Enimil Ashon examines three issues dominating public debate in Ghana: an alleged attempt to poison Chairman Wontumi at Nsawam Prison, opposition claims that President John Dramani Mahama could seek a third term, and questions over money spent evacuating Ghanaians from South Africa.
The reported poisoning has prompted concern about Wontumi’s health, but key details remain unclear. It has not been established whether the alleged substance was placed in food, medicine or a drink, or whether an inmate blew a poisonous powder through Wontumi’s nose or mouth.
It is also not known whether Wontumi has a cellmate, or whether prisoners are permitted to share food, drinks or medication with other inmates.
The Ghana Prisons Service has promised a “thorough” investigation. However, the immediate question is whether poisoning occurred in the first place. A medical officer’s assessment would appear to be the clearest way to establish that.
Was Wontumi taken to hospital, and is there a medical report? The public is awaiting an answer.
The allegations have been linked to Wontumi’s calls for prison reform. Reports say he has started taking steps intended to improve inmates’ living conditions.
Krobo Edusei, who served as Minister for the Interior in the First Republic, was once held at Nsawam Prisons after the 1966 coup. He reportedly told friends that, had he known about the heat inside Ghanaian prisons, he would have installed air-conditioners in every cell while in office.
Mahama and the third-term question
A separate political dispute centres on President Mahama’s future. The Minority in Parliament and the New Patriotic Party appear convinced that he may seek a third term, despite repeatedly giving his word, both directly and indirectly, that he has no such intention.
The basis for that belief has not been made public. One possible explanation is a prediction attributed to a prophet in the Bono Region whom Mahama recently visited. A television report said the prophet forecast a third term for the President.
Prophet Roja has also said on Angel FM and other platforms that he foresaw John Dramani Mahama returning to contest and win a third term, despite the President’s previous statements.
The question is whether such prophecies are informing the NPP’s position. Ghana has previously chosen to disregard predictions by prophets, including by banning them from making New Year’s Eve prophecies.
In July 2024, Rev. Kusi Boateng, founder of Power Chapel World Wide Church and former Executive Secretary of the National Cathedral Board of Trustees, predicted that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia would become President of Ghana in that year’s elections. He also predicted the exact date on which the result would be announced. Both predictions proved false.
It is therefore surprising, the writer argues, that the NPP would doubt the President on the basis of prophecies from “stomach-prophets”. If Mahama’s performance has been as poor as the opposition claims, the party should welcome rather than fear a third-term bid, confident that it could defeat him.
Evacuation funds under scrutiny
The NPP and the Minority are also questioning the GH¢49.72 million spent evacuating 1,964 Ghanaians from South Africa between May 27 and September 4, 2026.
Among the allegations is that some evacuees received less than the announced GH¢5,500 support package. The controversy has focused on Foreign Minister Okudzeto Ablakwa, who is widely associated with his ORAL campaign.
The claims are particularly surprising given Ablakwa’s previous efforts to demand accountability over National Cathedral contracts and expenditure. Critics say the Minority’s opposition is also politically motivated, aimed at settling scores with the NDC and applying, ahead of 2028, tactics the party used against Akufo Addo’s government while in opposition.
The proposed way forward is straightforward: Ablakwa should publish complete and transparent records of the charter-flight arrangements and all related expenditure.
