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Akufo-Addo Pleads With Mahama For ‘Safe Passage’ for Embattled Ken Ofori-Atta

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Former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo is reportedly reaching out to his successor, President John Dramani Mahama, to secure a “safe passage” for his cousin and erstwhile Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta.

Ofori-Atta faces mounting corruption charges that could tarnish Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) post-tenure image.

According to The Herald newspaper, sources close to the Akufo-Addo family reveal that the outgoing leader, whose administration ended amid economic turmoil and procurement scandals, is “deeply distressed” by the escalating probe into Ofori-Atta’s nearly eight-year stewardship of Ghana’s finances.

Ofori-Atta, once hailed as a “financial wizard” for steering the economy through the COVID-19 crisis, has been ensconced in the United States since February 2025, citing kidney-related health issues. Yet, insiders insist he remains actively engaged in his private ventures, including insurance giant Enterprise Insurance and investment firm Databank Financial Services, while dodging what prosecutors describe as a “fugitive” status back home.

At the heart of the controversy is the Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) scandal—a web of alleged procurement manipulations that reportedly drained over GH¢1.4 billion (approximately $92 million) from Ghana’s coffers between 2017 and 2025.

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), led by Kissi Agyebeng, accuses Ofori-Atta and accomplices of conspiring to award no-bid contracts to SML for dubious audit services in petroleum and mineral sectors, bypassing parliamentary approval and public procurement laws. Payments, prosecutors claim, flowed on “autopilot” without verifiable deliverables, embodying a broader pattern of “self-serving patronage” that Mahama’s incoming administration has vowed to dismantle.

The OSP’s charges against Ofori-Atta—spanning 78 counts including conspiracy, abuse of public office, and causing financial loss to the state—paint a picture of impunity at the highest levels. Extradition proceedings are underway in the U.S., following his failure to heed summons despite a submitted medical note dismissed as insufficient. Last week, an Accra High Court granted bail to five co-accused, including former Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) chiefs, at GH¢50 million each, but suspended new conditions until today, December 15, amid procedural wrangling. Ofori-Atta and two others remain absent, with their next court date set for December 17.

Akufo-Addo’s reported overtures to Mahama, made through backchannels, seek to avert a humiliating airport arrest upon Ofori-Atta’s anticipated return to Kotoka International Airport.

“The family name is at stake,” one source told The Herald newspaper, adding that the ex-president views the allegations as a direct assault on his administration’s legacy.

Yet, Jubilee House officials, speaking anonymously, signal a firm rebuff: Mahama, who campaigned on anti-corruption credentials during his December 7 election victory, insists the judiciary must proceed unimpeded.

“No deals on accountability,” one aide said, echoing sentiments that Ofori-Atta must first refund any ill-gotten gains before entertaining leniency.

This saga extends beyond the SML debacle. The OSP’s net has widened to probe other flashpoints from Ofori-Atta’s tenure, including the abrupt cancellation of a $100 million power grid contract with China’s Beijing Xiao Cheng Technology, questionable spending on the stalled National Cathedral project, and a GH¢1.2 billion ambulance procurement marred by inflated costs and irregular funding from GRA’s tax refund account. Investigations, sparked by public petitions in late 2023, culminated in a presidential directive last month terminating all SML ties—a move that has saved Ghana an estimated $2.8 billion in future liabilities.

For a nation still reeling from debt defaults and inflation spikes under Akufo-Addo’s watch, the Ofori-Atta affair symbolizes the perils of unchecked executive power in emerging democracies.

Globally, it resonates as a cautionary tale for African governance: How do leaders balance familial bonds with public trust? As Mahama’s National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration settles in, promising fiscal reforms and transparency, eyes worldwide—from Washington to Beijing—watch whether Ghana can turn scandal into systemic renewal.

Ghana News

Ex-President Akufo-Addo and President Mahama Exchange Pleasantries on Easter

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Kwahu, Ghana – Former President Nana Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on President John Dramani Mahama on Holy Saturday, April 4, 2026, while both leaders were in the Kwahu enclave for the annual Easter celebrations.

The meeting took place as President Mahama participated in activities linked to the Kwahu Business Forum, a major event held alongside the Easter festivities.

Akufo-Addo, who has maintained a nearly two-decade tradition of spending Easter in Kwahu, described the visit as a cordial engagement during the sacred period.

In a Facebook post, the former president wrote: “On the Holy Saturday of Easter, while in Kwahu where for almost two decades I have consecutively visited during the sacred period of Easter, I called on the President of the Republic, H. E. John Dramani Mahama who is also in Kwahu.”

The encounter highlights a moment of peaceful political civility between the current and immediate past leaders of Ghana amid the festive season. No further details about the substance of their discussion were made public.

The visit comes at a time when both leaders are actively involved in national and regional development conversations, with Mahama using the Kwahu platform to engage stakeholders on economic matters.

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Ghana News

Mahama Calls Christ’s Birthplace an ‘Epicentre of War’, New Airport Concourse Planned and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today

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We have curated the most relevant and impactful stories from Ghana to keep you informed.

‘It’s Painful Christ’s Birthplace Now an Epicentre of War’ – President Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has described the ongoing violence in the Middle East as a “painful irony,” noting that the birthplace of Christianity and the land where Christ preached love, forgiveness, and peace has become a major centre of conflict. In his Easter message delivered at Black Star Square on April 3, 2026, Mahama said the suffering in the Holy Land cannot be ignored during the season of Easter. He extended Ghana’s thoughts and prayers to the people of Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Iran, and the wider Middle East region, urging world leaders to embrace restraint, dialogue, and respect for human dignity.
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Gov’t to Construct New Concourse at Accra International Airport to Ease Congestion
The Ghana Airports Company Limited will begin construction this month on an ultra-modern concourse linking Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 at Kotoka International Airport. The project aims to eliminate current operational bottlenecks, enable seamless passenger transfers, and significantly improve hub efficiency. Key features include five additional passenger boarding bridges, five passenger holding areas, bi-directional travelators, new escalators and elevators, a VIP lounge, four business lounges, and four retail and duty-free pods. The expansion forms part of a broader modernisation drive to provide world-class facilities and strengthen Ghana’s position as a competitive aviation hub in West Africa.
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Gov’t Procures Over 24,000 Medical Equipment to Support Free Primary Healthcare Rollout
The Ghanaian government has acquired 24,534 pieces of medical equipment to strengthen health facilities ahead of the nationwide rollout of its free primary healthcare policy. The consignment, inspected by Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, includes baby incubators, radiant warmers, oxygen concentrators, X-ray machines, ultrasound devices, laboratory analysers, vital signs monitors, glucometers, patient monitors, infusion devices, delivery beds, and hospital beds. The equipment will be distributed across government hospitals to improve diagnostics, newborn care, and overall service delivery at the primary level.
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Ghana to Manufacture First Vaccine with Support from Indonesia
Ghana is set to begin local production of its first vaccine with technical and partnership support from the Indonesian government. Honorary Consul of Indonesia to Ghana, Paskal A B Rois, confirmed that a high-level delegation from Ghana’s National Vaccine Institute, Food and Drugs Authority, and GIZ visited Indonesia late last year to finalise arrangements. Once operational, Ghana will become the third African country — after Senegal and South Africa — to manufacture vaccines domestically. The initiative is expected to enhance the country’s health security and reduce dependence on imported vaccines.
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No Business Thrives Without Trust in Justice System — Chief Justice
Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie has emphasised that trust in the judicial system is essential for business growth and investor confidence in Ghana. Speaking at the Kwahu Business Forum on April 4, 2026, he stated that contracts must be honoured, property protected, and disputes resolved fairly and predictably for any economy to flourish. The Chief Justice announced that the judiciary is repositioning itself to become an active partner in creating a business-friendly environment anchored in the rule of law. He warned that delays and uncertainty in the justice system carry real economic costs by discouraging investment.
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Ghana News

Ghana President Convenes Emergency Cabinet Meeting to Cushion Ghanaians from Soaring Fuel Prices

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President John Dramani Mahama has convened an emergency cabinet meeting to address the sharp rise in fuel prices caused by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, particularly the escalation involving Iran.

Speaking on Saturday, April 4, 2026, during the second day of the Kwahu Business Forum, President Mahama stated that the meeting will focus on practical interventions to ease the burden on citizens.

He specifically mentioned the possibility of adjustments in fuel margins and other components of the price build-up to help keep prices relatively stable while hoping for de-escalation of the conflict.

“I have called for this emergency cabinet meeting to decide on specific measures we can take to cushion petroleum prices,” Mahama said. “There are adjustments we can make, particularly in the margins, to help maintain relatively stable prices as we pray for the war to cease.”

The President assured Ghanaians that the government remains committed to protecting the economy from external shocks and has taken steps to build resilience.

“I can confidently tell you that the economy will not collapse because of the war in Iran,” he stated.

Mahama also commended transport unions for showing restraint by not immediately increasing lorry fares despite the fuel price surge.

He urged them to continue exercising patience as the government works on relief measures. Fuel prices rose significantly effective April 1, 2026, with petrol increasing to approximately GH¢13.30 per liter (a 15% hike) and diesel to GH¢17.10 per liter (a 19% hike) for the first half of April.

The government is reviewing options including reductions in margins and levies to provide relief to consumers.

This latest development highlights the direct link between global geopolitical tensions and domestic living costs in Ghana, as the government balances immediate relief with longer-term economic stability.

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