President John Mahama has issued a sharp rebuke to opposition MP Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, accusing him of fabricating claims about suspicious flights and drug trafficking in Ghana. In a thinly veiled reference to Aesop’s fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf, Mahama urged critics to avoid politicizing national security and wasting resources on baseless allegations78.
The clash stems from Fordjour’s recent allegations that two flights—AirMed Flight N823AM and Cavok Air Antonov An-12B—landed in Ghana carrying cocaine and large sums of U.S. currency. The claims, which Fordjour described as a call for accountability, were met with skepticism from the government510. Mahama dismissed the accusations as “games of smoke and mirrors,” emphasizing that Ghana’s security agencies are already stretched thin addressing genuine threats like the conflict in Bawku and rising crime7.
The Allegations and Backlash
Fordjour, a member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Minority Caucus, insisted his role was to demand transparency, not to be interrogated. “The information I gave is for [the government] to answer, not for me to be questioned,” he stated, vowing that the Minority would resist any intimidation tactics10. However, Presidential Staffer Nana Yaa Jantuah countered that Mahama, as commander-in-chief, had already conducted preliminary investigations and found no merit to the claims. She likened Fordjour’s actions to political theatrics, asserting, “President Mahama is not a kid; he handles security matters appropriately”5.
The “Crying Wolf” Metaphor
Mahama’s invocation of the “crying wolf” narrative underscores a broader frustration with opposition figures raising unverified alarms. The fable warns that repeated false claims erode credibility—a point Mahama emphasized by stressing Ghana’s limited capacity to chase “unsubstantiated rumours”78. Critics argue the metaphor risks dismissing legitimate concerns, but Mahama’s allies insist the focus should remain on actionable intelligence.
Political Implications
The spat highlights deepening partisan divides ahead of the 2024 elections. While the NPP frames Fordjour’s actions as whistleblowing, the governing NDC dismisses it as a ploy to undermine Mahama’s administration510. The president’s remarks also reflect a strategic effort to position himself as a steady leader amid crises, contrasting with what his camp portrays as the NPP’s destabilizing tactics7.
What’s Next?
With security agencies instructed to investigate Fordjour’s claims, the outcome could sway public perception. If proven false, the episode may reinforce Mahama’s narrative of opposition recklessness. Conversely, if evidence emerges, it could validate Fordjour’s demands for accountability. For now, the debate epitomizes Ghana’s fraught political landscape, where trust in institutions and leaders hangs in the balance.
About the author
Adenta Building Collapse Linked to Illegal Construction and Ignored Stop-Work Orders
A preliminary investigation into the collapse of a three-storey building at Adenta New Site in the Greater Accra Region has revealed that the project was carried out without the required regulatory approvals and in defiance of official stop-work directives issued by local authorities. The findings were released by a Joint Technical Investigative Committee comprising structural engineering experts and representatives from the Ghana Institution of Engineering (GhIE), the Institution of Engineering and Technology, Ghana (IET-Gh), and the Architecture Registration Council (ARC). According to the committee, the incident highlights serious violations of Ghana’s building regulations and raises concerns about compliance and enforcement within the construction sector. The building collapsed on June 3, 2026, trapping five occupants beneath the debris. The victims included three adults and two children. Rescue teams successfully pulled four individuals from the rubble alive and transported them to the […]
Kpandai Residents Encouraged to Promote Unity and Peace for Sustainable Development
Residents of Kpandai in the Northern Region have been encouraged to put aside tribal, linguistic and political differences and work collectively toward the development of their communities. The call was made by the Parish Priest of St. Kizito Parish, Rev. Fr. Moses Nseaminya, during the launch of the St. Kizito Parish Feast, Partnership and Cultural Day Celebration. The event seeks to promote peace, social cohesion and stronger relationships among the various ethnic groups living within the district. Speaking during the launch, Rev. Fr. Nseaminya emphasized that diversity should be viewed as a strength that can drive development rather than a source of conflict and division. He noted that although residents come from different cultural backgrounds and hold varying political views, they all share a common goal of improving the welfare and future of Kpandai. According to the parish priest, meaningful […]
ECG Explains Power Outages in Greater Accra and Western Regions Following Technical Faults
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has attributed ongoing power interruptions in parts of the Greater Accra and Western regions to separate technical faults affecting its distribution network. In a statement issued on Monday, June 8, 2026, the power distributor said a technical fault at the Nsawam Primary Station has disrupted electricity supply to several communities within the Accra West operational area. The affected communities include Hebron, Medie, Samsam, Satellite, Koleman and nearby areas, where residents have been experiencing intermittent power outages. According to ECG, engineering teams have been deployed to the station and are actively working to identify and rectify the fault to restore stable electricity supply as quickly as possible. Meanwhile, in the Western Region, a broken high-tension (HT) electricity pole at Ankasa has caused a separate power disruption, affecting multiple towns and communities across the area. Communities […]
Burkina Faso forme 8 000 jeunes VDP agricoles pour renforcer l’autosuffisance alimentaire
La cérémonie officielle de sortie de la 3e cohorte des Volontaires pour la Défense de la Patrie (VDP) agricoles et de fin de formation de 8 000 jeunes en entrepreneuriat agricole s’est tenue le 5 juin 2026 à l’École nationale de formation agricole (ENAFA) de Matourkou. L’initiative s’inscrit dans le cadre de l’Initiative présidentielle pour l’agriculture et l’autosuffisance alimentaire, portée par les autorités burkinabè. Cette formation vise à renforcer les capacités des jeunes dans le secteur agricole tout en les impliquant dans une dynamique de production locale et de souveraineté alimentaire. Une jeunesse formée entre agriculture, civisme et engagement citoyen Le directeur exécutif du Bureau national des grands projets du Burkina Faso, Hamidou Sawadogo, a salué l’engagement des bénéficiaires. Selon lui, le programme traduit la volonté des autorités de transformer durablement le secteur agricole afin de réduire la dépendance alimentaire […]
Clément Zongo dédicace trois ouvrages littéraires à Ouagadougou
Le journaliste-chroniqueur burkinabè Clément Zongo a procédé, le 6 juin 2026 à Ouagadougou, à la dédicace de trois ouvrages intitulés La fille aux cheveux châtains, Les Chroniques de Clément Zongo et Juste un coup de plume. La cérémonie, organisée dans la grande salle du Centre national des arts du spectacle et de l’audiovisuel (CENASA), a réuni des acteurs du monde culturel, des professionnels des médias ainsi que de nombreux passionnés de littérature. De son vrai nom Alexis Yaméogo, Clément Zongo est titulaire d’une maîtrise en sciences et techniques de l’information et de la communication. Conseiller des affaires culturelles, il s’est distingué au fil des années grâce à plusieurs récompenses obtenues dans le domaine littéraire. Un roman consacré à la lutte contre les préjugés liés à l’albinisme Parmi les œuvres présentées figure La fille aux cheveux châtains, un roman qui aborde […]
Three Rescued as Rescue Teams Search for Trapped Victims After North Industrial Area Building Collapse
Rescue teams are continuing efforts to locate and extract individuals believed to be trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building in Accra’s North Industrial Area following a structural failure that has left several people injured. According to Alex King Nartey of the Ghana National Fire Service's communications team, three people have so far been rescued from the scene and are currently receiving medical treatment. However, emergency responders fear that at least three more individuals may still be trapped under the debris. Speaking at the site, Mr. Nartey explained that rescue operations have been slowed by the absence of earth-moving equipment needed to remove large sections of collapsed concrete and debris safely. He disclosed that the Fire Service has requested assistance from the military, while the Mayor of Accra has also facilitated the deployment of heavy machinery to support the […]
Related
Equatorial Guinea President’s Nephew Jailed for Embezzlement
A nephew of Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Baltasar Ebang Engonga, has been sentenced to eight years in prison for embezzlement, marking a dramatic fall from grace for the once-powerful official. Engonga, nicknamed “Bello” for his good looks, was the former head of the National Financial Investigation Agency. A court ruled that he had diverted public funds for personal use, alongside five other officials who allegedly misappropriated money meant for travel allowances ranging from $9,000 to $220,000. His case drew international attention last year when sex tapes allegedly involving him were leaked online. The scandal erupted while he was in detention on charges of funneling millions into secret offshore accounts in the Cayman Islands. Many of the leaked videos appeared to show him with women connected to the country’s political elite, further fuelling controversy. The videos’ authenticity was never […]
Ilorin Islamic Cleric Sentenced to Death for Ritual Student Murder
The Kwara State High Court in Ilorin has sentenced Islamic cleric Abdulrahman Mohad (also known as Mohammed A. Bello) to death by hanging for the ritual murder of Hafsoh Lawal Yetunde, a final-year student at the Kwara State College of Education. The victim, aged 24, disappeared after answering a phone call during a naming ceremony on February 10, 2025, and was later found dead—having been killed and dismembered for ritual purposes. Investigators traced the last call on her phone to Mohad, who confessed to belonging to an occult group and carrying out the crime. The presiding judge, Justice Hannah Ajayi, condemned the act as an extreme case of human wickedness and rejected Mohad’s defense claims as fabricated. Four co-defendants were acquitted due to insufficient evidence linking them to the offense. This ruling represents a rare execution-level conviction in Nigeria, underscoring […]
La beauté africaine célébrée à Lomé
La capitale togolaise s’apprête à vibrer au rythme de la culture, de l’élégance et de l’intelligence féminines africaines. Le 9 août, Lomé accueillera la première édition du concours de beauté « Reine Dakar », une initiative qui vise à promouvoir bien plus que la beauté physique. Organisé par le Business Center Dakar en partenariat avec le Ministère de l’Administration territoriale et le Ministère du Développement à la Base, de l’Artisanat, de la Jeunesse et de l’Emploi des Jeunes, l’événement mettra à l’honneur 14 jeunes candidates de différentes nationalités africaines. Une plateforme pour valoriser le potentiel féminin Pour Afanyekossou Koffi, président du comité d’organisation, le concours « Reine Dakar » doit être un cadre de valorisation du potentiel intellectuel et culturel des jeunes filles africaines. « Ce concours est un moyen de promouvoir la culture et le potentiel des jeunes filles […]
Gaufre
Quelques jours avant l’arrivée d’une mission d’évaluation du Fonds monétaire international (FMI) au Togo, le Front « Ne touchez pas à ma Constitution » (Front CMC), conduit par l’opposant Nathaniel Olympio, a appelé à plus de rigueur et de transparence dans le cadre de cet audit. Dans un communiqué publié jeudi, la coalition politique salue l’initiative d’un audit approfondi de la gouvernance nationale, tout en formulant une série de recommandations adressées au FMI. Le Front insiste sur la nécessité d’un audit crédible, rigoureux et indépendant, en phase avec les aspirations légitimes du peuple togolais. Il recommande au FMI de veiller à l’indépendance des experts mandatés, en faisant appel à des firms internationales et à des experts extérieurs capables de résister à toute pression politique interne. Le groupe appelle également le FMI à associer activement la société civile, les partis politiques, […]
Les entrepreneurs du BTP dénoncent des conditions de travail insoutenables
Le secteur de la construction et des travaux publics, longtemps considéré comme un pilier de la politique nationale d’aménagement du territoire, traverse une période critique. Réunis mardi à Lomé, les membres de la Grande Nationale des Entrepreneurs du Bâtiment et des Travaux Publics (GNEBTP) ont exprimé leurs inquiétudes croissantes face à une série de difficultés qui menacent la survie même du secteur local. Au cœur des doléances : l’envahissement du marché par des opérateurs étrangers, souvent mieux financés, mieux structurés et bénéficiant d’un accès privilégié aux marchés publics. « Nous sommes marginalisés sur notre propre sol. Trop de grands projets échappent aux entreprises togolaises, qui peinent à survivre malgré leur expertise », a dénoncé Cyrille Yawo Agbessi Tsogbé, président de la GNEBTP. Les entrepreneurs locaux alertent sur un accès inéquitable aux appels d’offres, la complexité des procédures administratives et des […]
World Bank Sounds Alarm: Global Gas Flaring Hits 17-Year High in 2024
2024 Gas Flaring Crisis: Key Findings Global flaring volume: ▲ 3 bcm to 151 bcm (highest since 2007) Flaring intensity: Unchanged for 15+ years (per barrel of oil produced) Top 9 flaring nations: Account for 75% of flares but <50% of oil output CO2e emissions: 389 million tonnes (incl. unburnt methane) ⚠️ Why This Matters ✔ Wasted energy: Flared gas could power millions in energy-poor regions✔ Climate impact: Methane from flares is 80x worse than CO₂ short-term✔ 2030 deadline: Zero Routine Flaring (ZRF) initiative is off-track 🌐 Regional Flaring Hotspots CountryTrendKey IssueRussia▲ FlaringAging infrastructureIraq▲ FlaringWeak regulationNigeria▼ Flaring (ZRF)Progress but still highUSA▲ Flaring (Permian)Shale boom side-effect 💡 World Bank’s Solutions 1️⃣ Policy Reform: Enforce stricter flaring bans & methane caps2️⃣ Tech Investment: Satellite monitoring (NOAA) + flare-capture systems3️⃣ Funding: GFMR grants for flare-to-power projects4️⃣ Corporate Accountability: Penalties for routine flaring 🗣️ Expert Warning *“Flaring is climate arson. Every year we delay, the 2030 zero-flaring goal slips further away.”*— Global Flaring and Methane Reduction (GFMR) Partnership 📌 Success Stories ✅ Norway: <1% flaring via strict taxes & gas […]