Articles by Jonathan Ofori

ORAL briefings: A-G fast becoming an embarrassment to his office by prejudging cases – Kwame Adofo

A private legal practitioner has sharply criticized the Attorney-General, Dr Dominic Ayine for publicly commenting on allegations against the former government appointees, saying such statements risk prejudicing legal proceedings. Adofo’s comments come after the Attorney General, Dr Dominic Ayine, made public remarks linking Abdul-Wahab Hanan Aludiba, former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO), to alleged corruption issues during a government press engagement. Kwame Adofo, speaking on The Forum on Asaase Radio on Saturday (25 October) said Attorney-Generals traditionally act on reasonable suspicion or belief of wrongdoing and leave determinations of guilt to the courts. “It’s strange. If you file charges against individuals that you believe or suspect have committed an offense, you don’t hold a press conference and muddy the person up before going to court,” Adofo said. “Whether or not these people have committed an offense is the matter for the court. He can only act on reasonable belief or reasonable suspicion.” Adofo described statements made by the Attorney-General during a recent press briefing on the alleged misappropriation by the former NAFCO CEO as “definitive and conclusive,” suggesting that the official had effectively judged and convicted the individual publicly. The lawyer also dismissed speculation that the Attorney-General might be acting under political pressure “That is something you don’t do as an Attorney-General. The matter of whether somebody is guilty or not guilty is for the courts. Until the person has been tried and convicted, you cannot conclusively state that they have looted.” “An Attorney-General is supposed to be a professional and shouldn’t act based on pressure. You need time to reflect and make a judgment which is informed,” Adofo said. Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra). Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale). Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn. X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073 Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3 LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5 Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3. YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra. Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652. #AsaaseRadio #TheVoiceofOurLand

23 hours ago

Technology

Ras Mubarak: short hair rules won’t build disciplined citizens or stop double-salary takers

Former National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Kumbungu, Ras Mubarak, has criticised the Education Minister’s directive banning long hair and elaborate hairstyles in schools, arguing that such policies miss the essence of shaping responsible citizens. In a social media post on Sunday (26 October) Mubarak questioned the logic behind the directive, saying grooming restrictions have little to do with addressing corruption or poor values among Ghana’s youth. “How does keeping kids’ hair short stop them from growing to be double-salary takers or corrupt politicians?” he asked. “Schools should be focusing on civics, patriotism, and community service — that’s a more effective way to shape students’ values and behaviours.” The Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu’s statement on Saturday empowered the Ghana Education Service (GES) and headmasters to strictly enforce grooming standards, insisting that “schools exist to mould character, not host beauty contests.” Mubarak, however, said the real problem lay in the lack of accountability and moral leadership within the public service. “Are we all not sickened by the nauseating corruption, lack of accountability and the complete breakdown of patriotism?” he said. He called on the Ministry of Education to prioritise what he described as “substantive reforms” — including promoting science and mathematics through competitions and awards, improving teacher welfare, ensuring proper supervision in rural schools, and enhancing civics education. “That’s what moulds kids into responsible and successful adults — substance over perfunctory gestures in our educational system,” Mubarak said.

1 days ago

Technology

“We’ll not tolerate it today or tomorrow” – Education Minister warns over student hairstyles

Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has directed the Ghana Education Service (GES) and heads of second-cycle institutions to enforce strict grooming and discipline standards in schools, warning that long hair and elaborate hairstyles will not be tolerated. Speaking at the 75th Anniversary celebration of Mawuli School in the Volta Region, Iddrisu said schools are institutions meant to “mould character, not host beauty contests.” His comments followed public debates on social media over student hairstyles and school discipline. “There is an ongoing debate on social media about haircuts and the length of hair in secondary schools. We will not tolerate it today, we will not tolerate it tomorrow,” Iddrisu said. “If we give in to hair today, tomorrow it will be shoes, and the next day, the way they dress. The school environment is not for beauty contests and will not tolerate that as an institution.” The minister said headmasters and the GES have full authority to regulate student appearance and behaviour on campus. He, however, urged teachers to apply rules with fairness and professionalism. “We will not tolerate indiscipline in our schools, including cases where teachers abuse learners,” he cautioned. “Any teacher found taking advantage of a student will face strict sanctions.” Iddrisu, who recently took office as Education Minister, has made school discipline and administrative accountability a top priority, pledging reforms to improve student conduct and strengthen leadership in Ghana’s education system. Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra). Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale). Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn. X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073 Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3 LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5 Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3. YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra. Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652. #AsaaseRadio #TheVoiceofOurLand

1 days ago

Technology

Fordjour: Ghana cannot afford three months without a Defence Minister

New Patriotic Party (NPP) lawmaker has criticised President John Mahama for failing to appoint a substantive Defence Minister nearly three months after the death of Dr. Omane Boamah in a helicopter crash, describing the delay as “a dangerous gamble” amid worsening security concerns. John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South and a member of the Minority Caucus, said in a post on X that the absence of a Defence Minister was “a reckless potential compromise of our territorial integrity,” citing recent insecurity in Gbenyiri, Sampa, Bawku and illegal mining zones. “No serious country will run three months without a substantive Defence Minister,” Fordjour wrote. “We demand the immediate appointment of a substantive Minister for Defence to lead the spirited collective action to retool the Ghana Armed Forces and sustain the territorial integrity of our beloved country.” The lawmaker referenced reports of over 23,000 Ghanaians fleeing to neighbouring countries due to security challenges, warning that the government’s inaction could undermine national stability. Dr. Omane Boamah, who served as Minister for Defence, died in a helicopter crash in July, leaving the portfolio vacant. The presidency has not commented on the reasons for the delay in appointing a replacement. Ghana’s northern border regions have seen sporadic clashes and growing fears of extremist infiltration from the Sahel, prompting calls for stronger military coordination and border surveillance. Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra). Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale). Listen online: asaaseradio.com, Sound Garden and TuneIn. X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073 Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3 LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5 Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3. YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra. Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652. #AsaaseRadio #TheVoiceofOurLand

1 days ago