education policies, particularly the implementation of the Free SHS programme, the double-track system and efforts to manage growing enrolment pressures.

Kwarteng defends Adutwum’s record

According to Kwarteng, Dr Adutwum’s tenure produced policies and interventions that deserve proper assessment rather than outright dismissal.

He believes the current administration can benefit from studying what worked under the former Education Minister and improving areas that require attention.

The former Education Ministry spokesperson’s remarks come at a time when the two sides of Ghana’s political divide continue to clash over who deserves credit — and blame — for developments in the education sector.

‘Don’t throw away what works’

Kwarteng’s central argument is that changes in government should not automatically mean abandoning policies simply because they were introduced by a political opponent.

He urged Haruna Iddrisu to focus on continuity and improvements where necessary, particularly in dealing with the challenges confronting the country’s second-cycle education system.

The debate has become particularly intense around the double-track system, which was introduced as a response to inadequate infrastructure and rising enrolment following the expansion of Free SHS.

Double-track remains a major issue

The double-track system has remained one of the most controversial aspects of Ghana’s secondary education policy.

Supporters of the policy have argued that it provided a temporary solution to the shortage of classrooms, dormitories and other facilities as more students gained access to secondary education.

Critics, however, have consistently called for its abolition and increased investment in infrastructure to allow schools to return to a traditional single-track academic calendar.

Recent comments from Kwarteng suggest that the political contest over the system is far from over.

Pressure on Haruna Iddrisu

The Education Minister has faced increasing pressure from the opposition and education stakeholders over the government’s handling of the sector.

Issues including the SHS placement exercise, infrastructure, teacher welfare and the future of the double-track system have continued to generate public discussion.

Kwarteng’s intervention adds another voice to those demanding that the current administration carefully evaluate policies inherited from the previous government before making major changes.

Education beyond partisan politics

At the heart of Kwarteng’s argument is the belief that education policy should not be driven entirely by partisan considerations.

Governments may change, but the students affected by education policies remain the same.

For him, successful initiatives should be maintained and improved, while policies that have failed should be reformed or replaced based on evidence.

His message to Haruna Iddrisu is therefore straightforward: rather than dismissing Dr Osei Adutwum’s record because of political differences, study what was achieved, identify what worked and build on it.

As Ghana continues to grapple with challenges in the education sector, the growing debate over the legacies of successive ministers is likely to remain a major political and policy battleground.

Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng has thrown his support behind the Accra Academy National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) team, providing laptops to the students as part of efforts to strengthen their preparation for future competitions.

The intervention comes after Accra Academy’s impressive run in the 2026 NSMQ, where the school reached the grand finale and competed for the coveted national title.

Agyebeng, an old student of Accra Academy, has also backed the school’s ambition to return even stronger and mount another serious challenge for the 2027 NSMQ crown.

From Bleoo to national stage

Agyebeng’s support reflects his continued connection to his alma mater.

The Special Prosecutor attended Accra Academy, completing his GCE Ordinary Level in 1994 and Advanced Level in 1996.

His relationship with the school has remained strong over the years, with Agyebeng previously calling on old students and other stakeholders to support efforts to improve facilities and educational opportunities at the institution.

In 2025, he joined fellow old students in supporting an 18-unit classroom block project estimated at GH¢10 million, aimed at addressing the school’s infrastructural needs.

Laptops to boost preparation

The latest gesture is particularly significant for the NSMQ team as digital resources have become an increasingly important part of academic preparation.

The laptops are expected to give the students additional tools for research, practice and access to educational materials as they prepare for future competitions.

For a team competing at the highest level of Ghana’s academic quiz, access to appropriate learning resources can make a significant difference in preparation.

2026 disappointment, 2027 ambition

Accra Academy’s appearance in the 2026 grand finale generated huge excitement among its old students and supporters.

The school’s old boys turned up in force to rally behind the team during the final, creating a vibrant atmosphere around the competition.

Although the ultimate crown remained out of reach, the team’s run demonstrated that Accra Academy remains a formidable force in Ghana’s NSMQ landscape.

With the 2027 competition already looming on the horizon, the latest support could provide an additional boost as the school seeks to go one step further.

Agyebeng rallies the Bleoo family

The Special Prosecutor’s intervention also sends a broader message to other Accra Academy old boys and stakeholders.

Agyebeng has previously urged alumni and well-wishers to rally support for the school and help address its wider infrastructural and educational needs.

His latest contribution reinforces the tradition of old students giving back to the institution that helped shape their careers.

For the current NSMQ team, however, the message is clear: the support is coming, the resources are improving, and the target is already set — 2027.

Accra Academy will now hope that the laptops, renewed backing from its alumni and the experience gained from the 2026 campaign will combine to produce an even stronger challenge when the next NSMQ season arrives.

An NDC communicator has defended the government’s decision to reject MTN Ghana’s proposed GH¢20 million support package for Ghanaians affected by xenophobic attacks in South Africa, arguing that accepting the money could have undermined Ghana’s dignity and diplomatic position.

The government’s decision to decline the offer sparked public debate, with some questioning why Ghana would turn down substantial corporate assistance at a time when citizens were being evacuated from a difficult situation in South Africa.

However, supporters of the decision have argued that the move was about more than money — it was about the principle of protecting Ghanaian citizens and ensuring that responsibility for the crisis does not shift away from the South African authorities.

Government says funds were already available

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has maintained that the government rejected the offer because it had already made adequate financial arrangements for the ongoing evacuation and reintegration of affected Ghanaians.

In a statement issued on August 26, the Ministry said it appreciated MTN Ghana’s gesture but could not accept it because government resources had already been secured for the humanitarian exercise.

The Ministry further disclosed that the government’s position had already been communicated directly to MTN Ghana’s Board Chairman, Dr Ishmael Yamson, and the company’s Chief Executive Officer during their meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on August 14.

MTN had proposed GH¢20m support package

MTN Ghana Board Chairman Dr Ishmael Yamson had earlier disclosed that the company initially set aside GH¢10 million to welcome Ghanaians returning from South Africa.

The company later decided to double the amount to GH¢20 million and establish a fund aimed at providing longer-term support to affected returnees as they rebuilt their lives in Ghana.

Yamson also acknowledged that MTN should have engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs earlier before publicly discussing the planned intervention.

‘This is about Ghana’s dignity’

Defending the government’s position, the NDC communicator argued that Ghana could not allow the situation to be reduced to a question of receiving money from a company with strong links to South Africa.

The communicator’s position is that accepting the donation could have weakened Ghana’s diplomatic posture at a time when Accra was demanding meaningful action to address recurring xenophobic attacks against African nationals in South Africa.

A similar argument has been made by international relations analyst Dr Ishmael Hlovor, who said rejecting the money could help Ghana sustain diplomatic pressure on South Africa to address the underlying causes of xenophobic attacks.

According to Dr Hlovor, accepting the support could potentially allow South African authorities and businesses to portray themselves as helping victims without addressing the deeper responsibility for preventing the attacks.

Government promises transparency

Despite declining MTN’s offer, the Foreign Affairs Ministry has stressed that the government remains committed to financing the evacuation and reintegration of affected Ghanaians.

It has also promised to publish a comprehensive account of the total cost of the evacuation exercise once it is completed, saying the disclosure will promote transparency and accountability.

The government has further reaffirmed that it remains committed to creating a favourable business environment for international companies operating in Ghana, regardless of where their parent companies originate.

A debate bigger than GH¢20 million

The controversy surrounding the rejected donation has therefore developed into a broader debate about Ghana’s diplomatic posture, corporate responsibility and the dignity of the state.

While critics may argue that GH¢20 million could have provided valuable assistance to affected Ghanaians, supporters of the government’s decision believe the country must be careful not to allow financial assistance to overshadow the larger demand for accountability and lasting solutions to xenophobic attacks.

For the NDC communicator, the rejection was therefore not simply about turning down money.

It was about sending a message that Ghana’s dignity, sovereignty and the protection of its citizens must remain paramount.

Motorists in Ghana could soon face a major change in the way traffic offences are detected, recorded and penalised as the Ghana Police Service rolls out an electronic traffic enforcement system.

The initiative, know own as TraffiTech-GH, is an automated traffic enforcement platform designed to detect road traffic violations electronically and issue notices to vehicle owners.

According to the Ghana Police Service, the system is expected to begin issuing electronic Notices of Violation from July 18, 2026, marking a major shift away from traditional roadside enforcement.

Cameras to catch traffic offences

The electronic system is designed to use digital monitoring technology to identify motorists who violate traffic regulations.

The Ministry of Transport has confirmed that the technology can detect offences including speeding, red-light violations and other dangerous driving behaviours.

This means motorists could increasingly be identified through automated systems rather than relying solely on police officers stopping vehicles at the roadside.

A major change for motorists

Under the new system, motorists who commit detected offences are expected to receive electronic notices detailing the violation.

The move is part of broader efforts to modernise traffic enforcement and reduce road crashes by using technology to monitor driver behaviour.

The Ministry of Transport has described the automated enforcement system as part of efforts to find technological solutions to Ghana’s road-safety challenges.

Police target dangerous driving

The introduction of electronic traffic tickets comes amid persistent concerns over road crashes and dangerous driving in Ghana.

By automating the detection of certain offences, authorities hope to improve enforcement while creating a more systematic record of traffic violations.

The technology could also help reduce dependence on physical roadside encounters between motorists and traffic officers.

Police warn motorists about fake notices

The move has also created concerns about potential fraud.

In February 2026, the Ghana Police Service dismissed a fake electronic traffic violation notice circulating online that reportedly demanded money from motorists.

The development highlights the need for motorists to verify any electronic traffic notice they receive through official channels rather than sending money to unknown individuals or accounts.

What motorists should expect

With electronic enforcement becoming part of Ghana’s road-safety strategy, motorists will need to pay closer attention to traffic regulations.

Speeding, jumping red lights and other dangerous driving practices could increasingly result in electronically recorded violations, even when a police officer is not physically present.

The Ghana Police Service’s TraffiTech-GH initiative signals a new era in traffic enforcement — one where cameras and automated systems could be watching the roads and issuing tickets to offenders.

For motorists, the message is simple: obey the road rules, because the next traffic ticket may come electronically.

Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has launched a strong criticism of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), accusing the institution of applying different standards to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

His comments follow concerns reportedly raised by the IMF over political appointments to the boards of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), including the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).

In a statement shared on social media, Dafeamekpor questioned what IMF Country Directors expect from NDC governments whenever the party is in power.

He said he had observed what he described as a worrying tendency by the IMF to quickly criticise an NDC administration over policies and decisions which, according to him, the same institution previously allowed NPP governments to implement.

According to Dafeamekpor, there have been instances of prominent NPP politicians serving as board chairpersons of major state institutions under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

He cited Peter Mac Manu and Hackman Owusu-Agyemang as examples, noting that they served as Board Chairmen of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority and the Ghana Cocoa Board respectively during the Akufo-Addo administration.

Dafeamekpor argued that the political affiliations and senior positions held by such individuals within the NPP should have been taken into consideration when the IMF assessed political appointments to SOE boards.

“Obviously, the IMF didn’t know this and, of course, didn’t also know the political coloration nor rank of these men who led GPHA and Cocobod Boards at the time,” he stated.

The South Dayi MP further claimed that he could provide the IMF with a comprehensive list of senior NPP officials and Members of Parliament who served on the boards of various State-Owned Enterprises between 2017 and 2024.

He added that he could also produce similar information covering the period between 2001 and 2008, when the NPP was previously in government.

Dafeamekpor said the IMF’s recent comments concerning GoldBod, together with what he described as the institution’s latest report, had convinced him that the Fund had entered Ghana’s local political arena.

Addressing the IMF Country Director directly, he said the reports suggested to him that the institution had “taken sides” in Ghana’s political conflict.

“By your tainted GoldBod report a couple of weeks prior and your present report in question, [it] tells me without doubt that you have descended into the local political arena of conflict and taken sides opposite to me,” he said.

He subsequently questioned the IMF’s neutrality and independence as an international financial institution.

“You must never be trusted again as an independent and neutral supra-national financial institution,” Dafeamekpor added.

The MP also expressed anger over Ghana’s gold and the IMF’s reported position on GoldBod, declaring that Ghana would no longer sell its gold to the institution.

“As for our gold, ‘forgerrit’. We will no longer sell it to you,” he said.

He accused the IMF of allegedly fabricating and skewing reports about Ghana with what he described as a strong anti-NDC bias.

“You can continue to fabricate and skew our country reports with a huge anti-NDC slant,” he stated.

Dafeamekpor ended his remarks with a strong endorsement of the Ghana Gold Board, popularly known as GoldBod, declaring:

“GoldBod ad vitam!”