Current Affairs and General Knowledge 2.0 Practice Flashcards
THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH OF THE GHANA GOVERNMENT
The Executive branch is currently led by H.E John Dramani Mahama, who serves as both the and President of the Republic of Ghana, and the and President of the Republic. He is accompanied by the Vice President, H.E Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, who is the first female to hold this office in Ghana's history. The First Lady is H.E Mrs. Lordina Mahama, and the Chief of Staff is Hon. Julius Debrah.
Key cabinet and ministerial positions include Hon. Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, who serves as the Minister for Finance and Economic Planning. The leadership of the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry for Environment, Science and Technology was recently affected by a tragic helicopter crash on 6th August, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of Hon. Dr. Edward Omane Boamah (Minister for Defence) and Hon. Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed (Minister for Environment, Science and Technology). In their absence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Baah Forson has been appointed as the acting Minister for Defence, and Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, has been appointed as the acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology.
Other prominent ministerial roles are held by Hon. Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine as the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Hon. Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka as the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu as the Minister for Education, and Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh as the Minister for Health. The Minister of Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations is Hon. Samuel Nartey George, and the Minister for Foreign Affairs is Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
THE JUDICIARY AND THE LEGISLATURE
The Judiciary is headed by the Chief Justice, His Lordship Paul Baffoe-Bonnie. Historically, the first female Chief Justice was Her Ladyship Theodora Georgina Wood, and the immediate past Chief Justice is Her Ladyship Gertrude Araba Esaaba Torkornoo.
The Legislature is presided over by the Speaker of Parliament, Right Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin. The first female Speaker of Parliament was Justice Joyce Adeline Bamford-Addo. Current leadership in the house includes the Majority Leader, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, and the Minority Leader, Hon. Alexander Afenyo-Markin.
Other notable government institutions include the Ghana Health Service, led by Director-General Prof. Samuel Kaba Akoriyea, and the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), led by CEO Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe.
UNIVERSITY OF GHANA (UG) KEY FACTS
The University of Ghana was established on 11th August 1948. It was originally named the University College of the Gold Coast and was later renamed the University College of Ghana in 1957 following independence. In 1961, it attained full university status and adopted its current name. The first Principal of the institution was Mr. David Mowbray Balme, after whom the main library, The Balme Library, is named.
The university's current governance includes Madam Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew as the Chair of the Governing Council and Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse as the Chancellor. The Vice Chancellor is Prof. Nana Aba Appiah Amfo. The Registrar is currently Mrs. Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah, though Mr. Michael Opare Atuah is set to succeed her effective 1st August, 2026. The Pro Vice-Chancellors are Prof. Gordon Akanzuwine Awandare (Academic & Student Affairs) and Prof. Felix Ankomah Asante (Research, Innovation and Development). The Dean of Student's Affairs is Prof Rosina Kyeremanten, and the CEO of Korle-bu is Dr. Yakubu Seidu Adam.
The university is structured into four main colleges: the College of Humanities, the College of Education, the College of Basic and Applied Sciences, and the College of Health Sciences. The University of Ghana Medical School and the University of Ghana Dental School operate under the College of Health Sciences. Regarding the College of Health Sciences, the first batch of medical students was admitted in 1962, and the first dean of the medical school was Prof. Charles O. Easmon. The current Provost of the College is Rev. Prof Alfred Edwin Yawson, succeeding the former Provost Rev. Prof Patrick F. Ayeh-Kumah. The College Registrar is Mr Torvinyo Worlanyo Newton. The current Dean of the Medical School is Prof. Yvonne Dei-Adomakoh, and the Dean of the Dental School is Prof. Sandra Ama Hewlett.
UNIVERSITY FOR DEVELOPMENT STUDIES (UDS) KEY FACTS
The University for Development Studies (UDS) was gazetted on 15th May 1992 and founded under PNDC Law 279, which has since been repealed and replaced by the UDS Act, 2025 (Act 1134). It admitted its first students in September 1993, becoming the fifth public university in Ghana and the first in Northern Ghana. It began with a single faculty, the Faculty of Agriculture, at the Nyankpala Campus. The main administration is located in Tamale, Northern Region. Current campuses include Nyankpala, Dungu (Tamale), Tamale City Campus, and the Eastern Campus. Former campuses in Wa and Navrongo were elevated to autonomous status in 2018 as SDD-UBIDS and C.K. Tedam University of Technology and Applied Sciences, respectively.
The university's motto is "Knowledge for Service," and its colors are Black, Mantis Green, and White. A unique feature of UDS is the Third Trimester Field Practical Programme (TTFPP), established in 1993, where first and second-year students spend approximately two months living and working in rural communities. The current Vice-Chancellor is Prof. Mohammed Muniru Iddrisu, a Professor of Mathematics who assumed office on 29 June 2026, with a tenure running until 31 August 2030. He succeeded Prof. Seidu Al-hassan ( Vice-Chancellor). The Pro-Vice-Chancellor is Prof. Elliot Haruna Alhassan, and the Registrar is Mr. Nurudeen Issah Abubakar. The pioneer Vice-Chancellor was Prof. R. B. Bening ().
The university hosts various schools including the School of Medicine (SoM), School of Allied Health Sciences (SAHS), School of Nursing and Midwifery (SoNM), and others. Notable recent achievements include the UDS football team winning the FISU World University Football Championship on 28 September 2025. The School of Medicine is located at the Dungu Campus, and its primary teaching facility is the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH).
UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST (UCC) KEY FACTS
The University of Cape Coast was established in October 1962 as a University College affiliated with the University of Ghana. It gained full university status on 1st October 1971, through the University of Cape Coast Act, 1971 (Act 390). It is currently governed under the University of Cape Coast Law, 1992 (PNDC Law 278). Its original mandate was to train professional teachers for second-cycle institutions and the Ministry of Education. The first Principal was Dr C. A. Ackah ( and ).
Located in Cape Coast, the university has two main campuses: the Southern Campus (Apewosika) and the Northern Campus (Kwaprow), often referred to as "Science." Its motto is "Veritas Nobis Lumen" (Truth, Our Guide), and its colors are Cosmic Cobalt, White, Aureolin, and Vermilion. The Chancellor is Dr (Sir) Sam Esson Jonah, and the Pro-Chancellor/Chair of Council is Justice William Anaam Atuguba. The incoming Vice-Chancellor is Prof. Denis Worlanyo Aheto (effective 1st August 2026), succeeding Prof. Johnson Nyarko Boampong (). The Registrar is Mr. Gideon Enoch Abbeyquaye, Esq., and the main library is the Sam Jonah Library. The university utilizes the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital (CCTH).
Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang served as the first female Vice-Chancellor of a public university in Ghana () at UCC. The institution is organized into six colleges, including the College of Health and Allied Sciences, which houses the School of Medical Sciences, School of Nursing and Midwifery, and School of Public Health. UCC has been ranked No. 1 in Ghana and West Africa by Times Higher Education.
UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH AND ALLIED SCIENCES (UHAS) KEY FACTS
UHAS was established by Act 828 in December 2011 and admitted its first cohort of students in September 2012. It was the first public university in the Volta Region and remains the only state university dedicated entirely to healthcare professional training. The main campus is in Ho (Sokode-Lokoe), with a second campus in Hohoe. The foundational Vice Chancellor was Prof. Fred Newton Binka.
The current leadership includes Justice Victor Mawulorm Jones Dotse as Chair of the Governing Council, Prof. Lydia Aziato as Vice Chancellor, Prof. Frank Edwin as Pro Vice-Chancellor, and Ms. Yaa Amankwaa Opuni as Registrar. The university currently operates eight schools, including Medicine, Pharmacy, and the Fred N. Binka School of Public Health. The School of Medicine admitted its first batch of students in the academic year and is currently led by Dean Prof. Yaw Asante Awuku. UHAS ranked in Ghana in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022 for the SDG-3 category.
CURRENT AFFAIRS AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
In political news, the NPP Presidential Primaries were held on 31 January 2026. Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia was declared the winner with approximately of the valid votes, followed by Kennedy Agyapong () and Dr. Bryan Acheampong (). Bawumia will lead the NPP in the 2028 general election. In legal news, Bernard Antwi-Boasiako ("Chairman Wontumi") was convicted on 20 July 2026 for illegal mining (galamsey) linked to Akonta Mining Limited. Specifically, he was charged under the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703) and sentenced to years imprisonment with hard labour at Nsawam Prison, plus fines of penalty units per count (approximately GH\text{\textcent} ).
Key sports news includes Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku serving as President of the GFA and Jordan Ayew being appointed captain of the Black Stars in 2025. Following the dismissal of Otto Addo in March 2026, Carlos Queiroz was appointed head coach. Under Queiroz, Ghana reached the Round of at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where they lost to Colombia. In health news, the Ghana AIDS Commission reported new HIV diagnoses between January and May 2026, with approximately people living with HIV in Ghana. The Greater Accra Region remains the most burdened.
Regional and international updates include Andy Burnham becoming the UK Prime Minister on 20 July 2026, following the resignation of Sir Keir Starmer. In Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez became Acting President on 5 January 2026, after Nicolás Maduro was removed by US forces. In economic news, Ghana remains Africa's largest gold producer ( tonnes/year) and the world's second-largest cocoa producer, following C$\hat{o}$te d’Ivoire. On 21 July 2026, the Government of Ghana signed an MoU with the World Gold Council to formalize artisanal mining, supported by a grant of US\ to US\ million. Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta remains a fugitive from justice, facing counts of corruption-related charges involving the SML contract and the National Cathedral.
REGIONAL CAPITALS AND NICKNAMES
Ghana's cities and towns are known by various monikers. Accra is "The Gateway City," Kumasi is the "Garden City of West Africa," and Tamale is the "Fastest Growing City." Cape Coast is known as "Oguaa," Sekondi-Takoradi as the "Oil City," and Tema as the "Harbour City." Techiman is recognized as the "Food Basket of Ghana."
The list of regions and their respective capitals is as follows: Ahafo (Goaso), Ashanti (Kumasi), Bono (Sunyani), Bono East (Techiman), Central (Cape Coast), Eastern (Koforidua), Greater Accra (Accra), Northern (Tamale), North East (Nalerigu), Oti (Dambai), Savannah (Damongo), Upper East (Bolgatanga), Upper West (Wa), Volta (Ho), Western (Sekondi-Takoradi), and Western North (Sefwi Wiaw).
CHRONOLOGY OF GHANA'S PRESIDENTS
Ghana has transitioned through several republics and periods of military rule. During the First Republic (), Dr. Kwame Nkrumah served as President until the coup on 24th February 1966. This was followed by the National Liberation Council (NLC) military rule under Lt. Gen. Joseph Arthur Ankrah and Brig. Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa. The Second Republic () saw leaders like Edward Akufo-Addo and acting President Nii Amaa Ollennu. Military rule returned from under Gen. Ignatius Kutu Acheampong, Lt. Gen. Frederick William Kwasi Akuffo, and Flight Lt. Jerry John Rawlings. Dr. Hilla Limann led the Third Republic ().
The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) under Jerry John Rawlings ruled from 1981 until the Fourth Republic began on 7th January 1993. Presidents of the Fourth Republic include Jerry John Rawlings (), John Agyekum Kufuor (), John Evans Atta Mills (), John Dramani Mahama (), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (), and John Dramani Mahama ().