The Ghana High Commission in Pretoria has urged members of the Ghanaian community in South Africa to exercise heightened caution ahead of planned demonstrations over immigration issues.

This is on the back of reports and viral videos of xenophobic incidents targeting foreign nationals, including Ghanaians, in some parts of the country.

In a notice issued on Tuesday, April 28, the mission advised Ghanaians, particularly those in Pretoria, to prioritise their personal safety as a group identified as the March Organisation prepares to march to the Presidency to present its grievances.

“I urge everyone to continue exercising heightened vigilance and to place the highest priority on personal safety during this period,” the statement said on behalf of the High Commissioner, Benjamin Anani Quashie.

The High Commission specifically called on Ghanaian shop owners to shut their businesses for the day and avoid areas where protests are expected.

“Shop owners are strongly encouraged to close their businesses for the day and avoid areas where protests or demonstrations are taking place,” it said.

It also cautioned nationals against taking part in any public gatherings that could escalate into confrontations.

“Please refrain from participating in public gatherings that could escalate into confrontation,” the statement added.

Ghanaians were further advised to maintain a low profile and act with discretion both in public and online, including avoiding the sharing of content that could be seen as provocative or inflammatory.

The High Commission said it would provide further updates as the situation develops.

citinewsroom.com

The Supreme Court has awarded GH¢800,000 in compensation to Yaw Appiah, a bar owner who was wrongfully convicted and spent nearly two decades in prison for robbery, in a landmark ruling addressing wrongful conviction and prolonged imprisonment.

The apex court, presided over by Justice Avril Lovelace-Johnson, delivered the decision on February 10, 2026, after finding that Appiah had suffered a miscarriage of justice following his conviction and 45-year sentence in 2011.

The five-member panel, which included Justice Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Justice Samuel Asiedu, Justice Yaw Darko Asare, and Justice Kweku Tawiah Ackaah-Boafo, awarded the compensation after considering submissions from both the applicant and the State.

Case background

Yaw Appiah, a drinking bar owner, was arrested in 2006 and spent five years on remand before being convicted in 2011 for robbery at the age of 29. He was subsequently sentenced to 45 years in prison.

However, in March 2025, the Court of Appeal acquitted and discharged him after ruling that he had been wrongfully convicted. The appellate court described the conviction as a “tragedy” after he had already served about 19 years in Nsawam Prison.

His acquittal triggered a formal application for compensation at the Supreme Court.

Compensation application

Appiah’s lawyers, Augustine Obour and Claudia Coleman, filed an application under Article 14(5) and (7) of the 1992 Constitution, seeking GH¢2,020,800 in compensation for wrongful imprisonment.

The State, represented by Principal State Attorney Nana Adoma Osei, however, proposed a much lower figure, suggesting between GH¢75,000 and GH¢100,000.

After reviewing the case, the Supreme Court awarded GH¢800,000, stating that the amount was appropriate based on legal principles, including guidance from the Dodzi Sabbah case.

Constitutional basis

The ruling was grounded in Article 14 of the 1992 Constitution, which provides for compensation in cases of unlawful detention and wrongful conviction.

Article 14(5) states that individuals unlawfully arrested or detained are entitled to compensation, while Article 14(7) empowers the Supreme Court to award compensation where an appellate court or the apex court itself overturns a conviction.

myjoyonline.com

The Member of Parliament for Akuapim North, Sammi Awuku, has called on President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister of Energy and Green Transition to urgently address the recurring power supply challenges, warning that the situation is affecting students preparing for critical national examinations.

In a Facebook post on Monday, April 27, the MP expressed concern over the intermittent electricity supply, which he said is disrupting learning and creating anxiety among students sitting for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) and those preparing for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

“We’re all experiencing it again, this on-and-off power situation and honestly, it’s becoming quite worrying,” he wrote.

According to him, the unstable power supply is undermining students’ ability to concentrate on revision, especially during a period he described as “a very critical period” in their academic journey. He stressed that while examinations would proceed regardless of circumstances, learners needed a stable environment to prepare effectively.

“At the very least, let’s ensure our students are given a fair and stable environment to prepare for and write their exams,” he stated, adding a direct appeal to the government: “Please ACT Now!”

Mr Awuku further noted that beyond students, businesses, young entrepreneurs, and small-scale workers are also feeling the impact of the fluctuating power supply, describing the frustration among the public as “real” and increasingly widespread.

His comments come at a time when parts of the country have been experiencing intermittent electricity supply challenges, commonly referred to in previous years as “dumsor”. Such disruptions have historically affected households, commerce, and academic activities, raising public concern whenever they re-emerge.

Education stakeholders and parents have also repeatedly warned that unstable electricity during examination periods places additional pressure on candidates, many of whom rely on evening study hours for revision.

The MP’s appeal adds to growing calls for a swift and sustainable resolution to the power situation, particularly as thousands of students across the country prepare for major national examinations in the coming weeks.

myjoyonline.com