The year 2023 saw headlines stories such as Cecilia Dapaah’s US$1 million saga, the IGP’s leak tape, the death of Ghanaian footballer Christian Atsu, the Akosombo Dam Spillage, the beef between Sarkodie and Yvonne Nelson and several others.
Read the biggest stories that made headlines in 2023:
Christian Atsu’s demise
Atsu was caught up in a 7.8-magnitude quake that rocked Turkey and Syria on 6 February, killing more than 43,000 people in both countries
The body of the Hatayspor forward was found in the early hours of Saturday, 18 February 2023 after being trapped under the rubble for 11 days.
On 18 March 2023, the football star was subsequently given a state-assisted funeral at the forecourt of State House in Accra.
Yvonne Nelson and Sarkodie’s beef
Yvonne Nelson’s memoir- “I am not Yvonne Nelson” detailing her life experiences sparked major controversy in the year under review after released her memoir detailing her life experiences.
In the memoir, Nelson claimed she had gotten pregnant for music star, Sarkodie early on in their career and the rapper urged her to have an abortion.
Nelson said she was left at the abortion premises by the Sarkodie and dealt with the experience and the aftermath alone.
Sarkodie then released a track dissing the actress sparking the anger of some Ghanaians.
IGP leaked tape
An audio recording concerning discussions about the possible removal of the IGP by three police officers including COP Mensah and the former northern regional chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) Daniel Bugri Naabu emerged in the year under review.
A former director general (technical) of the Ghana Police Service, COP George Alex Mensah, accused the IGP of engineering the secret recording of a conversation he had with a former Northern Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bugri Naabu, who played a major role in the incident involving the leaked tape.
Parliament subsequently set up a committee to investigate the matter.
The committee is yet to present its report to the House after meeting all the parties involved in the matter.
Cecilia Dapaah’s US$1 million saga
Perhaps one of the most talked about issues of 2023 was the story of Cecilia Dapaah – the former Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).
On 22 July 2023, Dapaah resigned following a news report about a criminal case instituted at the Accra circuit court against five individuals who were charged with the offence of stealing various sums of money and items from her home in Abelenkpe, a suburb of Accra.
She is currently in court.
Akosombo Dam spillage
The news of the devastating effects of the Akosombo dam spillage on residents of communities in the lower Volta areas started as a casual conversation.
Then also in reportage in the media, and at its inception seemed to only re-echo the ordeals of what appeared to be the annual fate of such communities that bear the full brunt of the dispelled water.
The state immediately had to get to work and the central government due to the severity of the situation took over the reins of affairs to address the plight of the persons affected.
According to NADMO, over 31,000 were displaced. Crops were destroyed, schools shut and the economy came to a standstill in nine districts of three regions affected by the deluge.
Aisha Huang jailed
Galamsey queen En Huang, aka Aisha Huang, was convicted by an Accra high court on Monday, 4 December 2023 for undertaking mining operations without a licence and for entering the Ghanaian jurisdiction while prohibited from re-entry.
She was also fined a total of four thousand (4,000) penalty units which is equivalent to GHC48,000. Her conviction was, however, seen as being lenient with the Attorney General promising to appeal.
BoG headquarters saga
The Bank of Ghana (BoG) was condemned for constructing an ultra-modern head office, estimated to cost US$250 million, at a time when the economy was in turbulence.
The Minority National Democratic Congress (NDC) MPs have described the venture as a misplaced priority due to the prevailing economic situation.
However, the central bank its current head office building “does not satisfy the full complement of excess strength required for a building to be considered safe for usage.”
Inflation drops significantly
Ghana’s inflation hit an all-time high to 54.1% in January 2023 and by November 2023 it has dropped significantly to 26.4% paving the way for the country’s economy to grow.
Mahama and Bawumia elected flagbearers
The two biggest political parties; the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) elected their presidential candidates for Election 2024.
On 13 May 2023, John Mahama emerged winner in the NDC’s presidential contest as leader for the 2024 presidential election.
This is the third time Mahama will run for the top job in Ghana.
He secured 297,603 votes, representing 98.9% of votes cast.
On 4 November 2023, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) also picked Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia as its candidate for the December 2024 presidential election, teeing up a contest with former president John Mahama.
He won 61% of votes cast in the second stage of the primary – a victory widely expected after coming first in the Super Delegates Conference in August of that year.
Alan quits NPP
On 25 September 2023, Alan Kyerematen, a former trades minister resigned from the ruling NPP to run as an independent candidate during the next presidential election in December 2024.
He had already withdrawn from an internal contest in November to elect the party’s candidate over allegations of irregularities in the selection process.
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