Highlights of the major political headlines in the first half of 2024

The month of August is here, and as Ghana inches closer to the country’s crucial December 7 elections, the world's eyes will be turned to how it all turns out.

While that pends, GhanaWeb looks back at the year in retrospect and some of the major political moments.

Typically, being an election year, there have been several political activities, happenings and issues that have gotten the nation talking.

From deaths to major announcements by political parties, to street protests, the following are some of the highlights of the big stories that graced news platforms since January 2024.

The following are in no particular order:



Alan Kyerematen Resigns from NPP:

At the start of the year, one of the biggest headlines was the announcement by Alan Kyerematen, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, that he was resigning from the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Prior to this, Alan, who, until he left the party, was one of the political giants of the NPP, had lost his bid to become the flagbearer of the ruling party.

He was beaten squarely in the race by the sitting Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; as well as the Member of Parliament for Assin Central, Kennedy Agyapong, who came in second in the race.

In his announcement to the nation, Alan stated that he had endured unfair treatment from the NPP for about 15 years now.

He also raised concerns about some hostility and brutality toward him and his supporters despite all the sacrifices that he had made for the party.

He said some serious post-primary attacks were unleashed against him and his supporters and that though he complained to the leadership of the party and was assured his complaints would be resolved, little to nothing was done to stop such attacks.

The former Ghana Ambassador to the USA also lamented that the NPP has gone through an unhealthy transition in recent years and has been hijacked by some selected party leaders of which he can no longer be a part.

NDC and NPP pick running mates

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) was the first among the two leading political parties to announce its running mate ahead of the December 7 general elections.

The National Executive Committee of the opposition party, in March 2024, endorsed Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as the running mate for the party’s flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama.

This marks Professor Opoku-Agyemang’s second consecutive term as the running mate, having previously served in the same capacity during the 2020 elections.

The former Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast has been given another shot at occupying the second highest office of the land and has expressed her commitment to support the flagbearer to wrestle power from the incumbent New Patriotic Party.

Across the political divide, after months of intense lobbying by some leading members of the governing New Patriotic Party for the running mate slot, the National Executive Council and National Council of the NPP settled on then Minister of Energy, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, as the running mate for the party's flagbearer, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Both parties have their running mates being former Ministers of Education. It remains to be seen how they will tout their achievements in the education sector as they intensify their campaigns ahead of the pending general elections.

John Kumah's Death

On Thursday, March 7, 2024, the nation was hit with the death of the former Deputy Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Ejisu in the Ashanti Region, John Kumah.

The 45-year-old politician passed away after a brief illness.

He had been on the floor of Parliament earlier that week and was scheduled to contribute to the debate on the Budget.

He, however, visited his constituency, Ejisu in the Ashanti Region for the Independence Day celebrations after which his health condition deteriorated.

An ambulance was mobilised to transport him to Accra but while on the way on Thursday [March 7, 2024], his condition became very critical and the ambulance diverted to the Suhum Government Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Ejisu By-Election

The sudden death of the Member of Parliament for Ejisu, Dr. John Kumah, necessitated the holding of a by-election by the Electoral Commission to elect a new MP as his replacement.

But unlike previous by-elections, the largest opposition party, the NDC, decided not to contest the seat.

According to the National Organizer of the NDC, Joseph Yamin, the party took the decision to stay away from the contest because it saw it as a distraction.

He said the party was focused on winning the December 7 general elections and partaking in the by-election would have affected their activities ahead of the elections.

At the end of the contest, the NPP parliamentary candidate, Kwabena Boateng, was declared the winner after securing 55.79% of the total votes cast, against his main contender Owusu Aduomi's 43.24%.

Ato Forson Acquittal

Former Deputy Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who was standing trial together with businessman, Richard Jakpa, in a 2.37 million euros ambulance case, was on July 30, 2024, acquitted and discharged by the Court of Appeal.

A panel of three, in a 2-1 majority decision, said Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe’s ruling on submission of no case to answer on March 30, 2023, for the accused to open their defense was in error.

Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo and Justice Philip Bright Mensah granted the request and acquitted and discharged them, while Justice Poku Acheampong the presiding judge dismissed their request.

NPP reshuffle in parliament

The Majority New Patriotic Party in Parliament, in February 2024, saw a seismic shift in leadership post as Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, one of the longest serving Members of Parliament under the fourth republic, was removed as the Majority Leader.

He was replaced by Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin.

The leadership changes were confirmed at a meeting led by the General Secretary of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Justin Kodua Frimpong.

This meeting, involving members of the Majority Caucus, deliberated on recommendations from the National Executive Committee (NEC) concerning the leadership reshuffle.

The party subsequently put out a press release communicating members who constitute the new leadership in Parliament.

They are:

1. Majority Leader: Alexander Afenyo-Markin, MP for Effutu

2. Deputy Majority Leader: Patricia Appiagyei, MP for Asokwa

3. Majority Chief Whip: Frank Annoh-Dompreh, MP for Nsawam/Adoagyiri

4. First Deputy Majority Chief Whip: Habib Iddrisu, MP for Tolon

5. Second Deputy Majority Chief Whip: Alex Tetteh Djornobuah, MP for Sefwi Akontombra



NAPO's Nkrumah Comment:

Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, the running mate of the New Patriotic Party, in July 2024, came under heavy criticism from a section of the public for claiming that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has outperformed all his predecessors since Ghana’s independence, including Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

His statements during his unveiling in Kumasi was seen by some as a disrespect to Dr. Nkrumah, with some politicians and members of the public calling on him to apologize and retract his comments.

The Chief of Nkroful, Nana Kwasi Kutuah together with the Nzema Manle, summoned Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh to Nkroful to render an unreserved apology to the kinsmen of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

But he issued another statement later, clarifying that he never intended to disrespect Ghana's first president.

Atta Mills Anniversary Incident:

A memorial service held in honour of the late President Prof John Evans Atta Mills, at the Asomdwee Park in Accra, on Wednesday, July 24, 2024, was marred by a disagreement.

Confusion broke after former Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Koku Anyidoho, supposedly delayed the second celebration of the day at the same location to commemorate President Mills' passing, by allegedly running beyond a specified hour.

The NDC was allegedly in charge of organizing the second event.

Two wreath-laying ceremonies were scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 24, in commemoration of the passing of the former president, who died on July 24, 2012.

Minority BoG Protest:

The Minority Caucus in Parliament earlier in July 2024 announced its intention to stage another demonstration against, Dr. Ernest Addison, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, on July 30, for allegedly engaging in wasteful spending on the new BoG Corporate Head Office building, and for his refusal to answer questions on the latest cost of the building.

The caucus also alleged that the cost of construction of the office had further escalated from its original price to over $270 million.

They also raised concerns about monetary policies, inflation and the overall management of the country’s financial system.

On October 3, 2023, a coalition comprising Minority MPs, supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC and other interest groups, organised the #OccupyBoG demonstration, demanding the resignation of Dr. Addison and his deputies over allegations of economic mismanagement and unauthorised currency printing.



Ablakwa's Exposés

The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has come out with a number of exposés this year.

Notable among them is the SSNIT hotels sale to Rock City Hotel, owned by Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, where he alleged that a whopping GH¢7.1million was paid to SEM Capital, the transaction advisor.

He also named persons behind the company awarded with the US$34.9m Ambulance Spare Parts deal.

According to the lawmaker, the Auditor-General discovered that Service Ghana Auto Group Limited was “illegally engaged and paid for 8 months before the government gave them a contract.”

In a social media post shared on Friday, February 16, 2024, Ablakwa also highlighted that Resources Access Limited, a company with alleged familial ties to Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, significantly benefited from the 87% non-competitive and overpriced cocoa road contracts exposed by the Auditor-General.

The former Deputy Minister of Education and North Tongu MP, also claimed that the family of former NPP National Chairman, Freddie Blay, had acquired a beachfront belonging to the Labadi Beach Hotel.

The MP, in January 2024, also released intercepted documents disclosing a startling figure of US$8,506,450.00 designated for the Black Stars’ AFCON campaign.

Hawa Koomson's blacklist:

The President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Dwumfour, in January 2024, imposed a media blackout on the Minister of Fisheries and Aquculture Development, who is also the Member of the Awutu Senya East, Mavis Hawa Koomson.

This was after the police failed to arrest persons who physically assaulted David Kobina, a journalist with Cape FM in the Central Region, during the vetting as parliamentary candidate.

It was believed that the suspects were supporters of the MP.

The GJA, however, in consultation with its media partners, in February, revoked the media blackout imposed on Mavis Hawa Koomson.

The decision was taken after the GJA and its media partners met on Thursday, February 15, 2024, to review the blacklist imposed on the MP.

NDC Campaign Launch:

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Saturday, July 27, 2024, launched its campaign for the 202 general elections with a resounding call on Ghanaians to vote for a change of government on December 7.

The flagbearer of the party, John Dramani Mahama, addressing a crowd of party supporters during the national campaign launch at the Jubilee Park in Tamale, said the country, under the current Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government, was headed in the wrong direction, hence the need for change.



Deputy IGP Appointment:

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recently appointed Commissioner of Police (COP) Christian Tetteh Yohuno as the new Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of Operations.

A statement signed by the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin, explained that the appointment is pursuant to the advice of the Police Council at its meeting held on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, during which COP Yohuno’s exceptional credentials and dedication to duty were acknowledged.

Ken Ofori-Atta's Exit

In February, President Akufo-Addo removed finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta from office in a cabinet reshuffle after widespread criticisms of the ex-banker's leadership during the country's worst economic crisis.

He was replaced by Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, who is also the Member of Parliament for Karaga.

Akufo-Addo Reshuffle:

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, on Wednesday, February 14, announced his first major reshuffle in government.

That was after a section of the public had called for the changes to enable the government up its performance in the wake of the economic hardships.

Approximately 13 ministers of state, including 10 cabinet ministers and two regional ministers, were affected by the reshuffle.

Cecilia Dapaah Saga:

Ghana's former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, Cecilia Abena Dapaah, was arrested by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) after the reported theft of $1m (£780,000) cash from her house.

According to the OSP, the former minister was placed under house arrest on Sunday, July 22, on “suspected corruption and corruption-related offences.”

Many Ghanaians and anti-corruption campaigners questioned how a public servant could have so much money stashed in their home amid an economic crisis in Ghana.

President Nana Akufo-Addo accepted her resignation following a public outcry.

The money was uncovered after two of her domestic staff were accused of stealing $1m in cash, along with €300,000 and several million Ghana cedis, as well as some personal items.

KA/AE