Speaking to the media, the Metropolitan Director of NADMO, Alhaji Abubakar Kamal, revealed that out of the 88 structures classified as hazardous and dangerous during assessments conducted in 2025, three prominent buildings in Sekondi and Takoradi respectively have currently been prioritized for action.

According to him, the affected structures include the Zenith Building, Prempeh Building, and the late Justice Archer’s Building, all of which have been identified as posing varying levels of risk to occupants and the general public.

“It is long overdue for these actions to be taken. The Assembly has been concerned about the state of these buildings for some time, and we are now at the stage where concrete measures are being pursued to address the situation,” Alhaji Kamal stated.

He explained that NADMO and other relevant authorities are currently engaging landlords and property owners to agree on the most appropriate interventions and ensure compliance with safety directives.

“We are at the final stage of our work. We are engaging the various landlords and owners of these properties to determine the way forward and ensure that the necessary actions are taken without delay,” he said.

Providing details of the assessments conducted on the affected buildings, Alhaji Kamal disclosed that the Prempeh Building has been recommended for renovation after technical evaluations showed that rehabilitation works could restore the structure to a safe condition.

However, the situation is markedly different for the Zenith Building, which has been deemed beyond repair.

“Our assessment points to renovation for the Prempeh Building, but in the case of the Zenith Building, the recommendation is for total demolition due to the extent of deterioration and the danger it poses,” he explained.

The NADMO Director stressed that the exercise forms part of broader efforts to protect lives and property within the metropolis, urging owners of aging and abandoned structures to cooperate with authorities.

The move is expected to enhance public safety and reduce the risk of building-related disasters, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions.

NADMO has assured residents that it will continue working closely with the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly and property owners to ensure that all identified dangerous structures are addressed in accordance with safety regulations.

Speaking during a media engagement in Sekondi, the MCE explained that concerns over the completion of the Takoradi Market Circle project should be directed to central government, stressing that the project is not being executed by the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA).

According to him, STMA is only a beneficiary of the project, while all contractual and financial decisions are being handled by the central government.

“Seeking answers from the Assembly regarding the completion of the Takoradi Market Circle project is misplaced because it is purely a central government project. The Assembly is only a beneficiary,” he stated.

Lawyer Faidoo revealed that the government is currently seeking parliamentary approval for an additional €18 million to compensate the contractor following the prolonged suspension of works on the project.

The Takoradi Market Circle Redevelopment Project was funded through a €48 million facility, which had already been secured before the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration assumed office. However, construction works were halted in 2022 when Ghana entered negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for economic support amid a worsening fiscal crisis.

Providing details on the financial commitments made so far, the MCE said approximately €42 million had been paid to the contractor before the project was suspended.

“By the time the project was halted, €42 million out of the total contract sum had already been paid to the contractor. When the new NDC administration came into office, the remaining €6 million under the original contract was quickly settled,” he explained.

However, the contractor reportedly rejected the final payment as a basis for resuming work, arguing that the government had breached the contractual agreement by suspending the project for more than two years.

According to the Mayor, the contractor initially demanded €36 million as compensation for losses and additional costs incurred due to the suspension.

“The contractor indicated that because the project had been halted for over two years, there were additional costs arising from the breach of contract. Initially, they demanded €36 million in compensation,” he said.

He added that extensive negotiations led by the Ministry of Finance succeeded in reducing the compensation claim by half.

“Through the intervention of the Ministry of Finance, the figure was negotiated down from €36 million to €18 million. Government is currently awaiting parliamentary approval for that amount so work can resume on the project,” he noted.

The Mayor expressed optimism that the long-delayed redevelopment project would eventually be completed, citing assurances from President John Dramani Mahama.

He recalled the President’s commitment to the people of Takoradi to ensure the completion of the modern market facility and pledged that city authorities would continue to advocate for the fulfillment of that promise.

“President John Dramani Mahama has assured the people of Takoradi that the Market Circle project will be completed. As city managers, we will continue to remind government of that commitment until the project is fully delivered,” Lawyer Faidoo stated.

The Takoradi Market Circle Redevelopment Project, one of the largest urban renewal initiatives in the Western Region, has remained stalled for several years, drawing concerns from traders and residents who have eagerly awaited its completion.

According to Mr. Asuman, the destructive activities of illegal miners are rapidly eroding the foundations of cocoa production by destroying vast stretches of fertile farmland, polluting critical water bodies, and drawing labour away from cocoa farms.

Speaking at Samahu in the Prestea Huni Valley Municipality during the presentation of the Cocoa Farmers Support Programme organised by the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, he said more than 19,000 hectares of productive cocoa farms have already been lost to illegal mining activities in major cocoa-producing regions, including Ashanti, Western and Central.

He noted that excavators are being deployed on cocoa lands to remove topsoil and create deep mining pits, leaving once-thriving plantations permanently damaged.

“Illegal mining is currently the biggest obstacle facing Ghana’s cocoa industry. It is destroying fertile land, contaminating our rivers with harmful chemicals and creating labour shortages that are affecting cocoa production across the country,” he stated.

Mr. Asuman warned that the continued destruction of cocoa farms is contributing to declining national output and reducing Ghana’s cocoa export volumes, with serious implications for foreign exchange earnings and the financial sustainability of COCOBOD.

He explained that falling production levels are limiting the cocoa regulator’s ability to meet its financial obligations and support programmes aimed at improving the welfare of cocoa farmers.

“If urgent measures are not implemented, the cocoa industry in Ghana will perish,” he cautioned.

The Cocoa Farmers Support Programme forms part of efforts to boost cocoa yields, improve household incomes and strengthen the long-term resilience of farming communities in cocoa-growing areas.

The Member of Parliament for Prestea Huni Valley, Robert Wisdom Cudjoe, also expressed concern about the growing trend of cocoa farmers selling their lands to illegal miners in exchange for immediate financial gains.

He said many farmers fail to appreciate the long-term value of cocoa cultivation, opting instead for short-term benefits that ultimately leave them worse off.

“The money they take from galamsey operators may sustain them for a short period, but cocoa is a lifelong investment that can support generations,” the MP noted.

Mr. Cudjoe commended initiatives such as the Gold Fields Foundation’s support programme, saying they provide much-needed incentives for farmers to remain committed to cocoa production and resist the temptation to engage in illegal mining activities.

Executive Secretary of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation, Abdel Razak Yakubu, said the programme is designed to increase cocoa productivity, raise farmers’ incomes and promote sustainable livelihoods in both mining and cocoa-growing communities.

He reaffirmed the Foundation’s commitment to supporting initiatives that improve the economic well-being of farmers while safeguarding the environment for future generations.

The order was granted by the High Court on June 9, 2026, following an ex parte application filed by five party members from the constituency.

The applicants are Andrew Adade, Daniel Quaicoe, Francis Kwakye Amprofi, Dominic Boakye Acheampong, and Michael Arhin.

The respondents in the suit include the New Patriotic Party, the party’s Western Regional Secretary Henry Amankwa Afirifa, Western Regional Chairman Francis Ndede Siah, Tarkwa-Nsuaem Constituency Chairman Benjamin Assabil, and Constituency Secretary Fuseni Amadu.

According to the court order, the respondents, their agents, assigns, associates, representatives, and any persons acting on their behalf have been restrained from conducting, supervising, declaring, recognizing, or taking any action concerning the constituency’s scheduled electoral area elections.

The injunction specifically bars any activities connected to the elections slated for June 10, 2026, or any related procedures until the legal matter before the court is determined or settled by the parties.

The court directed that the interim order shall remain in force for ten days unless the application is renewed on notice.

The order was issued by the High Court in Sekondi and certified by the Judicial Service of Ghana on June 9, 2026.

The case is expected to have significant implications for the conduct of internal party elections within the Tarkwa-Nsuaem constituency as stakeholders await the court’s final determination.

In a press release dated May 29, 2026, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa clarified that the document circulating on social and traditional media platforms was fake and not issued by any official institution in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

According to the statement, the fraudulent circular claimed that citizens of Ghana, Kenya, Cameroon, Uganda and other African countries had been ordered to leave Cambodia by May 31, 2026, or risk arrest, imprisonment and financial sanctions for alleged immigration violations.

However, the Ministry said diplomatic engagements with Cambodian authorities confirmed that the notice was entirely fabricated.

“The Ministry wishes to assure the public that following diplomatic engagements with the relevant Cambodian authorities, it has been confirmed that the said notice is absolutely fake and was not issued by any state institution in Cambodia,” portions of the statement noted.

The Ministry further disclosed that the General Department of Immigration under Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior had officially issued a clarification describing the circulating notice as “completely untrue.”

Ghanaians and media organizations have therefore been urged to disregard the fake document and avoid sharing unverified information capable of causing fear and anxiety among affected individuals and their families.

Despite dismissing the notice, the Ministry acknowledged that some Ghanaians living in Cambodia had earlier expressed a desire to voluntarily return home.

It revealed that through Ghana’s High Commission in Malaysia, which is accredited to Cambodia, government has already facilitated the evacuation of 85 Ghanaian nationals between March and May 2026.

The Ministry added that arrangements are underway to support the evacuation of an additional 76 Ghanaians currently in Cambodia who have also requested assistance to return home.

“The Ministry will continue to work in close collaboration with all relevant authorities to ensure the safety, welfare and protection of Ghanaian nationals in Cambodia,” the statement added.

The Government of Ghana also commended Cambodian authorities for their cooperation and reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the interests of Ghanaians abroad while urging the public to rely solely on official sources for information regarding Ghanaian nationals overseas.

Drivers operating on the route have reportedly increased fares in recent weeks, citing the worsening condition of the Agona Nkwanta–Dixcove road, which they say is causing frequent vehicle breakdowns and increasing maintenance costs.

Several commuters who spoke to reporter Ephya Gyambrah complained that the continuous fare increments are taking a toll on their daily lives and businesses.

According to some traders and workers who rely on the route, transport fares have nearly doubled in certain communities, making movement difficult for residents.

“I spend almost all my daily sales on transportation alone. The roads are very bad, but the fares are becoming unbearable,” a trader lamented.

Commercial drivers, however, insist the increments are necessary to keep their businesses running.

One driver at the Agona Nkwanta lorry station explained that the poor nature of the road has significantly affected their vehicles.

“We are not increasing the fares because we want to cheat passengers. The road is destroying our cars every day. Almost every week we are repairing shock absorbers, tyres and other parts,” he said.

Another driver added that fuel consumption has also increased because vehicles are forced to move slowly through pothole-ridden sections of the road.

“If we continue to charge the old fares, we cannot survive. The road from Agona Nkwanta towards Dixcove has become very terrible, especially during the rains,” the driver stressed.

Some drivers further indicated that transport unions have had no option but to adjust fares informally to cushion operators against the rising cost of vehicle maintenance.

Residents and commuters are therefore calling on the government and the Ghana Highway Authority to urgently rehabilitate the stretch to reduce the burden on both drivers and passengers.

They fear that if immediate action is not taken, transport fares could rise even further, worsening the economic hardship faced by people living and working along the corridor.

The Minister made the appeal during this year’s Eid al-Adha prayers at the Takoradi Central Mosque, where he urged both Muslims and non-Muslims to come together in a collective effort to prevent further flooding disasters.

According to him, recent heavy rains have already caused significant destruction in parts of the metropolis, warning that the situation could worsen if immediate action is not taken to improve sanitation in communities.

“Today we celebrate Eid, but tomorrow we must all pick up the spades and clear our gutters,” Mr. Nelson stated.

“The rains are increasing and if we fail to act together, we risk exposing our communities to more devastating floods.”

He stressed that sanitation should not be viewed as the responsibility of government alone, but rather a shared civic duty that requires the active participation of residents, religious bodies, and local leaders.

The Minister further appealed to community members to desist from indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains, describing the practice as a major contributor to perennial flooding in the metropolis.

Mr. Nelson commended the Muslim community for their contribution to peace and development in the region and encouraged them to use the Eid celebration as an opportunity to promote unity, discipline, and communal responsibility.

He assured residents that the government remains committed to improving drainage infrastructure in flood-prone areas but emphasised that public cooperation remains critical in addressing the sanitation challenge.

The directive was announced by the leadership of the three pre-tertiary teacher unions, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers (PRETAG) during a press briefing on Monday, May 25, 2026.

According to the unions, the strike action follows the expiration of an ultimatum issued to the Ghana Education Service (GES) and security authorities to respond to concerns raised after the incident.

“We have therefore decided to embark on the following actions to press home our demand for justice for our members who have been unjustly assaulted.”

Authorities Accused of Silence

The unions expressed disappointment that despite earlier petitions and a press conference held in Nsuaem on May 5, no official response had been received from either the Ghana Education Service or the security agencies.

“However, as of the time of meeting you today, no authority has responded to our demands,” the statement said.

The teacher groups argue that the continued silence from relevant institutions has deepened frustration among members and left the affected teachers without the support and justice they expected.

Criticism of Municipal Education Director

The unions also criticized the Municipal Director of Education for Tarkwa-Nsuaem, Madam Catherine Andoh-Mensah, over her handling of the aftermath of the alleged assault.

According to the statement, the director visited the school a week after the incident but reportedly expressed concern over the absence of the affected teachers, who were said to be receiving treatment and recovering from both physical and psychological trauma.

The unions alleged that rather than facilitating medical care and police intervention, the director reprimanded the teachers for being absent from work.

“We are very upset by the Municipal Director’s conduct because when she visited on the very day the incident happened, we expected her to have asked the affected teachers to report the case to the police, collect medical forms and seek medical attention, but she failed to do that,” the statement noted.

The unions further argued that management should have considered temporarily closing the school or relocating staff to a safer environment following the incident.

“Those actions and inactions suggest that she does not care about the welfare of teachers in this municipality,” the statement added.

Strike Action Begins

As part of measures to intensify their demand for justice, the unions announced that all teachers in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality are to wear red bands to school and embark on a sit-down strike from Tuesday, May 26, to May 31, 2026.

The leadership warned that a full-scale strike would commence on June 1 if the concerns raised remain unresolved.

“Teachers in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality will from Monday, June 1, 2026 embark on a total strike if the issues raised are not addressed,” the unions cautioned.

They also called on all teachers within the municipality to support the industrial action in solidarity with their colleagues.

“We humbly call on all teachers in the municipality to comply with this directive to help get justice for the affected colleagues. Let us unite and go by the slogan: ‘Touch One, Touch All,’” the statement urged.

Background

The controversy stems from the alleged assault of three teachers and the husband of a female teacher at Adiewoso M/A Basic School by armed military personnel. The incident has sparked widespread concern among teachers in the municipality, with union leaders insisting that those responsible must be held accountable and adequate support provided to the victims.

The planned industrial action is expected to affect teaching and learning across schools in the Tarkwa-Nsuaem Municipality unless authorities intervene before the June 1 deadline.

According to him, clearly defined boundaries among the various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) will eliminate jurisdictional conflicts and strengthen coordinated development efforts in the region.

Speaking on the Morning Light Show, Mr. Addey-Blankson, who also serves as President of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors in the Western Region and Chairman of the Western Regional Tender Review Committee, stressed the need for authorities to pay urgent attention to spatial planning and infrastructure expansion in the fast-growing metropolis.

“The boundaries between the assemblies within the Greater Sekondi-Takoradi area must be properly defined to avoid conflicts and also support effective revenue generation within the various jurisdictions,” he stated.

He further underscored the importance of improving the road network across the metropolis, noting that better accessibility would accelerate socio-economic development and ease movement within the area.

Mr. Addey-Blankson observed that although Takoradi was originally designed with a sound planning structure, rapid population growth over the years has placed enormous pressure on the city’s infrastructure and spatial arrangement.

“Takoradi was well planned, but the increasing population means there is a need to revisit the spatial planning structure to reduce congestion and improve the city’s layout,” he noted.

Touching on the redevelopment of the Takoradi Market Circle, the surveyor argued that authorities should have established functional satellite markets before embarking on the project to minimise congestion and disruptions to trading activities.

He explained that the absence of alternative market centres has contributed significantly to traffic congestion and pressure on commercial spaces within the central business district.

Mr. Addey-Blankson also appealed to assemblies across the Western Region to improve communication with residents regarding ongoing development projects.

He said regular updates and stakeholder engagement would help reduce misinformation, speculation, and public misunderstanding surrounding government projects.

“As assemblies undertake developmental projects, residents must be adequately informed to avoid unnecessary speculation and build public confidence in the process,” he added.

In a dramatic and symbolic gesture, the Minister went on his knees before the chiefs, pleading with them to desist from chieftaincy disputes that he described as a drain on time and resources.

The House of Chiefs had been inactive for five years—from 2020 to 2025—due to a protracted leadership dispute that ended up at the Sekondi High Court. The impasse was widely criticised as a troubling precedent among traditional authorities in the region.

However, in 2025, Mr. Buah intervened and successfully resolved the crisis after a single engagement with the chiefs, paving the way for the House to reconvene and resume its duties.

In recognition of his role, the Western Regional House of Chiefs honoured the Minister with a citation, expressing appreciation for his efforts in restoring unity and stability within the institution.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Buah reiterated the need for sustained peace, urging the chiefs to channel their energies into initiatives that promote growth and development rather than prolonged legal battles.

“The development of the Western Region depends largely on the unity of its traditional leaders and key stakeholders,” he stressed.

Also speaking at the event, the Vice President of the House, Nana Akwesi Agyeman, commended the Minister for his decisive intervention in resolving the crisis. He reaffirmed the House’s commitment to maintaining unity and working collectively in the interest of the region.

The renewed harmony within the Western Regional House of Chiefs is expected to strengthen traditional governance and accelerate development efforts across the region.