Vol 55 No 3 | GHANA The wizard of Accra 7th February 2014 Short-term economic worries and the government’s tin ear on corruption claims are wobbling Mahama’s presidency Opposition activists like to portray President John Dramani Mahama as a kind of latter day Wizard of Oz, appearing to preside over a functioning government and thriving economy...
Vol 54 No 24 | GHANA Deficit blues 28th November 2013 Tough times are looming after years of high growth and political stability in an oil and gold producing economy The harsh realities behind Finance Minister Seth Terkper’s budget speech on 19 November suggest a turbulent year ahead for the government. Officials recommend some tough and unpopular corrective...
Vol 54 No 20 | GHANA Drill-ship in the dock 3rd October 2013 Top politicians are battling it out in the courts again, this time over claims of corruption the two main parties are throwing at each other Power-brokers in the governing National Democratic Congress and opposition New Patriotic Party are squaring up for a fresh courtroom battle after the Supreme Court upheld President John Mahama’s...
Vol 54 No 18 | GHANA The Court lowers the curtain 5th September 2013 The judges’ finding for President Mahama raises as many questions as it solves but the focus will shift quickly to economic matters The final act lasted just 20 minutes. That is how long Justice William Atuguba, Chairman of the nine-member Supreme Court panel, spent on 29 August on delivering the...
Vol 54 No 18 | GHANA Opposition turns to tax and graft 6th September 2013 After the 29 August Supreme Court judgement, the political theatre will shift to economic policy and accountability issues. Oppositionists accuse the National Democratic Congress government of relying too...
Vol 54 No 18 | GHANA Economic tests looming 6th September 2013 There are only two-and-a-half years before the next election cycle. It may not be long enough to improve the fiscal position Finance and Economic Planning Minister Seth Tekper has a tricky message for Ghanaians. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been in charge of the economy for nearly five...
Vol 54 No 16 | CÔTE D'IVOIREGHANA Row over exiles 29th July 2013 Claims that Ivorian secret agents are targeting pro-Laurent Gbagbo exiles in Ghana raise tensions again between Accra and Abidjan President Alassane Dramane Ouattara’s government is sending undercover agents to Ghana to abduct or assassinate supporters of former President Laurent Ggabo there, according to senior security sources in...
Vol 54 No 15 | GHANA The vote on trial 18th July 2013 The Supreme Court’s hearings on last year’s polls have changed Ghana’s politics for good. Now the fractious parties face their own demons After 43 days in session and an avalanche of technical delays, the 2012 election petition hearings are crawling towards a climax. A ruling is likely within a month....
Vol 54 No 15 | GHANA How the parties judge the judges 18th July 2013 Politicians from both the governing National Democratic Congress and the opposition New Patriotic Party have developed an obsessive interest in the nine judges sitting on the Supreme Court’s...
Vol 54 No 13 | GHANA Presidential exports 21st June 2013 Foreign trips seem to hold a special magic for President John Mahama, who has spent most of his first six months in office struggling with chronic power and...