TIG Post

Author: Phoebe Martekie Doku

  • Seven nabbed over suspected use of sudan dye in palm oil

    Seven nabbed over suspected use of sudan dye in palm oil

    The alleged adulteration of palm oil with a substance believed to be Sudan dye has led to the arrest of seven (7) traders in Koforidua, Eastern Region.

    The suspects were apprehended following a joint operation conducted by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) and the police on Friday, April 17.


    Earlier monitoring exercises conducted by the FDA on palm oil samples collected from markets in Koforidua had linked two of the suspects to products contaminated with the dye last year.

    In 2024, the Food and Drugs Authority issued a strong warning to consumers about the need for extreme caution when buying palm oil due to ongoing concerns about adulteration.

    The alert highlighted the FDA’s continued battle against the presence of hazardous substances, particularly the banned ‘Sudan Four’ dye, which has been found in some palm oil products on the market.

    This industrial dye, which is prohibited in food products due to its cancer-causing properties, poses a significant health threat to consumers.

    Roderick Daddey-Adjei, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, voiced serious concern about the ongoing issue despite the Authority’s strict enforcement measures.

    While progress has been made in reducing the amount of contaminated palm oil, Daddey-Adjei stressed that any level of contamination remains unacceptable.

    He warned that those responsible for such practices are still active and assured that the FDA, alongside the police, is taking firm action against them, including arrests.

    “But we are still not happy about that small percentage that is there, which means that people who perpetrated the activity are still lurking in the dark. And we also want to also let those who think that they can come back and keep on doing this, that their days are numbered. Because already with this one that we even did, we did some arrests, we have handed them over to the police.”


    Ghana’s oil palm exports declined by more than 50% in 2024, according to the Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana (OPDAG).


    The association’s president, Samuel Avaala, attributes this sharp downturn to insufficient government backing and the influx of cheaper foreign alternatives, which have put immense pressure on local producers.


    Speaking with Joy Business, Mr Avaala made a strong appeal for protective measures to safeguard the domestic oil palm industry.
    He urged the government to take decisive action against the uncontrolled importation of foreign palm oil, which continues to undercut local businesses.


    “We want to develop it ourselves, and it is in a state where we are not going to be competitive compared to our neighbors. Let’s play it safe. It’s around 50%. But in recent times, what has happened is that it is probably crossing the 50% mark, leaving the local side to take less than 50%,” he said.


    The association stressed the urgency of investing in local production capacity to close the widening gap in palm oil supply. Avaala underscored the importance of sound policy measures, exchange rate stability, and efficient liquidity management, stating that a more favorable economic environment would bolster growth in the sector.


    Ghana’s annual palm oil consumption stands at approximately 450,000 metric tons, largely driven by demand for vegetable oil.
    However, domestic production accounts for only 300,000 metric tons, resulting in a substantial 150,000 metric ton deficit that is met through imports.

  • DVLA clamps down on DP sticker misuse, seizes 40 vehicles at Tema Harbour

    DVLA clamps down on DP sticker misuse, seizes 40 vehicles at Tema Harbour

    Forty (40) vehicles have been impounded by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) at the Tema Harbour for the usage of fraudulent Drive from Port (DP) stickers. The seizure follows an intelligence-led operation conducted by the DVLA on Friday, April 17.


    According to a statement by DVLA, its preliminary investigations indicate vehicles imported by CFAO, a subsidiary of Toyota Tsusho Corporation, did not undergo the required clearance processes.


    “However, evidence suggests that an agent engaged to clear the vehicles on behalf of the company employed illegal methods, resulting in the discrepancies identified,” parts of the statement read.


    The DVLA introduced DP stickers to address revenue leakages associated with the previous aluminum DP plate system. Following this reform, the Authority recorded a significant increase in the issuance of DP stickers from an average of 2,000 stickers per month to approximately 15,000 in the month of October 2025.


    In recent months, however, a noticeable decline in DP sticker issuance at the ports prompted further investigations. Last year, the Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, met with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).


    He appeared before the committee, Friday, October 31, to defend a recent claim that he turned down a GH¢4 million bribe offer from some powerful individuals who sought to block the government’s new Digitalised Vehicle Registration Plate (DP) initiative.


    In an interview, Mr Kotey revealed, “… When I started this thing [car registration initiative], let me say that a gentleman called me. I don’t even know where that gentleman is from, whether it was a trap or not. He brought GH¢4 million to my office (sic)…


    “They came to my office saying that they do not want the DP sticker to be introduced since it would not help them benefit from monies in any way. They know they are stealing from the county. They brought cash, and my security can attest to that… I just said I can’t take it”.


    The DVLA boss was spotted leaving the OSP premises; however, what transpired during the meeting is yet to be made public. The Digitalised Vehicle Registration Plate (DP) initiative forms part of the government’s effort to improve road safety and curb vehicle-related fraud.


    On Monday, October 27, a tense moment erupted during a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sitting when Chairperson Abena Osei-Asare sharply confronted the DVLA boss over privacy concerns tied to the authority’s proposed digital number plate system.


    The exchange followed Mr. Kotey’s explanation that the new plates would contain Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chips to enhance security and make it difficult for outsiders to tamper with or duplicate them.

    Mrs. Osei-Asare, however, raised concerns about whether the new plates would display vehicle owners’ surnames, warning that such information could expose personal data.


    In response, Mr. Kotey said the DVLA would comply with Ghana’s Data Protection Law, noting that the system would only digitalize existing information without altering its basic format. When pressed for a clear answer on whether names would appear, he replied, “It depends on what the law says; we’ll go by it.”


    That response immediately drew a sharp reaction from the PAC Chair, who retorted, “You don’t tell me it depends on what the law says. You are doing it, so you should be able to tell us what the law says. I’m asking a specific question: is it going to have the user’s surname on the number plate?”


    Mr. Kotey later clarified that names do not appear on standard number plates, explaining that only personalized plates bear such identifiers. The Chair, however, maintained that the Committee’s inquiries were in the public interest and aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability in the rollout of the new digital number plate system.

  • Three suspects wanted in killing of Berekum Chelsea’s Dominic Frimpong

    Three suspects wanted in killing of Berekum Chelsea’s Dominic Frimpong

    Three suspects, namely Dauda, Huefe and A.T., have been declared wanted for their alleged deadly robbery attack on the Ahyiresu–Kwame Dwumor Sreso (KDS) road that led to the death of in the death of a Berekum Chelsea footballer.

    The victim, Dominic Frimpong, died while receiving treatment at the Bibiani Government Hospital after sustaining gunshot injuries during the attack.

    The suspects are believed to be part of a six-member armed gang that attacked a VIP bus with registration number AM 9334-20, which was carrying about 30 players and officials of Berekum Chelsea from Samreboi to Berekum.


    The robbers ambushed the team’s bus along the Ahyiresu–Kwame Dwumor Sreso (KDS) road in the Nyanihin District, where they opened fire on the vehicle.

    A statement issued by the Police has also revealed that the perpetrators made away with GHS 4,500.00 belonging to another victim, George Owusu Afriyie. Meanwhile, the police is on a manhunt for the other suspects.


    On Wednesday April 15, an intelligence-led operation carried out by the Ghana Police Service led to the arrest of two suspects Mohammed Ahmed, also known as “I Can Do,” believed to be the gang leader, and Bawa Gideon.

    Meanwhile, a combined team of officers from the Ghana Police Service, including personnel from the Police Intelligence Directorate Headquarters, Anti-Robbery Unit, CID Headquarters, as well as the Ashanti South and Ashanti Regional Police Commands are working together to ensure the perpetrators are broug.

    Ghana has recorded a drop of highway robbery case. According to a recent data from the Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the reduction in highway robbery incidents is largely attributed to intensified and targeted security operations along major transport corridors, which have helped deter criminal activities and protect commuters.


    He noted that the progress made reflects the effectiveness of strategic policing and intelligence-led operations deployed by the CID in tackling violent crime across the country.


    Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak further encouraged personnel of the CID to sustain the momentum and build on the gains achieved, stressing the need for continued vigilance and innovation in crime-fighting efforts.


    He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to equipping security agencies with the necessary logistics and support to enhance their operational capacity and ensure the safety of all citizens.


    The Ghana Police Service have announced its readiness to face any criminal network and criminal activities with rigour after the boost that comes with the government handing over forty armoured vehicles.


    President Mahama handed over the vehicles yesterday, Thursday, December 4, in a handing-over ceremony held at the Ghana Police Headquarters in Accra, and in response to this, the IGP, Christian Tetteh Yohunu, in an acceptance speech, sent a word of caution to all who seek to disrupt national security and peace that his outfit will relentlessly pursue and apprehend anyone involved in criminal activities.


    “Let me use this opportunity to send a strong word of caution to persons who have decided to threaten the security of this country: we are coming for you. You can run all you want and hide wherever you wish, but we will surely get you,” taunting the police service’s achievements so far under his leadership.


    “We have made several breakthroughs. In addition to numerous robbery attempts that have been foiled through sustained intelligence operations, we have successfully arrested suspects who operated under the illusion that they could get away with crime.


    “These include the suspect behind the rural bank robberies, the robbery of the Radiance Filling Station, the robbery at Enfasatia, attacks on mobile vendors, the Wire and Bullet serial murders, vehicle theft syndicates, and perpetrators behind fake online food-delivery platforms,” he mentioned.


    The IGP, also assured that the vehicles would be strategically deployed and properly maintained to achieve their intended objectives, commending the government for its intervention.


    “We wish to sincerely express our profound gratitude to the government for thinking about us and prioritising our welfare. Our assurance to you is that the vehicles will be well-maintained and strategically deployed to achieve the intended objectives,” he said.


    He also assured the president that with vehicles, his outfit will tear down any criminal syndicate and launch a “robust and targeted operation throughout the country”.


    “Your Excellency, these vehicles are going to completely change the face and dynamics of police operations. With these vehicles, we are going to launch very bold, robust, and targeted operations throughout the country. We will dismantle any existing criminal networks, most of whom have gone into hiding due to our intensified activities against them”, he noted.


    President Mahama, in his speech, commended the police for their hard work and efforts in bringing criminals to book, citing their resolve in tackling several cases of murder, armed robberies and other crimes in the country.


    He said, “And you have dealt with them, people who robbed banks and attacked people’s residences.


    You have chalked up many victories in bringing them to justice. Let me commend the CID, too.


    In the past, there were many unsolved murders. I’m happy to note that recently, many of the murders that occurred have been resolved. With good police intelligence, you’ve been able to bring the suspects to book”.


    He noted that the 40 armoured vehicles given to the Service are only the first of many his government will hand over to the law enforcement agency, adding that two tow trucks and patrol pickups will also be supplied to police districts.


    “These 40 vehicles are just the first batch of what you will be receiving. By the end of this month, you will receive two tow trucks so that anytime any of these vehicles becomes immobilised anywhere, you can pick it up and bring it back to base. You will also get 10 covert operational vehicles, which I have been cautioned not to talk about. It is only you who will know you have them. In addition, we want to give every police district a normal pickup for patrol duties”, the President said.


    The event also saw the presence of Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak and numerous senior police officers, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting law enforcement agencies.


    The Interior Minister, speaking at the commissioning, also mentioned that the enhanced security capacity of security services in the country should block all chances of criminal networks from operating and doing so effectively.


    “Your time is up. The state is prepared. The police are prepared. The tools are ready. The intelligence is improving. And the public is increasingly vigilant.”


    He said that security agencies will deal decisively with those involved in violent and organised crime. “Whether it is armed robbery, banditry, illegal mining, violence, trafficking, kidnapping, gang activities or terrorism, know that we will find you, we will stop you, and you will face the full force of the law”, adding that Ghana, being described as a peaceful country, doesn’t mean it is defenceless.


    “Ghana is a peaceful nation, but we are not defenceless.”
    The Minister explained that the new armoured vehicles would be deployed based on crime data and operational needs. He said the Interior Ministry will work closely with the Police Administration to ensure the vehicles are used effectively.


    “Some will support high crime zones, others will reinforce highway patrol, others will be integrated into rapid response teams and special operations. Deployment will be guided by intelligence, operational need and proper chain of command,” he said.


    He also highlighted the shift towards a more technology-driven policing model, supported by a new real-time crime centre being developed under the Inspector-General of Police.
    “We are moving towards a policing model that is predictive, data-driven and technology-enabled. In this new era, crime will be confronted not only with courage, but with smart intelligence and modern tools.”

  • Over 15 vehicles reduced to ashes after fuel tanker crashed in Kumasi

    Over 15 vehicles reduced to ashes after fuel tanker crashed in Kumasi

    Over fifteen (15) vehicles have been reduced to ashes after a fuel tanker carrying 54,000 litres of petrol crashed into a garage at Ridge, near Plux 2 Pub, in the Kumasi Metropolis of the Ashanti Region. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, April 16, has left the garage owner counting his losses. 

    In March, Nearby houses around Potsin Junction on the Kasoa–Winneba Highway were thrown into turmoil after a fuel tanker overturned and exploded on Tuesday, March 17. The tanker reportedly fell on its side, triggering a fire.

    Last month, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) confirmed that the fire outbreak on the Accra-Nsawam Highway near Okanta in the early hours of Saturday, February 14 claimed the lives of six people and injured seven others.

    The deceased persons include, three (3) victims including two males and one female.

    According to the Service a total of fifteen (15) casualties were recorded following the incident, comprising eleven (11) males and four (4) females.

    In a press statement the Ghana National Fire Service added that “A total of 15 casualties were recorded (11 males and 4 females). Three (3) victims (two males, one female) tragically died at the scene, and their badly charred bodies were handed over to the Police for preservation and further investigation”.

    In the early hours of Saturday, February 14, a fuel tanker explosion destroyed multiple vehicles along the Nsawam-Accra highway, causing heavy traffic congestion on the busy stretch.

    Preliminary reports indicate that the explosion occurred after the tanker was involved in a collision, which caused the vehicle to catch fire.

    Thick black smoke was seen rising from the scene, sparking fear among motorists and residents in nearby communities.

    Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service responded promptly and are working to bring the blaze under control and prevent it from spreading to other vehicles and properties.

    Emergency responders have since cordoned off the affected section of the road as firefighting operations continue.No casualties have been confirmed so far.

    However, emergency teams are still assessing the situation and searching the area to ensure that no victims are trapped.

    The incident has caused significant traffic disruption along the Nsawam-Accra route, which serves as a major link between the Eastern Region and Accra.

    Motorists have been advised to exercise caution when approaching the area and to use alternative routes while firefighting and vehicle recovery operations continue. Police personnel are also at the scene managing traffic and ensuring the safety of road users.

    Meanwhile, Eastern South Regional Police Commander, DCOP George Ohene Bossman Boadi, has warned the public against stealing fuel from tankers involved in road accidents.

    The warning comes after a fatal fuel tanker explosion was reported at Ntoaso on the Accra–Nsawam Highway in the Eastern Region, which killed three people and damaged property.

    According to a report by 3News.com, Suhum Fire Service Public Relations Officer ADO1 Akonoh Opare Ohene Daniel explained that the blast occurred when residents tried to steal fuel from the overturned tanker.

    “The residents in this area were siphoning the fuel, leading to the explosion. Traffic had already built up, and a female motorist who was trapped behind was burnt too.This is wrong. Residents along highways must stop engaging in such illegal activities,” he stated.

    He therefore urged the public to refrain from such dangerous and illegal acts and allow experts to manage accident scenes at all times.

    The 3News.com report added that Eyewitnesses revealed that the incident happened around 5:00 a.m. on Saturday, when a fuel tanker heading toward Kumasi reportedly overturned along the shoulder of the busy highway.

    Several residents and motorcycle riders rushed to the scene to steal fuel from the overturned vehicle.

    The situation quickly turned deadly when the tanker ignited, causing an explosion that claimed the lives of two men and one woman.

    The blast also destroyed around five vehicles caught in traffic, including motorcycles believed to belong to the victims. Passengers and bystanders fled as flames spread across the area.

    Personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, Ghana Police Service, National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and National Ambulance Service responded swiftly.

    Several individuals who sustained life-threatening injuries were rescued and taken to Nsawam Government Hospital, where they are receiving treatment. The bodies of the deceased have been taken to the Suhum Government Hospital morgue.

    Eastern South Regional Police Commander DCOP George Ohene Bossman Boadi stated that police officers would remain at the scene to manage traffic while Fire Service personnel continue efforts to extinguish the flames.

  • Three arrested in suspected drug trafficking operation

    Three arrested in suspected drug trafficking operation

    Three suspects are in police custody for their alleged involvement in a narcotics operation in the Accra metropolis. The trio, Bright Ayivor, Ifeanyi Ijeoba, and Kwabena Botwe, were apprehended between April 10 and April 11, during a series of coordinated operations by the police.

    In a related development, the Oti Regional Police Command at Dambai, Oti Region intercepted a DAF long trailer with registration number GW 1943-09, carrying 4,000 parcels of suspected narcotics in February.

    The police, in a press release, disclosed that the interception was made possible following intelligence gathered by their officers.


    According to the statement, thousands of compressed dried leaf parcels, wrapped in yellow masking tape and hidden in secret compartments sealed with six metal plates, were discovered by the officers.


    “The concealed compartments beneath the trailer were opened in the presence of suspect Amidu Jubril, aged 40. A search in the secret compartments led to the discovery of Four Thousand (4000) parcels of compressed dried leaf substances wrapped in a yellow masking tape suspected to be narcotics, carefully concealed within the compartments,” the statement said.


    Meanwhile, driver, Amidu Jubril, is in police custody. Last month, a 50-year-old commercial driver, Atampugri Akanyani, was nabbed by the police after 714 slabs of suspected Indian hemp were found in his possession.


    The slabs, which were hidden in nine nylon sacks were discovered during a routine snap check by police officers at the Asanso checkpoint along the Bekwai–Aputogya road on Tuesday, January 26, 2026.


    Atampugri Akanyani disclosed that an unknown individual at the Kejetia Lorry Terminal in Kumasi handed over the suspected Indian hemp to him for delivery, at a fee of six hundred Ghana cedis, to another unidentified person in Obuasi.


    Meanwhile, Atampugri Akanyani has since been arraigned before the court. Last year, 600 sacks of Indian hemp fertiliser, weighing a total of 47,530kg and valued at about GH¢4.2 billion, were destroyed by the Volta Regional Police Command.


    The destruction exercise, which occurred on Monday, November 17, was carried out pursuant to an order from the Ho Circuit Court. This information was contained in a statement issued on Thursday, November 20, and signed by Chief Inspector Francis Kwaru Gomado, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Volta Region.


    Parts of the statement read, “the six hundred sacks contained a total of forty-seven thousand, five hundred and thirty kilograms (47,530kg) with an estimated face value of about 4.2 billion Ghana cedis.”


    In August 2025, the Central East Regional Police Command arrested two suspects in possession of 519 compressed parcels of dried leaves suspected to be Indian Hemp.


    The suspects, identified as Eric Nkyeke, 30, and Francis Klu, 28, were held in police custody. The Toyota Hilux pick-up with registration number GS 6849-21 was impounded at Nyanyano in the Gomoa East District.


    This was revealed in a statement issued by the Nyanyano District police command. In June, the police nabbed two suspects for having in their possession 84 parcels of substances suspected to be Indian hemp.


    The police team, through an intelligence-led operation on June 15, intercepted an Opel Astra vehicle with registration number GT 6430-13 driven by suspect John Dzeble, together with suspect Adzobi Mesiwotso on board.


    A search conducted on the vehicle revealed 86 compressed parcels of substances suspected to be Indian hemp, discreetly concealed in the inner compartments of the car, including the engine, doors, and boot.


    In addition to the compressed parcels, the officers retrieved a portable measuring scale machine and a roll of masking tape, also concealed, believed to have been used in the packaging of the substances.

    The suspects, along with the exhibits, are currently in Police custody and assisting with the investigation.


    The Oti Regional Police Command has commended the swift and professional action of the personnel involved in the arrest and reaffirmed its commitment to curbing drug trafficking and related criminal activities.


    The arrest comes after a recent incident where the police captured one Christopher Partey for unlawful possession of 40 parcels of a substance suspected to be narcotic drugs.


    The National Highway Patrol Unit of the Ghana Police Service arrested on Wednesday, June 11.


    The team intercepted a Ford Transit bus with registration number AS 524-16 near the outskirts of Ayikuma township while on routine patrol along the Accra–Somanya corridor.


    A search of the vehicle revealed 40 tightly wrapped parcels concealed in a fertilizer sack in the vehicle’s boot. Upon interrogation, Christopher Partey, a passenger on board, admitted ownership of the items.


    The exhibits retrieved have been handed over to the Drug Law Enforcement Unit at the Police Headquarters for further investigation.

    The suspect is currently in police custody, assisting investigations, and will be put before the court. In April, a total of 189 Cadets were officially inducted into service to support Ghana’s ongoing efforts to combat narcotic drug trafficking and related crimes.


    The induction, held at the Eastern Naval Command, marked a significant collaboration between the Leadership Training School (LTS) and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC).


    The event, which featured the ceremonial swearing of an oath of allegiance, signified the commitment of the recruits to serve the nation with dedication and uphold the values of integrity and national security.


    The training, led by the Commanding Officer of LTS, is designed to build the capacity of cadets by focusing on the fundamentals of narcotics law and enforcement.

    The course places particular emphasis on confidence-building, professional discipline, and a thorough understanding of legal procedures necessary for their roles in narcotics control.


    As part of the induction, NACOC leadership underscored the importance of adherence to institutional rules and the responsible handling of classified information.


    The Commission reiterated its mission to disrupt the narcotics trade and act as a stabilizing force in communities vulnerable to the influence of drug-related activities.


    NACOC reaffirmed its commitment to making Ghana an unattractive hub for drug trafficking, prioritizing public safety and the protection of the nation’s borders.


    Calls have also been made for increased government support to enhance the Commission’s operational capacity, including the recruitment of additional personnel and the provision of improved financial and logistical resources.


    The new cadets are expected to play a key role in reinforcing the Commission’s enforcement operations across the country.

  • Petrol now GHS13.27, diesel GHS16.10 per litre following govt’s intervention

    Petrol now GHS13.27, diesel GHS16.10 per litre following govt’s intervention

    Two Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), Star Oil and state-owned GOIL have effective Thursday, April 16, reduced fuel prices at the pumps for the second pricing window of April. 

    Petrol is now selling at GH¢13.27 per litre from GH¢13.30, while diesel is going for GH¢16.10 per litre from GH¢17.10. The reduction follows the government’s temporary measures to cushion consumers against rising fuel prices, amid ongoing volatility on the global petroleum market. The government has announced that  it will absorb GH¢2.00 per litre on diesel and GH¢0.36 per litre on petrol for a month.

    During an emergency Cabinet meeting held on Thursday, April 9, President Mahama instructed the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and the Minister for Energy to immediately begin the process of reviewing and removing the affected taxes.

    President John Dramani Mahama said the decision is aimed at cushioning Ghanaians from rising fuel prices, which have been driven by global supply disruptions linked to tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

    The ongoing tension has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route. The ongoing tensions between Iran, the U.S., and Israel have been linked to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in strikes by the United States (U.S.) and Israel. This development is significantly impacting travelers from Ghana to Asia, Europe, and North America, as Dubai is a major transit hub connecting travelers through the United Arab Emirates.

    Before petrol and diesel were selling at GH¢13.30 and GH¢17.10 per litre, respectively, at the pumps. In a social media post on Tuesday, March 31, GOIL announced that it had increased petrol to GH¢13.30 per litre from GH¢12.24 and diesel from GH¢15.69 to GH¢17.10 per litre.

    Star Oil also increased from GH¢12.19 to GH¢13.49 per litre. It has also increased the price of Diesel from GH¢14.25 to GH¢17.97. The adjustment follows a new price floor announced by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on March 30, directing Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to implement the changes from Wednesday, April 1.

    On Monday, March 16, petroleum products at the pumps saw an increase following an adjustment by the NPA for the second pricing window for the month.

    As a result, petrol priced at GHȼ10.46 per litre will now be sold at GHȼ11.57. The price floor for diesel has jumped from GH¢11.42 to GH¢14.35 per litre, and LPG has risen from GH¢9.38 to GH¢10.67 per kilogramme. Meanwhile, Ghana’s petroleum sector recorded a decline in the second half of 2025.

    The data from the Bank of Ghana (BoG), contained in the Central Bank’s Semi-Annual Report on the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF) and shared on Tuesday, February 3, shows total receipts of US$399.65 million, significantly lower than returns recorded during the same period in 2024.

    The report explains that the amount represents combined inflows from crude oil liftings and petroleum-related taxes. However, it fell below the US$369.25 million realised from crude oil liftings alone in the second half of 2024, pointing to weaker overall performance in the sector.

    “The total amount received into the PHF account for H2 2025 was US$399.65 million (crude oil lifting total of US$198.25 million and other total income of US$201.40 million),” the report indicated.

    The report further indicates that revenue between July 1 and December 31, 2025, was drawn from two main sources. Crude oil liftings from the Jubilee and Sankofa Gye Nyame (SGN) fields generated US$198.25 million, following the lifting of two Jubilee cargoes and one SGN cargo by the Ghana Group, represented by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

    Ghana earned US$201.40 million from petroleum-related taxes and interest during the period. The bulk of this amount, US$198.09 million, came from corporate income taxes, while US$3.31 million was earned as interest on the Petroleum Holding Fund.

    The BoG also explained that revenue from the 25th cargo from the TEN field, valued at US$60.79 million, was not included in the report because the funds had not been received by the end of 2025, even though they were expected in November.

    Even though Ghana received less new money from oil during the period, it still spent and distributed a total of US$493.40 million. The spending was cushioned by savings accumulated by the government from previous years to cover the shortfall.

    According to the report, the government used about 57.8% of the total US$493.40 million, amounting to US$285.06 million, to fund its projects and programmes through the national budget.About 23.5%, representing US$115.99 million, was saved to stabilise the economy during difficult times, while US$49.71 million was saved for future generations. Another US$42.63 million was given to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation to help cover its operational and investment costs.

    The report further showed positive investment performance for Ghana’s petroleum savings. The Ghana Petroleum Funds recorded a net realised income of US$28.11 million, with returns of 2.28 per cent for the Heritage Fund and 2.51 per cent for the Stabilisation Fund.

    As of December 31, 2025, total petroleum reserves stood at US$1.55 billion, with the Heritage Fund accounting for US$1.38 billion.Looking ahead, the Bank of Ghana adopted a cautious outlook for 2026, noting that Brent crude prices declined from US$66.61 to US$60.81 per barrel by the end of 2025.

    While the International Monetary Fund projects global growth of 3.3 per cent, the report warned that Ghana’s petroleum revenues remain exposed to geopolitical developments in the Middle East and OPEC+ production decisions, with oil prices expected to average about US$62.13 per barrel in 2026.

    Meanwhile, in a related development, motorists have started the New Year on a good note, with less pressure on their pockets, as several Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have effected a reduction in fuel prices at their respective pumps across the country in the January pricing window.

    The price cuts, which took effect in the early hours of the New Year, signify a continued downward trend in petroleum costs, offering much-needed breathing room for both commercial and private transport users.Among the first OMCs to effect the reduction was market leader Star Oil.It set the pace and a benchmark for other OMCs as it adjusted its digital displays, reflecting a marginal dip from previous prices.Petrol is now selling at GH¢10.86 per litre, diesel is priced at GH¢11.96 per litre, and RON 95 is selling at GH¢13.56 per litre.

    According to Star Oil management, the reduction in oil prices is a result of a “favourable domestic and external cost environment,” citing the cedi’s appreciation and a dip in international refined product prices.

    It said the current reductions may only be the tip of the iceberg for January. The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) projected a robust outlook for the month, suggesting that competitive pressures will force more OMCs to follow suit in the coming days.

    In its January pricing outlook, COMAC provided a breakdown of the expected percentage declines. It was projected that petrol would fall by up to 4.80 per cent, while diesel was also estimated to drop by approximately 3.77 per cent. LPG, on the other hand, was expected to see a reduction of roughly 2.19 per cent.

    Industry analysts believe that if the cedi maintains its current trajectory and international crude prices remain below US$80 per barrel, Ghanaians could see even more substantial relief by the second pricing window in mid-January.

    While fuel prices are dropping, Ghanaians have had to brace themselves for an increase in utility tariffs, which took effect on January 1, 2026. Following the announcement, there was widespread disapproval, particularly from stakeholders and the general public.

    On December 2, 2025, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced an imminent increase in tariffs, with the new rates set to take effect from January 1, 2026. The Commission said the increases—9.86 per cent for electricity and 15.92 per cent for water—had become necessary to meet utility investment needs, respond to macroeconomic pressures, and ensure the long-term stability of the sector.

  • Two arrested for alleged attack on Berekum Chelsea bus that killed footballer Dominic Frimpong

    Two arrested for alleged attack on Berekum Chelsea bus that killed footballer Dominic Frimpong

    Two suspects are currently in police custody for their alleged involvement in a robbery attack that resulted in the death of a Berekum Chelsea footballer on Sunday, April 12, at about 10:30 p.m.

    The victim, Dominic Frimpong, died while receiving treatment at the Bibiani Government Hospital after sustaining gunshot injuries during the attack. The suspects are believed to be part of a six-member armed gang that attacked a VIP bus with registration number AM 9334-20, which was carrying about 30 players and officials of Berekum Chelsea from Samreboi to Berekum. 

    The robbers ambushed the team’s bus along the Ahyiresu–Kwame Dwumor Sreso (KDS) road in the Nyanihin District, where they opened fire on the vehicle. A statement issued by the Police has also revealed that the perpetrators made away with GHS 4,500.00 belonging to another victim, George Owusu Afriyie. Meanwhile, the police is on a manhunt for the other suspects. 

    Ghana has recorded a drop of highway robbery case. According to a recent data from the  Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the reduction in highway robbery incidents is largely attributed to intensified and targeted security operations along major transport corridors, which have helped deter criminal activities and protect commuters.

    He noted that the progress made reflects the effectiveness of strategic policing and intelligence-led operations deployed by the CID in tackling violent crime across the country.

    Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak further encouraged personnel of the CID to sustain the momentum and build on the gains achieved, stressing the need for continued vigilance and innovation in crime-fighting efforts.

    He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to equipping security agencies with the necessary logistics and support to enhance their operational capacity and ensure the safety of all citizens.

    The Ghana Police Service have announced its readiness to face any criminal network and criminal activities with rigour after the boost that comes with the government handing over forty armoured vehicles.

    President Mahama handed over the vehicles yesterday, Thursday, December 4, in a handing-over ceremony held at the Ghana Police Headquarters in Accra, and in response to this, the IGP, Christian Tetteh Yohunu,  in an acceptance speech, sent a word of caution to all who seek to disrupt national security and peace that his outfit will relentlessly pursue and apprehend anyone involved in criminal activities.

    “Let me use this opportunity to send a strong word of caution to persons who have decided to threaten the security of this country: we are coming for you. You can run all you want and hide wherever you wish, but we will surely get you,” taunting the police service’s achievements so far under his leadership.

    “We have made several breakthroughs. In addition to numerous robbery attempts that have been foiled through sustained intelligence operations, we have successfully arrested suspects who operated under the illusion that they could get away with crime.

    “These include the suspect behind the rural bank robberies, the robbery of the Radiance Filling Station, the robbery at Enfasatia, attacks on mobile vendors, the Wire and Bullet serial murders, vehicle theft syndicates, and perpetrators behind fake online food-delivery platforms,” he mentioned.

    The IGP, also assured that the vehicles would be strategically deployed and properly maintained to achieve their intended objectives, commending the government for its intervention.

    “We wish to sincerely express our profound gratitude to the government for thinking about us and prioritising our welfare. Our assurance to you is that the vehicles will be well-maintained and strategically deployed to achieve the intended objectives,” he said.

    He also assured the president that with vehicles, his outfit will tear down any criminal syndicate and launch a “robust and targeted operation throughout the country”.

    “Your Excellency, these vehicles are going to completely change the face and dynamics of police operations. With these vehicles, we are going to launch very bold, robust, and targeted operations throughout the country. We will dismantle any existing criminal networks, most of whom have gone into hiding due to our intensified activities against them”, he noted.

    President Mahama, in his speech, commended the police for their hard work and efforts in bringing criminals to book, citing their resolve in tackling several cases of murder, armed robberies and other crimes in the country.

    He said, “And you have dealt with them, people who robbed banks and attacked people’s residences.

    You have chalked up many victories in bringing them to justice. Let me commend the CID, too.

    In the past, there were many unsolved murders. I’m happy to note that recently, many of the murders that occurred have been resolved. With good police intelligence, you’ve been able to bring the suspects to book”.

    He noted that the 40 armoured vehicles given to the Service are only the first of many his government will hand over to the law enforcement agency, adding that two tow trucks and patrol pickups will also be supplied to police districts.

    “These 40 vehicles are just the first batch of what you will be receiving. By the end of this month, you will receive two tow trucks so that anytime any of these vehicles becomes immobilised anywhere, you can pick it up and bring it back to base. You will also get 10 covert operational vehicles, which I have been cautioned not to talk about. It is only you who will know you have them. In addition, we want to give every police district a normal pickup for patrol duties”, the President said.

    The event also saw the presence of  Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak and numerous senior police officers, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting law enforcement agencies.

    The Interior Minister, speaking at the commissioning, also mentioned that the enhanced security capacity of security services in the country should block all chances of criminal networks from operating and doing so effectively.

    “Your time is up. The state is prepared. The police are prepared. The tools are ready. The intelligence is improving. And the public is increasingly vigilant.”

    He said that security agencies will deal decisively with those involved in violent and organised crime. “Whether it is armed robbery, banditry, illegal mining, violence, trafficking, kidnapping, gang activities or terrorism, know that we will find you, we will stop you, and you will face the full force of the law”, adding that Ghana, being described as a peaceful country, doesn’t mean it is defenceless.

    “Ghana is a peaceful nation, but we are not defenceless.”

    The Minister explained that the new armoured vehicles would be deployed based on crime data and operational needs. He said the Interior Ministry will work closely with the Police Administration to ensure the vehicles are used effectively.

    “Some will support high crime zones, others will reinforce highway patrol, others will be integrated into rapid response teams and special operations. Deployment will be guided by intelligence, operational need and proper chain of command,” he said.

    He also highlighted the shift towards a more technology-driven policing model, supported by a new real-time crime centre being developed under the Inspector-General of Police.

    “We are moving towards a policing model that is predictive, data-driven and technology-enabled. In this new era, crime will be confronted not only with courage, but with smart intelligence and modern tools.”

  • Gov’t to lose GHS200m as fuel prices drop – Energy Ministry

    Gov’t to lose GHS200m as fuel prices drop – Energy Ministry

    The Ministry of Energy, through spokesperson Richmond Rockson, has disclosed that the government would have accrued an estimated GH¢200 million in revenue if fuel prices had remained unchanged.

    Addressing the media on Wednesday, April 15, he stated, “This will lead to a net loss of about GH¢200 million that could have accrued to the government, but it is a necessary sacrifice to bring relief to the people of Ghana”.

    During an emergency Cabinet meeting held on Thursday, April 9, President Mahama instructed the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and the Minister for Energy to immediately begin the process of reviewing and removing the affected taxes.

    In view of that, effective today, Thursday, April 16, 2026, the government will absorb GH¢2.00 per litre on diesel and GH¢0.36 per litre on petrol in the upcoming pricing window.

    Currently, two Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), GOIL and Star Oil, have lowered their pump prices. The two companies are now selling petrol at GH¢13.27 per litre, while diesel is going for GH¢16.10 per litre.

    President John Dramani Mahama said the decision is aimed at cushioning Ghanaians from rising fuel prices, which have been driven by global supply disruptions linked to tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States.

    The ongoing tension has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route. The ongoing tensions between Iran, the U.S., and Israel have been linked to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in strikes by the United States (U.S.) and Israel. This development is significantly impacting travelers from Ghana to Asia, Europe, and North America, as Dubai is a major transit hub connecting travelers through the United Arab Emirates.

    Before petrol and diesel were selling at GH¢13.30 and GH¢17.10 per litre, respectively, at the pumps. In a social media post on Tuesday, March 31, GOIL announced that it had increased petrol to GH¢13.30 per litre from GH¢12.24 and diesel from GH¢15.69 to GH¢17.10 per litre.

    Star Oil also increased from GH¢12.19 to GH¢13.49 per litre. It has also increased the price of Diesel from GH¢14.25 to GH¢17.97. The adjustment follows a new price floor announced by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on March 30, directing Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to implement the changes from Wednesday, April 1.

    On Monday, March 16, petroleum products at the pumps saw an increase following an adjustment by the NPA for the second pricing window for the month.

    As a result, petrol priced at GHȼ10.46 per litre will now be sold at GHȼ11.57. The price floor for diesel has jumped from GH¢11.42 to GH¢14.35 per litre, and LPG has risen from GH¢9.38 to GH¢10.67 per kilogramme. Meanwhile, Ghana’s petroleum sector recorded a decline in the second half of 2025.

    The data from the Bank of Ghana (BoG), contained in the Central Bank’s Semi-Annual Report on the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF) and shared on Tuesday, February 3, shows total receipts of US$399.65 million, significantly lower than returns recorded during the same period in 2024.

    The report explains that the amount represents combined inflows from crude oil liftings and petroleum-related taxes. However, it fell below the US$369.25 million realised from crude oil liftings alone in the second half of 2024, pointing to weaker overall performance in the sector.

    “The total amount received into the PHF account for H2 2025 was US$399.65 million (crude oil lifting total of US$198.25 million and other total income of US$201.40 million),” the report indicated.

    The report further indicates that revenue between July 1 and December 31, 2025, was drawn from two main sources. Crude oil liftings from the Jubilee and Sankofa Gye Nyame (SGN) fields generated US$198.25 million, following the lifting of two Jubilee cargoes and one SGN cargo by the Ghana Group, represented by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

    Ghana earned US$201.40 million from petroleum-related taxes and interest during the period. The bulk of this amount, US$198.09 million, came from corporate income taxes, while US$3.31 million was earned as interest on the Petroleum Holding Fund.

    The BoG also explained that revenue from the 25th cargo from the TEN field, valued at US$60.79 million, was not included in the report because the funds had not been received by the end of 2025, even though they were expected in November.

    Even though Ghana received less new money from oil during the period, it still spent and distributed a total of US$493.40 million. The spending was cushioned by savings accumulated by the government from previous years to cover the shortfall.

    According to the report, the government used about 57.8% of the total US$493.40 million, amounting to US$285.06 million, to fund its projects and programmes through the national budget.About 23.5%, representing US$115.99 million, was saved to stabilise the economy during difficult times, while US$49.71 million was saved for future generations. Another US$42.63 million was given to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation to help cover its operational and investment costs.

    The report further showed positive investment performance for Ghana’s petroleum savings. The Ghana Petroleum Funds recorded a net realised income of US$28.11 million, with returns of 2.28 per cent for the Heritage Fund and 2.51 per cent for the Stabilisation Fund.

    As of December 31, 2025, total petroleum reserves stood at US$1.55 billion, with the Heritage Fund accounting for US$1.38 billion.Looking ahead, the Bank of Ghana adopted a cautious outlook for 2026, noting that Brent crude prices declined from US$66.61 to US$60.81 per barrel by the end of 2025.

    While the International Monetary Fund projects global growth of 3.3 per cent, the report warned that Ghana’s petroleum revenues remain exposed to geopolitical developments in the Middle East and OPEC+ production decisions, with oil prices expected to average about US$62.13 per barrel in 2026.

    Meanwhile, in a related development, motorists have started the New Year on a good note, with less pressure on their pockets, as several Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have effected a reduction in fuel prices at their respective pumps across the country in the January pricing window.

    The price cuts, which took effect in the early hours of the New Year, signify a continued downward trend in petroleum costs, offering much-needed breathing room for both commercial and private transport users.Among the first OMCs to effect the reduction was market leader Star Oil.It set the pace and a benchmark for other OMCs as it adjusted its digital displays, reflecting a marginal dip from previous prices.Petrol is now selling at GH¢10.86 per litre, diesel is priced at GH¢11.96 per litre, and RON 95 is selling at GH¢13.56 per litre.

    According to Star Oil management, the reduction in oil prices is a result of a “favourable domestic and external cost environment,” citing the cedi’s appreciation and a dip in international refined product prices.

    It said the current reductions may only be the tip of the iceberg for January. The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) projected a robust outlook for the month, suggesting that competitive pressures will force more OMCs to follow suit in the coming days.

    In its January pricing outlook, COMAC provided a breakdown of the expected percentage declines. It was projected that petrol would fall by up to 4.80 per cent, while diesel was also estimated to drop by approximately 3.77 per cent. LPG, on the other hand, was expected to see a reduction of roughly 2.19 per cent.

    Industry analysts believe that if the cedi maintains its current trajectory and international crude prices remain below US$80 per barrel, Ghanaians could see even more substantial relief by the second pricing window in mid-January.

    While fuel prices are dropping, Ghanaians have had to brace themselves for an increase in utility tariffs, which took effect on January 1, 2026. Following the announcement, there was widespread disapproval, particularly from stakeholders and the general public.

    On December 2, 2025, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced an imminent increase in tariffs, with the new rates set to take effect from January 1, 2026. The Commission said the increases—9.86 per cent for electricity and 15.92 per cent for water—had become necessary to meet utility investment needs, respond to macroeconomic pressures, and ensure the long-term stability of the sector.

  • 7 police officers promoted for foiling robbery in Tema

    7 police officers promoted for foiling robbery in Tema

    Seven officers of the Tema Regional Police Command have been promoted by the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, for their “exceptional operational performance” in foiling a robbery attack on a female Mobile Money (MoMo) vendor at Community 5 in Accra on Monday morning, April 13. 


    The IGP together with the Police Management Board (POMAB), commended the officers for their outstanding performance. The promoted officers are Chief Inspector Enoch Nartey Nuer, Inspector Gershon Dekpey, Inspector Prince Asante, Sergeant Lukman Mohammed, Sergeant Eugene Kuudouru, Corporal Jerome Akator, and Lance Corporal Jonathan Sewurah.

    The officers shot dead two armed robbers during a fierce exchange with the suspects. A police statement signed by ASP Dede Dzakpasu, Head of Public Affairs for the Tema Regional Police Command, indicates that

    “The suspects were transported to the Police Hospital for medical attention but were pronounced dead on arrival by a medical officer”.

    The police noted that the robbers shot the female MoMo vendor as she tried to protect her money and resist the attack. According to the police, one suspect approached the victim under the guise of performing a “cash-out” transaction, while his accomplices waited for him on a motorbike.

    The suspect pulled a pistol and demanded her bag of cash as the victim reached for her phone.

    The pillion rider shot the victim in the leg in the heat of the scuffle and later fled the scene with the bag.

    However, following the swift intervention of the police, a total of GH¢11,390.00 is suspected to have been stolen. The police also retrieved one black 9mm Luger pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition, three Android phones, assorted SIM cards, a talisman, and a Ghana Card belonging to the robbery victim.

    Meanwhile, the female MoMo vendor is receiving treatment at a medical facility for her leg injury. In March, a police shootout in Atebubu left a suspected armed robber, Osman Amadu, popularly known as Manu, dead.

    The police have been on the lookout for Osman Amadu, who has been on the run since March 14 due to his alleged involvement in a robbery incident along the Atebubu-Ejura highway.

    However, on March 18, the Police through an intelligence gathering stormed Osman’s hideout in Ejura.

    According to the police, in an attempt to flee the scene, Osman allegedly opened fire at them. In defence, the police discharged their weapons, resulting in his death.

    Last year, a shootout between suspected armed robbers and the Ghana Police Service at Atebubu in the Bono East region on July 30 led to the demise of two suspects.

    On that fateful day, a team of police officers who were on patrol duty, according to the Ghana Police Service, came across a robbery attack on some commuters along the Atebubu Highway.

    The suspects started firing towards the police officers upon sighting them. The suspects who got hit during the shootout were rushed to a hospital but were pronounced dead upon arrival.

    The other suspects are currently at large after escaping into some nearby bushes. A search at the scene led to the retrieval of a shotgun loaded with two live cartridges, four spent cartridges, and a machete.

    Intensive efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects, the Ghana Police Service has assured.

    An intelligence-led operation by the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) foiled a robbery attempt by five armed men en route to rob a foreign national at Cantonments on July 15.

    In a statement, the Police noted that they received credible intelligence that the five armed men were lodging at a hotel in Labadi.

    While en route to the location in a Toyota Yaris vehicle, the suspects opened fire on a police team after detecting police surveillance. An officer got shot. A shootout ensued, and two of the suspects succumbed to gunshot wounds after being rushed to the Ghana Police Hospital.

    The officer who sustained gunshot wounds to his arm and legs has been hospitalised and is responding to treatment, according to the Police. The Police retrieved from the scene two pump-action guns loaded with ammunition, live cartridges, three mobile phones, talismans, and other items.

    Meanwhile, a manhunt is underway to arrest the remaining three suspects currently at large. This incident preceded a shootout between officers of the Tema Regional Police Command and a group of 10 suspected robbers during a robbery incident at the Tema Industrial Area that led to the demise of three suspects.

    The incident occurred on July 21 when the police patrol team responded to a distress call and exchanged gunfire upon arrival at the scene during a confrontation with the suspects.

    Three of the suspected robbers succumbed to gunshot wounds, but seven others, some of whom are believed to have been wounded, managed to evade arrest. The police are on a manhunt for these suspected robbers. The remains of the three suspected robbers have been deposited at the Police Hospital Morgue for identification, preservation, and autopsy.

    Exhibits recovered from the scene include a Bruni mod foreign pistol, a double-barrelled locally manufactured pistol with 2 rounds of ammunition and 11 live BB ammunition. The Ghana Police Service has commended its officers at the Kpone District Command for their efforts in managing the robbery incident.

    What the law says about robbery and stealing

    Section 149 of the Criminal Offences states that a person who commits robbery commits a first-degree felony. Per Section 150, “a person who steals a thing commits robbery (a) if in, and for the purpose of stealing the thing, that person uses force or causes harm to any other person, or (b) if that person uses a threat or criminal assault or harm to any other person, with intent to prevent or overcome the resistance of the other person to the stealing of the thing.”

    Section 124 of the Criminal Offences Act indicates that a person who steals commits a second-degree felony. Where the court that finds a person guilty of stealing is satisfied that on not less than two previous occasions the accused was found guilty of stealing, the court shall order that the whole or a part of a term of imprisonment imposed by it shall be spent in productive hard labour.

    A person in respect of whom the court makes an order under subsection (2) is disqualified for election to Parliament or to a District Assembly within the meaning of the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462), for a period not exceeding five years.

    Productive hard labour means labour in a state farm or state factory or any other public co-operative or collective enterprise specified by the Minister.

    Police efforts in combating robbery

    In recent years, the Ghana Police Service has made some strides in curtailing the activities of robbers as well as seeing to the prosecution of those arrested during their line of work. The police this month managed to secure a conviction for an armed robbery incident that occurred in Atonsu Kuwait, Kumasi, four years ago.

    The Kumasi Circuit Court sentenced two individuals to 15 years imprisonment for the violent armed robbery incident. The convicted persons are Abass Kasim (26) and Daniel Morro, a.k.a. “China” (25).

    They were part of a group of five that attacked a resident at his Atonsu Kuwait, Kumasi home on July 31, 2021, at about 2:30 am. The gang, wielding a pistol and cutlasses, shot the victim in the abdomen, inflicted multiple cutlass wounds, and robbed him of personal effects.

    Items stolen during the attack included one iPhone 11 mobile phone valued at GHS 5,500, one Samsung phone valued at GHS 500, two Apple Watches valued at GHS 3,000, and two M.K. ladies’ handbags.

    An unspecified quantity of jewelry, $600, and an unspecified amount of Ghana cedis were also stolen. Following police investigations, Abass Kasim was arrested on August 12, 2021, and during interrogation, he admitted his involvement and subsequently led officers to the arrest of Daniel Morro, and a pistol used in the attack was later retrieved.

    On Thursday, August 19, 2021, they were arraigned before Kumasi Circuit Court 4, where they were initially remanded into custody after pleading not guilty. The two reappeared in court on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, and were convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on each count.

    This included conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and unlawful entry. Abetment of crime and possession of firearms without authority. All sentences are to run concurrently.

    The convicts have since been transferred to the Central Prisons in Kumasi to begin serving their prison sentence. Meanwhile, the three accomplices are currently at large, and the police have intensified efforts to locate them.

    The police reported another victory after an armed robber, Paul Avortide, was jailed for 19 years with hard labour for robbery. The 25-year-old convict, on May 21, at about 4:00 am, at Tsikpota near New Housing, Ho, with a machete in his hand, threatened a pregnant woman by the name of Ogechi Chidiebere, a Nigerian resident in Ho.

    Paul Avortide robbed the victim of her Gh¢ 3,000 and her Tecno Spark 30c mobile phone valued at Gh¢2,500 when she was on her way to attend antenatal care at the Ho Municipal Hospital.

    On June 19, at about 6:00 pm, the Regional Police Intelligence team arrested Harmony Nbonu at the Ho Main Market, who was in possession of the stolen phone. During interrogations, he mentioned Paul Avortide as the one who sold the phone to him at the cost of Gh¢ 850.00.

    Coordinated efforts between the Police and the suspect, Hormony Nbonu, led to the arrest of the convict, Paul Avortide, at Matse, a suburb of Ho, when he was running away from Ho Township. After police investigations, Paul Avortide was charged with the offence of robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), as amended by the Criminal Offences (Amendment) ACT, 2003 (ACT 646).

    Harmony Nbonu, on the other hand, was charged with the offence of Dishonestly Receiving Contrary to Section 146 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). The two were arraigned before Ho Circuit Court presided over by His Honour, Osman Abdul Hakeem, Esq., on Tuesday, July 1.

    The first accused person (A1), Paul Avortide, pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery and was convicted on his own plea and sentenced to a prison term of 19 years in hard labor. The second accused person, (A2), Harmony Nbonu, was acquitted and discharged. The convict has since been handed over to the Ho Regional Prison authorities to begin to serve his prison term.

  • More Ghanaians enrolling in NHIS as coverage rises from 57% to 66% in 2025 – NHIA boss

    More Ghanaians enrolling in NHIS as coverage rises from 57% to 66% in 2025 – NHIA boss

    Ghana’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) coverage has increased from 57 per cent to 66 per cent as of 2025, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Dr Victor Bampoe, has disclosed.

    Speaking during a media interaction on Tuesday, April 14, Dr Bampoe said that prior to his assumption of office, only 57 per cent of Ghanaians were enrolled in the scheme.
    “The NHIS, at the time we took office, the coverage was 57%; last year [2025], we pushed it to 66%. But it means 34% of Ghanaians are not covered,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the government’s flagship Free Primary Health Care Programme will be launched today, Wednesday, April 15, by President John Dramani Mahama at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region.

    The Free Primary Healthcare Policy is Ghana’s bold initiative to ensure that every resident, especially vulnerable populations, can access essential health services without paying out-of-pocket at the point of care.

    The government is poised to officially roll out the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) initiative on September 1, 2025. This forms part of the key steps adopted towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.

    Over 24,534 pieces of medical equipment have been received by the government ahead of its Free Primary Healthcare policy rollout. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh stated, “In preparation for implementation, we have procured and are ready to deploy 24,534 pieces of essential medical equipment across the country. This is intended to ensure our facilities and health workers are equipped and ready.”

    The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has disbursed over GH¢392 million in vetted claims to healthcare providers across Ghana between December 2025 and January 2026.

    The payments cover services provided under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

    According to the Finance Directorate of the NHIA, the funds were released following an extensive vetting and approval process of claims submitted by health facilities. In December 2025, the Authority paid GH¢301,658,338.13, while in January 2026, healthcare providers received GH¢90,373,513.13.

    The NHIA in early July 205 disbursed an amount of GH¢267.67 million as claims to health facilities across the country. The disbursement became possible following approval by Chief Executive Dr. Victor Asare-Bampoe. The total payments made by the NHIA in the past seven months stand at over GH¢1.5 billion.

    Out of the total amount, public health facilities received GH¢120,700,932.62, which constitutes 45 percent of the total.

    Private health facilities have been paid GH¢100,210,906.44, representing 37 percent of the total amount, while mission health facilities have been allotted GH¢446,761,808.96, which makes up 17 percent of the total funds.

    One of the ways the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) seeks to ease the financial burden on citizens, ensure equal access to healthcare, and reduce illegal fees is by proposing a 120 per cent increase in service tariffs, pending approval from its Board and the Minister of Health.

    This was revealed by the Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, during an appearance on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, November 26. According to Dr. Bampoe, the proposed tariff increase, if approved, would help reduce the extra charges patients pay at hospitals for medical care and services.

    He explained that the proposed increase was planned in consultation with a group of independent experts mandated to review tariffs under Sections 33 and 34 of the National Health Insurance Act, which require annual revisions of both medicines and service tariffs.

    “Regarding the 120% tariff increase: this is proposed after comprehensive work by a group of experts. The law requires an annual review of service and medicine tariffs (Sections 33 and 34). Although the review was delayed, the proposal is now ready and will go to our board and the Minister of Health for approval. Once approved, it will be implemented. This is partly to address the problem of illegal fees at hospitals, ensuring health providers are paid realistic tariffs so patients no longer have to pay out-of-pocket,” he said.

    As the “cash manager” of Ghana’s health insurance system, Dr. Bampoe explained that the NHIA is mandated to collect funds, set tariffs, and pay hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies for services provided to insured patients.

    However, he noted that the Authority plans to move beyond this traditional role and become more of a “strategic health purchasing provider.”

    “But the NHS is more like a spending entity; we do not generate money on our own. So, we are a spending entity. One of the things we’re trying to do is move away from being a claims payment mechanism to a strategic health purchasing provider, which means that we are able to dictate health outcomes because of the financial muscle that the government provides us with.

    We’re able to determine the prices of medicines, the prices of services, and even go on the global stage and provide a platform to discuss what kind of health outcomes we want, as you saw with the ACRA Health Sovereignty Summit that happened on August 5. So it’s an interesting time, and His Excellency the President, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Health have given us the tools to be able to deliver on this mandate,” he said, citing the government’s commitment to ensuring that his outfit can deliver on its mandate.

    As part of its vision to move from just paying claims to becoming a “strategic health purchasing provider,” Dr. Bampoe highlighted that the NHIA also seeks to provide Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under three distinct pillars. Lauding the NHIA for its success in granting health coverage, he revealed that out of over 35 million Ghanaians, the Authority has provided coverage for about 20 million.“

    So essentially, the health insurance scheme was set up in 2003 (Act 650) and amended in 2012 (Act 852), and its primary purpose was to pay claims. But now what we are looking at is getting universal health coverage for all Ghanaians. Universal health coverage has three pillars: population coverage, service coverage, and financial protection. I am proud to say that we are at 20 million in population coverage, which is unprecedented.”

    He noted that while the medicines tariff review has already been completed, the service tariff review, initiated in 2022, took longer due to its comprehensive nature.

    “There are two types of reviews that we need to do, but this was a really comprehensive one, so I think they could not finish on time, and so it is now that they have finished,” he explained.

    Dr. Bampoe stressed that implementation now depends solely on statutory approvals. “Now it has to go to the Board for them to look at it and give their view on it. It has to go to the Minister of Health to give his assent, and then we will implement it if they all think it is okay,” he stated.

    The NHIA CEO applauded the government for removing the cap on NHIA funds.“Regarding funding, we are dependent on the importance the government places on healthcare. I’m proud of His Excellency the President, the Finance Minister, and the Minister of Health because the capping act (Act 947 of 2019) has put a limit on funds coming to the NHIA.

    The President removed that cap, giving us an extra 3.4–3.5 billion cedis for healthcare.“We are trying to do three things; shift mindsets in government and across the country to see healthcare as important for development. Healthy people are more productive. Focus on areas where we get the best results, such as Mahama Cares and Free Primary Healthcare. If 40%+ of people are affected by non-communicable diseases, it makes sense to prevent them.

    “Preventive actions include health promotion and screenings. For example, catching prostate cancer early with a PSA test is more cost-effective than treating stage 4 disease. Shift realities. At the Global Fund and UN, programs were comprehensive but expensive. We now aim for solutions that fit our reality, whether that’s a Rolls-Royce, a Toyota VIT, or even a motorbike; the key is to deliver,” he detailed.

  • 23-year-old galamseyer found dead at Akontanim in Dormaa East

    23-year-old galamseyer found dead at Akontanim in Dormaa East

    The lifeless body of a 23-year-old man, Kwabena Agyei has been found dead at Akontanim in the Dormaa East District of the Bono Region on Monday, April 13. 

    According to a police report released on Tuesday, April 14, by the Bono Regional Police Command, the deceased, allegedly involved in illegal mining activities, was found at the Akontanim chief’s palace in a supine position and wrapped with a white bedsheet. The police report release added that Kwabena Agyei’s body had signs of assault on his chest and back.

    In an unrelated development, a 42-year-old mother and her three children have been confirmed dead after drowning in a water-filled galamsey pit at Wassa Dunkwa in the Amenfi West Municipality of the Western Region on Saturday, February 28.


    The family of four had gone near the abandoned illegal mining site in search of firewood. The eldest child, aged 14, reportedly led his younger siblings into the water-filled pit.

    The boys became trapped and were unable to escape. In an attempt to rescue her children, the 42-year-old mother also entered the pit but tragically drowned.

    The bodies of the four family members have been deposited at the Catholic Hospital morgue. Abandoned illegal mining pits have claimed the lives of Ghanaians in recent times.

    Galamsey pit collapse at Atta Ne Atta in Asutifi South has claimed the lives of nine individuals, with four others currently receiving treatment at St. Elizabeth Catholic Hospital in Hwidiem following the incident, which occurred on Monday, March 2.


    Recently, a 20-year-old student, Evans Allotey, of Okomfo Anokye Senior High School (SHS), died after falling into an abandoned mining pit on Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at Manso Akwesiso, Amansie South District of the Ashanti Region.


    The unfortunate incident reportedly occurred while he was attempting to flee military personnel who had visited the site to crack down on illegal mining activities. In reaction to the unfortunate incident, residents staged a protest to express their dissatisfaction.


    In 2025, a pit collapse at an illegal mining site at Kasotie in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region claimed the lives of seven illegal miners who were trapped underground.

    The pit collapse, which occurred on Wednesday night, October 1, also left four injured, while several miners were trapped.


    For years, the country’s efforts to nip the canker in the bud have not yielded the needed results. Among recent measures taken to protect water bodies from illegal miners is the deployment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).


    The Secretariat includes the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), the Narcotics Control Commission, and the National Security Secretariat.


    Addressing the security forces, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Amarh Kofi-Buah, directed the team to ruthlessly counter the activities of galamsey operators as they are the enemies of the state.


    “Any recalcitrant entering into these zones is not merely a trespasser. They are an enemy of the state. You are to be firm. You are to be resolute. You are to be ruthless.


    “And please, take it from me, you will take no obstructionist instruction from any big man. Remember, the biggest man in Ghana is the President of the Republic, and he’s the one who has sent you,” Mr Kofi-Buah charged.


    Government deployed soldiers to permanently guard 44 galamsey hotspots, including waterbodies and areas threatened by galamsey activities.


    Speaking to the media on Tuesday, September 16, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, noted, “All the 44 areas that are threatened by galamsey, there is going to be a permanent military presence”.


    According to statistics from the Lands Minister, 1,400 persons have been arrested from January to August this year in the government’s efforts to crack down on galamsey.


    According to him, the achievement was attained through the government’s renewed efforts. He noted that the government has seized 440 excavators and more than 800 changfans.


    “We have seized 440 excavators and more than 800 changfans. We have mobilised Blue Water Guards in key regions, and they are making a difference,” Mr. Buah stated.


    The government’s move is a response to mounting calls to declare a state of emergency over galamsey. The river guards are selected from communities most affected by illegal mining, ensuring they have a deep understanding of the local landscape and challenges.


    The government has issued an official order requiring all machinery used in mining operations to be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) by August 1st.


    A statement issued by the Ministry of the Interior on Tuesday, July 15, states that the state will proceed with confiscating unregistered mining equipment after the deadline.


    “The Government, as part of efforts to reform the mining sector in the country, requires that all machinery used in mining activities must be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) by 1st August 2025. Equipment that remains unregistered after this deadline will be confiscated by the State,” the Ministry stated on its website.


    Mr Mubarak has empowered the Ghana Police Service and DVLA to begin strict enforcement of the new rule from August 2. “The Ghana Police Service and DVLA have been directed to enforce this directive from 2nd August 2025 onward rigorously. The general public, especially those who use mining machinery, is advised to take note and comply with the directive,” he wrote.


    The Ministry reiterates its resolve to maintain national peace through effective internal security and law enforcement. Meanwhile, a similar directive came in months ago, where excavator owners and operators were asked to register their machines with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) within two weeks or risk losing them to the state, as the government intensifies efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities.

  • President Mahama to roll out govt’s Free Primary Healthcare policy today

    President Mahama to roll out govt’s Free Primary Healthcare policy today

    The government’s flagship Free Primary Health Care Programme will be launched today, Wednesday, April 15, by President John Dramani Mahama at Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region. 

    The Free Primary Healthcare Policy is Ghana’s bold initiative to ensure that every resident, especially vulnerable populations, can access essential health services without paying out-of-pocket at the point of care. 

    The government is poised to officially roll out the Free Primary Healthcare (FPHC) initiative on September 1, 2025. This forms part of the key steps adopted towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.

    Over 24,534 pieces of medical equipment have been received by the government ahead of its Free Primary Healthcare policy rollout. Speaking at the Government Accountability Series, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh stated, “In preparation for implementation, we have procured and are ready to deploy 24,534 pieces of essential medical equipment across the country. This is intended to ensure our facilities and health workers are equipped and ready.”

    The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has disbursed over GH¢392 million in vetted claims to healthcare providers across Ghana between December 2025 and January 2026.

    The payments cover services provided under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

    According to the Finance Directorate of the NHIA, the funds were released following an extensive vetting and approval process of claims submitted by health facilities. In December 2025, the Authority paid GH¢301,658,338.13, while in January 2026, healthcare providers received GH¢90,373,513.13.

    The NHIA in early July 205 disbursed an amount of GH¢267.67 million as claims to health facilities across the country. The disbursement became possible following approval by Chief Executive Dr. Victor Asare-Bampoe. The total payments made by the NHIA in the past seven months stand at over GH¢1.5 billion.

    Out of the total amount, public health facilities received GH¢120,700,932.62, which constitutes 45 percent of the total.

    Private health facilities have been paid GH¢100,210,906.44, representing 37 percent of the total amount, while mission health facilities have been allotted GH¢446,761,808.96, which makes up 17 percent of the total funds.

    One of the ways the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) seeks to ease the financial burden on citizens, ensure equal access to healthcare, and reduce illegal fees is by proposing a 120 per cent increase in service tariffs, pending approval from its Board and the Minister of Health.

    This was revealed by the Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, during an appearance on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, November 26. According to Dr. Bampoe, the proposed tariff increase, if approved, would help reduce the extra charges patients pay at hospitals for medical care and services.

    He explained that the proposed increase was planned in consultation with a group of independent experts mandated to review tariffs under Sections 33 and 34 of the National Health Insurance Act, which require annual revisions of both medicines and service tariffs.

    “Regarding the 120% tariff increase: this is proposed after comprehensive work by a group of experts. The law requires an annual review of service and medicine tariffs (Sections 33 and 34). Although the review was delayed, the proposal is now ready and will go to our board and the Minister of Health for approval. Once approved, it will be implemented. This is partly to address the problem of illegal fees at hospitals, ensuring health providers are paid realistic tariffs so patients no longer have to pay out-of-pocket,” he said.

    As the “cash manager” of Ghana’s health insurance system, Dr. Bampoe explained that the NHIA is mandated to collect funds, set tariffs, and pay hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies for services provided to insured patients.

    However, he noted that the Authority plans to move beyond this traditional role and become more of a “strategic health purchasing provider.”

    “But the NHS is more like a spending entity; we do not generate money on our own. So, we are a spending entity. One of the things we’re trying to do is move away from being a claims payment mechanism to a strategic health purchasing provider, which means that we are able to dictate health outcomes because of the financial muscle that the government provides us with.

    We’re able to determine the prices of medicines, the prices of services, and even go on the global stage and provide a platform to discuss what kind of health outcomes we want, as you saw with the ACRA Health Sovereignty Summit that happened on August 5. So it’s an interesting time, and His Excellency the President, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Health have given us the tools to be able to deliver on this mandate,” he said, citing the government’s commitment to ensuring that his outfit can deliver on its mandate.

    As part of its vision to move from just paying claims to becoming a “strategic health purchasing provider,” Dr. Bampoe highlighted that the NHIA also seeks to provide Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under three distinct pillars. Lauding the NHIA for its success in granting health coverage, he revealed that out of over 35 million Ghanaians, the Authority has provided coverage for about 20 million.“

    So essentially, the health insurance scheme was set up in 2003 (Act 650) and amended in 2012 (Act 852), and its primary purpose was to pay claims. But now what we are looking at is getting universal health coverage for all Ghanaians. Universal health coverage has three pillars: population coverage, service coverage, and financial protection. I am proud to say that we are at 20 million in population coverage, which is unprecedented.”

    He noted that while the medicines tariff review has already been completed, the service tariff review, initiated in 2022, took longer due to its comprehensive nature. 

    “There are two types of reviews that we need to do, but this was a really comprehensive one, so I think they could not finish on time, and so it is now that they have finished,” he explained.

    Dr. Bampoe stressed that implementation now depends solely on statutory approvals. “Now it has to go to the Board for them to look at it and give their view on it. It has to go to the Minister of Health to give his assent, and then we will implement it if they all think it is okay,” he stated.

    The NHIA CEO applauded the government for removing the cap on NHIA funds.“Regarding funding, we are dependent on the importance the government places on healthcare. I’m proud of His Excellency the President, the Finance Minister, and the Minister of Health because the capping act (Act 947 of 2019) has put a limit on funds coming to the NHIA. 

    The President removed that cap, giving us an extra 3.4–3.5 billion cedis for healthcare.“We are trying to do three things; shift mindsets in government and across the country to see healthcare as important for development. Healthy people are more productive. Focus on areas where we get the best results, such as Mahama Cares and Free Primary Healthcare. If 40%+ of people are affected by non-communicable diseases, it makes sense to prevent them. 

    “Preventive actions include health promotion and screenings. For example, catching prostate cancer early with a PSA test is more cost-effective than treating stage 4 disease. Shift realities. At the Global Fund and UN, programs were comprehensive but expensive. We now aim for solutions that fit our reality, whether that’s a Rolls-Royce, a Toyota VIT, or even a motorbike; the key is to deliver,” he detailed.

  • Building collapse at Awutu Papaase leaves 4-year-old dead, one critically injured

    Building collapse at Awutu Papaase leaves 4-year-old dead, one critically injured

    Residents of Awutu Papaase Number 1 in the Awutu Senya West District are in a state of despair after a building collapse left a four-year-old boy, Godsway Nuchuga, dead, and his 35-year-old elder brother, Seth Nuchuga, in critical condition on Tuesday, April 14.

    According to reports, a heavy downpour caused the collapse of the building in which the victims were trapped. Meanwhile, Seth Nuchuga is receiving treatment at the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital.

    Ghana has witnessed multiple fatalities and severe injuries resulting from devastating building collapses. These incidents have raised significant concerns among professionals in the built environment about construction standards, prompting calls for immediate action.

    On Sunday, March 29, the collapse of an uncompleted four-storey building near the Experimental D/A School in Accra Newtown, claimed the lives of three. A total of 20 were rescued after being trapped.

    The victims were part of a group of worshipers who had gathered inside the structure for service. Unfortunately, the collapse occurred while the service was ongoing, trapping several individuals beneath the rubble.

    According to reports, 23 individuals, comprising 15 females and 8 males, including three minors were caught in the collapse. In 2024, four individuals lost their lives after a three-storey building at Kasoa New Market in the Awutu Senya East Municipality in the Central Region collapsed.

    Eyewitnesses described the tragic event, noting that the victims included young workers and trainees. “The sad incident happened at Kasoa. This three-storey building collapsed, and four people have died; may their souls rest in peace. This is so sad. Some are young girls learning a trade as well as workers. This happened at the Kasoa New Market.”

    According to eyewitnesses, the three-storey building caved in while workers were on the second floor. Among the deceased was a carpenter who died on the spot. The other deceased persons lost their lives while being transported to the hospital.

    A mason in his early forties lost his life on July 17, 2024, while working on a two-storey building in Sewua in the Ashanti Region. The deceased, Kwaku Gyemfi, was the lead constructor at the site. Witnesses reported that Gyemfi was attempting to reinforce collapsing pillars when the structure failed.

    His assistant had warned him of the impending collapse, but he was trapped before he could escape.

    A school building in Adeiso in the Upper West Akim District of the Eastern Region collapsed on February 15, 2024, during a rainstorm. The collapse injured 10 out of 50 students present, with four suffering severe injuries.

    Despite ongoing concerns about the building’s deteriorating condition, no preventive measures were taken. The incident occurred as students and teachers sought shelter during a sports event.

    In West Legon, Accra, a two-storey shop complex collapsed during a fire incident, injuring four firefighters from the Legon Fire Station. The fire service had responded to a distress call about a blaze at the location.

    The collapse occurred as they were working to extinguish the fire. Two of the injured firefighters were treated at the University of Ghana Medical Centre for their critical conditions.

    Earlier this year, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) spent more than two hours rescuing a construction worker trapped under a collapsed building at the Kasoa New Market in the Central Region. The old residential structure was reportedly undergoing renovation by masons hired by the building’s owner.

    In a similar development, a pit collapse at an illegal mining site at Kasotie in the Atwima Mponua District of the Ashanti Region on Wednesday night, October 1, claimed the lives of seven illegal miners who were trapped underground.

    According to reports, the pit collapse, which occurred on Wednesday night, October 1, also left four injured, while several miners were feared trapped. Meanwhile, rescue efforts were carried out by the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) in collaboration with emergency services and local volunteers.

    For years, the country’s efforts to nip the canker in the bud have not yielded the needed results. Among recent measures taken to protect water bodies from illegal miners is the deployment of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).

    The Secretariat includes the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana Immigration Service, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), the Narcotics Control Commission, and the National Security Secretariat.

    Addressing the security forces, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Amarh Kofi-Buah, directed the team to ruthlessly counter the activities of galamsey operators as they are the enemies of the state.

    “Any recalcitrant entering into these zones is not merely a trespasser. They are an enemy of the state. You are to be firm. You are to be resolute. You are to be ruthless.

    “And please, take it from me, you will take no obstructionist instruction from any big man. Remember, the biggest man in Ghana is the President of the Republic, and he’s the one who has sent you,” Mr. Kofi-Buah charged.

  • Ghana hit by egg glut amid Burkina Faso export ban

    Ghana hit by egg glut amid Burkina Faso export ban

    Burkina Faso’s ban on egg exports has left Ghanaian egg suppliers struggling with excess stock. For more than two months, Burkina Faso has halted egg exports, allegedly over Ghana’s previous bird flu outbreak.

    The situation has prompted calls from egg suppliers, particularly those in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, for the government to engage Burkina Faso on the matter.

    Earlier in March, Burkina Faso imposed a ban on tomato exports, stating that the measure was necessary to supply the country’s processing units.

    In a formal communique it noted “This development is a positive outcome of ongoing bilateral engagements between Ghana and Burkina Faso”.

    The ban impacted Ghana, as the country imports a very large share of its fresh tomatoes from Burkina Faso, about 75,000 tonnes annually, valued at roughly GH¢400 million, particularly during dry seasons.


    Ghana’s annual tomato demand stands at about 805,000 metric tonnes, while current production is estimated at 510,000 metric tonnes, leaving a deficit of nearly 300,000 metric tonnes.


    One of the major concerns raised by the Minister was a long-standing trend of post-harvest losses, citing the loss of about 30 percent of local production- approximately 153,000 metric tonnes.


    Reducing the losses could significantly close the supply gap, he said, adding that: “It is not about increasing the size of the land under cultivation. It is about developing the right variety and creating the conditions to maximise output.”


    Under the Vegetable Development Project, Mr Opoku said farmers were being supported with improved seeds, fertilisers, and technical guidance, alongside irrigation infrastructure to ensure year-round production.


    The Vegetable Development Project (VDP) is Ghana’s flagship agricultural initiative launched in November 2025 in Kukuom, Ahafo Region, aimed at boosting local vegetable production, reducing reliance on imports, and creating jobs. It focuses on tomatoes, onions, peppers, and other key vegetables, with strong government support for farmers.


    He noted that 60 hectares each had been developed in Ahafo and Fanteakwa with mechanisation and water supply systems, while additional sites were being prepared for expansion.


    A rehabilitated irrigation scheme had made 500 hectares available for immediate tomato production after agreements were reached to connect farmers with buyers to guarantee off-take, he added.


    One hundred hectares had also been secured at Akumadan to scale up production further.


    The Minister said ongoing interventions to improve productivity, reduce waste and strengthen market systems would stabilise supply and enhance food security in the long term.


    Last year, Ghana faced a maize glut, with over 100,000 tonnes of maize from the 2024 harvest left unsold, causing severe financial strain on farmers. In addition to maize, other food items experiencing oversupply include rice and eggs.


    Farmers in regions like Bono and Sissala have produced more maize than the market can absorb. On the other hand, grains and cereals have piled up in storage and warehouse facilities.


    In addition to maize, other food items experiencing oversupply include rice and eggs. Farmers in regions such as Bono and Sissala have produced more maize than the market can absorb. On the other hand, grains and cereals have piled up in storage and warehouse facilities.

  • 12 trucks seized by Customs along the Dawhenya-Tema road to be confiscated – GRA

    12 trucks seized by Customs along the Dawhenya-Tema road to be confiscated – GRA

    The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, has stated that the state will take possession of the 12 trucks loaded with cooking oil and spaghetti intercepted by Customs, should investigations confirm any breaches of customs regulations.

    On February 19, Customs detected discrepancies during an enforcement operation with regard to a consignment declared as transit cargo for onward movement to Niger on February 18. The Authority added that inconsistencies in documentation and non-compliance with established transit procedures were detected after thorough checks.

    However, during an interview on Monday, April 13, Mr. Sarpong indicated that an investigation has already been launched into the matter, adding that all other parties involved will face the full rigours of the law.

    “One of the decisions we took in this matter is that we’re going to confiscate. Confiscation is higher than the payment of taxes. Once we find it culpable, we will confiscate. We’re following due process, and whether our staff or the importers, we will apply the full rigours of the law to deal with the matter,” he added.

    Five officers of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division have been removed from their positions with immediate effect for allegedly breaching the authority’s code of conduct. The officers have been accused of procedural breaches linked to a transit cargo operation bound for Niger.

    According to the Authority, a press statement issued on Tuesday, February 24, indicates that their removal is to allow a probe into discrepancies detected during an enforcement operation with regard to a consignment declared as transit cargo for onward movement to Niger on February 18.

    The Authority added that inconsistencies in documentation and non-compliance with established transit procedures were detected after thorough checks.

    Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has disclosed that the consignment in question was destined for Burkina Faso and was transiting through Ghana.

    However, it failed to reach its intended destination and was instead offloaded in Ghana without the payment of the appropriate taxes and applicable duties.

    Consequently, the OSP disclosed that Ghana has lost an estimated GHS 10.5 million in taxes as a result of the diversion.

    “The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is investigating suspected corruption involving the diversion of fifty (50) twenty-foot containers of palm oil valued at GHS 25.8 million…. The Office has identified the involvement of some Customs officers, National Security operatives, and clearing agents in a corrupt scheme. The consignment, declared as in transit to Burkina Faso, was unlawfully diverted into the local market without payment of applicable duties and taxes,” the statement noted.

    Though the GRA and the OSP have yet to disclose what was contained in the transit cargo, reports indicate that 18 articulated trucks impounded at the Akanu and Aflao border posts on February 18 were carrying assorted goods, including cooking oil, spaghetti, and tomato paste, and were suspected to be part of a broader transit diversion scheme.

    Transit cargo or trucks are goods destined for landlocked countries such as Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali, which usually pass through Ghana’s ports before arriving at their destinations due to the absence of seaports in those countries.

    The transit cargo system is very important to Ghana’s trade and revenue monitoring system. Therefore, the country is exposed to revenue leakages and smuggling risks should there be a breach in documentation or enforcement. Such practice leaves a dent on Ghana’s reputation within the West African trade corridor.

    Under the Customs Act, 2015 (Act 891) and GRA guidelines, goods declared as “in transit,” passing through Ghana to another country such as Niger, must follow transit rules, which include mandatory escort to prevent diversion of goods to designated countries to avoid import duties, thereby causing huge losses to the state.

    Preliminary investigations indicated that the consignments could have led to potential revenue losses of GH¢85.3 million, with an immediate revenue exposure estimated at GH¢2.62 million.

    Post-interception examinations in the recent case uncovered material discrepancies in declared unit values, tariff classifications, and weights, which revised the suspended revenue exposure from approximately GH¢2.6 million to over GH¢85 million.

    The Deputy Minister for Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, has described the incident as a norm at the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority.

    According to him, some officers collaborate with importers to deliberately undervalue goods by paying lower taxes or import duties. These individuals, he added, reduce insurance costs, which results in significant revenue losses to the state.

    According to authorities, the trucks were stopped following a suspected irregularity and the absence of a customs human escort, which is considered a major violation of transit regulations.

    Speaking on Citi FM’s Citi Breakfast Show, Mr Nyarko Ampem said concerns about customs officers aiding importers in manipulating declarations had persisted for some time. He revealed that officers had been monitoring the trucks before their interception.

    “I have seen a letter from one officer to the Aflao border, directing that the goods should not be allowed to enter. This indicates the matter had been under surveillance for a while,” he noted.

    While acknowledging that most customs officers perform their duties professionally, the Deputy Minister said a few “bad nuts” within the system are undermining efforts to protect state revenue.

    “There are some bad nuts in customs who are aiding importers to defraud the nation through practices such as undervaluation and diversion of goods. When diligent officers realised what was happening, they acted,” he stated.

    Due to the recent bust, Ghana will no longer transit cooking oils through its borders, as the Finance Minister has announced a sweeping ban on such consignments following the interception of 18 articulated trucks declared for transit to Niger but suspected to be part of a broader transit diversion scheme.

    The Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, announced the ban in a formal statement on Friday, February 21. According to the new directive, all such consignments must henceforth be routed exclusively through the country’s seaports.

    The statement indicated that cooking oil shipments destined for landlocked countries that transit via Ghana will no longer be permitted to move through land border collection points; they must be processed exclusively through Ghana’s seaports, where stricter valuation systems, electronic tracking, scanning infrastructure, and layered customs controls are in place.

    Aside from the border ban, the Finance Minister charged the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to implement enhanced monitoring and strict enforcement of compliance for all transactions originating from land collection points, including intensified cargo tracking, reinforced escort protocols, and tighter supervisory oversight.

    In a suspected case of customs complicity, Dr Ato Forson ordered a crackdown on customs officers, importers, and clearing agents implicated in diversion schemes, warning that officers found culpable would face strict sanctions and that heightened monitoring systems at seaports would be strengthened to prevent future diversions.

    The Minister also ordered the prompt commencement of disciplinary proceedings against any Customs officers found culpable in similar breaches. Criminal investigations are to extend to importers and clearing agents where evidence supports prosecution.

    Officials said the measures are designed not only to protect state revenue but also to safeguard local edible oil producers from unfair competition arising from diverted transit goods.

    The government reaffirmed its resolve to apply the full rigour of the law, including confiscation and auction of impounded goods where applicable, and to ensure that Ghana’s customs regime is not exploited to undermine domestic revenue mobilisation and national development.

  • Two shot dead by police after failed daylight MoMo robbery attempt

    Two shot dead by police after failed daylight MoMo robbery attempt

    The Tema Regional Operations Team has shot dead two armed robbers while attempting to foil a robbery attack on a Mobile Money (MoMo) female vendor at Community 5 in Accra on Monday morning, April 13.

    A police statement signed by ASP Dede Dzakpasu, Head of Public Affairs for the Tema Regional Police Command indicates that “The suspects were transported to the Police Hospital for medical attention but were pronounced dead on arrival by a medical officer”.

    The police noted that the robbers shot the female MoMo vendor as she tried to protect her money and resist the attack. According to the police, one suspect approached the victim under the guise of performing a “cash-out” transaction, while his accomplices waited for him on a motorbike.

    The suspect pulled a pistol and demanded her bag of cash as the victim reached for her phone.

    The pillion rider shot the victim in the leg in the heat of the scuffle and later fled the scene with the bag.


    However, following the swift intervention of the police, a total of GH¢11,390.00 is suspected to have been stolen. The police also retrieved one black 9mm Luger pistol loaded with four rounds of ammunition, three Android phones, assorted SIM cards, a talisman, and a Ghana Card belonging to the robbery victim.


    Meanwhile, the female MoMo vendor is receiving treatment at a medical facility for her leg injury. In March, a police shootout in Atebubu left a suspected armed robber, Osman Amadu, popularly known as Manu, dead.

    The police have been on the lookout for Osman Amadu, who has been on the run since March 14 due to his alleged involvement in a robbery incident along the Atebubu-Ejura highway.

    However, on March 18, the Police through an intelligence gathering stormed Osman’s hideout in Ejura.

    According to the police, in an attempt to flee the scene, Osman allegedly opened fire at them. In defence, the police discharged their weapons, resulting in his death.

    Last year, a shootout between suspected armed robbers and the Ghana Police Service at Atebubu in the Bono East region on July 30 led to the demise of two suspects.

    On that fateful day, a team of police officers who were on patrol duty, according to the Ghana Police Service, came across a robbery attack on some commuters along the Atebubu Highway.

    The suspects started firing towards the police officers upon sighting them. The suspects who got hit during the shootout were rushed to a hospital but were pronounced dead upon arrival.

    The other suspects are currently at large after escaping into some nearby bushes. A search at the scene led to the retrieval of a shotgun loaded with two live cartridges, four spent cartridges, and a machete.

    Intensive efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects, the Ghana Police Service has assured.

    An intelligence-led operation by the Police Intelligence Directorate (PID) foiled a robbery attempt by five armed men en route to rob a foreign national at Cantonments on July 15.

    In a statement, the Police noted that they received credible intelligence that the five armed men were lodging at a hotel in Labadi.

    While en route to the location in a Toyota Yaris vehicle, the suspects opened fire on a police team after detecting police surveillance. An officer got shot. A shootout ensued, and two of the suspects succumbed to gunshot wounds after being rushed to the Ghana Police Hospital.

    The officer who sustained gunshot wounds to his arm and legs has been hospitalised and is responding to treatment, according to the Police. The Police retrieved from the scene two pump-action guns loaded with ammunition, live cartridges, three mobile phones, talismans, and other items.

    Meanwhile, a manhunt is underway to arrest the remaining three suspects currently at large. This incident preceded a shootout between officers of the Tema Regional Police Command and a group of 10 suspected robbers during a robbery incident at the Tema Industrial Area that led to the demise of three suspects.

    The incident occurred on July 21 when the police patrol team responded to a distress call and exchanged gunfire upon arrival at the scene during a confrontation with the suspects.

    Three of the suspected robbers succumbed to gunshot wounds, but seven others, some of whom are believed to have been wounded, managed to evade arrest. The police are on a manhunt for these suspected robbers. The remains of the three suspected robbers have been deposited at the Police Hospital Morgue for identification, preservation, and autopsy.

    Exhibits recovered from the scene include a Bruni mod foreign pistol, a double-barrelled locally manufactured pistol with 2 rounds of ammunition and 11 live BB ammunition. The Ghana Police Service has commended its officers at the Kpone District Command for their efforts in managing the robbery incident.

    What the law says about robbery and stealing

    Section 149 of the Criminal Offences states that a person who commits robbery commits a first-degree felony. Per Section 150, “a person who steals a thing commits robbery (a) if in, and for the purpose of stealing the thing, that person uses force or causes harm to any other person, or (b) if that person uses a threat or criminal assault or harm to any other person, with intent to prevent or overcome the resistance of the other person to the stealing of the thing.”

    Section 124 of the Criminal Offences Act indicates that a person who steals commits a second-degree felony. Where the court that finds a person guilty of stealing is satisfied that on not less than two previous occasions the accused was found guilty of stealing, the court shall order that the whole or a part of a term of imprisonment imposed by it shall be spent in productive hard labour.

    A person in respect of whom the court makes an order under subsection (2) is disqualified for election to Parliament or to a District Assembly within the meaning of the Local Government Act, 1993 (Act 462), for a period not exceeding five years.

    Productive hard labour means labour in a state farm or state factory or any other public co-operative or collective enterprise specified by the Minister.

    Police efforts in combating robbery

    In recent years, the Ghana Police Service has made some strides in curtailing the activities of robbers as well as seeing to the prosecution of those arrested during their line of work. The police this month managed to secure a conviction for an armed robbery incident that occurred in Atonsu Kuwait, Kumasi, four years ago.

    The Kumasi Circuit Court sentenced two individuals to 15 years imprisonment for the violent armed robbery incident. The convicted persons are Abass Kasim (26) and Daniel Morro, a.k.a. “China” (25). 

    They were part of a group of five that attacked a resident at his Atonsu Kuwait, Kumasi home on July 31, 2021, at about 2:30 am. The gang, wielding a pistol and cutlasses, shot the victim in the abdomen, inflicted multiple cutlass wounds, and robbed him of personal effects.

    Items stolen during the attack included one iPhone 11 mobile phone valued at GHS 5,500, one Samsung phone valued at GHS 500, two Apple Watches valued at GHS 3,000, and two M.K. ladies’ handbags. 

    An unspecified quantity of jewelry, $600, and an unspecified amount of Ghana cedis were also stolen. Following police investigations, Abass Kasim was arrested on August 12, 2021, and during interrogation, he admitted his involvement and subsequently led officers to the arrest of Daniel Morro, and a pistol used in the attack was later retrieved.

    On Thursday, August 19, 2021, they were arraigned before Kumasi Circuit Court 4, where they were initially remanded into custody after pleading not guilty. The two reappeared in court on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, and were convicted and sentenced to 15 years imprisonment on each count.

    This included conspiracy to commit robbery, robbery, and unlawful entry. Abetment of crime and possession of firearms without authority. All sentences are to run concurrently. 

    The convicts have since been transferred to the Central Prisons in Kumasi to begin serving their prison sentence. Meanwhile, the three accomplices are currently at large, and the police have intensified efforts to locate them.

    The police reported another victory after an armed robber, Paul Avortide, was jailed for 19 years with hard labour for robbery. The 25-year-old convict, on May 21, at about 4:00 am, at Tsikpota near New Housing, Ho, with a machete in his hand, threatened a pregnant woman by the name of Ogechi Chidiebere, a Nigerian resident in Ho.

    Paul Avortide robbed the victim of her Gh¢ 3,000 and her Tecno Spark 30c mobile phone valued at Gh¢2,500 when she was on her way to attend antenatal care at the Ho Municipal Hospital.

    On June 19, at about 6:00 pm, the Regional Police Intelligence team arrested Harmony Nbonu at the Ho Main Market, who was in possession of the stolen phone. During interrogations, he mentioned Paul Avortide as the one who sold the phone to him at the cost of Gh¢ 850.00.

    Coordinated efforts between the Police and the suspect, Hormony Nbonu, led to the arrest of the convict, Paul Avortide, at Matse, a suburb of Ho, when he was running away from Ho Township. After police investigations, Paul Avortide was charged with the offence of robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), as amended by the Criminal Offences (Amendment) ACT, 2003 (ACT 646).

    Harmony Nbonu, on the other hand, was charged with the offence of Dishonestly Receiving Contrary to Section 146 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). The two were arraigned before Ho Circuit Court presided over by His Honour, Osman Abdul Hakeem, Esq., on Tuesday, July 1.

    The first accused person (A1), Paul Avortide, pleaded guilty to the charge of robbery and was convicted on his own plea and sentenced to a prison term of 19 years in hard labor. The second accused person, (A2), Harmony Nbonu, was acquitted and discharged. The convict has since been handed over to the Ho Regional Prison authorities to begin to serve his prison term.

  • Over 24.5k medical equipment procured as gov’t prepares for free healthcare rollout

    Over 24.5k medical equipment procured as gov’t prepares for free healthcare rollout


    Over 24,534 pieces of medical equipment have been received by the government ahead of its Free Primary Healthcare policy rollout, Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has disclosed.

    Speaking at the Government Accountability Series stated, “In preparation for implementation, we have procured and are ready to deploy 24,534 pieces of essential medical equipment across the country. This is intended to ensure our facilities and health workers are equipped and ready.”  

    In February, the government announced that Ghanaians across the country will have access to free essential healthcare services at hospitals effective this month.

    The Minister for Health disclosed this while speaking on the sidelines of the Accra Reset Addis Reckoning event in Addis Ababa on Saturday, February 14.

    “As part of our effort to achieve Universal Health Coverage, since everybody is contributing to the NHIS levy, Ghanaians deserve this basic benefit. Everyone should be able to enjoy at least free primary healthcare. We have been directed to ensure that Free Primary Health Care is fully implemented across the country by that timeline,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has disbursed over GH¢392 million in vetted claims to healthcare providers across Ghana between December 2025 and January 2026.

    The payments cover services provided under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

    According to the Finance Directorate of the NHIA, the funds were released following an extensive vetting and approval process of claims submitted by health facilities. In December 2025, the Authority paid GH¢301,658,338.13, while in January 2026, healthcare providers received GH¢90,373,513.13.

    The NHIA in early July 205 disbursed an amount of GH¢267.67 million as claims to health facilities across the country. The disbursement became possible following approval by Chief Executive Dr. Victor Asare-Bampoe. The total payments made by the NHIA in the past seven months stand at over GH¢1.5 billion.

    Out of the total amount, public health facilities received GH¢120,700,932.62, which constitutes 45 percent of the total.

    Private health facilities have been paid GH¢100,210,906.44, representing 37 percent of the total amount, while mission health facilities have been allotted GH¢446,761,808.96, which makes up 17 percent of the total funds.

    One of the ways the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) seeks to ease the financial burden on citizens, ensure equal access to healthcare, and reduce illegal fees is by proposing a 120 per cent increase in service tariffs, pending approval from its Board and the Minister of Health.

    This was revealed by the Chief Executive Officer of the NHIA, Dr. Victor Asare Bampoe, during an appearance on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Wednesday, November 26. According to Dr. Bampoe, the proposed tariff increase, if approved, would help reduce the extra charges patients pay at hospitals for medical care and services.

    He explained that the proposed increase was planned in consultation with a group of independent experts mandated to review tariffs under Sections 33 and 34 of the National Health Insurance Act, which require annual revisions of both medicines and service tariffs.“Regarding the 120% tariff increase: this is proposed after comprehensive work by a group of experts. The law requires an annual review of service and medicine tariffs (Sections 33 and 34). Although the review was delayed, the proposal is now ready and will go to our board and the Minister of Health for approval. Once approved, it will be implemented. This is partly to address the problem of illegal fees at hospitals, ensuring health providers are paid realistic tariffs so patients no longer have to pay out-of-pocket,” he said.

    As the “cash manager” of Ghana’s health insurance system, Dr. Bampoe explained that the NHIA is mandated to collect funds, set tariffs, and pay hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies for services provided to insured patients.

    However, he noted that the Authority plans to move beyond this traditional role and become more of a “strategic health purchasing provider.”“But the NHS is more like a spending entity; we do not generate money on our own. So, we are a spending entity. One of the things we’re trying to do is move away from being a claims payment mechanism to a strategic health purchasing provider, which means that we are able to dictate health outcomes because of the financial muscle that the government provides us with.

    “We’re able to determine the prices of medicines, the prices of services, and even go on the global stage and provide a platform to discuss what kind of health outcomes we want, as you saw with the ACRA Health Sovereignty Summit that happened on August 5. So it’s an interesting time, and His Excellency the President, the Minister of Finance, and the Minister of Health have given us the tools to be able to deliver on this mandate,” he said, citing the government’s commitment to ensuring that his outfit can deliver on its mandate.As part of its vision to move from just paying claims to becoming a “strategic health purchasing provider,” Dr. Bampoe highlighted that the NHIA also seeks to provide Universal Health Coverage (UHC) under three distinct pillars. 

    Lauding the NHIA for its success in granting health coverage, he revealed that out of over 35 million Ghanaians, the Authority has provided coverage for about 20 million.“So essentially, the health insurance scheme was set up in 2003 (Act 650) and amended in 2012 (Act 852), and its primary purpose was to pay claims. But now what we are looking at is getting universal health coverage for all Ghanaians. Universal health coverage has three pillars: population coverage, service coverage, and financial protection. I am proud to say that we are at 20 million in population coverage, which is unprecedented.”

    He noted that while the medicines tariff review has already been completed, the service tariff review, initiated in 2022, took longer due to its comprehensive nature. “There are two types of reviews that we need to do, but this was a really comprehensive one, so I think they could not finish on time, and so it is now that they have finished,” he explained.

    Dr. Bampoe stressed that implementation now depends solely on statutory approvals. “Now it has to go to the Board for them to look at it and give their view on it. It has to go to the Minister of Health to give his assent, and then we will implement it if they all think it is okay,” he stated.

    The NHIA CEO applauded the government for removing the cap on NHIA funds.“Regarding funding, we are dependent on the importance the government places on healthcare. I’m proud of His Excellency the President, the Finance Minister, and the Minister of Health because the capping act (Act 947 of 2019) has put a limit on funds coming to the NHIA. The President removed that cap, giving us an extra 3.4–3.5 billion cedis for healthcare.

    “We are trying to do three things; shift mindsets in government and across the country to see healthcare as important for development. Healthy people are more productive. Focus on areas where we get the best results, such as Mahama Cares and Free Primary Healthcare. If 40%+ of people are affected by non-communicable diseases, it makes sense to prevent them. Preventive actions include health promotion and screenings. For example, catching prostate cancer early with a PSA test is more cost-effective than treating stage 4 disease. Shift realities. At the Global Fund and UN, programs were comprehensive but expensive. We now aim for solutions that fit our reality, whether that’s a Rolls-Royce, a Toyota VIT, or even a motorbike; the key is to deliver,” he detailed.

  • $2bn needed to salvage Agenda 111 projects – SIF Boss reveals

    $2bn needed to salvage Agenda 111 projects – SIF Boss reveals

    The Chief Executive Officer of the Social Investment Fund, Abass-Adams Nurudeen, has disclosed that the administration of President John Dramani Mahama needs about $2 billion to complete the Agenda 111 projects initiated by the previous government.

    Speaking to the media, he indicated that the current administration has no plans of abandoning the projects; however, significant funding is required to ensure their completion. According to him, the Agenda 111 project was a corruption machinery of the then Akufo-Addo-led government. 

    “The NPP never considered establishing Agenda 111 hospitals. It was the COVID-19 pandemic that drew their attention to such projects. If you look at their 2016 manifesto, there was nothing indicating they would construct these hospitals,” he told host Barima Kofi Dawson. Many of the facilities they commissioned cannot be operational because they lack essential amenities like electricity, making it difficult to employ health professionals,” he said.

    On Tuesday, March 10, Deputy Finance Minister Thomas Nyarko Ampem disclosed that thirty (35) contractors under the then Akufo-Addo government’s Agenda 111 initiative received US$7.9 million in mobilisation funds but failed to start work on the projects.

    He made the revelation in Parliament on Tuesday, March 10, while presenting the Report of the Auditor-General on Arrears and Payables as at the end of 2024.

    The Deputy Finance Minister indicated that the contractors received an advance payment US$7.9m “but these contractors have either failed to mobilise to the site or the work done is not commensurate with the amount paid.”

    “Mr Speaker, the audit of Agenda 111 projects also revealed that a total amount of US$7.9 million was paid to 35 contractors as advance mobilisation under the programme, but these contractors have either failed to mobilise to the site or the work done is not commensurate with the amount paid,” he said.

    Reacting to the report, Mr Kwakye Ofosu, has assured a thorough investigation into the matter, adding, “The crimes have been identified, and people will be taken to court to punish them for these offences immediately”.

    These developments have intensified concerns surrounding the administration of the Agenda 111 project, widely regarded as one of the largest healthcare infrastructure programmes initiated during the tenure of former President Nana Akufo-Addo and the New Patriotic Party government.

    Introduced in 2021, the project aimed to build 111 district and regional hospitals nationwide to expand healthcare access, particularly in communities lacking adequate medical facilities.

    Despite its objectives, the programme has repeatedly come under scrutiny due to construction delays, escalating costs, and concerns about monitoring and accountability.

    Mr Ampem also revealed that the advance payment guarantees associated with the 35 contracts have all lapsed, leaving the government with limited contractual safeguards to recover the money should the contractors fail to honour the surcharge directives.

    The Ministry of Finance did not specify whether further legal action or recovery strategies would be pursued beyond the measures already initiated by the Ghana Audit Service.

    It also remains uncertain how many of the proposed 111 hospitals have been completed or have reached significant stages of construction.

    The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, has attributed the decision by President John Mahama to order an audit into the Agenda 111 project to the lack of clarity and transparency surrounding its implementation under the previous administration.

    Speaking on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen, Mr. Akandoh revealed that none of the hospitals promised under the initiative is currently operational.

    “None of the Agenda 111 hospitals is operational as we speak, which is why President Mahama has directed that an audit be conducted to understand the true status of the project,” he stated.

    He criticised the former Akufo-Addo administration for what he described as poor planning and mismanagement of the health infrastructure project.

    “We all know how Agenda 111 started. The way the project was handled wasn’t the best. Even if you intend to build 111 hospitals, you could stagger the project and complete them in phases,” the Minister said.

    He pointed out that the Akufo-Addo government had assured the public that some of the hospitals would be completed and handed over before the end of their term. However, none of these facilities are in use.

    “He mentioned that they had completed three hospitals and even commissioned some on December 5. But when President Mahama gave his first State of the Nation Address and referenced it, I went to verify, and unfortunately, none of those hospitals was operational,” Mr. Akandoh noted.

    Highlighting inconsistencies in the project’s financing, the Minister disclosed that about $400 million had already been spent out of the estimated $1.7 billion to $1.9 billion budgeted for the entire project.

    “The interesting part is, if they had staggered the project as they should have, by now we could have completed more than 20 hospitals with that amount. But that wasn’t the case,” he lamented.

    With the Agenda 111 initiative now under the purview of the Ministry of Health, Mr. Akandoh said steps are being taken to assess its feasibility and ensure proper execution moving forward.

    “President Mahama has directed us to audit the Agenda 111 project and present him with a clear blueprint for the way forward, and we’ve been given timelines,” he added.

    The Ministry of Health has dismissed statements made by former Finance Minister Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam, who claimed that three hospitals under the Agenda 111 initiative were completed, furnished with medical equipment, and inaugurated before the previous administration left office.

    During a press briefing on Monday, Dr. Adam asserted that three hospitals had been fully completed and that $1.3 billion had been allocated to finish the remaining Agenda 111 projects.

    However, in a statement released on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, the Health Ministry denied these assertions and urged the public to disregard them.

    The Ministry reported that on March 3, officials visited the Trede and Kokoben hospital sites in the Ashanti Region to evaluate progress. Their assessment found that essential medical infrastructure, including imaging devices, medical gas systems, and mortuary equipment, was yet to be installed.

    Despite the previous government investing $400 million in the initiative, the Ministry emphasized that none of the Agenda 111 hospitals had been completed and made operational. Although the facilities at Trede, Kokoben, and Ahanta had been inaugurated by former President Nana Akufo-Addo, construction was still in progress, with an estimated completion rate of 95 percent. Some laboratory sections remained unfinished, and no medical devices had been put in place.

    Furthermore, the Ministry clarified that these hospitals had not been handed over to the Ghana Health Service for use. It is estimated that an additional $8.03 million would be required to make each of the three hospitals fully functional. The overall cost to complete all pending Agenda 111 hospital projects had now risen to $1.589 billion.

  • Former Savannah Regional Minister Salifu Adam Braimah passes on

    Former Savannah Regional Minister Salifu Adam Braimah passes on

    Former Savannah Regional Minister and former Member of Parliament for Salaga South, Salifu Adam Braimah, has been confirmed dead. This was disclosed in a family statement issued on Sunday, April 11.

    Parts of the statement read, “With a heavy heart, I announce the demise of our brother, Uncle Sally and former Minister of Savannah Region. The sad event occurred at the University of Ghana Hospital after a short illness. Arrangements are underway to convey the corpse to Salaga for burial. May Allah admit him into Jannatul Firdaus”.

    Salifu Adam Braimah represented the Salaga South Constituency in the Northern Region on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) as a member of the Seventh Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

    Last month, the Bongo District Chief Executive (DCE), Joseph Akasake Abaa, has been confirmed dead. The Bongo Constituency Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Alhaji Tahiru Aberinga, confirmed the news in an interview on Sunday, February 22, 2026.

    According to him, Joseph Akasake Abaa died on Sunday, February 22, 2026, at the Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga following a short illness. Meanwhile, the family of the deceased has yet to issue a formal statement regarding his passing.

    President John Dramani Mahama appointed the late DCE  in April 2025 after he was confirmed by members of the Bongo District Assembly.

    Joseph Akasake Abaa had served as an Assembly Member for Zorko-Goo-Awaah for three consecutive terms. In 2022, he held the position of Bongo Constituency Youth Organizer before later being appointed as the Constituency Secretary.

    He attended Sirigu Integrated Senior High School and Zuarungu Senior High School, where he worked as a storekeeper at both institutions. Mr. Abaa’s passing has left the NDC and the people of Bongo devastated. 

    The party has already suffered the loss of several key figures in 2025 and early 2026, including former Greater Accra Regional Chairman Joseph Ade Coker, local communicator Nana Kwadwo Busia and Ayawaso East MP Naser Toure Mahama.

    The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ayawaso East constituency was laid to rest on Monday, January 5. Naser Toure Mahama was reported dead on January 4, following a short illness at the Korle Bu-Teaching hospital.

    As a Muslim, he is expected to be buried within 24 hours of his death; consequently, his final burial rites will be held, drawing thousands of mourners to Nima and Kanda, the heart of the constituency he served for years.

    Speaking on the preparations, the Member of Parliament for Ayawaso North, Yussif Jajah, disclosed that an intervention by President John Dramani Mahama helped fast-track coordination of the administrative processes at the mortuary.

    “As we speak now, we have brought the body home,” Mr Jajah said late Sunday evening, confirming that the remains had been released to the family for burial.

    Naser Toure Mahama was widely regarded as a grassroots politician whose parliamentary work focused on urban renewal in Nima and youth empowerment within Zongo communities.

    Last year, Ghana lost several people in power, with the last Ghana and other members of the world bid farewell to the late former first lady Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings.

    One of the biggest losses of the state was the death of eight gallant men who died in service to the nation. They met their untimely death in a helicopter crash at Adansi on the 6th of august enroute to a programme on galamsey, a menace that is eating deep into the cloth of Ghana.

    The deceased included Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence; Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed; Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator in charge of Human Security, Alhaji Muniru Limuna Mohammed; Vice Chairman of the National Democratic Congress, Samuel Sarpong; and Deputy Director-General of NADMO, Samuel Aboagye.

    Others included Squadron Leader Peter Analaa of the Ghana Air Force, Flying Officer Tsum Ampadu of the Ghana Air Force, and Sergeant Ernest Addo of the Ghana Air Force.

    Ghana’s entertainment industry mourned the loss of several beloved figures this year. Highlife musician Dada KD passed away after a short illness. Legendary highlife musician, Daddy Lumba, born Charles Kwadwo Fosu, succumbed at the Ridge hospital, though the exact cause of his death was not publicly disclosed, but speculations attributed it to medical negligence.

    The film industry also suffered a blow with the death of Abdullai Tahiru, popularly known as Taidu from the Junka Town series, who died on February 9, 2025. His cause of death was not specified.

    The nation also bid farewell to Apostle Dr. Kwadwo Safo Kantanka, a revered cleric, inventor, and founder of the Kristo Asafo Mission. He died peacefully on September 11, 2025, shortly after celebrating his birthday. His passing marked the end of an era for Ghana’s innovation and spiritual leadership.

    The very recent death was that of rising Ghanaian boxer, Ernest Akushey aka Bahubali, who passed just 11 days after a thrashing defeat to Jacob Dickson, his opponent.

  • Illegal mining: NAIMOS arrests 7, seizes weapons at Boin River

    Illegal mining: NAIMOS arrests 7, seizes weapons at Boin River

    Seven individuals, including four and three Ghanaians, have been arrested by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat for their involvement in illegal mining activities along the Boin River at Boinso–Abrokyire in the Aowin District of the Western North Region.

    The four Chinese nationals have been identified as Lu Weiykng (born March 17, 1982), Zhou Xuanbai (born May 15, 1986), Tan Zhongqiang (born February 25, 1973), and Zhu Jiping (born March 4, 1975). The three Ghanaian suspects are David Done, 32, from Bolgatanga; Santos Adaboo, 26, from Zibilla; and Naya Sampana, 44, also from Bolgatanga.

    The NAIMOS team made the arrests on Saturday, April 11, acting on intelligence. Three pump-action guns and other equipment linked to illegal mining activities have been retrieved by the NAIMOS team.

    Last year, a series of raids conducted by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) on Saturday, January 17, halted the operations of illegal miners along the Kumasi–Sunyani Highway.

    The exercise, which began from Bronikrom, close to Mankraso, through to Adugyama, saw illegal miners fleeing the scene upon seeing the operatives and leaving behind their merchandise.

    The operation led to the destruction of water hoses, makeshift structures, 1 Chanfang, 8 tricycles, 14 motors, 2 heavy-duty grinders, 2 heavy-duty water pumping machines, and a metallic gold washing platform.

    Other items seized included 2 excavator batteries, 1 drum of diesel fuel, 1 excavator monitor, 4 cartridges of pump-action gun, a wooden gold washing platform, 5 water jumping machines, and a box of assorted tools.

    Illegal mining activities continue to pose a major challenge to the country. Several Chinese nationals have been involved in such illegal operations, leading to multiple arrests.

    Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that scientific tests are being carried out on new chemicals that could help restore polluted water bodies and rivers affected by illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey. Speaking at a high-level stakeholder engagement on galamsey in Accra on Friday, October 3, with members of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), President Mahama said,

    “There are new chemicals that have come that allow you to treat water and take out the toxins and the heavy metals. One of them is called dowtine. The people came, and we sent them there. They took samples, tested. We are waiting for them to bring the results back.”

    He has asked Ghanaians to exercise patience regarding the longstanding battle against illegal mining (galamsey) activities. During a meeting with Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), President Mahama said declaring a state of emergency will not end the menace.

    According to him, government advisors believe the country can overcome galamsey by adopting best practices in small-scale mining, including technologies that help neutralize or remove harmful chemicals from water bodies.

    Additionally, the President pledged to honor the calls of many Ghanaians by declaring a state of emergency when his advisors give him the nod to do so. President Mahama believes that the country can eradicate the long-term canker if it deploys more troops and invests additional resources in the fight. He concluded that the battle seems to be a long one, but his administration is committed to ending it.

    “While we are fighting the menace, I am also saying we should uptake technology in order to protect the environment. So yes, let’s fight the illegal mining but at the same time, let’s bring the new technology that will help us protect our environment.

    “Now with the elephant in the room, state of emergency, yes, I have the power to do it, but the president acts on the advice of the National Security Authority, and as at now, this moment, the National Security Authority believes that we can win the fight against galamsey without declaring a state of emergency. I want to assure you that the day they advise me otherwise, that boss, now we need a state of emergency, I won’t hesitate,” he added.

  • Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu to be extradited to Ghana after U.S. court ruling

    Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu to be extradited to Ghana after U.S. court ruling

    Former Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Sedina Christine Tamakloe-Attionu, will be flown from the United States (U.S.) to Ghana to serve her 10-year sentence.

    This information was made public after a United States District Court in Nevada certified her extradition, adding that all documents submitted by Ghanaian authorities were valid.

    Her extradition will ensure that she faces the law after she and the former Chief Operating Officer of MASLOC, Daniel Axim, were found guilty on charges including causing financial loss to the state, theft, conspiracy to steal, money laundering, and contravening public procurement laws in 2024


    An Accra High Court issued an arrest warrant for Sedina Christine Attionu Tamakloe. This action followed an ex-parte motion filed by State Prosecutors. Assistant State Attorney Yvonne Yaache-Adomako, who addressed the court on April 22, 2024, stated that Tamakloe was convicted on all 78 counts against her.


    Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu received 10 years in prison, while Daniel Axim received a 5-year sentence. Madam Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was tried in absentia after absconding abroad under the pretext of a medical check-up.


    Daniel Axim testified in person but did not present any witnesses.The government successfully located the former CEO of MASLOC. Despite being sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor, Tamaklo fled abroad.


    During that period, the government collaborated with partners in the United States to facilitate Tamaklo’s return to Ghana.


    The convictions are linked to the misappropriation of funds allocated for MASLOC activities between 2013 and 2016. Notably, the accused withdrew GH₵500,000 as a loan from Obaatampa Savings and Loans company and demanded a refund when the company refused to offer a 24% interest rate.


    Despite evidence of the refund, it was not reflected in MASLOC’s accounts. Additionally, the pair misappropriated over GH¢1.7 million intended for a sensitization exercise, with only a small portion used as planned.

    Funds designated for victims of a fire incident at Kantamanso were also misappropriated, and there were discrepancies in the purchase of vehicles and Samsung phones for MASLOC.


    Currently, Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu is in U.S detention following an extradition request by the Ghanaian government.


    MASLOC is an apex body responsible for implementing the Government of Ghana’s microfinance programmes targeted at reducing poverty. It was established in 2006 to grant loans to start-ups and small businesses to help them grow and expand as part of its core functions.


    Recently a collaboration between the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC) and the National Security operatives have resulted in the seizure of three out of five government vehicles which were in possession of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.


    This information was disclosed by the Deputy Women Organizer for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Abigail Elorm Mensah who also doubles as the CEO of MASLOC on Wednesday, September 10.


    Speaking to Citi News, the retrieval of vehicles from Wontumi is in line with a broader initiative to recover government loans and vehicles from defaulters.


    She noted that Chairman Wontumi adds up to one of the many individuals who receive loans and vehicles from the institutions but have refused to fulfill the terms of the agreement.


    According to the CEO of MASLOC, her outfit is working tirelessly to ensure Chairman Wontumi returns the two other government-owned cars.


    “I have gone with National Security operatives to the house of the Chairman of the NPP in Ashanti Region, Chairman Wontumi. Three cars. In fact, the cars were five. We’ve retrieved three. I have collected all from his house. We are still chasing him for the two.


    “He has to pay for them. What we do is that once I seize the cars, the agreement we have with you is that you would have to repay whatever has accrued, and we release the cars to you,” she said.


    The CEO of MASLOC mentioned that, “Between February and now, I have recovered roughly about GHS8 million, but that is not even up to 10% of what is in debt. We have in debt over GHS430m”.

    In the meantime, former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta is scheduled to appear before a United States (U.S.) immigration court in Virginia on April 27, 2026, over his immigration status in the country.

    The embattled former minister was detained on 6 January 2026 in Washington, D.C., by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); however, he appeared before the court on Tuesday, January 20.

    According to reports, ICE has reportedly determined that Mr Ofori-Atta no longer has lawful status to remain in the United States, a development many believe could help expedite Ghana’s extradition process of the former Minister to Ghana.

    Ken Ofori-Atta left Ghana for the United States on January 4, 2025, according to investigative reporting detailing his departure timeline and visa use. As of today, January 8, 2026, that places his time in the U.S. at approximately 1 year and 12 days, following which he has been detained.

    Deputy Attorney General, Dr Srem-Sai, clarified a widely reported narrative about the circumstances surrounding Ghana’s Former Finance Minister’s arrest and detainment by immigration authorities in the United States (US).

  • Kumasi CBD roundabouts declared no-waste dumping zone by KMA

    Kumasi CBD roundabouts declared no-waste dumping zone by KMA

    The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has warned the public against waste dumping at roundabouts and other unauthorised locations within the Central Business District (CBD).


    Speaking at a press conference in Kumasi on Friday, April 10, the Mayor, Richard Ofori-Agyemang Boadi, said the directive takes effect on Monday, April 13, adding that those who flout it will face sanctions.


    “From Monday, we have banned the disposal of waste in any roundabout in the CBD. It will constitute an offence and attract sanctions for any person who engages in it,” he stated.


    According to research led by Prof. Peter Quartey and Dr. Kwame Adjei-Mantey at the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER), poor waste management and sanitation costs Ghana more than GHS 6.2 billion annually.


    The research, titled An Economic Analysis of the Benefits of Adequate Investment in Waste Management and Sanitation in Ghana has called for urgent reforms to address the situation.


    This was disclosed during a high-level stakeholder engagement in Accra, on Thursday, February 26, 2026. Before the disclosure, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) decried the huge sums of money it spends daily on waste management, citing deficits in the cost of running the landfill site.


    According to officials, the high cost of operating the landfill site does not cover the revenue generated by waste management activities. Speaking during an interview on Kumasi-based radio station Luv FM, the Head of Waste Management at the KMA, Prosper Kotoka, revealed that the city manages approximately 2,000 tonnes of refuse daily at a cost of between GHS 300,000 and GHS 320,000.


    He noted that an amount of GHS 83 is required per tonne for waste management in the city.


    “The GHS 83 per tonne is not the total cost of managing the waste. After collecting and transporting the waste to the landfill, that is the landfill cost alone,” Mr Kotoka explained.


    He highlighted the intensive operations involved at the landfill site, including the deployment of two bulldozers, an excavator, a payloader, and a shift push constructor, all of which are fueled daily.


    These machines are responsible for compacting waste, transporting laterite to cover compacted refuse, and creating access roads for subsequent operations.


    He continued that some of the measures taken by his outfit include odour control and the management of flies and rodents at the site. He emphasised that all these operations cost about GHS 150 to GHS 160 per tonne.


    “On average, KMA spends GHS 150 to GHS 160 per tonne per day just on operations and maintenance, excluding capital costs such as cell construction,” he stated.


    How KMA funds waste management


    Among the ways KMA funds waste management, Mr Kotoka indicated that this is done through the collection of fees, property rates, and licences.

    He added that KMA is responsible for 50 per cent of the waste delivered to the site, while the remaining 50 per cent falls under the jurisdiction of another assembly.


    Speaking on some of the challenges currently blocking effective sanitation, Mr Kotoka blamed public attitude.
    “I would attribute it to attitudinal problems. We have done a lot of education and sensitisation,” he noted.


    To address this, he announced the planned deployment of a dedicated task force, accompanied by military personnel, to enforce proper waste disposal and curb indiscriminate dumping.


    “The Mayor plans to put a task force and a military escort to accompany the task force. They will be ensuring that the right things are done,” Mr Kotoka stated.


    He acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed optimism about the outcome. “It’s not going to be very easy or quick, but we believe we will get there,” he assured.


    A report shared by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) last year revealed a worrying statistic: about two million two hundred thousand households in the country face poor sanitation, overcrowding, and unsafe housing conditions.


    Speaking at the launch of the report, the New Slums and Informal Settlements Thematic Report, on Monday, June 30, the Government Statistician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, noted that these individuals have established their homes in slums and informal settlements.


    According to him, nearly one in three city dwellers in Ghana, representing about 4.8 million people, live in slums. He emphasised that other countries experience even higher rates of slum habitation, particularly within the sub-Saharan African region.


    “Roughly 30.8 per cent of the urban population, or 4.8 million people, are living in slums, a ratio that exceeds the global average of 24.7 per cent but is lower than the sub-Saharan Africa average of 53.9 per cent,” he said.


    “Additionally, 46.1 per cent of urban households, or over 2.2 million households, are living in slum conditions. That means nearly one in every two urban households is facing one or more of the four deprivations,” he added.


    He indicated that many households in urban areas are living in environments that do not support proper housing and urban development.


    The data revealed that the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions are heavily challenged by slum conditions, with Greater Accra recording 52.5 per cent and Ashanti Region 51.8 per cent. The report noted that most of these dwellers live in rented accommodation.


    The other regions reported significantly lower proportions, highlighting a stark regional disparity.


    “The Northern Region (4.2 per cent), followed by Savannah (3.6 per cent) and Oti (1.1 per cent), recorded the highest extreme slum intensities. By extreme slum intensity, we mean the proportion of neighbourhoods that exhibit all four slum characteristics in the region.


    “But even in more developed regions like Greater Accra and Ashanti, over half of slum households live in rented accommodation,” parts of the report read.


    The Service described the findings as alarming and called for a collaborative national effort to address the growing housing and sanitation challenges.


    To check the rise in slum communities, the GSS called on local government authorities to implement targeted strategies within districts and municipalities.


    In February this year, the Member of Parliament for Ahanta West, Mavis Kuukua Bissue, noted that sanitation issues, homelessness, and the proliferation of slums remain critical challenges undermining the health, dignity, and economic potential of citizens, particularly the youth.


    She cited inadequate housing, economic hardship, unemployment, poverty, and rapid rural-urban migration as contributory factors to the expansion of slums, homelessness, and streetism.

    These challenges, she said, have also given rise to improper and indiscriminate waste disposal practices and the poor sanitation situation in the country.


    “We cannot continue to downplay the severity of this challenge, seeing the very danger it poses to our survival as a people,” she noted.


    Honourable Bissue proposed a national dialogue on rural-urban migration and economic empowerment, deliberations on housing and urbanisation strategies for rural communities, a national drive on proper waste segregation and disposal, public-private partnerships, the provision of labelled litter bins in designated areas and public spaces, and the strict enforcement of sanitation laws, among others.

  • Several shops razed by fire at Madina Ritz Junction

    Several shops razed by fire at Madina Ritz Junction

    A fire outbreak has destroyed several shops at Madina Ritz Junction in Accra. According to the Ghana National Fire Service, the shops, which were made of wooden structures and containers, were destroyed on Sunday, April 12.

    However, the swift intervention by GNFS personnel prevented the fire from spreading further. Meanwhile, the cause of the fire had not been made public at the time of reporting.

    This is not the first time traders at the market have experienced a fire outbreak. Last year, a devastating fire swept through multiple wooden structures at Madina Ritz Junction.

    According to GNFS, three fire engines from the Madina, Legon, and Abelemkpe were present at the scene to douse the fire.

    “Rigorous firefighting operations are currently underway. Trust your gallant firefighters to swiftly work hard to bring the situation under control,” parts of the post read.

    The victims were left with nothing to recover; they have therefore appealed to the government to come to their aid.

    In April 2025, a raging fire ripped through the Madina Redco Flats area, reducing more than 150 structures to ashes and claiming the life of a young Nigerian woman. The inferno, which began around 11:15 p.m., rapidly spread across 140 wooden kiosks and 20 metal containers that served as homes and business outlets.

    Though firefighters from the Madina Fire Station arrived on the scene within two minutes, the blaze had already intensified. One fatality was recorded—a Nigerian woman affectionately known in the area as Beauty. Believed to be in her early twenties, she was trapped in her room and could not escape. Her charred remains were retrieved and handed over to the Madina Police for preservation and further investigation.

    Last year, about 50 stalls got burnt to ashes after the Madina Market in Accra caught fire. Deputy Director of Operations at the Ghana National Fire Service, D.O.1. Kofi Forson, who engaged the media, recounted the challenges the firefighters faced in quenching the flame.

    “It was not easy for us and there was a lack of access to where the fire was spreading and because it happened in the night, the shops were closed and we had to break through and that made it tedious,” he said.

    In the first half of the year, the Ghana National Fire Service has reported a marginal increase in fire outbreaks. A comparison of data from January to June last year and that of this year’s first six months indicates that Ghana recorded 3,595 fire cases.

    According to the Ghana National Fire Service, that is about 19 more cases than the 3,576 cases recorded during the same time in 2024, a sharp increase in cases representing a 0.53% rise.

    The monthly breakdown of fire cases reported this year is as follows: January (964), February (678), March (619), April (483), May (457), and June (394).

    The Greater Accra Region recorded the highest number of fire incidents, with 628 cases, followed by the Ashanti Region with 581 cases and the Central Region with 408. The North East Region reported the lowest number of incidents—just 10.

    Head of Public Relations at the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), Desmond Ackah, revealed that due to their improved and swift response to fire cases, they were able to save over GH¢203 million worth of properties.

    Fire outbreaks across the country in the first half of 2025 led to the destruction of properties valued at over GH¢188 million.

    Top causes of fire incidents, according to the Ghana National Fire Service, include electrical faults through illegal connections, poor wiring, and overloading of circuits; improper use of electrical appliances, such as overused extension cords and unattended devices.

    Also, unattended cooking, especially with gas, electric, or coal-based stoves. Careless use of naked flames like candles, mosquito coils, lighters, and matches, gas leakages, and poor handling of LPG cylinders are also responsible for fire incidents in the country.

  • President Mahama nominates Pamela Graham as Auditor-General

    Public finance expert Pamela Graham, has been appointed by President Mahama as the Auditor-General (A-G) pending the approval of the Council of State.

    A statement from the presidency explained that Pamela Graham’s nomination forms part of the government’s reset agenda.

    Pamela Graham’s nomination is in line with Article 70(1)(b) of the 1992 Constitution. The Constitution requires the President to make the appointment acting on the advice of the Council of State.

    Currently Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu is Ghana’s A-G. He has served since September 2021.

    Ghana’s accountability framework hinges on the Auditor-General, who audits public accounts and ensures state institutions comply with financial laws and regulations.

    The University of Ghana Chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG-UG) has called for the immediate resignation of Auditor-General Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu over a report that indicated that the tertiary institution had overstated employee compensation by GH¢59.2 million.

    Secretary of UTAG-UG, Dr. Jerry Joe Harrison, at a press conference on Tuesday, noted that this is a serious breach of the ethical standards required for this profession.

    “For such a basic ethical ethos to be ignored clearly smacks of incompetence and/or mischief. We therefore call for the Auditor-General to resign honourably, or we will petition the President for his removal,” Dr. Jerry Joe Harrison said.

    This comes after management of the University of Ghana has reacted to the Auditor General’s report and subsequent media house articles that cite GH¢59.2m overstated employee compensation by the tertiary institution.

    In a statement, UG noted that subsequent artworks and summaries of the report by JoyNews “misleads the public and distorts the facts.”

    The institution noted that it is “disappointed in the failure of the reporter, Anthony Manu and Joy News to contact the University for its position, which has resulted in a publication that risks damaging the reputation of UG and creating public disaffection, based on an inaccurate narrative.”

    UG explained that the reported figure of GH¢59.24 million that was supposedly disallowed is a gross exaggeration resulting from a misinterpretation of the University’s payroll structure.

    According to managment, the school operates a dual payroll structure comprising the Government of Ghana (GoG) payroll and the Internally Generated Funds (IGF) payroll.

    These are clearly separated in UG’s records and also well-delineated in the submissions to the Audit Service. IGF payroll reflects payments made from the University’s IGF to legitimately engaged staff, including faculty on post-retirement contracts, such as professors between the ages of sixty-five and seventy, for which Cabinet approval was granted.”

    Management therefore noted that these were not irregular or unaccounted expenditures (disallowance), but essential payments made transparently in accordance with public financial reporting standards.

    “The IGF payroll is only included for audit purposes and not a request for payment from GoG and the Audit Service is fully aware of this, so they could not be ‘disallowed’,” the statement added.

    In compliance with Section 48 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), UGstated that it disclosed all IGF collections and their utilisation as required of all covered entities.

    The institution claims that the Special Audit Report did not acknowledge the distinction between the two payroll sources, adding that “Instead, it presented the figures as a single, aggregated total, creating a misleading impression of payroll overstatement.”

    UG management further provided a breakdown indicating that between August 2021 and 2024, a total of 887 staff exited the University through retirement, resignation, death and other forms of separation.

    During this same period, the only Government clearance the University received was to recruit only 102 new employees in 2024.

    Per the school, student enrolment steadily increased over the years, from 61,640 in 2021 to 68,126 in 2022, rising further to 76,136 in 2023, before recording 73,155 students in 2024.

    “This required proactive staff recruitment measures, on the part of Management, even in the absence of government financial clearance, in order to maintain quality.”

    The university says it has adopted innovative financial and human resource strategies to engage critical personnel, including those on post-retirement contract, funded through IGF. These appointments were made in full compliance with institutional and national financial regulations.

    “The University fully complied with the Auditor-General’s audit processes by submitting both its GoG and IGF payrolls for review. However, the standard audit protocol, which requires that initial findings be communicated to the institution for clarification, was not followed. UG was not given the opportunity to provide context or submit relevant documentation before the final report was published.”



  • Ghana card registration exercise for children aged 6–14 to kick off in May – NIA

    Ghana card registration exercise for children aged 6–14 to kick off in May – NIA

    A nationwide registration exercise targeting about 3.1 million children aged between 6 and 14 will kick off in May, the National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced.

    The exercise according to the Director of Corporate Affairs, Williams Ampomah Darlas has been categorized into three stages; ages zero to five, six to fourteen, and fifteen and above.

    According to him Ghanaian children who meet the requirements must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to undergo the process. He noted that cards will be issued immediately after the registration.

    “They have to come with their parents. After registration, we bind their details to their parents and issue the cards instantly,” he stated.

    In 2024, the NIA issued about 18.7 million Ghana Cards to persons aged 15 and above. The children who have already been registered were accompanied by their parents or legal guardians to receive their cards at the schools where they underwent registration.

    In September, the NIA commenced the registration of Ghanaian children aged 6 to 14 years at all NIA Premium Centres nationwide. This move, according to the Authority, is in line with its legal mandate to register all Ghanaians, both at home and abroad, and to ensure that every citizen has a secure and verifiable national identity.

    It marks another step forward in building a comprehensive and inclusive National Identity Register (NIR) that captures every Ghanaian from childhood.


    The fee for first-time registration at Premium Centres was GHS 310, consistent with the approved charges for premium services.


    In another development, the NIA is set to upgrade the Ghana Card into an electronic wallet, allowing holders to use it not only as a national ID but also for digital financial transactions.


    Executive Secretary of the NIA, Yayra Korku Deku, shared the news with Joy News’ James Avedzi, where he intimated that the initiative will help the authority generate revenue to support its activities. He is optimistic this will optimise the operations of the authority.


    “What it means is that you can put money on your Ghana card and use it to do transactions. That is to pay for anything that you do. And we are hoping that that one will generate a huge sum of money for us,” she stated.


    Adding that the e-wallet initiative will be a significant move that will reshape the NIA’s operations while boosting electronic money transfers in Ghana.


    He noted that several financial institutions are eager to partner with the NIA to ensure the initiative succeeds


    As of May 2025, a total of 648,862 Ghana cards printed by the National Identification Authority (NIA) were yet to be collected by their respective holders.


    The NIA made this known on its Facebook platform when it released recent data on the national identification registration exercise as of May 9.


    Per the data, a total of 18,713,474 individuals have been enrolled onto the National Identification System. So far, some 18,197,477 Ghana cards have been printed, whereas 17,548,615 cards have been issued.


    The NIA is urging individuals who are yet to claim their Ghana Cards to do so.


    “Still Haven’t Collected Your Ghana Card? Thousands of cards are ready and waiting! Check. Collect. Be Identified. Visit your nearest NIA District Office today, we’re Open and Operational!” the NIA stated.


    Last month, the Ghana Revenue Authority responded to claims that it had been disconnected from the National Identification Authority (NIA)’s Identity Verification System (IVS).


    The NIA disconnected GRA from its Identity Verification Service (IVS) platform on Tuesday, August 5, 2025 due to the GRA’s failure to settle a GH₵376 million debt.


    In a statement released on August 5, 2025, the GRA clarified that the current administration seemed to have inherited a legacy debt due to some services rendered to the GRA by the NIA prior to 2025.


    However, “from the GRA’s present assessment, there were no regulatory and governance approvals for the transaction that created the purported debt. GRA’s principles of transparency, compliance and governance protocols do not permit enforcement of transactions that do not meet regulatory requirements, particularly as demanded by the reset vision of the President and the Government,” the statement read.


    The authority further clarified that added GRA’s principles of transparency, compliance and governance protocols do not permit enforcement of transactions that do not meet regulatory requirements, particularly as demanded by the reset vision of the President and the Government,” the statement indicated.


    Nonetheless, discussions are currently ongoing between high officials of the two agencies to resolve the issue.


    “There are current high-level discussions between the two agencies in resolving the issues particularly where GRA has identified some procedural breaches and cannot affirm the existence of a service agreement between the parties,” a part of the statement read.


    The IVS platform is a critical digital infrastructure that aids with public and private institutions to instantly verify the identity of individuals using the Ghana Card database.


    This function is vital for a wide range of services, including revenue mobilisation, passport issuance, banking, and healthcare access.
    The National Identification Authority (NIA) has blocked the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) from using its identity verification system over the Authority’s GH₵376 million debt owed to them.


    The National Identification Authority officially announced the disconnection of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) from its Identity Verification Service (IVS) platform during an interview with JoyNews during their midday news.


    During the interview, the Head of Corporate Affairs at the NIA, Williams Aumman Dallas, stated that the NIA will restrict GRA’s access to their identity verification platform due to the Authority’s failure to settle the financial obligations to the NIA. He noted that GRA has not made any financial commitments to the NIA over the last three years.


    “Effective 1st August, we have restricted them — we’ve cut them off, we’ve unplugged them from our identity verification platform. For over three years, their financial obligations to the National Identification Authority have not been fulfilled,” Williams Aumman Dallas stated.


    The NIA explained that before the disconnection, the GRA was using its system to register taxpayers for Personal Identification Numbers (PINs), now rebranded as Ghana Card numbers, in line with government policy. The government had earlier directed GRA and other institutions to cease issuing separate ID cards and instead integrate the use of the Ghana Card and the NIA database into their operations.


    GRA began integrating NIA data into its systems around 2021, when the two agencies started harmonising databases. By September 30, 2021, over 14.7 million individuals had already been migrated from the NIA database to GRA’s systems.

    To assist the GRA, the NIA had provided bulk biometric data to enable them to perform identity matching with client records. However, the GRA was never fully onboarded onto the NIA’s system via the standard API integration.


    With no payments forthcoming and no signs of commitment to resolve the matter, the NIA has taken further steps by writing to the Data Protection Commission for approval to access GRA servers and delete the data previously provided.


    “The data belongs to us,” the spokesperson stressed. “Once we retrieve it, we will know we have no further obligations to them,” he fumed.


    “Our contact centre is inundated with calls from people asking for help to clear their goods. But from where we stand, there’s nothing we can do. The authority must fulfil its financial obligations. Once that is done, we can reconnect them and resume normal business,” he added.


    While GRA has not responded to NIA’s gesture, the impact of the move has already started being felt by many importers and exporters. They have been left stranded, as they are unable to clear goods at the country’s ports.


    This is because the NIA’s Identity Verification Service (IVS) platform is essential for verifying individuals’ identities using the Ghana Card database, which is a critical step in customs clearance and tax-related processes.


    Without access to the IVS, GRA cannot confirm the identities of traders, which means goods cannot be processed or released. This has resulted in frozen operations at key clearance points, a situation that the Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association, Samson Asaki Awingobit, has described as a disaster. He said that many of his members have been directly affected by this action.


    Williams Aumman Dallas contends that “the verification platform needs to be maintained, and we need money.” In a press conference held on the morning of August 5 at the Tomreik Hotel in Accra, Ghana, Mr Dallas announced the current financial constraints the NIA is facing due to the heavy debt from various public institutions.


    “Let me state that there are institutions that are owing us. These are public institutions, and I’ve been advised not to mention names. So I will not mention names, but it is honestly affecting our operations as an authority,” Dallas said.


    He further went on to charge all indebted public institutions to fulfil their financial obligations without delay or risk facing the same fate as GRa is currently facing.

    “And so by this press briefing, we are appealing to these public institutions to fulfil their financial obligations owed to us so that we can maximise our operations. Failure to fulfil their financial obligations; we will be left with no other choice but to deny them the services,” he stated.


    The NIA’s financial woes have been a recurring issue. The authority, which operates on a semi-commercial basis, generates revenue from providing identity verification services and the issuance of Ghana Cards.


    However, a significant portion of its operational budget is often tied up in delayed payments from government agencies. In 2024, the NIA reported an estimated debt of over GH₵ 150 million from various government entities, a figure that has likely grown.


    The continuous debt has hampered the NIA’s ability to maintain its systems, expand its services, and even pay staff salaries on time. Meanwhile, a total number of 648,862 Ghana cards printed by the National Identification Authority (NIA) are yet to be collected by their respective holders.


    The NIA made this known on its Facebook platform when it released recent data on the national identification registration exercise as of May 9. Per the data, a total of 18,713,474 individuals have been enrolled onto the National Identification System.

    So far, some 18,197,477 Ghana cards have been printed, whereas 17,548,615 cards have been issued. The NIA is urging individuals who have yet to claim their Ghana Cards to do so. “Still Haven’t Collected Your Ghana Card? Thousands of cards are ready and waiting! Check. Collect. Be Identified. Visit your nearest NIA District Office today, we’re Open and Operational!” the NIA stated.

  • President Mahama orders immediate cuts in fuel taxes after cabinet meeting

    President Mahama orders immediate cuts in fuel taxes after cabinet meeting

    Certain taxes and levies on petroleum products are expected to be scrapped in the coming days following the intervention of President John Dramani Mahama.

    During an emergency Cabinet meeting held on Thursday, April 9, President Mahama instructed the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and the Minister for Energy to immediately begin the process of reviewing and removing the affected taxes.

    President John Dramani Mahama said the decision is aimed at cushioning Ghanaians from rising fuel prices, which have been driven by global supply disruptions linked to tensions involving Iran, Israel, and the United States. The ongoing tension has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil shipping route.

    The ongoing tensions between Iran, the U.S., and Israel have been linked to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.


    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in strikes by the United States (U.S.) and Israel. This development is significantly impacting travelers from Ghana to Asia, Europe, and North America, as Dubai is a major transit hub connecting travelers through the United Arab Emirates.

    Meanwhile, petrol and diesel are selling at GH¢13.30 and GH¢17.10 per litre, respectively, at the pumps. In a social media post on Tuesday, March 31, GOIL announced that petrol is now selling at GH¢13.30 per litre from GH¢12.24 and diese from GH¢15.69 to GH¢17.10 per litre.


    Star Oil, has increased from GH¢12.19 to GH¢13.49 per litre. It has also increased the price of Diesel from GH¢14.25 to GH¢17.97. The adjustment follows a new price floor announced by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on March 30, directing Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to implement the changes from Wednesday, April 1.


    On Monday, March 16 petroleum products at the pumps saw an increase following adjustment by the NPAfor the second pricing window for the month.


    As a result, petrol priced at GHȼ10.46 per litre will now be sold at GHȼ11.57. The price floor for diesel has jumped from GH¢11.42 to GH¢14.35 per litre, and LPG has risen from GH¢9.38 to GH¢10.67 per kilogramme. Meanwhile, Ghana’s petroleum sector recorded a decline in the second half of 2025.


    The data from the Bank of Ghana (BoG), contained in the Central Bank’s Semi-Annual Report on the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF) and shared on Tuesday, February 3, shows total receipts of US$399.65 million, significantly lower than returns recorded during the same period in 2024.


    The report explains that the amount represents combined inflows from crude oil liftings and petroleum-related taxes. However, it fell below the US$369.25 million realised from crude oil liftings alone in the second half of 2024, pointing to weaker overall performance in the sector.


    “The total amount received into the PHF account for H2 2025 was US$399.65 million (crude oil lifting total of US$198.25 million and other total income of US$201.40 million),” the report indicated.


    The report further indicates that revenue between July 1 and December 31, 2025, was drawn from two main sources. Crude oil liftings from the Jubilee and Sankofa Gye Nyame (SGN) fields generated US$198.25 million, following the lifting of two Jubilee cargoes and one SGN cargo by the Ghana Group, represented by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).


    Ghana earned US$201.40 million from petroleum-related taxes and interest during the period. The bulk of this amount, US$198.09 million, came from corporate income taxes, while US$3.31 million was earned as interest on the Petroleum Holding Fund.


    The BoG also explained that revenue from the 25th cargo from the TEN field, valued at US$60.79 million, was not included in the report because the funds had not been received by the end of 2025, even though they were expected in November.


    Even though Ghana received less new money from oil during the period, it still spent and distributed a total of US$493.40 million. The spending was cushioned by savings accumulated by the government from previous years to cover the shortfall.


    According to the report, the government used about 57.8% of the total US$493.40 million, amounting to US$285.06 million, to fund its projects and programmes through the national budget.

    About 23.5%, representing US$115.99 million, was saved to stabilise the economy during difficult times, while US$49.71 million was saved for future generations. Another US$42.63 million was given to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation to help cover its operational and investment costs.


    The report further showed positive investment performance for Ghana’s petroleum savings. The Ghana Petroleum Funds recorded a net realised income of US$28.11 million, with returns of 2.28 per cent for the Heritage Fund and 2.51 per cent for the Stabilisation Fund.


    As of December 31, 2025, total petroleum reserves stood at US$1.55 billion, with the Heritage Fund accounting for US$1.38 billion.
    Looking ahead, the Bank of Ghana adopted a cautious outlook for 2026, noting that Brent crude prices declined from US$66.61 to US$60.81 per barrel by the end of 2025.


    While the International Monetary Fund projects global growth of 3.3 per cent, the report warned that Ghana’s petroleum revenues remain exposed to geopolitical developments in the Middle East and OPEC+ production decisions, with oil prices expected to average about US$62.13 per barrel in 2026.


    Meanwhile, in a related development, motorists have started the New Year on a good note, with less pressure on their pockets, as several Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have effected a reduction in fuel prices at their respective pumps across the country in the January pricing window.


    The price cuts, which took effect in the early hours of the New Year, signify a continued downward trend in petroleum costs, offering much-needed breathing room for both commercial and private transport users.
    Among the first OMCs to effect the reduction was market leader Star Oil.

    It set the pace and a benchmark for other OMCs as it adjusted its digital displays, reflecting a marginal dip from previous prices.
    Petrol is now selling at GH¢10.86 per litre, diesel is priced at GH¢11.96 per litre, and RON 95 is selling at GH¢13.56 per litre.


    According to Star Oil management, the reduction in oil prices is a result of a “favourable domestic and external cost environment,” citing the cedi’s appreciation and a dip in international refined product prices.


    It said the current reductions may only be the tip of the iceberg for January. The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) projected a robust outlook for the month, suggesting that competitive pressures will force more OMCs to follow suit in the coming days.


    In its January pricing outlook, COMAC provided a breakdown of the expected percentage declines. It projected that petrol would fall by up to 4.80 per cent, while diesel was also estimated to drop by approximately 3.77 per cent. LPG, on the other hand, was expected to see a reduction of roughly 2.19 per cent.


    Industry analysts believe that if the cedi maintains its current trajectory and international crude prices remain below US$80 per barrel, Ghanaians could see even more substantial relief by the second pricing window in mid-January.


    While fuel prices are dropping, Ghanaians have had to brace themselves for an increase in utility tariffs, which took effect on January 1, 2026.
    Following the announcement, there was widespread disapproval, particularly from stakeholders and the general public.


    On December 2, 2025, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced an imminent increase in tariffs, with the new rates set to take effect from January 1, 2026.

    The Commission said the increases—9.86 per cent for electricity and 15.92 per cent for water—had become necessary to meet utility investment needs, respond to macroeconomic pressures, and ensure the long-term stability of the sector.

  • Fatal boat accident on Volta lake leaves nine dead

    Fatal boat accident on Volta lake leaves nine dead

    A fatal boat accident on the Volta Lake in the East Gonja District has claimed the lives of nine persons. The deceased include women and children, reports indicate that the incident occurred on Wednesday, April 8, between Sikakope and Mataiko along the Yeji–Congo route.

    Rough weather conditions are said to have caused the boat, which was carrying 14 passengers, to capsize. Meanwhile, rescue team have been able save five male passengers.

    While Ghana has some drowning prevention initiatives, such as regional lifejacket policies, critical measures like water safety education in schools and community rescue training remain limited.
    The lack of flood risk management strategies further exacerbates the issue. Globally, drowning remains a significant public health issue. The first-ever Global Status Report on Drowning Prevention by the World Health Organization (WHO) details progress made in addressing drowning fatalities worldwide.
    The report notes that the global drowning death rate declined by 38 percent between 2000 and 2021. However, more than 300,000 fatalities were still recorded in 2021, underscoring the severity of the problem.

    In June this year, some seven students from Lawra Senior High School (SHS) lost their lives after the boat they were travelling on capsized on the Black Volta River at Dikpe.

    The unfortunate incident that claimed the lives of five girls and two boys occurred on Saturday, June 14, during a routine morning jogging exercise.
    Per reports, the group of 10, part of the school’s cadet corps, was attempting to cross in an overloaded boat.
    Three other students were rescued and provided medical care as well as psychological support. According to reports, early morning jogging is a regular activity for the cadet team; however, the rationale behind the group’s attempt to cross the river remains unclear.

    Reacting to the unfortunate incident, the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, has instructed that a meeting be convened and its findings reported to him. The Education Ministry has commiserated with the bereaved families as investigations continue.

    “We share in the grief of the affected families and the entire school community. Our thoughts and prayers are with them in this extremely difficult time.

    As the Ministry awaits a full report from the Ghana Police Service, we wish to assure Ghanaians that we will continue to do our best to ensure the safety and security of our students,” a statement signed by the Deputy Education Minister, Dr Clement Apaak, read.

    This is not the first time lives, especially those of students, have been lost to drowning on the Black Volta.

    In 2023, some eight students drowned in the Volta Lake in the Sene East District on their way to school. This prompted calls on the government to provide life jackets to pupils and staff in island communities who commute by water.

    Eduwatch Africa called on the Ghana Education Service and other relevant stakeholders to roll out measures to avert such disasters in the future.

    “In the immediate term, we urge the Ghana Education Service (GES) to facilitate the availability of life jackets to all school children and staff who sail to and from school, not only in the Sene East District, but all other ‘island and settler communities’ where children and staff commute by water transport to school.

    “The GES should, in collaboration with the relevant state agencies, facilitate health and safety orientation sessions for all its pupils and staff in island communities,” portions of the group’s statement read.

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) donated 100 life jackets and learning materials to the Atigagorme and Wayokope communities in the Sene East District.
    Then Director-General of GES, Dr Eric Nkansah, said the donation was an interim safety and security measure for school children. Appearing before Parliament on Wednesday, July 2, the Minister responsible for Interior, Honourable Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, revealed a number of measures the government and its agencies will put in place to check the rate of drowning incidents involving students and others in rural areas.

    This follows the recent boat incident along the Black Volta Basin that claimed the lives of seven students of Lawra Senior High School (SHS) on June 14.

    The sector minister noted that there will be regular sensitisation of canoe owners and operators, as well as residents along the Black Volta Basin, and sensitisation of students and identifiable bodies on maritime safety.

    He added that the Ghana Maritime Authority will provide life jackets to canoe operators along the river, conduct regular monitoring of canoe operators to ensure safety on the river, and ensure all canoes are regularly maintained.

  • Damang Mine deal rushed and not transparent – Minority alleges

    Damang Mine deal rushed and not transparent – Minority alleges

    The Minority in Parliament has stated that the Damang Gold Mine now under the Engineers and Planners (E&P) Limited did not go through a “proper transparent and fair manner”.

    In an interview with the media on Tuesday, April 7, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Lands and Natural Resources Committee, Akwasi Konadu, insisted that the process was rushed and failed to meet the necessary standards.

    “The same ministry goes ahead in doing that job on behalf of the President, sets up a committee with agencies appointed directly by the minister to oversee these processes and executes these processes just under four days. And you find this as going through a proper transparent and fair manner?

    “You see, local participation is something that we all encourage but the process must be above par. That is what we look for, not anything. It must be so open such that any other person could put in a fortified bid. In this one, the person and the object are so bad that they do not speak well of us,” he added.

    The Minority Caucus’ statement follows comments by the Acting Director of Legal Affairs at the Minerals Commission, Josef Iroko, who insisted that the handover of the Damang Mine to Engineers and Planners Limited (E&P) followed due process.


    His comment comes amid allegations of favouritism in the awarding of the Damang mining lease to Engineers and Planners Limited. On April 1, the government initiated the official process to transfer the Damang Gold Mine from Gold Fields to Engineers and Planners after months of dispute over ownership.

    The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources led a delegation responsible for overseeing the transition process.


    In April 2025, the government announced an agreement with Gold Fields Ghana for a 12-month transitional lease, after Parliamentary approval allowed continued operations under Abosso Goldfields Limited while preparing for the handover.

    The non-renewable lease was explicitly designed to facilitate an orderly transition to state ownership.

    Earlier in May, the company announced it had paused its proposed joint venture with AngloGold Ashanti involving the Tarkwa and Iduapriem mines to focus on maximising Tarkwa’s potential as a standalone asset.

    “We have operated here for 30 years, and we intend to continue for decades to come,” Fraser reiterated.


    Gold Fields posted strong financial and operational results for the first half of 2025. Attributable production rose 24% to 1,136koz, keeping the company on track to meet its annual guidance. Damang is expected to reach commercial production in the third quarter and steady-state production by the fourth quarter of 2025.


    Revenue rose 64% to US$3.48 billion, up from US$2.24 billion during the same period in 2024, driven by a 17% increase in gold sales and a 40% rise in gold prices. No fatalities were recorded across operations, compared to two incidents in the first half of 2024, which the company had previously described as an “unacceptable safety performance.”


    Background


    Parliament earlier approved a one-year transitional lease between the government and Abosso Goldfields Limited for continued operations at Damang in the Wassa West District of the Western Region.


    The initial lease was expected to expire in April 2025 but was extended to April 2026 after stakeholder consultations.


    Moving the motion for ratification, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah stressed that the lease carried no option for further extension, transfer, or mortgage beyond April 2026.


    Months ago, tensions rose at the Damang Mine as workers feared job losses after news of a government takeover. The Ghana Mine Workers’ Union, representing over 1,000 employees, threatened protests but was assured of job security.


    “We want to assure the hardworking employees, contractors, and service providers at Damang that your dedication has been the backbone of this mine, and it will remain indispensable. Valid contracts will be honoured, wages paid, and operations sustained as we work to regularise arrangements under State stewardship,” the Minister said.


    The decision to assume direct operational control came after Abosso Goldfields Limited failed to meet critical requirements for a lease renewal, including declaring verifiable mineral reserves, presenting a technical programme, and making financial provisions for exploration.


    Despite these setbacks, the government is determined to maintain the mine’s contribution to the economy. “We recognise the importance of Damang Mine to the local economy and the country as a whole. We are committed to ensuring the mine continues to operate efficiently and effectively,” the Minister added.


    To ensure a seamless transition, the government has developed a plan to preserve jobs, support local businesses, and maintain safety and infrastructure. Community engagement and transparency will remain central throughout the process.


    “Regular updates will be provided to keep all stakeholders informed,” Buah assured, adding that the takeover aligns with Ghana’s broader goal to ensure mineral wealth contributes more directly to national development.

  • Cannabis cultivation licences to soon be issued to qualified applicants – NACOC

    Cannabis cultivation licences to soon be issued to qualified applicants – NACOC

    The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has announced that it will soon issue licenses to qualified applicants for cannabis cultivation in Ghana, as it nears the final stages of its review process.


    Speaking at the Kwahu Business Forum, Deputy Director-General in charge of Enforcement, Control and Elimination, Alexander Twum-Barimah, disclosed that the review process is going through a “thorough and deliberate” manner.

    “We are carefully reviewing all applications submitted under the various license categories. Those who fully satisfy the criteria will soon be issued their licenses to begin operations,” he said.


    On Thursday, February 26  2026, Ghana formally launched its Medicinal Cannabis Programme, to allow cannabis cultivation and management strictly for industrial and medicinal purposes under tight regulation.

    Speaking at the launch in Accra on Thursday, February 26, of the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed- Mubarak, mentioned that the launch of the programmes comes after the passage of the Narcotics Control Commission Amendment Act, 2023 and the Narcotics Control Cultivation and Management of Cannabis Regulation, 2023, which together establish the legal and regulatory regime for the cultivation and management of cannabis strictly for industrial and medicinal purposes.

    According to him, there are 11 licenses for different activities linked to the cannabis business. From the cultivation, to processing, transportation, import and export, each licence is activity-specific and non-transferable.

    “You cannot cultivate and assume you can transport. You need another licence for that,” he said.

    He highlighted that “Today’s event marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s commitment to responsible drug control, public health and safety and economic development.”

    Although the new cannabis programme allows the cultivation of cannabis but for medicinal purposes, Mr Muntaka stressed that recreational use of cannabis remains illegal under Section 45 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020.

    Consequently, investors seeking licences in the sector must provide proof of their offtakers before being issued operational licenses.

    “We won’t give you the licence if you don’t show us who you are going to sell it to. You need to have an off-taker,” he said.

    He further disclosed that Ghana does not yet produce the specialised low-THC cannabis seeds required under the programme. As a result, seeds must be imported under licence.

    “Government is not positioning itself to provide the seeds. It is a business opportunity for those who want to import,” he said, encouraging research institutions to develop local seed capacity over time.

    To ensure compliance, the Interior Ministry, in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission and other security agencies, will deploy surveillance and enforcement mechanisms, including GPS tracking, drone monitoring and unannounced inspections of licensed facilities.

    Agencies such as the Police, Immigration Service, Prisons Service and the National Investigations Bureau will support enforcement.

    Licensed facilities must also not be located within 100 metres of schools or residential areas, and operators are required to submit quarterly returns.

    Mr Mohammed-Mubarak warned that regulatory breaches could damage Ghana’s international standing.

    “If we get it wrong, Ghana could easily be blacklisted, and all the efforts will come to nothing,” he said.

    While acknowledging the revenue potential of the sector, he emphasised that public safety remains the government’s primary concern.

    “Our emphasis is more on security and public safety than the money. If we do it right, the benefits will come,” he said.

    The introduction of the off-taker requirement is expected to reshape participation in the emerging industry, raising the entry threshold for prospective operators and limiting licences to investors who can demonstrate full commercial readiness from production to sale.

    Mr Mohammed-Mubarak said the government remains open to engagement but firm on enforcement.

    “Our doors are open 24-7, but we will make sure the intent of the law is fully achieved,” he said.

    Meanwhile, ahead of the launch of the programme, the government announced that NACOC will implement a licensing regime for medicinal and industrial cannabis cultivation containing no more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

    This comes after the Chamber of Cannabis Industry in 2025 urged the government to invest in the cannabis sector, highlighting its lucrative potential to generate substantial revenue. This call for investment aligns with the government’s reset agenda and aims to diversify Ghana’s cash crops, ultimately supporting the nation’s economy.

    Speaking at the launch of the Chamber of Cannabis Training Centre and Sky Bridge Pharmaceuticals in Accra on January 21, Dr. Mark Darko, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, emphasized that Ghana boasts one of the best climates globally for cultivating cannabis. He revealed that the global cannabis market, valued at $50 billion, offers Ghana an opportunity to generate up to $1 billion annually.

    “One can make no less than $10,000 from just one hectare of cannabis. This is a $50 billion industry. If Ghana is able to generate at least $1 billion annually from cannabis, you can imagine what that could do for our country. Cannabis has the potential to reset Ghana’s economy,” he said.

    Dr. Darko also encouraged the government to explore cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes, following the approval of the Narcotics Control Commission Bill, 2023, which permits industrial cannabis cultivation. He pointed out that medicinal cannabis is vital for the sector’s growth, citing its benefits in managing chronic pain, treating epilepsy, and addressing other health conditions.

    “The United States recorded over $11 billion in medicinal cannabis revenue in 2021, and that figure is set to more than double by 2025. Europe, projected to become the largest medicinal cannabis market in the world, is expected to reach $45 billion within the next five years,” he said.

    In addition to this, Dr. Darko highlighted the role of the Chamber’s Training Centre, supported by Sky Bridge Pharmaceuticals, in equipping farmers and processors with sustainable cultivation and processing techniques for cannabis and hemp. The Centre will also encourage research and innovation to create products for global markets while promoting ethical practices.

    The offtaker requirement, the Minister said, is to check the potential diversion of cannabis into the illegal market and safeguard public safety. Authorities will not permit cultivation without proof of a secured market.

    The directive applies across the cannabis value chain, affecting farmers, processors and investors. different activities linked to cannabis cultivation.

  • A/R: Violence erupts in Broadekwano–Asisiriwa, two killed, three injured

    A/R: Violence erupts in Broadekwano–Asisiriwa, two killed, three injured

    Violence erupted in Broadekwano and Asisiriwa in the Bosomtwe District of the Ashanti Region following an alleged misunderstanding between local youths on Tuesday, April 7.
    The incident has left two young men dead and three others in critical condition.

    A commercial sprinter bus owned by a resident of Asisiriwa was set ablaze by aggrieved youths. Reports indicate that the clash stemmed from an alleged relationship between a young woman from Broadekwano and a young man from Asisiriwa.

    Last year, violent clashes between residents and herdsmen in Gbeniyiri and surrounding communities in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District of the Savannah Region have claimed the lives of four individuals and injured five others.

    The injured are receiving treatment at various health facilities in the area.

    The violence erupted after a resident was killed during a robbery attack. In revenge, some relatives of the deceased launched an attack on herdsmen suspected to be behind the crime.

    Last year, several properties were destroyed, with more than 50,000 individuals displaced due to the tension in the area. The ongoing conflict in Gbenyiri stems from a land dispute between a Gbenyiri resident and the chief’s son, which began on Saturday, August 23.

    The unresolved conflict is spreading to Kalba and other parts of the district. Despite the deployment of 400 police personnel to the area to ensure law and order, clashes between the rival groups persisted.

    Unknown assailants shot a middle-aged man to death near Kalba, a suburb of the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District in the Savannah Region, on Sunday, September 7.

    The gunmen ambushed the deceased person and opened fire as he rode his motorcycle. According to the police, the deceased, whose identity is yet to be revealed traveled from his community, Uro to Kalba to charge his mobile phone due to the lack of power in his area.

    The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the St. Anne’s Catholic Hospital in Damongo by the Ghana Police Service. The incident is amid the ongoing protracted conflict in Gbenyiri, which has claimed multiple lives.

    The latest death brings the official toll from the conflict to 32.
    Residents have, however, expressed fear over the security situation. Speaking to the media, a resident noted, “With this killing, who do you think will trust the system again? Some of us suspected this to happen because the guys are still around in Kalba town, and if you deceive yourself and go there, they will just end your life like this farmer. To me, this reaffirms the fears and mistrust in the system. The authorities need to do more than just talk and go”.

    Meanwhile, a seven-member mediation committee has been established by the Interior Ministry in response to the ongoing land conflict in Gbenyiri in the Savannah Region.

    The committee has been tasked with a one-month mandate to assist the government in finding a lasting solution to the tension in the area.

    During the inauguration ceremony at the Interior Ministry in Accra, the sector Minister, Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka, noted that the establishment of the committee was a recommendation from the National Security Council.

    The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohunu, alongside senior officials from the Armed Forces, Prisons Service, and Immigration Service, have already visited Kalba, Sawla, and other affected communities in efforts to bring calm to the area.

    In a related development, President John Mahama has initiated steps to restore peace in the Sawla-Bole area of the Savannah Region following renewed tensions between the Gonja and Brifor communities.

    Upon his return from a state visit to Singapore, the President received a full briefing from the National Security Coordinator and the Minister for the Interior on the latest developments in the conflict.

    While abroad, Mr. Mahama held a telephone conversation with the King of Gonja, Yagbonwura Jira Bikunuto Jewu Soale I, during which they discussed measures to end the clashes and foster lasting peace in the area.

    As part of efforts to de-escalate the situation, the President has dispatched a government delegation led by the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohamed-Mubarak, to engage the Yagbonwura and other key stakeholders.

    Meanwhile, security has been reinforced with the deployment of additional police and military personnel to the conflict zone. President Mahama has urged all parties to support the peace initiatives being rolled out, stressing the importance of dialogue in resolving outstanding disputes.

    He has further directed the government delegation to work closely with the Regional Security Council, traditional authorities, and community leaders to ensure calm is restored and law and order upheld.

    Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has assured the Overlord of Gonja, Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, that the government will take every necessary step to restore peace in the Sawla-Bole area.

    “We have taken note of all the concerns, and we have also assured him that we will do everything humanly possible to ensure that peace will be restored. But we need his cooperation and the cooperation of all others. Surely, what talking can solve, dance cannot solve,” he stated.

    “Surely, what talking can solve, dance cannot solve, so we are hoping that after all the lengthy discussion and the conclusion that we have come to, we will go and implement our part, we are hopeful that they will also listen to us and also adhere to whatever agreement that we’ve had,” he noted.

    Less than a week ago, the sector minister imposed a curfew on the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba township and its surrounding communities in the Savannah Region. The curfew is in effect from 6:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., commencing on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, and remains in place until further notice.

    This measure was taken in response to the recent outbreak of conflict in the area. In addition to the curfew, there is a total ban on the possession of firearms, ammunition, or any offensive weapons. Any individual found with such items will be arrested and prosecuted.

    Furthermore, no two or more persons are permitted to ride on motorbikes throughout the day, and the wearing of war regalia has also been prohibited.

    Last year, intense security measures were implemented in the Bole and Sawla districts of the Savannah Region due to the chieftaincy dispute between the Bolewura and the Jahori clan.

    This heightened security response followed a ruling by the Tamale High Court concerning the dispute between the Jahori and Bolewura factions.

    In response to the court ruling, youths from Bole set fire to houses belonging to members of the Jahori community residing in both Bole and Sawla districts.

    The devastating fires resulted in significant property losses for the affected individuals, leaving many tenants in despair and tears. In recent years, the country has witnessed a number of casualties and destruction of property arising from chieftaincy disputes.

    The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, has also reviewed the earlier curfew hours imposed on Bawku and Nalerigu townships following recent attacks.

    The previous curfew, which ran from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., has been revised to 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. The minister took this decision after receiving advice from the National Security Council.

    The Bawku Municipality in the Upper East Region and the East Mamprusi Municipality in the North East Region are affected by the new directive.

    The curfew has created an environment conducive for the evacuation of students from educational institutions in the affected areas, some of whom had unfortunately been targeted during the conflict.

    In a statement issued on July 27, the government announced that it is stepping up its approach from peacekeeping to peace enforcement in Bawku and other affected areas due to the recent escalation of violence, which threatens to derail the peace-building process.

    These heightened tensions and conflicts have had an impact on the country’s global peace ranking. Ghana has been ranked 61st out of 163 countries in the 2025 Global Peace Index (GPI), marking a continued decline in its standing on peacefulness.

    The latest ranking follows a downward trajectory from 55th in 2024, 51st in 2023, and 40th in 2022.

    Despite the decline, Ghana still ranks ahead of several of its West African neighbors, including Senegal (69th), Liberia (70th), and Nigeria (148th).

    The Global Peace Index, compiled annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP), measures the peacefulness of nations based on 23 indicators across three broad domains: societal safety and security, ongoing domestic and international conflict, and militarization.

  • Nigeria releases onion shipments heading to Ghana

    Nigeria releases onion shipments heading to Ghana

    Onion shipments that were heading to Ghana from Niger on Sunday, April 5, but were detained in Nigeria over trade regulations and border controls, have now been released. This information was disclosed by the National Coordinator of the Cross-Border Traders Association, Oscar Akaba.

    While speaking to the media, he noted, “When this issue all happened, we went into it and yesterday, the Trade Ministry formed a committee to go into the matter. Our tasks were to de-escalate the issue where the Nigerian trucks that were in Ghana were offloaded and they are going back. And our trucks, almost 56, that is between Benin and Nigerian have also been released because that was the mutual agreement we had”.


    The release provides relief to traders and stakeholders engaged in regional agricultural trade.

    The consignment were allegedly seized by suspected armed men in Samia, a town in Kebbi State, Nigeria. According to reports, the armed men in blocked and detained several Ghanaian trucks transporting vegetables from Niger through Nigeria en route to Ghana.


    In a separate development, there is growing pressure from Agbogbloshie Market traders in Accra on the government to boost domestic tomato production. The call comes with rising costs that are dampening consumer demand. Tomatoes, which used to sell at GH¢18 and GH¢22, are now selling at GH¢32, GH¢38, and even GH¢40.


    Addressing the media on Monday, March 30, a trader at Agbogbloshie Market attributed the price increase to the export restrictions imposed by Burkina Faso.

    Burkina government, in a formal communique dated March 16, and signed by both the Trade and Agriculture ministers of the Francophone country, announced that a ban has become necessary to feed the country’s national processing units.


    This sparked widespread concerns about its potential to worsen Ghana’s tomato supply crisis, as Ghana imports approximately 70-80% of its tomatoes from Burkina Faso, worth about $400 million annually.
    Consequently, the Government of Ghana has announced plans to engage authorities in Burkina Faso, given the potency of its impact on supply in the Ghanaian market.


    In a statement shared on Friday, March 20, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry said the engagement will focus on resolving concerns surrounding the ban while exploring a mutually beneficial outcome for both countries.


    It said, “The engagement will focus on resolving concerns surrounding the ban while exploring a mutually beneficial outcome for both countries, given the longstanding trade ties and Ghana’s reliance on tomato imports from Burkina Faso”.


    The government also continued that, “The government reiterates its commitment to working with stakeholders to boost local tomato production under the ‘Feed Ghana’ and ‘Feed the Industry’ programmes, aimed at increasing output to meet demand on the domestic market”.
    The Ministry also urged tomato traders and the general public to remain calm while it makes an effort to reach an amicable resolution to restore normal trade flows between the two countries.


    Statement on the ban on exports by the Burkina Faso government
    Also, the Burkina government says the issuance of Special Export Authorisations (ASE) has also been suspended. The Special Export Authorisations (ASE) are official permits issued by the government that allow traders to export certain goods,


    “Economic operators and the public are hereby informed that, to ensure the supply of national processing plants, the export of fresh tomatoes is suspended throughout the national territory until further notice. Consequently, the issuance of Special Export Authorisations (ASE) is suspended.


    The letter also stated that operators holding valid fresh tomato export permits have two (2) weeks from the date of signature of the communiqué to complete their export procedures. After two weeks, the permit will be considered invalid.


    “Economic operators holding valid fresh tomato export authorisations have two (2) weeks from the date of signature of this communiqué to complete their export procedures. After this period, the authorisation will be considered invalid”, the statement continued.


    The Burkinabé government warned that any violator of the directive will be sanctioned in accordance with applicable regulations.
    “Furthermore, any goods seized in violation of this measure will be returned, free of charge, to the fresh tomato processing plants established under the popular shareholding scheme,” the letter translated to English noted.


    It continued that, “The Government is counting on the understanding and cooperation of all stakeholders in the tomato sector, as well as all state technical services, particularly border control services and security forces, to ensure the proper implementation of the terms of this communiqué”.


    Kumasi vendors express frustration


    The impact of the ban is being felt well before any formal shortage sets in. Some tomato vendors at the Racecourse Market in Kumasi are already expressing frustration over the development, warning that prices could spike if the situation is not quickly addressed.


    The vendors are using the occasion to call on the government to prioritise the local tomato industry by revamping irrigation systems and investing in local processing facilities, longstanding concerns that have left Ghana’s tomato sector heavily dependent on imports from neighbouring countries, particularly Burkina Faso.


    Ghana has historically relied on cross-border produce flows from Burkina Faso to supplement domestic tomato supply, especially during lean seasons when local harvests are insufficient to meet demand.


    A sudden and indefinite halt to those exports is therefore expected to tighten supply significantly, with knock-on effects on prices at markets nationwide.


    Northern Ghana, which serves as the main corridor for produce trade with Burkina Faso, is expected to feel the shortage most acutely in the short term.


    Before this ban, Ghana was hit with the sad news of a fatal terrorist attack on tomato traders in mid-February.


    A truck carrying Ghanaian tomato traders was attacked by terrorists in Titao, Burkina Faso, on Sunday, February, 15. This was contained in a press release issued to media houses and signed by the Minister for the Interior and National Security, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak.


    In a joint statement issued in Ouagadougou on Thursday, March 19, the Burkinabè government announced an immediate nationwide halt to tomato exports “until further notice,” explaining that the move is intended to prioritise domestic supply for local processing industries.


    The directive, signed by the country’s trade and agriculture ministries, also suspends the issuance of Special Export Authorisations (ASE), effectively shutting down formal export channels for tomatoes.


    Traders with existing permits have been granted a two-week window to complete ongoing transactions, after which all authorisations will be revoked.

    The government warned that any breach of the directive would attract sanctions under existing laws, adding that seized consignments would be redirected to local processing factories to support domestic agro-industrial production.


    Ghana and Burkina Faso have shared a long border. Burkina Faso remains deeply affected by insurgent violence, with cross-border implications for neighboring countries like Ghana.


    Northern Burkina Faso has faced persistent insecurity due to jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. Attacks often target military posts, civilians, and traders moving across borders, disrupting local economies and cross-border trade.


    Burkina Faso remains deeply affected by insurgent violence, with cross-border implications for neighboring countries like Ghana. In 2025, Burkina Faso’s military government’s banned grain and cereal exports.


    To demonstrate their commitment, Burkinabe authorities have agreed to lift restrictions on 23 trucks carrying seized beans. Additional shipments of cereals meant for Ghana are also expected to be released in the coming days.


    Ghana, which depends on imports from Burkina Faso, had faced concerns over possible supply shortages and rising prices due to the ban.


    However, after President Mahama’s diplomatic engagements in the AES region, Gbevlo-Lartey is confident that relations between both countries have been strengthened.


    During an interview with Blessed Sogah on Connect Africa, he explained: “President Mahama has successfully addressed the situation, and further discussions between key stakeholders from both sides will ensure a concrete resolution. The issue is largely settled. For instance, 23 trucks that had been held up have been released, and the Burkinabe authorities have assured President Mahama that the remaining eight will also be let through shortly.”


    Meanwhile, on January 29, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) confirmed that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger had officially exited the bloc after the end of their six-month grace period due to diplomatic tensions after military takeovers and due to economic and social failures by past governments.


    The military juntas of these countries are led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, General Assimi Goïta, and General Abdourahmane Tchiani, respectively.The trio accused the ECOWAS of failing to safeguard member states and deviating from founding principles and Pan-African spirit.


    In response to these claims, ECOWAS revealed that it did not receive formal notice before their withdrawal; therefore, it called for a dialogue to address their concerns. “The ECOWAS Commission remains seized with the development and shall make further pronouncements as the situation evolves,” it added.


    President John Dramani Mahama extended invitations to the military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to participate in the official launch of ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary celebrations, which took place in Accra on April 22.


    The invitation to the Sahelian states was part of Ghana’s broader efforts to rebuild relations and enhance cooperation for a stable and united West African region.International Relations Analyst Dr. Yaw Gebe endorsed President John Dramani Mahama’s decision, describing the gesture as a positive step toward regional reconciliation.


    He, however, advised the ECOWAS to critically reflect on the underlying reasons behind the exit of the Sahel nations and emphasised the need for the bloc to adopt a more inclusive and problem-solving approach going forward.


    “My prayer and longing is that whatever the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu or President John Mahama are doing, they should be conscious of the problems or challenges these countries are facing. The ECOWAS must be willing and ready to tackle those problems collectively. And that is a major shortcoming on the part of ECOWAS,” he said.


    Despite the formal withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on January 29, citizens from these countries will still be able to use their national passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo for travel within the region.


    ECOWAS has assured that in the interest of regional cooperation and to prevent unnecessary disruptions, all relevant authorities within and outside the bloc’s member states should continue to recognize these travel documents until further notice.


    Additionally, trade and economic activities involving these three nations will not face immediate restrictions. Goods and services from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger will continue to receive the same treatment under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and investment policy.


    Citizens from the affected countries will also retain their right to visa-free movement, residence, and establishment across ECOWAS states, ensuring that travel and cross-border activities remain unhindered.


    Furthermore, officials from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger working within ECOWAS will be given full support and cooperation in carrying out their assignments.These measures will remain in place as ECOWAS leaders work on defining the future relationship between the bloc and the three nations.


    A special structure has been put in place to facilitate discussions on the next steps. The regional body emphasized that these transitional arrangements aim to maintain stability, minimize confusion, and support the people and businesses affected by the withdrawal.

  • Ghana records 8.7bn litres fuel demand as downstream sector grows

    Ghana records 8.7bn litres fuel demand as downstream sector grows

    The Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC), Dr. Riverson Oppong, has disclosed that Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector saw significant growth in 2025, with total product supply and demand increasing by 15 percent to 8.7 billion litres.

    He revealed that Ghana consumed 7.45 billion litres of petroleum products domestically, with demand largely fueled by the transportation sector covering vehicles, buses, and trucks and electricity generation.

    According to him, domestic refinery production totaled half a billion litres, representing an 11.3% year-on-year decline compared to 2024.

    “The downstream sector recorded 15% increase on product supply and demand giving you a total of 8.7 billion liters that was imported and then the consumption of 7.45 billion liters used for both transportation and also electricity generation. Domestic production from refineries was half a billion liter, which saw a decrease of 11.3% in the volumes year on year as compared to 2024,” Dr. Riverson Oppong said.

    Meanwhile, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has revealed that Ghana has sufficient diesel and petrol stocks to last nearly two months in the event of a temporary supply disruption.

    During a media engagement on Tuesday, April 7, NPA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Godwin Edudzi Tameklo stated that Ghana remains secure despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East.


    “Today in Ghana, for diesel, we have almost eight weeks of import cover. For petrol, we have almost 6.8 weeks. We just concluded our legal advisory meeting last week, and we have vessels scheduled up to the 19th of April — 10 vessels currently on the high seas.


    “Before the war, a metric ton of diesel cost around $695. Today, the price is $1,337 — almost twice as much. Yet, have pump prices doubled? No. If it weren’t for the relatively stable exchange rate, local fuel prices would have doubled by now,” he added.

    Despite persistent pressures from rising global fuel prices amid Middle East tensions, Ghana recorded a 3.2 percent inflation rate in March. This information was contained in a release from the latest data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS)on Wednesday, April 1.

    The figure reflects a decline from 22.4 percent recorded during the same period last year. This represents the 15th consecutive month of decline in Ghana’s inflation rate. February 2026 recorded 3.3 percent in 23.1 percent in February 2025.


    The ongoing tensions between Iran, the U.S., and Israel have been linked to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.


    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in strikes by the United States (U.S.) and Israel. This development is significantly impacting travelers from Ghana to Asia, Europe, and North America, as Dubai is a major transit hub connecting travelers through the United Arab Emirates.

    Meanwhile, petrol and diesel are selling at GH¢13.30 and GH¢17.10 per litre, respectively, at the pumps. In a social media post on Tuesday, March 31, GOIL announced that petrol is now selling at GH¢13.30 per litre from GH¢12.24 and diese from GH¢15.69 to GH¢17.10 per litre.


    Star Oil has increased from GH¢12.19 to GH¢13.49 per litre. It has also increased the price of Diesel from GH¢14.25 to GH¢17.97. The adjustment follows a new price floor announced by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on March 30, directing Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to implement the changes from Wednesday, April 1.


    On Monday, March 16, petroleum products at the pumps will saw an increase following adjustment by the NPAfor the second pricing window for the month.


    As a result, petrol priced at GHȼ10.46 per litre will now be sold at GHȼ11.57. The price floor for diesel has jumped from GH¢11.42 to GH¢14.35 per litre, and LPG has risen from GH¢9.38 to GH¢10.67 per kilogramme. Meanwhile, Ghana’s petroleum sector recorded a decline in the second half of 2025.


    The data from the Bank of Ghana (BoG), contained in the Central Bank’s Semi-Annual Report on the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF) and shared on Tuesday, February 3, shows total receipts of US$399.65 million, significantly lower than returns recorded during the same period in 2024.


    The report explains that the amount represents combined inflows from crude oil liftings and petroleum-related taxes. However, it fell below the US$369.25 million realised from crude oil liftings alone in the second half of 2024, pointing to weaker overall performance in the sector.


    “The total amount received into the PHF account for H2 2025 was US$399.65 million (crude oil lifting total of US$198.25 million and other total income of US$201.40 million),” the report indicated.


    The report further indicates that revenue between July 1 and December 31, 2025, was drawn from two main sources. Crude oil liftings from the Jubilee and Sankofa Gye Nyame (SGN) fields generated US$198.25 million, following the lifting of two Jubilee cargoes and one SGN cargo by the Ghana Group, represented by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).


    Ghana earned US$201.40 million from petroleum-related taxes and interest during the period. The bulk of this amount, US$198.09 million, came from corporate income taxes, while US$3.31 million was earned as interest on the Petroleum Holding Fund.


    The BoG also explained that revenue from the 25th cargo from the TEN field, valued at US$60.79 million, was not included in the report because the funds had not been received by the end of 2025, even though they were expected in November.


    Even though Ghana received less new money from oil during the period, it still spent and distributed a total of US$493.40 million. The spending was cushioned by savings accumulated by the government from previous years to cover the shortfall.


    According to the report, the government used about 57.8% of the total US$493.40 million, amounting to US$285.06 million, to fund its projects and programmes through the national budget.

    About 23.5%, representing US$115.99 million, was saved to stabilise the economy during difficult times, while US$49.71 million was saved for future generations. Another US$42.63 million was given to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation to help cover its operational and investment costs.


    The report further showed positive investment performance for Ghana’s petroleum savings. The Ghana Petroleum Funds recorded a net realised income of US$28.11 million, with returns of 2.28 per cent for the Heritage Fund and 2.51 per cent for the Stabilisation Fund.


    As of December 31, 2025, total petroleum reserves stood at US$1.55 billion, with the Heritage Fund accounting for US$1.38 billion.


    Looking ahead, the Bank of Ghana adopted a cautious outlook for 2026, noting that Brent crude prices declined from US$66.61 to US$60.81 per barrel by the end of 2025.


    While the International Monetary Fund projects global growth of 3.3 per cent, the report warned that Ghana’s petroleum revenues remain exposed to geopolitical developments in the Middle East and OPEC+ production decisions, with oil prices expected to average about US$62.13 per barrel in 2026.


    Meanwhile, in a related development, motorists have started the New Year on a good note, with less pressure on their pockets, as several Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have effected a reduction in fuel prices at their respective pumps across the country in the January pricing window.


    The price cuts, which took effect in the early hours of the New Year, signify a continued downward trend in petroleum costs, offering much-needed breathing room for both commercial and private transport users.


    Among the first OMCs to effect the reduction was market leader Star Oil. It set the pace and a benchmark for other OMCs as it adjusted its digital displays, reflecting a marginal dip from previous prices.


    Petrol is now selling at GH¢10.86 per litre, diesel is priced at GH¢11.96 per litre, and RON 95 is selling at GH¢13.56 per litre.
    According to Star Oil management, the reduction in oil prices is a result of a “favourable domestic and external cost environment,” citing the cedi’s appreciation and a dip in international refined product prices.


    It said the current reductions may only be the tip of the iceberg for January. The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) projected a robust outlook for the month, suggesting that competitive pressures will force more OMCs to follow suit in the coming days.


    In its January pricing outlook, COMAC provided a breakdown of the expected percentage declines. It projected that petrol would fall by up to 4.80 per cent, while diesel was also estimated to drop by approximately 3.77 per cent. LPG, on the other hand, was expected to see a reduction of roughly 2.19 per cent.


    Industry analysts believe that if the cedi maintains its current trajectory and international crude prices remain below US$80 per barrel, Ghanaians could see even more substantial relief by the second pricing window in mid-January.


    While fuel prices are dropping, Ghanaians have had to brace themselves for an increase in utility tariffs, which took effect on January 1, 2026.


    Following the announcement, there was widespread disapproval, particularly from stakeholders and the general public.
    On December 2, 2025, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced an imminent increase in tariffs, with the new rates set to take effect from January 1, 2026.

    The Commission said the increases—9.86 per cent for electricity and 15.92 per cent for water—had become necessary to meet utility investment needs, respond to macroeconomic pressures, and ensure the long-term stability of the sector.

  • Damang lease transfer to E&P meets all legal requirements – Minerals Commission

    Damang lease transfer to E&P meets all legal requirements – Minerals Commission

    The Acting Director of Legal Affairs at the Minerals Commission, Josef Iroko, has emphasised that the handover of the Damang mine to Engineers and Planners Limited (E&P) by the government was transparent, competitive, and followed due process.

    His comment comes amid allegations of favouritism in the awarding of the Damang mining lease to Engineers and Planners Limited.

    “The committee went into this work without regard to anybody’s last name, that is the first thing I want to raise. Then secondly, the committee was guided by the Tender Notice Guidelines published by the minister as per regulation 258 of the Minerals and Mining Licensing Regulation 2012, L.I 217.

    So the process has been outlined in the regulations. So the minister published the notice and then told the whole world as to the criteria that any bidder must meet,” Josef Iroko stated during a media engagement on Tuesday, April 7.


    On April 1, the government has initiated the official process to transfer the Damang Gold Mine from Gold Fields to Engineers and Planners after months of dispute over ownership. The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources led a delegation responsible for overseeing the transition process.

    In April 2025, the government announced an agreement with Gold Fields Ghana for a 12-month transitional lease, after Parliamentary approval allowed continued operations under Abosso Goldfields Limited while preparing for the handover.


    The non-renewable lease was explicitly designed to facilitate an orderly transition to state ownership.


    Earlier in May, the company announced it had paused its proposed joint venture with AngloGold Ashanti involving the Tarkwa and Iduapriem mines to focus on maximising Tarkwa’s potential as a standalone asset.


    “We have operated here for 30 years, and we intend to continue for decades to come,” Fraser reiterated.

    Gold Fields posted strong financial and operational results for the first half of 2025. Attributable production rose 24% to 1,136koz, keeping the company on track to meet its annual guidance. Damang is expected to reach commercial production in the third quarter and steady-state production by the fourth quarter of 2025.

    Revenue rose 64% to US$3.48 billion, up from US$2.24 billion during the same period in 2024, driven by a 17% increase in gold sales and a 40% rise in gold prices. No fatalities were recorded across operations, compared to two incidents in the first half of 2024, which the company had previously described as an “unacceptable safety performance.”

    Background

    Parliament earlier approved a one-year transitional lease between the government and Abosso Goldfields Limited for continued operations at Damang in the Wassa West District of the Western Region.
    The initial lease was expected to expire in April 2025 but was extended to April 2026 after stakeholder consultations.

    Moving the motion for ratification, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah stressed that the lease carried no option for further extension, transfer, or mortgage beyond April 2026.

    Months ago, tensions rose at the Damang Mine as workers feared job losses after news of a government takeover. The Ghana Mine Workers’ Union, representing over 1,000 employees, threatened protests but was assured of job security.

    “We want to assure the hardworking employees, contractors, and service providers at Damang that your dedication has been the backbone of this mine, and it will remain indispensable. Valid contracts will be honoured, wages paid, and operations sustained as we work to regularise arrangements under State stewardship,” the Minister said.

    The decision to assume direct operational control came after Abosso Goldfields Limited failed to meet critical requirements for a lease renewal, including declaring verifiable mineral reserves, presenting a technical programme, and making financial provisions for exploration.

    Despite these setbacks, the government is determined to maintain the mine’s contribution to the economy. “We recognise the importance of Damang Mine to the local economy and the country as a whole. We are committed to ensuring the mine continues to operate efficiently and effectively,” the Minister added.

    To ensure a seamless transition, the government has developed a plan to preserve jobs, support local businesses, and maintain safety and infrastructure. Community engagement and transparency will remain central throughout the process.

    “Regular updates will be provided to keep all stakeholders informed,” Buah assured, adding that the takeover aligns with Ghana’s broader goal to ensure mineral wealth contributes more directly to national development.

  • New VIP fares take effect today

    New VIP fares take effect today

    Effective today, Wednesday, April 8, Ghanaian commuters who patronize one of the country’s leading transport services, VIP Jeoun Transport, will experience an increase in fares.

    VIP Jeoun Transport announced the adjustment of fares In a statement shared on their official Facebook Page on Tuesday, April 7.

    Parts of the statement noted: “VIP JEOUN Transport announces fare increase effective Wednesday, April 8, 2026.”

    The transport group explained that the latest fare adjustment had been long overdue, noting that plans to increase fares were initially set for 2024 but were later put on hold.

    “VIP JEOUN Transport last reviewed fares on April, 26,2024. The fares are categorised as EXECUTIVE and STANDARD TOUR”, adding that, “VIP JEOUN Transport first published this notice on 14/03/25 and SUSPENDED on 18/03/25”.

    Meanwhile, the company has yet to give the reason behind the increase, but there are speculations that it could be due to rising fuel prices linked to Middle East tensions.

    The company said the adjustment affects both its standard tour and executive coach services, covering major routes from Accra to destinations across the country.

    According to the statement, passengers travelling on standard services will pay Ghc120 from Accra to Kumasi , Ghc170 to Sunyani and Ghc290 to Tamale, among others. Fares to northern destinations such as Bolgatanga and Wa have been set at Ghc330 and Ghc320, respectively.

    Executive coach services have also seen upward adjustments, with fares from Accra to Kumasi increased to Ghc150, Sunyani to Ghc200, and Tamale to Ghc360.

    Longer-distance routes such as Accra to Navrongo and Bawku will now cost Ghc420 and Ghc430, respectively.

    The company also announced revised intercity fares from Kumasi, including Ghc210 from Kumasi to Tamale and Ghc250 to Bolgatanga.

    Difference between Standard and Executive coaches

    Standard Coaches have a regular seating arrangement, typically four seats per row (2+2), offering basic comfort, legroom, and ventilation with standard amenities are minimal, usually with no onboard entertainment, and air-conditioning may vary depending on the bus. Fares are lower compared to Executive Coaches.

    For the Executive Coaches, passengers enjoy a more spacious seating layout, often three seats per row (2+1), giving extra legroom and wider seats with better comfort levels. Comfort levels are higher, with reclining seats and better suspension for smoother rides. Amenities include air-conditioning, onboard entertainment such as TV screens, and sometimes Wi-Fi and charging ports in newer fleets. Fares are higher due to the added comfort and services, making Executive Coaches suitable for passengers willing to pay more, especially on longer routes like Accra–Tamale or Accra–Bolgatanga.

    VIP Jeoun said the new fare structure was approved by management and applies across all its operational routes.

    GPRTU on fuel prices and transport fares

    The price of fuel jumped again last week, prompting calls for the government to cut fuel taxes. However, while the government had yet to respond to these calls, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) hinted at a possible price increase in transport fares.

    The Deputy Secretary of the Union, Samuel Amoah, urged drivers to exercise patience, noting that discussions on transport fare adjustments were still ongoing.

    According to him, the Easter festivities and holidays had delayed their scheduled meeting with the Transport Ministry and other stakeholders to table concerns about transport rates.

    Speaking during an appearance on JoyNews’ The Pulse on Thursday, Mr. Amoah explained:

    “The Minister has scheduled a meeting for Tuesday to discuss the way forward. Until this meeting takes place, we have not reached a conclusion on whether there will be an increment or the percentage, if any, that will be applied,” he said.

    He went on to appeal for the patience of commercial drivers, urging them to desist from taking unilateral actions and stressing that the leadership intended to finalise discussions with the Ministry before any decisions on fare adjustments were announced.

    Mr. Amoah stated that the purpose of the upcoming meeting was to formally engage the Ministry before any official announcement was made, assuring members that new updates would be given as soon as possible.

    This came after the drivers’ association, on April 1, gave the government a forty-eight-hour (48) ultimatum to cut taxes on fuel, warning of a potential increase in transport fares.

    The ultimatum was announced by the Union’s Deputy Public Relations Officer during an interview on Joy News’ AM Show.

    He said,

    “We came up with this release and gave the government two days to do something about it.

    If they fail to do what this increment can, then we have no option but to organise ourselves to request an increment of transport fares for our members.”

  • Middle East tensions: Ghana’s diesel and petrol stocks to last eight weeks – NPA

    Middle East tensions: Ghana’s diesel and petrol stocks to last eight weeks – NPA

    The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has revealed that Ghana has sufficient diesel and petrol stocks to last nearly two months in the event of a temporary supply disruption. During a media engagement on Tuesday, April 7, NPA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Godwin Edudzi Tameklo stated that Ghana remains secure despite ongoing tensions in the Middle East.

    “Today in Ghana, for diesel, we have almost eight weeks of import cover. For petrol, we have almost 6.8 weeks. We just concluded our legal advisory meeting last week, and we have vessels scheduled up to the 19th of April — 10 vessels currently on the high seas.

    “Before the war, a metric ton of diesel cost around $695. Today, the price is $1,337 — almost twice as much. Yet, have pump prices doubled? No. If it weren’t for the relatively stable exchange rate, local fuel prices would have doubled by now,” he added.


    Despite persistent pressures from rising global fuel prices amid Middle East tensions, Ghana recorded a 3.2 percent inflation rate in March. This information was contained in a release from the latest data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS)on Wednesday, April 1.

    The figure reflects a decline from 22.4 percent recorded during the same period last year. This represents the 15th consecutive month of decline in Ghana’s inflation rate. February 2026 recorded 3.3 percent in 23.1 percent in February 2025.

    The ongoing tensions between Iran, the U.S., and Israel have been linked to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in strikes by the United States (U.S.) and Israel. This development is significantly impacting travelers from Ghana to Asia, Europe, and North America, as Dubai is a major transit hub connecting travelers through the United Arab Emirates.

    Meanwhile, petrol and diesel are selling at GH¢13.30 and GH¢17.10 per litre, respectively, at the pumps.  In a social media post on Tuesday, March 31, GOIL announced that petrol is now selling at GH¢13.30 per litre from GH¢12.24 and diese from GH¢15.69 to GH¢17.10 per litre.

    Star Oil, has increased from GH¢12.19 to GH¢13.49 per litre. It has also increased the price of Diesel from GH¢14.25 to GH¢17.97. The adjustment follows a new price floor announced by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) on March 30, directing Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to implement the changes from Wednesday, April 1.

    On Monday, March 16, petroleum products at the pumps saw an increase following an adjustment by the NPA for the second pricing window for the month.

    As a result, petrol priced at GHȼ10.46 per litre will now be sold at GHȼ11.57. The price floor for diesel has jumped from GH¢11.42 to GH¢14.35 per litre, and LPG has risen from GH¢9.38 to GH¢10.67 per kilogramme. Meanwhile, Ghana’s petroleum sector recorded a decline in the second half of 2025.

    The data from the Bank of Ghana (BoG), contained in the Central Bank’s Semi-Annual Report on the Petroleum Holding Fund (PHF) and shared on Tuesday, February 3, shows total receipts of US$399.65 million, significantly lower than returns recorded during the same period in 2024.

    The report explains that the amount represents combined inflows from crude oil liftings and petroleum-related taxes. However, it fell below the US$369.25 million realised from crude oil liftings alone in the second half of 2024, pointing to weaker overall performance in the sector.

    “The total amount received into the PHF account for H2 2025 was US$399.65 million (crude oil lifting total of US$198.25 million and other total income of US$201.40 million),” the report indicated.

    The report further indicates that revenue between July 1 and December 31, 2025, was drawn from two main sources. Crude oil liftings from the Jubilee and Sankofa Gye Nyame (SGN) fields generated US$198.25 million, following the lifting of two Jubilee cargoes and one SGN cargo by the Ghana Group, represented by the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).

    Ghana earned US$201.40 million from petroleum-related taxes and interest during the period. The bulk of this amount, US$198.09 million, came from corporate income taxes, while US$3.31 million was earned as interest on the Petroleum Holding Fund.

    The BoG also explained that revenue from the 25th cargo from the TEN field, valued at US$60.79 million, was not included in the report because the funds had not been received by the end of 2025, even though they were expected in November.

    Even though Ghana received less new money from oil during the period, it still spent and distributed a total of US$493.40 million. The spending was cushioned by savings accumulated by the government from previous years to cover the shortfall.

    According to the report, the government used about 57.8% of the total US$493.40 million, amounting to US$285.06 million, to fund its projects and programmes through the national budget. About 23.5%, representing US$115.99 million, was saved to stabilise the economy during difficult times, while US$49.71 million was saved for future generations. Another US$42.63 million was given to the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation to help cover its operational and investment costs.

    The report further showed positive investment performance for Ghana’s petroleum savings. The Ghana Petroleum Funds recorded a net realised income of US$28.11 million, with returns of 2.28 per cent for the Heritage Fund and 2.51 per cent for the Stabilisation Fund.

    As of December 31, 2025, total petroleum reserves stood at US$1.55 billion, with the Heritage Fund accounting for US$1.38 billion.

    Looking ahead, the Bank of Ghana adopted a cautious outlook for 2026, noting that Brent crude prices declined from US$66.61 to US$60.81 per barrel by the end of 2025.

    While the International Monetary Fund projects global growth of 3.3 per cent, the report warned that Ghana’s petroleum revenues remain exposed to geopolitical developments in the Middle East and OPEC+ production decisions, with oil prices expected to average about US$62.13 per barrel in 2026.

    Meanwhile, in a related development, motorists have started the New Year on a good note, with less pressure on their pockets, as several Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have effected a reduction in fuel prices at their respective pumps across the country in the January pricing window.

    The price cuts, which took effect in the early hours of the New Year, signify a continued downward trend in petroleum costs, offering much-needed breathing room for both commercial and private transport users.

    Among the first OMCs to effect the reduction was market leader Star Oil. It set the pace and a benchmark for other OMCs as it adjusted its digital displays, reflecting a marginal dip from previous prices.

    Petrol is now selling at GH¢10.86 per litre, diesel is priced at GH¢11.96 per litre, and RON 95 is selling at GH¢13.56 per litre.

    According to Star Oil management, the reduction in oil prices is a result of a “favourable domestic and external cost environment,” citing the cedi’s appreciation and a dip in international refined product prices.

    It said the current reductions may only be the tip of the iceberg for January. The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) projected a robust outlook for the month, suggesting that competitive pressures will force more OMCs to follow suit in the coming days.

    In its January pricing outlook, COMAC provided a breakdown of the expected percentage declines. It projected that petrol would fall by up to 4.80 per cent, while diesel was also estimated to drop by approximately 3.77 per cent. LPG, on the other hand, was expected to see a reduction of roughly 2.19 per cent.

    Industry analysts believe that if the cedi maintains its current trajectory and international crude prices remain below US$80 per barrel, Ghanaians could see even more substantial relief by the second pricing window in mid-January.

    While fuel prices are dropping, Ghanaians have had to brace themselves for an increase in utility tariffs, which took effect on January 1, 2026.

    Following the announcement, there was widespread disapproval, particularly from stakeholders and the general public.

    On December 2, 2025, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced an imminent increase in tariffs, with the new rates set to take effect from January 1, 2026. The Commission said the increases—9.86 per cent for electricity and 15.92 per cent for water—had become necessary to meet utility investment needs, respond to macroeconomic pressures, and ensure the long-term stability of the sector.

  • Chlorine gas leaks at Baifikrom Plant Water Treatment

    Chlorine gas leaks at Baifikrom Plant Water Treatment

    The Baifikrom Water Treatment Plant, located in a town in the Mfantseman Municipal District of the Central Region, which serves several surrounding communities, was hit by a chlorine gas leak earlier today, Tuesday, April 7. 

    However, the intervention of the multiple agencies, including the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the Ghana Health Service, NADMO Central, and the Cape Coast Metropolitan Assembly brought the situation under control.

    This information was disclosed in a statement issued by the Central Regional Director of NADMO and Secretary to the Committee, Emmanuel Kwesi Dawood Mensah.

    Authorities are yet to disclose the cause of the leakage. Usually, chlorine leakages are caused by equipment failure, human error, chemical reactions, faulty storage, pressure build-up, aging infrastructure, or environmental factors.


    Meanwhile, authorities have advised residents in Baifikrom, Mankessim, Enyanmaim, and nearby areas to avoid going near the water treatment plant and follow safety instructions from NADMO.

    Last year, the Weija Water Treatment Plant was temporarily closed on Friday, December 19, from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. for critical maintenance works. The maintenance works by the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) was to allow engineers to carry out essential technical works to ensure the water system continues to function properly.


    A statement released by GWL read, “We have deployed all necessary resources and will work diligently to complete the task on schedule”.


    Areas affected by the exercise included parts of the Greater Accra Region, specifically Accra Central, Dansoman, Mallam, Weija, Gbawe, McCarthy Hill, Kaneshie, Odorkor, Korle Bu, Mamprobi and Chorkor.


    Others include Abeka Lapaz, Tesano, Kokomlemle, Alajo, Nima, Maamobi, Dzorwulu, Abelemkpe and surrounding communities. The statement further apologised for any inconvenience the temporary disruption may cause.


    Meanwhile, in September 2025, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) received proposals from eight utility companies calling for a significant adjustment in utility tariffs to ensure they can fully operate at their capacities.

    Proposals from the electricity distributors and the water provider for the 2025–2029 tariff period cite rising operational costs and the need to maintain efficient service delivery.


    The eight companies include the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Volta River Authority (VRA), Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo), Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo), Ghana National Gas Limited, among others.


    Ghana Water Limited has proposed a jump from GH¢5.28 per cubic metre to GH¢20.09 per cubic metre, seeking regulatory approval for a 281% increase in its water tariff.

    The company has blamed illegal mining activities (galamsey) for the 200% tariff increment proposal under the 2025–2030 Multi-Year Tariff Order.


    As part of efforts to recoup its sunk funds, Ghana Water Limited has arranged for 15 defaulting customers to appear in court in a few days. This forms part of the company’s large-scale legal campaign to recover more than GH¢32 million owed by long-term defaulters.


    The debt, the nation’s water supplier insists, undermines the effectiveness of its operations and the improvement of water service delivery.


    Ing. Paul C. Akpanya, Regional Chief Manager of Ghana Water Limited (Eastern Region), made this statement on Tuesday, December 9, in Koforidua in the Eastern Region, during the launch of GWCL’s large-scale legal campaign to recover over GH¢32 million owed by long-term defaulters.


    According to him, the 15 defaulters fall under Phase One of the campaign, with more rigorous and lawful measures expected to be adopted in the coming days to retrieve the debts.


    “We will go the extra mile within the remit of the law to recover every arrear owed the company. This is essential for sustaining our operations and improving service delivery to the public,” he said.


    GWL’s legal team said more names will be added as the campaign intensifies, targeting customers who have ignored repeated reminders, accumulated long-term arrears, or continued to refuse payment even after disconnection.


    The action also covers individuals and businesses that have opted to rely on alternative water sources, such as boreholes and wells, without settling their outstanding bills.


    The first batch of cases filed includes a mix of commercial and residential customers: Jilcom (Suhum Roundabout Shell Station), Petroleum & Construction Ltd., Constance Baafi, Ebenezer Larbi Opare, Yomboi E.A. Adu, Dora James Okyere, KAMA Group of Companies (Regional Director of Health), Paulina Donkor, Richard Boadu, Felicia Okyere Darko, F. A. Mpare, Taylor Posiah & Oduro, Patrick Ernest Obeng, and Kwame.


    This is not the first time Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) has threatened or taken legal action against defaulters. The company has a history of warning customers and even announcing plans to prosecute defaulters as far back as 2023 and 2024, prior to the current campaign in December 2025.


    In April 2023, GWCL issued a public warning that it would prosecute defaulting consumers who failed to settle their debts. The company stated that outstanding arrears were undermining its operations and that legal action was inevitable if payments were not made.


    Exactly a year later, in 2024, the water supplier issued another warning announcing that it would publish the names of defaulting customers by the end of May 2024 if they failed to pay. Officials stressed that if this measure failed, they would not hesitate to initiate legal proceedings against debtors.


    Meanwhile, GWCL’s naming approach is similar to that of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) in dealing with loan defaulters. The Bank of Ghana announced a ‘name and shame’ approach to promote responsible borrowing among wilful loan defaulters in a new directive. The financial institution announced this in a formal directive issued to all regulated financial institutions on August 14.


    In the directive, the Bank of Ghana instructed all regulated financial institutions to publish the names of individuals who deliberately refuse to repay loans (wilful loan defaulters), despite having the means, twice a year in national newspapers and on their websites.


    “All banks and other regulated lenders will be required to publish the names of such defaulters twice a year, on June 30 and December 31, in at least two national newspapers and on their official websites, using a format provided by the BoG.”


    These measures form part of BoG’s latest regulatory actions to curb rising non-performing loans (NPLs) and reduce risks to the profitability, liquidity, and solvency of the banking sector.

    The central bank has already notified all regulated financial institutions of the directives and published explanatory notes for the public.


    Additionally, the measures go beyond publication, as defaulters will also be barred from accessing loans from any accredited financial institution for up to five years.


    “People in Ghana who deliberately refuse to repay loans… could soon be banned from borrowing from any licensed bank or financial institution for up to five years.”


    “Borrowers listed as wilful defaulters on two or more occasions within ten years will face a mandatory five-year ban, or longer if the calculated prohibition period exceeds that duration,” it added.


    The restrictions also target directors of companies found to have engaged in fund diversion, misrepresentation, falsification of accounts, or fraudulent transactions.


    “Directors of companies that are wilful defaulters, where RFIs have identified siphoning/diversion of funds, misrepresentation, falsification of accounts, and fraudulent transactions with the directors’ consent or connivance, shall also be deemed wilful defaulters and prohibited from accessing credit for the same period as the defaulting company,” it said.

  • Gov’t targets local polymer production to reduce sachet water expenses

    Gov’t targets local polymer production to reduce sachet water expenses

    Last week, the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers (NASPAWAP) announced a possible 50% increase in the price of 500ml sachet water effective Monday, April 6. The development got scores of Ghanaians calling for an intervention from the government.

    Responding to the growing calls, the Chief Commercial Officer and Director of Industrial Development at the Ministry, Kofi Addo, revealed that the government will soon begin exploring local polymer production as a way to reduce the cost of sachet water.

    Polymers are the key raw material in sachet water production.
    He explained in an interaction with the media that authorities will, in the coming days, engage key stakeholders across the value chain to find a sustainable and lasting solution.


    He added, “Last week, we had the message that this increment was coming on board. And as a ministry, for the protection of our consumers and to ensure price stability in the environment, we quickly started the engagement with the manufacturers and producers.


    “So, all that we did was to make sure that we bring stability and to protect our consumers. We are having this meeting to understand the issues that led to the increment. Two, we also want to make sure that all the other players are brought on board, so that when we come out with the solution, everybody will be happy along the value chain.”

    According to the trade association, in a formal statement issued on Thursday, April 2 and signed by the Director of Corporate Affairs, NASPAWA, mentioned that the escalating Middle East tensions have influenced the hike.


    “The National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers (NASPAWAP) regrets to announce an upward revision of the ex-factory and ex-truck prices of sachet water, effective Monday, April 6, 2026. These are recommended price reviews by the national body”, parts of the statement said.


    Adding that, “this decision follows the global shortage of polymers and the sharp increase in their prices, exacerbated by the ongoing conflict in Iran. The rising costs have significantly impacted production, making it challenging for manufacturers to maintain current prices”.


    The new prices are as follows: “Ex-factory price: GH¢8 per bag of 500ml x 30 sachets, Ex-truck price: GH¢10 per bag of 500ml x 30 sachets, Maximum retail price: GH¢15 per bag of 500ml x 30 sachets”


    “This adjustment is necessary to sustain production and ensure the continuous supply of safe drinking water,” the association added.


    Consequently, they urged “retailers and consumers to adhere to these prices to ensure fair trade practices. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation during this challenging time”.


    Last sachet water price increase


    The last price increase in sachet water occurred about 4 years ago, i.e., in September 2022. NASPAWAP announced a price adjustment, raising the retail price of a bag of sachet water to around GHC 7–8, citing rising fuel and raw material costs.


    However, before the September increase, the retail price of a bag of sachet water in Ghana was generally around GHC 5–6, indicating that the price had seen about 33% to 40% increase.
    Barely a year later, another increase was announced by the association in April 2023, attributing the hike to continued cedi depreciation and higher polymer costs.


    This shot the prices to GHC 10 per bag of 30 sachets of 500ml.
    What is polymer, why is it affecting influencing pricing of sachet water in Ghana?


    Polymer is a plastic used to package water into sachets because they are strong, lightweight, and water-resistant. It is an essential material in the production processes, as without it, there will be no packaging; hence, if the prices of the material go up, producers increase the commodity prices to make up for it as they experinece high production costs.


    These plastics are often made from petroleum-based chemicals and are essential for packaging because they are strong, lightweight.


    Meanwhile, not only has the Middle East crisis affected the price of sachet water, but Ghana also currently faces the risk of high economic pressures. Consequently, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Johnson Asiama, has warned that despite recent improvements in the country’s macroeconomic indicators, Ghana could face economic pressures if tensions in the Middle East intensify.


    He gave the caution at the opening of the 129th meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), Dr Asiama on Monday, March 16. Dr Johnson Asiama said the caution stems from tensions affecting key global energy and shipping routes, potentially causing volatility in global oil markets.


    He added “Geopolitical uncertainty tends to support gold prices. Given the importance of gold in our export earnings, this could improve our trade balance”.

    The ongoing tensions have been linked to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in strikes by the Unites States (U.S.) and Israel. This development significantly impacting travelers from Ghana to Asia, Europe, and North America, as Dubai is a major transit hub connecting travelers through the United Arab Emirates.


    Ghana, being one of the dependents of the global oil supply, stakeholders began to express concerns about a possible shortage of fuel across the country.

    However, the Corporate Affairs Officer of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Godwin Mahama Ayaba, during an appearance on March 11, indicated that Ghana is unlikely to experience fuel shortages despite rising tensions in the Middle East, citing the country’s diversified sources of petroleum imports and growing local refining capacity.


    According to him, the NPA recently issued a statement indicating that the situation in the Middle East will not lead to shortages of petroleum products in the country.


    “The National Petroleum Authority, which is the regulator, some three to four hours ago issued an official statement assuring all of us that as for shortage, there is no way the Iran–Israel conflict is going to affect us,” he said.


    Mr Ayaba explained that Ghana’s fuel import structure significantly reduces the risk of supply disruption because the country imports most of its finished petroleum products from Europe.


    “Ghana largely imports from two different areas: Europe and the Arabian region. Where we import most is Europe,” he noted.“We import about 80 per cent of our finished petroleum products from Europe and about 20 per cent from the Arabian region, where this conflict may have an impact.”


    While acknowledging that the Middle East tensions could affect that 20 per cent supply, he said Ghana’s domestic refining capacity is expected to fill the gap.


    “So we are likely to lose that 20 per cent, but with TOR coming on stream, we will be able to block that gap,” he said.


    Mr Ayaba revealed that the refinery is currently producing about 28,000 barrels and expects output to increase significantly after ongoing upgrades.


    “Currently, we are producing about 28,000 barrels. After the tie-in, we will move to about 45,000 and further move to 60,000,” he explained.


    He added that increased output from other refineries in the country will also contribute to stabilising supply.


    “Sentuo is doing around 36,000 to 40,000 barrels a day, Akwaaba is doing somewhere less than 10,000, and Platon is around a little below 3,000.Together, all these companies will be able to block that 20 per cent that would have come from the Arabian region.”

  • Tomato imports: Ghana losing $600m annually – Chamber of Agribusiness

    Tomato imports: Ghana losing $600m annually – Chamber of Agribusiness

    The Ghana Chamber of Agribusiness, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Anthony Morrison, has disclosed that Ghana spends $600m annually on tomato imports.

    Addressing journalists on Saturday, April 4, 2026, he called on the government to take decisive steps to curb the practice by strengthening local production. He noted that such a move would enable the country to save resources.

    In a related development, there’s an ongoing tension between Nigerian and Ghanaian onion traders over trade regulations and border controls. This information was made known by the Ghanaian spokesperson for the onion sellers association, Mustapha Sulemana Talimu on Sunday, April 5.

    He added, “Two, three days ago, a small group among the onion traders had an issue with Nigerian traders and stopped their cars from offloading goods at the market. Because of that, all the trucks coming to Ghana have now been seized.

    “All the cars have been stopped. What we are talking about is the business of onions in Ghana, but the politics has come into it”.


    The development risk is an onion shortage as trucks transporting the vegetables from Niger through Nigeria were allegedly seized by suspected armed men in Samia, a town in Kebbi State, Nigeria.


    According to reports, the armed men blocked and detained several Ghanaian trucks transporting vegetables from Niger through Nigeria en route to Ghana. Meanwhile, there is growing pressure from Agbogbloshie Market traders in Accra on the government to boost domestic tomato production. The call comes with rising costs that are dampening consumer demand. Tomatoes, which used to sell at GH¢18 and GH¢22, are now selling at GH¢32, GH¢38, and even GH¢40.


    Addressing the media on Monday, March 30, a trader at Agbogbloshie Market attributed the price increase to the export restrictions imposed by Burkina Faso. The Burkina government, in a formal communique dated March 16, and signed by both the Trade and Agriculture ministers of the Francophone country, announced that a ban has become necessary to feed the country’s national processing units.


    This sparked widespread concerns about its potential to worsen Ghana’s tomato supply crisis, as Ghana imports approximately 70-80% of its tomatoes from Burkina Faso, worth about $400 million annually. Consequently, the Government of Ghana announced plans to engage authorities in Burkina Faso, given the potency of its impact on supply in the Ghanaian market.


    Earlier in March, Burkina Faso imposed a ban on tomato exports, stating that the measure was necessary to supply the country’s processing units.

    In a formal communique, it noted: “This development is a positive outcome of ongoing bilateral engagements between Ghana and Burkina Faso”.


    The ban impacted Ghana, as the country imports a very large share of its fresh tomatoes from Burkina Faso, about 75,000 tonnes annually, valued at roughly GH¢400 million, particularly during dry seasons.

    Ghana’s annual tomato demand stands at about 805,000 metric tonnes, while current production is estimated at 510,000 metric tonnes, leaving a deficit of nearly 300,000 metric tonnes.

    One of the major concerns raised by the Minister was a long-standing trend of post-harvest losses, citing the loss of about 30 percent of local production- approximately 153,000 metric tonnes.

    Reducing the losses could significantly close the supply gap, he said, adding that: “It is not about increasing the size of the land under cultivation. It is about developing the right variety and creating the conditions to maximize output.”

    Under the Vegetable Development Project, Mr. Opoku said farmers were being supported with improved seeds, fertilizers, and technical guidance, alongside irrigation infrastructure to ensure year-round production.

    The Vegetable Development Project (VDP) is Ghana’s flagship agricultural initiative launched in November 2025 in Kukuom, Ahafo Region, aimed at boosting local vegetable production, reducing reliance on imports, and creating jobs. It focuses on tomatoes, onions, peppers, and other key vegetables, with strong government support for farmers.

    He noted that 60 hectares each had been developed in Ahafo and Fanteakwa with mechanization and water supply systems, while additional sites were being prepared for expansion.

    A rehabilitated irrigation scheme had made 500 hectares available for immediate tomato production after agreements were reached to connect farmers with buyers to guarantee off-take, he added.

    One hundred hectares had also been secured at Akumadan to further scale up production.

    The Minister said ongoing interventions to improve productivity, reduce waste and strengthen market systems would stabilize supply and enhance food security in the long term.

    World Bank secures $20m grant for Ghana amid looming tomato crisis

    As part of efforts to avert this crisis, the World Bank has secured a $20 million grant from the Dutch government to mitigate the impact of a looming tomato shortage in Ghana.

    Speaking at a World Bank-civil society organization (CSO) engagement on food security held in Accra, an Agricultural Economist with the World Bank, Dr Ashwini Sebastian, noted that the institution will collaborate with the local tomato traders association to strengthen supply chains, improve storage facilities, and support domestic production.

    “Our colleagues from the Dutch embassy will come in. We have been able to leverage that small grant to get a $20 million grant for tomato interventions in Ghana from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and so we are in the phase of designing that intervention.

    “We will reach out to the tomato association more because we have been having some debates about location and trying to cluster the intervention.”

    Until when will Ghana be independent?

    Reacting to the new development, the Agric Ministry said it has urged Ghanaian farmers to intensify dry-season farming to boost local production and stabilise food supply to mitigate the pressures from the ban.

    Speaking in an interview on Joy News on Thursday, March 19, the deputy Agriculture Minister, John Dumelo, acknowledged that Ghana’s dependence on Burkina for tomatoes may not end immediately, but with intense local farming in the dry season under improved irrigation infrastructure, the country should be self-sufficient in the next 3-4 years.

    “For us, going to Burkina Faso for tomatoes might not end immediately, but once they get encouraged, within three or four years, we should be self-sufficient when it comes to tomato production,” he said.

    He urged farmers to scale up production, pledging the government’s readiness to support them to produce tomatoes, especially during this ban.

    “I told them to let me know what they need to help them scale up production, especially in the next dry season… The government is committed to helping them to scale up production,” he added.

    The Ayawaso West Wuogon Member of Parliament continued that, “I am yet to get the reason why the Burkina Faso government announced the ban and the details that come with it. But last year, I was in the Northern Region, and I urged them to produce tomatoes in the dry season. This dry season, I went back, and most of them are doing just that,” he added.

  • Asante Gold reports US$345million loss for 2025

    Asante Gold reports US$345million loss for 2025

    Asante Gold Corporation has reported a net loss of $345.44 million for the eleven months ended December 31, 2025, representing a more than 450% increase from the $62.18 million loss reported the previous year, according to the company’s audited consolidated financial statements released on March 31, 2026.

    The financial statements, signed by Directors Alex Heath and David Anthony, showed that revenue for the period increased to $482.59 million from $458.88 million, driven by higher gold prices, even as sales volumes declined to 143,138 ounces from 190,985 ounces in the previous year.

    Consequently, total comprehensive loss attributable to shareholders widened to $345.44 million from $62.18 million, while loss per share rose to $0.55 from $0.16.

    Gold equivalent production fell to 146,571 ounces in the period, down from 189,600 ounces a year earlier. At the Bibiani Gold Mine, output dropped to 50,497 ounces from 60,760 ounces, while Chirano produced 96,074 ounces, compared with 128,840 ounces previously.

    The company said the decline at Bibiani was due to lower-grade plant feed, as operations focused on reducing a backlog of waste stripping. At Chirano, lower ore grades and reduced recovery rates, caused by issues with intertank screens at the carbon-in-leach plant, were cited as the main factors.

    Consolidated all-in sustaining costs rose sharply to $3,902 per ounce for the eleven-month period, up from $2,168 per ounce in the previous financial year. The Bibiani Gold Mine reported the highest cost at $6,036 per ounce, while Chirano’s AISC came in at $2,877 per ounce.

    The surge at Bibiani was mainly driven by higher stripping requirements, processing of lower-grade ore from stockpiles, and increased sustaining capital expenditures. At Chirano, the rise in costs was largely due to reduced gold production, which spread fixed costs over fewer ounces.

    During the period, the company completed a financing package comprising a senior debt facility of $150 million, a mezzanine facility of $125 million, gold stream agreements totaling $50 million, and equity raisings of approximately $182 million.

    The company also restructured deferred payments owing to Kinross Gold Corporation, making a cash payment of $53.42 million, issuing 36.93 million common shares valued at $44.04 million, and issuing a secured convertible debenture of $77.46 million. The debenture was subsequently converted by Kinross in October 2025, resulting in the issuance of 61.74 million common shares and a loss on conversion of $28.38 million.

    The company’s auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, drew attention to a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on Asante’s ability to continue as a going concern. As of December 31, 2025, the company had cash of $43.99 million and a working capital deficiency of $229.33 million.

    “These conditions indicate the existence of a material uncertainty that may cast significant doubt on the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern,” the auditor’s report stated.

    The company has since strengthened its liquidity position through a bought-deal private placement raising C$179.4 million in January 2026, a non-brokered private placement raising C$13.8 million, and an additional advance deposit of $100 million from Fujairah for gold deliveries scheduled to commence in March 2026.

    Meanwhile, in an unrelated development, the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) partnered with the Gold Coast Refinery to enhance Ghana’s gold processing capacity.

    GoldBod Chief Executive Officer Sammy Gyamfi, at the signing ceremony on Tuesday, January 20, 2026, indicated that the agreement would significantly enhance the implementation of a track-and-trace system across the gold sector.

    He added that instead of exporting raw gold, Ghana’s daily gold exports, estimated at one tonne, will now be refined to the highest industry standard of 99.9% purity before shipment.

    “This development marks a major milestone in Ghana’s gold trade and will help maximise national benefits from our mineral resources,” Mr. Gyamfi said.

    He further highlighted the economic benefits, noting: “The millions of dollars we pay as refinery charges to refineries in Dubai, Switzerland, India, Hong Kong, and other foreign countries will now stay in our banking sector. That money will now stay in our economy.”

    On job creation, he added: “What this agreement also means is that we are creating more direct and indirect jobs, particularly because Gold Coast Refinery has committed to operating 24/7 in line with the government’s 24-hour policy.”

    This major step was taken towards deepening value addition within Ghana’s gold sector to reduce the country’s long-standing reliance on exporting raw gold. This practice has historically led to significant revenue losses that could otherwise be captured through domestic refining and downstream processing.

    GoldBod explained that the partnership will strengthen local gold processing so Ghana can fully benefit from its status as Africa’s top gold producer.

    A technical, independent report recently presented to GoldBod by economists from the University of Ghana (UG) and the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) — Professor Festus Ebo Turkson, Professor Agyapomaa Gyeke-Dako, and economist Peter Junior Dotse — indicated that artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) gold exports rose by 39.4 tons, increasing from 63.6 tons in 2024 to 103 tons in 2025.

    According to the report, GoldBod has mitigated the rate at which gold was being smuggled out of Ghana; trading is now conducted officially through the correct channels, leading to an increase in foreign exchange entering the country. The benefits to the economy are much larger than the trading losses reported by the Bank of Ghana.

    The report explains that each ton of gold is worth about $96.5 million. Based on this value, the gold that was brought into the formal system is worth approximately $3.8 billion in foreign currency.

    This means the benefits are 18 times greater than the $214 million loss reported by the Bank of Ghana. In fact, the report notes that formalising just 2.2 tons of gold would be enough to cover that loss.

    driven by higher gold prices, even as

    sales volumes declined to 143,138

    ounces from 190,985 ounces in the

    previous year.

    Consequently, total comprehensive

    loss attributable to shareholders

    widened to $345.44 million from

    $62.18 million, while loss per share

    rose to $0.55 from $0.16.

    Gold equivalent production fell

    to 146,571 ounces in the period,

    down from 189,600 ounces a year

    earlier. At the Bibiani Gold Mine,

    output dropped to 50,497 ounces

    from 60,760 ounces, while Chirano

    produced 96,074 ounces, compared

    with 128,840 ounces previously.

    The company said the decline at

    Bibiani was due to lower-grade

    plant feed, as operations focused

    on reducing a backlog of waste

    stripping. At Chirano, lower ore

    grades and reduced recovery rates,

    caused by issues with intertank

    screens at the carbon-in-leach

    plant, were cited as the main

    factors.

    Consolidated all-in sustaining costs

    rose sharply to $3,902 per ounce for

    the eleven-month period, up from

    $2,168 per ounce in the previous

    financial year. The Bibiani Gold

    Mine reported the highest cost at

    $6,036 per ounce, while Chirano’s

    AISC came in at $2,877 per ounce.

    The surge at Bibiani was mainly

    driven by higher stripping

    requirements, processing of

    lower-grade ore from stockpiles,

    and increased sustaining capital

    expenditures. At Chirano, the rise

    in costs was largely due to reduced

    gold production, which spread

    fixed costs over fewer ounces.

    During the period, the company

    completed a financing package

    comprising a senior debt facility

    of $150 million, a mezzanine

    facility of $125 million, gold

    stream agreements totaling $50

    million, and equity raisings of

    approximately $182 million.

    The company also restructured

    deferred payments owing to

    Kinross Gold Corporation, making

    a cash payment of $53.42 million,

    issuing 36.93 million common

    shares valued at $44.04 million,

    and issuing a secured convertible

    debenture of $77.46 million. The

    debenture was subsequently

    converted by Kinross in October

    2025, resulting in the issuance

    of 61.74 million common shares

    and a loss on conversion of $28.38

    million.

    The company’s auditors,

    PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, drew

    attention to a material uncertainty

    that may cast significant doubt

    on Asante’s ability to continue as

    a going concern. As of December

    31, 2025, the company had cash

    of $43.99 million and a working

    capital deficiency of $229.33

    million.

    “These conditions indicate the

    existence of a material uncertainty

    that may cast significant doubt on

    the Company’s ability to continue

    as a going concern,” the auditor’s

    report stated.

    The company has since

    strengthened its liquidity position

    through a bought-deal private

    placement raising C$179.4

    million in January 2026, a non-

    brokered private placement raising

    C$13.8 million, and an additional

    advance deposit of $100 million

    from Fujairah for gold deliveries

    scheduled to commence in March

    2026.

    Meanwhile, in an unrelated

    development, the Ghana Gold

    Board (GoldBod) partnered with

    the Gold Coast Refinery to enhance

    Ghana’s gold processing capacity.

    GoldBod Chief Executive Officer

    Sammy Gyamfi, at the signing

    ceremony on Tuesday, January 20,

    2026, indicated that the agreement

    would significantly enhance the

    implementation of a track-and-

    trace system across the gold sector.

    He added that instead of exporting

    raw gold, Ghana’s daily gold

    exports, estimated at one tonne,

    will now be refined to the highest

    industry standard of 99.9% purity

    before shipment.

    “This development marks a

    major milestone in Ghana’s gold

    trade and will help maximise

    national benefits from our mineral

    resources,” Mr. Gyamfi said.

    He further highlighted the economic

    benefits, noting: “The millions of

    dollars we pay as refinery charges

    to refineries in Dubai, Switzerland,

    India, Hong Kong, and other foreign

    countries will now stay in our

    banking sector. That money will

    now stay in our economy.”

    On job creation, he added: “What

    this agreement also means is that

    we are creating more direct and

    indirect jobs, particularly because

    Gold Coast Refinery has committed

    to operating 24/7 in line with the

    government’s 24-hour policy.”

    This major step was taken towards

    deepening value addition within

    Ghana’s gold sector to reduce the

    country’s long-standing reliance on

    exporting raw gold. This practice

    has historically led to significant

    revenue losses that could

    otherwise be captured through

    domestic refining and downstream

    processing.

    GoldBod explained that the

    partnership will strengthen local

    gold processing so Ghana can fully

    benefit from its status as Africa’s

    top gold producer.

    A technical, independent report

    recently presented to GoldBod by

    economists from the University

    of Ghana (UG) and the University

    of Ghana Business School (UGBS)

    — Professor Festus Ebo Turkson,

    Professor Agyapomaa Gyeke-

    Dako, and economist Peter Junior

    Dotse — indicated that artisanal

    and small-scale mining (ASM)

    gold exports rose by 39.4 tons,

  • Onion shortage looms as Ghanaian trucks detained in Nigeria amid trade tensions

    Onion shortage looms as Ghanaian trucks detained in Nigeria amid trade tensions

    There’s an ongoing tension between Nigerian and Ghanaian onion traders over trade regulations and border controls.

    This information was made known by the Ghanaian spokesperson for onion sellers association, Mustapha Sulemana Talimu on Sunday, April 5.

    He added, “Two, three days ago, a small group among the onion traders had an issue with Nigerian traders and stopped their cars from offloading goods at the market. Because of that, all the trucks coming to Ghana have now been seized”.

    “All the cars have been stopped. What we are talking about is the business of onions in Ghana, but the politics has come into it”.

    The development risk an onion shortage as trucks transporting the vegetables from Niger through Nigeria were allegedly seized by suspected armed men in Samia, a town in Kebbi State, Nigeria.

    According to reports, the armed men in blocked and detained several Ghanaian trucks transporting vegetables from Niger through Nigeria en route to Ghana.

    In a separate development, there is growing pressure from Agbogbloshie Market traders in Accra on the government to boost domestic tomato production. The call comes with rising costs that are dampening consumer demand. Tomatoes, which used to sell at GH¢18 and GH¢22, are now selling at GH¢32, GH¢38, and even GH¢40.

    Addressing the media on Monday, March 30, a trader at Agbogbloshie Market attributed the price increase to the export restrictions imposed by Burkina Faso.Burkina government, in a formal communique dated March 16, and signed by both the Trades and Agriculture ministers of the Francophone country, announced that a ban has become necessary to feed the country’s national processing units.

    This sparked widespread concerns about its potential to worsen Ghana’s tomato supply crisis, as Ghana imports approximately 70-80% of its tomatoes from Burkina Faso, worth about $400 million annually.

    Consequently, the Government of Ghana has announced plans to engage authorities in Burkina Faso, given the potency of its impact on supply in the Ghanaian market.

    In a statement shared on Friday, March 20, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry said the engagement will focus on resolving concerns surrounding the ban while exploring a mutually beneficial outcome for both countries.

    It said, “The engagement will focus on resolving concerns surrounding the ban while exploring a mutually beneficial outcome for both countries, given the longstanding trade ties and Ghana’s reliance on tomato imports from Burkina Faso”.

    The government also continued that, “The government reiterates its commitment to working with stakeholders to boost local tomato production under the ‘Feed Ghana’ and ‘Feed the Industry’ programmes, aimed at increasing output to meet demand on the domestic market”.

    The Ministry also urged tomato traders and the general public to remain calm while it makes an effort to reach an amicable resolution to restore normal trade flows between the two countries.

    Statement on the ban on exports by the Burkina Faso govt

    Also, the Burkina government says the issuance of Special Export Authorisations (ASE) has also been suspended. The Special Export Authorisations (ASE) are official permits issued by the government that allow traders to export certain goods,

    “Economic operators and the public are hereby informed that, to ensure the supply of national processing plants, the export of fresh tomatoes is suspended throughout the national territory until further notice. Consequently, the issuance of Special Export Authorisations (ASE) is suspended.

    The letter also stated that operators holding valid fresh tomato export permits have two (2) weeks from the date of signature of the communiqué to complete their export procedures. After two weeks, the permit will be considered invalid.

    “Economic operators holding valid fresh tomato export authorisations have two (2) weeks from the date of signature of this communiqué to complete their export procedures. After this period, the authorisation will be considered invalid”, the statement continued.

    The Burkinabé government warned that any violator of the directive will be sanctioned in accordance with applicable regulations.

    “Furthermore, any goods seized in violation of this measure will be returned, free of charge, to the fresh tomato processing plants established under the popular shareholding scheme,” the letter translated to English noted.

    It continued that, “The Government is counting on the understanding and cooperation of all stakeholders in the tomato sector, as well as all state technical services, particularly border control services and security forces, to ensure the proper implementation of the terms of this communiqué”.

    Kumasi vendors express frustration

    The impact of the ban is being felt well before any formal shortage sets in.

    Some tomato vendors at the Racecourse Market in Kumasi are already expressing frustration over the development, warning that prices could spike if the situation is not quickly addressed.

    The vendors are using the occasion to call on the government to prioritise the local tomato industry by revamping irrigation systems and investing in local processing facilities, longstanding concerns that have left Ghana’s tomato sector heavily dependent on imports from neighbouring countries, particularly Burkina Faso.

    Ghana has historically relied on cross-border produce flows from Burkina Faso to supplement domestic tomato supply, especially during lean seasons when local harvests are insufficient to meet demand.

    A sudden and indefinite halt to those exports is therefore expected to tighten supply significantly, with knock-on effects on prices at markets nationwide.

    Northern Ghana, which serves as the main corridor for produce trade with Burkina Faso, is expected to feel the shortage most acutely in the short term.

    Before this ban, Ghana was hit with the sad news of a fatal terrorist attack on tomato traders in mid-February.

    A truck carrying Ghanaian tomato traders was attacked by terrorists in Titao, Burkina Faso, on Sunday, February, 15. This was contained in a press release issued to media houses and signed by the Minister for the Interior and National Security, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak.

    In a joint statement issued in Ouagadougou on Thursday, March 19, the Burkinabè government announced an immediate nationwide halt to tomato exports “until further notice,” explaining that the move is intended to prioritise domestic supply for local processing industries.

    The directive, signed by the country’s trade and agriculture ministries, also suspends the issuance of Special Export Authorisations (ASE), effectively shutting down formal export channels for tomatoes.

    Traders with existing permits have been granted a two-week window to complete ongoing transactions, after which all authorisations will be revoked. The government warned that any breach of the directive would attract sanctions under existing laws, adding that seized consignments would be redirected to local processing factories to support domestic agro-industrial production.

    Ghana and Burkina Faso have shared a long border. Burkina Faso remains deeply affected by insurgent violence, with cross-border implications for neighboring countries like Ghana.

    Northern Burkina Faso has faced persistent insecurity due to jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIS. Attacks often target military posts, civilians, and traders moving across borders, disrupting local economies and cross-border trade.

    Burkina Faso remains deeply affected by insurgent violence, with cross-border implications for neighboring countries like Ghana. In 2025, Burkina Faso’s military government’s banned grain and cereal exports.

    To demonstrate their commitment, Burkinabe authorities have agreed to lift restrictions on 23 trucks carrying beans that were previously seized. Additional shipments of cereals meant for Ghana are also expected to be released in the coming days.

    Ghana, which depends on imports from Burkina Faso, had faced concerns over possible supply shortages and rising prices due to the ban.

    However, after President Mahama’s diplomatic engagements in the AES region, Gbevlo-Lartey is confident that relations between both countries have been strengthened.

    During an interview with Blessed Sogah on Connect Africa, he explained: “President Mahama has successfully addressed the situation, and further discussions between key stakeholders from both sides will ensure a concrete resolution. The issue is largely settled. For instance, 23 trucks that had been held up have been released, and the Burkinabe authorities have assured President Mahama that the remaining eight will also be let through shortly.”

    Meanwhile, on January 29, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) confirmed that Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger had officially exited the bloc after the end of their six-month grace period due to diplomatic tensions after military takeovers and due to economic and social failures by past governments.

    The military juntas of these countries are led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, General Assimi Goïta, and General Abdourahmane Tchiani, respectively.The trio accused the ECOWAS of failing to safeguard member states and deviating from founding principles and Pan-African spirit.

    In response to these claims, ECOWAS revealed that it did not receive formal notice before their withdrawal; therefore, it called for a dialogue to address their concerns. “The ECOWAS Commission remains seized with the development and shall make further pronouncements as the situation evolves,” it added.

    President John Dramani Mahama extended invitations to the military leaders of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to participate in the official launch of ECOWAS’s 50th anniversary celebrations, which took place in Accra on April 22.

    The invitation to the Sahelian states was part of Ghana’s broader efforts to rebuild relations and enhance cooperation for a stable and united West African region.International Relations Analyst Dr. Yaw Gebe endorsed President John Dramani Mahama’s decision, describing the gesture as a positive step toward regional reconciliation.

    He, however, advised the ECOWAS to critically reflect on the underlying reasons behind the exit of the Sahel nations and emphasised the need for the bloc to adopt a more inclusive and problem-solving approach going forward.

    “My prayer and longing is that whatever the Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu or President John Mahama are doing, they should be conscious of the problems or challenges these countries are facing. The ECOWAS must be willing and ready to tackle those problems collectively. And that is a major shortcoming on the part of ECOWAS,” he said.

    Despite the formal withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on January 29, citizens from these countries will still be able to use their national passports and identity cards bearing the ECOWAS logo for travel within the region.

    ECOWAS has assured that in the interest of regional cooperation and to prevent unnecessary disruptions, all relevant authorities within and outside the bloc’s member states should continue to recognize these travel documents until further notice.

    Additionally, trade and economic activities involving these three nations will not face immediate restrictions. Goods and services from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger will continue to receive the same treatment under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme (ETLS) and investment policy.

    Citizens from the affected countries will also retain their right to visa-free movement, residence, and establishment across ECOWAS states, ensuring that travel and cross-border activities remain unhindered.

    Furthermore, officials from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger working within ECOWAS will be given full support and cooperation in carrying out their assignments.These measures will remain in place as ECOWAS leaders work on defining the future relationship between the bloc and the three nations.

    A special structure has been put in place to facilitate discussions on the next steps. The regional body emphasized that these transitional arrangements aim to maintain stability, minimize confusion, and support the people and businesses affected by the withdrawal.

  • Head-on collision on Accra–Kumasi highway leaves one dead, several injured

    Head-on collision on Accra–Kumasi highway leaves one dead, several injured

    A head-on collision involving a VIP bus and a Toyota Prado at Akyem Sekyere on the Accra–Kumasi Highway on Thursday, April 2, has left one person dead and several others injured. The incident has left several travellers stranded for hours, particularly those travelling across the country for the Easter festivities.

    On Wednesday, April 1, a fatal crash involving a Sprinter Benz bus traveling from Buipe to Kumasi, and a trailer truck at Sawaba No. 2, left two females and two males dead. Two of the deceased died on the spot.


    According to the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS), the trailer truck fled the scene, leaving behind the victims and wreckage as emergency responders rushed in to manage the situation.

    Meanwhile, 19 passengers are receiving medical attention at the Buipe Government Hospital.


    Weeks ago, a head-on collision on the Accra-Kumasi Highway claimed the life of an individual on Saturday, March 7. The deceased male, reportedly the owner of a Toyota Voxy, crashed into a parked MAN Diesel truck at Teacher Mantey.


    Detailing the incident on Facebook on Sunday, March 8, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) that the Toyota Voxy had badly crashed into the stationary truck prior to the arrival of the rescue team.


    Ghana has reported a surge in the number of fatalities resulting from road crashes this year.
    Weeks ago, eleven (11) persons sustained injuries following a head-on-collision at Eduadjei on the Cape Coast-Takoradi Highway. The victims, eight males and two females, are receiving medical attention at the Elmina Polyclinic.


    Per the Central Regional Fire Service’s account, the two vehicles, an Opel Astra (WR 4860-13) traveling from Cape Coast towards Komenda, collided head-on with a Nissan mini bus (CR 1414-23) heading from Takoradi to Cape Coast. Meanwhile, officials have yet to ascertain the cause of the accident.


    The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) recorded one thousand five hundred and four (1,504) deaths, compared to one thousand two hundred and thirty-seven (1,237) fatalities reported in the same period in 2024, representing a 21.58 percent increase in the first half of 2025.


    According to provisional data released by the National Road Safety Authority in collaboration with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), a total of 7,289 road crashes were recorded between January and June this year. Per the data, a total of twelve thousand three hundred and fifty-four (12,354) vehicles were involved in these crashes.


    As a result of these incidents, eight thousand three hundred (8,300) individuals sustained injuries. Additionally, one thousand three hundred and one (1,301) pedestrians were knocked down across the country.


    According to recent data provided by the National Road Safety Authority, on average, eight (8) lives are lost every day due to road crashes. Each day, forty (40) road crashes are recorded, and forty-six (46) individuals sustain injuries. Daily, sixty-nine (69) vehicles and motorcycles are involved in road crashes.


    To help combat the rising number of road crashes, the National Road Safety Authority has called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and increased public education.


    The NRSA has emphasized the need for stronger enforcement to curb the alarming trend. The Road Traffic Act 2004, an Act to consolidate and revise the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1952 (No. 55), provides for more comprehensive regulation of road traffic and road use to ensure safety on the roads and to address related matters.


    A person who drives a motor vehicle dangerously on a road commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction:


    (a) where (i) a bodily injury does not occur, or (ii) a minor bodily injury occurs to a person other than the driver, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and not exceeding two hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding nine months, or to both;


    (b) where bodily injury of an aggravated nature occurs to a person other than the driver, to a minimum fine of two hundred penalty units and not exceeding five hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than twelve months and not exceeding two years, or to both;(c) where death occurs, to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years;


    (d) where there is damage to state property, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and payment for the damage caused in an amount determined by the Court.


    The Court may, upon conviction of a person under subsection (1), (a) order the payment of appropriate compensation to an injured person or to the estate of that person, or (b) order the withdrawal of the driver’s license for a period of not less than three years and not more than five years.


    A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years, or to both.


    A person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, that person:


    (a) causes anything to be on or over a road;(b) interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer, or cycle; or(c) interferes, directly or indirectly, with traffic equipment, where it would be obvious to a reasonable person that doing so would be dangerous.


    A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or to both.


    Meanwhile, over one-third of emergency cases at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have been linked to road crashes, according to statistics from the facility.


    Speaking to the media, Deputy Medical Director of KATH, Dr. Yaw Opare Larbi, noted that road crash victims brought to the emergency unit often do not survive because their injuries are very severe.


    “A little over 30 per cent of the cases that come to this facility, this Accident and Emergency Unit, are due to accidents, and most of the accidents, a few are domestic, but the majority of them are road traffic accidents.


    “Now in Ghana, we know that our statistics, a lot of our road accidents are from errors, driver errors, pedestrian errors. And then we know that we have some percentage that is attributable to maybe things like faulty vehicles or maybe road conditions, but a lot of the accidents are preventable,” he stated.

  • A new era for digital trust: Sam George leads charge to secure mobile money system

    A new era for digital trust: Sam George leads charge to secure mobile money system

    Ask anyone in Accra’s Makola Market whether they know someone who has lost money to mobile money fraud. You will not wait long for an answer.

    A trader whose savings were wiped out overnight by someone using a SIM card registered under a stolen identity. A driver who received a call from a number that turned out to belong to someone who had registered it using another person’s Ghana Card.

    A family who woke up to find their mobile wallet emptied, with no legal trail to follow and no institution able to tell them who held the SIM that did it.
    These are not isolated incidents.

    They are the predictable consequence of a broken system. And the reason that system is broken, specifically, is that for fifteen years and across three successive re-registration exercises, Ghana has never once properly linked a SIM card to a verified human identity.
    That sentence deserves a moment of stillness.

    Three exercises. Hundreds of millions of cedis spent. Millions of Ghanaians queuing, presenting their documents, submitting to the process, trusting that it would be worth it. And at the end of all of it, according to an official audit of records collected in the 2021 to 2023 exercise, there were zero successful biometric matches against the National Identification Authority database. Not a low number. Not a worrying percentage. Zero.

    The equipment telcos used during the 2022 exercise could not even speak the same technical language as the NIA’s database. Contactless scanners were deployed by telcos whose data was to be matched against a system built on contact scanners. It is like pouring water into a container with no bottom and wondering why nothing is being stored. The entire exercise, by its own audit, produced nothing that can be legally relied upon.

    This is what Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George has inherited. This is why the 2026 re-registration exercise is not a punishment of citizens or a bureaucratic obsession. It is the only honest response to evidence that the work was never properly done.

    What Is Different This Time

    Critics, and there are credible ones, have argued that this is simply another round of the same failed cycle. The civil society think tank IMANI has raised pointed questions about procurement transparency, the adequacy of the legal framework and the technical contradiction between USSD self-service channels and biometric verification requirements. These are serious questions, and they deserve serious answers, not reassurances.

    But set beside the three previous exercises, the 2026 framework has structural differences that matter. First, biometric verification involving real-time facial recognition and fingerprint authentication will be validated directly against the NIA database, making the NIA the single source of truth on identity.

    This did not happen before. Second, Hon. Sam George has explicitly stated that this is not a sole-sourced procurement, that telecommunications companies will bear the cost, and that no financial burden will fall on the Ghanaian taxpayer. Third, a new Legislative Instrument is being prepared that will, for the first time, formally govern data custody, inter-agency responsibilities and citizen rights under the exercise.

    MTN Ghana, the country’s largest telecom operator, has publicly supported the exercise and committed to funding its participation within existing budgets. The company’s chief executive has confirmed that biometric verification, including fingerprint and facial recognition, will be central to the process, and that structured digital appointment systems will prevent the chaos that defined previous rounds.

    The Real Problem That This Fixes

    There is a specific fraud that Ghanaians rarely discuss openly because it is embarrassing and widespread. People have registered SIM cards using Ghana Cards that do not belong to them. Registered SIMs linked to identities they do not hold. In some cases, agents at registration points registered multiple SIMs under a single individual’s identity without that person’s knowledge. In other cases, SIM cards were registered using stolen or photocopied ID documents, creating a class of active mobile numbers that cannot be traced to any real, verifiable person.

    This is not a small category of exceptions. It is a structural gap that fraudsters, scammers and criminals have exploited deliberately and systematically. Until every active SIM in Ghana is linked to a verified, biometrically authenticated individual, the mobile money ecosystem will remain a hunting ground for people who wish to steal from it.

    The human cost of this is not abstract. Farmers who save through mobile money and lose everything. Small business owners whose working capital is wiped out by a transfer they did not authorise. Women who run market stalls and have no bank account, only a mobile wallet, which disappears because someone registered a SIM under a name that was never really theirs. The SIM re-registration is, at its core, a consumer protection exercise.

    Ghana’s Digital Economy Depends on This

    According to the Bank of Ghana, the value of transactions passing through Ghana’s mobile money infrastructure runs into hundreds of billions of cedis each year. This is not a peripheral financial product. For millions of Ghanaians, mobile money is the bank. It is how remittances arrive. It is how school fees are paid. It is how small traders settle with suppliers.

    That entire ecosystem rests on trust. Investors in Ghana’s digital economy, fintech companies weighing whether to build here, international financial institutions assessing risk, all of them look at whether the identity infrastructure underpinning mobile transactions is reliable. A Ghana where SIM cards are properly linked to verified identities is a Ghana where fintech can grow with confidence, where financial inclusion deepens, and where the digital economy becomes genuinely competitive.

    A Ghana where three successive registration exercises produced nothing usable is a Ghana with a credibility problem it cannot afford to carry into the next decade of digital development.

    What Citizens Should Demand, and What They Should Do

    The critics are right that the government must answer specific technical questions before the exercise proceeds. How will USSD self-service channels satisfy biometric verification requirements? What legal provisions in the new Legislative Instrument will prevent biometric data from being transferred to telco vendors? Who will bear accountability if data custody fails again? These are not hostile questions.

    They are the conditions of a trustworthy process.

    Citizens should also be clear about their own role. When the exercise opens, participate through official designated channels only. Do not hand your Ghana Card to an agent you do not know. Do not allow someone to register a SIM on your behalf through informal means. Report any registration point where someone is attempting to register multiple SIMs under a single identity. Accountability flows both ways.

    Hon. Samuel Nartey George has said this exercise is seventy-five per cent communication and twenty-five per cent technology. That framing matters. It is an acknowledgment that Ghanaians do not simply need to be processed through a system. They need to trust it. They need to understand why it exists, what it will protect and what will be different when it is done.

    The mobile money fraud that has drained savings from market traders and stolen working capital from small businesses is not inevitable. It is the result of a system that was never properly built. This is Ghana’s opportunity to build it properly. The cost of getting it wrong again is not another audit report. It is another decade of fraud, another generation of eroded trust, and another lost window to build the digital economy this country deserves.

    The writer is a Ghanaian citizen with an interest in digital governance and consumer protection.

  • Photos: Zimbabwean President arrives in Ghana

    Photos: Zimbabwean President arrives in Ghana

    Ghana, on Wednesday, April 1, welcomed the President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa. His visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.

    He was welcomed with ceremonial honours, full military honours, including an inspection of a Guard of Honour mounted by the Ghana Armed Forces and a 21-gun salute.

    President Mnangagwa is expected to engage in bilateral talks with President John Dramani Mahama, official ceremonies, and key site visits during his three-day state visit to Ghana.

    Itinerary schedule

    In the evening, President Mahama will host a State Banquet in honour of President Mnangagwa to celebrate the friendship between Ghana and Zimbabwe.

    “The main event of the visit will be bilateral talks at the Peduase Lodge, preceded by a tête-à-tête between the two leaders. Both Presidents will lead their respective delegations in detailed discussions on enhancing cooperation between the two countries in several areas, including trade, tourism, health, sanitation, agriculture, the fight against corruption and tackling unemployment. The talks will be followed by the signing and exchange of Memoranda of Understanding covering key areas of mutual interest.

    President Mnangagwa will visit the Sweden Ghana Medical Centre (SGMC) and the Accra Compost and Recycling Plant, where he will receive briefings on Ghana’s progress in healthcare delivery and waste management technologies.

    “President Mnangagwa will also visit the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, where he will lay a wreath at the tomb of Ghana’s founding father”.

    Also, “The President will depart Ghana on Friday with full departure honours at the Jubilee Lounge.

    President Mnangagwa is scheduled to depart on April 3, with full honours at the Jubilee Lounge, marking the conclusion of the visit.

    In November last year, the German President, His Excellency Frank-Walter Steinmeier, arrived in Ghana for a three-day state visit, the Foreign Affairs Ministry announced.

    In an X (formerly Twitter) post, the Foreign Affairs Minister, who also doubles as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the North Tongu Constituency, announced the arrival of the President, highlighting the impact of his visit on Ghana-Germany relations.

    He arrived on the evening of Sunday, November 2, and was welcomed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and an entourage of a cultural group at the Kotoka International Airport.

    His post read, “An honour to welcome the President of Germany, His Excellency Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to Ghana on behalf of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama. Ghana is absolutely elated to host the German President on a three-day state visit. The inseparable bond between Ghana and Germany is about to get even stronger and more beneficial to the citizens of our two countries. God bless Ghana and Germany.”

    On Monday, the President embarked on about seven activities, including holding bilateral talks with his host, President John Mahama, at the Presidency, after which a state luncheon was held in his honour. He later met IT specialists in Ghana and attended a reception at the German Ambassador’s Residence.

    “The official programme commenced on Monday with President Steinmeier’s inspection of a full military Guard of Honour at the forecourt of the Presidency. President Steinmeier and his host, President Mahama, held a closed-door meeting before joining their respective delegations for bilateral talks in the Credentials Room. The discussions focused on strengthening Ghana-Germany relations, particularly in areas of trade, investment, technology, and development cooperation.

    A state luncheon was held in honour of President Steinmeier and his delegation at the Presidential Banquet Hall in the afternoon. Later in the day, the German President was conducted on a guided tour of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, where he laid a wreath at the tomb of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah. He also engaged young Ghanaian IT specialists before attending a reception at the German Ambassador’s Residence,” the statement said.

    On Tuesday, November 4, President Steinmeier travelled to Kumasi on the third day of his visit, where he performed a sod-cutting ceremony at the Kumasi Technical Institute. He also interacted with the Vice Chancellor, staff, and alumni of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

    He also visited the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research before paying a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at the Manhyia Palace.

    After completing these activities, President Steinmeier departed Ghana on Tuesday evening.

  • Only final-year JHS students to sit for BECE under new plan – Haruna Iddrisu announces

    Only final-year JHS students to sit for BECE under new plan – Haruna Iddrisu announces

    The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that, in the coming days, the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) will be restricted only to learners who have not progressed to Junior High School (JHS) Form 3.

    Addressing the media on Thursday, April 2, the government’s intention is aimed at overhauling the country’s basic education system and improving learning outcomes.

    The Minister explained that some non–JHS 3 students are insufficiently prepared for the demands of the examination, resulting in poor performance.

    He added, “We have also made a determination that, there students who leap early, not yet in JHS 3 but ought to write BECE, that is unacceptable per the GES guideline and the WAEC guidelines”.

    According to him, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) frown on allowing non-JHS 3 leavers to sit for the final year examination.

    “That is why we are seeing a reflection of poor quality because the student is not up to the task but forces himself to write BECE even when he is in primary six or JHS 1 or 2,” he noted.

    Meanwhile, 483,800 have been placed into various Senior High Schools across the country out of the 590,000 candidates.

    On Monday September 1, 2025, the school placement portal was opened for new entrants students to verify their school choices, biodata, and other relevant information ahead of the final placement. The deadline for the fact-checking exercise was brought to a close on Monday, September 8.

    Of this figure,248,038 are females (51.4%), and 234,783 are males (48.6%). However, 107,509 candidates (18.2%) could not be matched with their initial school choices due to high demand for certain Category A schools.

    Meanwhile,Private Senior High Schools categorized under the Free Senior High School programme have so far admitted 25,000 first year students, as disclosed by the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS).

    Speaking to the media on Thursday, October 16, the Executive Director of GNACOPS, Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, indicated that “We have integrated 70 private schools across the 16 regions in Ghana, and in totality, the vacancy that has been declared is 44,000.

    “But as we speak now, the government has been able to place 25,000 students in these schools. We are yet to complete the other schools for them to have the vacancies that they have declared”.

    As part of this initiative, the government has allocated GH₵994 annually for each student enrolled in these private schools. This allocation covers tuition for day students, while parents of boarders will be required to pay the additional costs associated with boarding.

    Over seventy (70) private schools have been featured under the Free Senior High School policy. Junior High School (JHS) graduates will be admitted into these private schools that fall in category E in the school selection process.

    These schools will be accepting applications starting from the 2025/2026 academic year. The new development aligns with the government’s efforts in easing congestion in public SHSs as well as promoting quality education across the country.

    In a press release issued on Sunday, July 20, by the Ghana National Council of Private Schools (GNACOPS) and signed by its National Executive Director, Oberto Nana Kwasi Gyetuah, the council has described the initiative as a historic and progressive move.

    “This progressive move marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s educational transformation journey. It underscores the Government’s commitment to inclusive, collaborative education delivery and reaffirms the important role of private schools in advancing national development goals,” part of the release read.

    The council further called on other private schools that are yet to be listed to remain patient, prepared, and compliant with regulatory standards. In May, Deputy Minister of Education Dr. Clement Apaak announced that the inclusion forms part of a broader plan to scale up capacity and gradually end the double-track system.

    “As part of our campaign promise, we have been working diligently to bring on board private senior high schools in the delivery of the Free SHS programme. Meetings have been held, engagements have been done, and we are very certain that with the diligence we expect from our side…” he noted.

    The double-track system was introduced in 2018 by the erstwhile government to accommodate the surge in student enrollment due to the Free SHS policy, addressing overcrowding in public schools.

    Under this system, students were divided into two groups Green Track and Gold Track attending school in shifts, with one track in session while the other was on break.

    The anticipated extension of the Free SHS policy, according to the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, is a fulfillment of the government’s manifesto promise, adding that it is a step to ensure eligible students gain admission without delays.

    “We believe strongly that in fulfilling this manifesto campaign promise, this is going to serve as an artery in helping us bring an end to the double-track system,” the deputy minister said.

    According to him, the Education Ministry has received encouraging feedback from private schools, many of which have expressed readiness to meet the standards and requirements of the Free SHS framework.

    “… and the eagerness of the private schools to participate, the private schools will deliver in their participation,” he assured.

    He added that this collaboration would not only help expand capacity but also ensure a more equitable distribution of educational opportunities across the country.

    The Free Senior High School policy was introduced in 2017 by the Akufo-Addo-led government to make secondary education accessible to all eligible students without financial barriers.

    The policy was aimed at helping students who struggled to pay tuition, boarding, and other school-related expenses. However, the policy came with its challenges, such as overcrowding and congestion in schools, pressure on infrastructure and facilities, and increased pressure on teachers.

    This increased the number of enrollments in the senior high schools that were listed under the Free SHS policy. About 3.5 million students have benefited from the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) program since its launch.

    The immediate-past government revealed that it had spent over GH¢12 billion on the implementation of the Free SHS policy since its inception.

    Meanwhile, Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has urged a reassessment of Ghana’s Free SHS initiative, recommending that households with sufficient means contribute financially so that government support can be directed toward students in real need.

    During a meeting with Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu, the Asantehene suggested a shared funding model, akin to previous arrangements where financial aid was granted to bright but disadvantaged students, while those with the ability to pay covered their own expenses.

    “Those who can afford to pay, let’s have a second look at the policy. If someone can afford it, let’s allow them to pay. In the old times, when you passed, the bursary would look for good but needy students and award them scholarships, and those who could afford to pay did so.”

    Otumfuo Osei Tutu II has recognized the positive impact of the Free SHS policy but stressed the importance of a national discussion to tackle its shortcomings and secure its future.

    “This Free SHS we are talking about, although we have implemented it, if we have a dialogue and find out that it will result in students coming home every now and then because there is no food, then it is not fit for purpose.”

    He also pointed out several pressing concerns affecting secondary schools, including overcrowded dormitories, a lack of well-equipped science and ICT laboratories, irregular food supplies, and insufficient school buses.

    “Our dormitories are overcrowded and lack science and ICT labs. Sometimes PTA makes contributions to support. The lack of school buses and the shortage of food should all be looked at. Let us implement it well so that students will stay in school and have enough to eat.”


  • Burkina Faso reopens tomato exports after ban

    Burkina Faso reopens tomato exports after ban

    Ghanaian tomato traders who travel to Burkina Faso to procure fresh produce are expected to resume operations following the government’s decision to lift the export ban.

    Earlier in March, Burkina Faso imposed a ban on tomato exports, stating that the measure was necessary to supply the country’s processing units.

    In a formal communique it noted “This development is a positive outcome of ongoing bilateral engagements between Ghana and Burkina Faso”.


    The ban impacted Ghana, as the country  imports a very large share of its fresh tomatoes from Burkina Faso, about 75,000 tonnes annually, valued at roughly GH¢400 million, particularly during dry seasons.

    Ghana’s annual tomato demand stands at about 805,000 metric tonnes, while current production is estimated at 510,000 metric tonnes, leaving a deficit of nearly 300,000 metric tonnes.

    One of the major concerns raised by the Minister was a long-standing trend of post-harvest losses, citing the loss of about 30 percent of local production- approximately 153,000 metric tonnes.

    Reducing the losses could significantly close the supply gap, he said, adding that: “It is not about increasing the size of the land under cultivation. It is about developing the right variety and creating the conditions to maximise output.”

    Under the Vegetable Development Project, Mr Opoku said farmers were being supported with improved seeds, fertilisers and technical guidance, alongside irrigation infrastructure to ensure year-round production.

    The Vegetable Development Project (VDP) is Ghana’s flagship agricultural initiative launched in November 2025 in Kukuom, Ahafo Region, aimed at boosting local vegetable production, reducing reliance on imports, and creating jobs. It focuses on tomatoes, onions, peppers, and other key vegetables, with strong government support for farmers.

    He noted that 60 hectares each had been developed in Ahafo and Fanteakwa with mechanisation and water supply systems, while additional sites were being prepared for expansion.

    A rehabilitated irrigation scheme had made 500 hectares available for immediate tomato production after agreements were reached to connect farmers with buyers to guarantee off-take, he added.

    One hundred hectares had also been secured at Akumadan to further scale up production.

    The Minister said ongoing interventions to improve productivity, reduce waste and strengthen market systems would stabilise supply and enhance food security in the long term.

    Govt’s response to the ban

    Meanwhile, the government has announced that it will engage the Burkina Faso government over the indefinite export ban on fresh tomatoes.

    In a statement shared on Friday, March 20, the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry said the engagement will focus on resolving concerns surrounding the ban while exploring a mutually beneficial outcome for both countries.

    It said, “The engagement will focus on resolving concerns surrounding the ban while exploring a mutually beneficial outcome for both countries, given the longstanding trade ties and Ghana’s reliance on tomato imports from Burkina Faso”.

    The government also continued that, “The government reiterates its commitment to working with stakeholders to boost local tomato production under the ‘Feed Ghana’ and ‘Feed the Industry’ programmes, aimed at increasing output to meet demand on the domestic market”.

    The Ministry also urged tomato traders and the general public to remain calm while it makes an effort to reach an amicable resolution to restore normal trade flows between the two countries.

    World Bank secures $20m grant for Ghana amid looming tomato crisis

    As part of efforts to avert this crisis, the World Bank has secured a $20 million grant from the Dutch government to mitigate the impact of a looming tomato shortage in Ghana.

    Speaking at a World Bank-civil society organisation (CSO) engagement on food security held in Accra, an Agricultural Economist with the World Bank, Dr Ashwini Sebastian, noted that the institution will collaborate with the local tomato traders association to strengthen supply chains, improve storage facilities, and support domestic production.

    “Our colleagues from the Dutch embassy will come in. We have been able to leverage that small grant to get a $20 million grant for tomato interventions in Ghana from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and so we are in the phase of designing that intervention.

    “We will reach out to the tomato association more because we have been having some debates about location and trying to cluster the intervention.”

    Until when will Ghana be independent?

    Reacting to the new development, the Agric Ministry said it has urged Ghanaian farmers to intensify dry-season farming to boost local production and stabilise food supply to mitigate the pressures from the ban.

    Speaking in an interview on Joy News on Thursday, March 19, the deputy Agriculture Minister, John Dumelo, acknowledged that Ghana’s dependence on Burkina for tomatoes may not end immediately, but with intense local farming in the dry season under improved irrigation infrastructure, the country should be self-sufficient in the next 3-4 years.

    “For us, going to Burkina Faso for tomatoes might not end immediately, but once they get encouraged, within three or four years, we should be self-sufficient when it comes to tomato production,” he said.

    He urged farmers to scale up production, pledging the government’s readiness to support them to produce tomatoes, especially during this ban.

    “I told them to let me know what they need to help them scale up production, especially in the next dry season… The government is committed to helping them to scale up production,” he added.

    The Ayawaso West Wuogon Member of Parliament continued that, “I am yet to get the reason why the Burkina Faso government announced the ban and the details that come with it. But last year, I was in the Northern Region, and I urged them to produce tomatoes in the dry season. This dry season, I went back, and most of them are doing just that,” he added.

  • March inflation falls to 3.2% despite global fuel hikes

    March inflation falls to 3.2% despite global fuel hikes

    Despite persistent pressures from rising global fuel prices amid Middle East tensions, Ghana recorded a 3.2 percent inflation rate in March.

    This information was contained in a release from the latest data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS)on Wednesday, April 1.

    The figure reflects a decline from 22.4 percent recorded during the same period last year. This represents the 15th consecutive month of decline in Ghana’s inflation rate. February 2026 recorded 3.3 percent in 23.1 percent in February 2025.

    The ongoing tensions between Iran, the U.S., and Israel have been linked to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in strikes by the United States (U.S.) and Israel. This development is significantly impacting travelers from Ghana to Asia, Europe, and North America, as Dubai is a major transit hub connecting travelers through the United Arab Emirates.

    Meanwhile, Ghana’s inflation rate stood at 3.8 percent in January 2026, marking the 13th consecutive decline in inflation, with the rate easing from 5.4% in December of the same year.


    The Statistical Service attributed the development to a slower rise in the prices of essential food items, largely due to improved availability. Ghana ended the year with an inflation rate of 5.4 per cent, a 0.9 percentage decline from 6.3 per cent recorded in November 2025.


    The downward trend of inflation has been attributed to easing food prices. Food inflation fell to 4.9 per cent in December, down from 6.6 per cent in November, as price increases for several key food items slowed.


    Also, food inflation was attributed as a major driver in the falling inflation rate, providing some relief to households after months of heightened cost-of-living pressures.


    Charcoal and staple foods such as plantains and bread have been identified as major contributors to the country’s cost-of-living pressures, which pushed up the November 2025 inflation rate.


    According to the last Consumer Price Index breakdown, other factors that affect inflation are basic household goods and utility-related expenses.


    The breakdown highlighted charcoal as the number one inflation driver after its year-on-year contribution increased to 9.2%. The second-largest contributor, smoked herrings, recorded a 7.6% increase in inflation. Unripe plantain, placed third, recorded 6.8%, making it the third biggest contributor to food inflation in November.


    The inflation rate for November 2025 saw a decrease from the 8.0% recorded in October to 6.3% in the same period, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). This marks the eleventh month in a row since October 2021.


    Addressing the media on Wednesday, December 3, the Government Statistician, Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu, mentioned that broad-based improvements in both food and non-food inflation, supported by stabilising market conditions, significantly caused the decline.


    In October, the GSS announced an 8.0% inflation rate, down from 9.4% recorded in September. The 1.4 percentage point drop from the previous month marks the lowest level since June 2021, sustaining ten consecutive months of consistent decline.


    It also indicates a sharp improvement from the 23.8% recorded in December 2024. Addressing the media in Accra, Government Statistician, Dr. Iddrisu Alhassan, attributed the continuous drop in inflation to the stringent fiscal measures adopted in efforts to stabilise Ghana’s economy.


    “For the first time since June 2021, Ghana has achieved single-digit inflation. This means that the rate at which prices of goods and services are increasing has slowed significantly. We’ve seen improvements across food, transport, and housing categories — key indicators of household welfare,” Dr. Alhassan noted.


    Last month, a report by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) indicated that the government spent less than budgeted between January and July. According to the Bank of Ghana’s September 2025 Monetary Policy Report, the government spent GH¢131.1 billion, which is below the planned amount of GH¢152.6 billion.


    Thus, government spending accounted for 9.4% of GDP, falling short of the target of 10.9%. The report noted that government spending was 14.1% below target but 9.3% higher than during the same period the previous year.


    The BoG attributed the gains to tighter fiscal discipline and improved expenditure control.


    It further stated that, except for compensation of employees, all major spending categories came in below target. Salaries and wages for public sector workers recorded GH¢44.9 billion from the projected amount, while spending on infrastructure and development projects stood at GH¢10 billion, much lower than expected.


    Ghana’s economy is expected to experience significant growth in 2026. Presenting the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on Thursday, November 11, the Finance Minister, Cassiel Ato Forson, projected a 4.8% increase in the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2026.


    He also forecasted that inflation would drop to 8% by the end of the year. “Right honourable Speaker, for the year 2026, we will achieve the following at a minimum: real GDP growth of at least 4.8%, driven by continued expansion in infrastructure, service sectors, and agriculture as well. … Mr. Speaker, at least 4.9%, and end the inflation for next year will be at least 8% ± 2,” he added.


    The Minister noted that the projected growth would be driven by continued development in infrastructure, the services sector, and agriculture. Ghana recorded a 6.3% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2025.


    The IMF projects a decrease in global inflation while predicting slower economic growth in 2025 for the U.S. and other regions.


    The total value of all commodities bought and sold on Ghana’s Commodity Exchange (GCX) in 2024 amounted to GHS24.23 million, according to the Bank of Ghana’s (BoG) 2024 Financial Stability Review.
    The report attributed the gains to strong demand for maize and soybean contracts, which boosted overall market performance.


    “The Ghana Commodity Exchange (GCX) experienced remarkable growth, reinforcing its role in agricultural trade and market efficiency. Trading volume surged by 107.4 per cent to 5,161.03 metric tonnes in 2024. The total trade value soared by 114.8 per cent, from GH₵11.29 million in 2023 to GH₵24.23 million.


    This growth was driven by several factors, including increased market participation, the strategic use of commodity aggregation funds, a faster settlement cycle (T+1, a day after the transaction date), improved warehouse infrastructure, and enhanced trader confidence.


    Additionally, settlement values grew by 113.3 per cent to GH₵23.31 million, reflecting enhanced liquidity and improved transactional efficiency,” the report stated.

  • Engineers and Planners to take over Damang Mine as govt begins transfer

    Engineers and Planners to take over Damang Mine as govt begins transfer

    After months of dispute over ownership, the government has initiated the official process to transfer the Damang Gold Mine from Gold Fields to Engineers and Planners.

    The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources is leading a delegation responsible for overseeing the transition process.

    In April 2025, the government announced an agreement with Gold Fields Ghana for a 12-month transitional lease, after Parliamentary approval allowed continued operations under Abosso Goldfields Limited while preparing for the handover.

    The non-renewable lease was explicitly designed to facilitate an orderly transition to state ownership.

    Earlier in May, the company announced it had paused its proposed joint venture with AngloGold Ashanti involving the Tarkwa and Iduapriem mines to focus on maximising Tarkwa’s potential as a standalone asset.
    “We have operated here for 30 years, and we intend to continue for decades to come,” Fraser reiterated.


    Gold Fields posted strong financial and operational results for the first half of 2025. Attributable production rose 24% to 1,136koz, keeping the company on track to meet its annual guidance. Damang is expected to reach commercial production in the third quarter and steady-state production by the fourth quarter of 2025.


    Revenue rose 64% to US$3.48 billion, up from US$2.24 billion during the same period in 2024, driven by a 17% increase in gold sales and a 40% rise in gold prices. No fatalities were recorded across operations, compared to two incidents in the first half of 2024, which the company had previously described as an “unacceptable safety performance.”


    Background


    Parliament earlier approved a one-year transitional lease between the government and Abosso Goldfields Limited for continued operations at Damang in the Wassa West District of the Western Region.

    The initial lease was expected to expire in April 2025 but was extended to April 2026 after stakeholder consultations.


    Moving the motion for ratification, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah stressed that the lease carried no option for further extension, transfer, or mortgage beyond April 2026.


    Months ago, tensions rose at the Damang Mine as workers feared job losses after news of a government takeover. The Ghana Mine Workers’ Union, representing over 1,000 employees, threatened protests but was assured of job security.

    “We want to assure the hardworking employees, contractors, and service providers at Damang that your dedication has been the backbone of this mine, and it will remain indispensable. Valid contracts will be honoured, wages paid, and operations sustained as we work to regularise arrangements under State stewardship,” the Minister said.


    The decision to assume direct operational control came after Abosso Goldfields Limited failed to meet critical requirements for a lease renewal, including declaring verifiable mineral reserves, presenting a technical programme, and making financial provisions for exploration.


    Despite these setbacks, the government is determined to maintain the mine’s contribution to the economy. “We recognise the importance of Damang Mine to the local economy and the country as a whole. We are committed to ensuring the mine continues to operate efficiently and effectively,” the Minister added.


    To ensure a seamless transition, the government has developed a plan to preserve jobs, support local businesses, and maintain safety and infrastructure. Community engagement and transparency will remain central throughout the process.


    “Regular updates will be provided to keep all stakeholders informed,” Buah assured, adding that the takeover aligns with Ghana’s broader goal to ensure mineral wealth contributes more directly to national development.

  • GPRTU gives govt 2-day ultimatum to scrap GHS1 fuel levy or risk fare hikes

    GPRTU gives govt 2-day ultimatum to scrap GHS1 fuel levy or risk fare hikes

    The Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) has threatened to increase transport fares should the government fail to scrap the fuel-related taxes in 48 hours. 

    Last year, the President John Dramani Mahama-led government implemented a GH¢1 fuel levy on petroleum products. This move falls under the Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1141), which was assented to by the President on June 5 to address energy-sector shortfalls, reduce legacy debts, and stabilize power supply across the country, following parliamentary approval.

    Speaking to the media on Wednesday, April 1, GPRTU Deputy Industrial and Public Relations Officer Samuel Amoah said drivers are struggling to cope with the fuel tax amid rising fuel prices, costly spare parts, deteriorating road conditions, and higher charges from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA).

    He noted, “We came up with this release and gave the government two days to do something about it. If they fail to do [that]…then we have no option but to organise ourselves to request an increment of transport fares for our members. What the government and the president is saying is, it is something they can’t control right now, but the transport operators may be forced to”.

    He said the union’s move is also aimed at shielding drivers from the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) recent fuel price adjustments.

    The NPA has set petrol at GH¢13.30 per litre and diesel at GH¢17.10 per litre. Meanwhile, a senior Research and Policy Analyst at the Institute for Energy Security (IES), Smith Prosper Boahene, has noted that it would be ‘premature’ for the government to scrap the GH₵1 fuel levy amid growing calls for its abolition.

    Addressing the media on Wednesday, March 25, explained that although there’s a recent drop in global oil prices, it will be dangerous for the government to scrap the levy.

    He added that the GH₵1 fuel levy is crucial to Ghana’s energy sector which is already at the verge of collapsing.

    “IES from the commencement has been against it; that call is premature.The levy is there to serve a very critical purpose… to replenish the debt that has been accumulating in the sector,” he added.

    The researcher argued that calls should rather be directed towards the temporary suspension of the Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy (PSRL) to help reduce fuel prices and ease the burden on consumers.

    Meanwhile, global crude oil prices have dipped by about 5%, falling from around $104 per barrel to approximately $98.95, while gas prices in Europe have also declined by roughly 8%.

    The government insists the levy is crucial for the financial recovery of Ghana’s energy sector. President John Mahama, while speaking at the presentation of the final report of the National Economic Dialogue 2025 on June 4, announced the government’s decision to clear the accumulated legacy debts in the power sector with part of the revenue generated by the yet-to-be-implemented levy.

    He stated that “initially much of this revenue will go to the purchasing of fuel to ensure stable power of electricity.”

    But President Mahama has justified that the levy will also help reduce the use of liquid fuel in the energy mix, as it expects more gas from the ENI, Sankofa, Jubilee, and TEN fields, as well as the West African Gas Pipeline.

    “At that stage, the resources generated by this increased levy will be channeled to pay accumulated legacy debts in the power sector,” he added.

    He assured Ghanaians that funds generated from the newly approved GHC1 fuel levy will undergo regular audits. He explained the move is to ensure accountability and transparency.

    “Funds from this levy will not be subject to the hazards of the Consolidated Fund. The fund will be regularly audited and audit reports made public to ensure its transparent use.”

    Energy and Green Transition Minister, John Abdulai Jinapor, has defended government’s move despite opposition from some stakeholders in the energy sector.

    He noted that the timing of the introduction of the levy is apt as the cedi continues to appreciate against major trading currencies.The minister projects to generate revenue ranging between GH¢5 billion and GH¢6 billion to support the procurement of liquid fuel.

    “Fuel was around GH¢16.00, and a sensitive government will not slap a tax when fuel is GH¢16.00. You couldn’t have imposed that tax around that time when fuel was still very high, and so you needed to work to bring fuel down to this level and share the gain with Ghanaians. At that time, if we had increased it, you can imagine the impact on Ghanaians, but today, the net effect is that you are still having a reduction of GH¢3.00 on a litre of fuel.

    “It is better to do it today than to (have done) it yesterday, when it would have eroded your income; today, your purchasing power has increased because of the reduction of the value of the dollar,” he said while speaking on JoyFM.

    Some stakeholders in the energy sector have expressed their displeasure over the approval of the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, by Parliament and its pending implementation.

    On the matter, Chief Executive Officer of the Association of Oil Marketing Companies (AOMCs), Dr Riverson Oppong Peprah, warned that the implementation of the levy could drive fuel prices higher, adding further strain on consumers and the downstream sector.

    “When fuel prices began to fall, it wasn’t because the cedi gained stability; rather, it was due to a drop in plant prices caused by the decline in West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices. Only after that did the cedi stabilise and support the downward trend.”

    “As we speak today, plant prices are already rising again. So, I urge the government to reconsider this levy since there are other options,” he counselled.

    Also, Executive Director of the Centre for Environment and Sustainable Energy Benjamin Nsiah has raised similar concerns, calling the introduction of the levy “unfair.”

    “This approach is not only tired but unfair. We’ve seen this playbook before. The Energy Sector Levies Act (ESLA) and the Energy Sector Recovery Levy have provided a lasting solution to the underlying issues. It’s not about collecting more. It’s about managing what’s already collected,” he added.

  • NPP govt spent GHS21m on Black Star Square renovation despite venue change – PAC

    NPP govt spent GHS21m on Black Star Square renovation despite venue change – PAC

    The then Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government spent GH¢21 million renovating Black Star Square ahead of the 67th Independence Day celebration, even though the venue was changed, the Office of Government Machinery has revealed.

    During an engagement with the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, March 31, the Chief Director of the Office of Government Machinery, Abubakar Wayo, disclosed that “…Although the initial plan was for the Independence Day celebration to be held there, the decision was later changed. I do not think we had the authority to halt the project simply because the contract specified the venue for the 67th Independence anniversary. We were directed by a higher authority to proceed”.

    This revelation has sparked debate on accountability and transparency in government spending. Ghana held its 67th Independence Day anniversary in Koforidua with a grand parade.

    The event, themed “Our Democracy, Our Pride,” is set to highlight democratic values and foster peace, especially in anticipation of the upcoming 2024 general elections.


    President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo addressed the gathering, emphasizing the significance of maintaining and cherishing democratic principles.

    The celebration was graced by distinguished guests, including Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara, who will serve as the Special Guest of Honour.


    The parade was a spectacle with 21 contingents from various security agencies, representatives from 11 schools, and diverse traditional groups, all joining forces to made the event a memorable one.


    Meanwhile, on Friday, March 6, Ghana turned sixty-nine (69) years since it gained independence from British colonial rule in 1957.


    To commemorate the day, the government declared it a statutory holiday. As part of the celebration, scores of Ghanaians gathered at the forecourt of Jubilee House, the seat of government in Accra.


    Ghana’s Independence Day celebrations feature national parades, ceremonial events, and reflections on the country’s democratic journey and socio-economic progress. This year’s theme is Building Prosperity, Restoring Hope.

    Ghana marked its 68th Independence Day on March 6, 2025, with a scaled-down national celebration in Accra, at the forecourt of the Presidency, instead of the usual Independence Square.


    This decision was part of the government’s efforts to reduce costs while still honouring the country’s historic milestone.
    The 2025 theme, “Reflect, Review, Reset,” underscored the need for national introspection as Ghana navigates its current socio-economic landscape. The Presidency also unveiled an official logo for the occasion, symbolising the country’s resilience and aspirations for the future.


    Unlike previous years, the government suspended the rotational hosting of the national event. This decision was announced by Presidential Spokesman and Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu.


    Despite the scaled-down nature of the event, key elements of the Independence Day tradition were maintained. The President inspected a Military Guard of Honour, followed by cultural performances by two groups of basic school pupils and a poetry recital from a senior high school student.


    Ten schools; six basic schools and four senior high schools, including Accra Wesley Girls and St. Mary’s SHS Cadet, participated in the march past.


    Dignitaries at the ceremony included traditional rulers, religious leaders, students, political party representatives, and members of the business community.


    President John Dramani Mahama delivered a ceremonial speech highlighting the significance of the nation’s independence and its path forward.


    Similar celebrations took place across the country at the metropolitan, municipal, and district levels, following directives from the Presidency.


    The 68th Independence Day celebration, though more modest in scale, remained a moment for Ghanaians to reflect on their history, assess their progress, and renew their commitment to national development.


    As part of the celebration, the President honoured 52 awardees, including 32 students from public schools, 16 from private schools, and four students with hearing and visual impairments for their outstanding performance in the 2024 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

  • Accident on Buipe-Tamale road leaves four dead

    Accident on Buipe-Tamale road leaves four dead

    An accident on the  Buipe-Tamale road has claimed the lives of four individuals on Tuesday, March 31, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has disclosed.

    The fatal crash involved a Sprinter Benz bus traveling from Buipe to Kumasi, and a trailer truck at Sawaba No. 2. The deceased included two females and two males, two of whom died on the spot.

    According to the GNFS, the trailer truck fled the scene, leaving behind the victims and wreckage as emergency responders rushed in to manage the situation. Meanwhile, 19 passengers are receiving medical attention at the Buipe Government Hospital.

    Weeks ago, a head-on collision on the Accra-Kumasi Highway claimed the life of an individual on Saturday, March 7. The deceased male, reportedly the owner of a Toyota Voxy, crashed into a parked MAN Diesel truck at Teacher Mantey.

    Detailing the incident on Facebook on Sunday, March 8, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) that the Toyota Voxy had badly crashed into the stationary truck prior to the arrival of the rescue team.

    Ghana has reported a surge in the number of fatalities resulting from road crashes this year.

    Weeks ago, eleven (11) persons sustained injuries following a head-on-collision at Eduadjei on the Cape Coast-Takoradi Highway. The victims, eight males and two females, are receiving medical attention at the Elmina Polyclinic.

    Per the the Central Regional Fire Service’s account, the two vehicles, an Opel Astra (WR 4860-13) traveling from Cape Coast towards Komenda collided head-on with a Nissan mini bus (CR 1414-23) heading from Takoradi to Cape Coast. Meanwhile, officials are yet to ascertain the cause of the accident.

    The National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) recorded one thousand five hundred and four (1,504) deaths, compared to one thousand two hundred and thirty-seven (1,237) fatalities reported in the same period in 2024, representing a 21.58 percent increase in the first half of 2025.

    According to provisional data released by the National Road Safety Authority in collaboration with the Police Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), a total of 7,289 road crashes were recorded between January and June this year. Per the data, a total of twelve thousand three hundred and fifty-four (12,354) vehicles were involved in these crashes.

    As a result of these incidents, eight thousand three hundred (8,300) individuals sustained injuries. Additionally, one thousand three hundred and one (1,301) pedestrians were knocked down across the country.

    According to recent data provided by the National Road Safety Authority, on average, eight (8) lives are lost every day due to road crashes. Each day, forty (40) road crashes are recorded, and forty-six (46) individuals sustain injuries. Daily, sixty-nine (69) vehicles and motorcycles are involved in road crashes.

    To help combat the rising number of road crashes, the National Road Safety Authority has called for stricter enforcement of traffic regulations and increased public education.

    The NRSA has emphasized the need for stronger enforcement to curb the alarming trend. The Road Traffic Act 2004, an Act to consolidate and revise the Road Traffic Ordinance, 1952 (No. 55), provides for more comprehensive regulation of road traffic and road use to ensure safety on the roads and to address related matters.

    A person who drives a motor vehicle dangerously on a road commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction:

    (a) where (i) a bodily injury does not occur, or (ii) a minor bodily injury occurs to a person other than the driver, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and not exceeding two hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding nine months, or to both;

    (b) where bodily injury of an aggravated nature occurs to a person other than the driver, to a minimum fine of two hundred penalty units and not exceeding five hundred penalty units, or to a term of imprisonment of not less than twelve months and not exceeding two years, or to both;(c) where death occurs, to a term of imprisonment of not less than three years;

    (d) where there is damage to state property, to a fine of not less than one hundred penalty units and payment for the damage caused in an amount determined by the Court.

    The Court may, upon conviction of a person under subsection (1), (a) order the payment of appropriate compensation to an injured person or to the estate of that person, or (b) order the withdrawal of the driver’s license for a period of not less than three years and not more than five years.

    A person who drives a motor vehicle on a road without due care and attention, or without reasonable consideration for other persons using the road, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two thousand penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years, or to both.

    A person commits an offence if, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, that person:

    (a) causes anything to be on or over a road;(b) interferes with a motor vehicle, trailer, or cycle; or(c) interferes, directly or indirectly, with traffic equipment, where it would be obvious to a reasonable person that doing so would be dangerous.

    A person who commits an offence under subsection (1) is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding twelve months, or to both.

    Meanwhile, over one-third of emergency cases at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) have been linked to road crashes, according to statistics from the facility.

    Speaking to the media, Deputy Medical Director of KATH, Dr. Yaw Opare Larbi, noted that road crash victims brought to the emergency unit often do not survive because their injuries are very severe.

    “A little over 30 per cent of the cases that come to this facility, this Accident and Emergency Unit, are due to accidents, and most of the accidents, a few are domestic, but the majority of them are road traffic accidents.

    “Now in Ghana, we know that our statistics, a lot of our road accidents are from errors, driver errors, pedestrian errors. And then we know that we have some percentage that is attributable to maybe things like faulty vehicles or maybe road conditions, but a lot of the accidents are preventable,” he stated.