
Dr Frank Amoakohene, Ashanti Regional Minister, has ordered an immediate stop to all unauthorized land clearing activities around Lake Bosomtwe. He has also directed the Environmental Protection Authority EPA to investigate these illegal activities and take steps to restore affected areas. This directive comes after reports of vegetation destruction by private developers and encroachers, which poses an environmental threat to West Africa’s only natural lake. Lake Bosomtwe, located in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region, is experiencing increased ecological pressure as encroachers reportedly clear vegetation along its shoreline. This situation has raised concerns among authorities, traditional leaders, and residents regarding the lake’s ecological sustainability. Large sections of protective vegetation have been cleared, leading to erosion, habitat loss, and environmental degradation. Eyewitnesses have reported ongoing excavation activities with heavy machinery. The EPA has launched a probe into the destruction of this critical bio-conservation zone. Traditional leaders, including Nana Kwaku Bio, Dikro of Abaase, have pledged to enforce EPA directives and stop the use of excavators. Residents are concerned that continued degradation could impact fishing, tourism, and the environmental balance of the area. Lake Bosomtwe, a national heritage site formed by a meteorite impact, is globally recognized for its ecological and cultural significance. Environmental advocates are
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Must ReadProfessor Benedict Calys-Tagoe, Head of the Department of Community Health at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, has revealed that Ghana records approximately 28,000 new cancer cases each year, resulting in nearly 18,000 deaths. He expressed concern over the increasing number of cases, particularly among young people, noting that cancers previously associated with the elderly are now being diagnosed in individuals as young as 21. Professor Calys-Tagoe highlighted the severity of the situation by comparing the annual cancer deaths to about 300 fully loaded VIP buses crashing with all passengers dying. He also mentioned that global health trends indicate a decline in infectious diseases but a significant rise in non-communicable diseases like cancer, driven by urbanization, globalization, and lifestyle changes, a trend Ghana is also experiencing. The World Health Organization defines cancer as a group of diseases where abnormal cells grow uncontrollably and spread, identifying it as the second leading cause of death worldwide.

Ghana's Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has arrived in Barcelona, Spain, to participate in the 4th High-Level Meeting of the Initiative “In Defence of Democracy.” The forum is a global platform focused on strengthening democratic governance and international cooperation. The Vice President was received by Ghana’s Ambassador to Spain, Kalsoume Sinare Baffoe, and members of the Ghanaian community. She is expected to join global leaders in discussions aimed at strengthening democratic governance and advancing collective efforts to safeguard democratic values. The initiative serves as a platform for dialogue among nations committed to safeguarding democratic values and promoting inclusive governance systems worldwide. The forum, hosted by the Spanish government under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, will gather heads of state and senior officials from countries including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, and Spain.
Must ReadIranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced on Friday that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to all commercial vessels for the duration of the ceasefire. This decision aligns with the ceasefire in Lebanon, and commercial vessels can use the coordinated route previously announced by Iran's Ports and Maritime Organisation. US President Donald Trump acknowledged the announcement on Truth Social. This development follows a US naval blockade on Iranian ports, which was implemented in response to Iran's effective closure of the waterway. On Thursday, a Pakistani-flagged tanker successfully transited the strait, a rare occurrence during the blockade.
Must ReadAn Accra High Court has granted the Attorney-General seven days to submit its statement of case in a lawsuit contesting the prosecutorial authority and legal foundation of the Office of the Special Prosecutor OSP. The suit, filed by private citizen Noah Adamtey, questions Parliament's power to establish the OSP. The court approved an extension request after state counsel cited "unavoidable administrative constraints" for the delay. Separately, Deputy Attorney-General Justice Srem-Sai stated that the Attorney-General’s Department will comply with a High Court directive to take over all criminal prosecutions currently handled by the OSP. The court ruled that the OSP lacks independent prosecutorial authority, directing that all cases initiated by the anti-corruption body be referred to the Attorney-General’s Department. Presiding judge John Eugene Nyadu Nyante held that while the OSP can investigate corruption, it lacks the constitutional mandate to independently initiate prosecutions, citing Article 88 of the 1992 Constitution, which vests prosecutorial authority in the Attorney-General.