Ghana News
Top Ghana Headlines: December 9, 2025 – US Tourist Kidnap Claim, Wesley Girls Dispute, Daddy Lumba Funeral Tensions, Plus More
A compilation of leading stories from newsrooms in Ghana on December 9, 2025, show police-related controversies, religious litigation, family feuds, law enforcement operations, political rebuttals, and anti-corruption critiques.
Christian Council Urges Out-of-Court Settlement in Wesley Girls’ vs. Shafic Osman Hijab Dispute: The Christian Council of Ghana, led by General Secretary Rev. Dr. Cyril Fayose, is pushing for an amicable resolution to the lawsuit filed by lawyer Shafic Osman against Wesley Girls’ High School in December 2024, alleging religious discrimination through bans on hijabs and Ramadan fasting for Muslim students, in violation of constitutional rights under Article 21. Fayose, appealing to Osman’s dual roles as an Islamic scholar and legal expert, emphasized that court rulings create divisions in sensitive faith matters and urged dialogue for national harmony. The case awaits Supreme Court hearing, with the school’s board granted 14 days from November 25 to respond; the Attorney-General’s office is defending the institution. Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu backed inclusive practices, while the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, via Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, voiced regret over the suit, citing a 2025 interfaith MOU on tolerance in religious schools and the need to preserve Wesley Girls’ Christian ethos amid ongoing debates.
Asantehene Postpones Meeting on Daddy Lumba’s Funeral Amid Escalating Family Divisions: Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, delayed a scheduled December 8, 2025, mediation session with the family of the late highlife legend Daddy Lumba (Charles Kwadwo Fosu), rescheduling it to December 11 to address rifts over the planned December 13 funeral at Baba Yara Stadium. The gathering highlighted fractures: Abusuapanin Kofi Owusu, representing the royal Ekuona family of Parkoso, led one group to brief the king, while elder sister Ernestina Fosuh, alongside uncle Wofa Yaw Opoku and maternal grandaunt, headed the opposing faction. Disputes center on widowhood rites, event organization, and unauthorized withdrawals from a memorial fund, prompting Ernestina’s group to sue for an injunction, with the first hearing aligning with the rescheduled meeting. Post-session reactions were polarized—Ernestina’s side expressed satisfaction, while Abusuapanin and widow Faustina Marfo appeared frustrated—stirring public discourse on traditional protocols versus modern family dynamics in celebrity farewells.
American Woman in Ghana for Detty December Claims She Was Kidnapped and Robbed by Police — But Many Ghanaians Say Her Story Doesn’t Add Up: U.S. content creator Ari Mackey, a TikTok influencer with over 34,000 followers who arrived in Accra via a brand-sponsored trip, alleged on December 6 that three masked police officers stopped her Uber at a checkpoint, inspected her belongings, seized cash and devices, and forced her into their vehicle—complete with covered license plates—to an ATM for extortion. In a viral video warning tourists not to “look rich” or challenge officers, she described the ordeal as terrifying amid Detty December festivities. However, Ghanaians online have dismissed the account as implausible, citing inconsistencies like masked officers without badges, which contradict standard Ghana Police protocols; comments include “Ghana police will not kidnap you—they’ll just ask for a tip” and “This isn’t the Ghana police; plates aren’t covered like that.” Speculation points to imposters, with no official response from authorities yet, fueling social media debates and calls for verification.
Read more here: GhanaNewsGlobal
Police Arrest Three Suspected Kidnappers After Fierce Gun Battle in Northern Region: The Northern Regional Police Command apprehended three members of a kidnapping syndicate—Haruna Seidu, Amidu Bandi, and Osman Bandi—on December 6 in Bokpaba along the Bimbilla-Yendi road following an intelligence-led operation. The group had abducted a 42-year-old man from Wapuli in Yendi District, demanding GH¢100,000 in ransom. A five-member team from the Regional Police Intelligence Directorate tracked the suspects, engaging them in an intense exchange of gunfire on December 5. The victim was rescued unharmed, while the fourth suspect escaped with gunshot injuries. Authorities recovered weapons and are urging residents in affected areas to report suspicious activities to facilitate the fugitive’s capture. The arrested trio remains in custody pending court arraignment.
Bawumia’s Aide Counters Kufuor: Not All Went Well Under His Regime: Ellen Ama Daaku, aide to former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, rebuked former President John Agyekum Kufuor for critiquing the Akufo-Addo administration’s policies during an appearance on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on December 9. Daaku argued that no leader is infallible, noting Kufuor’s own tenure had shortcomings despite its developmental strides, and insisted Akufo-Addo’s record should stand on its merits. Kufuor, on The Delay Show, had lambasted decisions like the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme, National Cathedral project, and Power Distribution Services deal, claiming they contributed to the NPP’s 2024 election loss and that he was sidelined in consultations. Daaku urged evaluating each presidency independently, amid ongoing NPP introspection.
Sam Okudzeto Declares OSP a Failure, Slams Ghana’s Anti-Corruption Model: Veteran lawyer and former Ghana Bar Association President Sam Okudzeto lambasted the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) as ineffective on JoyNews’ PM Express on December 8, asserting it has done little to deter rampant corruption, evidenced by persistent bribe demands across sectors. He decried the OSP’s establishment as redundant, given the Attorney-General’s Department—via the Director of Public Prosecutions—already holds prosecutorial powers over all crimes, including graft. Okudzeto advocated dissolving the OSP in favor of bolstering the AG’s office, warning against personality-driven institutions that risk collapse upon leadership changes. He highlighted the OSP’s lack of institutional depth, positioning it as a flawed experiment in Ghana’s fight against endemic corruption.
Ace Ankomah Proposes Merging OSP, DPP, and EOCO for Independent Prosecutions: Legal expert Ace Anan Ankomah urged the fusion of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), and Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) into a unified, autonomous body on Channel One TV on December 8. He argued the current framework, tethered to the Attorney-General under constitutional Articles 88(3) and (4), lacks the expertise to tackle sophisticated corruption cases, often undermined by robust defenses. The OSP Act underscores these deficiencies, per Ankomah, who envisions the merger leveraging OSP’s focus, DPP’s stability, and EOCO’s investigations to form an impartial entity free from political sway. This reform, he contended, is essential to rebuild trust in prosecutions and combat economic crimes effectively.
Prof. Prempeh Warns OSP Faces Extinction Without Constitutional Overhaul: Executive Director of CDD-Ghana, Prof. Henry Kwasi Prempeh, cautioned that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) could vanish amid escalating disputes unless anchored in comprehensive constitutional reforms, as stated on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on December 8. He dismissed superficial fixes or court battles as inadequate, advocating a root-and-branch redesign inspired by global models to fortify the institution. Prempeh’s alert follows Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga’s push to abolish the OSP and revert duties to the underfunded Attorney-General’s Department, citing the OSP’s failure to deliver amid heavy investments. The discourse underscores broader calls to refine Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture for sustainability.
FDA Intensifies Market Raids to Combat Counterfeit and Expired Goods: The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has escalated surveillance operations across markets to eliminate fake and expired products posing health risks, as part of a renewed crackdown announced on December 9. While specific details on recent seizures remain limited, the initiative targets unregulated vendors in major urban centers, emphasizing consumer safety through spot checks and public awareness drives. Officials reiterated the agency’s commitment to stringent enforcement, warning traders of severe penalties for non-compliance and urging citizens to verify product authenticity. This uptick in activity aligns with rising concerns over substandard imports affecting public health nationwide.
Headlines from the print media







Ghana News
Ghana’s Nationwide Flood Clean-Up Kicks Off with Slow Start
ACCRA, Ghana – July 10, 2026 – A two-day nationwide clean-up exercise across seven flood-ravaged regions began Friday morning sluggishly.
Authorities have been urging residents, businesses, and institutions to ramp up participation as teams work to clear refuse, desilt choked drains, and restore public spaces following recent devastating floods.
The exercise, which commenced at 6:00 am local time, will run until 1:00 pm and resume on Saturday, July 11, during the same hours. While early-morning activity in several metropolitan areas was initially subdued, officials report that momentum is gradually building as local assemblies, waste management contractors, security services, and volunteer groups deploy to designated hotspots.
According to the government’s outlined schedule, the first day focuses on Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), public and private institutions, educational bodies, and waste management firms.
Saturday’s phase will pivot toward community-led efforts, tapping into residents, traditional authorities, and volunteer networks to drive localized clean-up at the grassroots level.

In a bid to maximize turnout, non-essential shops, markets, and commercial establishments within the seven affected regions have been ordered to shut their doors from 6:00 am to 1:00 pm on both days, with exemptions granted only to essential and emergency service providers.
The Ministry has called on transport operators, religious groups, and corporate entities to actively back the initiative, framing it as a critical step toward restoring safe, hygienic communities after the flooding crisis.
Greater Accra, the epicenter of the recent deluge, hosts the bulk of the operation, with authorities identifying 104 flood-prone and affected locations across 17 assemblies. Key areas include, Ga South (Tetegu, STC, Mallam East, New Weija), Ga Central (Awoshie, Kolegu, Israel, A-Land), Ga North (Pokuase Footbridge, Ofankor Barrier), and Ga East (Dome Market, Abokobi Drain). In the capital’s core, heavy machinery and manual crews are converging on major drainage arteries such as Alajo, Kokomlemle, Pig Farm, Mamobi, Nima Highway, the Kanda stretch to Kawukudi, and the 37 Hospital corridor. Coastal communities like Teshie-Nungua, Prampram, Sege, and Tema West’s industrial and residential zones are also actively participating.
Despite the tepid start, authorities remain optimistic that participation will surge as the morning progresses, setting the stage for an even more robust community-driven effort on Saturday.
The exercise represents the government’s most visible response to the recent flooding emergency, mobilizing public administration and local governance structures to tackle the immediate environmental and health hazards facing affected populations.
Ghana News
Top 10 Newspaper Front Page Headlines in Ghana Today: Friday, July 10, 2026
Top 10 news stories on Ghanaian newspaper front pages dated Friday, July 10, 2026.
1. GHC350m Contingency Fund Release Controversy
- Appears in: The New Publisher, The Ghanaian Publisher, The Custodian, The Chronicle
- Summary: The Attorney General is under fire for allegedly instructing the Bank of Ghana to release GHC 350 million from the frozen Contingency Fund for flood relief, despite a court order blocking it. The Minority in Parliament is demanding a probe and blasting the AG’s “lawless” approach.
2. Abu Trica Extradited to US Over $8m Romance Scam
- Appears in: Daily Guide, Ghanaian Times, The New Publisher
- Summary: Socialite Abu Trica has been extradited to the United States to face charges related to an alleged $8 million romance fraud scheme. The extradition happened despite a lack of a court order reversing the decision on the Black Volta project (mentioned in related coverage).
3. GJA Gives NDC Chairman Seven Days to Apologise Over Obaatanpa Radio Attack
- Appears in: Supreme, Daily Guide
- Summary: The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has given the Central Regional Chairman of the NDC a seven-day ultimatum to apologise for an attack on Obaatanpa Radio. The incident has sparked significant backlash.
4. Gomoa East NPP Rallies Behind Francis Mensah for Chairman
- Appears in: Supreme, The Ghanaian Publisher, The Custodian, The Metro Lens
- Summary: The Gomoa East Constituency of the NPP is rallying to elect Francis Mensah as the next Constituency Chairman. This grassroots movement is a major story across multiple papers.
5. Azumah Resources Denies Reversal of Black Volta Project Ownership
- Appears in: News Centa, The Chronicle, Daily Guide
- Summary: Azumah Resources Ghana Ltd has refuted false media reports claiming that an ICC ruling reversed the acquisition of the Black Volta project. They insist they still own the project, calling the reports “a big lie.”
6. Amankwaa Donates GHC 100,000 Seed Fund to Ayawaso West NPP
- Appears in: Supreme, News Centa
- Summary: Samuel Owusu Amankwaa has donated GHC 100,000 as a seed fund to the Ayawaso West Wuogon NPP constituency ahead of the election of new executives.
7. North Dayi Boils Over: “Joycelyn Must Go” Protests
- Appears in: Supreme
- Summary: Residents of North Dayi are up in arms, with protests erupting under the banner “Joycelyn Must Go.” The protesters are chanting “Enough is Enough” over local grievances.
8. NHIA Cracks Down on Illegal Charges in Eastern Region
- Appears in: The Metro Lens
- Summary: The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has launched a crackdown on illegal charges being imposed on patients in the Eastern Region. The NHIA Boss is leading the effort.
9. $208m Methamphetamine Scandal
- Appears in: The Ghanaian Publisher, The Custodian
- Summary: An MP is demanding the prosecution of officials involved in a $208 million methamphetamine scandal. There are also calls for the government to name officials implicated, with accusations of a cover-up.
10. National Sanitation Exercise and Flood Recovery Clean-Up
- Appears in: Supreme, The Punch, The New Publisher, News Centa
- Summary: A nationwide clean-up exercise is underway to aid flood recovery, with various political figures and MCEs rallying residents to participate. The exercise is scheduled for the weekend, with a focus on recovery from recent floods.
Ghana News
President Mahama Backs Tighter Checks on His Own Office in Upcoming Constitution Vote
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana’s Cabinet will meet on Friday, July 10, 2026, to finalise the government’s position paper on constitutional reform.
The process is expected to recommend significant curbs on executive power, including tighter checks on the presidency itself.
The reforms stem from a year-long nationwide consultation conducted by the eight-member Constitutional Review Committee (CRC), chaired by Professor Henry Kwasi Prempeh, which submitted its final report to the President in December 2025.
The committee’s report, titled “Transforming Ghana: From Electoral Democracy to Developmental Democracy,” addressed perennial governance challenges and recommended measures to strengthen institutional checks and balances.
Speaking at the Jubilee House on Tuesday during a farewell ceremony for Switzerland’s outgoing Ambassador to Ghana, Simone Giger, President Mahama confirmed that significant progress had been made.
“I am pleased to inform you that we have made significant progress. Cabinet is scheduled to meet on Friday to finalise the Government’s Position Paper on the Constitutional Review,” President Mahama said.
He explained that once Cabinet concludes its work, the Legal Counsel and the Attorney-General would take one or two weeks to consolidate the document. It would then be handed over, together with the CRC’s report, to the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee to begin implementation.
President Mahama described the 1992 Constitution as one of the finest Ghana has ever had, noting that it had provided the foundation for the Fourth Republic — the longest-serving republic in the country’s history.
“We therefore believe that any amendments to the Constitution should strengthen it further and ensure that it remains a living document capable of serving Ghana effectively for the next three decades and beyond,” he said.
The Constitutional Review Committee’s recommendations are understood to include proposals to separate the Executive from the Legislature — preventing Members of Parliament from being appointed as ministers — as well as measures to decentralise power and enhance accountability.
The committee also recommended amendments to Chapter 25 of the Constitution to introduce a third route for amending entrenched provisions.
Ambassador Giger, who has supported the constitutional reform process throughout her four-year tenure in Ghana, welcomed the progress.
“We have always rooted for Ghana because we genuinely believe that constitutional reform is central to the country’s future development,” she said, adding, “If Ghana succeeds in adopting a truly people’s constitution, one that decentralises power, strengthens checks and balances on the Executive, and incorporates the many important reforms currently under consideration, I believe the future of this country will be exceptionally bright.”
President Mahama also used the occasion to acknowledge Switzerland’s support for Ghana’s small and medium enterprises, particularly in agro-processing and agribusiness, an area he described as one of the missing links in the country’s agricultural value chain.
The constitutional review process, initiated in 2025, follows two previous attempts that failed to build sufficient consensus for significant change.
The government has pledged to establish the Constitutional Review Implementation Committee to oversee the roll-out of the reforms.
Once the position paper is finalised and consolidated, it will be made public and subjected to the necessary constitutional and parliamentary scrutiny.
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