News
Dr Okrah adjudged Ghana’s Most Respected CEO in Youth Dev’t
Dr Andy Osei Okrah with Mrs Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, (second from right), His wife,
Alice and daughter Hilary (right) after the award.
Founder of Young Professionals and Youth Coalition (YPYC), Dr. Andy Osei Okrah, has been adjudged Ghana’s Most Respected CEO in Youth Development at the sixth edition of the Ghana industry CEO awards, 2023 held in Accra.
Dr Okrah, also a philanthropist emerged winner out of a keenly contested category thereby confirming a pre-event prediction which was largely credited to his decade long countrywide youth activism.
The YPYC is a youth development-oriented Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with focus on transformational leadership, entrepreneurship and career development
Organisers of the prestigious award congratulated Dr. Okrah on his convincing victory saying “an overwhelming majority of voters, in an exit poll, confirmed their confidence in the YPYC Founder as a credible individual whose youth-driven organisation could be trusted to champion and sustain youth-biased policies and programmes.”
Fellow award winners and competitors in other categories also commended Dr Okrah for his unwavering campaign to promote youth welfare and empowerment.
On his part, Dr Okrah commended organisers for the opportunity and recognition, and promised voters who reposed confidence in his leadership style that, “we will not relent in youth advocacy and activism.”
He said YPYC will continue to promote gender equality, youth empowerment, employment, leadership and inclusion in the decision-making process.
Recently, Dr Andy Okrah also received a Transformational Leadership award from the Humanitarian Awards Global (HAG) for his philanthropic and humanitarian services to humanity especially in youth leadership development.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
News
71 Inmates graduate from Tertiary Education Programme
In a ceremony held at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, 71 inmates graduated from a tertiary education programme, with three inmates earning first-class honors.
The programme, a collaborative effort between the Ghana Prisons Service, the University of Cape Coast, and Plan Volta Ghana, aims to provide inmates with academic qualifications and skills to contribute positively to society upon release.
Deputy Minister of the Interior, Hon. Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi congratulated the graduates on their achievement, emphasizing the significance of education in transforming lives.
Hon. Terlabi noted that the programme’s success reflects the Government’s commitment to supporting rehabilitation initiatives that go beyond incarceration.
The Director-General of Prisons, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie Esq. encouraged inmates to take advantage of various training programs, including vocational skills, to enhance their rehabilitation.
She also announced plans to develop strategies for reintegrating inmates into society after serving their sentences.
This initiative demonstrates efforts to prioritise rehabilitation and reintegration, recognising that education and skill development are crucial in reducing recidivism and promoting positive change.
The graduates’ achievement serves as a symbol of hope and resilience, inspiring others to pursue education and personal growth.
News
The Supreme Court Should Respect the Clear Text of Ghana’s Constitution – Kwame Owusu Danso, Esq. writes
Ghana’s 1992 Constitution provides explicit guidelines for removing public officials, such as Superior Court Justices and the Chief Justice, with no room for judicial overreach.
For Justices other than the Chief Justice, Article 146(3)-(5) mandates that a petition be sent to the President, who refers it to the Chief Justice to assess if a prima facie case exists. If confirmed, a committee investigates and advises the President. The process is straightforward and precise.
In contrast, Article 146(6)-(7) governs the removal of the Chief Justice. Here, the President, consulting the Council of State, forms a committee to investigate a petition and recommend action without any mention of a prima facie case requirement. This distinction is deliberate and clear in the Constitution’s text.
However, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Agyei Twum v. Attorney General & Akwetey imposed a prima facie case condition for removing a Chief Justice, a step not supported by the Constitution.
This judicial addition distorted the framers’ intent, as the original text remains unamended. When the Constitution’s language is unambiguous, courts should not insert new terms under the guise of interpretation; such as the so-called “purposive approach” unless the provision is unclear, which it is not here.
The framers’ choice to omit a prima facie requirement for the Chief Justice was intentional, not an oversight.
Looking ahead, I urge the Supreme Court, amid current cases and political pressures, to avoid compounding this error. Adding further conditions – like requiring the Chief Justice to respond to a petition before any action – would be another unwarranted rewrite of the Constitution.
The text does not demand a prima facie case, let alone additional steps. Judicial restraint is essential to preserve clarity and fidelity to the law as written.
Thank you for your attention.
Kwame Owusu Danso, Esq.
Africa Law Focus.
