Ghana: 2009 in Focus

What do you remember most of Year 2009? Here is our list of some of the most memorable happenings in Ghana since January 1. Add to it. Jan 1

NPP big-wigs storm the Supreme Court building in Accra for the hearing of an ex-parte writ filed by the the ruling party to stop the Electoral Commission from announcing a winner in the 2008 presidential race until claims of electoral fraud during the December 28 presidential run-off had been investigated. Heavily armed policemen had taken positions at the court premises after Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood empanelled Justice Amoako Asante on this holiday to hear the NPP application.
The Fast Track High Court refuses to hear the ex-parte motion by the NPP and its chairman, Peter Mac Manu, seeking an injunction on the Chairman of the Electoral Commission from announcing a winner of the 2008 presidential election. Justice Amoako Asante ordered the plaintiffs to come to court by a motion on notice, and by so doing serve the Electoral Commission and the National Democratic Congress as interest parties to enable them participate in the case. Jan 2
Electoral Commission holds ‘decider’ elections on Ghana’s presidential race at the Tain Constituency of the Brong Ahafo Region. Jan 3
Electoral Commission declares Prof. J.E.A. Mills winner of the 2008 presidential elections. January 5
President J.A. Kufuor takes President-elect J.E.A. Mills on a tour of the Golden Jubilee House Jan 6
President J.A. Kufuor pardons over 500 prisoners of various categories, a statement signed by Mr Frank Agyekum, Outgoing Deputy Minister of Information said. Seven personalities were also granted "free, absolute and unconditional pardon". They are Mr. Akenteng Appiah-Menkah, Mallam Yussif Ali Issah, Mr Kwame Peprah, Mr Ibrahim Adam, Dr George Sepah-Yankey, Mr Dan Abodakpi and Mr Tsatsu Tsikata.
ACP Kofi Boakye reinstated with full benefits as Police Director of Operations after his interdiction in 2006 following a recommendation by the Georgina Wood Committee which investigated the loss of 77 parcels of cocaine aboard the MV Benjamin. According to Frank Agyekum, Deputy Minister of Information, the state has no interest in pursuing the case any longer. Jan 7
Mrs Justice Joyce Bamford-Addo sworn in as Speaker of Parliament
Prof. J.E.A. Mills and Mr. John Mahama are sworn in as President and Vice President respectively of Ghana by Chief Justice Georgina Wood. Jan 9
State security operatives seize a car driven by Chief Kufuor, son of ex-president John Agyekum Kufuor on suspicion that it was a state car illegally held by the immediate past First Family. Several such seizures were to follow – among them high profile ones that were later found to be private property and therefore returned. They included Nana Akufo-Addo (Two times); Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, MD of Barclays Bank, Benjamin Dabra; and Member of Parliament for Weija, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey. Jan 12
President Mills makes first travel out-of-Ghana since becoming President to Nigeria for an extraordinary ECOWAS Summit and makes an appearance at The Synagogue Church of All Nations where he thanked God for his victory at the December 2008 polls and Prophet T.B. Joshua for his prayers. Feb19
President Mills delivers maiden State of the Nation Addresses (click here for the audio) to Parliament March 5
Finance Minister Dr. Kwabena Dufuor delivers first Budget of the Atta Mills administration March 6
Ghana marks 52 Independence Anniversary March 31
President Mills appoints a five-man committee chaired by industrialist Ishmael Yamson to review the Chinery Hesse Committee’s End of Service benefit approved for parliamentarians and the executive. Other members are Helen K. Lokko, Prof. Takyiwaa Manuh, Dr Sulley Gariba and Mr Dannis K. Y. Vormawor. April 10
Eastwood Anaba loses two daughters, Audrey and Amanda, in a motor accident at Nasia, near Walewale, on their way to an Easter convention. April 13
Easter Soup Kitchen May 16
Mr. Paul Quaye appointed as Inspector General of Police by President J.E.A. Mills May 18
President Mills inaugurates a committee to review the Sales and Purchase Agreement over the sale of 70 per cent of Ghana Telecom shares to Vodafon. May 26
Former Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Akwasi Osei-Adjei has his passport seized by the state after being cited in investigations into the importation of rice from India. May 30
President Mills meets the Bawku Naba and a Mamprusi leader, Alhaji Akalifa in Bolga in a historic attempt to bring feuding factions in Bawku to smoke the peace pipe however guns start smoking again barely hours later. June 2
Hon. Begyina Sekyi Hughes returns state furnishings he wrongly took away from his state-provided accommodation on leaving office as Speaker of Parliament. June 14
Asamoah Boateng and family restrained at the Kotoka International Airport by BNI operatives from boarding a British Airways flight on their way to the UK. June 25
Muntaka Mubarak resigns as Minister of Sports after accusations that he had misapplied state funds and abused his office. June 25
Pop Star and global music icon Michael Jackson dies. August 14
NPP youth activist Maikanka, popularly called MK, dies from allegedly inhaling tear gas following police attempt at dispersing NPP supporters who had stormed the precincts of the Bureau of National Investigations, Accra, to protest the arrest of former Information Minister, Stephen Asamoah Boateng. July 6
Multi TV starts test transmission and begins regular programming on July 15. July 10/11
US President Barack Obama pays historic visit to Ghana and addresses Parliament. July 20
Ghana@50 probe commission begins work. Aug 11
Human Rights Court rules that state agents cannot arbitrarily curtail the movements of persons and that a citizen’s passport may be taken away only on the orders of a competent court and subsequently orders release of the passport of Mr. Akwasi Osei-Adjei from the custody of the BNI. August 17
Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur appointed Governor of the Bank of Ghana to replace the retiring Dr. Paul Acquah. Amissah-Arthur assumed office on October 1, 2009. Sept 6
Black Stars book ticket for South Africa 2010 after beating Sudan 2:0 in Accra. Sept 12
Busta Rhymes holds live concert in Ghana Sept 21
Ghana begins month-long Centenary Celebrations of the birth of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the nation’s founder and first post independence leader. Oct 15:
Coca Cola World Cup arrives in Ghana on global tour Oct16
10-man Black Satellites beat Brazil to win Africa’s first World Cup at the Youth Championship held in Egypt. Oct 21
Fire guts Foreign Affairs Ministry Nov 2
Upper East Regional Minister, Mark Wayongo is caught in Bawku conflict crossfire and says he had to lie flat on his belly to avoid flying bullets. Nov 10
MP runs his car into Speaker’s in an attempt to outsmart traffic Dec 12/13
Don Moen performs in two-day live concert in Accra Dec 28
Mr. Dan Lartey, Founder of the GCPP dies after a short illness at the ripe age of 83 years. Credit: Team@myjoyonline/Ghana

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.