TIG Post

Author: Phoebe Martekie Doku

  • Ghana formally exits IMF programme, adopts non-financing support model

    Ghana formally exits IMF programme, adopts non-financing support model

    The government has officially ended Ghana’s Extended Credit Facility programme with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Ghana was previously receiving financial support and economic guidance from the IMF under a structured programme.

    However, in a statement issued by the Presidential Spokesperson and Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, disclosed that the government has moved toward a non-financing policy support framework.

    He added that the government has been able to revive Ghana’s economy due to improved fiscal discipline, strengthened macroeconomic stability, and progress in debt management under the IMF-supported programme.

    He further added that Ghana will now engage the IMF through a non-financing arrangement, Policy Coordination Instrument, commonly referred to as a PCI. Although the IMF will no longer assist the government with direct financial disbursement, the PCI has been designed to provide technical assistance, policy coordination and market confidence.

    Programme performance and outlook

    Ghana’s 36-month Extended Credit Facility arrangement was approved in May 2023, with access of 303.8 per cent of quota, equivalent to SDR 2.2419 billion, or about US$3 billion.

    In its latest economic outlook, the IMF maintained Ghana’s 2026 growth projection at 4.8 per cent, slightly above the 4.6 per cent forecast for Sub-Saharan Africa.

    This comes against a revised global growth forecast of 3.1 per cent, reflecting rising energy costs and geopolitical tensions.

    The Fund also projects Ghana’s inflation to decline to 7.9 per cent in 2026, slightly below government expectations, assuming current disinflation trends continue.

    Inflation is expected to remain in single digits through 2026 and 2027.

    President Mahama’s earlier remarks on Ghana-IMF deal

    President John Dramani Mahama reaffirmed that Ghana will exit the IMF by the first quarter of the year.

    This comes after he hinted at an exit in January in his New Year’s message. President Mahama said the government is preparing to exit the IMF programme while safeguarding Ghana’s economic credibility, highlighting that the reforms over the past year have strengthened macroeconomic indicators enough to support a gradual withdrawal.

    He said, “We are beginning the process of exiting the IMF programme with dignity, not as supplicants, but as partners.”

    Speaking at the Ghana-Zambia Business Dialogue in Lusaka on Friday, February 6, President Mahama confirmed that Ghana is on course to complete its International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme by April 2026, citing improvements in key economic indicators.

    Mahama stressed that the stabilising economy positions Ghana to expand trade and investment, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

    “These gains provide a solid foundation for Ghana’s development agenda, which focuses on five strategic pillars: industrialisation and value addition; export-led growth; modern infrastructure development; strong support for MSMEs, women, and youth entrepreneurs; and a predictable, transparent, investor-friendly business environment,” he said.

  • Ghana may lose top gold producer status to Côte d’Ivoire – Chamber of Mines

    Ghana may lose top gold producer status to Côte d’Ivoire – Chamber of Mines

    Ghana could lose its position as a leading gold producer in Africa should government policies continue to make mining less attractive for investors, the Ghana Chamber of Mines has stated.

    Addressing the media, the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Ing. Ken Ashigbey, indicated that Côte d’Ivoire is aggressively competing with Ghana to become the leading gold producer over the next decade.

    “We need to make sure that we are attracting the investment capital but not only foreign, local investment capital as well. There are Ghanaians who now want to go and set up in Cote d’Ivoire.” Ing. Ken Ashigbey said.

    His comments come after the Institute of Economic Affairs urged the government not to approve the proposed 20-year lease extension for a foreign mining company, Gold Fields’s Tarkwa Mine. According to the Institute, such a decision would jeopardise increased state control over the mining sector and weaken efforts to promote greater local participation in the industry.

    Meanwhile, Ing. Ashigbey has advised the government to put in place measures to retain more local investors while attracting foreign capital into the mining sector.

    In a separate development, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has posted a GH¢9.05 billion loss from its Domestic Gold Purchase Programme in 2025. This was contained in the Central Bank’s 2025 Financial Report.


    This compares to a loss of GH¢5.66 billion in 2024, representing an increase of GH¢3.39 billion, about 60%, in 2025. The total loss comprised net losses on gold held for reserves and gold used in the Gold-for-Oil programme.


    According to the report, under the Gold for Reserves Programme, the central bank purchased doré gold primarily to generate foreign exchange and typically sold it shortly after acquisition.

    The gold was not intended to be stored for long-term value increases or profit from price changes.


    The financial results of the programme were determined by comparing the selling price of the gold, after deducting related selling costs, with the original purchase cost, alongside any interest earned from gold deposits.


    In 2025, a total of 2,914,305 fine ounces of doré gold were acquired, a significant increase from 1,092,492 ounces in 2024. During the same period, 2,895,426 ounces were sold, compared to 1,076,125 ounces the previous year.

    By the end of December 2025, the remaining doré gold holdings stood at 9,283 fine ounces, up from 7,311 ounces recorded in 2024.


    The report explained that the overall financial outcome reflects the actual difference between the net proceeds from gold sales and the recorded value of the gold sold.


    Additionally, interest earned on gold deposits for the year totalled GH¢0.047 billion.


    Regarding the Gold for Oil Programme, the sale of gold, after accounting for costs and the value of gold sold, resulted in a net loss of GH¢0.544 billion, an improvement compared to the GH¢0.667 billion loss recorded in 2024.


    On the other hand, oil trading operations posted a net gain of GH¢0.341 billion, a turnaround from the GH¢1.155 billion loss reported the previous year.


    Overall, the programme’s performance was influenced by margins from both gold and oil trading, as well as operational expenses incurred while supporting foreign exchange stability and energy supply. The programme was eventually brought to an end in March 2025.


    Last year, BoG revealed setbacks recorded in the implementation of its Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP), highlighting that it cost far more than it earned.


    The DGPP is a policy launched by the Bank of Ghana in June 2021 to buy gold locally from small-scale miners and use it to build Ghana’s gold reserves to mitigate the growing pressure on the cedi due to increasing demand for forex for imports.


    Public discussion around the losses intensified after the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reportedly highlighted losses exceeding US$214 million in 2025.


    Given this, the BoG failed to declare the losses in its 2024 Annual Report, leaving a gap in public knowledge. Asempa FM’s Philip Osei Bonsu, in pursuance of Article 21(f) of the 1992 Constitution and the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), demanded a clear breakdown of the programme’s status.


    In response, the BoG issued a document on the programme’s performance over the last two years. It shows that the programme’s losses rose sharply from GH¢74 million in 2022 to GH¢1.37 billion in 2023, and then increased even more in 2024 to GH¢5.66 billion.


    The data show that GH¢1.82 billion of the losses stemmed from the Gold-for-Oil arrangement, while GH¢3.84 billion was linked to the Gold-for-Reserves and other segments.


    Net G40 losses, covering gold and oil transactions, and Net G4R losses, covering artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) gold and other segments, accounted for the increases.


    Figures for 2025 indicate 100.6 tonnes of ASM gold and a total of 110.99 tonnes of gold purchased, valued at US$11.4 billion. However, these numbers are pending external audit confirmation, the Bank noted.


    Analysts have cautioned that while the DGPP supports reserves, the escalating losses underscore the challenges of managing large-scale gold operations alongside other financial instruments. The Bank has invited further queries for clarification.


    Amid the losses incurred, the BoG defended the programme as one that promotes currency stability.


    “The DGPP is a strategic programme that promotes currency stability, which is one of the Bank’s core mandates,” the Bank stated. Despite the losses, the institution insisted the programme remains a key stabilising tool.

  • NIA workers resume work today following NLC’s intervention

    NIA workers resume work today following NLC’s intervention

    Workers at the National Identification Authority (NIA) are expected to resume work today, Friday, May 15, following the intervention of the National Labour Commission (NLC).

    Staff of the NIA began an indefinite industrial action, citing delays in implementing a migration report that affects salaries, promotions, and job placements. Staff of the NIA began an indefinite industrial action on Tuesday, May 13, citing delays in implementing a migration report that affects salaries, promotions, and job placements.

    In response to their demands, the National Labour Commission has urged for calm while directing the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission to ensure the approval and implementation of the migration report within the next two weeks.

    Speaking to the media on Thursday, May 14, the General Secretary of the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU), Bernard Adjei, stated that the directive by the NLC had been taken in good faith.

    “As a responsible union, we have taken the directive in good faith; we think it is fair. We believe that with this directive, all parties will honour their side of the obligations so that we can bring the matter to a close. The NLC’s directive stands. We will do whatever we have to do to ensure that NIA staff return to the office [Friday, May 15],” he added.

    According to the union in a formal notice addressed to the workers and issued by the Public Services Workers’ Union (PSWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), on Wednesday, May 13, the delay in the implementation of the Scheme of Service for NIA staff was approved in July 2024, with the migration exercise, i.e., moving staff onto a new salary and placement structure, taking effect in December of the same year.

    The “Scheme of Service” for NIA staff is a formal human resource policy document approved in July 2024 that defines how employees of the National Identification Authority (NIA) are recruited, classified, promoted, remunerated, and developed. It is essentially the framework that aligns staff salaries, job placements, promotions, and career progression with their qualifications, experience, and responsibilities.

    The union attributed the strike action to nearly two years of stalled processes, despite earlier approvals and assurances from the relevant authorities.

    The notice ordered workers to stay away from work until their demands are met.

    “On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, no member shall report to work. You will rise from your beds and return to them, until further notice, and until our just demands are met.”

    “Let there be no misunderstanding: this strike will remain in force until our collective voice is heard and our conditions are addressed,” parts of the statement read.

    However, 22 months on, there has been no sign of an imminent implementation, leaving workers on improper salary scales and without expected promotions.

    PSWU General Secretary Bernard Adjei, in an earlier notice addressed to the National Labour Commission (NLC) and NIA management, described the delay as unfair and frustrating for affected staff.

    He explained that although management of the Authority has engaged stakeholders and provided assurances over time, those discussions have not translated into action.

    “We have consistently engaged management and all relevant stakeholders to resolve this matter, but the necessary approvals for implementation have not been granted,” the union noted.

    Mr Adjei further warned that the continued delay risks disrupting industrial harmony within the Authority.

    The union said the decision to embark on a strike followed extensive internal consultations, leaving leadership with no option but to proceed. It has therefore insisted that unless the migration report is implemented, the industrial action will continue without further notice.

    Copies of the strike notice were sent to the Ministry of Finance, the National Security Coordinator, the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission and PSWU-NIA divisional leadership.

    The strike is expected to significantly affect the operations of the NIA, which is responsible for issuing the Ghana Card and managing the national identity database.

  • Joana Quaye moves to freeze RNAQ’s multi-million assets

    Joana Quaye moves to freeze RNAQ’s multi-million assets

    Mrs. Joana Quaye, the ex-wife of Ghanaian businessman and self-acclaimed billionaire Richard Nii Armah Quaye, has filed an application for injunction at the Divorce and Matrimonial Division of the High Court in Accra seeking to restrain him from selling, transferring, disposing of or in any way alienating shares in a long list of companies, luxury vehicles, and expensive properties until an appeal over their divorce settlement is finally determined.

    The embattled ex-wife of RNAQ is asking the court to temporarily ‘freeze’ the disputed assets and shares owned by the couple in various companies acquired during the course of the marriage in order to prevent the businessman from disposing of them before the Court of Appeal decides whether she is entitled to a larger share of the wealth acquired during their marriage.

    Contribution to formation of business

    In an explosive affidavit in support of an application filed on her behalf by Dame & Partners, her new lawyers, Joana Quaye narrates a relationship stretching back to 2002 when both parties had just completed secondary school, eventually culminating in marriage in 2010.

    She claims she sacrificed her education, worked multiple jobs, and financially supported Richard Nii Armah Quaye’s studies and early entrepreneurial ambitions including funding that contributed to the birth of Quick Credit Company Limited, now Bills Micro-Credit.

    Joana Quaye- Application for Injunction 1Download

    Relying on documents she had earlier tendered at the trial as exhibits, Joana Quaye indicated that in anticipation of their marriage, she opened a joint account with RNAQ at SG-SSB Ltd and subsequently, jointly invested the funds from that account in an investment transaction operated by Data Bank Ltd.

    This investment matured and was redeemed by the couple in 2008 and was given to RNAQ who utilised it to fund his travel to the United Kingdom in 2008 to pursue further education in Accounting.

    According to Joana Quaye, when RNAQ returned from the UK the following year in 2009, he was unemployed. They started exploring means of setting up a business for him.

    She closed her personal bank account by withdrawing all her savings and they used same as seed money to start a micro-finance enterprise in 2010 – the same year in which they got married – which the couple named Quick Credit, within six months after the Respondent had returned from the UK. Joana Quaye

    History of ownership of shares in companies

    Joana Quaye further stated that a year after they had gotten married, in 2011, they jointly set up a company called Quick Micro Credit and Investment Limited (unilaterally renamed Bills Micro Credit by RNAQ subsequently).

    Together with RNAQ, she was an original shareholder in Quick Micro Credit and Investment Limited. She was also, together with RNAQ, the only two directors of the company.

    According to Joana Quaye, without her knowledge or consent, RNAQ altered the records of the company by removing Joana Quaye as both director and shareholder of the company around 2021.

    Mrs. Quaye alleges that RNAQ admitted this under cross-examination in the course of the trial of the divorce case. In her view, therefore, the “conclusions of the learned judge were arbitrary, discriminatory and a complete departure from the principles governing the equitable distribution of marital property upon the dissolution of marriage”.

    According to her, all assets acquired in the subsistence of marriage, including shares in companies, are martial property liable to be “distributed equitably, irrespective of whether there was an agreement between the parties or not.”

    The application lists an eye-popping catalogue of disputed assets, including shareholding interests in Quick Credit, Quick Angels, Waterfall Engineering, Tigon Entertainment, Ridge Medical Centre, CEQA Foods, and several other companies.

    Also named are luxury homes at Trasacco Estates, East Legon, Dansoman, and Mamprobi, alongside a fleet of high-end vehicles including a Rolls Royce Phantom, Bentley Coupe, Mercedes Benz G-Wagon, Range Rover Vogue, Range Rover Velar, and Lexus 4×4.

    Joana Quaye argues that these assets were acquired during the subsistence of the marriage and therefore ought to be equitably distributed. She seeks to restrain RNAQ from disposing of or transferring them before the final determination of her appeal.

    Justification for freeze of RNAQ’s shares in other companies

    Mrs. Quaye contends that the formation of Quick Credit by the couple and their joint ownership of shares in that company was “the springboard for RNAQ’s wealth and acquisition of various properties by him”.

    According to her, RNAQ used Quick Credit and Quick Angels to acquire other companies. He also “deployed the companies as a vehicle for the acquisition of various immovable and movable properties”.

    She claimed that most of the vehicles acquired during the marriage are in the name of companies owned by RNAQ and other companies, which are in turn owned by companies set up during the subsistence of the marriage.

    Mrs. Quaye urges the court that there is a pressing need for the court to restrain RNAQ from disposing of the assets because he has demonstrated an ability to unlawfully transfer assets acquired during marriage.

    She cites his act in transferring her shares in Quick Credit Limited, without her knowledge, as an example, emphasising that she became aware only when RNAQ admitted this fact under cross-examination in court

    Joana Quaye accuses the businessman of having caused the breakdown of the marriage through “unbridled cheating with many women” and that she suffered severe physical violence during the marriage.

    She further alleges that complaints she lodged with the Ghana Police Service never saw the “light of day” due to interference by powerful persons allegedly acting on behalf of the RNAQ.

    In another bombshell claim, she states that the RNAQ currently lives in the Trasacco residence with another woman whom she describes as one of several girlfriends maintained during the marriage.

    Unfairness and violations by the trial judge

    The affidavit of Mrs Quaye also raises serious procedural and constitutional questions about the original divorce judgment delivered on the 20th January 2026.

    According to Joana Quaye, the full written judgment was unavailable for more than three months and only surfaced after her constitutional right of appeal had expired.

    She argues that there appeared to be “two versions” of the judgment, one containing the final orders and another containing the reasons for the orders released after the expiry of the three months within which she was entitled to appeal, a situation she says violated her constitutional rights.

    She laments that if her new lawyers, Dame & Partners, had not promptly appealed when the full judgment was not available, she would have suffered irremediable damage.

    Joana Quaye is asking the High Court to preserve all the contested assets pending appeal, warning that any transfer or disposal of the properties could cause irreparable injustice and leave her with an “empty legal shell” even if she eventually wins the appeal.

    The high-profile dispute is expected to ignite national debate about marital property, women’s contribution to wealth creation in marriages, and the extent to which spouses are entitled to fortunes built during long-term relationships.

  • Technical fault at Weija Water Treatment Plant disrupts water supply to Dansoman, Mamprobi and others

    Technical fault at Weija Water Treatment Plant disrupts water supply to Dansoman, Mamprobi and others

    Technical glitches at the Weija Water Treatment Plant have left several parts of western Accra without water for some time now. The affected areas include Dansoman, Mamprobi, Mataheko, Laterbiokorshie, Korle-Bu, La Paz, McCarthy Hill, Gbawe, Mallam, Tesano, Darkuman, North Kaneshie, Dome, Achimota, Anyaa, Ablekuma, and surrounding communities.

    However, in a press release, Ghana Water Limited (GWL) disclosed that its engineering team is working tirelessly to restore normal water supply. Ghana Water Limited further called on the affected consumers to remain calm and cooperate as it works to resolve the challenge.

    In a related development, Ghana Water Limited has revealed that it is struggling with a growing supply gap, heavy debt, and large volumes of treated water being lost before reaching consumers, a new situational analysis has revealed.


    According to its February 2026 report, which combines data from the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) and GWL’s tariff proposals, indicates that the company currently produces about 945,275 cubic metres of water daily.

    This falls short of the national urban demand of 1.19 million cubic metres, leaving a deficit of 244,725 cubic metres each day, representing 21% of total demand.


    The shortage has forced several urban communities across Ghana’s 16 regions to depend on irregular water supply and rationing schedules, affecting households, businesses, and critical public services.


    A key concern highlighted in the report is the high level of non-revenue water, which refers to water produced but not billed due to leakages, theft, illegal connections, and faulty meters.


    According to the analysis, 52.2% of water produced in 2024 was either lost or unaccounted for, far above the regulator’s benchmark of 45%.
    The losses are largely linked to ageing pipelines, some over 50 years old, burst transmission lines, illegal connections, and meter tampering.

    Additional losses come from unbilled water use by some public institutions and illegal suction pumps connected directly to distribution lines.


    GWL is also facing significant financial challenges. The company currently holds on-lent loans totalling GH¢14.63 billion, equivalent to nearly one-quarter of its revenue.

    Each month, the utility spends approximately GH¢38.94 million on debt servicing, representing 22.76% of its monthly income and limiting funds available for maintenance, infrastructure expansion, and system upgrades.


    Most of the loans were contracted in foreign currencies such as US dollars and euros through government arrangements, exposing the company to exchange rate fluctuations.


    The report also highlights declining payment compliance by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Payment rates from government institutions dropped sharply from 92.53% in 2022 to 18.40% in 2024, creating a substantial revenue shortfall.


    Many public institutions reportedly cite the absence of budget allocations for water bills, while enforcement measures remain difficult due to the sensitive nature of disconnecting water supply to state facilities.


    Illegal small-scale mining, widely known as galamsey, has been identified as a major environmental threat to Ghana’s water supply. The report notes that more than 11 water treatment plants have been affected by mining pollution, particularly those drawing water from the Birim, Pra, Bonsa, Offin, and Black Volta rivers.


    The pollution has increased water treatment costs, forced temporary plant shutdowns, reduced production capacity, and created long-term risks to water quality and public health.


    Much of Ghana’s water infrastructure is outdated, with several systems dating back to the colonial era. Current system utilisation stands at about 60% of installed capacity.


    Energy costs also remain a major challenge, with electricity accounting for about 50% of water production costs and 27% of total operational expenses. This makes the utility highly vulnerable to changes in electricity tariffs and power supply interruptions.


    Despite these challenges, the report notes that the recent appreciation of the Ghana cedi, which strengthened by about 24% against the US dollar between the end of 2024 and February 2026, has helped reduce foreign debt servicing costs and lowered the price of imported chemicals and equipment.


    However, the analysis cautions that this improvement does not address deeper structural problems such as ageing infrastructure, high water losses, and weak revenue mobilisation.


    GWL currently serves 986,078 active customers across 86 water systems nationwide, making it the country’s sole provider of urban water supply.


    Experts warn that without urgent reforms, including tariff adjustments, infrastructure rehabilitation, improved billing systems, and stronger action against illegal mining, Ghana’s urban water security could face worsening shortages in the coming years.


    The report concludes that while recent economic gains provide an opportunity for reform, long-term structural changes will be critical to ensuring a stable water supply for Ghana’s expanding urban population.

  • President Mahama swears in two new representatives for diplomatic mission

    President Mahama swears in two new representatives for diplomatic mission

    Two new ambassadors assigned to represent Ghana in Japan and Ethiopia have been sworn in by President John Dramani Mahama. Speaking during the commissioning ceremony conducted on Wednesday, May 13, President Mahama urged the newly sworn-in envoys, Humphrey Chatio Ajongbah and McArios Akanbeanab Akanbong, to strengthen diplomatic relations abroad by promoting the country’s economic interests.

    President Mahama advised, “As a way, your Ministry has designed key performance indicators that you might follow. The job of ambassadors has changed from just diplomacy and protocol to working in the economic interests of our country abroad”.

    Ghana, Japan, and Ethiopia share longstanding diplomatic relationships. In 2027, Ghana and Japan will celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations. On Monday, February 9, five new ambassadors were sworn in to represent Ghana abroad.

    During the swearing-in ceremony, the new ambassadors were charged by President Mahama to prioritise economic diplomacy as part of efforts to attract foreign investment.


    “As heads of mission you are required to reflect this national reset agenda by moving from passive representaion to purposeful engagement from routine reporting to proactive problem solving and from presence to impact. Your mission plans must be firmly aligned with Ghana’s development prorities,” he urged.


    The ⁠recently sworn-in include: Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Said Saleh Sinare, Ambassador to the Republic of Mali, Lt. Col. Al Hajj Umar Sanda Ahmed, Mr Kofi Attor, Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba, Mr Emmanuel Opeku, Ambassador-in-Situ, and High Commissioner to the Republic of Malta, Mrs. Regina Appiah-Sam.


    On Thursday, September 4, 2025, fifteen (15) of Ghana’s appointed envoys were sworn in. They are: Benjamin A. Quashie will oversee the operations of Ghana’s diplomatic mission in the Republic of South Africa, while Kojo Bonsu takes charge of the People’s Republic of China.

    Kulsoume Sinare Baffoe will head affairs in the Kingdom of Spain.
    Hammed Rashid Tunde Ali will be in the United Arab Emirates, Hon. Captain George Kofi Nfojoh in the Togolese Republic, and Grace El Mahmoud Marabe in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Prof. Ohene Adjei will head the mission in the Federal Republic of Germany, and Abdul Nasiru-Deen in the Republic of Turkey.


    Theresah Adjei-Mensah in the Czech Republic, and Prof. Kwasi Obiri-Danso in India. Dora Francisca Edu-Buandoh, Ph.D., will serve in Canada, Dr. Margaret Miewien Chebere in Denmark, Labik Joseph Yaani in Equatorial Guinea, Nii Amasah Namoale in the Federative Republic of Brazil, and Dr. Felix Kumah Godwin Anebo in the Republic of Senegal.


    .The twenty-three individuals are expected to promote Ghana’s foreign policy and protect the welfare of Ghanaians overseas. Speaking at the induction ceremony for the 15 distinguished individuals, President Mahama noted that their “appointment is a mark of the confidence reposed in you and a recognition of your years of dedicated service, sterling achievement, and exemplary contributions both in the public and private sectors”.


    He urged the envoys to uphold transparency in carrying out their duties. Additionally, the President disclosed that taxpayers would no longer bear the cost of expensive properties rented by diplomatic missions abroad.


    According to him, the country cannot afford more than $15 million per year in property rental costs for diplomatic missions.
    He called the practice wasteful and one that can no longer be tolerated under the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) Reset Agenda.
    The President added that the Cabinet has given the nod to the government’s new initiative, Strategic Transition from Rental to Developing (STRIDE).


    The STRIDE policy is to reduce unnecessary losses the country absorbs on renting properties abroad for its diplomatic missions, hence, ensuring Ghana’s foreign missions are accommodated in state-owned properties.
    “From my latest briefing, a transaction advisor has been appointed, standard developments are being prepared, and funding mechanisms are already being negotiated.

    This shift will ensure that our missions abroad are housed in proper homes owned by the republic, reducing wasteful expenditure while safeguarding Ghana’s dignity on the international stage.


    “Ghana cannot continue spending more than $15 million every year on renting properties abroad for our diplomatic use. This is not a judicious use of taxpayers’ resources, and the Reset Agenda is an immediate reversal of this trend,” he stated.


    On Monday, September 1, 2025, Ghana’s historic five hundred (500) Key Performance Indicators (KPI) for heads of missions was launched by President John Dramani Mahama.


    The initiative is to provide heads of mission with a clear framework for assessing their work and supporting the President’s Reset Vision for the country.


    Delivering his keynote address, President Mahama stated that Ghana’s mission had advanced into paths of economic engagement, facilitating trade, attracting investment, and promoting innovation.


    Thus, he charged the heads of missions to promote investments in Ghana’s priority sectors, industrialization, renewable energy, digital services, agro-processing, infrastructure and tourism.


    “I charge you to expand our export markets, especially for value-added goods such as processed food, shea butter, textiles, crafts, and digital services. I charge you to move the life of our diaspora not only as remittance of money, but also as investors, innovators, and partners in Ghana’s development,” he said.


    The 500 KPIs cover areas such as securing scholarships and promoting exchange programmes with foreign institutions to build human capacity as well as increasing tourist arrivals by a least 10 per cent each year to create jobs and strengthen foreign reserves.


    They also require strict compliance with financial and procurement rules, enhancing national security through stronger intelligence sharing and partnerships with foreign agencies, navigating Permanent Joint Commissions for Cooperation (PJCC) with major partners, and shifting from renting office spaces to building permanent infrastructure to cut down rent costs.


    He stressed that the performance of the heads of missions will be judged not by ceremonial protocols, but by the level of investment, trade, and opportunities they can attract for the country.


    President Mahama explained that the Government’s Reset Agenda also focuses on governance, particularly restoring public trust through transparency and accountability.


    He added that as Ghana’s envoys abroad, the heads of mission are expected to reflect these principles, managing the nation’s missions with integrity, efficiency, and professionalism.


    “Our citizens abroad must experience fairness and respect, for our diplomacy’s credibility is inseparable from the credibility of our governments,” he added.

  • Cabinet to take decision on constitutional review proposals today

    Cabinet to take decision on constitutional review proposals today

    President Mahama is set to chair a special Cabinet meeting on Thursday, May 14, where the government will consider recommendations from the constitutional review committee and make a major decision on the proposed reforms.

    This information was disclosed by the Government’s spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu  while addressing the media. According to him, the government has already done legal consultations and drafted its response ahead of the Cabinet meeting.

     He revealed that the Attorney General (A-G) and the President’s legal team have extensively reviewed the recommendations. Felix Kwakye Ofosu also stated that the government will make its position on the proposed constitutional reforms public in due course. He added, “So Thursday, 14th May, there will be a special cabinet session chaired by the president himself to consider the draft position paper”. 

    President John Dramani Mahama on Monday, December 22 2025, received the Constitutional Review Committee’s final report, which proposes far-reaching reforms to Ghana’s Constitution, including a leaner executive and stronger independent institutions.

    The committee has proposed 10 recommendations, including: extension of electoral terms, separation of Parliament from the Executive, cap on the size of government, reform of state land administration, strengthening independent constitutional bodies, and abolition of the death penalty.

    Others are; election of local government heads, citizen-initiated constitutional amendments, creation of an independent anti-corruption body, and parliamentary eligibility for dual citizens.

    Extension of electoral terms: The Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, has proposed a five-year presidential term, up from the current four-year term, to lower the cost and disruption of elections and give governments more time to implement policies.

    Separation of Parliament from the Executive: Currently in Ghana, the law allows the President to appoint ministers even if they are serving as Members of Parliament (MPs). However, the Committee has raised concerns about this arrangement, stating that it creates conflicts of interest and weakens legislative oversight.

    Cap on the size of government: The Committee has argued that the large number of ministers of state and their deputies creates inefficiency in the distribution of responsibilities. It has recommended that all future governments be limited to no more than 57 appointees.

    Reform of state land administration: It has been suggested that the Lands Commission be mandated to oversee the administration of state lands in efforts to promote transparency and accountability.

    Strengthening independent constitutional bodies: The Committee has also advocated that key constitutional bodies, including the Electoral Commission (EC), have appointments based on qualifications, experience, and competence, not political loyalty.

    Meanwhile, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, has backed a recent proposal by the Constitutional Review Committee calling for an increase in Ghana’s presidential term in office.

    Addressing the media on Tuesday, December 23, Alhassan Suhuyini argued that the four-year term given to Ghanaian presidents restricts the country’s development, as they are unable to deliver long-term policies and fully implement major development projects within the limited time frame.

    “I agree with the thinking that the four-year period has not helped us that much, and it is because of our level of development and the deficit that we have,” he said.

    The Constitutional Review Committee, chaired by Professor H. Kwasi Prempeh, has proposed a five-year presidential term, up from the current four-year term, to lower the cost and disruption of elections and give governments more time to implement policies.

    What does Ghana’s 1992 Constitution say about the presidential term?

    Under the Constitution, a President may serve a maximum of two terms, with each term lasting four years.

    Article 66 of the 1992 Constitution states as follows:

    (1) A person elected as President shall, subject to clause (3) of this article, hold office for a term of four years beginning from the date on which he is sworn in as President.

    (2) A person shall not be elected to hold office as President of Ghana for more than two terms.

    (3) The office of President shall become vacant—(a) on the expiration of the period specified in clause (1) of this article; or(b) if the incumbent dies, resigns from office, or ceases to hold office under article 69 of this Constitution.

    (4) The President may, by writing signed by him and addressed to the Speaker of Parliament, resign from his office as President.

    Additionally, the committee has also proposed that Members of Parliament (MPs) should stop doubling as ministers in government.

    However, members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) insist that President Mahama intends to seek a third term. Although the President, in late August, reaffirmed his commitment to Ghana’s two-term presidential limit—making it clear that he has no intention of extending his tenure—the Minority contends that the incumbent government is plotting a dubious move to keep President Mahama in power beyond the next term.

    During a bilateral meeting with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam as part of his three-day state visit, President Mahama dismissed allegations that his government is plotting to stay beyond the constitutional limit, reiterating that he will not be on the ballot in 2028.

    After months of holding onto these claims, the Minority Caucus staged a protest in Parliament, chanting, “No Third Term, Mahama! We want peace, Mahama,” citing growing calls for a third term for the incumbent President from some members of the NDC, particularly on social media.

    In 2024, the Constitutional Review Consultative Committee, established by the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, made a series of significant recommendations aimed at reforming the executive and legislative branches of the Ghanaian government.

    Led by lawyer Clare Kasser-Tee, the committee was tasked with reviewing the 2011 report of the Constitution Review Commission.

    One of the committee’s notable recommendations is capping the number of ministers at 25. In recent years, Ghana has seen a high number of ministers, with the current administration under President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo reaching as many as 110 ministers.

    Main candidates in the 2024 presidential election have promised to significantly reduce this number, with President John Mahama proposing 60 ministers and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia suggesting 50.

    Additionally, the committee proposed that the President of Ghana should pay taxes. This recommendation, if implemented, would reflect the principle of equality before the law and align with the rule of law. Currently, Article 68(5) of the constitution exempts the president from paying income tax. The committee suggests amending this article so that the president pays taxes on his salary and emoluments, setting an example for the rest of the citizenry. This change would also require consequential amendments to the country’s income tax law.

    The committee also recommended the abolition of Deputy Minister positions. Furthermore, it suggested that ministers should not be Members of Parliament, diverging from the current constitutional mandate that requires the majority of ministers to be lawmakers.

    Another key recommendation is to cap the size of Parliament at 277 members. The proposed amendment to Article 93 of the Constitution states, “There shall be a Parliament of Ghana which shall consist of not more than two hundred and seventy-seven elected members.”

    These recommendations were presented to Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu on June 13, 2024, for preliminary suggestions or firm resolve for the review of the 1992 Constitution. The event, themed “Building consensus and promoting ownership for the review of the Constitution,” was organized by the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs.

    The committee’s mandate included reviewing submissions, proposals, and reports from various constitutional review platforms, including the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), the University of Ghana Law School, the University of Professional Studies (UPSA), and the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).

    Additionally, the committee is tasked with making recommendations to the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs and its partners and collaborators, including the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), Africa Centre for Economic Transformation (ACET), Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Institute of Democratic and Economic Governance (IDEG), and the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), among others.

    The proposed reforms aim to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of Ghana’s governance structures, promoting accountability, and ensuring a more streamlined and representative government.

  • Ghana records 7.7% economic activity growth in February

    Ghana records 7.7% economic activity growth in February

    Ghana’s economic activity expanded by 7.7% in February 2026, compared with 3.9% in February 2025,  the latest Monthly Indicator of Economic Growth (MIEG) has disclosed. 

    Addressing a press conference in Accra on Wednesday May 13, the Government Statsutician, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu noted, “The provisional MIEG estimate is 7.7% for February 2026, compared to 3.9% in February 2025. This shows that economic growth accelerated significantly in February 2026, indicating stronger market performance and increased confidence compared with 2025 levels”.

     He further described the development as a stepping stone in in strengthening the country’s economic recovery and sustaining growth across key sectors of the economy. 

    “Economic Activities in Agriculture grew by 3.8%, compared to 9.4% in February 2025. This also indicates that the agriculture sector experienced a decline in performance compared to February 2025, reflecting a moderation in growth momentum”.

    According to him,  “The MIEG for January 2026 has been revised to 6.1%, down from the provisional 7.5% estimate reported on 8th April 2026.

    “This revision is mainly due to new data on fisheries, trade, manufacturing, electricity, public administration, education and health sub-sectors. Services sector saw the largest downward revision and industry was revised upwards.”

    Ghana’s economy saw a 7.5% in January, showing a continued momentum at the start of the year, although it is 0.7% slower compared to last year’s growth, which was 8.2% in the same month of 2025.

    According to the latest Monthly Indicator of Economic Growth data, the services sector, including finance and banking, education, and healthcare, remained the main driver of growth, expanding by 9.6% and contributing 54.3% to overall economic growth.

    The industrial sector, which includes manufacturing, construction, mining and quarrying, utilities, comes after the services sector is the industrial sector. It followed with a 7.2% increase, accounting for 29.0%, while agriculture recorded the slowest growth at 4.5%, contributing 14.0%.

    The growth rate was announced by Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, who noted that the notable performance in services marks the sector’s significant role in the economy, highlighting Ghana’s gradual shift towards a service-led growth model.

    While some sectors are recording significant growth, the GSS report also shows a snail-paced growth rate in the Agriculture sector, which is worrying due to its role in granting employment opportunities to a great number of the public; however, adding that, there is still room to make more products and add more value.

    Experts say that to keep the economy growing through 2026, the country needs a clear plan. This plan should focus on improving the industry, making agriculture more productive, and continuing to grow the services sector so the economy becomes stronger and more balanced.

    Meanwhile, Ghana’s economic outlook for 2025 was slightly downgraded by the World Bank, with the institution forecasting a 3.9% Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, lower than both the government’s projection of 4.4% and the World Bank’s earlier forecast of 4.3%.

    The updated projection was contained in the April 2025 edition of the Africa Pulse Report, where the Bretton Woods institution also anticipated modest improvements in the country’s economic performance over the next two years, projecting a growth rate of 4.6% in 2026 and 4.8% in 2027.

    According to the World Bank, weather-related uncertainties remained a major concern, especially as they affected key export commodities such as cocoa in both Ghana and neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire. These climate disruptions also caused ripple effects on global cocoa stockpiles and pricing.

    The report noted: “On average, the response to extreme weather events such as droughts and floods has diverted up to 9.0% of African governments’ budgets and rendered losses of 2.0% to 5.0% of economic activity.”

    Despite the external challenges, Ghana had begun to show signs of economic rebound. The World Bank highlighted renewed optimism among businesses and improvements in sectors like manufacturing and services during the early months of 2025.

    “High-frequency indicators point to activity in manufacturing and services improving across countries in the region at the start of 2025. Business sentiment continues to expand in some countries (Kenya, Nigeria, and Zambia), while in others it has bounced back from contraction (Ghana and Mozambique) or remains subdued (South Africa and Uganda),” the report noted.

    Specifically, Ghana’s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) rose from 47.9 in January to 50.6 in March 2025, indicating a return to growth territory. The World Bank attributed this recovery to improved demand conditions, fewer supply chain disruptions, and renewed business momentum following the December 2024 presidential elections.

    Elsewhere, Sub-Saharan Africa’s overall economic growth was projected to edge up slightly from 3.3% in 2024 to 3.5% in 2025, with further acceleration expected to reach 4.3% in 2026 and 2027. However, the region’s growth continued to be weighed down by sluggish performances in some of its largest economies—namely Angola, Nigeria, and South Africa.

    In March that year, the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) attributed the country’s 5.7% economic growth in 2024 to the strong performance of the services sector, particularly the increased use of data and SMS under the Information and Communication Services category.

    Addressing Parliament on Wednesday, March 11, former Government Statistician Professor Samuel Kobina Anim emphasized that services contributed the most to the overall growth, surpassing other sectors.

    “Of the 5.7% growth rate that we saw in GDP, the services sector contributed the most, 2.51% of the 5.7% GDP growth rate that we saw for 2024.

    “Followed by the industry sector, which mining and quarrying is part of, which gold is part of, contributed to 2.24% of that.

    “Within the service sector, what is driving the service sector is information and communication. And in this case, it’s data and SMS messages that we are using,” he stated.

  • Over 6K mining professionals to convene for WAMPEX 2026

    Over 6K mining professionals to convene for WAMPEX 2026

    Over 6,000 mining professionals are expected to convene for the 19th edition of the West African Mining & Power Expo (WAMPEX), slated for Wednesday, 3 June 2026, through Friday, 5 June, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.

    The event will bring together procurement specialists, engineers, operations managers, and business leaders, alongside more than 250 exhibitors from 20 countries, for three days of sourcing, networking, and high-level conference sessions. The information was made known in a press statement issued by the West African Mining & Power Expo on Tuesday, May 12.

    Addressing the media, Ing. Ken Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, said,

    “WAMPEX represents a critical platform for advancing local content development in West Africa’s mining sector. As the industry grows, it is essential that West African businesses, from suppliers and contractors to service providers and technology firms, are well positioned to capture a greater share of the value being created.

    “Ultimately, the future of mining in West Africa will depend on how effectively we empower local companies to lead, compete, and innovate. The event showcases these capabilities and builds the partnerships needed to unlock the full potential of our industry.”

    Headline sponsors for the programme include AngloGold Ashanti, Gold Fields B5Plus, Newmont, Zijin Golden Ridge Limited, FL Smidth, GK Europe, Jodi Construction and the Association of China Ghana Mining.


    The others include South African Mineral Processing Equipment, Gekko Systems, Lyon Partner Alliance, PL International, Rema Tip Top, PowerX Equipment, The Bank Hospital and Protea Coin.


    Twenty (20) countries, including Ghana, China, South Africa, India, Türkiye, Australia, Germany, France, the United States, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Finland, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Slovakia, Peru, the United Kingdom, and Mongolia, will be represented.


    Mongolia, France, South Korea, Belgium, Italy, Slovakia, and the United Arab Emirates will also make their debut at WAMPEX this year.

    About WAMPEX


    The West African Mining & Power Expo (WAMPEX) is the leading exhibition and conference for the full mining value chain in West Africa. For over 32 years, WAMPEX has connected international and local businesses with the region’s significant mining market. The event is organised by dmg events, in partnership with the Ghana Chamber of Mines and Events & Projects International Ltd (EPI).

    In an unrelated development, the government has formally handed over the Damang Mine, formerly operated by Gold Fields Ghana Limited, to Engineers and Planners Limited following the company’s successful bid for the concession on April 7, after the Minerals Commission reviewed submissions from several companies.

    The handover ceremony was held at the mine site on Saturday, April 18, where the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, performed the formal transfer.

    Speaking after the ceremony, the Chief Executive Officer of Engineers and Planners, Ibrahim Mahama, pledged his commitment to demonstrating that Ghanaians are capable of investing in themselves, while promising major investments to benefit surrounding communities.

    “I would say that, look, if we all put our minds together, this is a success story. And the plan I have for Damang Mine is not a joke. I just want to prove that we can invest in ourselves in this country,” he said.

    Mr Mahama also outlined ambitious infrastructure plans, including the construction of a concrete road linking Damang to Cape Coast within two years, and the development of an airport within six months.

    He said the projects are intended to drive economic growth and demonstrate the capacity of local companies to manage large-scale mining operations.

    Background to the takeover

    Discussions about the transition began about a year ago when the mining lease of Gold Fields Ghana Limited, under which it had operated for about two decades, expired.

    Government, as part of its commitment to boosting local participation, declined to renew the lease and ordered the start of a competitive tender process to identify a new operator. However, it granted a one-year extension to allow for an orderly transition ahead of the final handover, which occurred over the weekend.

    The bidding process

    As the mining lease for Gold Fields neared expiry, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources announced a competitive bidding process on March 24 to select a new operator for the Damang Mine.

    About four companies submitted bids before the March 31 deadline, which were reviewed by the Minerals Commission under the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (LI 2176).

    Following the evaluation, Engineers and Planners, owned by Ibrahim Mahama, emerged as the winning bidder after meeting all requirements, including technical, financial, and regulatory criteria.

    The Minister assured transparency and job protection during the process, following concerns raised by Gold Fields workers.

    Authorities indicated that bidders were required to demonstrate strong financial capacity, including access to at least $500 million in funding, as well as technical expertise and operational readiness. Engineers and Planners met these requirements and secured the highest evaluation score.

    The Damang Mine, located in Ghana’s Western Region, is one of the country’s major gold-producing assets and has played a significant role in the national mining industry for decades.

    Government officials said the tender process and eventual handover are intended to sustain operations, protect jobs, and strengthen local ownership in Ghana’s mining sector.

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=1tJdKAp8ZbU%3Frel%3D0%26modestbranding%3D1

    Minority reacts to transition

    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.

  • DVLA introduces clone detection machines to strengthen vehicle verification

    DVLA introduces clone detection machines to strengthen vehicle verification

    The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has intensified efforts to curb the importation of vehicles into Ghana through unapproved channels.

    As part of the drive, the Authority has introduced clone detection machines (OBD II Scanners) to significantly enhance vehicle verification and protect the integrity of Ghana’s registration system. This information was contained in a press statement issued by the Authority on Wednesday, May 13.

    According to the Authority, “These machines will help identify vehicles imported through unapproved channels that illegally clone the Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINS) of legitimate vehicles awaiting registration – a practice that has, in some cases, caused genuine vehicle owners to be wrongly flagged as already registered”.

    It added that, “This deployment is a proactive measure to curb fraudulent registrations, improve vehicle security and reinforce the accuracy and credibility of the national vehicle register”.

    The DVLA further urged all stakeholders and the public to cooperate with its officers as the Authority continues to promote transparency, safety and security within Ghana’s vehicle registration regime.

    Meanwhile, the DVLA has begun the arrest and prosecution of individuals using fake, forged, or expired DV number plates and DP stickers.

    In a public notice issued on April 17, 2026, the authority warned that anyone found in possession of such illegal vehicle identification materials will face legal action in accordance with the law.


    The DVLA said the move forms part of intensified efforts to clamp down on non-compliance within the vehicle registration system. The action follows an earlier directive issued on March 19, 2026, which outlined plans to target the use of expired 2025 DV plates, forged 2026 DV plates, and expired DP stickers. Enforcement operations initially began on March 24, 2026.


    According to the authority, its compliance team, working in collaboration with the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, has already carried out targeted operations across various locations. These operations have largely focused on removing non-compliant plates and stickers from vehicles.


    However, despite these interventions, the DVLA said some motorists continue to flout the regulations. The authority reiterated that, under Regulation 23(11) of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), it is unlawful to possess or use forged or fake trade licences, including DV and DP plates and stickers.


    “With effect from May 4, 2026, any individual found in violation will be arrested and prosecuted,” the DVLA said.


    The directive, the authority noted, is aimed at strengthening regulatory compliance, protecting the integrity of vehicle registration data, and enhancing public safety.


    The DVLA urged all vehicle users to comply fully with the regulations and support efforts to ensure a transparent, accountable, and efficient vehicle administration system.


    Meanwhile, in August 2025, the DVLA announced that it would embark on a massive overhaul in 2026, following the introduction of a new vehicle number plate system aimed at tackling smuggling and preventing the registration of vehicles that evade import duties.


    This move came in response to rising cases of car smuggling into West Africa, including Ghana. On August 26, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) Head of Legal and Prosecutions, Leo Antony Siamah, revealed during a media engagement that 100 stolen luxury vehicles shipped into Ghana through dubious means had been recovered.


    Mr Siamah cautioned the public to exercise extreme vigilance when purchasing vehicles, particularly high-end ones, to avoid becoming unwitting accomplices in criminal activities. He further disclosed that the anti-graft agency was investigating about 300 additional cases of suspected stolen vehicles in collaboration with Interpol, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).


    Earlier, in May 2025, an INTERPOL-led operation codenamed Safe Wheels dismantled a major vehicle trafficking network in West Africa.

    The exercise detected about 150 stolen vehicles and seized over 75 across 12 countries, including Ghana and Nigeria. The two-week operation also launched 18 new investigations and exposed two organised crime syndicates.

    Most of the stolen vehicles were trafficked from Canada, with others originating from France, Germany, and the Netherlands.
    In response, DVLA Chief Executive Officer Julius Neequaye Kotey, in a statement shared on Facebook on Monday, August 25, 2025, announced that the new plates would be fitted with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and linked directly to a central database.

    This innovation, he explained, would make it impossible to register “Togo cars” or vehicles smuggled into the country without proper documentation.


    “The new system will ensure that every vehicle can be authenticated against our database. This way, smuggled cars or those that have avoided the payment of duties cannot slip through the cracks,” he explained.

  • Nzema paramount chief expresses worry of Adamus license revocation

    Nzema paramount chief expresses worry of Adamus license revocation

    The Paramount Chief of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area in the Western Region, Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III, has expressed displeasure over some reactions following the revocation of the mining licence of Adamus Resources Limited.


    In April this year, three mining leases, Akango, Salman, and Nkroful, belonging to Adamus Resources Ltd, located in the Western Region, were revoked by the Minerals Commission over breach of Ghana’s minerals and mining laws.


    A statement by the Ministry of Lands disclosed that the revocation of the licenses is without “prejudice to any criminal charges that may be preferred against Adamus Resources Limited, and their respective directors and management under the Minerals and Mining (Amendment) Act, 2019 (Act 995).”


    The Ministry added that the termination was justifiable and served the broader public interest.


    “In view of the gravity and deliberate nature of these breaches, the Minister, upon the advice and recommendation of the Minerals Commission given pursuant to section 100(2) of Act 703, has determined that immediate revocation of the mineral rights is warranted in the public interest, especially in cases where mineral rights are being used to facilitate illegal mining activities (“galamsey”) or where statutory requirements have been fundamentally violated,” the statement noted.


    The development generated intense debate, with some supporting the government’s decision, specifically the Nzema Eastern Council. They have described the decision as appropriate, as it will assist in putting an end to historical environmental degradation and land damage.


    But Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III has expressed otherwise, citing concerns over the potential impact on jobs and local livelihoods.
    According to him, Adamus has played a significant role in the socio-economic life of the communities despite its ongoing challenge with the government.

    He also mentioned that several brilliant but needy students have received scholarships as part of the mining company’s contributions to the communities.


    “The area has boasted health facilities, classroom blocks, police stations within the entire community,” Awulae Amihere Kpanyinli III added.


    He concluded that the government must ensure its final decision on the matter does not adversely affect communities, and that their concerns are heard while safeguarding the livelihoods of workers.

    Meanwhile, the firm has argued that it was denied due process in holding talks with stakeholders prior to the revocation of its licenses. In a statement, it noted that it is “willing and ready to discuss and help resolve all the legitimate issues of the mining communities within the confines of the law, and in consonance with its corporate social responsibility”.

    Adamus Resources Limited is a major gold producer in the Western Region, with more than three thousand employees.

    Last year, rigorous exercise conducted by the Lands and Natural Resources Ministry revealed that nine hundred and seven (907) out of one thousand, two hundred and seventy-eight (1,278) licenses reviewed by the Review Committee were fraught with irregularities, with three hundred and sixteen (316) meeting the required standards.

    The committee revoked the remaining fifty-five (55) licenses.The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources noted: “Additionally, 907 out of 1,278 licenses are now under review for possible revocation due to irregularities identified by the Small-Scale Mining Review Committee.”

    According to the statement, the new deadline is to allow affected small-scale miners to provide additional evidence to support the legitimacy of their licenses. The Lands Ministry has also directed the Minerals Commission to submit reasons that led to lapses in the licensing process.

    “The Honourable Minister constituted a 3-Member Committee to receive petitions from affected license holders, if any, and/or to allow them to provide further and better particulars in support of their claim to the licenses.

    “Similarly, the Minerals Commission is expected to submit any explanations for lapses identified in the processing of the licences to the Committee.

    Affected license holders are therefore reminded to submit any documentation to prove the legitimacy of their small-scale mining licences to the Ministry on or before 17:00 hrs., 1 September 2025. Failure to do so will result in the revocation of their licence by the Honourable Minister,” portions of the statement stressed.

    In March 2025, the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, announced the revocation of all small-scale mining licenses granted after December 7, 2024, due to procedural lapses in their issuance. The Ministry, however, granted time for affected miners to rectify the anomalies in their licenses.

    The announcement followed recommendations from key regulatory institutions, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Forestry Commission, and the Water Resources Commission.

    Authorities say the decision aligns with the government’s broader crackdown on illegal mining, popularly known as galamsey, which has caused widespread environmental degradation.

    “Now, we are going full steam ahead to revoke all licenses based on the findings. Even all licenses—it’s mostly licenses that were issued from December 7—that are hereby revoked, whether you have EPA licenses or not, because the finding is very clear.

    “Those licenses from December 7 were rushed. Review processes were not followed; the right things were not done. It must be noted that 55 small-scale mining licences, issued during the transitional period, were revoked at the beginning of the year,” he noted.

    However, the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) called for an extension of the initial deadline following an engagement with the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources in Accra on Wednesday, July 30.

    In response, the Minister postponed the deadline to the close of August to give small-scale miners the opportunity to regularize their licenses.

    To sanitize the mining sector and combat the menace of illegal mining, the Ministry is also expected to enforce compliance with mining laws and regulations.

    In collaboration with the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Finance, under the GRA Customs Division and the Ports and Harbours Authority, the Lands Ministry has initiated proactive tracking of all excavator imports and other heavy equipment from the point of entry.

    The Lands Minister revealed that the government is developing a centralized digital platform named the Ghana Mine Repository Tracking Software, which has already been deployed at the Minerals Commission and is at an advanced stage to support this initiative.

    “The platform will serve as the single point of integration for all agencies, including Customs, DVLA, Ministry of Transport, Minerals Commission, and National Security,” the minister said.

    The platform will also provide authorized institutions with real-time permit history, equipment location, and operational compliance. A pilot project involving over 191 excavators is currently being tracked in a dedicated control room at the Minerals Commission.

    “I believe we are going to that point where every excavator in this country is actually regulated,” he said.The government is undertaking these initiatives in accordance with L.I. 2404, which prescribes the mandatory registration of all earth-moving and mining equipment used in mining operations.

    As part of efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities, the government has also rolled out an official order requiring all machinery used in mining operations to be registered with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) by August 1.

    A statement issued by the Ministry of the Interior on Tuesday, July 15, indicated that the state will confiscate 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.

    The Ghana Police Service and the DVLA have been empowered to strictly enforce 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,” it added.

    The Ministry reiterated its resolve to maintain national peace through effective internal security and law enforcement. Meanwhile, a similar directive had been issued months earlier, requiring excavator owners and operators to register their machines with the DVLA within two weeks or risk losing them to the state.

    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, issued the directive in Accra, warning that effective June 1, any excavator not registered with the DVLA would be confiscated.

    Speaking at a press briefing, Mr. Kotey announced that the Ghana Police Service and the DVLA’s operational team commenced a nationwide enforcement after the deadline, arresting and impounding excavators being used at mining sites or for commercial purposes without proper documentation.

    “This exercise will help identify every excavator that enters the country and trace how it is being used. The goal is to ensure we can monitor and hold people accountable,” Mr. Kotey said.

    The directive was in line with Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683), which mandates the registration of all motor vehicles and trailers, including farm and heavy-duty equipment.

    Despite the law, the DVLA found many unregistered excavators operating in mining areas, some of which were used in illegal activities.

    Mr. Kotey emphasized that the DVLA, with its 34 offices nationwide, could register all excavators and farm machinery within two weeks and was ready to strictly enforce the directive.

    “Excavators in the hands of illegal miners have worsened the destruction of our environment. This is why we must act,” Mr. Kotey said.

    To further control the situation, the DVLA, in collaboration with key agencies such as the Minerals Commission, National Security, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), commenced tagging all newly imported excavators.

    In addition to tagging new imports, the Minerals Commission was tasked to lead a team to tag all excavators already in the country. Legal small-scale mining sites have also been geo-fenced, with their site coordinates integrated into the Ghana Mine Repository and Tracking Software for improved oversight.

    Three months ago, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah announced the rollout of a system to monitor excavator imports and usage, involving port tagging and digital tracking in partnership with several state agencies.

    According to the sector minister, excavators are the third most valuable item imported into the country, worth GHC 6.2 billion.

    Crackdown on illegal mining activities

    In April, a total of 47 individuals were arrested for engaging in illegal mining activities along the Tano River and within the Aboi, Subri, and Nimiri forests in the Western Region.

    This followed a special four-day intelligence-led operation that commenced on April 17 within the Samreboi enclave.According to the Ghana Police Service, the suspects included 39 Ghanaians and 8 Chinese nationals.

    The Police indicated that a significant amount of equipment and materials believed to have been used for the mining operations were retrieved. These included seventeen excavators, one bulldozer, four motorbikes, two Toyota Hilux vehicles, one Rav4 vehicle, four pump-action guns, one single-barrel gun, fifty-four live BB cartridges, and eight pumping machines.

    Prosecution began for the arrested suspects. Forty-one of them were arraigned, with 29 remanded into police custody to reappear before the court on April 30. Twelve others were also remanded to return to court on May 2. The remaining seven were put before the court on April 23.

    Two coordinated operations conducted on Friday, June 20, at Nikanika and Adeade in the Central Region led to the arrest of three suspects and the seizure of several pieces of mining equipment.

    The operations were executed by the Ghana Police Service through its Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force.At Nikanika, the task force found no operators but retrieved a single-barrel shotgun loaded with a cartridge and three water-pumping machines.

    The team later extended its operation to Adeade, where three suspects—Prosper Quansah, Chrispin Nartey, and Owusu Gambra—were arrested with an excavator on a lowbed trailer.

    One SANY excavator, four unregistered Haojin motorbikes, and one lowbed vehicle with registration number GN 2136-24 were seized from the scene. All exhibits were secured in police custody.Some twelve accused persons standing trial for engaging in illegal mining activities at Tumetu, near Princess Town in the Ahanta West Municipality of the Western Region, have been remanded into prison custody.

    While ten of the accused persons were arrested at a palm plantation, two others were arrested at the Elluabo Chavene Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL) plantation.

    This followed a coordinated police intelligence-led operation within the Ahanta West Municipality. The accused persons are Lord Yankey, Caleb Adu Kwaw, Stephen Agyei, Ebenezer Barnes, Mathew Somagevi, Paa Grant, Bashiru Kaviru, Joseph Borney, Aminu Issah, Kofi Sogah, Albert Normah, and Robert Mensah.

    Four water-pumping machines, one tricycle with registration number M-20-WR 1045, and two motorbikes were retrieved from the sites, according to the police. All twelve accused persons admitted to the offense during police interrogations.

    They were subsequently put before the Takoradi Harbour Area Circuit Court ‘A’ and were remanded into prison custody at Sekondi. They reappeared before the court on Tuesday, July 8.

    Additionally, fifteen individuals are in police custody for engaging in illegal mining activities at Manso Adubia. They were arrested following a special intelligence-led operation at Watreso and Preacher Krom. The suspects include Tahiru Ibrahim (24), Shaibu Idrissu (23), Boateng Emmanuel (27), Jamon Kwaku Samuel (21), Yaro Patrick (29), Kofi Boakye (21), Gubong Mathew (45), Fatawu Zackari Seidu (26), Abdul Malik Seidu (22), Dauda Tahiru (23), Sampson Grace (21), Boolangkpuo Freda (24), Arima Hagar (26), Kwarteng Vasco (30), and Kwame Adutwum (24).

    Two excavator control boards, two automatic pump-action guns, two Musler 12 firearms, 59 BB cartridges, three AA cartridges, one water-pumping machine, two power generators, one vulcanizing machine, and one Apsonic motorbike were seized from the site.

  • Roads Minister orders immediate review and termination of Bogoso–Prestea road deal

    Roads Minister orders immediate review and termination of Bogoso–Prestea road deal

    The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has ordered an immediate review and termination of the contract between the government and Black Oak, the contractor responsible for the Bogoso–Prestea Road. 

    Kwame Governs Agbodza’s order is a response to Black Oak’s alleged non-performance and persistent delays in executing works on the Bogoso–Prestea Road project. According to 3News’ report, the contractor only mobilised to the site in March 2026, although the contract was awarded in 2025. However, reports indicate that Black Oak has abandoned the site due to not receiving the road design from the government. 

    During an inspection, tour of Big Push projects in the Western Region, the Road Minister instructed the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Highways Authority, Mallam Issah Ishak, to immediately commence the process of terminating the contract of Black Oak. The Minister added, “We will not allow any contractor to delay this project.” 

    In March, the Road Minister hinted that contractors assigned to work under the Big Push projects but failing to execute their responsibilities risk the termination of their contracts. He disclosed this while addressing the public on the state of the Big Push projects.

    According to him, the government is not “toying with quality but with pace”. He added that 50 per cent of the projects have reached completion

    He noted, “There is no project that has been awarded under the Big Push that is not being pushed. Almost all contractors are on site”.

    So far, the programme has received financial support from the African Development Bank (AfDB). This information was made public following an agreement signed between the Bank and the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on Thursday, January 29.

    The US$12.83 million grant will support detailed feasibility studies, including full designs, costings, and environmental and social impact assessments.

    Last year, the government allocated GH¢30.8 billion to its flagship Big Push road construction initiative in the 2026 national budget. President John Dramani Mahama revealed this while cutting the sod for the Wa Big Push Project on Tuesday, November 11.

    The allocation is more than double the funding for the same program this year, which was GH¢13.8 billion. According to President Mahama, the recent allocation is aimed at reviving stalled projects, specifically in the northern transport corridors, as well as developing new road networks.

    “This initiative is a cornerstone of our long-term national development agenda,” he declared, emphasising that the success of the Big Push depends on quality work, fiscal discipline, and public accountability.

    “To our contractors and engineers, let me be clear: the day of poor construction, inflated claims, and abandoned projects is over. Ghana deserves better. You must deliver quality on schedule and within budget, and the Ghanaian taxpayer must see value in every kilometre of road we construct,” President Mahama said.

    Meanwhile, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has projected a two-year timeline for the completion of all current and upcoming road projects under the government’s “Big Push” initiative.

    In an interview with the media on Friday, July 31, Mr Agbodza stated that the days when road projects were abandoned midway are over, as the government is committed to completing all ongoing and future works within the stipulated timeframe. According to him, all “Big Push” projects will begin by the end of August, excluding the Dambai Bridge, which will commence once its structural work has been finalised.

    “The average Ghanaian has come to accept something that is completely unacceptable, because they see road projects start around their backyard, and no one can tell them when it will be completed. We want to reset. ‘Reset’ means we need to change that narrative. All the projects have been deliberately structured to span two years, 24 months, and we will not go beyond that,” he said.

    “Sometimes, a contractor is awarded 100 kilometres of road. People forget that constructing 100 kilometres is not a small undertaking. There may be people who are more interested in how much it costs — they focus on the money involved. So contractors take the job, and for seven or eight years, they do nothing. We want to avoid that,” he added.

    Parliament on July 30 unanimously endorsed the government’s proposal to divert all royalties received from oil revenues and mineral royalties to support the implementation of the Big Push Programme.

    This comes after the government requested Parliament to approve committing funds to assist in the construction of certain road projects.

    Mr. Isaac Adongo, the Chairman of the Parliament’s Finance Committee, while presenting the report by the Budget and Finance joint committee to the plenary, said, “The Committee has carefully considered the Referral, and it is of the opinion that the request is in the right direction.”

    The Committee also noted that Parliament had already approved the policy and the allocation to the “Big Push” Programme in the 2025 Budget Statement. Granting the request would enable the government to enter into multi-year contracts to execute the road infrastructure projects under the programme.

    “The Committee accordingly recommends to the House to approve the Request for the multi-year commitments for the selected road projects under the ‘Big Push’ Programme contained in the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana, in accordance with Section 33 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921),” Mr. Adongo said.

    The initiative, aimed at improving road infrastructure across the country, is estimated at GH¢13.8 billion, and it is expected to be completed by 2028 with support from the country’s own financial resources. According to the 2025 budget, GH¢5.75 billion is owed by the Road Fund, with an allocation of GH¢2.81 billion programmed for road maintenance.

    This represents a 155.5% increase from the 2024 allocation of GH¢1.1 billion, underscoring the government’s emphasis on sustaining Ghana’s road network.

    The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, on Wednesday, July 30, revealed that his ministry has undertaken studies and prepared comprehensive engineering interventions and cost estimates for road projects under the Big Push Programme.

    The Ministry of Finance has since issued commitment authorisations for some twenty-nine (29) road infrastructure projects under the Big Push Programme, which include: Upgrading of Akosombo-Gyakiti-Kudikope Road, Dualization of Winneba-Mankessim Road, Rehabilitation of Mankessim-Ajumako-Breman Asikuma-Agona Swedru, Construction of Enchi-Elubo Road, and Rehabilitation of Atimpoku-Asikuma Junction Road.

    The government has also selected a number of abandoned road projects for which no dedicated funding was allocated by the previous administration.

    These include rehabilitation and upgrading of Kasoa-Winneba Road, construction of Suame Interchange and local roads, reconstruction of Navrongo-Chuchuliga-Sandema Road, and upgrading of Tumu-Chuchuliga-Navrongo, including construction of a 36m-span reinforced concrete bridge over the Kanyibie River and a 24m-span reinforced concrete bridge over the Bechelihu River.

    The government will, by the end of July, settle GH¢4 billion out of the large debt owed to road contractors. Currently, the government owes road contractors GH¢21 billion, according to the Roads Minister. President John Mahama emphasized his government’s commitment to infrastructure development under his administration’s 24-hour economy agenda.

    He noted that prioritising road construction and the swift resumption of stalled road projects is key to promoting economic growth and productivity by ensuring adequate regional connectivity.

    The announcement has been met with excitement and optimism by many stakeholders in the construction sector. The Ghana Institute of Engineers and the Association of Road Contractors have largely welcomed the president’s announcement, but they have called for transparency.

    They have urged the government to publish clear timelines and payment schedules to ensure that contractors can plan and mobilise resources effectively.

    In March this year, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, acknowledged the significant financial burden facing the government to clear outstanding debts owed to contractors and suppliers.

    His remarks followed the presentation of the 2025 budget by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who disclosed that the government’s total commitments to contractors stand at a staggering GH¢67.5 billion.

    He emphasised the importance of prioritising road maintenance, a sector that has suffered due to poor upkeep. “The minister has stressed that a significant portion of these funds will be directed toward road maintenance. This is a smart move because our poor maintenance culture has resulted in roads deteriorating within 8 to 10 years instead of lasting longer,” he explained.

    Mr Suhuyini noted that, in addition to paying off some existing road maintenance debts, the government is looking at a broader infrastructure push. “With GH¢10 to GH¢13 billion allocated under the ‘Big Push’ initiative, several new road projects will commence, while some outstanding debts will also be retired,” he added.

  • Two BECE invigilators, teachers ordered to pay GHS3k fine for malpractice

    Two BECE invigilators, teachers ordered to pay GHS3k fine for malpractice

    Two invigilators and two teachers supervising the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) have been fined GH₵3,000 each by the Twifo Praso District Magistrate Court in the Central Region for engaging in examination malpractice.


    The individuals, David Kwabena Mensah, Ruth Ampah, Millicent Marfo, and Kennedy Anokye, were caught in the act at their respective centres. During the court hearing, the prosecution disclosed that David Kwabena Mensah was caught using a mobile phone to capture examination questions and later shared them on WhatsApp.


    Ruth Ampah, on the other hand, assisted candidates by dictating answers to them. Millicent Marfo and Kennedy Anokye were convicted of conspiring to possess examination materials unlawfully.

    The prosecution emphasized that all these acts breached Section 20(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, as well as Sections 6 and 9 of the West African Examinations Council Act, 2006.


    In a related development, seven individuals who were also arrested earlier over alleged examination malpractice in the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at the Kyebi Amanfrom Basic School examination centre in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region have been granted bail.


    The individuals include two headteachers, two teachers, a senior examination supervisor, and invigilators. The senior examination supervisor and the invigilators were allegedly caught by officials of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) after the officials stormed the examination centre unannounced.


    They were caught using their mobile phones to photograph examination question papers, which were subsequently sent to the headteachers. The questions were then sent to teachers to solve for the candidates in the examination hall through the supervisor and invigilators.


    The 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination began on Monday, May 4, and ended on Monday, May 11. A total of 619,985 candidates sat for the examination.


    At the regional level, a total of 58,412 candidates participated in the exams in the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions. The Bono Region recorded the highest number with 24,983 candidates, followed by Bono East with 20,865, and Ahafo with 12,564.


    Beyond these three regions, the Northern Region has 37,111 candidates, while the Western Region registered 45,116 candidates. Altogether, the Ghana Education Service confirmed a national total of 620,141 candidates, comprising 304,349 boys and 315,792 girls.


    Before the exams, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) issued a stern warning to candidates and stakeholders ahead of the 2026 BECE, declaring that any form of malpractice will attract severe consequences.
    According to WAEC, protecting the credibility of the examination remains the Council’s top priority.


    “Examination malpractice not only undermines academic integrity but also constitutes a direct violation of WAEC’s legal and regulatory framework,” Bono, Ahafo, and Bono East Regional Controller of WAEC, Daniel Nii Dodoo, told GBC News in an interview.


    Addressing longstanding concerns about irregularities in the former Brong Ahafo enclave, Mr Dodoo declared an end to the era of “show and pour,” where candidates relied on external assistance during examinations.


    “We have moved away from the old days when someone could assist you with answers. This time, it will be your competence on the paper, not anybody else’s,” he said.


    He appealed directly to teachers and parents to uphold ethical standards, warning that paying money to facilitate cheating is unacceptable.


    WAEC confirmed that candidates found guilty of malpractice risk having their results cancelled, with serious offences potentially leading to legal action.


    As the examination begins, WAEC’s message is clear: success in the 2026 BECE must be earned through honesty, discipline, and individual merit.


    The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that, in the coming days, the BECE will be restricted to learners who have progressed to Junior High School (JHS) Form 3.


    Addressing the media on Thursday, April 2, he said the government’s intention is to overhaul the country’s basic education system and improve 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 are students who leap early—not yet in JHS 3 but who attempt to write BECE. That is unacceptable per the GES and WAEC guidelines.”


    According to him, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) frown upon allowing non–JHS 3 learners 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 candidates 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 to verify their school choices, biodata, and other relevant information ahead of final placement.


    The deadline for the fact-checking exercise closed on Monday, September 8. Of this figure, 248,038 are females (51.4%), while 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.

  • Nima Market fire: Affected traders to receive GHS5K each from Baba Jamal

    Nima Market fire: Affected traders to receive GHS5K each from Baba Jamal

    Traders affected by the recent fire outbreak at the Nima Market are expected to receive GH¢5,000 each from the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso East, Baba Jamal, in the coming days to help them revive their businesses.

    On Tuesday, May 12, Baba Jamal visited the scene to assess the situation and commiserate with the affected traders. Addressing the media, Baba Jamal urged the government to support the construction of an ultra-modern market for residents and traders in the constituency.

    He added, “Seeing that this is a serious tragedy that has affected our people last night, my MCE and NADMO officials all rushed here and were able to help. But you can see that some serious devastation has taken place. I want to send my heartfelt sympathies to the people who have lost their wares, and also to all the people who are in this market.

    “I call on the government, our president, and the entire nation to come and assist in these difficult times. A few people who have been affected, they have given me their list. And so on my own, I want to offer GH¢5,000 to each of the victims in the interim.”

    On Monday night, May 11, at about 11:20 p.m, the intervention of the Ghana National Fire Service saved parts of the Nima Market following a fire outbreak. In a brief update shared on its official Facebook page on Tuesday, May 12,  the Service noted that the fire destroyed goods and properties belonging to traders.

    The latest incident has once again amplified concerns about the recurring market fires in parts of Accra, with traders repeatedly suffering heavy financial losses.

    Earlier in January, a large fire swept through sections of the Madina Market in Accra, triggering a swift response from the Ghana National Fire Service as efforts continue to contain the blaze.

    The GNFS, in a Facebook update, said fire appliances from the Madina and Legon stations were dispatched to the market shortly after the incident was reported.

    Fire officers are working under difficult conditions to control the flames, with heavy smoke spreading across the busy trading area.

    While the exact scale of destruction has not yet been determined, early indications point to damage to several stalls and their merchandise.In response, traders and nearby residents have been moved away from the affected areas, as security personnel restrict access to parts of the market to enable firefighters to carry out their operations.

    Authorities have not yet established the cause of the fire and will begin investigations once the situation is fully under control.

    In the same area, an inferno destroyed several makeshift wooden and metal structures used for both commercial and residential purposes at Madina Washing Bay near Redco Flat on Sunday evening, August 3.

    The blaze destroyed utility poles, traders’ wares, personal belongings, and an unspecified number of structures worth several thousand cedis, according to the Ghana National Fire Service.

    In a Facebook post, the Fire Service noted that while battling the inferno, one of its firefighters sustained a minor leg injury.

    The Ghana National Fire Service noted that it received the distress call at 12:36 hours and responded swiftly, with the first crew from Madina Fire Station arriving within 4 minutes at 12:40 hours to confront the fully developed fire.

    Also, four (4) fire engines from Legon, Abelempke, and GNFS Headquarters joined the operation to contain the blaze. According to the GNFS, thanks to the timely and coordinated efforts, the fire was confined at 13:42 hours and fully brought under control at 13:54 hours.

    Overhaul operations continued until 20:50 hours, with firefighters salvaging multiple adjoining structures and their contents. Investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, according to the Ghana National Fire Service.

    Last month, a fire outbreak occurred at Madina Ritz Junction. It was earlier reported that a 2-month-old baby died as a result of the fire incident. However, GNFS, in a Facebook post on July 17, said that after engaging with some victims, particularly women, they confirmed that no lives were lost.

    “A verification team was dispatched to the scene this morning, and after engaging affected residents, particularly the women, and a Unit Committee Member of the area, the Service can confirm that no lives were lost.”

    The Fire Service has thus entreated the public and media outlets to “disregard any reports suggesting otherwise, as they are inaccurate and misleading,” adding that it remains firmly committed to public safety, emergency responsiveness, and transparent communication.”

    The fire began after a gas explosion in one of the shops and quickly spread to adjacent containers, consuming everything in its path.

    The incident, which involved multiple wooden structures used for both residential and commercial purposes, was fully contained through the swift and professional response of firefighters from the Madina, Legon, and Abelemkpe Fire Stations.

    An investigation by the Service was launched to ascertain the cause of the fire, which destroyed several properties. It is yet to be reported the cause of the fire.

    In April this year, 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 were 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.

  • Parts of Nima Market destroyed by fire

    Parts of Nima Market destroyed by fire

    The intervention of the Ghana National Fire Service saved parts of the Nima Market following a fire outbreak on Monday night, May 11, at about 11:20 p.m. In a brief update shared on its official Facebook page on Tuesday, the Service noted that the fire destroyed goods and properties belonging to traders.

    The latest incident has once again amplified concerns about the recurring market fires in parts of Accra, with traders repeatedly suffering heavy financial losses.

    Earlier in January, a large fire swept through sections of the Madina Market in Accra, triggering a swift response from the Ghana National Fire Service as efforts continue to contain the blaze.


    The GNFS, in a Facebook update, said fire appliances from the Madina and Legon stations were dispatched to the market shortly after the incident was reported.


    Fire officers are working under difficult conditions to control the flames, with heavy smoke spreading across the busy trading area.


    While the exact scale of destruction has not yet been determined, early indications point to damage to several stalls and their merchandise.
    In response, traders and nearby residents have been moved away from the affected areas, as security personnel restrict access to parts of the market to enable firefighters to carry out their operations.


    Authorities have not yet established the cause of the fire and will begin investigations once the situation is fully under control.


    In the same area, an inferno destroyed several makeshift wooden and metal structures used for both commercial and residential purposes at Madina Washing Bay near Redco Flat on Sunday evening, August 3.


    The blaze destroyed utility poles, traders’ wares, personal belongings, and an unspecified number of structures worth several thousand cedis, according to the Ghana National Fire Service.


    In a Facebook post, the Fire Service noted that while battling the inferno, one of its firefighters sustained a minor leg injury.


    The Ghana National Fire Service noted that it received the distress call at 12:36 hours and responded swiftly, with the first crew from Madina Fire Station arriving within 4 minutes at 12:40 hours to confront the fully developed fire.


    Also, four (4) fire engines from Legon, Abelempke, and GNFS Headquarters joined the operation to contain the blaze. According to the GNFS, thanks to the timely and coordinated efforts, the fire was confined at 13:42 hours and fully brought under control at 13:54 hours.


    Overhaul operations continued until 20:50 hours, with firefighters salvaging multiple adjoining structures and their contents. Investigation into the cause of the fire is currently underway, according to the Ghana National Fire Service.


    Last month, a fire outbreak occurred at Madina Ritz Junction. It was earlier reported that a 2-month-old baby died as a result of the fire incident. However, GNFS, in a Facebook post on July 17, said that after engaging with some victims, particularly women, they confirmed that no lives were lost.


    “A verification team was dispatched to the scene this morning, and after engaging affected residents, particularly the women, and a Unit Committee Member of the area, the Service can confirm that no lives were lost.”


    The Fire Service has thus entreated the public and media outlets to “disregard any reports suggesting otherwise, as they are inaccurate and misleading,” adding that it remains firmly committed to public safety, emergency responsiveness, and transparent communication.”


    The fire began after a gas explosion in one of the shops and quickly spread to adjacent containers, consuming everything in its path.


    The incident, which involved multiple wooden structures used for both residential and commercial purposes, was fully contained through the swift and professional response of firefighters from the Madina, Legon, and Abelemkpe Fire Stations.


    An investigation by the Service was launched to ascertain the cause of the fire, which destroyed several properties. It is yet to be reported the cause of the fire.


    In April this year, 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 were 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.

  • Three dead, 20 injured after deadly crash on Kumasi–Accra Highway

    Three dead, 20 injured after deadly crash on Kumasi–Accra Highway

    Three individuals have lost their lives, while twenty (20) others sustained injuries following an accident involving a Mitsubishi Outlander and a Benz Sprinter near the Rider Iron and Steel Company on the Kumasi–Accra Highway on Monday, May 11.

    The 20 individuals who sustained injuries have been transported to Hope Care Hospital, Asante Akim Central Municipal Hospital, and RIS Hospital.

    Meanwhile, provisional data from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) shows a nearly 10% decline in road crashes and fatalities in Ghana in March this year.


    Expatiating on the statistics, Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority, Abraham Amaliba, disclosed that crash cases fell to 1,195 in March this year from 1,218 recorded in March 2025.


    He attributed the decline to modest improvements in road safety measures. He added, “We cannot afford to wait until Easter or Christmas before intensifying road safety education. Statistics show that when we engage the public proactively, lives are spared”.


    Per the National Road Safety Authority’s provisional statistics in 2025, it 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 per cent 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 emphasised 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 road safety and 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 the facility’s statistics.


    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.


    Meanwhile, Ghana has recorded a surge in road crash fatalities this year. On Tuesday, April 28, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr Kwabena Koforobour Agyeman, and his teaching assistant, Mr Peter Amoadu-Asmah, were confirmed dead following a fatal accident at Third Ridge Junction on the Accra–Cape Coast Highway.

  • I could not attend to Hannan’s lawyers at EOCO because I was busy with other interrogations – Raymond Archer

    I could not attend to Hannan’s lawyers at EOCO because I was busy with other interrogations – Raymond Archer

    The controversy surrounding whether lawyers for the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company, Abdul Hana-Wahab Aludiba, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, were at the offices of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) during the period of their arrest and detention, has been put to bed by the Executive Director of EOCO, Mr. Raymond Archer.

    The Deputy Attorney-General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai speaking to media on Thursday, 7th May, 2026, had claimed that contrary to the allegation by the former Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, the lawyers for Hanan and his wife were not denied access to their clients during the period of their arrest and detention by EOCO, as they failed to show up at EOCO to attend to their client, but rather resorted to media interviews.

    However, in a sharp contradiction in a radio interview on an Accra-based radio station, Joy FM, on their popular programme, Newsfile, Mr. Raymond Archer admitted that the lawyers from Dame & Partners, solicitors for Hanan Abdul Wahab and his wife, were at the offices of EOCO from the time the couple was arrested.

    However, he (Raymond Archer) could not attend to them since he was engaged with interrogation of other suspects. Mr. Archer indicated that he personally undertakes all the interrogations and therefore, could not have time to attend to Hanan, stressing that he left the office at 1 am on the first day of Hanan’s detention.

    He claimed that if the lawyers had had time, he would have attended to them on the first day. It begs the question whether Raymond Archer wanted the lawyers to wait until after 1 am on the first day before finding time to attend to them.

    Narrating the sequence of events, Raymond Archer claimed that Hanan and his wife were taken into EOCO custody on Tuesday, 5th May, 2026. Immediately, he became sick after being fed a meat pie and a malt drink.

    Hanan was taken to the hospital, and according to Raymond Archer, he came back late from the hospital. When Hanan returned from the hospital, they (EOCO officers with Raymond) were in the middle of interrogation and could not attend to him.

    According to Raymond Archer, on that day, he finished work and left the office around 1 am. That is why he could not attend to Hanan. He further stated that if the lawyers of Hanan had been around by the time he finished work, he would have attended to them.

    On the second day too, according to the EOCO Executive Director, Hanan’s lawyers came to EOCO and asked to see him because he is the one who personally undertakes all interrogations. When the lawyers came, again he was engaged in a number of interrogations – the Kofi Jumah, PDS and COCOBOD cases.

    The lawyers from Dame & Partners came and met the PDS crew. He could not attend to them because he, Raymond had to attend to Minkah Premo first. He (Raymond Archer) therefore wondered whether the lawyers from Dame & Partners wanted him to jump the process for Minkah Premo.

    The lawyers left later in the day after waiting until about 5 pm. When he finished with Minkah Premo, he asked to see the lawyers. He was told they had left. He asked to call them back. When the lawyers were not coming back, he granted Hanan and wife bail around 7 pm.

    The following ensued in the interview between the host of the programme, Samson Ladi Anyeni and Mr. Raymond Archer.

    Samson: On Tuesday, the (Hanan and wife) were discharged by the court, and you arrested them on the court premises. The lawyers followed them to EOCO. When they followed them to EOCO, they were not given access. What you are saying is that they had asked to see you because they had been asked to see you, but they could not see you because you were busy doing multiple things. As you stated, Hanan was served some malt drink and a meat pie. He complains and starts vomiting. You took him to the hospital, and he returned in the evening. Is that correct?

    Raymond: When a suspect says he is sick, there is nothing I can do. I am not a doctor.

    Samson: What time did Hanan return to EOCO from the hospital?

    A: I have to check. Everything is logged. When you are a lawyer and you are waiting for your client, you do not know how many other lawyers are also waiting? If they (the lawyers for Hanan) had waited until I close, they would have seen them.

    Samson: The lawyers placed a number of phone calls to you, according to them. Is that correct?

    Raymond: I have not seen their calls.

    Samson: I have seen a call log that shows that they called you. That shows that there were at least 2 calls one at 13.04 pm and another at 18.02 pm.

    Raymond: So that is the denial you are talking about? I do not know who is calling.

    Samson: I suspect you had Godfred Dame’s phone number.

    Raymond: Now you are asking whether I had saved his phone number.

    Samson: So on Wednesday, the following day, they came again and they even opted to use the normal visiting hours open to the public to see their client. They were denied that one too.

    Raymond: So, that is what I am telling you. We were busy with Mr. Minkah Premo and I do not know whether they expected us to take them over and above Mr. Minkah Premo.

    Samson: So, the question that comes up is, if you could release a client at a time that his lawyers were unavailable on the second day, how could you not release him on the first day?

    Raymond: If you want to release a person, it is not as if you release him on the telephone…

    Samson: This is Hanan who could not be released on the first day because he was sick, how could you not release his wife who was not sick?

    Raymond: You see now what they are doing? Are they abandoning the story about Hanan and focusing on his wife?

    Samson: No, I am the one asking questions about Hanan’s wife because she was in custody with him…

    Samson: These are lawyers who say they were at your office for total of 30 hours, and you still say they were not available?

    Raymond: Does the 30 hours include the time Hanan was at the hospital?

    Samson: You have not answered my question which is that they were already on bail, you could have let them go on bail on the old bail terms?

    Raymond: Samson, they were under arrest. We could have held them for 48 hours. We let them go before that time. What is the fuss about that? You yourself said that the first case was withdrawn, we rearrested them. We could have held them for 48 hours. We were rather magnanimous in staying until late in the night and ensuring that these people would go home. The only problem I have is that when they came, they wanted everything to stop and for everybody to listen to Hanan because there is a red carpet that should be rolled for the former Attorney-general. That kind of mindset I will not tolerate.

  • NPP’s polling station elections in Bunkpurugu halted by Court until 10 days

    NPP’s polling station elections in Bunkpurugu halted by Court until 10 days

    The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP)
    polling station elections in the Bunkpurugu Constituency slated for Monday, May 10 and 15 May has been halted until 10 days.

    The High Court in Bunkpurugu issued the ruling on Friday, May 8, after Konlan Yenuyiab and 16 others filed for an injunction against the NPP and another respondent.

    According to the defendants, there appeared to be breaches of the party’s internal rules and possible violations of natural justice.

    After reviewing the affidavit evidence and hearing arguments from counsel for the applicants, Solomon Biitian Damtar, Presiding Judge Justice Samuel Bright Acquah granted the injunction.

    The court concluded that moving forward with the elections could cause irreparable harm and nullify any future ruling.


    The polling station executive elections are a key part of the NPP’s internal electoral timetable, meant to reorganize the party’s grassroots base and improve its operational efficiency.

    This year’s nomination was opened across the country, on April 20 and closed on April 24.


    The New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) polling station elections in the Bunkpurugu Constituency slated for Monday, May 10 and 15 May has been halted until 10 days.

    The High Court in Bunkpurugu issued the ruling on Friday, May 8, after Konlan Yenuyiab and 16 others filed for an injunction against the NPP and another respondent.

    According to the defendants, there appeared to be breaches of the party’s internal rules and possible violations of natural justice.

    After reviewing the affidavit evidence and hearing arguments from counsel for the applicants, Solomon Biitian Damtar, Presiding Judge Justice Samuel Bright Acquah granted the injunction.

    The court concluded that moving forward with the elections could cause irreparable harm and nullify any future ruling.

    The polling station executive elections are a key part of the NPP’s internal electoral timetable, meant to reorganize the party’s grassroots base and improve its operational efficiency.

    This year’s nomination was opened across the country on April 20 and closed on April 24.

    Last year, Wednesday, December 3, 2025, the NPP amended its internal rules in an effort to address the factors that led to the party’s defeat in the 2024 General Elections.

    Speaking at the launch of the amendment, General Secretary Justin Kodua Frimpong urged party members to adhere to the changes, noting that they form part of the party’s strategy to strengthen internal structures and prepare for the upcoming 2028 elections.

    He added, “Many of the issues that culminated in our loss in the 2024 election have been addressed in this amendment.”

    As part of the changes, the NPP has granted former executives at both district and national levels voting rights, allowing them to participate in the party’s elections.

    “We all know that one of the reasons why we did not get the needed vote to win the election was voter apathy, and it also stemmed from the fact that there were several former party executives who felt that they were neglected. But in our current constitution, we have expanded our electoral college to make room for our former executives at the district level and the national level to have a voting right. All of these are to address the issue of apathy in our party,” the General Secretary added.

    He mentioned the party’s inability to communicate effectively as one of the reasons the NPP lost the 2024 elections.

    “Another reason why we lost is that many people criticised our party’s communication. We had done so much, but we were not communicating them, and there was no coordination among the various communication directors,” he added.

    Since the beginning of this year, the party has undertaken several reforms to position itself strongly against its main opponent, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), and to recapture power.Among these reforms is the abolition of the electoral college in favour of a broader base of delegates.

    The party has also added 19 new delegate categories and granted amnesty to suspended members. The NPP has announced that suspended members have been reinstated, and all charges against those facing the disciplinary committee have been dropped.

    This decision was taken by the National Council during an emergency meeting held on July 25. In a statement dated August 16 and signed by the Acting National Chairman of the Party, Mr. Danquah Smith Buttey, members were informed that, as part of measures to ensure unity and cooperation, all banned members had been given the right to return.

    “This measure reflects the Party’s unwavering commitment to fostering internal cohesion, strengthening solidarity, and preparing collectively for the political tasks ahead. I write to inform you that the National Council, at its Emergency Meeting held on Friday, July 25, 2025, resolved, in the interest of unity and reconciliation, to grant a General Amnesty to all Party members who have been suspended or whose disciplinary cases are currently pending before the appropriate disciplinary bodies,” parts of the statement read.

    The party further urged all relevant bodies, including Regional and Constituency Executive Committees, to reinstate suspended members in accordance with laid-down rules and guiding principles. “We hereby serve notice that this directive lifts all such suspensions and nullifies any ongoing proceedings against affected members,” the statement added.


  • GHS enhances border health checks in response to Hantavirus on Cape Verde vessel

    GHS enhances border health checks in response to Hantavirus on Cape Verde vessel

    The Ghana Health Service (GHS) says it has put measures in place to prevent Hantavirus from entering the country and to ensure a swift response if any cases occur.

    The assurance follows reports of Hantavirus infections on a cruise ship currently docked in Cape Verde. The cruise ship is reported to have carried crew members mainly from the Philippines, with passengers from the United States, Europe, South America, Australia, and parts of Asia.

    In a press statement issued by the GHS noted that eight suspected cases, five confirmed infections, and three deaths have been recorded on the vessel as of May 7.

    Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have urged calm worldwide, stating that the risk assessment remains low.

    Although the virus is yet to be detected in Ghana , the GHS has noted that its Port Health Division and other public health structures have been activated to reduce the risk of importation as part of its precautionary measures.

    Enhanced surveillance has been deployed at all ports of entry, including airports and seaports. Health facilities nationwide on the other hand, have been directed by the Service to intensify monitoring and reporting of unusual respiratory illnesses.

    The public have also been advised to maintain proper hygiene, keep their surroundings clean, store food safely, dispose of waste properly, and avoid contact with rodents and their droppings.

    In a separate development, the government’s flagship Free Primary Health Care Programme was launched on 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.

  • Seven suspects arrested over BECE malpractice granted bail

    Seven suspects arrested over BECE malpractice granted bail

    Seven individuals arrested over alleged examination malpractice during the ongoing Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) at the Kyebi Amanfrom Basic School examination centre in the Abuakwa South Municipality of the Eastern Region have been granted bail.


    The individuals include two headteachers, two teachers, a senior examination supervisor, and invigilators. The senior examination supervisor and the invigilators were allegedly caught by officials of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), who stormed the examination centre unannounced.


    They were caught using their mobile phones to photograph examination question papers, which were subsequently sent to the headteachers. The questions were then sent to teachers to solve for the candidates in the examination hall through the supervisor and invigilators.


    The 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination began on Monday, May 4, and will come to a close on Monday, May 11, with two papers scheduled daily at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. A total of 619,985 candidates nationwide are expected to sit for the examination.


    At the regional level, a total of 58,412 candidates are expected to sit the exams in the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions. The Bono Region recorded the highest number with 24,983 candidates, followed by Bono East with 20,865, and Ahafo with 12,564.


    Beyond these three regions, the Northern Region has 37,111 candidates, while the Western Region registered 45,116 candidates. Altogether, the Ghana Education Service confirmed a national total of 620,141 candidates, comprising 304,349 boys and 315,792 girls.


    Before the exams, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) issued a stern warning to candidates and stakeholders ahead of the 2026 BECE, declaring that any form of malpractice will attract severe consequences.


    According to WAEC, protecting the credibility of the examination remains the Council’s top priority.


    “Examination malpractice not only undermines academic integrity but also constitutes a direct violation of WAEC’s legal and regulatory framework,” Bono, Ahafo, and Bono East Regional Controller of WAEC, Daniel Nii Dodoo, told GBC News in an interview.


    Addressing longstanding concerns about irregularities in the former Brong Ahafo enclave, Mr Dodoo declared an end to the era of “show and pour,” where candidates relied on external assistance during examinations.

    “We have moved away from the old days when someone could assist you with answers. This time, it will be your competence on the paper, not anybody else’s,” he said.


    He appealed directly to teachers and parents to uphold ethical standards, warning that paying money to facilitate cheating is unacceptable.

    WAEC confirmed that candidates found guilty of malpractice risk having their results cancelled, with serious offences potentially leading to legal action.


    As the examination begins, WAEC’s message is clear: success in the 2026 BECE must be earned through honesty, discipline, and individual merit.


    The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that, in the coming days, the BECE will be restricted to learners who have progressed to Junior High School (JHS) Form 3.


    Addressing the media on Thursday, April 2, he said the government’s intention is to overhaul the country’s basic education system and improve 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 are students who leap early—not yet in JHS 3 but who attempt to write BECE. That is unacceptable per the GES and WAEC guidelines.”


    According to him, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) frown upon allowing non–JHS 3 learners 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 candidates 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 to verify their school choices, biodata, and other relevant information ahead of final placement.

    The deadline for the fact-checking exercise closed on Monday, September 8. Of this figure, 248,038 are females (51.4%), while 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.

  • Charles Amissah: Punishing doctors won’t solve healthcare gaps – GMA

    Charles Amissah: Punishing doctors won’t solve healthcare gaps – GMA

    The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has stated that sanctioning medical professionals implicated in the death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah of Promasidor Ghana Limited will not address the underlying gaps within Ghana’s healthcare system.


    On Tuesday, May 6, the committee appointed by the government to probe the circumstances leading to the death of Charles Amissah, who lost his life after he was knocked down by a speeding vehicle near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Overpass in Accra on February 6, presented its findings.


    According to the report, the deceased died from medical neglect and denial of emergency care after being turned away by three major hospitals in Accra, including Korle-Bu and Ridge Hospital.


    The committee has suggested Dr Anne-Marie Kudowor of the Police Hospital, Dr Nina Naomi Eyram Adotevi of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, and Dr Ida Druant, as well as Dr (Med) Genevieve Adjar of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, alongside other nursing and regulatory staff, be suspended for playing a role in Charles Amissah’s death.


    But speaking to the media on Thursday, May 7, General Secretary of the GMA, Richard Selormey, noted that threats, cyberbullying, and intimidation against the affected medical professionals are not what is needed for a lasting solution.

    According to him, the focus should instead be on strengthening emergency care infrastructure, improving coordination in referral systems, and ensuring adequate resources and staffing in health facilities to prevent similar incidents in the future.

    “We should train EMTs to be able to do certain things so that the ambulance becomes an extension of emergency care until patients can secure formal treatment in a hospital setting. Have we been able to do the same? No.


    “Multiple things were supposed to have been done, but the focus was rather on punishment and finding scapegoats. Eventually, we came back to the same unfortunate incidents because we refused to stop and solve the structural issues,” he said.


    Former Minister of Health, Bernard Okoe Boye, has indicated that the “no bed syndrome” in Ghana’s healthcare system goes beyond a mere shortage of hospital beds.


    Speaking to the media, he explained that several factors, such as the absence of certain medical specialties, limited equipment, and broader infrastructural gaps within the health system, contribute to the situation.


    He noted, “In other cases, the ‘no bed’ situation is not about physical space but about the absence of the required specialty or equipment.”
    On February 6, Charles Amissah was knocked down in a hit‑and‑run incident near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Overpass in Accra.


    Addressing the press in a conference on Wednesday, May 5, Chairman of the committee, Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, revealed that following findings from his autopsy, it can be confirmed that Mr Amissah could have survived if he had received timely medical attention.


    “And the pathology confirms a slow death from medical neglect, and was not from the instant trauma. What it means is that if at any of these facilities, there had been medical intervention, Charles Amissah could have survived,” he said.


    He explained that the cause of death was excessive blood loss resulting from a severe injury to the upper arm.


    “Charles Amissah died of exsanguination, excessive loss of blood, due to an upper right arm bone and soft tissue injury, causing damage to the adductor,” he added.


    He was first attended to by personnel from the National Ambulance Service, but later struggled to access emergency care. Reports indicate that he was turned away by several health facilities, including the Police Hospital, Ridge Hospital, and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, reportedly due to a lack of available beds.


    He died while still being transported for care, triggering widespread public outrage and renewed scrutiny of the country’s emergency response system.


    The incident led to the formation of a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death, particularly concerns about delays in treatment and gaps in emergency care.


    The findings have intensified calls for reforms in Ghana’s emergency healthcare system, particularly in ensuring timely access to critical care for accident victims.


    Charles Amissah was alive after the accident but was transferred between several hospitals in Accra without receiving proper emergency care.

    He was moved from the Police Hospital to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, then to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and a referral to the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) was considered but never completed. He died after about 118 minutes of continuous transfers.


    About two months ago, government announced that it was set to establish a National Command Centre as part of efforts to significantly reduce emergency response time and improve patient outcomes across Ghana’s healthcare system.


    Board Chairman of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Prof. Titus Beyuo, said the proposed centre will enable real-time coordination of emergency cases, ensuring patients are directed to hospitals with available beds instead of overcrowded facilities.


    He disclosed the plan amid growing concerns about congestion at major referral hospitals, particularly Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which continues to receive a high volume of emergency cases.


    Speaking on the Joy Super Morning Show on Tuesday, March 24, Prof. Beyuo explained that the command centre forms part of a broader emergency patient management system being developed to streamline care delivery nationwide.


    “We need the ambulance service to relocate their call centre to this national command centre. We need to get physicians and other people at the command centre who will do an online sorting of patients and redirect them,” he explained.


    The initiative is expected to transform how the National Ambulance Service operates, as ambulance teams will no longer send patients automatically to facilities like Korle Bu Teaching Hospital or Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital without confirming bed availability.

  • No bed syndrome goes beyond bed availability – Okoe Boye

    No bed syndrome goes beyond bed availability – Okoe Boye

    Former Minister of Health, Bernard Okoe Boye, has indicated that the “no bed syndrome” in Ghana’s healthcare system goes beyond a mere shortage of hospital beds.

    Speaking to the media, he explained that several factors, such as the absence of certain medical specialties, limited equipment, and broader infrastructural gaps within the health system, contribute to the situation. 

    He noted, “In other cases, the ‘no bed’ situation is not about physical space but about the absence of the required specialty or equipment.” 


    His comments come in the wake of findings by a three-member committee set up to investigate the death of 29-year-old engineer Charles Amissah of Promasidor Ghana Limited, who is reported to have died from medical neglect rather than the injuries he sustained in a road accident. 

    On February 6, Charles Amissah was knocked down in a hit‑and‑run incident near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Overpass in Accra.

    Addressing the press in a conference on Wednesday, May 5, Chairman of the committee, Prof. Agyeman Badu Akosa, revealed that following findings from his autopsy, it can be confirmed that Mr Amissah could have survived if he had received timely medical attention.

    “And the pathology confirms a slow death from medical neglect, and was not from the instant trauma. What it means is that if at any of these facilities, there had been medical intervention, Charles Amissah could have survived,” he said.

    He explained that the cause of death was excessive blood loss resulting from a severe injury to the upper arm.

    “Charles Amissah died of exsanguination, excessive loss of blood, due to an upper right arm bone and soft tissue injury, causing damage to the adductor,” he added.

    He was first attended to by personnel from the National Ambulance Service, but later struggled to access emergency care. Reports indicate that he was turned away by several health facilities, including the Police Hospital, Ridge Hospital and the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, reportedly due to a lack of available beds.

    He died while still being transported for care, triggering widespread public outrage and renewed scrutiny of the country’s emergency response system.

    The incident led to the formation of a committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding his death, particularly concerns about delays in treatment and gaps in emergency care.

    The findings have intensified calls for reforms in Ghana’s emergency healthcare system, particularly in ensuring timely access to critical care for accident victims.

    Charles Amissah was alive after the accident but was transferred between several hospitals in Accra without receiving proper emergency care. He was moved from the Police Hospital to the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, then to Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, and a referral to the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) was considered but never completed. He died after about 118 minutes of continuous transfers.

    About two months ago, government announced that it was set to establish a National Command Centre as part of efforts to significantly reduce emergency response time and improve patient outcomes across Ghana’s healthcare system.

    Board Chairman of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Prof. Titus Beyuo, said the proposed centre will enable real-time coordination of emergency cases, ensuring patients are directed to hospitals with available beds instead of overcrowded facilities.

    He disclosed the plan amid growing concerns about congestion at major referral hospitals, particularly Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which continues to receive a high volume of emergency cases.

    Speaking on the Joy Super Morning Show on Tuesday, March 24, Prof. Beyuo explained that the command centre forms part of a broader emergency patient management system being developed to streamline care delivery nationwide.

    “We need the ambulance service to relocate their call centre to this national command centre. We need to get physicians and other people at the command centre who will do an online sorting of patients and redirect them,” he explained.

    The initiative is expected to transform how the National Ambulance Service operates, as ambulance teams will no longer send patients automatically to facilities like Korle Bu Teaching Hospital or Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital without confirming bed availability.

  • Six suspects in custody for posing as National Security operatives

    Six suspects in custody for posing as National Security operatives

    Six men allegedly posing as national security operatives and invading S.I Jun Manufacturing Company Limited at Agona Akwakwa near Mankrong Nkwanta in the Central Region have been arrested by the police.

    The suspects are Agyemang Benjamin, 32; Mahama Iddrisu Dawuda Seidu, 48; Ofori Isaac, 35; Adom Bills, 32; Hayford Boafo, 47; and Ato Mchenry, 48.

    A police statement issued on Thursday, May 7, stated that the suspects were arrested after police received a tip-off that they had invaded a facility in a Toyota Land Cruiser with registration number GW 8887-V.

    “According to the report, three of the suspects were dressed in Ghana Immigration Service camouflage uniforms, one in a military uniform, and the remaining two in mufti. The suspects claimed to be National Security Operatives and were allegedly assaulting and harassing some Chinese Nationals at the company’s premises,” the statement said.

    Earlier this year, four individuals posing as officials of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and extorting money from miners were arrested by the police.


    The quartet reportedly approached miners at various mining sites in the Atwima Nwabiagya South Municipality of the Ashanti Region, demanding money under the pretext of enforcing anti-galamsey laws.


    According to reports, the suspects used a private pump-action gun and a vehicle reportedly belonging to the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairman for the Atwima Kwanwoma Constituency, Simon Alolga, to carry out their operations. Impersonating security operatives remains a serious criminal offence in Ghana.


    In 2025, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources revealed plans to introduce an identification system to address concerns of impersonation affecting the work of the task force combatting illegal mining activities (galamsey) in the country.


    Engaging the media, Director of Communications at the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Mawusi Mawuenyaefia, stated that this will aid in distinguishing between legitimate individuals and those impersonating them.


    “As part of our efforts to clamp down on illegal mining, we are working closely with local communities and have engaged regional ministers. We will soon introduce an identification system to clearly distinguish legitimate taskforce members,” she said.


    The recent decision comes after the Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) reported persistent intimidation and extortion by alleged task force.


    Speaking to the media on Monday, June 30, the Ashanti Regional Secretary of the Association, Michael Adu-Gyamfi, said these individuals act in the guise of working with the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operation Secretariat.


    “I have five zones under my jurisdiction. Each zone is a full district, and on some days, you can have three or four different teams showing up at a site, all claiming to be there for inspections”.


    “Some say they’re from the national level, others from the region or district. This unregulated situation has led to intimidation and extortion of our members,” he added.


    The government set up the National Anti-Galamsey Taskforce to tackle the menace of illegal mining. Efforts by the task force are aimed at regulating the mining industry to ensure operations are both responsible and environmentally sustainable.


    The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has revealed that over 500 arrests have been made from January to May this year in response to efforts to combat illegal mining, locally known as galamsey.
    He attributed the achievement to the government’s renewed efforts.


    According to him, the previous government faced challenges due to its inability to convict the suspects.
    “From 2022 to 2024, out of 845 arrests we made, we couldn’t even prosecute. Only 35 were prosecuted, and that is 4%, and that is really the challenge we had to face,” he noted.


    The government recently announced that it has reclaimed eight out of nine forest reserves that are known as no-go zones and controlled by illegal miners (galamseyers).


    Speaking at the Global Mining Summit on Monday, June 2, President Mahama noted that the recent development marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s ongoing efforts to rehabilitate mined lands and foster sustainable mining practices.


    “Let me be clear at this juncture: artisanal miners are not enemies of the state. If properly trained and supported, they can be allies in our development. Working together with the small-scale mining sector, we will reclaim our forest reserves and restore the purity of our water bodies,” the President said.


    According to President John Dramani Mahama, the government plans to reclaim 10,000 hectares of mined-out lands from illegal mining activities.


    The Ghana Police Service, in recent times, has embarked on several operations to crack down on illegal mining activities.
    Its special Anti-Galamsey Taskforce seized more than 100 excavators, along with weapons, chanfang machines, bulldozers, and other illegal mining equipment.


    The police’s efforts have also resulted in the arrest of numerous individuals who are undergoing legal proceedings.


    Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government, in the coming days, will approve the importation of excavators except through a valid permit.


    “We will track excavators to know whether they are being used for illegal mining. Ghana currently has more excavators than the rest of Africa combined. The new permitting regime will not allow you to import any excavator unless you have a valid permit to do so,” President Mahama stated.


    A few months ago, the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, announced the rollout of a system to monitor excavator imports and usage, involving port tagging and digital tracking in partnership with several state agencies.


    The third most valuable item imported into this country is excavators, and it is worth GHC6.2 billion, according to the sector minister.


    The joint Military-Forestry Commission task force that conducted targeted operations in high-risk districts across the Ashanti, Western, and Western North Regions led to the seizure of 100 excavators, three bulldozers, and four vehicles.


    Excavator owners and operators who have failed to register their machines with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) risk losing them to the state, as the government intensifies efforts to clamp down on illegal mining activities.


    The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the DVLA, Julius Neequaye Kotey, issued the directive in Accra, warning that effective June 1, any excavator not registered with the DVLA will be confiscated.


    Speaking at a press briefing, Mr. Kotey announced that the Ghana Police Service and the DVLA’s operational team will begin nationwide enforcement after the deadline, arresting and impounding excavators being used at mining sites or for commercial purposes without proper documentation.


    “This exercise will help identify every excavator that enters the country and trace how it is being used. The goal is to ensure we can monitor and hold people accountable,” Mr. Kotey said.


    The directive falls in line with Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act, 2004 (Act 683), which mandates the registration of all motor vehicles and trailers, including farm and heavy-duty equipment.

    Despite the law, the DVLA has found many unregistered excavators operating in mining areas, some of which have been used in illegal activities.


    Mr. Kotey emphasized that the DVLA, with its 34 offices nationwide, has the capacity to register all excavators and farm machinery within the two-week period and is ready to strictly enforce the directive.


    He stressed the environmental toll caused by unregulated excavator use in illegal mining, saying, “Excavators in the hands of illegal miners have worsened the destruction of our environment. This is why we must act.”


    To further control the situation, the DVLA, in collaboration with key agencies like the Minerals Commission, National Security, the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), and the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), has started tagging all newly imported excavators.


    In addition to tagging new imports, the Minerals Commission has been tasked to lead a team that will tag all excavators already in the country. Legal small-scale mining sites have also been geo-fenced, with their site coordinates integrated into the Ghana Mine Repository and Tracking software for better oversight.

  • Hanan Abdul-Wahab, wife were never denied access to legal counsel – Deputy A-G clarifies

    Hanan Abdul-Wahab, wife were never denied access to legal counsel – Deputy A-G clarifies

    The office of the Attorney-General (A-G), Justice Srem Sai, has broken its silence on recent remarks made by former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame regarding the ongoing trial of the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food Buffer Stock Company, Abdul-Wahab Hanan, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni.

    The former Attorney-General (A-G), Godfred Yeboah Dame, together with his team, was denied access to their clients, Abdul-Wahab Hanan, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, more than 24 hours after officials of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) re-arrested them.

    Godfred Yeboah Dame said while addressing the media, “They have been denied access to counsel. Junior colleagues of mine who are at EOCO say that as of about 11 o’clock, they have not been given access to them. They have not been allowed to see their clients.”

    But Justice Srem Sai has described the allegations as baseless and misleading, insisting that his outfit has so far undergone legal process in the ongoing trial. Meanwhile, The government and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO)have been accused of abusing state power and engaging in what the party describes as political intimidation.


    A statement issued on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, and signed by NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, called the re-arrest of the couple a deliberate attempt to infringe on their rights.


    The statement added, “Consistent with EOCO’s perennial disrespect for constitutionally guaranteed rights and due process, lawyers of Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife have been denied access to their clients after more than 24 hours of waiting”.


    According to the party, “They therefore pose no risk that justifies their detention overnight”, adding that the continued detention amounts to an abuse of power and a violation of their fundamental human rights.
    The opposition has demanded the immediate release of Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife, emphasising that “the NDC government must remember that state institutions are temporary custodians of power, not owners of it”.


    On April 29, the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra granted the Office of the Attorney-General (A-G) a final opportunity to justify its decision to involve a lawyer from the EOCO in the ongoing trial of former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and four others.


    This development comes after Justice Francis Achibonga, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, on Wednesday, April 29, expunged the name of the EOCO lawyer, Radiatu Abdulai, from the ongoing trial.


    The judge’s ruling was triggered by counsel for the first accused, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who questioned Radiatu Abdulai’s representation of the Republic. Mr Dame noted that “there has been no due authorisation of the lawyer to prosecute, adding that the Law Officers Act of 1974 (NRCD 279) and the Legal Services Act of 1993 regulated the performance of functions of the Office of the Attorney-General”.


    According to a statement in circulation, Godfred Yeboah Dame who was the former deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice justified that “Per the Law Officers Act, only public officers mandated by an executive instrument and certified to be on a rank equivalent to one of the posts in the Office of the Attorney-General, can appear in court with the Attorney-General or be mandated to prosecute or perform the functions of the A-G”.


    In 2025, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited and his wife were granted bail totaling GHS150 million by the High Court in Accra.


    Hanan had a share of GHS100 million in the bail and was to provide six sureties, four of whom must prove ownership of landed property.
    His wife, on the other hand, was granted bail in the sum of GHS50 million with four sureties, three of whom must own property within the jurisdiction of the court.


    The duo has pleaded not guilty in the National Food and Buffer Stock Company case. They stand accused of 24 counts, including stealing, defrauding by false pretences, willful misuse of public funds, money laundering, and exploiting public office for personal benefit.

    The court has directed that the sureties submit copies of their Ghana Cards. The court also ordered that the names of the accused persons be added to a stop-list at all entry and exit points in the country, including airports, seaports, and border crossings.

    Until the final determination of the case, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and Faiza Seidu Wuni are required to report to the investigator every Wednesday.


    Abdul-Wahab is standing trial over allegations of large-scale financial misconduct during his time in office. He was arrested on June 25, along with his wife. EOCO granted a GHS30 million bail to his wife, while her husband remained in custody pending the fulfillment of his GHS60 million bail condition.


    The arrest, which took place simultaneously in Accra and Tamale, also led to the detention of a third, unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation.


    On Tuesday, July 8, the former NAFCO boss was released from the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after being detained for 14 days. Abdul-Wahab was released after meeting a GHS60 million bail condition backed by two guarantors.


    On June 25, Hanan and his spouse were taken into custody over suspected mismanagement of funds while he led the government agency. His wife was granted bail earlier, set at GHS30 million.


    Earlier reports indicated that Mr. Hanan had met the bail terms; however, he remained in the custody of EOCO, a situation that drew backlash from the opposition New Patriotic Party, which described the terms as harsh and unfair. A third suspect, an unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation, has also been detained.


    Meanwhile, a list of luxury assets belonging to Hanan Abdul-Wahab has been made public by the Attorney General (A-G) and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine.


    His assets include a five-bedroom house at Chain Homes valued at $1.625 million, a three-bedroom house at Cantonments purchased for $600,000, and multiple plots of land in the Airport Development Area valued at $750,000.


    Other properties include a 17-bedroom boutique hotel in Gumani, Tamale, acquired for $250,000; a four-bedroom bungalow at Dzorwulu, Accra, valued at over GHS4.14 million; and a 0.32-acre parcel of government land purchased for GHS307,200.

    The Attorney General disclosed during a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, October 22, as part of the Government Accountability Series. He added that the recent development was made possible through collaboration with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), after several properties and bank transactions were traced to Abdul-Wahab.


    But Abdul-Wahab has denied all allegations leveled against him by the Attorney General. In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 22, Mr. Aludiba noted that he has instructed his lawyers to follow up on the allegations.


    “I wish to state, respectfully, that these claims are untrue and do not reflect the facts of the matter. I have no involvement in the issues being referred to, and I find the comments deeply unfortunate.“I look forward to the opportunity to present my side and to have my day in court, where I am confident that the truth will be made clear,” the statement added.


  • Ghana urges AU to act on attacks against foreigners in South Africa

    Ghana urges AU to act on attacks against foreigners in South Africa

    Ghana, through the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on the African Union (AU) to intervene in the ongoing xenophobic attacks carried out by South African citizens against foreign nationals.

    The petition comes ahead of the upcoming Eighth Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the continental Body slated for 27 June 2026 in El Alamein, Egypt.

    In a letter dated May 6, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister pleaded with the Chairperson of the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa to treat the request with urgency to avoid further escalation of tensions and ensure the safety of foreign nationals living in South Africa.

    The attacks, as per the letter, violate the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and run contrary to the objectives of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA promotes free movement, reduces barriers, and fosters a common African market.

    In addition, the letter further urged the AU to conduct a thorough probe into the xenophobic violence in South Africa, while recommending appropriate permanent solutions.

    Parts of the letter read, “It is particularly troubling that manifestations of xenophobia, including violent attacks against fellow Africans, have persisted in recent years”.

    On Wednesday, April 6, a Ghanaian national, Emmanuel Asamoah, who was captured in a viral video being harassed by a group of individuals in a xenophobic attack in South Africa, was flown home by the Ghanaian government.

    The viral video showed several other foreign nationals being intimidated by some South African citizens for allegedly taking jobs meant for locals.

    Addressing the media, the Coordinating Director in charge of Political and Economic Affairs at the ministry, Harold Agyeman, disclosed that Emmanuel Asamoah has successfully made it to Ghana following the government’s intervention.

    “Government is very much conscious and strongly committed to protecting our nationals abroad. And so, under the instructions of the minister, Emmanuel Asamoah has been relocated to Ghana to ensure that he is in a safe space, he added.

    According to him, “We continue to rely on the assurances that the South African government has given that they would stop this activity by their nationals, which can be threatening to the relations with other African countries.”

    Last week, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quarshie, said no Ghanaian has lost his or her life in the ongoing xenophobic attacks. His remarks follow speculation that some Ghanaians may have been killed in ongoing attacks in parts of South Africa, after videos showing locals targeting foreigners went viral online around April 22-27.

    During an interview with Joy News PM Express Show with Evans Mensah on Wednesday, April 30, Mr Quarshie cited that according to official data presented to his outfit by South African authorities, no Ghanaian has lost their life.

    “So the current xenophobic actions that are going on, nobody has lost their lives. The statistics are there; they’ve given it to us,” he stated.

    He went on to further address a video which went viral, capturing a Ghanaian man who had been reportedly killed in East London. According to him, investigations conducted by his outfit showed that the man was attacked and fatally stabbed by armed robbers, stressing that his death was unrelated to a xenophobic violent attack.

    “In fact, there was a story going round about a Ghanaian who had lost his life in East London… We went there yesterday on the instructions of the Foreign Affairs Minister. We got to find out that the gentleman was stabbed to death by armed robbers, and it happened three weeks ago,” he said.

    He disclosed that the case came to the authorities’ attention only weeks later.

    “They just left his body there, and we only got to know after three weeks that the citizen had been stabbed to death,” he added.

    According to him, the Ghanian government has stepped in, calling for a thorough investigation into the fatal attack and halting an attempted mass burial until a full probe is completed.

    The envoy said the Ghanaian government has since intervened at the highest level. “The Foreign Affairs Minister has officially asked them to open an investigation. In fact, they wanted to mass-bury the gentleman, but the Minister again gave instructions that the gentleman should not be buried until a full investigation is completed,” he said.

    He stressed that authorities are seeking clarity and justice. “Until we know who killed him, why he was killed, and compensation given to his family,” he stated.

    Mr Quarshie confirmed that the victim’s family in Ghana has been identified and contacted. “We’ve spoken to them. It has been a difficult one for them, because this is the breadwinner in the family,” he said.

    Describing the circumstances of the killing, he added, “When you hear the story as to how they killed him, it’s really, really pathetic.”

    Despite the incident, he maintained that it should not be conflated with xenophobic violence.

    “But I’m sure that the era of Ghanaians or any other person being killed, and South African authorities just brushing it aside… that era is over,” he said while pledging the government’s commitment to Ghana’s diplomatic mission.

    “We would ensure there’s accountability. Will account for every single individual, be it Ghanaian, be it any African person, Until justice is done, we will not stop,” he added.

    When the attacks started in SA and why ?

    News of the xenophobic attacks surfaced after videos of nationals were captured attacking foreign nationals showing harassment and intimidation of foreign nationals, including Ghanaians over economic strain including the over 40% unemployment, housing ptrssures, misinformation including reports of foreign nationals taking over SA markets while groups like Operation Dudula and “Put South Africa First” campaigns openly demand foreigners leave, documented or not.

    Is this the first time xenophobic attacks are happening in SA?

    The recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners by South African nationals is not the first. SA has a history of violent xenophobic attacks dating as far back as 1998.

    In 1998, three foreign nationals were killed in Johannesburg. Two years later, seven more were killed in Cape Town.

    After a long quiet in the attacks, the worst in SA’s history happened in 2008 when sixty‑two (62) people lost their lives, 1,700 were injured, and about 100,000 were displaced nationwide cementing xenophobia as a recurring national crisis.

    In 2015, violence flared again after inflammatory remarks by the Zulu King. The unrest spread across the country, forcing the government to deploy the military to restore order.

    By 2019, riots erupted in Durban and Johannesburg, with Nigerian‑owned businesses being specifically targeted.

    More recently, between 2022 and 2025, smaller but persistent flare‑ups were linked to vigilante movements such as Operation Dudula. These included blocking foreigners from accessing health facilities in Gauteng and KwaZulu‑Natal, reflecting how xenophobia had become embedded in everyday life.

  • Detention of Ex NAFCO boss, Hanan Abdul-Wahab, wife unlawful – NPP fires at EOCO

    Detention of Ex NAFCO boss, Hanan Abdul-Wahab, wife unlawful – NPP fires at EOCO

    The re-arrest of businessman Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife shortly after the Attorney-General (A-G) withdrew charges against them has received a backlash from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

    The government and the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO)have been accused of abusing state power and engaging in what the party describes as political intimidation.

    A statement issued on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, and signed by NPP National Organiser Henry Nana Boakye, called the re-arrest of the couple a deliberate attempt to infringe on their rights.

    The statement added, “Consistent with EOCO’s perennial disrespect for constitutionally guaranteed rights and due process, lawyers of Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife have been denied access to their clients after more than 24 hours of waiting”.

    According to the party, “They therefore pose no risk that justifies their detention overnight”, adding that the continued detention amounts to an abuse of power and a violation of their fundamental human rights.

    The opposition has demanded the immediate release of Hanan Abdul-Wahab and his wife, emphasising that, “the NDC government must remember that state institutions are temporary custodians of power, not owners of it”.

    On April 29, the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra granted the Office of the Attorney-General (A-G) a final opportunity to justify its decision to involve a lawyer from the EOCO in the ongoing trial of former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and four others.


    This development comes after Justice Francis Achibonga, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, on Wednesday, April 29, expunged the name of the EOCO lawyer, Radiatu Abdulai, from the ongoing trial.


    The judge’s ruling was triggered by counsel for the first accused, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who questioned Radiatu Abdulai’s representation of the Republic. Mr Dame noted that “there has been no due authorisation of the lawyer to prosecute, adding that the Law Officers Act of 1974 (NRCD 279) and the Legal Services Act of 1993 regulated the performance of functions of the Office of the Attorney-General”.


    According to a statement in circulation, Godfred Yeboah Dame who was the former deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice justified that “Per the Law Officers Act, only public officers mandated by an executive instrument and certified to be on a rank equivalent to one of the posts in the Office of the Attorney-General, can appear in court with the Attorney-General or be mandated to prosecute or perform the functions of the A-G”.


    In 2025, the former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited and his wife were granted bail totaling GHS150 million by the High Court in Accra.

    Hanan had a share of GHS100 million in the bail and was to provide six sureties, four of whom must prove ownership of landed property.


    His wife, on the other hand, was granted bail in the sum of GHS50 million with four sureties, three of whom must own property within the jurisdiction of the court.


    The duo have pleaded not guilty in the National Food and Buffer Stock Company case. They stand accused of 24 counts, including stealing, defrauding by false pretences, willful misuse of public funds, money laundering, and exploiting public office for personal benefit. The court has directed that the sureties submit copies of their Ghana Cards.


    The court also ordered that the names of the accused persons be added to a stop-list at all entry and exit points in the country, including airports, seaports, and border crossings. Until the final determination of the case, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and Faiza Seidu Wuni are required to report to the investigator every Wednesday.


    Abdul-Wahab is standing trial over allegations of large-scale financial misconduct during his time in office. He was arrested on June 25, along with his wife. EOCO granted a GHS30 million bail to his wife, while her husband remained in custody pending the fulfillment of his GHS60 million bail condition.


    The arrest, which took place simultaneously in Accra and Tamale, also led to the detention of a third, unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation.


    On Tuesday, July 8, the former NAFCO boss was released from the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after being detained for 14 days. Abdul-Wahab was released after meeting a GHS60 million bail condition backed by two guarantors.


    On June 25, Hanan and his spouse were taken into custody over suspected mismanagement of funds while he led the government agency. His wife was granted bail earlier, set at GHS30 million.


    Earlier reports indicated that Mr. Hanan had met the bail terms; however, he remained in the custody of EOCO, a situation that drew backlash from the opposition New Patriotic Party, which described the terms as harsh and unfair. A third suspect, an unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation, has also been detained.


    Meanwhile, a list of luxury assets belonging to Hanan Abdul-Wahab has been made public by the Attorney General (A-G) and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine.

    His assets include a five-bedroom house at Chain Homes valued at $1.625 million, a three-bedroom house at Cantonments purchased for $600,000, and multiple plots of land in the Airport Development Area valued at $750,000.

    Other properties include a 17-bedroom boutique hotel in Gumani, Tamale, acquired for $250,000; a four-bedroom bungalow at Dzorwulu, Accra, valued at over GHS4.14 million; and a 0.32-acre parcel of government land purchased for GHS307,200.


    The Attorney General disclosed during a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, October 22, as part of the Government Accountability Series. He added that the recent development was made possible through collaboration with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), after several properties and bank transactions were traced to Abdul-Wahab.


    But Abdul-Wahab has denied all allegations leveled against him by the Attorney General. In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 22, Mr. Aludiba noted that he has instructed his lawyers to follow up on the allegations.

    “I wish to state, respectfully, that these claims are untrue and do not reflect the facts of the matter. I have no involvement in the issues being referred to, and I find the comments deeply unfortunate.“I look forward to the opportunity to present my side and to have my day in court, where I am confident that the truth will be made clear,” the statement added.


    Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has released a fifty-page report covering investigations and prosecutions carried out between January 1 and July 31 this year.The OSP’s Seventh Half-Yearly Report is pursuant to Section 3(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959). The document also outlines key developments in the Office’s operations.


    According to the OSP, despite resistance from powerful interests, it stayed focused on executing its mandate during this period. As such, the Office successfully progressed significant corruption-related investigations to the stage of court proceedings while also initiating new inquiries into suspected acts of corruption.

    “Then again, the Office, as one of three implementing partners of the new National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Strategy and Implementing Plan, is fashioning and moulding anti-corruption structures that would stand the test of time. The task ahead remains formidable. Much more so is our resolve to perform.


    “This reporting period was characterised by the intensification of the Office’s prosecutorial mandate. We advanced high-profile investigations to court and initiated bold inquiries into suspected corruption, often in the face of deep-seated resistance from entrenched interests.

    “Notwithstanding these expected challenges, the Office remains resolute and guided by the rule of law, fairness, firmness, evidence-based action, and the interest of the public. We recognise that the fight against corruption cannot be waged and won only through punitive action and incarceration,” parts of the report read.


    The legislative framework of the Office of the Special Prosecutor mandates the Authority to crack down on corruption, recover assets, and confiscate illicit property.

    “Indeed, the legislative set-up of the Office leans heavily on corruption prevention and asset recovery and disgorgement of tainted property. Consequently, we proceed on sustainable anti-corruption outcomes by pairing enforcement with robust prevention and asset recovery, especially founded on our unique plea bargaining regime.


    “In this spirit, the Office scaled up its preventive mandate through active engagement with public institutions, private sector actors, and civil society, and secured convictions and asset recovery through impactful plea bargaining. We also reckon that the nation’s anti-corruption legal framework requires re-imagination, modernisation, and retooling to address the immense scale and complexity of modern corruption in the context of our social, economic, and political constructs.


    “On this score, the Office has proposed the inclusion of a new chapter in the Constitution dedicated to the fight against corruption through definitive constitutional expression by the institution of proposed concrete measures to effectively and comprehensively suppress and repress corruption in public life as well as in the private sector, chief among which include lifestyle audits, non-conviction-based asset recovery, enhanced asset declaration and verification regime, and reverse onus presumption of corruption as the foundation of both anti-corruption criminal proceedings and civil asset recovery proceedings,” parts of the report added.


    The Office is also leading the charge in respect of the passage of a comprehensive Corrupt Practices Act and Conduct of Public Officers Act. Currently, sixty-seven (67) cases are being handled by the Office, all of which are undergoing comprehensive review.

    The corruption cases being investigated by the OSP include: the Minerals Income Investment Fund, Ghana Airports Company Limited, Ghana Education Service, National Commission on Culture, Ghana Revenue Authority/Tata Consulting Services, National Service Authority, Ministry of Health/Service Ghana Auto Group Limited, and the National Cathedral.


    The others are: Tema Oil Refinery and Tema Energy and Processing Limited, the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited, State lands, Stool lands, and other vested lands, Illegal Mining, the National Sports Authority, Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority, Bank of Ghana, and the Estate of Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, alias Sir John.

  • Suspect at large after allegedly murdering couple at Tema Golf City

    Suspect at large after allegedly murdering couple at Tema Golf City

    A suspect identified as Prince Krah linked to the brutal killing of two individuals at Saki, near Tema Golf City, in the Greater Accra Region has been declared wanted by the Ghana Police Service.

    The 30-year-old man is being accused of the deaths of Ebenezer Kwabena Obiri, 45, and Mary Anim, 22, which occurred on May 1. The suspect, who is said to be a military officer, has since gone into hiding.

    As per a statement issued by the police on Wednesday, May 6, Prince Krah Police had been living in a chamber and hall apartment with the deceased couple, who were both found dead in their room with multiple machete wounds.

    Prince Krah has been described as dark in complexion, approximately 5.7 feet tall, and of a stout build who was in a Lacoste shirt and a pair of jeans at the time of the incident.

    According to police information gathered so far suggests he may be within the Kakusunanka or Kamina Barracks in Tamale. The police has urged “Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest Police station or call 191 or 112 for a reward of GH¢100,000 “.

    Last month, three suspects, namely Dauda, Huefe and A.T., were 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, the Anti-Robbery Unit, the CID Headquarters, as well as the Ashanti South and Ashanti Regional Police Commands, is working together to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice.


    Ghana has recorded a drop in highway robbery cases. According to 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 reflects the effectiveness of strategic policing and intelligence-led operations deployed by the CID to tackle 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.


    Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has 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.”

  • Disinflation trend weakens as inflation climbs to 3.4% in April

    Disinflation trend weakens as inflation climbs to 3.4% in April

    Ghana has recorded 3.4% inflation in April 2026, marking a shift in the recent disinflation trend as price pressures edge up slightly after months of easing.

    Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels component, which accounted for more than 37% of the overall inflation outturn, have been attributed to the upward pressure on the inflation figure during the period.

    Presenting the figures in Accra on Wednesday, May 6, Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu noted, “In April 2026, the Consumer Price Index stood at 267.3, up from 258.6 in April 2025. This translates into a year-on-year inflation rate of 3.4%.


    “In simple language, prices are 3.4% higher than they were one year ago. On a monthly basis, inflation was 1%, meaning that prices increased by 1% between March 2026 and April 2026. Compared to March 2026, inflation has increased by 0.2 percentage points.


    “But if we compare inflation to the same period in 2025, which is April 2025, then inflation has dropped sharply by 17.8 percentage points. This tells us something important: inflation remains low overall, but we are beginning to see a slight upward movement”.
    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.

    Meanwhile, Ghana and other growing economies’ inflation have been projected to see a sharp increase in 2026, linked to higher global energy prices and supply disruptions caused largely by the Middle East tensions.


    This was contained in the World Bank’s Commodity Markets Outlook for April 2026. According to the report, “Consumer price inflation in emerging markets and developing economies is projected to rise to about 5.1 percent in 2026, reversing earlier expectations that inflation would ease this year.”


    Due to the Middle East tensions leading to shortfalls in both oil and gas supplies, this tends to largely affect prices of several other commodities, including food, fertilizers, and metals.

    Citing the huge surge in Brent oil prices, which crossed $100 per barrel from about $65–$86 per barrel, marking an increase of nearly 20%, this has impacted the market, which is likely going to put pressure on households of a growing economy.


    “With both oil and natural gas prices having soared amid supply shortfalls, average energy prices are forecast to increase by 24 percent in 2026. The Brent oil price is expected to average $86 per barrel, an upward revision of $26 since January. However, the supply shocks brought about by the war are broad-based. Prices for fertilisers are projected to soar, and prices of food commodities and base metals are also projected to increase”, parts of the report said.


    The report also noted that average base metals like copper and gold are expected to record their highest price ever, with projections that they could rise even more than expected, rather than fall.


    “Average base metals and precious metals prices are both projected to reach all-time highs. Average base metals and precious metals prices are both projected to reach all-time highs. Risks to the commodity price projections are tilted firmly toward higher prices”, a citation of the report indicated.


    Under a scenario where oil prices rise sharply due to prolonged geopolitical tensions, inflation in emerging economies could climb to between 5.3 and 5.8 percent in 2026.


    Average base metals and precious metals prices are both projected to reach all-time highs. Higher energy costs are expected to slow real income growth and weaken consumer demand in many emerging economies, while also raising operational costs for businesses.


    The World Bank notes that central banks in many developing economies may respond to rising inflation by maintaining tighter monetary policy, which could further affect borrowing costs and investment activity.


    The outlook highlights the vulnerability of emerging markets to global commodity shocks, particularly for economies that rely heavily on energy imports.


    Assuming the most acute phase of commodity trade disruptions ends shortly, and shipping volumes gradually return to near prewar levels by October, average commodity prices are projected to rise by 16 percent in 2026, the first annual increase since 2022.


    BoG Governor earlier projections after Middle East tensions began


    The Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Johnson Asiama, 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 began after 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 travellers 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.

  • Gov’t seeks $30m refund from Indian contractor JMC over stalled road project

    Gov’t seeks $30m refund from Indian contractor JMC over stalled road project

    An Indian construction firm, JMC, which was awarded approximately US$30 million for a road project but reportedly failed to commence work, is expected to refund the funds to the government.

    This was disclosed by the Minister for Roads and Highways, Governs Kwame Agbodza on Tuesday, May 5 in an interaction with the media. The Minister noted that despite assurances from the constructing firm, no work had commenced on the project as expected.

    “There is one unfortunate situation, where we paid JMC at the time when Parliament approved, I think US$158.6 million, and that project should have been completed last year. Almost US$30 million mobilisation, they took the money and didn’t even do one per cent of the work,” he revealed.

    He added that the government will, in the coming days, work with the Attorney General to further pursue recovering the funds within the law. Earlier in March, Governs Kwame Agbodza warned that contractors assigned to work under the Big Push projects who fail to execute their responsibilities risk having their contracts terminated.
    He made the disclosure while addressing the public over the state of the Big Push projects.
    According to him, the government is not “toying with quality but with pace”. He added that 50 per cent of the projects have reached completion
    He noted, “There is no project that has been awarded under the Big Push that is not being pushed. Almost all contractors are on site”.
    So far the programme has received financial support from the African Development Bank (AfDB). This information was made public following an agreement signed between the Bank and the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson on Thursday, January 29.
    The US$12.83 million grant will support detailed feasibility studies, including full designs, costings, and environmental and social impact assessments.
    Last year, the government allocated GH¢30.8 billion to its flagship Big Push road construction initiative in the 2026 national budget. President John Dramani Mahama revealed this while cutting the sod for the Wa Big Push Project on Tuesday, November 11.
    The allocation is more than double the funding for the same program this year, which was GH¢13.8 billion. According to President Mahama, the recent allocation is aimed at reviving stalled projects, specifically in the northern transport corridors, as well as developing new road networks.
    “This initiative is a cornerstone of our long-term national development agenda,” he declared, emphasising that the success of the Big Push depends on quality work, fiscal discipline, and public accountability.
    “To our contractors and engineers, let me be clear: the day of poor construction, inflated claims, and abandoned projects is over. Ghana deserves better. You must deliver quality on schedule and within budget, and the Ghanaian taxpayer must see value in every kilometre of road we construct,” President Mahama said.
    Meanwhile, the Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, has projected a two-year timeline for the completion of all current and upcoming road projects under the government’s “Big Push” initiative.
    In an interview with the media on Friday, July 31, Mr. Agbodza stated that the days when road projects were abandoned midway are over, as the government is committed to completing all ongoing and future works within the stipulated timeframe.According to him, all “Big Push” projects will begin by the end of August, excluding the Dambai Bridge, which will commence once its structural work has been finalised.
    “The average Ghanaian has come to accept something that is completely unacceptable, because they see road projects start around their backyard, and no one can tell them when it will be completed. We want to reset. ‘Reset’ means we need to change that narrative. All the projects have been deliberately structured to span two years, 24 months, and we will not go beyond that,” he said.
    “Sometimes, a contractor is awarded 100 kilometres of road. People forget that constructing 100 kilometres is not a small undertaking. There may be people who are more interested in how much it costs — they focus on the money involved. So contractors take the job, and for seven or eight years, they do nothing. We want to avoid that,” he added.
    Parliament on July 30 unanimously endorsed the government’s proposal to divert all royalties received from oil revenues and mineral royalties to support the implementation of the Big Push Programme.
    This comes after the government requested Parliament to approve committing funds to assist in the construction of certain road projects.
    Mr. Isaac Adongo, the Chairman of the Parliament’s Finance Committee, while presenting the report by the Budget and Finance joint committee to the plenary, said, “The Committee has carefully considered the Referral, and it is of the opinion that the request is in the right direction.”
    The Committee also noted that Parliament had already approved the policy and the allocation to the “Big Push” Programme in the 2025 Budget Statement. Granting the request would enable the government to enter into multi-year contracts to execute the road infrastructure projects under the programme.
    “The Committee accordingly recommends to the House to approve the Request for the multi-year commitments for the selected road projects under the ‘Big Push’ Programme contained in the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review of the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government of Ghana, in accordance with Section 33 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921),” Mr. Adongo said.
    The initiative, aimed at improving road infrastructure across the country, is estimated at GH¢13.8 billion, and it is expected to be completed by 2028 with support from the country’s own financial resources. According to the 2025 budget, GH¢5.75 billion is owed by the Road Fund, with an allocation of GH¢2.81 billion programmed for road maintenance.
    This represents a 155.5% increase from the 2024 allocation of GH¢1.1 billion, underscoring the government’s emphasis on sustaining Ghana’s road network.
    The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwame Governs Agbodza, on Wednesday, July 30, revealed that his ministry has undertaken studies and prepared comprehensive engineering interventions and cost estimates for road projects under the Big Push Programme.
    The Ministry of Finance has since issued commitment authorisations for some twenty-nine (29) road infrastructure projects under the Big Push Programme, which include: Upgrading of Akosombo-Gyakiti-Kudikope Road, Dualization of Winneba-Mankessim Road, Rehabilitation of Mankessim-Ajumako-Breman Asikuma-Agona Swedru, Construction of Enchi-Elubo Road, and Rehabilitation of Atimpoku-Asikuma Junction Road.
    The government has also selected a number of abandoned road projects for which no dedicated funding was allocated by the previous administration.
    These include rehabilitation and upgrading of Kasoa-Winneba Road, construction of Suame Interchange and local roads, reconstruction of Navrongo-Chuchuliga-Sandema Road, and upgrading of Tumu-Chuchuliga-Navrongo, including construction of a 36m-span reinforced concrete bridge over the Kanyibie River and a 24m-span reinforced concrete bridge over the Bechelihu River.
    The government will, by the end of July, settle GH¢4 billion out of the large debt owed to road contractors. Currently, the government owes road contractors GH¢21 billion, according to the Roads Minister. President John Mahama emphasized his government’s commitment to infrastructure development under his administration’s 24-hour economy agenda.
    He noted that prioritising road construction and the swift resumption of stalled road projects is key to promoting economic growth and productivity by ensuring adequate regional connectivity.
    The announcement has been met with excitement and optimism by many stakeholders in the construction sector. The Ghana Institute of Engineers and the Association of Road Contractors have largely welcomed the president’s announcement, but they have called for transparency.
    They have urged the government to publish clear timelines and payment schedules to ensure that contractors can plan and mobilise resources effectively.
    In March this year, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, Alhassan Suhuyini, acknowledged the significant financial burden facing the government to clear outstanding debts owed to contractors and suppliers.
    His remarks followed the presentation of the 2025 budget by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, who disclosed that the government’s total commitments to contractors stand at a staggering GH¢67.5 billion.
    He emphasized the importance of prioritising road maintenance, a sector that has suffered due to poor upkeep. “The minister has stressed that a significant portion of these funds will be directed toward road maintenance. This is a smart move because our poor maintenance culture has resulted in roads deteriorating within 8 to 10 years instead of lasting longer,” he explained.
    Mr. Suhuyini noted that, in addition to paying off some existing road maintenance debts, the government is looking at a broader infrastructure push. “With GH¢10 to GH¢13 billion allocated under the ‘Big Push’ initiative, several new road projects will commence, while some outstanding debts will also be retired,” he added.

  • Ghanaian in viral South Africa xenophobia attack flown home by government

    Ghanaian in viral South Africa xenophobia attack flown home by government

    A Ghanaian national, Emmanuel Asamoah, who was captured in a viral video being harassed by a group of individuals in a xenophobic attack in South Africa, has been flown home by the government.

    The viral video showed several other foreign nationals being intimidated by some South African citizens for allegedly taking jobs meant for locals. 


    Addressing the media, the Coordinating Director in charge of Political and Economic Affairs at the ministry, Harold Agyeman, disclosed that Emmanuel Asamoah has successfully made it to Ghana following the government’s intervention.


    “Government is very much conscious and strongly committed to protecting our nationals abroad. And so, under the instructions of the minister, Emmanuel Asamoah has been relocated to Ghana to ensure that he is in a safe space, he added”

    According to him, “We continue to rely on the assurances that the South African government has given that they would stop this activity by their nationals, which can be threatening to the relations with other African countries.” 

     Last week, Ghana’s High Commissioner to South Africa, Benjamin Quarshie, said no Ghanaian has lost his or her life in the ongoing xenophobic attacks. His remarks follow speculation that some Ghanaians may have been killed in ongoing attacks in parts of South Africa, after videos showing locals targeting foreigners went viral online around April 22-27.

    During an interview with Joy News PM Express Show with Evans Mensah on Wednesday, April 30, Mr Quarshie cited that according to official data presented to his outfit by South African authorities, no Ghanaian has lost their life.

    “So the current xenophobic actions that are going on, nobody has lost their lives. The statistics are there; they’ve given it to us,” he stated.

    He went on to further address a video which went viral, capturing a Ghanaian man who had been reportedly killed in East London. According to him, investigations conducted by his outfit showed that the man was attacked and fatally stabbed by armed robbers, stressing that his death was unrelated to a xenophobic violent attack.

    “In fact, there was a story going round about a Ghanaian who had lost his life in East London… We went there yesterday on the instructions of the Foreign Affairs Minister. We got to find out that the gentleman was stabbed to death by armed robbers, and it happened three weeks ago,” he said.

    He disclosed that the case came to the authorities’ attention only weeks later.

    “They just left his body there, and we only got to know after three weeks that the citizen had been stabbed to death,” he added.

    According to him, the Ghanian government has stepped in, calling for a thorough investigation into the fatal attack and halting an attempted mass burial until a full probe is completed.

    The envoy said the Ghanaian government has since intervened at the highest level. “The Foreign Affairs Minister has officially asked them to open an investigation. In fact, they wanted to mass-bury the gentleman, but the Minister again gave instructions that the gentleman should not be buried until a full investigation is completed,” he said.

    He stressed that authorities are seeking clarity and justice. “Until we know who killed him, why he was killed, and compensation given to his family,” he stated.

    Mr Quarshie confirmed that the victim’s family in Ghana has been identified and contacted. “We’ve spoken to them. It has been a difficult one for them, because this is the breadwinner in the family,” he said.

    Describing the circumstances of the killing, he added, “When you hear the story as to how they killed him, it’s really, really pathetic.”

    Despite the incident, he maintained that it should not be conflated with xenophobic violence.

    “But I’m sure that the era of Ghanaians or any other person being killed, and South African authorities just brushing it aside… that era is over,” he said while pledging government’s commitment to Ghana’s diplomatic mission.

    “We would ensure there’s accountability. Will account for every single individual, be it Ghanaian, be it any African person, Until justice is done, we will not stop,” he added.

    When the attacks started in SA and why ?

    News of the xenophobic attacks surfaced after videos of nationals were captured attacking foreign nationals showing harassment and intimidation of foreign nationals, including Ghanaians over economic strain including the over 40% unemployment, housing ptrssures, misinformation including reports of foreign nationals taking over SA markets while groups like Operation Dudula and “Put South Africa First” campaigns openly demand foreigners leave, documented or not.

    Is this the first time xenophobic attacks are happening in SA?

    The recent xenophobic attacks on foreigners by South AFrican nationas isn’t the first. SA has a history of violent xenophobic attacks dating as far back as 1998.

    In 1998, three foreign nationals were killed in Johannesburg. Two years later, seven more were killed in Cape Town.

    After a long quiet in the attacks, the worst in SA’s history happened in 2008 when sixty‑two (62) people lost their lives, 1,700 were injured, and about 100,000 were displaced nationwide cementing xenophobia as a recurring national crisis.

    In 2015, violence flared again after inflammatory remarks by the Zulu King. The unrest spread across the country, forcing the government to deploy the military to restore order.

    By 2019, riots erupted in Durban and Johannesburg, with Nigerian‑owned businesses being specifically targeted.

    More recently, between 2022 and 2025, smaller but persistent flare‑ups were linked to vigilante movements such as Operation Dudula. These included blocking foreigners from accessing health facilities in Gauteng and KwaZulu‑Natal, reflecting how xenophobia had become embedded in everyday life.

  • Conflict in Nkwanta South leaves 4 houses burnt at Keri

    Conflict in Nkwanta South leaves 4 houses burnt at Keri

    The ongoing conflict in the Nkwanta South Municipality of the Oti Region has destroyed four houses at Keri, a farming community. The current conflict in the area is said to have been triggered by the death of a 25-year-old food vendor, Richmond Benye, on Saturday.


    The food vendor was reportedly shot. The ongoing conflict has also left another victim, 25-year-old Bright Nkpah, sustaining gunshot wounds on Monday, May 4.

    Last year, properties were destroyed, with more than 50,000 individuals displaced due to the tension in Gbeniyiri, a community in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba District in Savannah Region. The 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 spread 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”.


    “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 several 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.

  • Upper West: BECE candidate dies in road crash

    Upper West: BECE candidate dies in road crash

    A candidate sitting for the 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) has lost his life in a road accident while travelling to Wa in the Upper West Region to write the examination on Tuesday, May 5.

    West African Examinations Council’s (WAEC) Head of Public Affairs, John Kapi broke the unfortunate news while speaking on Tuesday, May 5.

    “What I am aware of is in the Upper West Region where a candidate moving from his village to Wa to write the examination was involved in an accident and unfortunately he passed on. The others, I cannot confirm because we have not received any report from our regional representatives yet,” he said.

    The 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) began on Monday, May 4, with a total of 619,985 candidates nationwide expected to sit the examination.

    The exams will run till Monday, May 11, with two papers scheduled daily at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m.


    At the regional level, a total of 58,412 candidates are expected to sit the exams in the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions. The Bono Region recorded the highest number with 24,983 candidates, followed by Bono East with 20,865, and Ahafo with 12,564.


    Beyond these three regions, the Northern Region has 37,111 candidates, while the Western Region registered 45,116 candidates. Altogether, the Ghana Education Service confirmed a national total of 620,141 candidates, comprising 304,349 boys and 315,792 girls.


    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a stern warning to candidates and stakeholders ahead of the 2026 BECE, declaring that any form of malpractice will attract severe consequences.
    According to WAEC, protecting the credibility of the examination remains the Council’s top priority.


    “Examination malpractice not only undermines academic integrity but also constitutes a direct violation of WAEC’s legal and regulatory framework,” Bono, Ahafo, and Bono East Regional Controller of WAEC, Daniel Nii Dodoo, told GBC News in an interview.


    Addressing longstanding concerns about irregularities in the former Brong Ahafo enclave, Mr. Dodoo declared an end to the era of “show and pour,” where candidates relied on external assistance during examinations. “We have moved away from the old days when someone could assist you with answers. This time, it will be your competence on the paper, not anybody else’s,” he said.


    He appealed directly to teachers and parents to uphold ethical standards, warning that paying money to facilitate cheating is unacceptable. WAEC confirmed that candidates found guilty of malpractice risk having their results cancelled, with serious offences potentially leading to legal action.


    As the examination begins, WAEC’s message is clear: success in the 2026 BECE must be earned through honesty, discipline, and individual merit.


    The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that, in the coming days, the BECE will be restricted to learners who have progressed to Junior High School (JHS) Form 3.


    Addressing the media on Thursday, April 2, he said the government’s intention is to overhaul the country’s basic education system and improve 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 are students who leap early—not yet in JHS 3 but who attempt to write BECE. That is unacceptable per the GES and WAEC guidelines.”


    According to him, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) frown upon allowing non–JHS 3 learners 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 candidates 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 to verify their school choices, biodata, and other relevant information ahead of final placement. The deadline for the fact-checking exercise closed on Monday, September 8.


    Of this figure, 248,038 are females (51.4%), while 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.


    Provisional data from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) shows a nearly 10% decline in road crashes and fatalities in Ghana in March this year.


    Expatiating on the statistics, Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority, Abraham Amaliba disclosed that crash cases fell to 1,195 in March this year from 1,218 recorded in March 2025.


    He attributed the decline to modest improvements in road safety measures. He added, “We cannot afford to wait until Easter or Christmas before intensifying road safety education. Statistics show that when we engage the public proactively, lives are spared”.


    Per the National Road Safety Authority’s provisional statistics in 2025, it 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 road safety and 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 the facility’s statistics.


    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.


    Meanwhile, Ghana has recorded a surge in road crash fatalities this year. On Tuesday, April 28, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr Kwabena Koforobour Agyeman, and his teaching assistant, Mr Peter Amoadu-Asmah, were confirmed dead following a fatal accident at Third Ridge Junction on the Accra–Cape Coast Highway.

  • ECG pumps GHS1bn to fix power distribution challenges in Ashanti Region

    ECG pumps GHS1bn to fix power distribution challenges in Ashanti Region

    As part of efforts to improve supply reliability in the Ashanti Region, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) intends to invest over GH¢1 billion to upgrade and expand its power distribution infrastructure.

    This information was made public by the Public Relations Officer for ECG’s Ashanti West Region, Benjamin Obeng Antwi, on Tuesday, May 5.

    “We want to assure our cherished customers that there shouldn’t be any panic, as we rightly said and that the ECG is undertaking this massive upgrade to satisfy our customers and this is not the only project that we are doing.


    “If you listened to the [Energy] minister’s press conference last week, he mentioned that government is turning its focus to the Ashanti region. Even in our managing director’s press conference, ECG is investing some GH¢1.11 billion in the Ashanti region. What we are doing is we are upgrading the conductors over there from 265 to 400 megawatts,” he added.


    His comment comes ahead of the ECG’s planned upgrade within the Ashanti Region, specifically the Kumasi Ridge catchment area, from Wednesday, May 6, through Saturday, May 9.

    As part of the upgrade, a higher-capacity 30/39MVA unit will replace the existing 20/26MVA power transformer at the Kumasi Ridge substation.

    Therefore, residents within the area will experience power interruptions to facilitate the upgrade of a major transformer. Recently, Ghana has been experiencing temporary power outages, locally known as “dumsor.” However, the Spokesperson and Head of Communications at the Ministry of Energy, Richmond Rockson, has attributed the disruption to damage to the transmission system, with a capacity of about 720 megawatts, caused by the fire.


    He described the development as “a significant hit,” explaining that the affected system supplies electricity to major parts of the country. He added, “The system that got affected was about 720 megawatts. That system transmits power to major parts of the country, so this is a significant hit. The Akosombo Dam generates a little over 1,000 megawatts.”


    The cause of the blaze which occurred on Thursday, April 23, is yet to be determined by authorities. Meanwhile, similar upgrade projects have been completed at the Adenta Primary Substation, Nmai Dzorm Primary Substation, Lashibi Primary Substation, and Teshie-Nungua Primary Substation.


    Ghana’s power supply sector is set for a boost as President John Dramani Mahama announces the construction of a new 1,200-megawatt gas-fired power plant as part of efforts to meet rising demand.
    He announced this during the “Resetting Ghana” tour in the Eastern Region on Saturday, May 2, noting that his government will cut sod for works to start on the project.


    He continued that this forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s power sector by increasing generation and creating redundancy within the system.


    “Looking at how the country is growing, the consumption of electricity is increasing. When we came to power, consumption was about 3,500 megawatts, but currently peak demand has risen to about 4,300 megawatts,” he said.


    President Mahama stated that the surge in demand is due to the hike in investment and economic activity, driving an expansion of generation capacity to ensure a stable and reliable power supply.


    “So it means we have to add more generation so that we can get redundancy,” President Mahama stated.


    He disclosed that the Ministries of Energy and Finance have already completed the design and roadmap for the project, paving the way for construction to begin.


    Beyond meeting domestic needs, the President noted that the additional capacity will position Ghana to export excess electricity to neighbouring countries, including Burkina Faso, to generate foreign exchange.


    “By God’s grace, this year we will cut sod for its commencement,” he added.


    The planned plant is expected to play a key role in stabilizing Ghana’s power supply while supporting industrial growth and regional energy trade.

  • 3-day demolition exercise at Sakumo Ramsar Site begins today

    3-day demolition exercise at Sakumo Ramsar Site begins today

    The Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC), in collaboration with the Tema West Municipal Assembly, will today, Tuesday, May 5, begin a demolition exercise at the Golf Course section of the Sakumo Ramsar Site.

    The exercise forms part of efforts by authorities to restore the natural flow of waterways and will target unauthorised structures in the area.

    The Sakumo Ramsar Site, which is internationally recognised for its ecological importance, has long been under threat from human activities, particularly unregulated construction.

    Last year, several buildings along waterways at the Sakumo Ramsar site were pulled down by authorities. Speaking to the media, the Director General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Major (Rtd) Dr. Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, indicated that the exercise achieved its objectives.


    His comment came after critics identified lapses in preparedness, pointing to the use of lightweight machinery unsuited for the terrain and a temporary fuel shortage that caused delays on-site.
    But speaking to the media, he noted, “I don’t think the exercise lacked [coordination]. For me, the beginning of work was very satisfactory”.


    The demolition exercise launched by the Greater Accra Regional Security Council (REGSEC) is intended to manage flooding, enforce environmental regulations in the region, and also revive natural watercourses.


    The operation, which began on Tuesday, May 27, comes shortly after the recent devastating floods that hit parts of Accra on Sunday, May 18.


    In a meeting with Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), on Tuesday, May 27, the Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo revealed plans of stationing a task force within the country to avert a possible erection of the demolished structures.


    “We will continue with the demolition exercise at Sakumono and Tema. In some places where the demolition was done, they have raised the structure again. So we are going to cause an arrest. We are not going to leave a single structure; all of them will go down,” the minister stated.


    “After the demolition, we are going to put a task force in place that will be working 24 hours to protect the place,” she added.
    She bemoaned the compliance amongst some of the affected individuals, although they had been noticed before the exercise.


    “They are aware. In fact, there has been an engagement; they are very much aware of this exercise. Some of the buildings have notices of ‘Stop Work’,” she stated.


    There was mounting pressure on the government to initiate long-lasting solutions following the flood on Sunday, May 18, that wrecked several homes, claimed lives, displaced residents, and disrupted economic activities.


    Weija, Kaneshie, Adabraka, Tema, and Adentan-Dodowa are a few of the areas that have been affected by the rains.


    Meanwhile, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Richard Amo Yartey, has revealed that five lives were lost to the heavy rains on Sunday, May 18.


    President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to tackling Ghana’s persistent flooding challenges by ordering the demolition of illegally constructed buildings blocking waterways.


    Speaking at the 2025 National Eid-ul-Fitr celebration at Black Star Square, he blamed the increasing flood disasters on poor urban planning and unauthorized developments in wetlands, waterways, and Ramsar sites.


    The President made it clear that his administration would take drastic action against encroachers, stressing that all structures obstructing natural drainage systems would be removed to prevent further destruction.


    “I don’t think the exercise lacked [coordination]. For me, the beginning of work was very satisfactory,” he stated.

  • BECE paper distribution needs immediate reforms – Haruna Iddrisu

    BECE paper distribution needs immediate reforms – Haruna Iddrisu

    The Ghana Education Service (GES) has been directed by the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, to immediately reform the transportation system for Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) question papers. 

    The directive follows a visit by the Minister, which revealed that some 2026 BECE question papers arrived late. The delay affected a total of 273 candidates from nine schools, while other centres had already begun the examination.

    Reacting to the incident, the Minister described the situation as unacceptable and stressed the need for urgent reforms to prevent a recurrence. He assured that measures would be put in place to ensure timely distribution of examination materials across all centres

    He added, “Ordinarily, candidates are supposed to be seated 15 minutes before the examination. However, I see answer sheets here without question papers.

    “They are now on their way. We must therefore review the process of transporting examination questions to centres. Director-General, you sit on the WAEC Council, so we need immediate reforms”.

    The 2026 Basic Education Certificate Examination began on Monday, May 4, and will come to a close on Monday, May 11, with two papers scheduled daily at 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. A total of 619,985 candidates nationwide are expected to sit for the examination.

    At the regional level, a total of 58,412 candidates are expected to sit the exams in the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions. The Bono Region recorded the highest number with 24,983 candidates, followed by Bono East with 20,865, and Ahafo with 12,564.

    Beyond these three regions, the Northern Region has 37,111 candidates, while the Western Region registered 45,116 candidates. Altogether, the Ghana Education Service confirmed a national total of 620,141 candidates, comprising 304,349 boys and 315,792 girls.

    The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has issued a stern warning to candidates and stakeholders ahead of the 2026 BECE, declaring that any form of malpractice will attract severe consequences.

    According to WAEC, protecting the credibility of the examination remains the Council’s top priority.

    “Examination malpractice not only undermines academic integrity but also constitutes a direct violation of WAEC’s legal and regulatory framework,” Bono, Ahafo, and Bono East Regional Controller of WAEC, Daniel Nii Dodoo, told GBC News in an interview.

    Addressing longstanding concerns about irregularities in the former Brong Ahafo enclave, Mr. Dodoo declared an end to the era of “show and pour,” where candidates relied on external assistance during examinations. “We have moved away from the old days when someone could assist you with answers. This time, it will be your competence on the paper, not anybody else’s,” he said.

    He appealed directly to teachers and parents to uphold ethical standards, warning that paying money to facilitate cheating is unacceptable. WAEC confirmed that candidates found guilty of malpractice risk having their results cancelled, with serious offences potentially leading to legal action.

    As the examination begins, WAEC’s message is clear: success in the 2026 BECE must be earned through honesty, discipline, and individual merit.

    The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced that, in the coming days, the BECE will be restricted to learners who have progressed to Junior High School (JHS) Form 3.

    Addressing the media on Thursday, April 2, he said the government’s intention is to overhaul the country’s basic education system and improve 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 are students who leap early—not yet in JHS 3 but who attempt to write BECE. That is unacceptable per the GES and WAEC guidelines.”

    According to him, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the Ghana Education Service (GES) frown upon allowing non–JHS 3 learners 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 candidates 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 to verify their school choices, biodata, and other relevant information ahead of final placement. The deadline for the fact-checking exercise closed on Monday, September 8.

    Of this figure, 248,038 are females (51.4%), while 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.

  • ECG upgrade to disrupt power supply in Kumasi Ridge for four days

    ECG upgrade to disrupt power supply in Kumasi Ridge for four days

    Effective Wednesday, May 6, to Saturday, May 9, the Kumasi Ridge catchment area will experience power interruptions to facilitate the upgrade of a major transformer.

    As part of the upgrade, a higher-capacity 30/39MVA unit will replace the existing 20/26MVA power transformer at the Kumasi Ridge substation.

    Recently, Ghana has been experiencing temporary power outages, locally known as “dumsor.” However, the Spokesperson and Head of Communications at the Ministry of Energy, Richmond Rockson, has attributed the disruption to damage to the transmission system, with a capacity of about 720 megawatts, caused by the fire.


    He described the development as “a significant hit,” explaining that the affected system supplies electricity to major parts of the country. He added, “The system that got affected was about 720 megawatts. That system transmits power to major parts of the country, so this is a significant hit. The Akosombo Dam generates a little over 1,000 megawatts.”

    The cause of the blaze which occurred on Thursday, April 23, is yet to be determined by authorities. Meanwhile, similar upgrade projects have been completed at the Adenta Primary Substation, Nmai Dzorm Primary Substation, Lashibi Primary Substation, and Teshie-Nungua Primary Substation.


    Ghana’s power supply sector is set for a boost as President John Dramani Mahama announces the construction of a new 1,200-megawatt gas-fired power plant as part of efforts to meet rising demand.


    He announced this during the “Resetting Ghana” tour in the Eastern Region on Saturday, May 2, noting that his government will cut sod for works to start on the project.


    He continued that this forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s power sector by increasing generation and creating redundancy within the system.


    “Looking at how the country is growing, the consumption of electricity is increasing. When we came to power, consumption was about 3,500 megawatts, but currently peak demand has risen to about 4,300 megawatts,” he said.


    President Mahama stated that the surge in demand is due to the hike in investment and economic activity, driving an expansion of generation capacity to ensure a stable and reliable power supply.

    “So it means we have to add more generation so that we can get redundancy,” President Mahama stated.


    He disclosed that the Ministries of Energy and Finance have already completed the design and roadmap for the project, paving the way for construction to begin.


    Beyond meeting domestic needs, the President noted that the additional capacity will position Ghana to export excess electricity to neighbouring countries, including Burkina Faso, to generate foreign exchange.

    “By God’s grace, this year we will cut sod for its commencement,” he added.


    The planned plant is expected to play a key role in stabilizing Ghana’s power supply while supporting industrial growth and regional energy trade.

  • Robbery attacks claim four lives, leave several injured in Bono East, Northern Regions

    Robbery attacks claim four lives, leave several injured in Bono East, Northern Regions

    Four people have been confirmed dead and several others injured in two separate armed attacks in the Bono East and Northern regions on Sunday, May 2.

    At Sampa, near Jato Zongo in the Atebubu District of the Bono East Region, assailants made away with cash from an attendant after shooting and killing two people and injuring others. Two passengers died on the spot after being shot by the armed men, while several others sustained injuries.

    Last month, a targeted operation by the Special Operations Assistant (SOA) to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) has led to the arrest of three suspected robbers in Akatsi in the Volta Region on Tuesday, April 21.

    According to a Facebook post by the police, the suspects are reportedly behind a series of robbery incidents at Akatsi and surrounding communities. The operation also led to the seizure of a cache of weapons used by the suspects in their activities.

    Earlier this month, seven officers of the Tema Regional Police Command were 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 were 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, 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 strides in curtailing the activities of robbers and in prosecuting those arrested in the course of their duties. 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 for 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, in Matse, a suburb of Ho, while he was fleeing 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 the 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.

  • Korle-Bu doctors begin strike today to demand improved professional standards

    Korle-Bu doctors begin strike today to demand improved professional standards

    Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital doctors have begun their strike today, Monday, May 4, demanding improved patient safety and higher professional standards.

    A notice issued by the Korle-Bu Doctors Association (KODA) read, “We trust that Management will act with the urgency that these matters demand”.

    KODA on Thursday, April 30, issued a notice of an imminent strike if their concerns aren’t addressed by the close of that day.

    However, following the meeting with the authorities of the hospital, KODA is set to proceed with the industrial action tomorrow over longstanding operational and policy concerns.

    KODA asked the hospital management to reinstate Laboratory Physicians and trainees to the Central Laboratory, ensure all specialised laboratory results are validated by qualified Laboratory Physicians, guarantee unrestricted access to laboratory systems and equipment for clinical and academic work, investigate alleged threats against doctors, and halt the rollout of 24-hour specialist outpatient services until proper consultation and staffing are secured.

    Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, April 30, Secretary of KODA, Dr Joojo Nyamekye-Baidoo, said the association had to resort to an industrial action.

    According to Dr Nyamekye, among the concerns that the association sought a redress, the most pressing is the exclusion of Laboratory Physicians from the hospital’s Central Laboratory, a situation KODA said has disrupted both clinical service delivery and specialist medical training.

    Also, doctors for years have been denied access to the facility for years, with reports of threats contributing to their continued absence.

    “Strike is the only option. I think we’ve engaged management enough, and I don’t think they have come back to us in good faith,” he lamented.

    According to him, the arrangement has also created operational inconsistencies, as the hospital still relies on external laboratories, including the University of Ghana Medical School facility, for diagnostic services.

    Dr Nyamekye-Baidoo said the strike, expected to begin on May 4, will be rolled out in phases, starting with outpatient services and potentially extending to emergency and inpatient care if unresolved. He also noted that the action has the backing of the Ghana Medical Association.

    Among KODA’s demands are the immediate reinstatement of Laboratory Physicians and trainees to the Central Laboratory, unrestricted access to clinical systems, and merit-based leadership of laboratory departments. It is also calling for independent validation of specialised test results and an investigation into alleged threats against its members.

    In addition, the Association has rejected a proposed 24-hour specialist outpatient service policy, arguing that existing services already meet that need and warning that expansion without additional staffing could overstretch personnel and affect patient care.

    Meanwhile, last month, the government announced plans to establish a National Command Centre as part of efforts to significantly reduce emergency response time and improve patient outcomes across Ghana’s healthcare system.

    Board Chairman of the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Prof. Titus Beyuo, said the proposed centre will enable real-time coordination of emergency cases, ensuring patients are directed to hospitals with available beds instead of overcrowded facilities.

    He disclosed the plan amid growing concerns about congestion at major referral hospitals, particularly Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, which continues to receive a high volume of emergency cases.

    Speaking on the Joy Super Morning Show on Tuesday, March 24, Prof. Beyuo explained that the command centre forms part of a broader emergency patient management system being developed to streamline care delivery nationwide.

    “We need the ambulance service to relocate their call centre to this national command centre. We need to get physicians and other people at the command centre who will do an online sorting of patients and redirect them,” he explained.

    The initiative is expected to transform how the National Ambulance Service operates, as ambulance teams will no longer send patients automatically to facilities like Korle Bu Teaching Hospital or Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital without confirming bed availability.

    Instead, emergency cases will be routed based on real-time data from the command centre, a move expected to reduce delays that often worsen the condition of critically ill patients.

    A key challenge the system seeks to address is the lack of visibility on bed availability across hospitals, which frequently results in patients being taken to already overstretched facilities.

    Prof. Beyuo indicated that for the system to function effectively nationwide, all of Ghana’s over 200 ambulances must be integrated into the platform—an effort that is currently ongoing.

    He added that the command centre will help distribute emergency cases more efficiently across healthcare facilities, easing pressure on major hospitals while improving survival chances.

    Prof. Beyuo also credited the Minister of Health for driving the initiative forward, describing the minister as “very committed” to ensuring its implementation.

  • Court grants GHS55m bail to fmr GIHOC boss Kofi Jumah

    Court grants GHS55m bail to fmr GIHOC boss Kofi Jumah

    Former Chief Executive of GIHOC Distilleries Company Limited, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, has been granted GH¢55 million bail by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) as investigations continue.

    Maxwell Kofi Jumah has been accused of allegedly breaching public financial management protocols during his tenure at GIHOC Distilleries Company Limited.

    Reacting to the development, Paul Yandoh of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has noted lamented over the amount of the bail. According to him, the bail is too expensive to be fulfilled easily.

    He added, “As of last night, he was given a bail bond of 55 million Ghana cedis before he can be released from custody. I don’t have such an amount to come and bail him.

    Meanwhile, the former GIHOC boss remains in custody as his legal team has so far been unable to satisfy the bail conditions set by the court.

    Some EOCO personnel picked Maxwell Kofi Jumah up at his private residence in Kumasi on Wednesday, 28th April. Reports suggest that EOCO had raided his residence a week before his arrest. EOCO has consistently held several prominent persons as part of its enforcement operations.


    Last year, the Former Managing Director of GIHOC Distilleries secured a bail of GHS500,000 with two sureties. He was arrested in connection with the alleged theft of vehicles belonging to the state company.


    On Monday, 30 June, Mr Jumah secured bail after appearing at the CID headquarters, where he was being held for questioning. Per reports, he was picked up at his residence in Kumasi on Sunday, June 29. Maxwell Kofi Jumah was said to be in the custody of the Ashanti Regional Police Command.


    It was reported that security personnel in May attempted to retrieve state vehicles in his possession. The personnel were unable to, as Mr Jumah was not home.


    In reaction to the event, Mr. Jumah, in a Facebook post, wrote, “I hear the Mahama people want to come for the GIHOC car in my possession. Can someone tell them that the car is parked safely?”


    “They can come for it. They should also prepare to hand over my properties to me. It is more than the car. A whole lot more. Interesting times ahead.”


    Sources say Mr Jumah was investigated for unauthorised sale of assets and vehicle acquisition during his tenure. According to reports, he sold company properties in Tema valued at over $700,000 without authorization.


    Maxwell Kofi Jumah was appointed to head GIHOC in 2017 by former President Nana Akufo-Addo.


    In December 2024, the immediate past government directed all of its appointees to return state vehicles by January 3, 2025. The Ghana Police Service, led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Lydia Yaako Donkor, has confirmed that police have so far recovered three of the vehicles linked to the case.


    “As of this afternoon, we have retrieved three of the vehicles in question. He is cooperating with the investigation, and we will proceed based on the evidence gathered.”


    The EOCO has similar mandates to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). EOCO is a specialized intelligence-led law enforcement agency in Ghana established to monitor, investigate, and prosecute economic and organized crimes.


    Established by the Economic and Organised Crime Office Act, 2010 (Act 804), it replaced the former Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to provide a more robust framework for tackling complex financial crimes.

  • NRSA report shows nearly 10% reduction in road deaths

    NRSA report shows nearly 10% reduction in road deaths

    Provisional data from the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) shows a nearly 10% decline in road crashes and fatalities in Ghana in March this year.

    Expatiating on the statistics, Director-General of the National Road Safety Authority, Abraham Amaliba disclosed that crash cases fell to 1,195 in March this year from 1,218 recorded in March 2025.

    He attributed the decline to modest improvements in road safety measures. He added, “We cannot afford to wait until Easter or Christmas before intensifying road safety education. Statistics show that when we engage the public proactively, lives are spared”.


    Per the National Road Safety Authority’s provisional statistics in 2025, it 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 road safety and 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 the facility’s statistics.


    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.

    Meanwhile, Ghana has recorded a surge in road crash fatalities this year. On Tuesday, April 28, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr Kwabena Koforobour Agyeman, and his teaching assistant, Mr Peter Amoadu-Asmah, were confirmed dead following a fatal accident at Third Ridge Junction on the Accra–Cape Coast Highway.

  • GHC57.2m recovered in payroll audit exercise from 2023 till date – A-G

    GHC57.2m recovered in payroll audit exercise from 2023 till date – A-G

    An audit exercise conducted by the Auditor-General (A-G) has uncovered a total of GH¢57.2 million in unearned salaries within the public sector payroll.


    During an interaction with the media, the Auditor-General, Johnson Akuamoah Asiedu, disclosed that the recoveries were made between 2023 and April this year.

    According to him, some individuals remained on the government payroll despite being absent from post or failing mandatory validation checks.

    He added that the exercise is a part of the government’s efforts to strengthen accountability by eliminating ghost names from the payroll system.

    The A-G noted that disciplinary actions will be taken against managers of public institutions and supervisors who certified payrolls without verifying the presence of their staff.


    “Auditors will comply fully with validation checks and surcharge every person who is paid unearned salaries. We are determined to completely do away with ghost names on the payroll. Supervisors who see to these payments are also going to be held accountable. If you, as a supervisor, certify a payroll knowing that a named person is not at post, you will be surcharged personally,” he said.An audit by the Ghana Audit Service exposed over fifty-three thousand separated staff on the government’s payroll in 2025.


    While delivering the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Statement to Parliament on Thursday, July 24, the Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, disclosed that these names could belong to individuals who are no longer in active service.


    “53,311 separated staff—these are staff who are either retired, resigned, terminated, on leave without pay, or deceased, and yet remain on government payroll. So far, we’ve found about 14,000 people that we can’t validate. We can’t find them. They may be ghosts. They are across sectors,” he said.


    The government engaged the Ghana Audit Service to undertake a nationwide payroll audit across all 16 regions of the country. The Finance Minister revealed that the Ghana Audit Service has completed 91% of the payroll audit.

    According to the sector minister, the Audit Services expects to recover GH¢150.4 million of unearned salaries from the separated staff over the 2023 and 2024 period.

    “Mr. Speaker, going forward, we will enforce the monthly payroll validation process and strictly apply sanctions to all who validate ‘ghosts’ for payment of salaries. Rt. Hon. Speaker, let me use this opportunity to strongly caution those who validate ‘ghosts’ across the public service that they will be personally liable for the loss of public funds,” Dr Cassiel Ato Forson said.


    He assured that the Ministry of Finance will continue to monitor the payroll and put in place measures to prevent “ghost names” on the payroll. By the end of August, the Ghana Audit Service, in partnership with EY and PWC, will complete the audit of arrears and payables as of the end of 2024.


    The Audit Service was tasked to audit and validate GH¢68.7 billion of arrears. The sector minister noted that about 87 percent of the audit has been completed.

    The preliminary results show that a total of GH¢28.3 billion has been validated for payment. Also, an amount of GH¢3.6 billion has been rejected because of errors, duplications, and non-compliance with PFM and procurement rules. An amount of GH¢562.6 million is without adequate supporting documents, and GH¢27.3 billion is pending validation.


    Dr Cassiel Ato Forson stated that “once finalized, we will update the House on the findings and outcomes.”In his delivery, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson noted that it has come to the attention of the Ministry of Finance that a number of contractors implementing some of these 55 stalled projects have drawn down on the loans with no work done to match the amounts drawn down. Again, some contractors have submitted additional costs in excess of what Parliament approved. In light of this, the Ministry of Finance has commissioned a forensic audit into these projects.


    “Mr. Speaker, we will apprise the House when this audit is completed,” the sector minister assured. The Finance Minister also revealed that the government has experienced some significant pressures on the compensation budget for the first half of 2025, mainly emanating from wages and salaries. Wages and salaries exceeded the budget by GH¢1.3 billion for the first six months of the year.


    The wage pressures, the minister said, were largely driven by last-minute recruitments undertaken by the previous government in the last quarter of 2024, especially in the education, health, and security sectors.


    “In addition, ad-hoc reviews of conditions of service undertaken in previous years have distorted the Single Spine Pay Policy and further burdened the public wage bill,” the sector minister added. In February this year, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah issued a directive annulling all public service appointments and recruitments made after December 7, 2024. A letter was circulated to heads of government institutions, instructing them to comply with the directive and submit a report by February 17, 2025, detailing the actions taken in response.


    “Consistent with Government pronouncement in relation to near-end-of-tenure appointments and recruitments, I wish to bring to your attention that all appointments and recruitments made in the Public Services of Ghana after 7th December, 2024, are not in compliance with established good governance practices and principles.


    “Accordingly, all Heads of Government Institutions are hereby requested to take the necessary steps to annul any such appointments or recruitments and submit a comprehensive report on the actions taken to this Office by 17th February 2025.”


    Prior to the swearing-in of President-elect John Mahama, concerns were raised over last-minute appointments and financial transactions by the outgoing administration. The previous government defended these actions, stating, “these recruitment processes and payments have received the relevant statutory approvals and have not been proven to be illegal. It was decided that any specific allegation of illegality about any particular payment or recruitment should be brought to the attention of the Transition Team for a decision to be made.

    “Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin urged President Mahama to reconsider and overturn the cancellation of these appointments.
    In response, Minister of State responsible for Government Communications and a spokesperson for President John Dramani Mahama, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, defended the administration’s move to invalidate appointments made after December 7, citing procedural flaws in the recruitment process.

    Speaking to the media in Accra on Wednesday, February 19, Kwakye Ofosu said, “Let me also put it on record that this action has been taken not because of a perception or a belief that they were NPP. It is because we know that the recruitment processes were attended by irregularities.

    ”He pointed out cases where some individuals were issued retroactive appointment letters to falsely suggest they had been hired well before the elections, while others secured positions without going through interviews or even formally applying.


    Kwakye Ofosu stressed that such irregularities could not be overlooked and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to launching a fresh recruitment exercise that would be open to all qualified Ghanaians, regardless of their political backgrounds.


    “In due course, the government will do recruitment, and it will be open to all Ghanaians irrespective of political colouration. Indeed, your party identity will not be required. You will not be asked to show whether you’re NPP or NDC when that comes, but we will do it in a regular manner,” he explained.


    He also guaranteed that individuals whose appointments had been nullified would still have the chance to apply again and participate in a fair recruitment process. “So even those who have had their employment revoked will still have the opportunity to reapply and go through due process,” Kwakye Ofosu added.

  • RTI request filed by Minority over GHS1 fuel levy data

    RTI request filed by Minority over GHS1 fuel levy data

    The Minority in Parliament has submitted a Right to Information (RTI) request demanding full disclosure of revenues generated under the Energy Sector Levies Act. The Caucus, in recent times, has called on the government to provide detailed data on how funds accrued from the GH¢1levy have been utilized.

    Addressing the media on Wednesday, April 29, the Minority Chief Whip stated that their demands have become necessary given the persistent power outages across the country, adding that the government must be held accountable for how revenues from the levy are collected, managed, and utilized to address the ongoing energy challenges.

    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.

    “We were told that the GH¢1 levy will allow the government to keep the lights on, and so now the question is, why are our lights not on? We were told that we were paying the GH¢1 to use it to buy fuel, but when the NPP was leaving, we handed fuel to them, and so the question is why Ghanaians must continue to sleep in darkness, and businesses are collapsing.

    “It is necessary for us to know what they used the revenue for because we are experiencing dumsor everywhere in the country,” he added.


    President Mahama stated that “initially much of this revenue will go to the purchasing of fuel to ensure stable power of electricity.”
    According to him, 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 the 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 counseled.


    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.

  • A-G given last chance to justify EOCO’s involvement in Buffer Stock trial

    A-G given last chance to justify EOCO’s involvement in Buffer Stock trial

    The Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra has granted the Office of the Attorney-General (A-G) a final opportunity to justify its decision to involve a lawyer from the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in the ongoing trial of former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited (NAFCO), Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and four others. 

    This development comes after Justice Francis Achibonga, a Court of Appeal judge sitting as an additional High Court judge, on Wednesday, April 29, expunged the name of the EOCO lawyer, Radiatu Abdulai, from the ongoing trial.

    The judge’s ruling was triggered by counsel for the first accused, Godfred Yeboah Dame, who questioned Radiatu Abdulai’s representation of the Republic. Mr Dame noted that “there has been no due authorisation of the lawyer to prosecute, adding that the Law Officers Act of 1974 (NRCD 279) and the Legal Services Act of 1993 regulated the performance of functions of the Office of the Attorney-General”. 


    According to a statement in circulation, Godfred Yeboah Dame who was the former deputy Attorney General and Minister of Justice justified that “Per the Law Officers Act, only public officers mandated by an executive instrument and certified to be on a rank equivalent to one of the posts in the Office of the Attorney-General, can appear in court with the Attorney-General or be mandated to prosecute or perform the functions of the A-G”.  

    Read the statement below:

    Court strikes out EOCO lawyer as counsel for Republic and gives A-G one last chance to produce authorisationDownload

     In 2025, Former Chief Executive Officer of the National Food and Buffer Stock Company Limited, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, were granted bail totaling GHS150 million by the High Court in Accra. Hanan had a share of GHS100 million in the bail and was to provide six sureties, four of whom must prove ownership of landed property.

    His wife, on the other hand, was granted bail in the sum of GHS50 million with four sureties, three of whom must own property within the jurisdiction of the court.

    The duo have pleaded not guilty in the National Food and Buffer Stock Company case. They stand accused of 24 counts, including stealing, defrauding by false pretences, willful misuse of public funds, money laundering, and exploiting public office for personal benefit. The court has directed that the sureties submit copies of their Ghana Cards.

    The court also ordered that the names of the accused persons be added to a stop-list at all entry and exit points in the country, including airports, seaports, and border crossings. Until the final determination of the case, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and Faiza Seidu Wuni are required to report to the investigator every Wednesday.

    Abdul-Wahab is standing trial over allegations of large-scale financial misconduct during his time in office. He was arrested on June 25, along with his wife. EOCO granted a GHS30 million bail to his wife, while her husband remained in custody pending the fulfillment of his GHS60 million bail condition.

    The arrest, which took place simultaneously in Accra and Tamale, also led to the detention of a third, unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation.

    On Tuesday, July 8, the former NAFCO boss was released from the custody of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) after being detained for 14 days. Abdul-Wahab was released after meeting a GHS60 million bail condition backed by two guarantors.

    On June 25, Hanan and his spouse were taken into custody over suspected mismanagement of funds while he led the government agency. His wife was granted bail earlier, set at GHS30 million.

    Earlier reports indicated that Mr. Hanan had met the bail terms; however, he remained in the custody of EOCO, a situation that drew backlash from the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), which described the terms as harsh and unfair.A third suspect, an unnamed individual believed to be linked to the investigation, has also been detained.

    Meanwhile, a list of luxury assets belonging to Hanan Abdul-Wahab has been made public by the Attorney General (A-G) and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine.His assets include a five-bedroom house at Chain Homes valued at $1.625 million, a three-bedroom house at Cantonments purchased for $600,000, and multiple plots of land at the Airport Development Area worth $750,000.Other properties include a 17-bedroom boutique hotel in Gumani, Tamale, acquired for $250,000; a four-bedroom bungalow at Dzorwulu, Accra, valued at over GHS4.14 million; and a 0.32-acre parcel of government land purchased for GHS307,200.

    The Attorney General made the disclosure while addressing journalists at a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, October 22, as part of the Government Accountability Series. He added that the recent development was made possible through collaboration with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), after several properties and bank transactions were traced to Abdul-Wahab.

    But Abdul-Wahab has denied all allegations leveled against him by the Attorney General. In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 22, Mr. Aludiba noted that he has instructed his lawyers to follow up on the allegations.“I wish to state, respectfully, that these claims are untrue and do not reflect the facts of the matter. I have no involvement in the issues being referred to, and I find the comments deeply unfortunate.“I look forward to the opportunity to present my side and to have my day in court, where I am confident that the truth will be made clear,” the statement added.

    Meanwhile, the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has released a fifty-page report covering investigations and prosecutions carried out between January 1 and July 31 this year.The OSP’s Seventh Half-Yearly Report is pursuant to Section 3(3) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959). The document also outlines key developments in the Office’s operations.

    According to the OSP, despite resistance from powerful interests, it stayed focused on executing its mandate during this period. As such, the Office successfully progressed significant corruption-related investigations to the stage of court proceedings while also initiating new inquiries into suspected acts of corruption.”Then again, the Office, as one of three implementing partners of the new National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Strategy and Implementing Plan, is fashioning and moulding anti-corruption structures that would stand the test of time. The task ahead remains formidable. Much more so is our resolve to perform.

    “This reporting period was characterised by intensification of the Office’s prosecutorial mandate. We advanced high-profile investigations to court and initiated bold inquiries into suspected corruption, often in the face of deep-seated resistance from entrenched interests.”Notwithstanding these expected challenges, the Office remains resolute and guided by the rule of law, fairness, firmness, evidence-based action, and the interest of the public. We recognise that the fight against corruption cannot be waged and won only through punitive action and incarceration,” parts of the report read.

    The legislative framework of the Office of the Special Prosecutor mandates the Authority to crack down on corruption, recover assets, and confiscate illicit property.”Indeed, the legislative set-up of the Office leans heavily on corruption prevention and asset recovery and disgorgement of tainted property. Consequently, we proceed on sustainable anti-corruption outcomes by pairing enforcement with robust prevention and asset recovery, especially founded on our unique plea bargaining regime.

    “In this spirit, the Office scaled up its preventive mandate through active engagement with public institutions, private sector actors, and civil society, and secured convictions and asset recovery through impactful plea bargaining. We also reckon that the nation’s anti-corruption legal framework requires re-imagination, modernisation, and retooling to address the immense scale and complexity of modern corruption in the context of our social, economic, and political constructs.

    “On this score, the Office has proposed the inclusion of a new chapter in the Constitution dedicated to the fight against corruption through definitive constitutional expression by the institution of proposed concrete measures to effectively and comprehensively suppress and repress corruption in public life as well as in the private sector, chief among which include lifestyle audits, non-conviction-based asset recovery, enhanced asset declaration and verification regime, and reverse onus presumption of corruption as the foundation of both anti-corruption criminal proceedings and civil asset recovery proceedings,” parts of the report added.

    The Office is also leading the charge in respect of the passage of a comprehensive Corrupt Practices Act and Conduct of Public Officers Act. Currently, sixty-seven (67) cases are being handled by the Office, all of which are undergoing comprehensive review.The corruption cases being investigated by the OSP include: the Minerals Income Investment Fund, Ghana Airports Company Limited, Ghana Education Service, National Commission on Culture, Ghana Revenue Authority/Tata Consulting Services, National Service Authority, Ministry of Health/Service Ghana Auto Group Limited, and the National Cathedral.

    The others are: Tema Oil Refinery and Tema Energy and Processing Limited, the Electricity Company of Ghana Limited, State lands, Stool lands, and other vested lands, Illegal Mining, the National Sports Authority, Customs Division of Ghana Revenue Authority, Bank of Ghana, and the Estate of Kwadwo Owusu-Afriyie, alias Sir John.

  • UCC lecturer and his teaching assistant die in fatal accident on Accra–Cape Coast Highway

    UCC lecturer and his teaching assistant die in fatal accident on Accra–Cape Coast Highway

    A Senior Lecturer in the Department of Geography and Regional Planning at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr Kwabena Koforobour Agyeman, and his teaching assistant, Mr Peter Amoadu-Asmah, have been confirmed dead following a fatal road accident at Third Ridge Junction on the Accra–Cape Coast Highway.

    This information was confirmed by the UCC Management through a statement issued on Tuesday, April 28. The statement read, “Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time. His invaluable contributions and presence will be deeply missed by colleagues, students, and all who had the privilege of knowing and working with him”.

    The unfortunate incident which occurred early hours of Tuesday, April 28, involved a Toyota Corolla and a HOWO tipper truck. Ghana has reported a surge in the number of fatalities resulting from road crashes this year.

    On Saturday, April 18, the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) reported the death of one person following a vehicular accident that occurred at Gomoa Ankamu (Apam Junction) in the Central Region.

    Earlier this month, an accident on the Buipe-Tamale road claimed the lives of four individuals. 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) stated that the Toyota Voxy had badly crashed into the stationary truck prior to the arrival of the rescue team.
    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 road safety and 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 the facility’s statistics.


    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.

  • Former GIHOC MD Maxwell Kofi Jumah in EOCO custody – Report

    Former GIHOC MD Maxwell Kofi Jumah in EOCO custody – Report

    The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has reportedly held in custody the former Managing Director of GIHOC Distilleries Company Limited, Maxwell Kofi Jumah.

    According to reports, some EOCO personnel picked him up at his private residence in Kumasi on Wednesday, 28th April. Reports suggest that EOCO had raided his residence a week before his arrest. 

    Meanwhile, the cause of his arrest is yet to be made public. However, many have speculated that his arrest could be related to activities administered under his leadership at GIHOC. EOCO has consistently held several prominent persons as part of its enforcement operations. 

    Last year, the Former Managing Director of GIHOC Distilleries, secured a bail of GHS500,000 with two sureties.

    He was arrested in connection with the alleged theft of vehicles belonging to the state company.

    On Monday, 30 June, Mr Jumah secured the bail after appearing at the CID headquarters, where he was being held for questioning.

    Per reports, he was picked up at his residence in Kumasi on Sunday, June 29. Maxwell Kofi Jumah was said to be in the custody of the Ashanti Regional Police Command.

    It was reported that security personnel in May attempted to retrieve state vehicles in his possession. The personnel were unable to, as Mr Jumah was not home.

    In reaction to the event, Mr. Jumah, in a Facebook post, wrote, “I hear the Mahama people want to come for the GIHOC car in my possession. Can someone tell them that the car is parked safely?”

    “They can come for it. They should also prepare to hand over my properties to me. It is more than the car. A whole lot more. Interesting times ahead.”

    Sources say Mr Jumah was investigated for unauthorised sale of assets and vehicle acquisition during his tenure. According to reports, he sold company properties in Tema valued at over $700,000 without authorization.

    Maxwell Kofi Jumah was appointed to head GIHOC in 2017 by former President Nana Akufo-Addo.

    In December 2024, the immediate past government directed all of its appointees to return state vehicles by January 3, 2025.

    The Ghana Police Service led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Lydia Yaako Donkor has confirmed that police have so far recovered three of the vehicles linked to the case.

    “As of this afternoon, we have retrieved three of the vehicles in question,” she added.

    “He is cooperating with the investigation, and we will proceed based on the evidence gathered.”

    The EOCO has similar mandates to the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). EOCO is a specialized intelligence-led law enforcement agency in Ghana established to monitor, investigate, and prosecute economic and organized crimes. 

    Established by the Economic and Organised Crime Office Act, 2010 (Act 804), it replaced the former Serious Fraud Office (SFO) to provide a more robust framework for tackling complex financial crimes.

  • Claims of military land allocation to Ibrahim Mahama false – Brogya Genfi

    Claims of military land allocation to Ibrahim Mahama false – Brogya Genfi

    The Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, has clarified widely circulated claims that Ibrahim Mahama, brother of President John Dramani Mahama, has been allocated military lands by the government for development.

    A Facebook post shared by the Deputy Minister on Wednesday, April 29, read, “I wish to firmly dismiss and ignore any false and malicious reports suggesting that military lands have been given to the President’s brother to develop. That story is completely untrue.”

    According to him, the only thing currently happening is that the Ghana Armed Forces are undertaking a redevelopment project aimed at replacing aging infrastructure at Burma Camp in Accra.

    He explained that Ibrahim Mahama who doubles the chief executive of Dzata Group Holding Limited is only in the news because he playing a significant role in the project. He added that “Ibrahim Mahama has generously donated GHC120 million as part of the replacement programme”.

    The prominent Ghanaian entrepreneur and philanthropist is widely known for his generosity. Recently, he promised to reinvest in the Damang community following his company’s takeover of the Damang Mine in the Western Region of Ghana.


    In a speech delivered during the handover ceremony held at the mine site on Saturday, April 18, where the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, performed the formal transfer, Mr Mahama, in response to a petition by the youth of the community, noted that he will construct two huge hospitals, concrete roads, and an airport in the community.


    “So what I want to say is that whatever money we make from here, we will reinvest it here. The transfer of the mine to EMP is for everybody. It’s not for me. I also want to build my own personal house here, so I will be living with you”, the CEO said.


    He said in two years the people of Damanag will drive on a good road network and in 6 months they will have an airport, pledging other development plans for the surrounding communities, adding that his promises aren’t political propaganda but “I beg you, this is not political talk. This is real talk”.


    He said, “I want to make a pledge for everybody to hear. I got a message from one of our young men saying we should build astro turfs for all the communities, which we are looking to do. We have applied for the area to have an airport, and within six months, there will be an airport, so that we can fly easily from here.


    “In the next two years, we will be able to drive from here to Cape Coast on a proper road. Not here alone, we will also extend it to the surrounding communities. We are looking to build hospitals. I saw the youth, are the youth here? My youth. Thank you. You talked about hospitals. I’m looking to build two large hospitals here”.


    Mr Ibrahim Mahama pledged his commitment to demonstrating that Ghanaians are capable of investing in themselves, while promising major investments to benefit surrounding communities.


    “I would say that, look, if we all put our minds together, this is a success story. And the plan I have for Damang Mine is not a joke. I just want to prove that we can invest in ourselves in this country,” he said.


    Background to the takeover


    Discussions about the transition began about a year ago when the mining lease of Gold Fields Ghana Limited, under which it had operated for about two decades, expired.


    Government, as part of its commitment to boosting local participation, declined to renew the lease and ordered the start of a competitive tender process to identify a new operator. However, it granted a one-year extension to allow for an orderly transition ahead of the final handover, which occurred over the weekend.


    The bidding process


    As the mining lease for Gold Fields neared expiry, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources announced a competitive bidding process on March 24 to select a new operator for the Damang Mine.


    About four companies submitted bids before the March 31 deadline, which were reviewed by the Minerals Commission under the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations, 2012 (LI 2176).


    Following the evaluation, Engineers and Planners, owned by Ibrahim Mahama, emerged as the winning bidder after meeting all requirements, including technical, financial, and regulatory criteria.


    The Minister assured transparency and job protection during the process, following concerns raised by Gold Fields workers.


    Authorities indicated that bidders were required to demonstrate strong financial capacity, including access to at least $500 million in funding, as well as technical expertise and operational readiness. Engineers and Planners met these requirements and secured the highest evaluation score.


    The Damang Mine, located in Ghana’s Western Region, is one of the country’s major gold-producing assets and has played a significant role in the national mining industry for decades.


    Government officials said the tender process and eventual handover are intended to sustain operations, protect jobs, and strengthen local ownership in Ghana’s mining sector.


    Minority reacts to transition


    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.

  • FDA raids markets, confiscates banned alcoholic energy drinks

    FDA raids markets, confiscates banned alcoholic energy drinks

    Mixed drinks combining alcohol and stimulants, which were banned by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), have found their way back onto the market.

    However, on Monday, April 27, an operation carried out by the FDA led to the seizure of the prohibited products from several outlets. The exercise covered six major towns including Sefwi Wiawso, Sefwi Bekwai, Awaso, Asawinso, Juaboso and Bibiani with support from the Ghana Police Service.

    In February, the FDA issued a new directive ordering all importers, manufacturers, and distributors of alcoholic beverages mixed with stimulants to withdraw such products from the Ghanaian market by the end of March 2026.


    The product regulatory authority announced this in a formal statement dated February 25, indicating that the withdrawal has become a necessity after it conducted an assessment on the safety of these beverages and their health implications on the public.


    In the statement, the FDA said, it“….has concluded a post-registration review of mixed drinks containing both depressant substances (alcohol) and stimulants such as caffeine, inositol, glucuronolactone, ginseng, and guarana. The assessment took into account international and regional regulatory precedents, where several countries have restricted, suspended, or banned alcoholic energy drinks due to their associated public health risks.”


    It continued that the review was in compliance with the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), under Sections 81 and 82(a). Section 8 empowers the FDA to conduct post-market surveillance and safety reviews of regulated products. This allows them to reassess products already approved if new evidence shows health risks, while Section 82(a) authorizes the FDA to withdraw, suspend, or revoke approval of products that pose risks to public health.


    One of the FDA’s major concerns is the hike in serious psychological health challenges, particularly among the youth.


    “The review assessed the safety and regulatory compliance of these products on the Ghanaian market. It was conducted under Sections 81 and 82(a) of the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851), which empowers the FDA to enforce standards necessary to protect public health and safety. Growing scientific and public health evidence links the combination of alcohol and stimulants to serious health risks and adverse psychosocial behaviours, particularly among the youth, young adults, and unsuspecting consumers.”


    Consequently, the FDA has given all supply chain operators to withdraw all such beverages from the market in the next 33 days or face serious sanctions for non-compliance.


    “Findings from the review were supported by the FDA’s Food Expert Committee, specifically the Technical Advisory Committee on Food Safety and Nutrition. Consequently, the FDA has directed all importers, manufacturers, and distributors of mixed drinks containing both alcohol and stimulants to clear such products from the Ghanaian market by the end of March 2026 without sanction. Beyond this deadline, non-compliant products will attract regulatory sanctions, including withdrawal from the market. This directive takes effect immediately,”, the statement continued.


    FDa also ordered “Manufacturers and producers are further required to re-formulate their products to conform strictly to the approved standards for Alcoholic Beverages and Energy Drinks as separate product categories,” emphasizing its commitment to public safety and urging the general public to report any suspicious product for the required investigations to be conducted.


    “ The FDA remains committed to safeguarding public health and safety, and ensuring that all food and beverage products on the Ghanaian market meet approved safety, quality, and regulatory standards.

    Consumers are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or non-compliant products to the FDA for necessary investigation and enforcement action, the statement concluded”.

    The FDA has up their game in their crackdown on non-compliant and unregulated eateries and other consumer services in the last few months.


    Sixteen (16) food service establishments operating without valid hygiene permits in the Greater Accra Region were closed by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) on Wednesday, February 18.


    Cheesecake House, Dolce Frizzante, Onda, and Alora Beach Resort, among others, were the affected facilities.
    They were shut down for failing to meet regulatory requirements. Before the exercise, the FDA had issued a two-week public notice to all food service establishments in operation, instructing them to acquire a valid Food Hygiene Permit effective February 1, 2026.


    The FDA had consistently warned against the sale, distribution, and consumption of unregistered and unapproved products on the Ghanaian market, particularly drugs, herbal medicines, cosmetics, and food items that had not undergone proper safety and quality checks.
    In 2025, the FDA shut down Famude Catering Services in the Ashanti Region and revoked its licence for illegally producing two alcoholic drinks, Kings Orange Flavoured Liqueur and Jupiter 1990.


    These drinks were unregistered and were found to contain marijuana (cannabis) extracts, according to the FDA.


    The matter was referred to the Suntresu District Police for investigation and prosecution.


    Meanwhile, about 3 months ago, the FDA ordered a market recall of the Herbal medicine, Omama Herbal Mixture. This was after the safety authority, in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, conducted a market surveillance and laboratory tests on the medicine, after which they discovered it contained some harmful substances.


    In a statement issued by the FDA on Friday, October 31, the regulatory body warned the public to desist from patronising the medicines.
    The FDA mentioned that, while the herbal mixture has been registered as a medication for malaria and loss of appetite, it has been adulterated with Diazepam, Metronidazole, Paracetamol, and Niacinamide, which are allopathic medicines, warning that consumption of the mixture without a proper prescription has the potential to cause harm to the consumers.


    “The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), in collaboration with the Ghana Police Service, carried out market surveillance and laboratory analysis of Omama Herbal Mixture. The laboratory analysis revealed that Omama Herbal Mixture….It is important to note that Omama Herbal Mixture is registered as a herbal medicinal product indicated for malaria and loss of appetite, and is not expected to contain any allopathic medicines.
    The medicines found in Omama Herbal Mixture are dangerous when taken without a prescription and/or advice from a qualified health professional. The public is, therefore, advised not to patronise Omama Herbal Mixture,” parts of the statement read.


    Consequently, to ensure public safety, the FDA noted that it was working in collaboration with the Herbal Company to recall the products from the market.


    “Meanwhile, the FDA is working with Omama Herbal Group Limited to recall all products on the market for safe disposal and appropriate regulatory actions, including criminal prosecution. The FDA wishes to assure the public that it will not relent in its efforts to ensure public health and safety”, the statement added.


    The FDA also admonished the public to help promote consumer safety by reporting any person, pharmacy, or entity that will be found selling the herbal mixture.


    “The public is advised to provide information on persons, pharmacies, and over-the-counter medicine sellers (OTCMS) offering Omama Herbal Mixture for sale to the nearest FDA office”, the statement concluded.

  • Four generation units restored after fire at GRIDCo’s substation – Energy Ministry

    Four generation units restored after fire at GRIDCo’s substation – Energy Ministry

    The government’s efforts to stabilize Ghana’s power supply following the recent fire outbreak at GRIDCO’s substation at Akosombo are yielding results.

    In an Facebook post, on Tuesday, April 28, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, disclosed that restoration works and progressing and the situation is nearing resolution.

    According to him, the fourth power generation unit at the Akosombo Dam has been successfully brought into operation.

    “At 9:09pm, the fourth unit at Akosombo Dam was successfully brought into operation, an encouraging step that strengthens power generation and reflects the dedication and expertise of the team behind the effort,” Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor wrote on Facebook.

    Meanwhile, the committee established to probe the fire outbreak at the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) Akosombo Substation has been given a two-week deadline to conclude its findings, the Ministry of Energy has disclosed.

    Speaking to the media on Monday, April 27, the Spokesperson for the Energy Ministry, Richmond Rockson, stated that the decision to make the findings of the report public will depend on its nature and sensitivity.

    “The committee has two weeks to do its work and submit its report. Depending on the nature of the report, you can make it public, and sometimes, you may have to issue a white paper depending on the findings of the committee,” he added.

    Authorities over the weekend announced that they have set up a seven-member committee to investigate the recent explosion and fire outbreak at the GRIDCo Akosombo Substation, which occurred on the afternoon of Thursday, April 23.

    As a result, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company Limited, Ing. Mark Awuah Baah, has been directed by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, to step aside as investigations begin into the fire outbreak at the Akosombo Power Control Centre.

    Recently, Ghana has been experiencing temporary power outages, locally known as “dumsor.”

    However, the Spokesperson and Head of Communications at the Ministry of Energy, Richmond Rockson, has attributed the disruption to damage caused to the transmission system with a capacity of about 720 megawatts as a result of the fire outbreak.

    He described the development as “a significant hit,” explaining that the affected system supplies electricity to major parts of the country.He added, “The system that got affected was about 720 megawatts. That system transmits power to major parts of the country, so this is a significant hit. The Akosombo Dam generates a little over 1,000 megawatts.”

    The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has taken steps to avert disruptions in Ghana’s power supply following a major fire incident at the Akosombo transmission network.

    As part of the measures, Ghana will temporarily halt power supply to neighboring countries. The Deputy Energy Minister, Richard Gyan-Mensah disclosed while engaging the press on Friday, April 24.

    Ghana primarily exports electricity to Togo, Benin, and Burkina Faso through the 225kV Bolgatanga-Ouagadougou interconnection. To enhance revenue mobilisation in the energy sector and stabilise power supply, the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition says it will introduce standardised, accurate electricity meters from next month to boost revenue mobilisation and stabilise power supply.

    In a related development, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has apologised to Ghanaians over the recent power outages across the country.

    Speaking on the situation on the Channel One Newsroom on Sunday, April 26, ECG’s General Manager for External Relations, Dr Charles Nii Ayiku Ayiku, was sorry for the inconvenience caused, describing the incident as unexpected and significant.

    “I sincerely apologise for the inconvenience our cherished customers are facing. The incident wasn’t expected. It was a major incident that has rendered the entire control room affected and down, and we sincerely apologise to our customers.

    “After Akosombo, the fact is that it blocked about 1000 megawatts, but I am sure you also understand that even after losing 1000 megawatts, we have still been consistent with power supply within some parts of the country,” he said.

    He assured that his outfit is making relentless efforts with restoration works currently underway across the transmission network, with full restoration imminent soon, hence he urged the public to remain calm amid the inconveniences being caused by the outages.

    “The question is, the current situation at the Akosombo GRIDCO substation is a work in progress. As I speak to you, there is a resolution; there are some of the issues that have been resolved, some parts of the country are back on full supply, pending other lines that will be restored.

    “The engineers have assured us that very soon we will get back on supply. I would once again urge the general public and our customers to remain calm and be assured that the situation is under control,” he stated.

    Dr Ayiku cautioned against calls for a load-shedding timetable at this stage, describing it as premature.

    “So if we start talking about a load shedding timetable right now, don’t you think it is too early to call for a load shedding timetable?” he said.He added that ECG, GRIDCO, and the Volta River Authority (VRA) are working together to restore full power supply across the country.

  • Ofori-Atta to face U.S. court over his immigration status on June 15

    Ofori-Atta to face U.S. court over his immigration status on June 15

    A United States (U.S.)  immigration court is expected to hear the residency bid of former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, as well as Ghana’s efforts to secure his return to face criminal charges, on Monday, June 15. The hearing is expected to be a virtual session before Judge David A. Gardey at the Annandale Immigration Court in Virginia at 1:00 pm. 

    Ofori-Atta had been in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention since January 2026 over issues related to his immigration status. His release follows confirmation by his legal team that he had reunited with his family after leaving custody. 

    Earlier, the US judge who presided over the immigration hearing of Ghana’s former Finance Minister declined his bail application, citing an extradition request from Ghanaian authorities.

    Mr Ofori-Atta was tried on Tuesday, January 20, in a private hearing following a request for privacy by his lawyers.

    He had been in detention since his arrest on 6 January by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

    Consequently, his lawyers requested bail so that he could be released while his case is pending. However, this was rejected by the government lawyers over his extradition links, though the judge, David A. Gardey, didn’t make any final decision on the extradition but noted that no documents were shown in court to prove that an extradition request had actually been submitted.

    “The court cannot act on assertions without proof,” the judge indicated, directing the federal government to file any evidence of an extradition request on or before February 19, 2026.

    The case has been adjourned to Thursday, April 27, at 1 pm, where the tribunal is expected to hear both the bail application and any documents the government may submit. At the time, Mr Ofori-Atta had to remain in ICE detention.

    When his detention was first announced

    His detention was first announced on January 7 by his Ghanaian legal representatives, Minkah-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline & Partners (MPOBB), who said he had been taken into custody a day earlier over concerns about his immigration status.

    “The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), as of January 6, 2026, detained the former Minister for Finance, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, regarding the status of his current stay in the United States,” the firm said in a public notice signed by Justice Kusi-Minkah Premo, Esq.

    According to the lawyers, Mr Ofori-Atta has a pending petition for adjustment of status, a legal process that allows individuals to remain in the US beyond the validity of their visa.

    “Under US law, a change of status by this method is common,” the statement added, stressing that the former minister is “a law-abiding person” and is fully cooperating with ICE.

    Official records from the US Department of Homeland Security indicate that Mr Ofori-Atta is currently being held at the Caroline Detention Facility in Bowling Green, Virginia.

    The development has attracted attention in Ghana, especially given Mr Ofori-Atta’s recent legal and medical history.

    On January 7, Ken Ofori-Atta’s lawyers, Menka-Premo, Osei-Bonsu, Bruce-Cathline and Partners issued a statement confirming their client’s arrest by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over his immigration status.

    While it was widely reported that he had been detained for overstaying his visa term, the Attorney General’s Department has clarified that his visa was revoked in June last year and he was given up to November 29 to leave the USA; however, he ignored the order, leading to his detention by ICE.

    “ICE will not come for you unless you have visa issues; that is what has happened. In June 2025, his visa was revoked; it’s not an expiration of the Visa. The information we have is that his visa was revoked. So he has been living in America without a visa,” he said on the KeyPoints on TV3 Saturday, January 10.

  • Four busted for attempting to sneak 100 bags of cocoa into Ghana

    Four busted for attempting to sneak 100 bags of cocoa into Ghana

    A joint operation by the Anti-Smuggling Unit of the Ghana Cocoa Board and security agencies has led to the arrest of four individuals who were attempting to smuggle more than 100 bags of cocoa beans from Côte d’Ivoire into Ghana.

    They were arrested at Nkrankwanta in the Dormaa West District on Tuesday, April 28. The Bono Regional Minister, Joseph Addae Akwaboa disclosed that while addressing the press.

    “The operation led to the interception of a truck loaded with more than 100 bags of cocoa believed to have been smuggled from Côte d’Ivoire to Ghana,” he told a news conference in Sunyani.

    According to him, “Investigations led to the arrest of suspects… and they are currently assisting police investigations”.

    Cocoa smuggling to neighbouring Togo and Côte d’Ivoire between 2022 and 2025 has cost Ghana a total of US$1.1 billion, according to the Director of Special Services at COCOBOD, Jake Kudjo Samahar.


    During an interaction with stakeholders in the cocoa sector in the Oti and Volta regions, he disclosed that a total of 7,128.13 tonnes of cocoa were lost to smuggling between the 2020 and 2025 crop years in the Volta and Oti regions.


    Speaking to the media, he noted that the tonnage keeps decreasing each year, adding that the recorded losses have consistently dropped from the 2020/21 crop year to the 2024/25 crop year.


    “The tonnage recorded for 2020/21 crop year was 7,215.19, which reduced to 5,656.25 in 2021/22, further downward to 874.31 in the 2022/23 crop year, while 2023/24 recorded 468.75 tonnes with 2024/25 crop year recording 87.06 tonnes. We are losing a lot of revenue because if you look at within three years from 2022-2025, Ghana has lost almost $1.1 billion through cocoa smuggling into neighbouring Togo and Côte d’Ivoire,” he stated.


    Meanwhile, Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has linked the debt crisis facing the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD)to certain financial decisions taken by past officials.


    In an interview on Friday, November 14, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson noted that the GH¢32 billion in arrears the sector is experiencing is the result of indiscriminate contract awards by the previous administration.According to him, these contracts were awarded during the tenure of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) without proper checks or budget allocations to fund them.

    He disclosed that despite these challenges, COCOBOD’s financial pressures have not eased, as its weakened balance sheet prevents it from meeting its obligations.“When COCOBOD awards a contract, they have to pay the contractors, not the Finance Ministry. The previous government awarded contracts anyhow, without any sources to pay for these contracts.

    “The COCOBOD CEO inherited GH¢32 billion worth of arrears. He cannot pay it in one year because he doesn’t have the resources. COCOBOD cannot go out and borrow because of its balance sheet, so how is it supposed to pay that?”


    As part of efforts by the Board to combat the smuggling of cocoa from the country, informants who assist the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in its anti-smuggling operations will receive one-third of the value of any confiscated cocoa.

    According to the Board, these rewards will be paid without undue delay. In a statement, it wrote, “Under this arrangement, informants and anti-smuggling agents will receive one-third (1/3) of the assessed value of confiscated cocoa as their reward. This reviewed scheme is designed to ensure the sustainability of the anti-smuggling campaign while maintaining strong public participation in the collective effort to curb cocoa smuggling”.


    Individuals have been urged to contact the Special Anti-Smuggling Task Force through the hotline on 0308-040-107. The Board has assured that it will treat with strict confidentiality any information received from informants.Ghana continues to grapple with cocoa smuggling, a practice that undermines the country’s revenue.


    Meanwhile, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco, Her Excellency Imane Ouaadil, on July 28, handed over two thousand (2,000) tons of fertilizer, equivalent to 40,000 bags of fertilizer, to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture.


    According to the Foreign Ministry, the fertilizer was donated to the West African country by the Kingdom of Morocco during the official visit of Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa to Morocco last month as part of the two countries’ commitment to sustainable agriculture to enhance food security.


    Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Setor Dumelo, received the donated fertilizers on behalf of the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku. He expressed gratitude to the Morrocan government for the donation. He assured that farmers will receive the fertilizers to aid crop production.


    “Yesterday, 40,000 bags of fertilizer was donated to Ghana by the Kingdom of Morocco through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. On behalf of my boss Hon Eric Opoku, I want to say a big thank you to Hon Ablakwa and Her Excellency Ouaadil for this kind gesture. We at the Ministry of Agriculture will ensure the fertilizers get straight to the deserving farmers as soon as possible,” he wrote in a post on the X platform on July 29.


    Stakeholders in the agricultural sector have bemoaned the absence of a single chemical fertiliser plant in the country. The Institute for Fiscal Studies noted that the absence of such a plant is having an adverse impact on crop production and the contribution of the agricultural sector to the country’s economy, i.e., the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The sector’s contribution to the country’s GDP declined from 26.9% in 2010 to 22.7% in 2023.


    In March this year, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, Dr. Said Boakye, said, “We need to establish several fertiliser manufacturing plants to ensure that adequate and affordable fertiliser is available to farmers, which will help boost agricultural productivity.”


    “The sad reality is that Ghana lacks a single chemical fertiliser plant. In our rice studies, we have been comparing with Vietnam, where they have more than 7,000 plants. Vietnam’s success in achieving high agricultural productivity is largely due to fertilisers being readily available to farmers at no cost, along with incentivized prices,” he added.


    The Institute for Fiscal Studies has entreated the government to allocate significant funding to establish a fertiliser manufacturing plant.


    COCOBOD has noted that it would not secure any syndicated loan to finance cocoa purchases for the 2025/26 crop season. According to them, the shortage of cocoa beans on the global level has informed such a decision.


    “We’re not doing syndication…this year [2025], we’re not doing syndication. What has necessitated us not to do syndication is that we’re experiencing a global shortage of the cocoa bean.”
    He made these revelations during an interview with Accra-based radio station, Citi FM, on Monday, August 4.

    The Head of Public Affairs at COCOBOD, Jerome Kwaku Sam, stated explicitly stated, that the Board had not sought syndicated financing for the 2024/2025 season and had no intention of doing so this year.


    “…To be very honest, last year [2024], we didn’t do syndication, and this year [2025], we’re not doing syndication.
    Mr Sam further noted that the move also reflects a strategic effort to reduce costs under prevailing market conditions.
    “We’re not doing syndication whereby we’re going to incur additional expenses and what have you. That is out of the system or table for now,” he emphasized.