Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, is set to take centre stage at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, August 10, 2026, where she will account for her stewardship and provide an update on developments within the sector.

The session, scheduled for 11:00 a.m., is expected to provide the Minister with an opportunity to outline the government’s policies, programmes and interventions in tourism, culture and the creative arts since she assumed office. 

The announcement was made by Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who said the engagement would take participants through a “deep dive” into happenings within the sector.

According to the announcement, the Minister will use the platform to account for her work so far and provide the public with information on developments under her ministry.

The Government Accountability Series forms part of the government’s efforts to provide updates on its policies, programmes and achievements while giving ministers an opportunity to account directly to the public.

Gomashie’s presentation is expected to focus on the government’s work in promoting Ghana’s tourism potential, preserving and developing the country’s cultural heritage, and strengthening the creative arts industry.

The Ministry’s 2026 budget documents highlight ongoing interventions including work on heritage sites, tourism product development and initiatives aimed at strengthening the tourism, culture and creative arts sectors. 

The engagement will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 10, 2026, with the public invited to follow the programme for updates on the Minister’s stewardship.

President John Dramani Mahama must be commended for his decision to appoint substantive replacements for the late Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Alhaji Dr Murtala Muhammed exactly one year after their death in the tragic August 6, 2025 helicopter crash, according to Fio Richardson Commey, Special Aide to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts.

Speaking to KPDonline, Mr Commey said the President’s decision to observe a full year before permanently filling the two key government positions reflects a profound alignment with Ghanaian cultural values surrounding mourning, remembrance and closure.

He argued that by allowing the one-year period to elapse before making permanent appointments, President Mahama demonstrated respect for the deceased statesmen, their families and the wider Ghanaian society.

According to him, the decision supports the cultural significance of the one-year cycle, commonly associated with ‘Afehyia’ in some Ghanaian traditions, as a period after which heavy mourning formally comes to an end and families are able to take major decisions concerning leadership, property and other responsibilities.

Mr. Commey explained that within Akan traditional settings, major family and leadership decisions, including the appointment of successors to vacant stools or family headships, have traditionally been deferred until final mourning rites have been observed.

He said this practice is intended to provide a period of closure, allow families to honour the departed and ensure that important decisions are not made while emotions surrounding the death remain intense.

He also pointed to Northern and Islamic traditions, noting that although Islamic practice requires burial to take place shortly after death, commemorative prayers and the final organisation of responsibilities and estate matters can also provide important points of closure for families.

For Mr. Commey, these cultural practices demonstrate that the passage of time following the death of a prominent person can carry social and spiritual significance beyond the administrative considerations of government.

He maintained that across several Ghanaian ethnic groups, immediately replacing a prominent person who dies while serving the state could be perceived as failing to give adequate respect to the deceased.

“Waiting for the one-year mark shows that the vacuum left behind was treated with sacred weight rather than as a mere administrative inconvenience,” he argued.

Acting Ministers Were Not a Sign of Weakness

Mr Commey further defended the use of acting ministers during the one-year period, rejecting arguments that the arrangement created a governance vacuum or unnecessarily stretched the administration.

He said temporary caretakers have long existed within Ghanaian traditional governance systems and cited arrangements such as the ‘Gbong Lana’ in Dagbon and regencies associated with Akan stools as examples of temporary leadership mechanisms designed to preserve continuity during periods of transition.

According to him, the use of acting ministers allowed government operations to continue while permanent decisions were deferred.

“The acting ministers successfully held the fort, proving that the state apparatus was robust enough to handle the transition,” he said.

Mr. Commey therefore described claims of a governance vacuum as unfounded, arguing that the system continued to function while the nation and the affected families observed the period of mourning.

He said the arrangement demonstrated that temporary leadership does not necessarily constitute weakness but can instead provide institutional stability while allowing society to go through an important transition.

A Humanised Approach to Governance

Mr. Commey further argued that President Mahama’s decision humanised the state by showing that public officials are not merely occupants of political offices but human beings whose lives and contributions deserve recognition after their death.

He said waiting until the one-year anniversary before permanently assigning the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Environment portfolios gave the nation and the families of the deceased statesmen an opportunity to reach a significant point of closure.

“Delaying replacement until the grieving nation and families reached the one-year closure point therefore bestows fitting dignity upon statesmen who died serving the Republic,” he said.

He added that such an approach could strengthen public trust and loyalty, which he believes are more valuable to long-term political stability than hurried political appointments.

Call to Depoliticise the Decision

The Special Aide to the Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts also called on the public to avoid viewing President Mahama’s decision purely through a partisan political lens.

He urged cultural advocates and members of the public who support the integration of Ghanaian customs and traditions into modern governance to recognise what he described as the President’s acknowledgement of the country’s cultural heritage.

Mr Commey said President Mahama should instead be appreciated for prioritising Ghanaian heritage and cultural considerations over political expediency by waiting exactly one year before making the substantive appointments.

He stressed that Ghana’s constitutional democracy should not be viewed solely as a legal and administrative system but also as a moral community shaped by the values and traditions of its people.

According to him, the authority of a constitution ultimately depends on the confidence and moral legitimacy that citizens attach to the leadership of the state.

“A constitution only has power if the people believe in the moral authority of their leader,” he said, arguing that Ghanaian governance should seek to harmonise modern constitutional principles with indigenous values rather than treating culture as something separate from public administration.

Cultural Precedent for Future Leaders

Mr. Commey concluded that President Mahama’s decision could establish a culturally significant precedent for future governments.

He maintained that modern democracy does not necessarily have to be detached from indigenous wisdom and that governance can function effectively while respecting deeply rooted cultural values.

He said the President’s action reinforces Ghana’s national identity and demonstrates that governance can be more effective when it takes into account the societal values of the people it serves.

“What President Mahama has done sets a culturally dignified precedent for future leaders,” Mr. Commey said.

The comments come as President Mahama names substantive replacements for the late Dr Edward Omane Boamah and Alhaji Dr Murtala Muhammed one year after the August 6, 2025 helicopter tragedy that claimed their lives.

IMANI Africa President Franklin Cudjoe has described the latest ministerial changes under the Mahama administration as a “master stroke decision,” particularly welcoming the appointment of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as Defence Minister and the reassignment of Ahmed Ibrahim to the Ministry of Works and Housing.

According to Mr Cudjoe, the decision to move Ahmed Ibrahim from his previous portfolio could give him an opportunity to perform more effectively in a ministry where his experience and capabilities are limited.

“Master stroke decision! Especially Ayariga replacing Ahmed Ibrahim,” Mr Cudjoe stated, while assessing the recent changes within government.

He suggested that Ahmed Ibrahim had been overwhelmed by the demands surrounding the implementation of the government’s 24-hour economy and markets-related initiatives.

“Ahmed was struggling. He needed to formalise the procurement processes, but voracious party people and some traditional rulers made him give up the ghost,” he said.

Mr Cudjoe, however, expressed confidence that Ahmed Ibrahim could make a meaningful impact at the Works and Housing Ministry.

He also welcomed the appointment of Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, suggesting that her new position provides an opportunity for her abilities to receive greater attention.

“Finally Zanetor gets noticed. We will support her to do well,” he said. Ato Forson faces new challenge at Defence

Turning his attention to the Defence Ministry, Mr Cudjoe said the new minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, appears to be a practical person, while warning that his new assignment comes with significant responsibilities.

He noted that Dr Ato Forson had left an impression during his time at the Works and Housing Ministry, although he acknowledged that Ghana remains “light years away” from resolving the country’s affordable housing deficit on a large scale and within a short period.

“He is a very practical person and has left some memories at the Works and Housing Ministry, even though we are still light years away from fixing affordable housing on a large scale and on a short [term],” Mr Cudjoe said.

He stressed that the Defence Ministry would present an entirely different set of challenges, particularly as government prepares to retool the security services.

Mr Cudjoe said the planned acquisition of military aircraft, munitions and other equipment would require strong oversight to ensure that the country obtains value for money.

“Well, he has a more challenging ministry now. Now he must man up and ensure, as the government plans retooling the services, especially the purchase of aircraft and munitions,” he stated.

Mr Cudjoe further disclosed that IMANI Africa intends to closely examine the government’s procurement processes in the defence sector.

He said the organisation’s planned scrutiny is partly inspired by conversations he had with the late Defence Minister, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, before his death.

According to him, the late minister had been discussing the need for experts with specialised knowledge in military equipment and weapons procurement to help Ghana secure better value for money.

“IMANI will be thoroughly examining the procurement process. At least I owe that to my friend Hon. Omane Boamah. Until his untimely death, he had been discussing with me to ensure that I marshal experts who know how to purchase and value military equipment and weapons to help get better value for money for Ghana,” Mr Cudjoe said.

Meanwhile, Mr Cudjoe disclosed that IMANI Africa is beginning a structured engagement with ministers and their technical teams as the Mahama administration moves beyond the 18-month mark in office.

He said the initiative is intended to provide the policy think tank with a deeper and evidence-based understanding of the realities confronting various ministries and the direction of government policies.

“As we wait for a few more changes, we have now passed the eighteen-month mark of the current administration. IMANI is initiating a structured series of high-level engagements with key Ministers of State and their technical teams,” he said.

He explained that the engagements would focus on understanding the operational realities and strategic direction of the sectors being managed by the various ministers.

According to Mr Cudjoe, conventional public reporting does not always capture the complexities surrounding policy implementation, including administrative hurdles, institutional constraints and reforms taking place within government.

The proposed engagements will therefore serve as fact-finding and alignment discussions.

Four key areas of engagement

Mr Cudjoe said the engagements would focus on four major areas.

The first is a baseline assessment, which will examine the condition of each ministry, its agencies and ongoing projects at the time the minister assumed office.

The second is vision and performance tracking, involving an assessment of the strategic vision being pursued by the ministry and the indicators being used to measure progress towards its goals.

The third area is operational challenges, covering the systemic, financial, legislative and administrative difficulties confronting the ministry.

The fourth is milestones and successes, which will examine key achievements, policy gains and major initiatives recorded during the first year and a half of the administration.

Mr Cudjoe said the broader objective is to help improve public understanding of the work being undertaken across government.

“Public policy thrives on public consensus,” he said, stressing that IMANI’s engagements are intended to help provide a clearer account of the work being done by the ministries.

He explained that by gaining firsthand knowledge of how ministries operate, IMANI would be better positioned to place government programmes and challenges within the wider national conversation.

“This dialogue will be mutually beneficial and will contribute significantly to enhancing public transparency and systemic progress,” he said.

Mr Cudjoe disclosed that IMANI has already held an engagement with the Minister of Trade, Industry and Innovation.

He added that the Minister of Agriculture is expected to be next as the think tank continues its planned engagements with government ministers and their technical teams.

https://x.com/lordcudjoe/status/2085827119582445616?s=20

The Upper West Regional Police Command has secured a combined 22-year prison sentence for two men convicted in separate stealing-related cases in the region.

The two convicts, 20-year-old Nasiru Muftawu and 36-year-old Eric Salia, were sentenced by the Wa Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Samuel Boafo Amewuho.

According to a press release issued by the Upper West Regional Police Command on Thursday, August 6, 2026, the convictions form part of efforts by the Police to clamp down on criminal activities and improve security across the region.

Nasiru Muftawu sentenced to 12 years

Nasiru Muftawu, aged 20, was arrested on Saturday, July 11, 2026, following intelligence-led investigations into a series of motorbike thefts in various parts of the Upper West Region.

He was subsequently charged and prosecuted before the Wa Circuit Court.

After a full trial, the court on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, found him guilty and sentenced him to 12 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Eric Salia gets 10 years

In a separate case, Eric Salia, 36, was arrested on Sunday, July 26, 2026, after unlawfully breaking into the residential accommodation of a public officer.

According to the Police, Salia stole valuable personal belongings from the residence.

He was subsequently charged, tried and convicted by the same Wa Circuit Court and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

The two sentences amount to 22 years in prison.

Police urge public cooperation

The Upper West Regional Police Command has reiterated its commitment to creating a safe, secure and conducive environment for law-abiding residents across the region.

The Command said it would continue to pursue suspected criminals and ensure that offenders are brought before the courts to face justice.

It has also appealed to members of the public to support policing efforts by providing timely and credible information about criminal activities.

According to the Police, cooperation from residents remains vital to preventing crime and enhancing the safety and security of communities throughout the Upper West Region.

The statement was signed by Mr Francis Yiribaare, DCOP, Regional Police Commander for the Upper West Region.

https://x.com/GhPoliceService/status/2085752972084928921?s=20v

Building Green Cities:Building green cities is not simply about planting more trees. It requires a deliberate transformation of how cities generate energy, manage waste, finance infrastructure, move people and protect natural resources.

That was the consensus among policymakers, sustainability experts and development partners during a high-level dialogue on green urban development, where participants stressed that Ghana must move beyond policy ambitions to practical, bankable projects capable of attracting long-term investment.

They argued that while Ghana has developed several policies on climate action, energy transition and urban development, implementation remains slow because of inadequate planning, fragmented institutional coordination and limited financing.

Waste segregation & circular economy
Senior Sustainability Officer at the Jospong Green Transitions Office, Dr. Gloria Boamah Kusi, said efficient waste segregation at source remains the foundation of any successful circular economy.

Speaking at a two-day seminar on the National Urban Policy 2026-2035 & National Slum Upgrading and Preservation Strategy 2026-2035, Dr. Boamah Kusi said building green cities is an arduous task.
According to her, waste should no longer be viewed merely as refuse but as a valuable resource capable of generating new products, renewable energy and employment when properly managed.
“If we want to harness the value of waste, we must embrace segregation at the point of generation,” she said.

She explained that separating waste at source significantly improves material recovery, making recycling and compost production more efficient.

She said efficient collection systems should feed Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), where recyclable materials can be recovered while organic waste is converted into compost for agricultural use.
Beyond waste recovery, she noted that truly green cities must integrate renewable energy, sustainable transport systems, climate-responsive infrastructure and adequate green spaces to reduce carbon emissions and improve urban resilience.

Green cities require integrated planning
Project Manager for Energy Transition and Green Infrastructure at the French Development Agency (AFD) for Ghana and Liberia, Doris Edem Agbevivi, said waste management, transport and energy are interconnected sectors that must be planned together if cities are to become environmentally sustainable.

She observed that although Ghana has made progress, waste management remains largely linear, with much of the waste collected ending up at disposal sites instead of being recovered for economic value .

“When we simply collect waste and dump it, we have not achieved much,” she said.

She noted that apart from initiatives being undertaken by the Jospong Group, many waste collection systems still operate without resource recovery as their primary objective.

Mrs. Agbevivi questioned the sustainability of the country’s transition to electric mobility if supporting infrastructure is not equally green.

“If we are using electric vehicles, what powers the charging systems? Where will the batteries be recycled?” she asked,

stressing that every aspect of the green transition must be considered holistically.
She pointed out that even communities that appear environmentally friendly, such as Aburi, still face challenges with waste recycling, demonstrating that green cities require more than aesthetics.

The Yale University Climate Fellow said financing remains one of the biggest barriers to sustainable urban development.
According to her, Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) provide catalytic, patient capital, but only where governments can present credible, well-developed investment plans.

“We do not need plans that simply end as feasibility studies. We need plans that generate implementable projects,” she said.

She explained that development partners consistently look for measurable milestones, clear implementation strategies and bankable projects before committing financial support.

Waste management & climate returns
Representing the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ing. Godfred Fiifi Boadi Esq. observed that countries around the world are pursuing green city agendas, although implementation often differs because of local realities.

He noted that Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework already recognises waste management, transport and energy as critical components of national climate action.

However, he argued that investment priorities need to shift.
According to him, comparatively smaller investments in waste management can deliver greater environmental and economic returns than significantly larger investments in other sectors.

“If we evaluate projects based on total life-cycle costs, waste management becomes one of the smartest investments a country can make,” he said.

He explained that countries often focus only on the initial cost of infrastructure while ignoring recurring operational and maintenance costs throughout the asset’s lifetime.

He also advocated the effective implementation of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), under which manufacturers contribute to the cost of collecting, recycling and safely disposing of products after consumer use.

Instead of shifting the financial burden to taxpayers and local assemblies, producers should take greater responsibility for the entire life cycle of their products, he said.
Improved Policy Implementation
Deputy Director for Environment at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Raymond Ohene Ofori, said Ghana already possesses several policy frameworks capable of supporting green city development.

According to him, what is required now is effective implementation supported by sustainable financing mechanisms.
He disclosed that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now hosts Ghana’s Carbon Market Office, creating opportunities for climate finance to support green projects.

“If there is a clear strategy, institutions can help mobilise the necessary resources for implementation,” says Ofori, who is also a professional Planner.

He explained that existing national strategies already guide sustainable transport, renewable energy, circular waste management and protection of wetlands and marine ecosystems.

He stressed that the concept of green cities extends far beyond tree planting and encompasses cleaner transport systems, climate-resilient infrastructure, responsible waste management and sustainable urban planning.

Greater institutional coordination needed
Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, called for stronger collaboration among government ministries and agencies responsible for urban development.

He observed that local assemblies alone cannot deliver green cities because responsibilities relating to roads, housing, transport and sanitation are spread across multiple ministries.

According to him, achieving sustainable urban development requires coordinated planning and implementation rather than isolated interventions.

He noted that many Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives are often compelled to undertake projects outside their statutory mandates because of institutional overlaps and service delivery gaps.

Turning vision into reality

The discussion concluded with a shared message: Ghana possesses the policy frameworks, technical expertise and growing private sector capacity needed to build green cities.

What remains is the political commitment to integrate planning across sectors, mobilise innovative financing, strengthen public-private partnerships and accelerate investment in circular waste management, renewable energy and sustainable transport.

For many participants, waste represents one of the country’s greatest untapped resources.

Rather than viewing it as an environmental burden, they argued, Ghana should treat waste as a valuable economic asset capable of generating jobs, clean energy, compost, recycled materials and significant climate benefits.

Only through such an integrated approach, they said, can Ghana build truly green, resilient and inclusive cities for future generations.

By Adade Gyamfi