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Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa clarifies conflicting reports on slain Ghanaian
via GhanaWeb6 min read
Benjamin Anani Quashie, Ghana's High Commissioner to South Africa, has addressed discrepancies surrounding the killing of a Ghanaian national in South Africa. Speaking on July 4, 2026, Quashie stated that the deceased's correct name is Bashiru Isak, a 40-year-old tailor, contradicting an initial report by the South African Police Service SAPS that identified the victim as Kwabena Boakye, 35. The High Commission challenged the police's initial report, leading to their confirmation of the error, though the official case file has not yet been updated. Quashie also clarified that the incident occurred in Khayelitsha, with Nyanga being a town within that area, resolving a perceived contradiction in location reports. He noted challenges in gathering information due to fear among Ghanaians in Cape Town, who are often on edge due to frequent violent crimes. The High Commissioner also expressed concern over ongoing anti-immigration demonstrations in Pretoria, which have led to the closure of many Ghanaian-owned businesses. He urged the South African government to ensure security during these protests. Bashiru Isak was shot dead on June 30, 2026, during anti-immigrant protests targeting foreign nationals, and Ghana has called for a full investigation and prosecution of those responsible.
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The Accra High Court has granted an extension for plea negotiations in the Ghana Export-Import EXIM Bank case involving Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, also known as Chairman Wontumi, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party NPP. The court adjourned proceedings to July 27, 2026, to allow more time for discussions between the defense and the Attorney General鈥檚 Department. Wontumi and others face charges related to an alleged scheme that caused financial loss to the EXIM Bank, ranging from approximately GH垄14.3 million to GH垄30 million, through actions including presenting a forged receipt, fraud, money laundering, and causing financial loss to a public institution. Wontumi's legal team, led by lawyer Andy Appiah-Kubi, initiated the plea-bargaining process, which could involve a guilty plea in exchange for reduced charges, repayment with interest, or other terms. Wontumi, Wontumi Farms Limited, and Thomas Antwi-Boasiako previously pleaded not guilty to the charges on May 18, 2026.
Professor Martin Oteng-Ababio, a senior urban planning expert and Board Chairman of the Forest Plantation Development Fund, has urged the government to immediately ban unplanned residential development on hilltops. He warned that indiscriminate clearing of vegetation on hills for housing exposes communities to mudflows, landslides, and severe erosion, especially with intensifying rainfall, creating conditions for a major environmental disaster. Prof. Oteng-Ababio cautioned that continued development on hills like Aburi, Bortianor, and McCarthy ranges without proper planning poses a serious threat, as vegetation removal leaves topsoil vulnerable to erosion. He highlighted that many hills being developed are near earthquake fault zones, increasing risks. He also noted that between 92 and 95 percent of some hilly landscapes in Accra are unsuitable for residential development, yet construction persists. Prof. Oteng-Ababio stated that perennial flooding in Accra is exacerbated by the destruction of hillsides and wetlands, as vegetation removal accelerates stormwater runoff and silt from degraded slopes clogs drains. He attributed the problem to weak enforcement of planning regulations and poor coordination among land administration institutions. He called for stricter enforcement of planning laws, restoration of degraded hilltops and wetlands, and sanctions against officials who approve developments in environmentally sensitive areas.
Ghana's Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has submitted the Tribunal Bill, 2026, to Parliament. This proposed legislation aims to activate constitutional provisions that have been largely unused since the 1992 Constitution was enacted. The bill, which has completed its first reading, seeks to establish a new tribunal system that would operate alongside the existing courts but under judicial supervision. The government's objective is to alleviate pressure on the courts, reduce case adjudication delays, and encourage broader citizen involvement in justice administration. The bill outlines a two-tier structure comprising Regional Tribunals and District Tribunals. Regional Tribunals would handle certain criminal cases currently heard by the High Court, including economic crimes, narcotics offenses, tax offenses, customs violations, and cases involving the loss of state funds or property. District Tribunals would share jurisdiction with Circuit Courts over selected criminal offenses. However, the bill specifically excludes treason, capital offenses, and other cases requiring indictment, as well as constitutional interpretation cases under Article 130 and human rights violations. The legislation also introduces safeguards such as appellate review, oversight mechanisms, and clear rules for the appointment, discipline, retirement, and removal of tribunal members, aiming to create a modern tribunal system grounded in constitutional protections, due process,