The Chief Justice (CJ) His Lordship Paul Baffoe Bonnie, has inaugurated the long-awaited Okere District Court in Adukrom in the Eastern Region.

Addressing the gathering at a brief ceremony, His Lordship Paul Baffoe Bonnie stated that district courts are the foundation of the Ghanaian justice system, resolving disputes that affect lives because they are closer to people.

“When justice is accessible at the district level, public confidence in the rule of law is strengthened, and this court will ensure that residents of Okere can now access judicial services within their own district,” he added.

Chief Justice then charged the Magistrate who will work in Okere to administer justice with integrity, patience, and courage because anyone who comes to court hopes to return home with justice.

He was joined by the Eastern Regional Minister Rita Awatey, former Member of Parliament and former Local Government Minister Dan Kwaku Botwe, District Chief Executive (DCE) of Okere, Eric Ayettey, and Member of Parliament for the area Daniel Nana Addo Kenneth joined the commissioning ceremony.

Eastern Regional Minister, Rita Akosua Adjei Awatey, extended her appreciation to the Chief Justice and the Judiciary for upholding the vision to decentralize the justice system in the country, describing it as a step in the right direction.

She assured His Lordship Baffoe Bonnie of continued support of the Eastern Regional Coordinating Council (ERCC) and government in the discharge of their mandate to enable them deliver equal justice to all calibres of persons across the region.

On his part, the DCE, Eric Williams Ayettey, noted that the moment marks a significant milestone in their collective effort to strengthen the justice delivery and deepen the rule of law within the district.

He indicated that access to justice remains the cornerstone of democratic governance and sustainable development.

Mr. Ayettey added that for many years, residents of the community had to travel long distances to seek redress in court, often at a cost and inconvenience, but with the commissioning of this court, those stresses will now be a thing of the past.

The Adukromhene, who doubles as  Nifahene of Akuapem Traditional Council, Ahunuabobrim Osuodomgya Otutu Ababio V, said this new building symbolizes the rule of law and the Judiciary’s commitment to providing an enabling environment for justice to thrive, and that the court must be seen as a constitutional fortress of refuge.

On behalf of Adukromman, he requested the inclusion of an alternative dispute resolution in this house for the public and the Bar to utilize due to its potential for faster, cheaper, and less administrative resolutions.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

As part of its corporate social responsibility to give back to society, the management of Sinapi Aba Trust has successfully graduated 290 apprentices it sponsored into an artisanal program in Koforidua.

The program aims to create job opportunities for young people and help curb unemployment, which remains a major concern for the country.

The 290 youth who graduated were drawn from 33 constituencies across the Eastern Region.

Meanwhile, the Ghanaian government has also targeted training 100,000 youth through its National Apprenticeship Programme in 2026.

Speaking to journalists, Program Manager in charge of International and Partner Relations at Sinapi Aba Trust, Araba Mosner Ansong, said that since inception of the Youth Apprenticeship Programme in 2003 to 2026, they have trained more than 5,500 youth between ages of 15 and 25 and have helped change their lives.

“We give them start-up capital after graduation with no interest to enable them to establish their business to avoid wasting what they have learned,” she hinted.

Mrs. Ansong further said that if all private institutions in the country offer support such as this to empower young men and women, high unemployment rate would be reduced drastically, and the central government would be relieved.

Member of Parliament for New Juaben South Constituency, Michael Okyere Baafi, through his representative at the program, John Arthur, commended management of Sinapi Aba Trust for such an important initiative, adding that he is also embarking on similar program for his youth.

“Michael Baafi doesn’t want to see any of the graduates staying at home because they don’t have a shop to commence work.

“The New Juaben South MP said I should tell them to use their homes to start the work for now and take advantage of the new media to advertise their items, and they will make a lot of income to better themselves,” mentioned John Arthur.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Willingway Recovery and Rehabilitation Center in Kumasi, Lydia Abena Manu Adofo, together with her team, on Saturday, February 14, 2026, took to the principal streets of Koforidua, the Eastern Regional capital, to campaign against illicit drug abuse among the youth.

She was accompanied by legendary musician Akosua Agyapong, Evangelist Suro Nyame, her spouse, and other supporters.

The public advocacy walk against hard drugs commenced at Effiduase Prisons Park in the New Juaben North Municipality and ended at the forecourt of All Nations University in the New Juaben South Municipality.

The aim of the sensitization exercise was to educate those engaged in drug abuse about its health hazards, urging them to desist from living longer and contribute meaningfully to national development.

Speaking to journalists, Abena Manu Adofo said that the organization has established a new facility at Suhyen, which will soon be commissioned to admit drug addicts for free treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration into society.

Mrs. Manu Adofo noted that she started this project in 2018 with legendary musician Lord Kenya, now a man of God, through which they have positively impacted the lives of many young people in the ghettos.

On his part, Evangelist Suro Nyame described drugs as ‘the most dangerous thing in the world’ because they are sending many young people to their early graves, a situation he described as very worrying.

He admonished parents to pay closer attention to the welfare of their children by monitoring their daily movements to ensure they are not influenced by bad friends who may introduce them to substance abuse and destroy their future.

Furthermore, the Eastern Regional Commander for Narcotics Control, Felomina Obenewaa Saka, clarified that their outfit has not legalized the use of cannabis.

“We don’t want people to abuse it when being legalized, so we are waiting for the passage of the law that will control both the export and import of cannabis and its usage as it comes into the country,” she mentioned.

Mrs. Obenewaa Saka expressed confidence that, hopefully, by the end of May this year, they will finalize everything to commence its implementation, since the Parliament of Ghana has already gone through the new cannabis law.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) Ghana Foundation, in partnership with CalBank, donated blood to support the Eastern Regional Hospital blood bank.

On every Valentine’s Day, MTN Ghana Foundation takes advantage of the season to donate blood to the blood banks of all the Regional Hospitals across the country to strengthen the relationship between the foundation and the hospitals.

Speaking to journalists, Ransford Gyan, the Area Sales Manager at MTN Ghana Foundation in charge of Eastern, Volta, and Oti regions, respectfully said blood contributes greatly to human development because without blood, no human being can survive.

Since the inception of the program in 2011, the foundation has been able to donate more than 26,000 units of blood to Ghanaian blood banks and has targeted donating 7,000 units nationwide this year [2026] so that the health sector can get enough blood to save the lives of accident victims when facilities run out of blood.

Mr. Gyan commended the management and students of Manya Krobo Senior High School for taking part in the exercise to enable the Eastern Regional Hospital blood bank to get more blood to save lives.

Some students who donated blood to support the program said they have heard that sometimes, when a pregnant woman delivers, facilities run out of blood, making it difficult to get blood to save her life due to blood shortage at the health facility, hence the need to donate blood.

Others said this was their first time donating blood and it was a good experience, adding that initially they thought it was something scary.

Felomina Quayeson, the Eastern Regional blood donor organizer, stated that they use 40 units of blood every day at the Eastern Regional Hospital.

“We mostly get our blood from the Senior High Schools, and when they went for the Christmas break, we ran out of blood, which affected our operations,” she revealed.

Mrs. Quayeson thanked MTN Ghana Foundation for organizing such a program at Manya Krobo Senior High School, where the entire management joined and donated blood, stating that it will help them in many ways attend to emergency cases and save more lives.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Deputy National Coordinator for the National Apprenticeship Programme, Fohad Agbenyadzi, has hinted that the Government will train 100,000 Ghanaian youth in 2026 under the National Apprenticeship Programme to curb unemployment in the country.

According to him, in 2025, the target of the government was to enrol 10,000 young people into the programme, but it realized that many youth do not have any handiwork, thus expanding the initiative to cover more of them to enable them to acquire skills, become self-reliant, and improve their future.

Mr Agbenyadzi further stated that the focus of successive governments of Ghana has been to give allowances to teachers and nursing trainees while neglecting those who did not have the opportunity to go to school.

He described it as worrying, indicating that every Ghanaian youth deserves an equal share of the national cake because they all contribute to the development of the country.

He commended President John Dramani Mahama for thinking about the welfare of unemployed young people and increasing the initial number from 10,000 to 100,000 so that more of them could be enrolled into the programme to improve their standard of living.

He made this assertion at Akuapem North Municipal Assembly on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, when presenting the first batch of learning kits to beneficiaries.

The items include tools for hairdressing, carpentry, masonry, and dressmaking.

The Municipal Chief Executive of the Municipality, John Evans Kumordzi, thanked the government for the items received and cautioned that any madam or master who fails to use them to train apprentices for the intended purpose would be dealt with.

For his part, Mamfehene, Nana Ansah Sesraku, said he wishes the government would continue such an initiative every year so that the youth in apprenticeship programmes will receive tools to learn a trade and shape their future.

He advised the beneficiaries to make good use of the items and pay attention to what their madams and masters teach them, as that is the only way they can become good professionals and provide quality service to the country.

By// Kontihen Kofi Obo

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

Former Eastern Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Bismark Tawiah Boateng, has officially declared his intention to contest the chairmanship position in the region.

The party has scheduled November 14, 2026, to elect its regional executives across the country’s 276 constituencies.

‘Otafirigya’, as he is affectionately called in political circles, is entering the upcoming regional executives’ election with the motto “Operation Come Back in 2026.”

“I will form a formidable team and instill discipline in the party so that together we can work hard to retain the party in power in 2028 and form a government in 2029 if I become the next chairman,” he assured.

According to him, when a house chair becomes vacant, everybody fights for it, which is why he has shown interest in contesting the slot.

“In the 2024 general elections, I supported the regional officers to work hard to grab more Parliamentary seats for the NDC in the region, and I believe that if the delegates give me the mantle to lead them into the 2028 elections our seats would be increased,” he noted.

Mr. Boateng added that if he becomes Chairman and the NDC secures victory in 2028, he would ensure that every party member receives what is due to them, as their relentless efforts brought the party to power.

He further said that peace and unity play a crucial role in the development of every political party. He explained that during his tenure as the NDC’s Eastern Regional Chairman, he prioritized unity, which helped the party succeed.

He revealed that during his reign, he allowed every executive member to operate freely without interference, while also establishing committees such as the disciplinary committee and the conflict resolution committee to steer the party’s affairs.

However, he lamented that these efforts have since been abandoned under the current executives.

“Meanwhile, these are the main machineries that help the party to stand firm in its decision-making to correct the wrongs, and I am returning to make them work again to enable the party to regain its strength in the region,” he stated

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Okuapeman School held its 15th Founder’s Day Memorial Lecture on Sunday, February 8, 2026, under the theme “Upholding Opoku Akyeampong’s Legacy of Excellence: Embracing Academic Integrity for a Brighter Future.”

The lecture aimed to appreciate the efforts of Barrister Kwaku Opoku Akyeampong, who used his own resources to establish Okuapeman Senior High School in the Akuapem North Municipal Assembly in the Eastern Region on February 8, 1957.

His vision enhanced education in the community, and the school has since trained many prominent individuals in the country.

The 2026 Okuapeman School Founder’s Day Memorial Lecture was spearheaded by the Adehye 1996 year group, with support from the Adehye 1976, 1986, 2006, and 2016 year groups.

Speaking at the program, the Member of Parliament for the constituency, Sammy Awuku, commended the late Opoku Akyeampong for his foresight in establishing a prestigious institution in Akropong to shape the lives of many.

“As a student, if you want to go far and become a good product for the country then you must embrace integrity, honesty, dedication, discipline, and determination because these are the paths that can open doors for you to be successful in life,” he urged the students. 

Mr. Awuku noted that Barrister Opoku Akyeampong’s legacy reminds us not only to talk about values but to embody them. He indicated that this enabled Akyeampong to establish Okuapeman School, which has contributed immensely to Ghana’s educational system.

The Headmaster of the school, Rev. Richard Koranteng Afari, on his part, bemoaned the encroachment on the school’s lands, describing it as very worrying.

“Barrister Kwaku Opoku Akyeampong, at a young age, borrowed money to purchase these lands to build Okuapeman School, but today some selfish people are selling them for their personal gains because they don’t know how the founder of the school struggled before acquiring those lands.”

Rev. Koranteng Afari added that Okuapeman School is the only second-cycle institution in Ghana that admits blind students and has also employed blind teachers to teach them.

He stated that this is the biggest legacy Barrister Akyeampong has left behind for the country, and it must be protected.

He used the occasion to call on the Government, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Teeth Yuhonu, and the Akuapem North MCE, John Evans Kumordzi, to come to their aid by building a fence wall around the school to protect the remaining lands.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

On Saturday, February 7, 2026, former President Akufo-Addo, Okyenhemaa Nana Adutwumwaa Dokua, the Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Antoinette Adwoa Tsiboe-Darko, and the Member of Parliament for the Abuakwa South Constituency, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, joined the Adadientemhene, Berima Ofori Asante, to unveil a statue of Dr. J. B. Danquah and also commission the Osagyefuo Amotia Ofori Panin Street in Adadientem.

The move by Berima Ofori Asante was to appreciate the leadership style of Osagyefuo Amotia Ofori Panin for transforming Okyeman, as well as to recognise the immense efforts made by the late Dr. J. B. Danquah to change the country’s fortunes.

Speaking at the programme, former President Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo said that Ghana is riding on the success of the late Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah’s painful death, which occurred at the Nsawam Condemned Prison, describing it as a poignant reminder.

He said some people spoke ill of him when he was alive, but today every Ghanaian has benefited from his legacy because he championed the democracy the country is practising.

Akufo-Addo further mentioned that the spirit of Dr. Boakye Danquah guided him during his tenure as President of the Republic.

He then commended the Adadientemhene, Berima Ofori Asante, for naming the Adadientem roundabout and mounting a monument to honour the good works of the late Dr. Joseph Kyeretwie Danquah, who served with integrity and dignity, contributing significantly to the country’s development.

On his part, the Adadientemhene, Berima Ofori Asante, said that Dr. J. B. Danquah hails from Adadientem and also had his basic education in the community; therefore, they would ensure that his name and legacy remain alive for the world to know that they cherish and honour him.

“We will establish J.B. Danquah’s Education Fund to support less privileged students from the Adadientem community to cushion their education to the tertiary level, and GH¢ 500K has been allocated for its commencement, and anybody who wants to help the project can do so,” he stated.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Court of Appeal Judge, His Lordship Berima Yaw Oppong Kodie, has debunked allegations levelled against the Akyem people, stating that when it comes to litigation, no other tribe surpasses them.

He explained that Akyems are very disciplined and would never allow anyone to go scot-free if they attempt to cheat them, indicating that they fight through the law.

The Court of Appeal Judge, who doubles as the Okyeman Mawerehene, further stated that if an Akyem goes to court to seek justice over what they believe is cheating and insists on justice prevailing, they are often tagged as litigants, which he described as uncalled for.

Berima Oppong Kodie was speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the 61st Anniversary Commemoration of the passing of Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah, held at the Kibi Presbyterian College of Education in the Eastern Region.

The event was spearheaded by Okatakyie Boakye Danquah Ababio, the Okyeman Twafohene.

His Lordship Berima Yaw Oppong Kodie used the occasion to advise both Senior High School and tertiary students who participated in the J. B. Danquah Inter-SHS Quiz and Inter-Tertiary Institutions Debate to pursue professional courses such as law, to the best of their knowledge and ability, stressing that law remains one of the most important instruments for the development of humanity.

The programme was themed: “Celebrating the Intellectual Legacy of Dr. J. B. Danquah: Inspiring Scholarship, Patriotism and Constitutional Thought in a New Generation.”

Dr. Antoinette Adwoa Tsiboe-Darko, Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, stated that Dr. J. B. Danquah played a major role in the attainment of Ghanaian democracy, adding that many young people are unaware of his contributions.

She noted that involving students in the programme would help them spread the good works of the late Boakye Danquah to their colleagues and appreciate his meaningful contribution to Ghana’s development and success.

On her part, the Okyenhemaa, Nana Adutwumwaa Dokua, who chaired the programme, commended Okatakyie Boakye Danquah for initiating such an event, saying it places the image and legacy of Dr. Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah before Ghanaians to appreciate that he served the country with a good heart.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.

The Eastern Regional Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Hackman Kabore, has expressed his profound appreciation to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for electing former Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as their candidate for the 2028 elections.

He described Dr. Bawumia as the NDC’s “former wife,” whose leadership lacks credibility and who suffered a heavy defeat in the 2024 elections.

In the just-ended NPP Presidential Primaries held on Saturday, January 31, 2026, across the country, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia secured 56% of the votes, cementing his position to lead and represent the party in the 2028 elections.

“We will continue to beat him because the NPP has made the 2028 election easier for the NDC as compared to the 2024 election.

“The NPP’s Presidential Candidate-elect was the only person who performed abysmally in 2024 in the history of Ghanaian elections and history will repeat itself in 2028.”

Mr. Kabore further said President John Dramani Mahama is delivering the campaign promises he made to Ghanaians in 2024, so what is Dr. Bawumia coming to campaign about in 2028?

“We in NDC are jubilating more than the NPP delegates who voted for Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia because their decision will help them remain in opposition for years,” he stated.

According to him, the National Democratic Congress government remains committed to championing infrastructure projects to correct the mess created by the NPP during its eight years in power.

Mr. Kabore mentioned that they are working and will continue to work tirelessly to ensure that Ghana returns to its development path and provides economic freedom to the citizenry to enhance their standard of living.

The Eastern Regional NDC Organizer also said none of the NPP’s five presidential aspirants poses a threat to them because he believes the NDC has performed better. He added that before their four-year tenure in office ends, it will be difficult for the NPP to convince Ghanaians to vote them back into power.

Mr. Kabore hinted that they have targeted over 47% of the presidential vote in the Eastern Region and are also aiming to capture most of the NPP parliamentary seats. He concluded that if this happens, their party will render the NPP defunct.

By// Kontihen Kofi Oboh.

Source// Obohnewsonline.com.