General News
Two political parties, one lesson: Afuntummireku and Tikro Nkɔ Agyina for Ghana
A reflection on Ghana’s Founders’ Day debate has drawn on two traditional symbols — Afuntummireku and Tikro Nkɔ Agyina — to call for political unity, consultation and a shared national purpose.
The writer, Seth Afum A. Dankwah of J. G. Knol Technical Institute at Adukrom-Akuapem in the Eastern Region, argues that although Ghana’s two major political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), may have different political identities, they ultimately share the same national interest.
In a statement dated Monday, September 21, 2026, Mr Dankwah said the lesson could be captured in the traditional concept of Afuntummireku, represented by the Funtunfunefu Denkyemfunefu symbol — two creatures with separate heads but sharing one stomach.
He said another symbol, Tikro Nkɔ Agyina, which conveys the idea that one head cannot go into council alone, equally offers an important lesson for Ghana’s political system.
According to him, the two symbols became particularly meaningful to him during a recent visit to the Presbyterian College of Education at Akropong-Akuapem.
Mr Dankwah said that while walking through the campus one morning, he noticed the two symbols displayed on the walls of separate halls.
He explained that he had used the route several times but had never stopped to pay attention to the inscriptions until that particular morning.
“On one wall was the Afuntummireku symbol — Funtunfunefu Denkyemfunefu — two creatures with two separate heads but sharing one stomach. On another wall, a few footsteps away, was Tikro Nkɔ Agyina — two heads joined together as one,” he wrote.
For him, the two walls carried one message for Ghana: political and ideological differences should not destroy the shared national interest.
Mr Dankwah linked the traditional symbolism to the long-running debate over Ghana’s Founders’ Day commemoration.
He noted that the political interpretation of Ghana’s founding history has differed depending on which political party is in government.
“When the NPP is in power, it is called Founders’ Day. When the NDC is in power, it is called Founder’s Day,” he said.
He added that one political side argues that Ghana’s independence cannot be attributed to only one individual, while another places particular emphasis on Dr Kwame Nkrumah as the founder.
“Same independence, same history. Different heads, different spellings, but same stomach called Ghana,” Mr Dankwah wrote.
He said the debate becomes particularly significant on September 21, a date associated with the commemoration of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
According to him, Ghanaians often debate whether the appropriate emphasis should be on Founder or Founders, or whether the country’s independence story should focus on Nkrumah or include the wider group of personalities associated with the independence struggle.
He argued that the debate should not become an excuse for one side to diminish the contribution of another.
“We argue as if by diminishing the other head, our head becomes taller,” he said.
Mr Dankwah used the Afuntummireku symbol to describe the relationship between the NPP and NDC.
He said the two parties have spent decades competing against each other through elections, parliamentary debates, political campaigns and public commentary.
“For thirty-two years, our democracy has lived like those symbols. The NPP and the NDC represent the two heads of ‘AFUNTUMMIREKU’,” he wrote.
He accused both sides of engaging in political battles without always considering the wider consequences for Ghana.
According to him, the parties may be politically divided, but they are connected by the country’s economy, environment, institutions and overall wellbeing.
“They snap at each other every morning on radio, they argue in Parliament, they campaign as if the other must not eat. Each wants to eat first. Each wants to starve the other,” he said.
But he argued that, like the two creatures represented by Afuntummireku, both political sides ultimately share one “stomach” — Ghana.
“When the economy bleeds, it is that one stomach that bleeds,” he wrote.
He cited issues including illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, economic difficulties, fuel prices, the depreciation of the cedi and investor confidence as matters that can affect Ghanaians regardless of their political affiliation.
He specifically referenced the impact of galamsey on water bodies in areas such as Obuasi and Tarkwa, arguing that environmental damage does not discriminate between supporters of different political parties.
“When galamsey poisons the rivers at Obuasi or Tarkwa, both creatures will drink the same poisoned water,” he stated.
He also criticised what he described as partisan reactions to economic difficulties, arguing that celebrating negative economic developments simply because one’s political opponent is in government ultimately harms the country.
“If that stomach gets an ulcer from winner-takes-all politics by the government, from propaganda, from debt and greed, both heads will die with it,” he wrote.
Mr Dankwah said the central lesson from Afuntummireku should not be interpreted as a call for the NPP and NDC to stop competing.
Instead, he said political competition is necessary in a democracy, but it should not become destructive.
“That is the first thing the wall taught me: We can have different heads, but we cannot afford a divided stomach. Competition is allowed. Destruction is not,” he said.
He further applied that principle to Ghana’s history, particularly the debate over the country’s founders.
He argued that presenting Ghana’s independence story exclusively through the contribution of Dr Kwame Nkrumah would leave out other personalities and groups, just as presenting the story only through the Big Six would overlook Nkrumah and the wider mass movement that supported the independence struggle.
“To tell Ghana’s story with only Nkrumah and without Danquah and the Big Six is incomplete history,” he said.
He added: “To tell it with only the Big Six and without Nkrumah and the thousands of market women, farmers, students and ex-servicemen who followed him is also incomplete history.”
Mr Dankwah therefore described Ghana’s independence as a collective national achievement involving different individuals and groups.
“Ghana’s independence had many heads, but one stomach — freedom,” he stated
The second symbol, Tikro Nkɔ Agyina, according to Mr Dankwah, carries a different but complementary message.
He interpreted it as a reminder that one person or one group should not assume that it has all the answers.
“Tikro Nkɔ Agyina. One head does not go into council,” he wrote.
He said the principle should guide political leadership regardless of which party controls government.
“Our greatest mistakes as a nation have come when one head thought it was singularly enough. And both sides have been guilty of this act,” he stated.
Mr Dankwah argued that successive governments have sometimes acted as though they possessed all the answers and did not need sufficient input from others.
He also extended the criticism to Parliament, saying majorities can sometimes behave as though they do not need minority voices.
According to him, the situation can reverse when political power changes hands, with a new majority potentially repeating the same pattern.
“One majority in Parliament sometimes decides it does not need the minority, and when the tables turn, the new majority repeats the same arrogance,” he wrote.
Mr Dankwah said Ghana’s governance would benefit from greater consultation, particularly on major national policies and historical issues.
He argued that political power should not become a one-head council, regardless of the political party in government.
“Ghana suffers when power becomes a one-head council, no matter which head wears the crown,” he said.
He claimed that the consequences can include policies being introduced without adequate consultation, historical narratives being changed without broad agreement and opposition parties being treated as enemies rather than alternative voices in a democratic system.
He also said ordinary citizens should have a place in the national conversation.
He mentioned teachers, farmers, students and traditional leaders as among the groups whose views should not be excluded from the national agyina or council.
Mr Dankwah ultimately urged supporters of both major political parties to see themselves as participants in the same national project.
He said the NPP and NDC should not be treated as enemies despite their political differences.
“The NPP and NDC are not enemies. They are Siamese twins,” he wrote.
He used the metaphor to emphasise that the two parties may have separate political identities but remain connected by Ghana’s national interest.
He argued that if the country were to adopt the lessons represented by Afuntummireku and Tikro Nkɔ Agyina, political parties could continue to compete strongly during elections while cooperating on matters affecting the long-term wellbeing of the country.
“If we lived by those two inscriptions, our politics would change. We would still compete fiercely at elections, but we would protect the stomach together after elections,” he said.
Mr Dankwah concluded his reflection by returning to the two symbols he encountered at the Presbyterian College of Education at Akropong-Akuapem.
He said Afuntummireku should remind both the NPP and NDC that their political differences do not change the fact that they are connected by Ghana.
“Afuntummireku tells both NPP and NDC: You are different, but you are joined. Stop fighting over food that will end up in the same stomach,” he wrote.
He said the debate over whether the country should commemorate “Founder’s” or “Founders’” Day should not overshadow the broader national interest.
“Whether you call it Founders’ or Founder’s, the stomach you are feeding is Ghana,” he stated.
He said Tikro Nkɔ Agyina, on the other hand, should serve as a reminder to whoever holds political power that no government or leader has all the answers.
“Your head alone is not enough. Come into council. You cannot decide Ghana’s history alone; you cannot govern Ghana alone. Listen to dissenting opinions,” he said.
He described the two inscriptions as a lesson extending from the walls of the Presbyterian College of Education at Akropong-Akuapem to Ghana’s political institutions in Accra.
“That is the lesson from the walls of the Presbyterian College of Education at Akropong-Akuapem to the walls of power in Accra,” he wrote.
Mr Dankwah ended the statement with a message marking the September 21 commemoration:
“Happy Founder’s Day. Happy Founders’ Day. Happy Birthday Ghana — our one stomach.”
Ghana’s official public discourse around national unity has also continued to emphasise the idea of a shared national identity. In a New Year message for 2026, President John Dramani Mahama said Ghana’s political differences should not undermine the country’s common purpose, stressing that there is only one Ghana.
Fourteen Regional Directors of the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) have raised concerns about the leadership approach of the Authority’s Chief Executive Officer, Maame Efua Houadjeto, during a meeting with the Board of Directors to address what they describe as persistent organisational challenges.
The meeting, held on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 3:00 p.m., was convened to discuss issues the Regional Directors say have remained unresolved since July 2026.
According to the Directors, the engagement was not intended to serve as an arbitration process but rather to obtain responses to questions and concerns they had previously raised.
During the meeting, the Directors expressed their displeasure with the CEO’s leadership approach, highlighting concerns about stakeholder engagement, regional coordination and other issues they believe are affecting the effective operation of the Authority.
They indicated that the concerns extend beyond individual disagreements and touch on broader institutional matters that require attention to ensure the smooth functioning of the GTA.
The Directors maintained that their position was motivated by the need to safeguard the integrity of the institution and restore effective operations across its regional structures.
They also called on the Board of Directors to facilitate a formal response from the Office of the CEO to the issues raised, stressing the need for the concerns to be addressed through the appropriate institutional channels.
The engagement provided an opportunity for the Regional Directors to formally communicate their grievances to the Board and seek its intervention in resolving the outstanding matters.
The meeting ended with a call for further intervention by the Board of Directors to ensure that the issues raised receive the necessary attention and responses.
It remains unclear what specific questions have been pending since July, what responses the Regional Directors expect from the CEO, or what steps the Board intends to take following the meeting.
The outcome of any subsequent engagement between the Board, the CEO and the Regional Directors is expected to be important in determining how the concerns will be addressed and how coordination within the Authority will be strengthened.
Gamal Gorkeh Nkrumah, son of Ghana’s founding President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, has died in Cairo, Egypt, following a prolonged illness.
The Nkrumah family announced his death in a statement posted on the Facebook page of Samia Nkrumah, daughter of Ghana’s first president.
According to the statement, Gamal passed away peacefully in Cairo, where he had been receiving care at a rehabilitation centre after suffering a stroke.
The family described him as a beloved son, respected journalist, writer and intellectual who dedicated much of his life to examining the political, social and cultural developments shaping Africa and the wider world.
It said Gamal remained deeply committed to the ideals of justice, human dignity, African unity and international solidarity throughout his life.
As a journalist and commentator, he used his voice and intellect to analyse issues affecting Africa and the international community, earning recognition among friends, colleagues and readers who valued his insights and perspectives.
The family further described him as a man of profound intellectual curiosity, independent thought and quiet conviction, noting that he carried forward his father’s legacy in his own distinctive way while building a reputation based on his personal principles and achievements.
His death, the family said, represents a significant loss not only to his relatives and loved ones but also to the wider community of people who appreciated his work, humanity and engagement with important issues of his time.
The statement added that the family remembers Gamal with immense love, gratitude and pride, describing his wisdom, kindness and commitment to his values as an enduring source of inspiration.
The Nkrumah family also expressed appreciation to those who supported Gamal throughout his illness, particularly the medical professionals and caregivers in Cairo who provided him with treatment and care.
It extended its gratitude to the governments and people of both Egypt and Ghana for their support during the difficult period.
The family has appealed to the public to respect its privacy as it mourns the loss.
Details of memorial arrangements and opportunities for the public to pay tribute to Gamal Gorkeh Nkrumah’s life and legacy, according to the statement, will be communicated in due course.
Four professors at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) have filed a lawsuit seeking to halt aspects of the process to select a search committee for the appointment of a new Rector, escalating tensions over the institution’s leadership transition.
The plaintiffs are Professors Lord Mawuko Yevugah, Wisdom Akpalu, Kwami Adanu and Patrick Tandoh-Offin. They filed the action on October 5, 2026, challenging aspects of the process involving the Chairman of GIMPA’s Governing Council, the Institute’s Secretary and the Rector.
At the centre of the dispute is the Convocation register used to determine who could vote for representatives on the Rector Search Committee. The professors contend that about 30 newly appointed or promoted lecturers were included on the register despite questions over whether their appointments had received the necessary approval from the Governing Council.
They argue that allowing the lecturers to participate in the election could undermine the legitimacy of the process and have asked the court to ensure that the selection of the search committee complies with GIMPA’s 2020 Statutes. They also want the committee’s composition and the respective roles of the Governing Council and Convocation clarified.
GIMPA management, however, has indicated that a special ad hoc committee audited the Convocation register and confirmed that those listed had valid appointments, based on Human Resource Management records. Exceptions reportedly applied to staff on leave of absence or secondment.
The Convocation election proceeded on October 6. According to reports, Professor Patrick Tandoh-Offin contested to represent the professorial class but lost to Professor Emmanuel Gyamfi Numapau, who received 118 votes against Tandoh-Offin’s 35.
The legal challenge comes as GIMPA prepares for the end of Rector Professor Samuel Kwaku Bonsu’s tenure in August 2027. The Institute’s statutes require the search process to begin ahead of the incumbent’s departure.
The case raises questions about voting eligibility, institutional governance and the procedures for selecting the next Rector. The court’s determination could affect the process, although the available reports do not establish that an injunction has been granted or that the election
General News
EPA ORDERS IMMEDIATE HALT TO UNAPPROVED RECLAMATION WORKS NATIONWIDE — GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, CONTRACTORS ON NOTICE
The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered an immediate halt to all land reclamation, mine-site rehabilitation, dredging and water-body restoration activities being undertaken without the requisite environmental permits across Ghana.
In a public notice issued on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, the Authority warned that institutions, companies, contractors and individuals operating without its approval must cease work immediately and report to the nearest EPA regional office or its head office for regulatory assessment.
The directive applies to both public and private projects, including government-sponsored, privately funded and donor-supported initiatives. The EPA specifically mentioned the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Forestry Commission, Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Minerals Commission and Mineral Development Fund among the institutions required to ensure compliance.
Under Regulation 40 of the Environmental Protection (Environmental Assessment) Regulations, 2025 (L.I. 2504), reclamation and restoration activities fall within Ghana’s environmental assessment and permitting framework.
The covered activities include rehabilitating abandoned mining sites, backfilling excavated areas, restoring degraded land, revegetation, dredging and desilting rivers, modifying river channels and restoring polluted water bodies, wetlands and aquatic ecosystems.
The Authority stressed that securing a contract, obtaining funding approval, holding a mining lease or receiving authorisation from another public institution does not replace an EPA Environmental Permit. Similarly, consent from traditional authorities, memoranda of understanding and participation in government programmes cannot substitute for the required approval.
Contracting institutions have also been directed to verify the environmental permit status of projects before allowing contractors to mobilise to their sites.
The EPA acknowledged the importance of restoring lands and water bodies damaged by illegal and irresponsible mining but cautioned that rehabilitation efforts must not create further environmental destruction by bypassing regulatory safeguards.
It warned that individuals and institutions that continue unapproved operations after the notice would face action in accordance with applicable Ghanaian laws.
The directive reinforces the Authority’s position that environmental restoration, regardless of its funding source or purpose, must comply with the country’s permitting requirements.
The opening of the long-awaited New Yalu River Bridge marks a significant step towards strengthening cross-border transport and trade between China and North Korea.
China and North Korea have officially opened a major bridge linking the two countries, ending a 12-year delay that kept the infrastructure project unused despite its completion in 2014.
The New Yalu River Bridge connects the Chinese border city of Dandong, in Liaoning province, with Sinuiju in North Korea. The four-lane crossing stretches approximately three kilometres across the Yalu River and is expected to improve the movement of goods between the neighbouring countries.
The project was originally intended to begin operating in 2014. However, the opening was postponed for years as infrastructure on the North Korean side, including connecting roads and customs facilities, remained incomplete. Analysts have also pointed to strained bilateral relations and disagreements surrounding economic cooperation as possible contributing factors.
Trade and economic implications
The new crossing is expected to ease pressure on the older China–North Korea Friendship Bridge, which has served as a major route for official trade between the two countries.
By providing additional road capacity, the new bridge could improve freight transportation, reduce congestion and support the movement of essential goods. Its strategic location is particularly important because China remains North Korea’s principal trading partner.
Nevertheless, the opening does not automatically guarantee a rapid increase in trade. International sanctions imposed in response to North Korea’s nuclear and weapons programmes continue to constrain economic activity, while the scale of future commercial traffic will depend on border arrangements and the two governments’ economic policies.
A signal of closer bilateral engagement
The bridge’s inauguration comes amid renewed diplomatic engagement between Beijing and Pyongyang. It also highlights China’s continued economic importance to North Korea as the latter seeks to maintain relationships with key regional partners.
For China, improved transport links could facilitate cross-border commerce and support economic activity in Dandong. For North Korea, the bridge offers additional capacity for importing goods and developing commercial infrastructure around Sinuiju.
However, the project’s long delay illustrates how political disagreements and economic considerations can obstruct infrastructure intended to improve regional connectivity.
What happens next?
Attention will now turn to how quickly the bridge becomes an established route for commercial traffic and whether the additional capacity translates into measurable growth in bilateral trade.
While the opening represents an important infrastructure milestone, its longer-term economic and diplomatic impact will depend on the willingness of both governments to sustain cooperation and the restrictions governing North Korea’s international trade.
The opening ends a lengthy wait for the two countries, but the bridge’s ultimate significance will be measured by the trade and cooperation it enables in the years ahead.
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