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“Ato Forson will become president of Ghana for 11 years” – Prophet

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“Ato Forson will become president of Ghana for 11 years” – Prophet

Ghanaian Prophet Telvin Adjei Sowah has prophesied that the current finance minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, will become Ghana’s president for 11 years.

According to Prophet Telvin Adjei Sowah, in the 2028 election, only three people can become president.

The man of God named Joshua Alabi, Ato Forson, and Asiedu Nketia as the only three people who can become president in 2028.

He further disclosed that Ato Forson will emerge as running mate along the line and later serve as Vice President following the election victory.

Prophet Telvin Adjei Sowah further revealed that during Ato Forson’s time as Vice President, the sitting President will hand over power to him on September 19, allowing him to lead the country for a total of 11 years.

Speaking on Accra FM, Prophet Telvin Adjei Sowah stated, “There are only three people that can become president in 2028: Joshua Alabi, Ato Forson, and Asiedu Nketia”.

“Among the three, Joshua Alabi is a dormant figure. Asiedu Nketia activated him and woke him up from the background. Ato Forson is an anomaly in the timeline which is for 2028.

The first president has to run the presidency for the first four years, and then win in 2032 during 2032 he will be appointed the running mate, and officially, once that person is in power, he will run the presidency up to September 19, and he will give up the presidency to Ato Forson”.

The man of God further added, “Ato Forson will become president for 11 good years in Ghana, our beloved country.

In related news, Prophet Telvin Sowah had earlier shared revelations he received regarding Ghana’s future in the coming year 2026.

Speaking on Okay FM, the man of God boldly declared that 2026 will be the best year for Ghana over the past 40 years.

He revealed that Ghana has been sinking and would be reborn in 2026 to become a superpower in Africa.

Prophet Telvin Sowah stated, “In 2026, every Ghanaian in Ghana needs to pay close attention to that operation. 2026 will be the best year for the past 40 years in this country; that is where we kick start.

Ghana is about to… they say reset, reset, Ghana is going to be reborn, the country has been sinking, now there is a new face of Ghana that is coming, and when that new face emerges, Ghana will become like a superpower in Africa”.

The man of God further added that Ghana will have a military liaison to have nuclear power.

He further added, “From that angle, I am seeing a military liaison with several military angles, where even in Ghana, we will be handling a lot of nuclear power and other things in this country. Not just nuclear bombs, but nuclear power for electricity and other things.

Where we will have the capacity to have such weapons if we need them, and we will have the capacity to enter that liaison very soon in 2026. The country will be able to face the world aswell”.

Prophet Telvin Sowah further revealed that Ghana will have a strong economic development in 2026.

“Aside from that, I saw a very strong economic development. Once I saw it in March, it never came down again. We were nailing the dollar to the ground, but in January, it was a bit quick, and it was adjusted”, he disclosed. 

Prophet Telvin Sowah further touched on the music industry, movie and art industry, stressing that Ghana will be on par with Nigeria and even go beyond Nigeria’s top entertainers.

He further added, “Good news is coming for people in the music industry, movie and art industry, I am seeing Ghana face with Nigeria, even going beyond them in the movie and the music industry, so something is about to kick in that reality”.

Watch the video below:

SIM registration was not useless; 80% biometrics verified – Ursula Owusu rubbishes Mahama’s claims

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SIM registration was not useless; 80% biometrics verified – Ursula Owusu rubbishes Mahama’s claims

Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, the former Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, has issued a rebuttal to claims made by President John Dramani Mahama and the current Minister for Communications, Sam George.

President John Dramani Mahama, addressing a gathering on Thursday, March 19, 2026, claimed there was a conflict between former Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and the former head of the National Identification Authority (NIA), which caused the challenges in the last SIM registration exercise.

President Mahama, addressing a gathering on Thursday, March 19, 2026, stated, “Some time back, we were told to register our SIM cards, which caused great distress to Ghanaians. Even MTN had to mount canopies just to attend to everyone.”

“When that was ongoing, we didn’t know that the former Minister of Communications [Ursula Owusu] was not on speaking terms with the former head of the NIA. They had issues between them,” he disclosed.

President Mahama added, “When you are undertaking a SIM registration, it is important to add it to the national registration so that a number can easily be identified and traced to the owner should that person be engaged in wrongdoing”.

“The sad part is that we didn’t do that, making the previous SIM registration exercise wasteful,” the president stated.

In a statement titled “Rebuttal Statement on SIM Registration Falsehoods,” Ursula Owusu-Ekuful stated, “I have deliberately refrained from commenting on events in the communications sector since I left office a little over a year ago, but am compelled to set the record straight when the President of the Republic himself repeats falsehoods. I have heard the comments made by President Mahama in the Bono Region on the SIM registration exercise, and I must say that a number of the comments he made are far from the truth.

Let us be clear from the beginning: the 2022–2023 SIM registration exercise did not come out of nowhere. It became necessary because the old SIM registration exercise done in 2010–2011 was not effective. That earlier process did not have any proper validation system due to the lack of any mass identification document.

That is why we introduced a more structured and legally compliant process tied to the Ghana Card. The idea was simple: if SIM cards are being used in Ghana, then they must be linked to a proper national identity system as required by law. That was the whole point.

The process itself had two stages. First, people entered their Ghana Card details through a shortcode. Those details were checked with the National Identification Authority to confirm that the information was correct. After that, the individual moved to the second stage, which involved data capture and biometric registration, including facial and fingerprint capture”.

The former Minister for Communications and Digitalisation highlighted that 80% of the facial biometrics captured matched with the data in the NIA database, adding that the process was not useless or an empty exercise, as people are now desperately trying to suggest.

She disclosed that all that is left now is less than 20% to be biometrically verified in what can only be termed stage 3 of what we started.

Mrs Owusu-Ekuful challenged the narrative, saying, “Now, a lot has been said to create the impression that the problems with the exercise were because of personal issues or bad blood between institutions. That is simply not true. I have known Professor Attafuah for many years, and at no point in time did we ever stop speaking to each other, either personally or professionally. We may have had disagreements, but I am too professional to allow differences of opinion to affect my work in any way.

The only issue was that the National Identification Authority did not allow the SIM registration system to connect to their database for biometric verification at that second stage. That was the challenge. This, however, did not prevent us from compiling a comprehensive database of all activated SIMS in Ghana, and I thank all well-meaning Ghanaians once again for their cooperation, which ensured that the mass registration exercise was successfully completed with the registration of almost 30 million SIM cards. That SIM Registry database exists and is hosted securely by the national Electronic Transactions Regulator, NITA, in the National Data Centre!!

And yet, despite that limitation, what do we know today? We know that when an audit was conducted in 2025, more than 80% of the facial biometrics captured matched with the data in the NIA database. That is important. That means the process was not some useless or empty exercise as they are now desperately trying to suggest. In fact, it shows that the major part of the work has already been done.

All that is left now is for the less than 20% to be biometrically verified in what can only be termed stage 3 of what we started. That is all.

So the question is simple: if they say the previous exercise had no value or no data, then where did the 80% verification result come from? What data did they use for that audit? You cannot say on one hand that there was no data, and then on the other hand use audit outcomes based on that same exercise. That is contradictory. That is dishonest”.

Read Ursula Owusu’s full statement below:

The-plain-truth-about-SIM-Registration-2022-23Download

“I have not lobbied for a running mate position, but if it comes, I will accept it” – Patricia Appiagyei

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“I have not lobbied for a running mate position, but if it comes, I will accept it” – Patricia Appiagyei

Patricia Appiagyei, the Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, has refuted allegations that she is lobbying to be selected as a running mate of the New Patriotic Party’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia.

According to Patricia Appiagyei, she has not made any such move, but remains open to serving in that capacity if given the opportunity.

Speaking in an interview with Sir John on GhanAkoma on Akoma FM on Wednesday, March 19, 2026, the Asokwa MP emphasised, “I have not lobbied for any running mate position, but if it comes, I will accept it because I am willing to serve the party”.

She further asserted that the NPP has several capable individuals who could be considered.

“There are more prominent people in the party who can equally support Dr Bawumia to secure power in 2028. It is the prerogative of the party to choose the right person,” she added.

“We are focusing on restructuring the base of the party by registering new members to complement the existing ones for victory in 2028,” she noted.

In related news, some NPP Members of Parliament have endorsed the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) 2024 running mate, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, commonly known as NAPO, to be maintained as running mate in the 2028 elections.

Following the State of the Nation Address on Friday, February 27, 2026, Napo was spotted exchanging pleasantries with dignitaries in Parliament shortly after he attempted to leave Parliament, some NPP MPs gathered around him.

The NPP MPs were heard chanting “Yɛ pɛ NAPO, NAPO na yɛ pɛ” which translates as We want Napo, Napo is the one we want”.

Nana Ayeh Asafo-Adjei, the Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho and the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, along with other colleagues.

Other MP’s were also heard shouting, “No change, we want NAPO.”

Also, Akwasi Anti Asamoah, a former Fomena Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has told the party’s flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, that he cannot change Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh as the running mate.

The NPP man recounted how former President Akufo-Addo maintained Dr Bawumia after several unsuccessful attempts at the presidency.

According to him, Dr Bawumia needs to keep Napo as his running mate for consistency’s sake, just as Akufo-Addo did.

Akwasi Anti Asamoah detailed that Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh is the right candidate to partner with Dr Bawumia, adding that every individual has flaws.

He detailed that Napo has acknowledged his shortcomings and worked on them after the NPP’s defeat in the 2024 election.

Speaking in an interview on Angel TV, Akwasi Anti Asamoah stated, “Bawumia cannot change NAPO because he is the right candidate. Akufo-Addo contested with him as running mate three times, and they eventually won.

Now Bawumia has also been marketed and is going again, so NAPO is the best candidate to run with him,” he said.

He further added that the NPP lost the election due to the anger of NPP members and not the fault of Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh.

“The party suffered defeat because of anger, and it is not NAPO’s fault that we lost the election. He is the best person to partner with Bawumia for the presidency,” he stressed.

Mahama gov’t 24-Hour Economy turning into another policy slogan – GNCCI warns

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Mahama gov’t 24-Hour Economy turning into another policy slogan – GNCCI warns

Mark Badu Aboagye, the CEO of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), has warned the John Mahama government that the 24-Hour Economy is turning into another policy slogan. 

According to the GNCCI CEO, if the former Akufo-Addo governments had even implemented just 50% of their 1D1F, all of Ghana’s employment issues would have been solved.

He explained policies like the 24-hour economy are well thought through, but suffer from poor implementation.

Speaking on PM Express on Joy News, Mark Badu Aboagye explained, “Obviously, there’s always an engagement for us to understand what it is, for us to understand the role that we will play, and all those things. Last Friday, we were actually supposed to meet Gossie Tannoh, but I think he travelled. So okay, so we have had that engagement with them.”

“When it comes to policies, as I said, it is implementation, the 1D1F. It’s been said that it was a very brilliant policy. If governments had even implemented just 50% of it, all these employment issues would have been solved.”

“That is what they always say, it is private sector-driven. And, of course, it should be private sector-driven. But what incentives are they providing?”

The GNCCI further added, “We had a similar incentive with 1D1F, where they say, if you go for a facility, we’ll pay a percentage of the interest. So the collateral point he talks about was also built into 1D1F. Let’s say the policies are brilliant; it is the implementation.

“And obviously, you get some political undertones. And people who can assess this funding, the real private sector people find out from them, whether they were able to get some of this funding.”

“So to solve this problem, it shouldn’t be just a political slogan and say, 24-hour economy. They are a brilliant idea. But how is the private sector taking it up? I think that to be able to solve this, one approach is to also look at our investors.”

Also, Michael Okyere Baafi, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Trade and Industry Committee and MP for New Juaben South, has said John Mahama’s flagship 24-Hour Economy formula has moved from “1-3-3” to “4-1-9” .

According to Michael Okyere Baafi, the Mahama government’s handling of the 24-Hour Economy Policy has left many Ghanaians confused about its actual implementation framework.

Michael Okyere Baafi called on the Mahama government to apologise to Ghanaians for changing the formula of the 24-Hour Economy Policy from “1-3-3” to “4-1-9”

Speaking during a media interview on Saturday, March 14, Michael Okyere Baafi stated, “The policy was advertised by President Mahama and his team before the elections. Today, I put it to the head of the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat… They have to go back to the country and apologise to Ghanaians”.

“What sense do you get about the policy? It’s a private sector-led initiative with incentives that may include interest subsidies,” he said.

He asked, “Government needs to do more in the area of investment promotion. They want to create jobs, but how?”

“We are now waiting for the incentive policy. The point I’m trying to make is that we now understand a different 24-Hour Economy,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Minority Spokesperson on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, has said the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill passed by parliament will not deliver a 24-Hour work cycle.

The member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi is quoted by a TV3 news flyer to have said, “I say it in pain that the bill they have passed will not deliver a 24-hour work cycle in this country. We will be here!”

According to Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill passed does not include an instrument that will ensure public agencies work for 24 hours.

Speaking in an interview on TV3 on Sunday, February 22, 2026, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah further explained, “Even the functions of the bill, they don’t put in it that this authority is to ensure that public agencies work for 24 hours. When we tried to put it in, they objected to it; that is why I am saying to you in all humility, they know what they are doing”.

“They are hoodwinking it in front of young people that they have passed the bill. It is coming, and I regret to say that nothing is coming. I encourage the young people to go online, Google the bill, and read it for yourself. You will be disappointed”.

“They have time; they have about two more budgets to go; they have time to correct some of these things. Unfortunately, when we speak, I think because of the partisan nature of politics, the NDC is more interested in debating us than picking lessons. Even when we confess our mistakes, they are more interested in debating us than listening to our confessions”, he added.

“You are so ugly, I don’t want you on my channel” – Nana Aba recounts being sacked from Metro TV on her first day

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“You are so ugly, I don’t want you on my channel” – Nana Aba recounts being sacked from Metro TV on her first day

Nana Aba Anamoah, a renowned media personality, has recounted how she was sacked from Metro TV on her first day.

According to Nana Aba Anamoah, her debut on Metro TV did not go as planned.

She disclosed that live appearances were tough, particularly as it was her first time on television without proper guidance.

Speaking in a podcast conversation with Richie Mensah, “I worked at Metro TV for just one day. I went on the screen for one day,” she said.

“It was a disaster because my makeup was shambolic, my hair was dishevelled, and I had no idea what I was doing,” she explained.

Nana Aba Anamoah revealed she and her colleague were summoned by management, saying,  “We were called into the MD’s office, and he was angry. He said we had desecrated his channel and told us not to come back again”.

“He pointed at me and said, ‘You are so ugly… I don’t want you on my channel again.’”

“I have a mirror at home, I have parents, I have siblings. I had never been described as ugly before,” she noted.

Nana Aba further disclosed that she had an unexpected encounter with the same executive years after she was dismissed, adding that the man could not recognise her at first.

The veteran broadcaster narrated, “He came to say hello to me and was praising me, saying, ‘You are so good, my children admire you,’”

“I asked him, ‘You don’t remember me, do you?’ He said no,” she recounted.

“I told him, ‘I worked at Metro TV for one day. You said I was ugly.’ Sometimes you meet fire with fire, sometimes with water, depending on the circumstances,” she said.

In related news, Portia Gabor, an award-winning journalist and news anchor, has touched hearts on social media after opening up about her childhood insecurity that followed her into adulthood.

The veteran Journalist in a social media post narrated how her big ears helped her land a job at Media General TV3.

According to Portia Gabor, for years she tried to hide what made her different, believing it could block her chances in life.

On Facebook, Portia Gabor narrated, “Growing up as a child, I thought I looked perfect. Then one day, someone pointed out that I had big ears. That’s when my insecurities began. I was laughed at, and at some point, people gave me strange nicknames about my ears in school 😂.

 I lacked self-confidence and prayed to God. 

One day, while doing my national service, my friends Augustina, Leo, and Jeff saw an advert on TV. TV3 was looking for a news anchor and journalist. They nudged me to apply because I had been reading to them, always pretending to be an anchor. I didn’t think I’d be chosen; my ears would be noticed, and people would laugh at me. That day, I was in a ponytail, and my ears stuck out. I had to quickly take a picture because it was the deadline for the application. I quickly did that and sent the letter to the reception of TV3. Thinking I would never be chosen…

The next day, I received a phone call from someone who introduced himself as Osei Boakye. He was then the news editor of TV3. He said, “I was going through the various applications and pictures, and guess what? Your ears caught my attention. They look exactly like my daughter’s ears 😂😂. Can you come to TV3? I want to see you.” 😂😂

I quickly rushed to TV3 to meet him in his office. He showed me his daughter’s picture. That moment turned out to be an impromptu and informal interview. Osei Boakye called me among other applicants, not because of my CV but because of my ears. Something I was teased about, something I tried to cover… At that moment, my ears were the gateway to my breakthrough; my insecurity became my security”.

Portia Gabor, after sharing her story, used her personal journey to speak directly to people who may be struggling silently, urging them not to let their looks limit them.

She added, “I don’t know who needs to hear this, but there are many of us who have dealt with physical insecurities, especially young ladies, feeling not beautiful enough, not happy about a scar or looks or even a physical challenge or a disability.

Sometimes it may not even be physical. Perhaps a bad experience or a troublesome past that we want to hide. You are worth more than your physical appearance. May your physical appearance not hinder you from achieving your dreams. And yes, you can learn to embrace it and love yourself.

In my case, my ears landed me a job, first, before my CV and competence were even considered.

Again, you are worth more than your physical appearance”, her post concluded.

Watch the video below:

NDC promised 3 shifts, yet can’t even fund 1 shift, now borrowing GHC17bn – Okoe-Boye blast Mahama gov’t

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NDC promised 3 shifts, yet can’t even fund 1 shift, now borrowing GHC17bn – Okoe-Boye blast Mahama gov’t

Dr Okoe-Boye, the Former Health Minister, has taken a swipe at the John Mahama-led government over their inability to fund one shift of public workers after promising three shifts in opposition.

According to Okoe-Boye, the NDC has been trapped by their words and must apologise to Ghanaian youths for its deception during the 2024 campaign.

Dr Okoe-Boye highlighted that the NDC promised Ghanaians youths three shifts, but are now borrowing ¢17 billion just to meet public sector wage obligations in 2025.

Speaking on Accra-based Asempa FM, Dr Okoe Boye explained, “When the NDC was talking about the 133, they were speaking to what they can control and not the private sector. Typical of the NDC, the first shift, they do not have the money to cover the wage bill. Men are trapped by the words. Even the wage bill for the first shift, OB, you think…

John Mahama is a handsome man and has been a president before. He would have employed more people in his first term, but the reason why he couldn’t is that he knows there is something called a wage bill”.

Dr Okoe-Boye added, “But in 2024, they told the whole youth that instead of one shift…I was on Metro TV, and I said the only reason why you don’t run a three-shift system just like that is that you have to check the wage bill of the first shift. Today, Ato Forson is telling you that under this recovered economy, when they pay the three statutory funds, he has to borrow to pay workers”.

“The point I’m making is that at the time they were promising, 133 the finance minister, Ato Forson, was aware that in the previous government under Akufo-Addo, the money that we generate as a country, after paying the District Assemblies’ common fund, GETFUND, and Health Insurance, it becomes difficult to pay for salaries.

That is the reason why the government introduced the capping policy…OB, when you use smartness and duplicity to get power, the victims of these games wait for you at the polls in three years. Sometimes it is better to be silent and reflect because the more you talk about it, the more you anger the people you played games with,” he explained.

His comments follows, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, has revealed that the government borrowed approximately GH¢17 billion just to meet public sector wage obligations in 2025.

The Finance Minister detailed that Ghana spent 44 per cent of its total tax revenue on public sector wages in 2025.

According to Ato Forson, Ghana’s wage bill consumes 44% of tax revenue, forcing the government to borrow to pay salaries.

Report by TV3 stated, “out of total tax revenue of GH¢183 billion in 2025, statutory obligations, including transfers to DACF, GETFund, NHIL, and debt servicing, consumed GH¢122.1 billion, leaving only GH¢61.9 billion available.

However, the government’s wage bill alone amounted to GH¢78.9 billion, creating a financing gap that forced the state to borrow approximately GH¢17 billion just to meet salary obligations.

Dr Forson emphasised that the combined burden of wages, debt servicing, and statutory transfers exceeded total tax revenue, effectively crowding out other critical expenditures.

Also, Ato Forson has disclosed that public sector wages remain the largest component of government expenditure.

Speaking during a dialogue with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, Ato Forson stated, “Compensation of Ghana’s employees is currently the largest share of government expenditure. Of the total government expenditure, employee compensation accounts for 39%, debt service accounts for 32%, and grants to other government units account for 29%”.

“The crowding effect of compensation means that while we spend 33% of our compensation budget, our expenditure on compensation, only three per cent is used for goods and services, and capital expenditure represents only six per cent of Ghana’s expenditure.

“Social benefits only represent one per cent of government expenditure, and grants to other government units representing the statutory funds are about 24% while debt service represents 26% of our total expenditure”.

“Some key facts on the compensation issues are that at the end of the 2025 fiscal year, compensation budget accounted for 44% of non-oil tax revenue, 5.6% of GDP, and 33.78% of total expenditure,” he added.

NDC was not against SIM registration, just the process – NIA CEO

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NDC was not against SIM registration, just the process – NIA CEO

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Identification Authority (NIA), Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku, has said the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in opposition were never against the SIM card registration exercise.

According to the NIA, both he and the current communication minister supported SIM registration but disagreed with the process of implementation.

The NIA CEO detailed that gaps identified in the 2022 exercise made it possible for individuals to misuse Ghana Cards for the registration of multiple SIMs.

Speaking on TV3, Wisdom Yayra Koku Deku explained, “We were not against SIM card registration, we were against the process”.

He further explained that a proper SIM registration must involve three steps: identification, verification, and authentication, noting that the previous registration had only two stages.

“At best, the system confirmed the card, not the person,” he noted.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has added his voice to the upcoming SIM registration exercise, describing the previous registration as wasteful.

According to President Mahama, there was a conflict between former Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and the former head of the National Identification Authority (NIA), which caused the challenges in the last SIM registration exercise.

President Mahama, addressing a gathering on Thursday, March 19, 2026, stated, “Some time back, we were told to register our SIM cards, which caused great distress to Ghanaians. Even MTN had to mount canopies just to attend to everyone.”

“When that was ongoing, we didn’t know that the former Minister of Communications [Ursula Owusu] was not on speaking terms with the former head of the NIA. They had issues between them,” he disclosed

President Mahama added, “When you are undertaking a SIM registration, it is important to add it to the national registration so that a number can easily be identified and traced to the owner should that person be engaged in wrongdoing”.

“The sad part is that we didn’t do that, making the previous SIM registration exercise wasteful,” the president stated.

President Mahama further disclosed, “The new one that the Minister of Communications is about to do, the SIM will be linked to the Ghana Card, which will make it impossible to change it. Everything involving that particular SIM card will easily be traced to its owner,” he explained.

“We will do it in such a way that you will receive a code on your phone, which will demand you to write your name, Ghana card number and other details, which will directly go into the database and will directly link your SIM card to the Ghana Card. You will not need to visit or go all the way to the telcos just to register the SIM,” he noted.

“The process will be free, and it is the telcos that will bear the cost for the re-registration. All you need to do is to input your details when you receive the code,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sam Nartey George, the Minister for Communication, Innovations, and Digital Technologies, has announced that the upcoming SIM registration will be Ghana’s first with a proper biometric registration.

According to Sam George, the new SIM registration is intended to correct flaws from the old registration.

The sector minister is quoted by a GHOne news flyer to have said, “This will be the first time in Ghana’s history that we will have a proper biometric SIM registration”.

Sam George further assured Ghanaians that the upcoming SIM registration exercise will be the last.

According to him, the government rolls out a robust, technology-driven system designed to enhance convenience and eliminate fraud.

Clash between Ursula Owusu and NIA led to wasteful SIM registration exercise – Mahama

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Clash between Ursula Owusu and NIA led to wasteful SIM registration exercise – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has added his voice to the upcoming SIM registration exercise, describing the previous registration as wasteful.

According to President Mahama, there was a conflict between former Minister of Communications, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful and the former head of the National Identification Authority (NIA), which caused the challenges in the last SIM registration exercise.

President Mahama, addressing a gathering on Thursday, March 19, 2026, stated, “Some time back, we were told to register our SIM cards, which caused great distress to Ghanaians. Even MTN had to mount canopies just to attend to everyone.”

“When that was ongoing, we didn’t know that the former Minister of Communications [Ursula Owusu] was not on speaking terms with the former head of the NIA. They had issues between them,” he disclosed.

President Mahama added, “When you are undertaking a SIM registration, it is important to add it to the national registration so that a number can easily be identified and traced to the owner should that person be engaged in wrongdoing”.

“The sad part is that we didn’t do that, making the previous SIM registration exercise wasteful,” the president stated.

President Mahama further disclosed, “The new one that the Minister of Communications is about to do, the SIM will be linked to the Ghana Card, which will make it impossible to change it. Everything involving that particular SIM card will easily be traced to its owner,” he explained.

“We will do it in such a way that you will receive a code on your phone, which will demand you to write your name, Ghana card number and other details, which will directly go into the database and will directly link your SIM card to the Ghana Card. You will not need to visit or go all the way to the telcos just to register the SIM,” he noted.

“The process will be free, and it is the telcos that will bear the cost for the re-registration. All you need to do is to input your details when you receive the code,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sam Nartey George, the Minister for Communication, Innovations, and Digital Technologies, has announced that the upcoming SIM registration will be Ghana’s first with a proper biometric registration.

According to Sam George, the new SIM registration is intended to correct flaws from the old registration.

The sector minister is quoted by a GHOne news flyer to have said, “This will be the first time in Ghana’s history that we will have a proper biometric SIM registration”.

Sam George further assured Ghanaians that the upcoming SIM registration exercise will be the last.

According to him, the government rolls out a robust, technology-driven system designed to enhance convenience and eliminate fraud.

Speaking to stakeholders about the planned exercise, Sam George stated, “The fact that you have multi-agency collaboration on this is something that you didn’t see in previous times.

You have the NIA (National Identification Authority) being our single source of truth when it comes to IDs, the NCA (National Communications Authority), the ministry, Immigration Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other agencies all working together.

“What you see today is the product of very hard and difficult conversations, and that gives me the confidence that if we execute this right, this will be the final SIM registration exercise,” Mr George explained.

“This registration is 75 per cent communication and 25 per cent technology,” he said

He further ruled out automatic migration of existing SIM data into the new system saying, “You are not cleaning up. You are actually migrating the viruses.

You have infected files, and you are migrating them onto a new system.

You are basically replicating the problems of the old system.

And that’s part of the reason why we can’t do a wholesale migration. And that’s cured today by NIA’s solution that they are offering to us based on the collaboration we are having with them,” he said.

Watch the video below:

“If 3,000 inmates are in Nsawam Prison, 2,000 have access to phones, who engage in fraud” – Ex-convict reveals

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“If 3,000 inmates are in Nsawam Prison, 2,000 have access to phones, who engage in fraud” – Ex-convict reveals

An ex-convict has given a chilling account of how inmates in the Nsawam Prison operate.

According to the ex-convict, if 3,000 inmates are in Nsawam Prison, 2,000 have access to phones, who engage in fraud.

He disclosed the hierarchy among inmates, the harsh realities of prison life, including poor living and feeding conditions.

The ex-convict also detailed that the cell leaders in prison have wives who are the cell boys with whom they engage in homosexual activities.

He further revealed that some inmates are allowed to operate illegal businesses and scam operations within the facility and pay commissions to the prison officers.

Speaking on Asempa FM, on March 18, 2026, the Ex-convict alleged, “The cell leader in prison has a wife also in prison, who is the cell’s boy. The cell leader is in charge of texting on phones. Every phone in this world is available in prison. If there are 3,000 inmates inside Nsawam Prison, more than 2,000 have access to mobile phones, engaging in fraud. There are prisoners who operate mobile money and are able to withdraw funds from the criminal proceeds”.

“As a cell boy, you are in charge of bringing food. They are not allowed to go outside, and because of that, a lot of the prisoners hate it. And because they are always kept indoors, they are held responsible for any item that goes missing, and so they are expected to remain vigilant,” he disclosed.

The Ex-convict added, “The cell leaders are the last ones to enter the gate by 8 pm before the gates are locked. As a prisoner, if you mistakenly cough after 8 pm to make noise, you can be surcharged.

“You can be taken to court, which is right there in the prison cells. There are prisoners acting as judges, police, lawyers, all in the cells and they will rule on your case if you’re in trouble,” he recounted.

“I was working as a kitchen boy, and the living conditions were poor. The groundnuts used for the soup are mostly rotten. Some prisoners who are serving longer jail terms and those with money are allowed to operate illegal businesses like selling food and scam operations within the facility and pay commissions to the prison officers,” he added.

The Ex-convict also disclosed that some prisoners are able to amass wealth while incarcerated by operating a food business.

“The prisoners operating a food business are rich. Even though they are in prison, they are able to build huge houses outside despite coming to Nsawam with nothing in their name or a single dime,” he disclosed.

Some Ghanaians on X reacting to the ex-convict revelation stated, “Just give it some few days prisons officers will come and say he is lying, these the 4 prisoner telling us how the place is and when you listen to the stories they are all saying the same things and you can tell they are no lying yet prison officers will come and defend it”.

A netizen added, “Prison is very harsh and unforgiving. It’s supposed to reform the prisoners, but the conditions rather make them hardened

It’s why I was shocked when some Ghanaians were angry that the Church of Pentecost built a prison.

They built a prison so that inmates can have better lives !!”.

A netizen added, “Every institution in this money-hungry state is corrupt! We are setting ourselves up for the worst. Every individual wants an edge over the others. We’ve sold our sense of humanity and dignity to a mere paper. It’s sad how the future generation is going to crumble”.

“Our fight against cybercrime and fraud cannot succeed if our own prisons are being used as operational bases for scammers. Allegations of officers receiving commissions from these illegal activities are incredibly serious. We need a complete security overhaul at Nsawam to ensure that inmates are truly serving their sentences, not running illegal businesses there”, an X user added.

Watch the video below:

Galamsey cannot be stopped in Ghana – MP boldly states

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Galamsey cannot be stopped in Ghana – MP boldly states

Ntebe Ayo William, the Member of Parliament for Tatale-Sanguli, has boldly stated that illegal mining, widely known as galamsey, cannot be entirely eradicated in Ghana.

According to the Tatale-Sanguli MP, Ghana can only minimise the impact of galamsey through targeted interventions.

He noted that earlier forms of illegal mining involved basic tools, which caused less environmental damage, adding that the increased use of chanfans and earth-moving equipment like excavators has significantly worsened the scale of destruction.

Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, he explained, “What is galamsey at all? Galamsey is illegal mining. So, if I go to my farm and there is gold there and I decide to mine my gold, that is illegal, that is galamsey. We will control that one. The government is on the point to stop mining in water bodies and in the forest”.

“… you cannot stop galamsey in Ghana. To be honest with you, you can only minimise it. How do you end it? We are fighting it, and we are fighting it in two ways: water and forest. Don’t destroy the forest, don’t pollute the water,” he said.

In related news, President John Dramani Mahama has admitted that illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, involves individuals across political and traditional structures.

According to John Mahama, he will not kid himself that his own party people are not involved in the galamsey menace.

President Mahama highlighted that the fight against the galamsey menace will be difficult but must continue.

Mahama stressed that operators often shift allegiance when governments change, allowing the practice to continue.

Speaking during a meeting with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, President Mahama stated, “Illegal mining has eaten into the fabric of our society. And I must say that it is not only a menace to our society, but it has involved a circle of traditional rulers, political party appointees and everything”.

“Even when one party changes, those who were running some operation, who went to one party, will go to the next party and say, now that you have come, come and take over this operation and let’s share. We, too, will be getting small; this is what we are doing. And so I don’t kid myself that we don’t have our own people involved,” he stated.

President Mahama further touched on the work of the anti-illegal mining task force NAIMOS, describing it as challenging, especially in communities where resistance is strong.

He added, “And the work of the NAIMOS is not easy. They go to a community, and the chiefs, the youth and everybody come out and resist them. And so, I didn’t kid myself that we would be able to win that fight overnight. But we cannot relent, we must continue”.

“And it doesn’t help when we have a crisis in the cocoa industry. The low price that was paid to cocoa farmers made some of them give up their farms for gold mining,” he noted.

“We are hoping that it will stabilise with the new automatic mechanism we are coming up with so that farmers know that they are getting 70% of the price,” he said.

“One of the problems we have is we don’t have patrol boats, especially on our waterways, for nine months to continue to patrol the waterways,” he explained.

Mahama further added that the Finance, Defence and Interior ministries are working to provide the necessary resources.

“So, we are working with the minister of finance to be able to maintain that,” he said.

Big Push road projects funded by our own resources – Mahama reveals

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Big Push road projects funded by our own resources – Mahama reveals

President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that every Big Push road project currently underway across the country is being funded entirely with Ghana’s own resources.

According to John Mahama, Ghana has sufficient funds to support the Big Push initiative without resorting to loans that would add further costs to the nation.

President Mahama further revealed that contractors have been instructed to expedite their work and to submit certificates of completion to facilitate early payment.

Speaking during his visit to the Bono Region as part of the Resetting Agenda Tour on Thursday, March 19, 2026, President Mahama disclosed, “Let it be known that all the roads we are constructing are being funded with our own resources. We have not borrowed any money to finance these projects.

“The Sunyani Outer Ring Road, for example, is being funded entirely from our own coffers. The money is available, and I have instructed every contractor to expedite their work, complete the roads, and submit their certificates for payment.

“Before I left Accra for the Bono Region, the finance minister remained in his office, signing off on certificates for some of these contractors so they can be paid promptly,” he said.

Earlier, President John Mahama announced that a whopping sum of $30.8 billion had been allocated to the Big Push program in 2026.

Speaking at the 77th Annual New Year School at the University of Ghana on Tuesday, January 6, the President stated, “We are investing massively in improving our infrastructure. And this year, we invested more than $13 billion in our Big Push Program. In 2026, we have allocated a whopping sum of $30.8 billion for the Big Push Program”.

“This will see massive improvements in our road network, in rail, in aviation, in health, in education, in agribusiness, and manufacturing.”

President Mahama also announced plans to cut sid for the commencement of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway.

He told critics of the project that he wished they were in the traffic jam over the New Year that was caused by a Believers Worship Centre.

Mahama explained, “For those who have spoken against this expressway, I wish that they were in the traffic jam over the New Year. When a single church held a convention, it brought the Accra-Kumasi road into gridlock for more than seven hours. Accra is the biggest city in Ghana and the capital. Kumasi is the next biggest city in Ghana.

“And the traffic between these two cities, it’s a shame that we have a single-lane road linking our two major cities. This will be a thing of the past, and I’m looking forward to cutting sod early this year for the commencement of construction of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway”.

“For those people who miscommunicate and try to twist my words, the new city will not be the capital. The capital will continue to be the seat of government, and it will be the capital of Ghana.

“But we’ll create a new city that will be smart, that will be innovative, there will be no kiosks, no containers, and no beggars on the streets.”

Meanwhile, Kwame Governs Agbodza, the Minister for Roads and Highways, has announced that every road project under President John Mahama’s Big Push initiative will be tolled.

The Road Minister revealed that the tolls will be used to raise money for road maintenance.

Kwame Governs Agbodza is quoted by GHOne TV news card to have said, “ Every road under the Big Push initiative will be tolled to raise money for its maintenance”.

Also, the Roads minister in an interview on JoyNews’ Super Morning Show revealed that the government’s proposed Accra–Kumasi expressway project will take off mid-year after feasibility and costing.

The Roads Minister detailed that the government is taking a guarded approach to avoid cost overruns and design errors.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Super Morning Show, the Road Minister explained, “We want to take time to make sure that when we come out and say we need X amount of money to build the about 200km from Accra to Kumasi, we don’t come back and tell you that we want to double that money simply because we made a mistake,” Mr Agbodza said.

“We are expecting the final draft somewhere in May, June, but we are giving ourselves July or August, just in case there’s something they missed or something we need to add,” he explained.

“Stop the wild allegations and pay us a visit” – BoG Governor invites Kofi Bentil to see BoG books

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“Stop the wild allegations and pay us a visit” – BoG Governor invites Kofi Bentil to see BoG books

Dr Johnson Asiama, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), has invited the Vice President of IMANI Africa, Kofi Bentil, to come and visit the Central Bank over his concerns surrounding Ghana’s gold transactions.

The BoG dismissed allegations being made by Kofi Bentil that the Bank’s sale of gold had resulted in financial losses.

 Dr Asiama explained that a profit of $1.3 billion was made from the transaction, as there were no losses.

 He argued that the institution operates transparently and remains open to scrutiny.

According to the BoG Governor, Kofi Bentil, he must stop the wild allegations and visit the Central Bank to see the books on Ghana’s 18 tonnes of gold.

Speaking at the 129th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) press conference in Accra on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, Dr Asiama explained, ” These things you have to put them into proper context, it is not that literal, as I said today, Gold prices are at $4,800, it went up to $5300. What that tells you is that it is very volatile, there is no guarantee that it will stay at $5300 forever”.

A decision was taken last year to diversify. At the time, there was no indication that the Venezuela crisis was going to escalate, or that the Iran crisis was going to escalate at the time. Every thought price has peaked, it was around $4200. In taken those decisions, the appropriate channels were used, and there were no breaches.

The BoG boss added, “A lot of the things we hear out there are just things we don’t even want to respond to; we have all the information. I was in parliament last week to answer all those questions. Mr Kofi Bentil ask him to come to us anytime.

Those things being said outside there, I don’t know what they want to achieve. Kofi Bentil should pay us a visit; he should stop those wild allegations. We are ready to answer him; he should just make a call and come,” he said.

“I’m ready to open the books; he should come, and I will explain to him,” Dr Asiama added.

Also, Kofi Bentil, the Vice President of IMANI Africa, has alleged that 18 tonnes of gold were sold in a space of a month. His information reveals that Ghana have to buy back those 18 tonnes of gold for a price of above a billion dollars.

Speaking on Accra-based TV3, Kofi Bentil stated, “These 18 tonnes of gold that somebody has sold, in a space of about a month, we are being told we have to go and buy back that 18 tonnes of gold for a price of above a billion dollars. Someone made a wild decision that has cost this country over one billion dollars.

“There is no sensible government anywhere in the world where someone costs a poor country a billion dollars, and the person sits in their office.

“When it comes to policy making, there is aprior, contemporaneous, and post facto. You don’t know what you are going to say, because you are thinking personally,  so you try something, and you get to a point where you are seeing better because you are in it. We expect you to do better.

“We have a situation where one day we woke up and said he has sold 18 tonnes of gold, and then the next day someone has come up with Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Policy (GANRAP) (2026–2028), we are going to buy back the gold, and the cost difference is over 1 billion dollars in a poor country.”

He added, “There is a theory that maybe they didn’t sell the gold because some of these things are paper transactions. I don’t subscribe to that theory, but if it is true that they didn’t sell the gold, then somebody is doing a deal to get one billion dollars. We need some serious accounting for this. This is the job for the opposition.

“We can’t wake up and lose a billion dollars, roll over and make things business as usual. What was the view of the president? Whose idea was it? Who processed it? What is going to happen to those people or that person who made the decision that is going to cost us over one billion dollars? If somebody made that decision or a group of people, it is called a catastrophic failure. The person is either catastrophically incompetent or something else is driving that kind of decision, but here is the point.”

Also, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, the former Finance Minister, has alleged that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) sold Ghana’s gold reserves to cover 2025 losses.

According to Amin Adam, he does not understand the rationale behind the government selling half of the national gold reserves, as it defeats the purpose of accumulating the reserves.

Dr Amin Adam explained how the Bank will report its 2025 losses vis-à-vis the gains from the sale of gold reserves, questioning how sustainable this practice is, where operational losses can easily be offset by the sale of our gold reserves.

The former Finance Minister demanded that the Bank of Ghana come clear on the sale of 50 per cent of Ghana’s gold reserves in 2025.

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Tragic – Final-year student at A.M.E Zion SHS killed by bees

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Tragic – Final-year student at A.M.E Zion SHS killed by bees

A final-year student at the A.M.E Zion Senior High School in the Central Region has passed away after she was attacked by bees on the school premises.

The deceased has been identified as a 21-year-old Emmanuella Quainoo.

Reports suggest that at around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, she was reportedly swarmed by bees while on campus.

Emmanuella Quainoo was rushed to the nearby hospital but could not survive.

According to reports, the deceased enrolled at the private school for remedial classes to improve her science scores.

Speaking to Citi News on Thursday, March 19, her grandmother, Vida Ayi Mensah, stated, “We heard she had been attacked by bees at school, so we rushed there and took her to the hospital. She passed away the next day.

“We saw the doctors attending to her. She asked us to buy medications, which we had already done, and they also said she’d need a blood transfusion. While at the pharmacy, I was called that she had died, so I didn’t proceed with the drugs.”

In other news,  a student of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), named Caleb Mensah, popularly known as Paywa, tragically lost his life some weeks ago.

Reports suggest the UCC student left his student ID upon arriving at the examination room he was asked to go back for it.

Caleb, who was a passenger on a motorcycle, reportedly dropped an item. As the rider turned back to retrieve it, they hit a pothole. The impact caused Caleb to jump off the bike. In an unfortunate turn of events, he stepped into the path of an oncoming shuttle, which struck and ran over him.

He was rushed to the hospital immediately, but sadly did not survive.

UCC in an official statement on the tragic road accident wrote, “Cape Coast, Friday, 6th March, 2026: We regret to announce the tragic death of Mr. Kweku Mensah, a Level 200 Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) student, following a road traffic accident on campus on Thursday, 5th March 2026, at about 3:00 p.m. along the Amissah-Arthur Language Centre and the Sandwich Lecture Theatre (SWLT) stretch.

Preliminary information indicates that the student was riding on a motorcycle to retrieve his identification card from Oguaa Hall for a scheduled examination. The motorcycle reportedly collided with an Ayalolo bus, leading to severe injuries. The student was rushed to the UCC Hospital, where he was unfortunately pronounced dead after efforts to resuscitate him failed.

The matter has been reported to the UCC Police and the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) for investigations. The body has been deposited at the UCC Morgue pending further procedures. Subsequently, his family has been duly informed about the sad event.

The University extends its deepest condolences to the family of the deceased and urges the University community to remain calm as investigations continue.

Further updates surrounding the incident will be provided in due course”.

“I just collapsed in my chair” – Video surface of Mahama narrating how he received Atta Mills’ death

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“I just collapsed in my chair” – Video surface of Mahama narrating how he received Atta Mills’ death

A video has surfaced of President John Dramani Mahama narrating how he received the news of the death of the late President John Evans Atta Mills.

In the video, which has resurfaced on X, President Mahama narrated the emotional moment he learned about the passing of Atta Mills.

According to John Mahama, he collapsed in his chair and broke down crying like a baby after receiving the devastating news that the president had died.

Speaking to KSM in the resurfaced video, John Mahama narrated, “If I remember properly, it was about 2:30 pm when I got a call from the Chief of Staff. He asked where I was, and I told him I was just leaving to come and join them at the hospital. He then told me to wait in my office and that there was no need to come because the president had just passed away. This was about 2:30 or shortly before that.

“It was a very sad day. I just collapsed in my chair, broke down, and wept like a baby. It’s not something I like to recall. That same evening, here you are, having to be sworn in as president,” he said.

Mahama further narrated, “My ADC locked up my office, so I was there by myself, just trying to gather my thoughts. I stayed there for about an hour when the Speaker, the Attorney General, and some other officials came to see me. My ADC called me on the intercom and said they wanted to see me, so I went into the washroom, washed my face, and tried to compose myself.

“They came in and said they had referred to the Constitution and that the swearing-in had to take place immediately. I protested because I thought we could do it the next day. I didn’t see how I could bring myself to go through a ceremony like that after receiving such tragic news. But they insisted and explained that, by the provisions of the Constitution, there could not be a vacuum in leadership,” he added.

It will be recalled that back in July 2012, Ghana’s Vice-President John Dramani Mahama was sworn in as Ghana’s leader following the sudden death of President John Atta Mills, in line with the 1992 constitution.

Mahama took the oath of office as head of state before a sombre parliament on Wednesday, hours after the announcement of Mills’ death on Tuesday afternoon.

“This is the saddest day in our nation’s history. Tears have engulfed our nation, and we are deeply saddened and distraught,” Mahama said after being sworn in.

“I never imagined that one day that it would place our nation in such a difficult circumstance. I’m personally devastated, I’ve lost a father, I’ve lost a friend, I’ve lost a mentor and a senior comrade,” he said.

“Ghana is united in grief at this time for our departed president.”

Reports suggest the president’s office said that Mills, who had celebrated his 68th birthday some days ago, died a few hours after being taken ill, with no further details given.

A presidential aide also disclosed that the president had complained of pains on Monday evening and died early Tuesday afternoon when his condition worsened.

Watch the video below:

“Blue Water Guards useless and a bogus venture” – Afia Pokua

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“Blue Water Guards useless and a bogus venture” – Afia Pokua

Ghanaian media personality Afia Pokua, commonly known as Vim Lady, has said that the Lands and Natural Resources Minister, Armah Kofi Buah, Blue Water Guards is a useless and bogus venture.

According to Afia Pokua, the launch of the Blue Water Guards is causing financial loss to the state, adding that the Lands and Natural Resources Minister must be held responsible.

Afia Pokua stressed that the launch of the Blue Water Guards has contributed nothing to the fight against illegal mining.

Afia Pokua is quoted to have said, “Since Mahama came to power, the water has never been clear. Even under Akufo-Addo, we saw signs that the water was clear; it was only when he opened the floodgates for party boys to mine that he had problems.

This government introduced the Blue Water Guards, but they have been the most ineffective way to fight illegal mining. The minister has seen that the blue water guards are a useless and bogus venture that has caused the state financial loss,” she said.

She further alleged that NAIMOS have been taking gold from illegal miners instead of arresting them.

It will be recalled that the Mahama government deployed some Blue River Guards, specifically trained by the Ghana Navy.

The Guards are to protect and monitor water bodies in mining areas affected by illegal mining activities.

According to the Land Minister, Emmanuel Armarh Kofi Buah, the guards are to serve as the ears and eyes of the Security Forces.

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has confessed that illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, involves individuals across political and traditional structures.

According to John Mahama, he will not kid himself that his own party people are not involved in the galamsey menace.

President Mahama highlighted that the fight against the galamsey menace will be difficult but must continue.

Mahama stressed that operators often shift allegiance when governments change, allowing the practice to continue.

Speaking during a meeting with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, President Mahama stated, “Illegal mining has eaten into the fabric of our society. And I must say that it is not only a menace to our society, but it has involved a circle of traditional rulers, political party appointees and everything”.

“Even when one party changes, those who were running some operation, who went to one party, will go to the next party and say, now that you have come, come and take over this operation and let’s share. We, too, will be getting small; this is what we are doing. And so I don’t kid myself that we don’t have our own people involved,” he stated.

President Mahama further touched on the work of the anti-illegal mining task force NAIMOS, describing it as challenging, especially in communities where resistance is strong.

He added, “And the work of the NAIMOS is not easy. They go to a community, and the chiefs, the youth and everybody come out and resist them. And so, I didn’t kid myself that we would be able to win that fight overnight. But we cannot relent, we must continue”.

“And it doesn’t help when we have a crisis in the cocoa industry. The low price that was paid to cocoa farmers made some of them give up their farms for gold mining,” he noted.

“We are hoping that it will stabilise with the new automatic mechanism we are coming up with so that farmers know that they are getting 70% of the price,” he said.

“One of the problems we have is we don’t have patrol boats, especially on our waterways, for nine months to continue to patrol the waterways,” he explained.

Mahama further added that the Finance, Defence and Interior ministries are working to provide the necessary resources.

“So, we are working with the minister of finance to be able to maintain that,” he said.

Within 3 or 4 years, Ghana should be self-sufficient in terms of tomato production – John Dumelo

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Within 3 or 4 years, Ghana should be self-sufficient in terms of tomato production – John Dumelo

The deputy Agriculture Minister, John Dumelo, has said that within three or four years, Ghana should be self-sufficient in terms of tomato production.

John Dumelo urged the Ghanaian farmers to intensify dry-season farming to boost local production of tomatoes.

According to John Dumelo, Ghana may not immediately stop sourcing tomatoes from Burkina Faso, but it must take steps to reduce its reliance on imported tomatoes.

The Deputy Agric Minister added that sustained investment in local farming could change the situation in the medium term.

Speaking in an interview on Joy News on Thursday, March 19, 2026, John Dumelo stated, “For us, going to Burkina Faso for tomatoes might not end immediately, but once they get encouraged, within three or four years, we should be self-sufficient when it comes to tomato production”.

“I am yet to get the reason why the Burkina Faso government announced the ban and the details that come with it. But last year, I was in the Northern Region, and I urged them to produce tomatoes in the dry season. This dry season, I went back, and most of them are doing just that,” he said.

“I told them to let me know what they need to help them scale up production, especially in the next dry season… The government is committed to helping them to scale up production,” he added.

The Deputy Agric Minister’s comments come following the Burkina Faso government’s announcement of an immediate nationwide halt to tomato exports, raising concerns for Ghana.

In a joint statement issued, the Burkinabè government banned the export of fresh tomatoes.

The statement issued by the Burkinabè government in Ouagadougou says the suspension is effective immediately and will remain “until further notice,” to prioritise local supply for domestic processing industries.

The directive was signed by the Burkinabè trade and agriculture ministries, which have also halted the issuance of Special Export Authorisations (ASE).

Reports suggest traders have been given a two-week window to complete ongoing transactions.

The decision by the Burkinabè government is expected to have immediate implications for Ghana’s food supply, with Ghana heavily dependent on tomato imports from Burkina Faso to supplement local production.

It will be recalled that in February 2026, seven Ghanaian tomato traders were killed, and others were injured following a terrorist attack in the northern Burkinabè town of Titao.

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, disclosed that the seven Ghanaian Tomato traders killed in a terrorist attack in Titao, northern Burkina Faso, have been laid to rest.

According to the Minister, the bodies of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition and had begun decomposing, which forced authorities to proceed with burial arrangements in Burkina Faso.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, February 16, Muntaka Mubarak stated, “The seven bodies have been burnt beyond recognition. As at yesterday, we agreed they had begun decomposing and had to be buried”.

“So the Burkina Faso authorities told us [Ghanaians] that they would bury them at 10 a.m today. But our women who are not really injured can go and witness and take as many pictures as possible,” he added.

He added, “And the sad thing is that we lost seven of our men. Three of them got injured. One woman was critically injured, and others were not badly injured”.

Meanwhile, John Dumelo earlier announced that Ghana is on course to achieve large-scale domestic tomato production by the end of 2026.

According to John Dumelo, trials are underway at irrigation schemes to reduce reliance on imports from Burkina Faso.

The Deputy Minister further stressed that the Mahama government has a long-term plan to cut Ghana’s dependency on tomatoes from Burkina Faso by between 20 and 30 per cent beginning next year.

John Dumelo is quoted by a TV3 news flyer shared on social to have said, “Ghana on track for full-scale tomato production by year-end 2026”.

The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, speaking on JOYFM The Pulse on Tuesday, 17 February, further detailed efforts to stabilise tomato supply and reduce Ghana’s reliance on imports.

John Dumelo stated, “I just came back from the Bono East region, but I’ll be going back to be able to interact with the traders and see how best we can help them to solve our problems, our tomato demand in Ghana.”

“When you look at some of our irrigation schemes, especially the ones in the north — when you go to Tono Dam, around the Navrongo area — currently most of the farmers are farming tomatoes, but it’s on a much smaller scale. It’s more or less like a trial stage where we want to scale it up before the year ends or next year.”

“If you also go to our irrigation schemes, there are some tomato-growing farmers there, as we speak, that would have their tomatoes maybe in about two or three months’ time. All these schemes are the ones that we want to scale up, hopefully by next year.”

He added, “We’ve distributed some solar — or we’re about to distribute some solar water pumps to vegetable farmers across the country. And then the water pumps that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources seized from galamsey operators — we distributed some last year, over a thousand of them, to small-scale vegetable farmers across the country.”

“Hopefully, when all these come on board, we’ll be able to mitigate our production of tomatoes and other vegetables across the country.”

“I’m very hopeful that next year, by this time, most of the trips that are going to Burkina Faso will reduce. When all these programmes come on board, hopefully we’ll be able to reduce our traders from going to Burkina Faso to get tomatoes.”

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Ghana cards linked to multiple MoMo fraud will be blocked – Sam George

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Ghana cards linked to multiple MoMo fraud will be blocked – Sam George

The Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Sam George, has disclosed that Ghana cards linked to multiple MoMo fraud will be blocked.

 According to Sam George, individuals whose Ghana Cards are repeatedly linked to fraudulent SIM registrations linked to mobile money scams will face strict sanctions.

Speaking during a stakeholder engagement held in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, Sam George stated, “If the same Ghana Card is found to be involved in more than one fraudulent registration linked to mobile money fraud, that Ghana Card will be blocked and barred from registering a SIM”.

“Today, almost every government service requires your Ghana Card, so the penalty becomes very severe. The aim is to ensure that stolen or illegal mobile phones cannot be used on any network,” he said.

He further disclosed that a new framework will also introduce a primary number verification system.

Adding that any additional SIM registration linked to a Ghana Card must be approved via a one-time password sent to the user’s main number.

“Once you approve it, you cannot deny the registration, so people must avoid doing this for others,” the minister cautioned.

Meanwhile, Solomon Owusu, the Director of Communications for the United Party (UP), has quizzed the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Sam George, on what the consequences will be if the SIM registration fails to achieve its purpose.

According to Solomon Owusu, the registration under Ursula Owusu was undermined by ego and power struggles between the Ministry of Communications and the National Identification Authority (NIA).

Speaking in an interview with Accra-based TV3, Solomon Owusu stated, “What assurance is the minister giving to us that this time around? When he fails, what must the country do to him? Is he going to put his job on the line?

Is he saying that if he’s unable to, after the registration, there are still forces in the system, he must be sacked from office, or he must be in prison? Or what should happen? Because Ursula Owusu gave us the same assurance. Today, she’s chilling somewhere. Nobody is taking her on.”

Solomon Owusu argued that if telcos fail, they should be sanctioned, and if the minister fails to enforce the law, he should face consequences too.

Also, Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, has said the planned SIM registration is not going to be a silver bullet that stops fraud.

The Telecoms Chamber CEO highlighted that consumer awareness and protection of personal identification numbers are critical in stopping the growing threat of mobile-related fraud.

She stressed that most of the mobile-related fraud is driven by social engineering schemes where fraudsters impersonate trusted individuals or institutions to scam persons into disclosing sensitive information.

BoG sold 50% of Ghana’s gold reserves to cover 2025 losses – Amin Adam alleges

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BoG sold 50% of Ghana’s gold reserves to cover 2025 losses – Amin Adam alleges

Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, the former Finance Minister, has alleged that the Bank of Ghana (BoG) sold Ghana’s gold reserves to cover 2025 losses.

According to Amin Adam, he does not understand the rationale behind the government selling half of the national gold reserves, as it defeats the purpose of accumulating the reserves.

Dr Amin Adam explained how the Bank will report its 2025 losses vis-à-vis the gains from the sale of gold reserves, questioning how sustainable this practice is, where operational losses can easily be offset by the sale of our gold reserves.

The former Finance Minister demanded that the Bank of Ghana come clear on the sale of 50 per cent of Ghana’s gold reserves in 2025.

In a write-up shared on Facebook, Amin Adam wrote, “The Bank of Ghana must come clear on the sale of over 50 per cent of Ghana’s gold reserves in 2025.

Between 2023 and 2024, the NPP government worked to increase Ghana’s gold holdings significantly, from about 8.8 tonnes to over 30 tonnes, under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP) introduced by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, then Vice President of the Republic. This policy was explicitly designed to strengthen reserve buffers, support macroeconomic stability, and reduce dependence on foreign exchange.

Against this backdrop, the liquidation of more than half (+50%) of these reserves—generating approximately US$1.5 billion in financial gains—raises serious concerns about policy consistency and balance sheet management.

The central question is not whether reserves can be reallocated, but why such a substantial share was sold, and how the proceeds were used.

If these transactions were primarily undertaken to offset financial losses, then this represents a fundamental shift from reserve accumulation toward balance sheet repair. In that case, headline financial outcomes risk overstating underlying performance, unless one-off gains from gold sales are clearly separated from core operational results.

The central bank must prove that it did not sell the gold to cover huge losses recorded in 2025. How will the Bank report its 2025 losses vis-avis the gains from the sale of gold reserves? How sustainable is this practice where operational losses can easily be offset by the sale of our gold reserves?

The Bank of Ghana is yet to tell Ghanaians that the real reason behind the sale was not to achieve the right proportions of assets between foreign currency and gold, but simply to cover losses occasioned by its poor management of the Bank.

Explanations framed as portfolio diversification must be assessed against outcomes. If the proceeds did not materially strengthen net international reserves, the macroeconomic rationale remains unclear.

References to International Monetary Fund alignment should also be treated with caution. IMF-supported frameworks emphasise transparency, accountability, and the preservation of central bank balance sheet integrity.

At a time when policy credibility is critical, the Bank of Ghana owes Ghanaians a full and transparent account of these decisions”.

However, Sammy Gyamfi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Gold Board (GoldBod), in a sharply worded post, has dismissed concerns raised Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, regarding the sale of Ghana’s gold reserves by the Bank of Ghana.

In a sharply worded post, Sammy Gyamfi replied to Amin Adam, telling him the answers he sought have already been addressed at the parliamentary level, with the central bank, led by the Governor, briefing the Economy Sub-committee of Parliament on the matter on March 9.

Sammy Gyamfi further pointed out at Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Ranking Member of the committee, as well as Dr Gideon Boako, for making “unfounded claims” about the gold transactions.

The Goldbod CEO in his post wrote, “Honourable Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, the answers you seek were all provided to the Economy Sub-committee of Parliament a few days ago by a team from the BoG led by the Governor himself.

The record of that meeting can easily be made available to you if you check with the Chairman of the committee or, better still, your Ranking Member, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah. Dr Gideon Boako, who has been peddling lots of unfounded claims about the said transaction, was there as well. You may want to talk to him. After all, Parliament works in committees. Gracias!”

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Jean Mensa faces new ‘threat’ as two NDC MPs initiate fresh petition for her removal

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Jean Mensa faces new ‘threat’ as two NDC MPs initiate fresh petition for her removal

Fred Agbenyo and Thomas Tsekpo, two Members of Parliament of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), have initiated fresh moves seeking the removal of Jean Mensa as the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC).

The MP for Guan, Fred Agbenyo, disclosed he plans to file a petition against the EC Chair for the injustice done to the people of Guan and Hohoe constituencies during the 2020 elections.

According to Fred Agbenyo, Jean Mensa is not fit and competent enough to sit in that office. She must go.

In a post on Facebook on Tuesday, March 17, Fred Agbenyo stated, “Planning and Plotting 🤔

Fresh petitions against the E.C Chair. We have never forgotten the injustice done to the people of the Guan and Hohoe constituencies during the 2020 elections.

She’s not fit and competent enough to sit in that office. She must go.

Thank you for the attention to this matter”.

Also, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Legal Director, Edudzi Tamakloe, has said the party maintains its stand that the Electoral Commission’s leadership must be removed.

According to Edudzi Tamakloe, despite the Chief Justice’s dismissal of petitions seeking their removal, the NDC still maintained its call for the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa and deputies to be removed.

He stressed that the Chief Justice’s decision will not alter the NDC’s position.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Thursday, February 19, Edudzi Tamakloe stated, “I want to make the point that the NDC still believes that the current composition of the Electoral Commission and how they have conducted their work over the past five years leaves much to be desired”.

“From what I am reading, it does appear that the Chief Justice has taken the position that the matters raise very serious administrative and constitutional issues, and so possibly the fault is not Article 146 alone. Those matters can be litigated in a different place other than the Supreme Court,” he noted.

Meanwhile, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Government Communications Minister, some weeks ago revealed that the Chief Justice, Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, found no prima facie determination on petitions against the Electoral Commissioner Jean Mensa, her deputies, and the Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng.

It will be recalled that President Mahama referred seven petitions calling for the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Jean Mensa and her Deputies and Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, to the Chief Justice for a determination on November 25, 2025.

The referral was made in accordance with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 15 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), to ascertain whether the petitions disclosed a prima facie case.

However, a statement issued by the Presidency on Wednesday, February 18, 2026, read, “Following the receipt of seven (7) petitions from various individuals and groups for the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and her Deputies, and three (3) petitions for the removal of the Special Prosecutor, President John Dramani Mahama, in accordance with Article 146 of the 1992 Constitution and Section 15 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959), referred same to His Lordship, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, Chief Justice, on 25 November 2025, to determine whether the petitions disclosed a prima facie case.

By a letter dated 26 January 2026, the Chief Justice informed His Excellency the President that no prima facie case had been established by the petitions to warrant any further investigations for the removal of the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Deputy Commissioners and the Special Prosecutor.”This determination means no committee will be formed, and no further proceedings for removal will take place based on those petitions”.

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“Hypocritical” – NPP man slams Mahama over his galamsey remarks

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“Hypocritical” – NPP man slams Mahama over his galamsey remarks

Alfred Thompson, a member of the NPP Communication Team, has slammed President John Mahama following his recent remarks on the fight against illegal mining (galamsey).

According to Alfred Thompson, President John Mahama’s recent remarks are  hypocritical and inconsistent with earlier political realities

He highlighted that Mahama’s recent remarks undermine earlier campaign promises to tackle the menace decisively, claiming that the President’s remarks suggest a reluctance to act against party members fingered in the galamsey menace.

Speaking on Breakfast Daily on Thursday, March 19, Alfred Thompson stated, “Over a year into office, you now tell us it appears people within your own party are deeply involved, making the fight difficult. That is a hypocritical statement,” he said, adding that Ghanaians were already aware of the extent of political involvement in illegal mining activities.

Alfred Thompson’s comment follows, President John Dramani Mahama, who has confessed that illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, involves individuals across political and traditional structures.

According to John Mahama, he will not kid himself that his own party people are not involved in the galamsey menace.

President Mahama highlighted that the fight against the galamsey menace will be difficult but must continue.

Mahama stressed that operators often shift allegiance when governments change, allowing the practice to continue.

Speaking during a meeting with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, President Mahama stated, “Illegal mining has eaten into the fabric of our society. And I must say that it is not only a menace to our society, but it has involved a circle of traditional rulers, political party appointees and everything”.

“Even when one party changes, those who were running some operation, who went to one party, will go to the next party and say, now that you have come, come and take over this operation and let’s share. We, too, will be getting small; this is what we are doing. And so I don’t kid myself that we don’t have our own people involved,” he stated.

President Mahama further touched on the work of the anti-illegal mining task force NAIMOS, describing it as challenging, especially in communities where resistance is strong.

He added, “And the work of the NAIMOS is not easy. They go to a community, and the chiefs, the youth and everybody come out and resist them. And so, I didn’t kid myself that we would be able to win that fight overnight. But we cannot relent, we must continue”.

“And it doesn’t help when we have a crisis in the cocoa industry. The low price that was paid to cocoa farmers made some of them give up their farms for gold mining,” he noted.

“We are hoping that it will stabilise with the new automatic mechanism we are coming up with so that farmers know that they are getting 70% of the price,” he said.

“One of the problems we have is we don’t have patrol boats, especially on our waterways, for nine months to continue to patrol the waterways,” he explained.

Mahama further added that the Finance, Defence and Interior ministries are working to provide the necessary resources.

“So, we are working with the minister of finance to be able to maintain that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide to former Vice President and NPP flagbearer Mahamudu Bawumia, has told President John Dramani Mahama to arrest and prosecute NDC people involved in galamsey.

According to Dennis Miracles Aboagye, President Mahama must not only admit that NDC people are also involved in galamsey, but he must arrest and prosecute them.

In a post shared on X social media, Dennis Miracles Aboagye stated, “You have been pretending for a very long time about this fact, sir. It took you too long to admit what is public knowledge.

Now that you finally acknowledged your people are involved, and as we know, expect, you know who your people are, when are you getting them arrested and prosecuted??

Or mildly, when are you calling for a family meeting, lock yourselves in a room and ask your people to leave our forests and rivers alone sir…”

Mahama’s directive to increase Security recruitment only benefits NDC faithful – Lecturer claims

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Mahama’s directive to increase Security recruitment only benefits NDC faithful – Lecturer claims

Godlove Adjei Tenkorang, a private legal practitioner and lecturer at the Faculty of Law, has claimed that President John Mahama’s directive to increase Security recruitment benefits only the NDC faithful.

According to the Lecturer, the expansion of recruitment slots by President John Dramani Mahama was influenced by internal party pressures.

He alleged that the increased security recruitment will only benefit the NDC party faitfuls after they raised concerns.

Speaking on Angel FM, Kumasi Godlove Adjei Tenkorang stated, “The leaders have their protocols. The increase in the slots was a response to party faithful who complained they were not given opportunities”.

“If you are not part of the NDC, you are unlikely to benefit from the recruitment. That means the security services risk being dominated by party members,” he claimed.

He cautioned, “We are gradually destroying the integrity of the security services. The opposition is watching. When they come into power, they may repeat the same thing”.

His comments follow, President John Dramani Mahama has directed an increase in security services recruitment from 5000 to 10,000 yearly.

A statement from the presidency dated Monday, March 16, revealed the directive comes following a high-level meeting with heads of the various agencies.

President Mahama’s directives will see the number of men and women recruited to the various security agencies increased from twenty thousand (20,000) to forty thousand (40,000) over four years.

In a Presidency communication shared by signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, read, “President John Dramani Mahama has held a high-level meeting with the Heads of Security Agencies, Minister for the Interior and Acting Minister for Defence on the ongoing security services recruitment process.

Following a briefing on the process, the President has directed that the number of men and women to be recruited to the various security agencies should be increased from twenty thousand (20,000) to forty thousand (40,000) over a four-year period.

The President has also directed the Heads of the Security Agencies to ensure transparency and fairness in the recruitment process.

Present at the meeting were the Chief of Staff, Secretary to the President, Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs, National Security Coordinator, Inspector General of Police, Director General Prisons, Director General Fire Service, Comptroller-General of the Ghana Immigration Service and the Director General of the Narcotics Control Commission”.

Meanwhile, the Adentan Member of Parliament (MP), Ramadan Adamu Mohammed, has lamented about the current agitations by NDC grassroots members over their mass disqualification from the security services recruitment.

According to Ramadan Adamu Mohammed, during the NPP’s tenure, all MPs had to do was just submit a list of interested persons who wanted to join the security services, and they would jump the process to the medical before you know it, and they are already in uniforms.

Ramadan Adamu Mohammed further lamented that under the NDC unfortunately the party likes to follow the rules too much.

Speaking to some members of NDC in the Adenta constituency, Ramadan Adamu Mohammed stated, “This recruitment, during the NPP’s tenure, all they would ask was to bring the interested person’s name for recruitment.

The person will not have to go through the process; the person will jump straight to the medicals. By the time you know the person, they are already wearing the uniform. Unfortunately, it’s like we, the NDC, are following the rules too much. Today, when I got here, a lot of people have complained to me. Our people who have worked for the party must see the reward on earth before they go to heaven”.

Video – Nigeria jollof is the BEST, King Charles declares, sparking debate online

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Video – Nigeria jollof is the BEST, King Charles declares, sparking debate online

King Charles III, the King of the United Kingdom, has ignited a debate on social media after labelling Nigerian jollof as the best.

In a video shared on X on March 18, 2026, King Charles III weighed in on the long-standing debate over which country makes the best jollof.

According to King Charles, he once hosted a jollof-and-tea party at St James’s Palace, where he had the opportunity to eat some Nigerian jollof.

King Charles further labelled Nigerian jollof as the best.

Speaking in a video shared on X by Sky News, as he welcomes Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu at Windsor Castle for his two-day state visit, King Charles III stated, “We in the United Kingdom are blessed with so many people of Nigerian heritage…

Last year, I was delighted to host a jollof-and-tea party at St James’s Palace. I was firmly assured that the jollof was the best, Nigerian, of course”.

King Charles video has since ignited debate on social media, with netizens saying, “Those in Ghana, you heard it from the King’s mouth. No more arguments on who’s got the best jollof in the world”.

“I think this visit should be extended to a month. I’ve rarely seen the President and the Nigerian presidential media this visibly happy and excited, even as insurgency continues to tear at the fabric of the country”, a netizen added.

A netizen added, “Nothing beats authentic Nigerian jollof King Charles clearly knows quality when he tastes it. Diplomacy and great food go hand in hand, and this was a perfect welcome”.

Another X user added, “This jollof and tea fanfare at the palace is fun and all, but let’s be real, it’s also a massive distraction from the real issues Nigerians are facing. Celebrating cuisine and culture for state visit photos is nice, but it doesn’t solve insecurity, poverty, or the economic hardships people deal with daily. Diplomacy should include substance, not just fancy meals and smiles for the cameras”.

“King Charles just ended the Jollof war with one sentence, and Ghanaians are somewhere crying into their party jollof right now 🇳🇬🔥 

Even the crown knows Naija owns the recipe. No cap, no contest. 

Ghana, Senegal, Liberia… y’all can have the silver, bronze & participation trophy”, one more X user added.

Additionally, a last netizen added, “It’s inspiring to see King Charles III appreciating something as iconic as Nigerian jollof rice; it shows how powerful culture can be in building connections between nations. Food has a way of breaking barriers, and jollof is truly one of Nigeria’s finest ambassadors”.

Watch the video below:

NPP using fake accounts to provoke NDC grassroots – Mustapha Gbande claims

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NPP using fake accounts to provoke NDC grassroots – Mustapha Gbande claims

Mustapha Gbande, the Deputy General Secretary for the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), has accused the New Patriotic Party (NPP) of using fake accounts on social media to provoke the NDC grassroots.  

According to Mustapha Gbande, the NPP is behind why their party base is angry,

Mustapha Gbande highlighted that the NPP, who stole money through supplies, are now sleeping in cocoa farms, pretending to sympathise with.

He further claimed that the strategy being employed by the NPP will see the party’s vote decline from 38 per cent to 21 per cent.

In a post shared via social media, Mustapha Gbande wrote, “Their new game plans:

1. Every effort to discredit strong frontline officers of the party and government whom they fear the most.

2. Using pseudo accounts on Facebook to provoke our base.

3. The very people who stole money through supplies are now sleeping in cocoa farms, pretending to sympathise with them.

4. They are now singing a chorus of how our seats will be unsafe before 2028.

5. The very people who took World Bank money without anything to show are now meeting the World Bank at the time the economy is better and stronger.

Politics is not about noise; it’s about transparency, credibility, and sincerity, or rather, being real. It is also about experience and strategy. If this is how NPP intends to come to power, I’m very sure the 38 will fall to 21. This is not going to last”.

In related news, Mustapha Gbande alleged that pro-NPP accounts are exploiting NDC grassroots frustrations.

According to Mustapha Gbande, most accounts expressing disappointment with the John Mahama-led government and appointees are pro-NPP accounts.

He, however, asserted that some actions of NDC appointees may deviate from party resolve, calling on members not to abandon the party, as the pain and struggles shared keep them up at night.

Mustapha Gbande further disclosed that the NDC grassroots patience will be vindicated soon.

In a post shared by Mustapha Gbande on social media he wrote, “Good evening colleagues and comrades, I have reviewed numerous commentaries and concerns that have been widely expressed, reflecting the sentiments of some members. Often, many of us tend to observe and remain silent, but it is essential to acknowledge that we are accountable for addressing the grievances of even a single member, let alone a group of dedicated brothers and sisters who have worked together to get us this far. As the Deputy General Secretary, I would like to state the following:

  1. Most accounts expressing discontent appear to be driven by pro-NPP sentiments, exploiting the frustrations of our supporters.
  2. As members of the NDC, our concerns are continually taken into consideration for adjustments, corrections, and strategic realignments. The pain and struggles shared by many keep us up at night, prompting deep reflections on how to improve.
  3. When it seems like our hopes have been dashed due to perceived betrayals, it’s natural to feel aggrieved, especially when those who were previously indifferent are now trying to capitalise on our struggles. However, it’s crucial to give everyone the benefit of the doubt and allow time to unfold. Your patience will be vindicated soon.
  4. While some actions by appointees may deviate from our party’s resolve, it is unhealthy to abandon our party’s principles. I am confident that our challenges are temporary.
  5. Let us remain steadfast in our commitment to the party, despite individual actions. As party officers, we are taking note of every situation and will give them serious consideration.
  6. Sometimes, as leaders, things may seem to worsen before they get better. Let us be measured and responsible in our actions, ensuring we don’t provide our opponents with an undeserved advantage.
  7. We will overcome these challenges together.
  8. Giving up on our beliefs would be a defeat for our future; staying focused and strong amidst challenges assures us of ultimate victory.

I submit that your concerns are legitimate, but we must move forward in good faith.

We shall prevail together”, his post concluded.  

Ghana faces a looming tomato shortage as Burkina Faso bans fresh Tomato exports

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Ghana faces a looming tomato shortage as Burkina Faso bans fresh Tomato exports

The Burkina Faso government has announced an immediate nationwide halt of tomato exports, raising concerns for Ghana.

In a joint statement issued, the Burkinabè government banned the export of fresh tomatoes.

The statement issued by the Burkinabè government in Ouagadougou says the suspension is effective immediately and will remain “until further notice,” to prioritise local supply for domestic processing industries.

The directive was signed by the Burkinabè trade and agriculture ministries, which have also halted the issuance of Special Export Authorisations (ASE).

Reports suggest traders have been given a two-week window to complete ongoing transactions.

The decision by the Burkinabè government is expected to have immediate implications for Ghana’s food supply, with Ghana heavily dependent on tomato imports from Burkina Faso to supplement local production.

It will be recalled that in February 2026, seven Ghanaian tomato traders were killed, and others were injured following a terrorist attack in the northern Burkinabè town of Titao.

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, disclosed that the seven Ghanaian Tomato traders killed in a terrorist attack in Titao, northern Burkina Faso, have been laid to rest.

According to the Minister, the bodies of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition and had begun decomposing, which forced authorities to proceed with burial arrangements in Burkina Faso.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, February 16, Muntaka Mubarak stated, “The seven bodies have been burnt beyond recognition. As at yesterday, we agreed they had begun decomposing and had to be buried”.

“So the Burkina Faso authorities told us [Ghanaians] that they would bury them at 10 a.m today. But our women who are not really injured can go and witness and take as many pictures as possible,” he added.

He added, “And the sad thing is that we lost seven of our men. Three of them got injured. One woman was critically injured, and others were not badly injured”.

Meanwhile, Deputy Agriculture Minister John Dumelo has announced that Ghana is on course to achieve large-scale domestic tomato production by the end of 2026.

According to John Dumelo, trials are underway at irrigation schemes to reduce reliance on imports from Burkina Faso.

The Deputy Minister further stressed that the Mahama government has a long-term plan to cut Ghana’s dependency on tomatoes from Burkina Faso by between 20 and 30 per cent beginning next year.

John Dumelo is quoted by a TV3 news flyer shared on social to have said, “Ghana on track for full-scale tomato production by year-end 2026”.

The Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, speaking on JOYFM The Pulse on Tuesday, 17 February, further detailed efforts to stabilise tomato supply and reduce Ghana’s reliance on imports.

John Dumelo stated, “I just came back from the Bono East region, but I’ll be going back to be able to interact with the traders and see how best we can help them to solve our problems, our tomato demand in Ghana.”

“When you look at some of our irrigation schemes, especially the ones in the north — when you go to Tono Dam, around the Navrongo area — currently most of the farmers are farming tomatoes, but it’s on a much smaller scale. It’s more or less like a trial stage where we want to scale it up before the year ends or next year.”

“If you also go to our irrigation schemes, there are some tomato-growing farmers there, as we speak, that would have their tomatoes maybe in about two or three months’ time. All these schemes are the ones that we want to scale up, hopefully by next year.”

He added, “We’ve distributed some solar — or we’re about to distribute some solar water pumps to vegetable farmers across the country. And then the water pumps that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources seized from galamsey operators — we distributed some last year, over a thousand of them, to small-scale vegetable farmers across the country.”

“Hopefully, when all these come on board, we’ll be able to mitigate our production of tomatoes and other vegetables across the country.”

“I’m very hopeful that next year, by this time, most of the trips that are going to Burkina Faso will reduce. When all these programmes come on board, hopefully we’ll be able to reduce our traders from going to Burkina Faso to get tomatoes.”

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Mahama gov’t diverting attention from the 18 tonnes of gold sold – Afia Pokua blows alarms 

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Mahama gov’t diverting attention from the 18 tonnes of gold sold – Afia Pokua blows alarms 

Afia Pokua, known popularly as Vim Lady, a Radio and television personality, has said the John Mahama government is employing a diversionary tactic to take Ghanaians attention from the sale of 18 tonnes of gold.

According to Afia Pokua, the government is using Mahama using his brother’s jet to divert Ghanaians attention from the bad sale of 18 tonnes of gold, which reports suggest will cause Ghana’s financial losses to buy back.

Afia Pokua added that recent discussions on GoldBod procurement are also being used to divert Ghanaians’ attention from the losses of 1.2 billion when we buy back the gold.

Speaking on OKAY FM, Afia Pokua stated, “This is a diversionary tactic to take attention from the gold that they sold. Ghana had 38 tonnes of gold, and 18 tonnes were sold. We will make losses of 1.2 billion when we buy back the gold. Don’t allow your brain to be diverted. It’s a diversionary tactic. Since the professors from Legon held a press conference about this, no newspaper has taken this matter up.

They have diverted attention to other things, including the president using his brother’s jet. If you talk about it, they will insult you, so no one wants to talk about the main issue,” she said on OKAY FM.

Also, Kofi Bentil, the Vice President of IMANI Africa, has alleged that 18 tonnes of gold were sold in a space of a month. His information reveals that Ghana have to buy back those 18 tonnes of gold for a price of above a billion dollars.

Speaking on Accra-based TV3, Kofi Bentil stated, “These 18 tonnes of gold that somebody has sold, in a space of about a month, we are being told we have to go and buy back that 18 tonnes of gold for a price of above a billion dollars. Someone made a wild decision that has cost this country over one billion dollars.

“There is no sensible government anywhere in the world where someone costs a poor country a billion dollars, and the person sits in their office.

“When it comes to policy making, there is aprior, contemporaneous, and post facto. You don’t know what you are going to say, because you are thinking personally,  so you try something, and you get to a point where you are seeing better because you are in it. We expect you to do better.

“We have a situation where one day we woke up and said he has sold 18 tonnes of gold, and then the next day someone has come up with Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Policy (GANRAP) (2026–2028), we are going to buy back the gold, and the cost difference is over 1 billion dollars in a poor country.”

He added, “There is a theory that maybe they didn’t sell the gold because some of these things are paper transactions. I don’t subscribe to that theory, but if it is true that they didn’t sell the gold, then somebody is doing a deal to get one billion dollars. We need some serious accounting for this. This is the job for the opposition.

“We can’t wake up and lose a billion dollars, roll over and make things business as usual. What was the view of the president? Whose idea was it? Who processed it? What is going to happen to those people or that person who made the decision that is going to cost us over one billion dollars? If somebody made that decision or a group of people, it is called a catastrophic failure. The person is either catastrophically incompetent or something else is driving that kind of decision, but here is the point.”

Meanwhile, former Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, has demanded that the Bank of Ghana come clear on the sale of 50 per cent of Ghana’s gold reserves in 2025.

Amin Adam, in his post on Facebook, wrote, “The Bank of Ghana must come clear on the sale of over 50 per cent of Ghana’s gold reserves in 2025.

Between 2023 and 2024, the NPP government worked to increase Ghana’s gold holdings significantly, from about 8.8 tonnes to over 30 tonnes, under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP) introduced by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, then Vice President of the Republic. This policy was explicitly designed to strengthen reserve buffers, support macroeconomic stability, and reduce dependence on foreign exchange.

Against this backdrop, the liquidation of more than half (+50%) of these reserves—generating approximately US$1.5 billion in financial gains—raises serious concerns about policy consistency and balance sheet management.

The central question is not whether reserves can be reallocated, but why such a substantial share was sold, and how the proceeds were used.

If these transactions were primarily undertaken to offset financial losses, then this represents a fundamental shift from reserve accumulation toward balance sheet repair. In that case, headline financial outcomes risk overstating underlying performance, unless one-off gains from gold sales are clearly separated from core operational results.

The central bank must prove that it did not sell the gold to cover huge losses recorded in 2025. How will the Bank report its 2025 losses vis-avis the gains from the sale of gold reserves? How sustainable is this practice where operational losses can easily be offset by the sale of our gold reserves?

The Bank of Ghana is yet to tell Ghanaians that the real reason behind the sale was not to achieve the right proportions of assets between foreign currency and gold, but simply to cover losses occasioned by its poor management of the Bank.

Explanations framed as portfolio diversification must be assessed against outcomes. If the proceeds did not materially strengthen net international reserves, the macroeconomic rationale remains unclear.

References to International Monetary Fund alignment should also be treated with caution. IMF-supported frameworks emphasise transparency, accountability, and the preservation of central bank balance sheet integrity.

At a time when policy credibility is critical, the Bank of Ghana owes Ghanaians a full and transparent account of these decisions”.

Watch the video below:

“Foolish boys, get up and marry to unlock sperm built in your waist” – Apostle Sam Korankye Ankrah to single men

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“Foolish boys, get up and marry to unlock sperm built in your waist” – Apostle Sam Korankye Ankrah to single men

Apostle Sam Korankye Ankrah, a Ghanaian minister and General Overseer of the Royalhouse Chapel International, has urged his congregation to find young women in the church and marry them.

According to Apostle Sam Korankye Ankrah, men in his church should take responsibility and settle down with the single women in the church as they are growing old.

Apostle Sam Korankye Ankrah claimed that young men in his church are facing waist problems due to the build-up of sperm as a result of delaying marriage, urging them to marry to help release their sperm.

Apostle Sam Korankye Ankrah further revealed that he got married at the age of 26, despite having no money at the time, saying he relied solely on faith.

Speaking to his church congregation, Apostle General Sam K. Ankrah stated, “You must marry by faith. You are 35 or 36 years old, and your waist is locked because sperm has built up. As a young man, you are not even walking properly. What are you waiting for? Get up, propose to a woman here, and marry. Can’t you see my women are growing old? Foolish boys”.

The man of God added, “When we held our council meeting, resident pastors reported on marriages that took place in 2025. Out of about 50 marriages blessed here, 25 were from outside.

“Only 25 came from this big Royal Auditorium. What nonsense! Rise up and marry, and stop fooling. I married at the age of 26. I had no money, one trouser one shirt, but I moved by faith, see what faith has brought me.

“If you are a lady, rise and go to a man and tell him: if you are not married, then marry. If you are married, stay with your wife,” he added.

Some Ghanaians reacting to the man of God’s comments stated, “Has he heard that the women say they want to marry wealthy men who are driving Lamborghini and Ferrari?

Or that part should be ignored.

The average woman has unrealistic expectations of a man whom she can marry.

Until they change their unreasonable expectations, they may turn 60 years old and remain single. Relationship 101”.

One X user added, “What if you’re not financially stable to meet the full responsibilities of marriage?”.

“We created a society to suppress men, all in the name of empowering women.

Now that the women have outdone the men, we are wondering why the men are not marrying the women?  ” Paradox much??”, a netizen added.

A  netizen quizzed, “Where are the women? And who said if you do not have sex your sperm gets locked in your body to get your waist locked?”

In related news, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, the founder and General Overseer of Action Chapel International, has advised young men to avoid lavish weddings.

Duncan-Williams emphasised that men who borrow money to organise lavish weddings often face frustrations in their home due to the intense pressure from creditors.

According to Duncan-William, individuals must prioritise their lives and avoid spending all their earnings on weddings and end up in debt.

Preaching to his congregation, Duncan-Williams stated, “Most of the foolish things we do are to use our money for other things. For weddings, we go and buy all these white dresses and suits. We spend all the money on weddings.”

“So people have come, you’ve dressed nicely, but you are in debt, and they are calling for their money. Your phone is ringing, and somebody says, the money you collected, when can I have my money? And you can’t tell the lady that you borrowed some money to do shows”, he stressed.

He further recounted his own personal experience, adding that he got married at the 21 or 22.

Duncan-William revealed he got married because he felt pressured to do so.

He added, “You could tell that this guy is confused. I was like a sheep carried to the slaughter. I had no idea of what I was doing. I had no idea of what marriage was – I was just told I should marry, so me too, I married”.

“So let me say to some of you, when you get it all right, don’t do a wedding”, he counselled.

“If I were you, I would take that money that they are going to use for the wedding to do other things for the marriage itself. Just come to the office, sign the document, we bless you, you kiss one another, go home”, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams added.

Watch the video below:

‘Burkinabes took all our eggs without any provocation and destroyed them’ – Dormaahene tells Mahama

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‘Burkinabes took all our eggs without any provocation and destroyed them’ – Dormaahene tells Mahama

Osagyefo Oseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, the Dormaahene, has told President John Mahama that egg traders who went to Burkina Faso to sell their egg products were attacked.

According to the Dormahene, the Burkinabes took all their eggs without any provocation and destroyed them.

The Dormahene called on President Mahama to intervene in the situation, as many of his subjects depend on the egg trade to take care of themselves.

Speaking during Mahama’s ‘Resetting Ghana Tour’ on Tuesday, March 18, 2026, the Dormaahene stated, “His Excellency, eggs are our main trading commodity in Dormaa. If we are unable to take our eggs to market or don’t sell them, we won’t have food. Eggs take care of a majority of us.

“Something has happened in our egg trade. His Excellency, we trade with the people of Burkina; we sell some of our eggs to them. Recently, we took some of our eggs to Burkina via Paga. They took all our eggs without any provocation and destroyed them,” he said.

He added, “His Excellency, we have made huge losses. We raised this issue when you were out of the country, but now that you’re here, kindly look into it for us.”

“Regarding the issue of the eggs, I heard about it after I arrived from my travel. God willing, tomorrow I will be going to Accra, and when I get there, I will send people to my friend, President Traore, to ask him what is going on. So that if there is an issue, we investigate and resolve it,” he added.

The Dormahene’s comments come some weeks after Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, disclosed that the seven Ghanaian Tomato traders killed in a terrorist attack in Titao, northern Burkina Faso, have been laid to rest.

According to the Minister, the bodies of the deceased were burnt beyond recognition and had begun decomposing, which forced authorities to proceed with burial arrangements in Burkina Faso.

Speaking in an interview on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Monday, February 16, Muntaka Mubarak stated, “The seven bodies have been burnt beyond recognition. As at yesterday, we agreed they had begun decomposing and had to be buried”.

“So the Burkina Faso authorities told us [Ghanaians] that they would bury them at 10 a.m today. But our women who are not really injured can go and witness and take as many pictures as possible,” he added.

He added, “And the sad thing is that we lost seven of our men. Three of them got injured. One woman was critically injured, and others were not badly injured”.

Reports had earlier revealed that seven (7) Ghanaians have reportedly lost their lives in a terrorist attack on tomato traders in Titao, Burkina Faso, on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

All seven victims were Ghanaian male tomato buyers and the drivers of the trucks.

Alhaji Gbangbanku, a journalist who reported the attack on Saturday, revealed the terrorists spared the Ghanaian traders who were women.

The journalist shared the news before the Ministry of the Interior in a statement confirmed the attack on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

According to Alhaji Gbangbanku, the Islamist military group, JNIM, was responsible for the attack.

He further shared pictures of some of the traders who were killed and visuals from the scene of the incident showing vehicles set ablaze.

Also, Eric Tuffour, the President of the Tomato and Onion Truck Drivers Association, speaking in an interview with JoyNews, corroborated the report but failed to provide an exact number of people killed in the attack.

According to Eric Tuffour, the terrorists attacked the Ghanaian trucks because they perceived them as their enemies, shooting all the men and leaving the women unharmed.

“What actually happened was that the terrorists suspected that some of their enemies had entered the country, and our vehicle was in the town at the time.

“They shot the male passengers, leaving the female passengers unharmed. All the men who were seated on top of the vehicle were shot dead,” Tuffour is quoted to have.

Watch the video below:

“The answers you seek were all provided” – Sammy Gyamfi tackles Amin Adam over gold reserves brouhaha

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“The answers you seek were all provided” – Sammy Gyamfi tackles Amin Adam over gold reserves brouhaha

Sammy Gyamfi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Gold Board (GoldBod), in a sharply worded post, has dismissed concerns raised by former Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, regarding the 50 per cent sale of Ghana’s gold reserves by the Bank of Ghana.

The Goldbod CEO’s rebuttal follows those of former Finance Minister, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, who had demanded that the Bank of Ghana come clear on the sale of 50 per cent of Ghana’s gold reserves in 2025.

Amin Adam, in his post on Facebook, wrote, “The Bank of Ghana must come clear on the sale of over 50 per cent of Ghana’s gold reserves in 2025.

Between 2023 and 2024, the NPP government worked to increase Ghana’s gold holdings significantly, from about 8.8 tonnes to over 30 tonnes, under the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme (DGPP) introduced by Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, then Vice President of the Republic. This policy was explicitly designed to strengthen reserve buffers, support macroeconomic stability, and reduce dependence on foreign exchange.

Against this backdrop, the liquidation of more than half (+50%) of these reserves—generating approximately US$1.5 billion in financial gains—raises serious concerns about policy consistency and balance sheet management.

The central question is not whether reserves can be reallocated, but why such a substantial share was sold, and how the proceeds were used.

If these transactions were primarily undertaken to offset financial losses, then this represents a fundamental shift from reserve accumulation toward balance sheet repair. In that case, headline financial outcomes risk overstating underlying performance, unless one-off gains from gold sales are clearly separated from core operational results.

The central bank must prove that it did not sell the gold to cover huge losses recorded in 2025. How will the Bank report its 2025 losses vis-avis the gains from the sale of gold reserves? How sustainable is this practice where operational losses can easily be offset by the sale of our gold reserves?

The Bank of Ghana is yet to tell Ghanaians that the real reason behind the sale was not to achieve the right proportions of assets between foreign currency and gold, but simply to cover losses occasioned by its poor management of the Bank.

Explanations framed as portfolio diversification must be assessed against outcomes. If the proceeds did not materially strengthen net international reserves, the macroeconomic rationale remains unclear.

References to International Monetary Fund alignment should also be treated with caution. IMF-supported frameworks emphasise transparency, accountability, and the preservation of central bank balance sheet integrity.

At a time when policy credibility is critical, the Bank of Ghana owes Ghanaians a full and transparent account of these decisions”.

In a sharply worded post, Sammy Gyamfi replied to Amin Adam, telling him the answers he sought have already been addressed at the parliamentary level, with the central bank, led by the Governor, briefing the Economy Sub-committee of Parliament on the matter on March 9.

Sammy Gyamfi further pointed out at Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Ranking Member of the committee, as well as Dr Gideon Boako, for making “unfounded claims” about the gold transactions.

The Goldbod CEO in his post wrote, “Honourable Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, the answers you seek were all provided to the Economy Sub-committee of Parliament a few days ago by a team from the BoG led by the Governor himself.

The record of that meeting can easily be made available to you if you check with the Chairman of the committee or, better still, your Ranking Member, Hon. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah. Dr Gideon Boako, who has been peddling lots of unfounded claims about the said transaction, was there as well. You may want to talk to him. After all, Parliament works in committees. Gracias!”

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“2028 election is all play, all play, no NDC seat is safe” – NPP

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“2028 election is all play, all play, no NDC seat is safe” – NPP

Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has said the 2028 election is all play, all play, as no NDC parliamentary seat is safe.

Alexander Afenyo-Markin declared the NPP’s intent to reclaim political dominance in the 2028 general elections.

He stressed that no parliamentary seat held by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) will be secure.

The minority leader called on NPP members to intensify grassroots mobilisation, accusing the NDC of failing to deliver on key campaign promises.

Addressing executives of the Tertiary Students Confederacy (TESCON) in Parliament on Wednesday, March 18, Alexander Afenyo-Markin stated, “If elections are held today, NPP will be the majority, but that will also require hard work and loyalty. We do not doubt our minds that you will take up the mantle”.

“We will be joining our colleagues to storm the campuses. The 2028 election is all play, all play, no NDC seat is safe. We will approach every NDC seat like a normal seat,” he said.

In related news, Afenyo-Markin has boldly stated that if elections are organised today, there is no way the National Democratic Congress (NDC) can maintain its majority seat.

Afenyo-Markin stressed that, if elections were held today, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would reclaim the majority of the seats they lost in the 2024 elections.

Speaking in a one-on-one interview on UTV, Afenyo-Markin stated, “From day one, we are 87, and they are 188 buy I am not afraid, if God is with us, didn’t David fight with Goliath and he defeated him.

I know that if elections were organised today, the NPP would reclaim the majority of the seats we lost; If we were voting today, there is no way the NDC can get a majority. I know what I am talking about”.

The minority leader further called on all NPP members to pray for the party, flagbearer and all MPs.

“I am standing on prayers; if we do not pray, we will always be defeated. The simple message I want to tell the NPP member today is oray for the party, is not about the noise and argument. If we do not pray, even if we get the most perfect person that you think to partner with the flagbearer, we will have difficulty. Let’s pray for the flagbearer and individual MPs. It is not the fall of your colleague that will lead to your success”, he added.

Meanwhile, Alamzy Billa Nikyema, the National Democratic Congress(NDC) Member of Parliament for Chiana-Paga, has claimed the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) and its presidential candidate, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, cannot even win an SRC election.

According to Alamzy Billa Nikyema, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and the current NPP lack the political strength needed to win public support, doubting the party’s ability to regain political power in the future.

The NDC MP stressed that NPP members still confidently speak about winning the 2028 general elections when the party is struggling to maintain credibility among Ghanaians.

Alamzy Billa Nikyema stressed that the NPP failed Ghanaians in government, which left public dissatisfaction with the party, adding that the NPP will face challenges in convincing voters at the grassroots.

Speaking on the floor of parliament, Alamzy Billa Nikyema stated, “These people failed us with audacity, they failed us with audacity, and the most bizarre part is that any time they are making contributions, they will tell us that when we win power in 2028. Mr Speaker, my question is with which party and with which candidate?

“Mr Speaker, your current party, and your current candidate, you cannot even use the party and your current candidate to win SRC elections,” Mr Nikyema said.

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We will respect gov’t decision to hand over Damang Mine to E&P – Wassa-Damang youth

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We will respect gov’t decision to hand over Damang Mine to E&P – Wassa-Damang youth

The youth of Wassa-Damang in the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality of the Western Region have said they will respect the government decision to hand over the Damang Mine to Engineers & Planners (E&P).  

According to the youth of Wassa-Damang, community development remains our topmost priority.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Ebenezer Takyi, Youth Member of Parliament for the Prestea Huni-Valley Municipality, disclosed, “Should the Government of Ghana decide, in its wisdom, to hand over the Damang Mine to E&P or any other competent entity, the youth of Damang will respect that decision”.

“For us, community development remains our topmost priority, and we expect the continuation and strengthening of initiatives that have supported our communities over the years. We are organised, responsible, and capable of speaking for ourselves, when necessary,” he said.

The youth of Wassa-Damang further dismissed claims that Gold Fields’ Damang Mine has done little to support their communities.

According to them, the purported claims being put out there by some alleged youths of Wassa-Damang during an engagement at Parliament are false and unauthorised.

Mr Ebenezer Takyi detailed, “They do not speak for us, nor are they mandated by the youth or the broader community to represent our views on matters concerning the Damang Mine or the development of our area”.

According to Mr Ebenezer Takyi, over the past 25 years, the Damang Mine, operated by Gold Fields, contributed significantly to the development of the Wassa-Damang communities, pointing to the construction and rehabilitation of the 33-kilometre Damang–Tarkwa road.

Also, the extension of electricity to communities such as Nyamebekyere, Kyekyewere, and Subri.

The youths further added that the Damang Mine, operated by Gold Fields, provided the provision of 17 pump-fitted boreholes and 13 small-town water systems and the apprenticeship training programmes.

“While we acknowledge that there is always room for improvement in community development, it is inaccurate and unfair to suggest that nothing meaningful has been done for the host communities,” he added.

Meanwhile, the information gathered suggests Ibrahim Mahama’s  Engineers and Planners’ acquisition of the Damang Mine was approved in March 2024.

According to reports, approval for the acquisition of Damang Mine by Engineers and Planners was granted by former Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, in March 2024.

Rafik Mahama, special aide to Ibrahim Mahama, Engineers & Planners (E&P), has also disclosed that the company, which has served as the sole mining contractor at the Damang Mine since 2017, expressed interest in acquiring the mine after Gold Fields decided to exit in 2023.

He disclosed that Engineers & Planners (E&P) subsequently secured a No Objection in March 2024, approved by Samuel Abu Jinapor.

A letter shared on social media from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources dated March 12, 2024, reads, “Your letter dated 8th March, 2024, on the above-subject matter refers.

Subsequent to your letter, the Hon. Ministe requested for the advice and commendation of the Minerals Commission, pursuant to section 100(2) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which was recelved on 12% March, 2024 The Commission indicates that your company has gained considerable experience in mining, and is currently engaged in contract mining for Abosso Goldificlds Limited’s Damang Gold Mine.

Based on the representations in your letter and on the recommendation of the Minerals Commission, the Hon. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has no objection to Engineers and Planners Co. Ltd. entering into negotiations with Abosso Goldfields Limited for the purposes of acquiring the Damang Gold Mine.

This no objection, however, does not affect the right of the Government of Ghana to approve or reject any transaction and/or agreement concluded between the parties. Accordingly, any agreement concluded between you on one hand, and Abosso Goldfields Limited, on the other hand, shall be subject to the express approval or otherwise of the Government of Ghana. For the avoidance of doubt, any such agreement shall not be valid, and no rights shall pass under such an agreement without the consent of the Government of Ghana. This no objection is granted subject to the above reservations”.

Gov’t neglecting agriculture; focus on gold for reserves – Minority Leader

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Gov’t neglecting agriculture; focus on gold for reserves – Minority Leader

Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Minority Leader, has blown an alarm on the John Mahama government’s lack of investment in Ghana’s agriculture sector.

According to Alexander Afenyo-Markin, the Mahama government is neglecting agriculture and is only focusing on gold for reserves.

The minority leader warned that government policies favouring gold for reserves over farming threaten Ghana’s long-term food security.

Afenyo-Markin asserted that agriculture has received attention in policy discussions, but not adequate financial support for farmers.

Speaking during discussions with the World Bank, Afenyo-Markin stated, “We look at the 2025 budget and the 2026 budget, we like the ambition of the agriculture minister, but so much less is being invested in agriculture, and it appears the government is so much into this goldboard thing, using gold for reserves to stabilise our currency and all”.

“The bubble cannot be sustained if our farmers do not get the proper price for their produce,” he said.

In related news, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin has called out the Minister of Agriculture, Eric Opoku, to tell Ghanaians what he has achieved since assuming office.

Afenyo-Markin recounted that Eric Opoku, in opposition, used to portray the Akufo-Addo government as ineffective.

He, however, acknowledged Eric Opoku’s intelligence but highlighted that he has failed to introduce any concrete policies to improve Ghana’s agricultural sector.

According to Afenyo-Markin, the Agric Minister must convene a press conference and highlight his achievements since assuming office.

Speaking at a conference on Monday, January 27, 2026. Afenyo-Markin stated, “So, for agriculture, let me ask our respected colleague Eric Opoku. He is a very intelligent parliamentarian. I don’t doubt his understanding of the agro sector, but talk is cheap. It is not about his talking.

Today I want to ask my respected colleague, Honourable Eric Opoku, the minister responsible for agriculture, to hold a press conference and tell Ghanaians the real policies that have been introduced to help promote agriculture,” Afenyo-Markin said.

He added: “There is none in the fisheries sector. The less said about them, the better. So really, this government talks so much in opposition, but in government, there is nothing they’ve done in the agro and fisheries sectors to promote growth. And we see it in that field.”

Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama, during last year’s 41st National Farmers’ Day Celebration in Ho on Friday, December 5, told all Ghanaians to venture into agriculture as an additional source of income.

President John Dramani Mahama has told all Ghanaians to venture into agriculture as an additional source of income.

Speaking at the 41st National Farmers’ Day Celebration in Ho on Friday, December 5, President Mahama encouraged Ghanaians, especially those in formal employment, to consider farming, adding that farming is only for “village folks”.

According to John Mahama, adopting farming as a secondary venture would boost personal earnings and also strengthen national food security, which would reduce Ghana’s importation. 

President Mahama stated, “Agriculture isn’t only for the village folks,” he said. “You can work and still be a farmer. Teachers and civil servants can go to work and have farms, and the money from the farm can supplement their incomes.”

He further added that the government’s efforts to stabilise food prices are producing strong results.

“Food inflation stood at 28.3%. Through targeted interventions and careful management of food systems, I am pleased to report that food inflation has decreased significantly to 9.5% by October 2025. This is a notable improvement from the 22.8% recorded at exactly the same time last year,” he stated.

President Mahama also announced that the government will take aggressive measures to reduce interest rates on agriculture.

“The capital and credit facility that is available to our farmers is at such an interest rate that when a farmer is able to access it, they would be working for the bank and not themselves,” the President said

He stated, “One of our prime objectives is to get credit to our farmers at the best possible rate. We will be working towards a single-digit interest rate”.

“I agree that credit for agriculture must be at a single-digit interest rate. So this government is going to work to bring that interest rate below 10% so that farmers can have access to cheaper credit to be able to produce more for us to feed ourselves,” he added.

“Dangerous state capture” – Minority blows alarm over Ibrahim Mahama’s ‘influence’ on mining sector

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“Dangerous state capture” – Minority blows alarm over Ibrahim Mahama’s ‘influence’ on mining sector

The minority in parliament has alleged that Ghana is dangerously drifting towards state capture in the mining sector, just one year into President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.

According to the NPP minority, Ibrahim Mahama, brother of President John Mahama, is wielding undue influence in Ghana’s mining sector.

They alleged that since the President’s return to office, companies linked to Ibrahim Mahama have gained unprecedented and unfair advantages.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament, the Minority Spokesperson on Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, stated, “Now Ghana stands today at a defining moment in our natural resource governance. Barely one year into the administration of President John Dramani Mahama, we are witnessing what can only be described as a dangerous drift towards state capture in the mining sector,” Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong stated.

“This is not an abstract concern. This is not rhetorical or alarmist. This is unfolding in real time through decisions, patterns, and actions that threaten our institutional integrity, economic stability, and democratic accountability.”

Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong pointed to Ibrahim Mahama’s upcoming transition of the Damang gold mine from Goldfields Ghana as an example of the lack of transparency.

According to the minority, Parliament and the Ghanaian public have been kept in the dark about who will operate the asset.

The Minority further alleged that there was a systematic placement of individuals with close ties to Ibrahim Mahama in Ghana’s mining sector’s regulatory landscape.

Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong fingered the appointment, the CEO of GIADEC was the personal lawyer of Ibrahim Mahama, and that a member of the GIADEC board, Mr Augustus Agbeli-Amegashi as close associate of Ibrahim Mahama’s Exton Cubic Group and Engineers & Planners.

Also, pointing to the Deputy CEO of the Minerals Commission in charge of Local Content and Mineral Titles, Victoria Awuni, who worked as a group manager for compliance at Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers & Planners.

Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong further stressed that the CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, was also the public relations officer for Ibrahim Mahama’s Exton Cubic.

The minority added, “Taken individually, each of these may be explained, but taken together, they point to something far more serious and dangerous, a growing convergence between public institutions and a single private corporate orbit”.

“Every major agency that should report to the Minister now answers to Ibrahim Mahama’s orbit, not to the Minister or Parliament,” Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong claimed.

“While they use that particular parameter to actually assess us and judge us, it is only proper that whilst in office in the last year we also try and turn the skills on them and see how they have performed under that particular parameter,” he said.

Meanwhile, reports suggest the Approval for the acquisition of the Damang Mine by Engineers and Planners was granted by former Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, in March 2024.

According to Rafik Mahama, special aide to Ibrahim Mahama, Engineers & Planners (E&P), which has served as the sole mining contractor at the Damang Mine since 2017, expressed interest in acquiring the mine after Gold Fields decided to exit in 2023.

E&P subsequently secured a No Objection in March 2024, approved by Samuel Abu Jinapor.

Watch the video below:

“Our economy can withstand external shocks” – Mahama declares

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“Our economy can withstand external shocks” – Mahama declares

President John Dramani Mahama has declared Ghana’s economy is now resilient enough to withstand external shocks.

According to John Mahama, Ghana’s economy is resilient due to a series of measures implemented by his administration.

President Mahama stressed that Israel, Iran and the United States accentuate the need for a strong and stable domestic economy.

He further highlighted that the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war exposed the vulnerabilities in economies under the former Akufo-Addo government.

Speaking during his ‘Resetting Ghana Tour’ in the Bono Region on Wednesday, March 18, “In this world, unexpected events can occur at any time. If your monetary system is not well cushioned, such shocks can destabilise the economy,” he said.

“I have hope that the measures we have put in place in our first year have strengthened the economy. Even with ongoing global tensions, our economy will be able to withstand the impact,” he added.

Earlier, President John Dramani Mahama admitted that the escalating conflict between the United States, Israel and Iran is not only affecting the Middle East, but the whole world.

According to President Mahama, tensions in the Middle East are troubling, calling for prayers and renewed efforts toward peace.

Speaking on Monday, March 16, during an Iftar with members of the Muslim community at the Jubilee House, President Mahama stated, “We are all concerned about what is happening in the Middle East. The conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran is not only affecting the Middle East, but the whole world. We pray that Allah will touch the hearts of everyone involved in this conflict and bring peace to the region”

“If you say you are a true Muslim or a true Christian and you are unforgiving, wicked, and kill your fellow man, you cannot call yourself a true Christian or a true Muslim. At a time when many parts of the world are faced with conflict and uncertainty, we must continue to protect the peace Ghana enjoys,” he said.

He added, “I humbly ask for your prayers during this Ramadan for our country, for our leaders, and for other parts of the world affected by conflict, especially in the Middle East”.

Also, President John Dramani Mahama has warned that the escalating conflict in the Middle East could have serious economic consequences for Africa.

According to John Mahama, hostilities involving the United States, Israel, and Iran would hurt African economies.

Mahama argued that the Middle East is the epicentre of global oil supplies, adding that African economies must brace for inevitable shocks.

President Mahama made this known while speaking during a bilateral meeting with Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan at the State House in Arusha on March 2, 2026.

He expressed alarm over the intensifying exchanges between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, as well as the counter-attacks, stressing that the tensions would trigger the rise of crude oil prices, which would impact African countries.

Meanwhile, Dr Johnson Asiama, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), has cautioned that the Middle East conflict poses fresh inflation risks for Ghana.

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Revealed – Ibrahim Mahama’s acquisition of Damang Mine was approved in March 2024

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Revealed – Ibrahim Mahama’s acquisition of Damang Mine was approved in March 2024

The information gathered suggests Ibrahim Mahama’s  Engineers and Planners’ acquisition of the Damang Mine was approved in March 2024.

According to reports, approval for the acquisition of Damang Mine by Engineers and Planners was granted by former Lands Minister, Samuel Abu Jinapor, in March 2024.

 Rafik Mahama, special aide to Ibrahim Mahama, Engineers & Planners (E&P), has also disclosed that the company, which has served as the sole mining contractor at the Damang Mine since 2017, expressed interest in acquiring the mine after Gold Fields decided to exit in 2023.

He disclosed that Engineers & Planners (E&P) subsequently secured a No Objection in March 2024, approved by Samuel Abu Jinapor.

A letter shared on social media from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources dated March 12, 2024, reads, “Your letter dated 8th March, 2024, on the above-subject matter refers.

Subsequent to your letter, the Hon. Ministe requested for the advice and commendation of the Minerals Commission, pursuant to section 100(2) of the Minerals and Mining Act, 2006 (Act 703), which was recelved on 12% March, 2024 The Commission indicates that your company has gained considerable experience in mining, and is currently engaged in contract mining for Abosso Goldificlds Limited’s Damang Gold Mine.

Based on the representations in your letter and on the recommendation of the Minerals Commission, the Hon. Minister for Lands and Natural Resources has no objection to Engineers and Planners Co. Ltd. entering into negotiations with Abosso Goldfields Limited for the purposes of acquiring the Damang Gold Mine.

This no objection, however, does not affect the right of the Government of Ghana to approve or reject any transaction and/or agreement concluded between the parties. Accordingly, any agreement concluded between you on one hand, and Abosso Goldfields Limited, on the other hand, shall be subject to the express approval or otherwise of the Government of Ghana. For the avoidance of doubt, any such agreement shall not be valid, and no rights shall pass under such an agreement without the consent of the Government of Ghana. This no objection is granted subject to the above reservations”.

Meanwhile, the minority in parliament has alleged that Ghana is dangerously drifting towards state capture in the mining sector, just one year into President John Dramani Mahama’s administration.

According to the NPP minority, Ibrahim Mahama, brother of President John Mahama, is wielding undue influence in Ghana’s mining sector.

They alleged that since the President’s return to office, companies linked to Ibrahim Mahama have gained unprecedented and unfair advantages.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament, the Minority Spokesperson on Lands and Natural Resources, Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong, stated, “Now Ghana stands today at a defining moment in our natural resource governance. Barely one year into the administration of President John Dramani Mahama, we are witnessing what can only be described as a dangerous drift towards state capture in the mining sector,” Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong stated.

“This is not an abstract concern. This is not rhetorical or alarmist. This is unfolding in real time through decisions, patterns, and actions that threaten our institutional integrity, economic stability, and democratic accountability.”

Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong pointed to Ibrahim Mahama’s upcoming transition of the Damang gold mine from Goldfields Ghana as an example of the lack of transparency.

According to the minority, Parliament and the Ghanaian public have been kept in the dark about who will operate the asset.

The Minority further alleged that there was a systematic placement of individuals with close ties to Ibrahim Mahama in Ghana’s mining sector’s regulatory landscape.

Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong fingered the appointment, the CEO of GIADEC was the personal lawyer of Ibrahim Mahama, and that a member of the GIADEC board, Mr Augustus Agbeli-Amegashi as close associate of Ibrahim Mahama’s Exton Cubic Group and Engineers & Planners.

Also, pointing to the Deputy CEO of the Minerals Commission in charge of Local Content and Mineral Titles, Victoria Awuni, who worked as a group manager for compliance at Ibrahim Mahama’s Engineers & Planners.

Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong further stressed that the CEO of the Ghana Gold Board, GoldBod, Sammy Gyamfi, was also the public relations officer for Ibrahim Mahama’s Exton Cubic.

The minority added, “Taken individually, each of these may be explained, but taken together, they point to something far more serious and dangerous, a growing convergence between public institutions and a single private corporate orbit”.

“Every major agency that should report to the Minister now answers to Ibrahim Mahama’s orbit, not to the Minister or Parliament,” Mr Ampratwum-Sarpong claimed.

“While they use that particular parameter to actually assess us and judge us, it is only proper that whilst in office in the last year we also try and turn the skills on them and see how they have performed under that particular parameter,” he said.

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Video emerges of victims of microlight aircraft recording themselves mid-flight before the crash

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Video emerges of victims of microlight aircraft recording themselves mid-flight before the crash

A new video has emerged showing Captain Frank Donkor and his younger brother recording themselves in the plane before the Sky Arrow microlight crash in Tema.

In the viral video, the camera captures both of them with broad smiles, making some hand gestures, including a thumbs-up.

However, it cannot be established whether the crash occurred during the trip captured in the video or whether it was from an old expedition of the two brothers.

Meanwhile, the two victims of Monday, March 16, 2026, Sky Arrow microlight aircraft crash in Tema have been identified as sons of a popular pastor.

The two victims of the microlight aircraft crash have been identified as two sons of the founder of Hebron Prayer Camp near Nsawam, Elder Frank Kwabena Donkor.

One of the sons, a distinguished pilot and instructor, Captain Frank Donkor, and his younger brother,

Captain Frank Donkor is reported to have taken his brother on the ill-fated flight.

Captain Frank Donkor, who was piloting the aircraft at the time of the incident, is described as a seasoned airman who held both Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and Certified Flight Instructor Instrument (CFII) ratings.

In related news, more information is surfacing following the Monday, March 16, 2026, microlight aircraft crash that claimed two people on board in Tema Community One.

A screenshots of social media posts of the helicopter, shared by TV3, suggest that it is about 25 years old.

The social media post shared by TV3 was made by an X account identified as Roberto Billia.

In his post, he shared a photo of the alleged microlight aircraft in 2023. He wrote, “Almost ready, after 21 years, is almost ready to get in the sky once again, yesterday had an inspection of GCAA to release the permit for the test flight”.

In another post, Roberto Billia shared a microlight aircraft out on a runway. He wrote, “After 22 years, 9G-ADV is again airborne,  what an emotion!!! Shortly more video from Go-Pro”.

Also, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, in a statement, said the aircraft with registration number 9GADV was flying to Accra from Ho.

The GCAA says investigations are underway and that further information will be provided in due course.

Microlights are typically much smaller aircraft, seating two people and mainly used for recreational purposes.

Also, Deputy Minister for Defence, Brogya Genfi, has clarified that the microlight aircraft, which crashed in Tema on Monday, does not belong to the Ghana Armed Forces.

In a Facebook post shared late Monday afternoon, Brogya Genfi stated, “We have received reports of a fatal crash involving a privately owned microlight aircraft at Tema Community 1 this afternoon,” the Deputy Minister wrote.

“We wish to clarify that the aircraft is not owned by the Ghana Armed Forces.”

“We pray for the souls of the departed and extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families,” his post added.

Background

Reports earlier revealed a helicopter reportedly plummeted from the sky, crashing into the Oninku Drive School Park in Tema Community One.

Reports suggest the tragic incident occurred on Monday, March 16, with two people on board the helicopter dying from the impact of the crash.

Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service rushed to the scene to douse the flames at the site with the help of law enforcement officers from the Ghana Police Service. They recovered the burnt bodies of the victims.

Meanwhile, Mr Ahmed Abdullia, the Assemblyman for the Kwesi Plange Electoral Area, has revealed that none of the students was hurt.

The news shared by Ghana News Agency stated, “Three persons are feared dead following a helicopter crash at the Oninku Drive School Park in Tema Community One.

Personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service are currently at the scene working to retrieve the charred bodies from the wreckage”.

The helicopter has now been described as a Sky Arrow microlight helicopter.

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“Where is the scandal in this matter?” – Kwakye Ofosu on GoldBod deal with Deputy Chief of Staff

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“Where is the scandal in this matter?” – Kwakye Ofosu on GoldBod deal with Deputy Chief of Staff

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, has spoken amid the ongoing GoldBod procurement controversy involving Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe.

The controversy stems from “concerns surrounding the award of a renovation contract valued at GH¢11.9 million by the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) to Correca Ghana Limited, a firm some reports have associated with him.

According to procurement records, GoldBod awarded the contract to Correca Ghana Limited in the sum of GH¢11,901,736.13 for renovation works expected to be completed within six weeks of signing.

The deal formed part of three contracts with a combined value of nearly GH¢15 million, awarded through what has been described as a restrictive tender process. The other contracts, involving the supply of laptop computers and office furniture, were awarded to Grace-Filled Venture and Get4Less Ghana Limited under a single-source procurement method.

In a letter dated 7 November 2025, the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) reportedly quoted a price of GH¢3,246,288.88 for the computer and furniture supply contracts.

The awards have triggered public scrutiny, with critics questioning whether the processes afforded undue political advantage to certain firms. Some commentators on social media have also alleged a conflict of interest, citing claims that Woezor TV, a television platform owned by Mr Dogbe, shares the same ownership structure, directorship, address and operational premises as Correca Ghana Limited”, the Herald stated.

According to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the word scandal has been thrown around, but a scandal connotes wrongdoing or a conflict of interest, which, in this case, does not reflect the facts at hand.

Speaking in an interview on Channel One on March 17, 2026, Felix Kwakye Ofosu stated, “I think that one of the things that has happened recently is the throwing about of the word scandal. What is a scandal really? A scandal connotes wrongdoing. It’s a conflict of interest, so you must establish where the conflict is”.

“The deputy chief of staff has a company that existed for many years before he became deputy chief of staff, which has done projects. They have a track record that you can verify for yourself so they learn of some tender process by the Gold Board to have their office refurbished, they put in a bid, their bid is deemed to be competitive, they are engaged, they execute the project.

“There’s no question about the quality of work they’ve done or whether they’ve shortchanged Gold Board or done anything that is contrary to Ghanaian law, so where exactly is a scandal in this particular matter?” he asked.

The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications stressed that the deputy chief of staff does not oversee the government, as he works under the chief of staff, adding that Goldbod falls under the Ministry of Finance and not the presidency.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu added, “The deputy chief of staff does not oversee government, as you say. He works under the auspices of the chief of staff, so the assumption that a deputy chief of staff can simply commandeer a contract is not the case”.

“But a cabinet minister takes part in decisions that the government makes, so if you are part of decision-making and you also seek to profit, that’s where there’s a difficulty”.

He further explained, “But the point is that you need to look at the process, whether there’s been any violation of any sort. So, if it were the case that, for instance, the deputy chief of staff was the one renovating his own outfits and his company did it, then there’s a clear conflict. The conflict is between the decision-making and the benefits”.

“In fact, Goldbod falls under the Ministry of Finance and not the presidency. It has nothing to do with the presidency, so when you seek to compare it with what a cabinet minister, who has been part of the decision of government to divest hotels, seeks to profit from…” he clarified.

“So, in the process of taking that decision, if you participate in it, you cannot turn around to benefit from it. That is really what the issue was,” he stated.

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“Are you going to put your job on the line if SIM registration fails?” – Sam George asked

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“Are you going to put your job on the line if SIM registration fails?” – Sam George asked

Solomon Owusu, the Director of Communications for the United Party (UP), has quizzed the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Sam George, on what the consequences will be if the SIM registration fails to achieve its purpose.

According to Solomon Owusu, the registration under Ursula Owusu was undermined by ego and power struggles between the Ministry of Communications and the National Identification Authority (NIA).

Speaking in an interview with Accra-based TV3, Solomon Owusu stated, “What assurance is the minister giving to us that this time around? When he fails, what must the country do to him? Is he going to put his job on the line?

Is he saying that if he’s unable to, after the registration, there are still forces in the system, he must be sacked from office, or he must be in prison? Or what should happen? Because Ursula Owusu gave us the same assurance. Today, she’s chilling somewhere. Nobody is taking her on.”

Solomon Owusu argued that if telcos fail, they should be sanctioned, and if the minister fails to enforce the law, he should face consequences too.

In related news, Sam George has assured Ghanaians that the upcoming SIM registration exercise will be the last.

According to him, the government rolls out a robust, technology-driven system designed to enhance convenience and eliminate fraud.

“The fact that you have multi-agency collaboration on this is something that you didn’t see in previous times.

You have the NIA (National Identification Authority) being our single source of truth when it comes to IDs, the NCA (National Communications Authority), the ministry, Immigration Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other agencies all working together.

“What you see today is the product of very hard and difficult conversations, and that gives me the confidence that if we execute this right, this will be the final SIM registration exercise,” Mr George explained.

“This registration is 75 per cent communication and 25 per cent technology,” he said

He further ruled out automatic migration of existing SIM data into the new system saying, “You are not cleaning up. You are actually migrating the viruses.

You have infected files, and you are migrating them onto a new system.

You are basically replicating the problems of the old system.

And that’s part of the reason why we can’t do a wholesale migration. And that’s cured today by NIA’s solution that they are offering to us based on the collaboration we are having with them,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, has said the planned SIM registration is not going to be a silver bullet that stops fraud.

The Telecoms Chamber CEO highlighted that consumer awareness and protection of personal identification numbers are critical in stopping the growing threat of mobile-related frauds.

She stressed that most of the mobile related fruad are driven by social engineering schemes where fraudsters impersonate trusted individuals or institutions to scam persons from disclosing sensitive information.

Speaking in an interview on Citi Business News, Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah explained, “SIM registration is not going to be a silver bullet that stops fraud. The nature of fraud that we are currently experiencing as a country is mostly on a social engineering scheme.

When I say social engineering, these are legitimate individuals who would call you and pretend to be somebody else and, you know, seek information from you and fraudulently, you know, lead you into releasing your personal identity, your personal identity number.

“Your PIN is sacred. So to the extent that you protect your PIN, there shouldn’t be room for someone to defraud you,” she said.

She added, “What the SIM registration will do, however, is to ensure that for every subscriber, your number is biometrically linked to the national ID database, which means that if you are not the user, if I acquire a SIM card, which was acquired by someone else, and I use it, I purchase that SIM and I do not register it directly, any crime that is committed with that particular number will be linked back to me as a user.

“So I do think that there is the need for a lot of consumer education around protecting our SIM, around ensuring that the numbers that we register are authentically ours and that you do not go and purchase a SIM card that has been pre-registered, because it means that if any fraudulent activities undertaken with that number, you will be tracked and you will have to bear the consequences of it,” she added.

SIM registration will be the last – Sam George assures Ghanaians

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SIM registration will be the last – Sam George assures Ghanaians

Sam George, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, has assured Ghanaians that the upcoming SIM registration exercise will be the last.

According to him, the government rolls out a robust, technology-driven system designed to enhance convenience and eliminate fraud.

Speaking to stakeholders about the planned exercise, Sam George stated, “The fact that you have multi-agency collaboration on this is something that you didn’t see in previous times.

You have the NIA (National Identification Authority) being our single source of truth when it comes to IDs, the NCA (National Communications Authority), the ministry, Immigration Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and other agencies all working together.

“What you see today is the product of very hard and difficult conversations, and that gives me the confidence that if we execute this right, this will be the final SIM registration exercise,” Mr George explained.

“This registration is 75 per cent communication and 25 per cent technology,” he said

He further ruled out automatic migration of existing SIM data into the new system saying, “You are not cleaning up. You are actually migrating the viruses.

You have infected files, and you are migrating them onto a new system.

You are basically replicating the problems of the old system.

And that’s part of the reason why we can’t do a wholesale migration. And that’s cured today by NIA’s solution that they are offering to us based on the collaboration we are having with them,” he said.

However, Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, has said the planned SIM registration is not going to be a silver bullet that stops fraud.

The Telecoms Chamber CEO highlighted that consumer awareness and protection of personal identification numbers are critical in stopping the growing threat of mobile-related frauds.

She stressed that most of the mobile related fruad are driven by social engineering schemes where fraudsters impersonate trusted individuals or institutions to scam persons from disclosing sensitive information.

Speaking in an interview on Citi Business News, Sylvia Owusu-Ankomah explained, “SIM registration is not going to be a silver bullet that stops fraud. The nature of fraud that we are currently experiencing as a country is mostly on a social engineering scheme.

When I say social engineering, these are legitimate individuals who would call you and pretend to be somebody else and, you know, seek information from you and fraudulently, you know, lead you into releasing your personal identity, your personal identity number.

“Your PIN is sacred. So to the extent that you protect your PIN, there shouldn’t be room for someone to defraud you,” she said.

She added, “What the SIM registration will do, however, is to ensure that for every subscriber, your number is biometrically linked to the national ID database, which means that if you are not the user, if I acquire a SIM card, which was acquired by someone else, and I use it, I purchase that SIM and I do not register it directly, any crime that is committed with that particular number will be linked back to me as a user.

“So I do think that there is the need for a lot of consumer education around protecting our SIM, around ensuring that the numbers that we register are authentically ours and that you do not go and purchase a SIM card that has been pre-registered, because it means that if any fraudulent activities undertaken with that number, you will be tracked and you will have to bear the consequences of it,” she added.

Arrest and prosecute them, don’t just admit your people are into galamsey – Mahama told

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Arrest and prosecute them, don’t just admit your people are into galamsey – Mahama told

Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide to former Vice President and NPP flagbearer Mahamudu Bawumia, has told President John Dramani Mahama to arrest and prosecute NDC people involved in galamsey.

According to Dennis Miracles Aboagye, President Mahama must not only admit that NDC people are also involved in galamsey, but he must arrest and prosecute them.

In a post shared on X social media, Dennis Miracles Aboagye stated, “You have been pretending for a very long time about this fact, sir. It took you too long to admit what is public knowledge.

Now that you finally acknowledged your people are involved, and as we know, expect, you know who your people are, when are you getting them arrested and prosecuted??

Or mildly, when are you calling for a family meeting, lock yourselves in a room and ask your people to leave our forests and rivers alone sir…”

His comments follow, President John Dramani Mahama, who has confessed that illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, involves individuals across political and traditional structures.

According to John Mahama, he will not kid himself that his own party people are not involved in the galamsey menace.

President Mahama highlighted that the fight against the galamsey menace will be difficult but must continue.

Mahama stressed that operators often shift allegiance when governments change, allowing the practice to continue.

Speaking during a meeting with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, President Mahama stated, “Illegal mining has eaten into the fabric of our society. And I must say that it is not only a menace to our society, but it has involved a circle of traditional rulers, political party appointees and everything”.

“Even when one party changes, those who were running some operation, who went to one party, will go to the next party and say, now that you have come, come and take over this operation and let’s share. We, too, will be getting small; this is what we are doing. And so I don’t kid myself that we don’t have our own people involved,” he stated.

President Mahama further touched on the work of the anti-illegal mining task force NAIMOS, describing it as challenging, especially in communities where resistance is strong.

He added, “And the work of the NAIMOS is not easy. They go to a community, and the chiefs, the youth and everybody come out and resist them. And so, I didn’t kid myself that we would be able to win that fight overnight. But we cannot relent, we must continue”.

“And it doesn’t help when we have a crisis in the cocoa industry. The low price that was paid to cocoa farmers made some of them give up their farms for gold mining,” he noted.

“We are hoping that it will stabilise with the new automatic mechanism we are coming up with so that farmers know that they are getting 70% of the price,” he said.

“One of the problems we have is we don’t have patrol boats, especially on our waterways, for nine months to continue to patrol the waterways,” he explained.

Mahama further added that the Finance, Defence and Interior ministries are working to provide the necessary resources.

“So, we are working with the minister of finance to be able to maintain that,” he said.

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Court to deliver ruling on Abu Trica’s extradition case March 25

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Court to deliver ruling on Abu Trica’s extradition case March 25

The Gbese District Court has announced Wednesday, March 25, 2026, to deliver its ruling on a preliminary legal objection in the extradition case of Frederick Kumi, commonly known as Abu Trica.

In court, Abu Trica’s legal team, led by Oliver Barker Vormawor, challenged the legal foundation of the extradition process.

Oliver Barker Vormawor highlighted that offences cited are not covered under the 1931 extradition treaty signed by Ghana and the United States.

The Defence argued that the  1931 extradition treaty does not spell out wire fraud or money laundering as extraditable offences.

The court proceedings were heightened as Swedru youths besieged the court, demanding Abu Trica’s release.

The Gbese District Court ruling on the preliminary objection will determine whether the extradition proceedings can move forward.

Meanwhile, Abu Trica has sued the government of Ghana and the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at the High Court.

According to reports, Abu Trica alleges a harrowing ordeal of torture, unlawful detention, and a blatant disregard for his fundamental human rights.

Abu Trica is seeking GH₵10 million in compensation in a motion filed at the Human Rights Division of the High Court in Accra.

His suit names the Minister for Interior, the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), the FBI, the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), and the Attorney-General over what he describes as a coordinated campaign of “cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment” after he was arrested on December 11 2025.

The embattled Abu Trica claim his arrest and detention were marked by physical violence, coercive interrogations by foreign agents, and the looting of his personal property, adding that he was handcuffed, starved, and interrogated by foreign agents.

The court documents show lawyers of Abu Trica claim that over 15 armed officers stormed his apartment in the Airport Residential Area while he was playing video games with friends.

“Abu Trica claims he was immediately handcuffed and remained restrained from morning until late evening without access to food, water, or rest.

The most striking allegation involves the 3rd Respondent, the FBI.

Kumi asserts that while in the custody of Ghanaian authorities, he was subjected to a coercive interrogation by three foreign nationals introduced as FBI agents.

He claims these agents, who possess no independent police powers in Ghana, forced him to sign documents he could not read due to limited literacy and threatened to link him to fraudulent transactions worth up to $8 million if he did not disclose his phone passwords”, reports suggested.

“The decision and conduct of officers of the 2nd Respondent in permitting agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation… to interrogate the Applicant without access to Counsel, was unlawful and in violation of Articles 14 and 19 of the 1992 Constitution,” the motion states.

He further alleged that while he remained in custody, officers from NACOC and EOCO allegedly conducted unauthorised searches of his residence, known as “Abu Trica’s Mansion,” in Swedru.

“Abu Trica is demanding justice and an end to foreign interference in addition to the GH₵10 million compensation.

Abu Trica is also praying the court for several critical orders:

Exclusion of Evidence: An order rendering any information or items obtained during the “coercive” interrogations and “unauthorised” searches inadmissible in any future proceedings.

Interlocutory Injunction: A restraining order to prevent the State from extraditing or deporting him to any foreign state pending the final determination of the suit.

Restraint of the FBI: A specific order restraining the FBI and its agents from exercising any investigative or interrogation powers over him within Ghanaian territory”.

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“Abu Trica is a car dealer, not a fraudster, gov’t set him up” – Swedru youth storm Court

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“Abu Trica is a car dealer, not a fraudster, gov’t set him up” – Swedru youth storm Court

Swedru youths have besieged the Gbese District Court today, demanding the release of Frederick Kumi, also known as Abu Trica.

The Swedru youths stormed the Gbese District Court with placards demanding the release of Abu Trica.

According to them, Abu Trica is innocent as he is a car dealer, not a fraudster.

The further alleged that the government set him up.

Other Swedru youths were also heard shouting Free Abu, Free Abu in a chant for the release of Abu Trica.

In court, the Gbese District Court has announced Wednesday, March 25, 2026, to deliver its ruling on a preliminary legal objection in the extradition case of Frederick Kumi, commonly known as Abu Trica.

In court, Abu Trica’s legal team, led by Oliver Barker Vormawor, challenged the legal foundation of the extradition process.

Oliver Barker Vormawor highlighted that offences cited are not covered under the 1931 extradition treaty signed by Ghana and the United States.

The Defence argued that the  1931 extradition treaty does not spell out wire fraud or money laundering as extraditable offences.

The court proceedings were heightened as Swedru youths besieged the court, demanding Abu Trica’s release.

The Gbese District Court ruling on the preliminary objection will determine whether the extradition proceedings can move forward.

Background

Abu Trica, a 31-year-old Ghanaian from Swedru, was arrested for his alleged involvement in an $8 million romance scam which targeted elderly victims in the United States.

He was arrested in Ghana on December 11, 2025, following an investigation conducted by the FBI Cleveland Division and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian M. McDonough for the Northern District of Ohio.

The US Department of Justice wrote, “According to the indictment, perpetrators of this romance scam used Artificial Intelligence software to assume false identities and form close personal relationships with victims. They gained victims’ trust to obtain money and valuables, often targeting individuals through social media and online dating platforms under false pretences.

Victims were often elderly and engaged in romantic but physically distant relationships with perpetrators. The perpetrators built trust through frequent, intimate conversations by phone, email, and messaging platforms. They then requested money or valuables under false pretenses, such as urgent medical needs, travel expenses, or investment opportunities. Relying on these misrepresentations, victims were persuaded to send funds or valuables, which were then directed to co-conspirators posing as third parties.

The indictment also alleges that after the victims transferred funds, Kumi worked with a network of co-conspirators to distribute the money from Ohio and across the United States to associates in the Republic of Ghana and other locations.

Kumi has been charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, money laundering conspiracy, and a forfeiture specification, and faces up to 20 years in prison”.

It further added, “If convicted, a defendant’s sentence will be determined by the Court after a review of factors unique to this case, including a defendant’s prior criminal record, if any, his role in the offence, and the characteristics of the violation. In all cases, the sentences will not exceed the statutory maximum, and in most cases, it will be less than the maximum.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. A defendant is entitled to a fair trial in which it is the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt”.

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Report landlords who demand more than 6 months’ rent advance – Mahama

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Report landlords who demand more than 6 months’ rent advance – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has urged tenants to report landlords who are demanding two years’ rent in advance.

According to President Mahama, the rising housing costs continue to place a heavy burden on households, adding that access to affordable accommodation is increasingly difficult.

Mahama encouraged tenants to take decisive action by reporting such cases to the rent court, ensuring that offenders would be held accountable.

Speaking during a dialogue with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, stated, “Housing is a major problem, and for households, it is consuming their income. We need to have a national housing dialogue and decide how, between the private sector, government, and labour, we can come together and come up with a social housing policy to make sure that we provide affordable housing for workers to purchase on a mortgage or to be able to rent at a favourable cost,” he stated.

“The reason why the private house owners are taking advantage is because of the deficit in housing. We have the rent court, and we say do not take more than six months of rent advance, but the one who is renting and the house owner are both not prepared to go to the rent court,” he added.

“You can go and report him to the rent court, and we will hold that landlord accountable,” he emphasised.

Some Ghanaians reacting to President Mahama’s remarks stated, “While you’re in the process of reporting then you’re packing your stuff out simultaneously. Mahama should come and face us, the landlords directly. Siasem”.

“The rent control seems not to find its way to what they do.

Just enrol a system that requires both landlords and tenants to sign a contract renewed at the end of every six months. Without that contract, RC can evict the tenant and prosecute the Landlord”, a netizen added.

“Good call, but unless affordable state housing with monthly payments exists, private landlords won’t comply”, another X user added.

“In thy goodness, like this be good, but my question here is, what have you guys built for the citizens to occupy, rent or buy.

The madness of property owners makes somebody sleep outside. This is what an employee of Rent Control had to say”, an X user added.

One netizen added, “Report them to whom? See, water always finds its level. Most of them have stopped demanding 2 years rent, you know why..? Fewer can afford that these days”.

In related news, Reports detailed that some Ashaiman Landlords and Caretakers have been allegedly fingered for demanding sexual favours from female tenants as rent payments.

The information gathered from the Ashaiman Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre discloses this disturbing trend.

According to the report, the findings paint a glaring exploitation within the rental market against vulnerable women searching for accommodations.

The report alleged that landlords enter into informal arrangements with female tenants, accepting sex instead of money for rent for specified periods.

Additionally, caretakers have also been fingered in the development.

In a new story shared by the Herald, it read, “One case detailed in the report involved a caretaker who rented out a room to a woman while the property owner was away. After her initial two-year tenancy expired, the caretaker allegedly began a sexual relationship with her and verbally extended her stay by an additional year. The arrangement was reportedly extended again while the relationship continued.

Complications arose when the woman became pregnant by another man. Following the breakdown of the relationship, the caretaker ordered her to vacate the premises. She resisted, insisting there had been a prior agreement allowing her to remain for two more years.

The matter was referred to mediators. During proceedings, the caretaker admitted he was not the property owner and explained that the landlord had instructed him to reclaim the room. The ADR Centre facilitated a settlement, leading to the woman’s relocation after she received compensation from the caretaker”.

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PURC utility cuts too small, reduced it by at least 10% – Minority demands

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PURC utility cuts too small, reduced it by at least 10% – Minority demands

The Minority in Parliament has criticised the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s (PURC) recent cut in utility as too small to ease the financial burden on households and businesses.

According to the minority in parliament, utilities must be reduced by at least 10%.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament, Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Energy Committee, Collins Adomako Mensah, stated, “The Regulatory Commission announced reductions in electricity and water tariffs, but we say plainly this reduction is insufficient and Ghanaian consumers deserve far better”.

“In quarter one and quarter two, the commission projected an inflation rate of 22.49 per cent against an actual average of 20.3 per cent, an over-projection of 2.19 points. In quarter three, the projection was 20.67 per cent when the actual figure was 11 per cent — an over-projection of 9.67 points,” he noted.

“The ongoing increases in fuel and energy costs are squeezing households and businesses from multiple fronts. A mere 5 per cent reduction does not go far enough,” he said.

Collins Adomako Mensah added, “It has been three weeks since the minister’s directive, yet the report has not been published, and the minister has not addressed the public. Consumers are still watching their prepaid credits being drained.

“The Minister for Energy must submit the full investigation report provided by ECG. Ghanaians deserve to know the scale of the problem and the collective actions taken,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) announced a reduction in electricity and water tariffs effective from April 1, 2026.

According to the PURC, its quarterly tariff review will reduce electricity tariffs by an average of 4.81 per cent, while water tariffs will be reduced by 3.06 per cent.

The PURC highlighted that the review was conducted in line with its mandate to adjust tariffs every quarter.

In a statement issued on Friday, March 13, the PURC stated, “The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) wishes to inform consumers of electricity and water that the existing electricity and water tariffs have been reviewed downwards to take effect from April 01, 2026”.

“The Commission applied a projected Weighted Average Ghana Cedi-US Dollar Exchange Rate of GHS11.1931/US$1.0000 for the second Quarter of 2026. This projected exchange rate is based on a 3- month Actual Inter-Bank Average Ghana Cedi-US Dollar Selling Exchange Rate for the period December 01, 2025, to February 28, 2026. This indicates a 6.78% reduction from the last Quarter rate of GHS12.0067/ US$1.0000,” the statement said.

Scrap the GH₵1 fuel levy over rising fuel prices – Minority demands 

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Scrap the GH₵1 fuel levy over rising fuel prices – Minority demands 

The Minority in Parliament has demanded that the John Mahama government scrap the 1 Ghana cedi fuel levy over rising prices.

According to the Minority in parliament, the GH₵1 fuel levy is placing an unbearable burden on Ghanaians already grappling with high living costs.

The Minority demanded that the government move swiftly to repeal the Energy Sector Levy Amendment Act of 2025 under a certificate of urgency.

Speaking to journalists in Parliament, Deputy Ranking Member of Parliament’s Energy Committee, Collins Adomako Mensah, stated, “The justification for this levy no longer exists. Keeping it is not policy—it is punishment”.

“Between January and December 2025, the government paid approximately $1.47 billion to reset the energy sector, including full repayment of the GH₵597 million World Bank partial risk guarantee and settlement of outstanding gas invoices,” he noted.

He added, “With the debt addressed and guarantees restored, the so-called One Ghana Cedi Levy serves no purpose and should be repealed immediately.”

Collins Adomako Mensah further disclosed that the Minority will also call for a comprehensive review of all taxes and levies embedded in fuel prices.

In related news, the CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tamakloe, has disclosed that Fuel relief talks are likely if crude hits $120.

Speaking on PM Express on Joy News, the NPA CEO stated, “Anything beyond maybe $120 per barrel for the world price of crude, then the conversations can be firmed up”.

“Some of these decisions require broader conversation, possibly ministerial or Presidential level. What we have is a window to study how the market will generally react, which will inform some of the decisions.

“If this becomes more extended, that one, I know that there will be a bigger conversation, just that I do not have the authority to make some disclosures now.”

“In the past few days, the President had been generally concerned about prices. He has been greatly concerned that I can tell you.”

“And so if there is anything within the rules books on how to mitigate the impact for the average Ghanaian, the President will not hesitate at all. I mean, his record is there”, he added.

Meanwhile, Duncan Amoah, the Executive Secretary of the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC), has said the second fuel pricing window may trigger discussions about the possible removal of some taxes on fuel at the pumps.

According to Duncan Amoah, the government has hinted that it will review fuel taxes if pump prices exceed GH¢15.

COPEC Executive Secretary highlighted that the conversation about the taxes will kick in, particularly the GHȼ1 fuel levy.

He explained that the government is monitoring developments closely and may consider adjusting or removing certain fuel taxes to help reduce pressure on oil marketing companies (OMCs).

Speaking on Channel One Newsroom on Sunday, March 15, 2026, Duncan Amoah stated, “I am aware that the government was in some conversation with some petroleum service providers.

The threshold has been GHȼ15. So, if we wake up tomorrow and the OMCs are doing 15 and beyond, be assured that the conversation about the taxes will kick in, particularly the GHȼ1 fuel levy”.

Sick Freddie Blay granted GH₵800,000 bail with two sureties

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Sick Freddie Blay granted GH₵800,000 bail with two sureties

Freddie Blay, a former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has been granted a GH₵800,000 bail with two sureties.

The Koforidua High Court granted bail to Freddie Blay, who was earlier remanded by the Akropong Circuit Court in connection with an alleged demolition dispute at Kitase.

Freddie Blay’s GH₵800,000 bail is with two sureties who must be residents in Accra and possess valid Ghana Cards.

The development follows Freddie Blay, who was arrested by the Ghana Police Service after a warrant issued for his arrest was executed on Monday, March 16, 2026.

The information gathered suggests the arrest stems from the former NPP chairman, who allegedly ordered a demolition order for a house under construction on a parcel of land at Kitase.

According to reports, investigators who later visited the site arrested five individuals who were allegedly clearing the land with the use of a backhoe.

During interrogation, a suspect is said to have reportedly mentioned Freddie Blay’s name and another individual, Nana Osae Ntifo I, also known as Dada, as the persons who allegedly directed them.

Nana Osae Ntifo, I was subsequently arrested near the police station. Later, Freddie Blay was invited by the police to assist with investigations, but reportedly failed to honour the invitation.

Reports by Citinews stated, “Charges were subsequently filed against him, but he was absent from court without explanation on the scheduled arraignment date in April 2025. The court therefore issued a warrant for his arrest, which was executed on Monday.

However, sources close to Mr Blay say he was unaware of the arrest warrant prior to his arrest.

According to the sources, the dispute concerns a parcel of land the former NPP chairman purchased in 1994, but which later became the subject of litigation”.

However, sources close to Freddie Blay insist he did not order the demolition of any building, stressing that the NPP chairman rather instructed that a bare piece of land be cleared in January 2026 to prevent the breeding of dangerous animals.

“The sources added that the complainant had earlier secured a favourable judgment at the High Court in Koforidua, but that ruling has since been appealed.

They further claimed that attempts to serve the complainant with processes relating to the appeal were unsuccessful.

According to the sources, aside from the ongoing appeal proceedings, Mr Blay was unaware of any other court case against him and had no knowledge of the arrest warrant until it was executed on Monday”, the report added.

Freddie Blay is expected to return before the circuit court on April 9 as investigations into the matter continue.

Earlier reports suggested that Freddie Blay was transferred to a medical facility for urgent attention shortly after being remanded.

Reports by TV3 shared on X stated, “Freddie Blay has been transferred from custody to a medical facility for urgent attention, shortly after being remanded by a Circuit Court”.

Five lost during El-Wak stampede replaced with family members – GAF

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Five lost during El-Wak stampede replaced with family members – GAF

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has completed the selection of 2,000 recruits, the first of four planned batches for 2026.

GAF has asked selected candidates to report to their regional selection centres on Wednesday, 18 March, at 9:00 a.m. to collect their appointment letters and prospectuses.

According to GAF, the first batch includes 18 individuals who sustained injuries during the El-Wak Stadium stampede last year.

GAF further disclosed that out of the six potential recruits lost, the families of five deceased presented replacement candidates, with one family yet to present a replacement.

In a statement issued by Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, it read, “The Ghana Armed Forces wishes to inform the public that it has completed the selection of Two Thousand (2000) recruits, being the first in the series of 4 batches. The selected personnel who have been invited are to report at their various selection centres across the 16 regions of the country for their appointment letters and prospectuses on Wednesday, 18 March 2026, at 0900 hours.

All potential applicants who had curable medical issues at the medical stage are encouraged to seek medical attention, as they would be invited again for a review at a later date at no cost.

Meanwhile, selected potential recruits for the first batch include 18 personnel who were injured during the El-Wak Stadium stampede last year. Five others were sponsored by the families of the deceased during the El-Wak stampede.

Ghana Armed Forces expresses its gratitude to all the 16 Regional Administrations for their immense support that enabled this year’s exercise to be organised at the regional level in line with the government’s directive of sending recruitment to the doorstep of potential applicants.

The Ghana Armed Forces assures all remaining applicants to remain calm as it continues the selection for the remaining batches. The Military is pleased to indicate that it has a pool of young applicants who score high marks during the aptitude test and will therefore make selections from the pool for subsequent recruitment exercises beyond this year.

Finally, the directive on facilitating recruitment for persons from Sikaman in the Ashanti Region who assisted the military during last year’s helicopter crash rescue operation is under consideration for the second batch of training”.

In related news, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), some months ago, strongly dismissed false reports that were circulated in the media, which alleged that about 60 per cent of applicants who went through medical screening tested positive for HIV.

According to  Naval Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, the Acting Director General of Public Relations, the reports are fake news and urged the public to ignore the reports.

In a press release issued by Naval Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, she revealed that the medical screening process for applicants is still ongoing, and no results have been released.

Parts of the Ghana Armed Forces statement read, “As such, any figures or conclusions being attributed to the process are false and misleading.”

“The medical process is ongoing, and no results have been declared as yet,” the statement added.

GAF statement further warned media practitioners, specifically content creators, bloggers and vloggers, to exercise restraint and professionalism in their work.

They further indicated that steps are being taken to identify and trace the originators of the report.

The statement added, “The GAF urged media actors to verify information from credible and official sources before publishing, stressing the importance of accuracy and responsible journalism, especially on sensitive national matters.

“The Armed Forces reiterated their commitment to transparency and assured the public that official information would be communicated through the appropriate channels when the medical screening process is duly completed”.

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Gov’t borrowed GHC17bn to pay public sector wages in 2025 – Ato Forson

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Gov’t borrowed GHC17bn to pay public sector wages in 2025 – Ato Forson

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Finance Minister, has revealed that the government borrowed approximately GH¢17 billion just to meet public sector wage obligations in 2025.

The Finance Minister detailed that Ghana spent 44 per cent of its total tax revenue on public sector wages in 2025.

According to Ato Forson, Ghana’s wage bill consumes 44% of tax revenue, forcing the government to borrow to pay salaries.

Report by TV3 stated, “out of total tax revenue of GH¢183 billion in 2025, statutory obligations, including transfers to DACF, GETFund, NHIL, and debt servicing, consumed GH¢122.1 billion, leaving only GH¢61.9 billion available.

However, the government’s wage bill alone amounted to GH¢78.9 billion, creating a financing gap that forced the state to borrow approximately GH¢17 billion just to meet salary obligations.

Dr Forson emphasised that the combined burden of wages, debt servicing, and statutory transfers exceeded total tax revenue, effectively crowding out other critical expenditures.

He warned that under the current fiscal conditions, the government lacks the financial space to adequately invest in essential infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and roads.

The Finance Minister noted that while fair remuneration remains a constitutional obligation, the current trajectory of public sector compensation poses a significant structural risk to fiscal sustainability and service delivery.

He stressed the need for careful management of wage growth alongside broader fiscal reforms to restore balance and create room for development spending”.

Also, Ato Forson has disclosed that public sector wages remain the largest component of government expenditure.

Speaking during a dialogue with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, Ato Forson stated, “Compensation of Ghana’s employees is currently the largest share of government expenditure. Of the total government expenditure, employee compensation accounts for 39%, debt service accounts for 32%, and grants to other government units account for 29%”.

“The crowding effect of compensation means that while we spend 33% of our compensation budget, our expenditure on compensation, only three per cent is used for goods and services, and capital expenditure represents only six per cent of Ghana’s expenditure.

“Social benefits only represent one per cent of government expenditure, and grants to other government units representing the statutory funds are about 24% while debt service represents 26% of our total expenditure”.

“Some key facts on the compensation issues are that at the end of the 2025 fiscal year, compensation budget accounted for 44% of non-oil tax revenue, 5.6% of GDP, and 33.78% of total expenditure,” he added.

Meanwhile, Prof Henry Kwasi Prempeh, the Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee, has fumed over Ghana’s practice of paying retired public officials salaries.

According to Prof Prempeh, Ghana must scrap the payment of salaries to retired public officials.

Prof Prempeh described the practise as ridiculous, questioning which country in the world pays salaries to retirees.

In a Facebook post on March 17, 2026, Prof Prempeh wrote, “We must scrap the ‘retirement on salary’ compensation practices in our public sector. Do we know any other place in the world where this sort of thing happens as commonly as it does here? We are just ridiculous!”

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Ghana must scrap salary payments to retirees – Prof Prempeh on Ghana’s wage bill consuming 44% of tax revenue

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Ghana must scrap salary payments to retirees – Prof Prempeh on Ghana’s wage bill consuming 44% of tax revenue

Prof Henry Kwasi Prempeh, the Chairman of the Constitutional Review Committee, has fumed over Ghana’s practice of paying retired public officials salaries.

According to Prof Prempeh, Ghana must scrap the payment of salaries to retired public officials.

Prof Prempeh described the practise as ridiculous, questioning which country in the world pays salaries to retirees.

In a Facebook post on March 17, 2026, Prof Prempeh wrote, “We must scrap the ‘retirement on salary’ compensation practices in our public sector. Do we know any other place in the world where this sort of thing happens as commonly as it does here? We are just ridiculous!”

Prof Prempeh’s comments come following Ghana’s Finance Minister announcing the country’s ballooning wage bill, which continues to strain the country’s finances.

According to Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Ghana spent 44 per cent of its total tax revenue on public sector wages in 2025.

Report by TV3 stated, “out of total tax revenue of GH¢183 billion in 2025, statutory obligations, including transfers to DACF, GETFund, NHIL, and debt servicing, consumed GH¢122.1 billion, leaving only GH¢61.9 billion available.

However, the government’s wage bill alone amounted to GH¢78.9 billion, creating a financing gap that forced the state to borrow approximately GH¢17 billion just to meet salary obligations.

Dr Forson emphasised that the combined burden of wages, debt servicing, and statutory transfers exceeded total tax revenue, effectively crowding out other critical expenditures.

He warned that under the current fiscal conditions, the government lacks the financial space to adequately invest in essential infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, and roads.

The Finance Minister noted that while fair remuneration remains a constitutional obligation, the current trajectory of public sector compensation poses a significant structural risk to fiscal sustainability and service delivery.

He stressed the need for careful management of wage growth alongside broader fiscal reforms to restore balance and create room for development spending”.

Also, Ato Forson has disclosed that public sector wages remain the largest component of government expenditure.

Speaking during a dialogue with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, Ato Forson stated, “Compensation of Ghana’s employees is currently the largest share of government expenditure. Of the total government expenditure, employee compensation accounts for 39%, debt service accounts for 32%, and grants to other government units account for 29%”.

“The crowding effect of compensation means that while we spend 33% of our compensation budget, our expenditure on compensation, only three per cent is used for goods and services, and capital expenditure represents only six per cent of Ghana’s expenditure.

“Social benefits only represent one per cent of government expenditure, and grants to other government units representing the statutory funds are about 24% while debt service represents 26% of our total expenditure”.

“Some key facts on the compensation issues are that at the end of the 2025 fiscal year, compensation budget accounted for 44% of non-oil tax revenue, 5.6% of GDP, and 33.78% of total expenditure,” he added.

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12 firefighters injured battling Potsin fuel tanker explosion  – GNFS

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12 firefighters injured battling Potsin fuel tanker explosion  – GNFS

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) has announced that twelve firefighters have been injured after a fuel tanker exploded while they were battling a blaze at Potsin in the Central Region.

According to the GNFS, four personnel sustained severe injuries, while the other eight sustained minor injuries.

In a statement, the GNFS wrote, “1. The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) reports that a total of twelve (12) firefighters sustained injuries following an explosion during efforts to contain a fuel tanker fire at Gomoa Potsin in the Central Region

2. At approximately 0558 hours on Tuesday, 17th March 2026, the Central Regional Fire Control Room received a distress call reporting a fire outbreak involving a fuel tanker (GT 5671-22) along the Winneba-Accra Highway. Fire appliances from the Apam and Kasoa Fire Stations were immediately dispatched to the scene, with support from a private water tanker.

3. Upon arrival at 0626 hours, firefighters encountered a fully developed fire involving a fuel tanker carrying approximately 54,000 litres of petrol. The fire was rapidly spreading to nearby properties, posing a significant risk to lives and infrastructure. The driver and his mate, however, escaped unhurt

4. Through coordinated and tactical firefighting efforts, the team successfully contained the blaze, which affected nearby structures, and brought it under control at 0758 hours. The fire was completely extinguished at 0842 hours.

5. However, during cooling operations aimed at preventing re-ignition and possible secondary explosions, the tanker reignited and subsequently exploded, resulting in injuries to twelve (12) firefighters.

6. Out of the injured personnel, four (4) sustained severe injuries. Three 3) were rushed to the Winneba Trauma and Specialist Hospital, while one (1) was treated at the Potsin Polyclinic. The remaining eight (8) sustained minor injuries and were treated on-site by the Ambulance Service Team. All the severely injured firefighters have since been treated and discharged

The Central Regional Commander. ACFO I Merinder Marv Attigah Mensah, in the company of the Director of Operations, DCFO Roberta Aggrey Ghanson, visited both the injured personnel and the incident scene earlier today and assured them of Management’s commitment to their welfare and full recovery.

8. Firefighters remain at the scene to ensure safety as arrangements are underway for the safe transfer of the remaining petrol from the affected tanker into another tanker

9. The cause of the crash and the resulting fire remains under investigation

10. The Ghana National Fire Service expresses its special appreciation to all supporting agencies whose timely intervention contributed to the successful management of the incident.

11. The Service reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting lives and property and remains deeply concerned about the safety and welfare of its personnel

12. The Service extends its best wishes for continued recovery to the affected firefighters and expresses sincere empathy to all victims of this unfortunate incident. Treatment”.

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‘I don’t kid myself, NDC people are also involved in galamsey’ – Mahama

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‘I don’t kid myself, NDC people are also involved in galamsey’ – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has confessed that illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, involves individuals across political and traditional structures.

According to John Mahama, he will not kid himself that his own party people are not involved in the galamsey menace.

President Mahama highlighted that the fight against the galamsey menace will be difficult but must continue.

Mahama stressed that operators often shift allegiance when governments change, allowing the practice to continue.

Speaking during a meeting with Organised Labour at the Jubilee House in Accra on Tuesday, March 17, President Mahama stated, “Illegal mining has eaten into the fabric of our society. And I must say that it is not only a menace to our society, but it has involved a circle of traditional rulers, political party appointees and everything”.

“Even when one party changes, those who were running some operation, who went to one party, will go to the next party and say, now that you have come, come and take over this operation and let’s share. We, too, will be getting small; this is what we are doing. And so I don’t kid myself that we don’t have our own people involved,” he stated.

President Mahama further touched on the work of the anti-illegal mining task force NAIMOS, describing it as challenging, especially in communities where resistance is strong.

He added, “And the work of the NAIMOS is not easy. They go to a community, and the chiefs, the youth and everybody come out and resist them. And so, I didn’t kid myself that we would be able to win that fight overnight. But we cannot relent, we must continue”.

“And it doesn’t help when we have a crisis in the cocoa industry. The low price that was paid to cocoa farmers made some of them give up their farms for gold mining,” he noted.

“We are hoping that it will stabilise with the new automatic mechanism we are coming up with so that farmers know that they are getting 70% of the price,” he said.

“One of the problems we have is we don’t have patrol boats, especially on our waterways, for nine months to continue to patrol the waterways,” he explained.

Mahama further added that the Finance, Defence and Interior ministries are working to provide the necessary resources.

“So, we are working with the minister of finance to be able to maintain that,” he said.

Meanwhile, Professor H Kwasi Prempeh, the Executive Director of the Ghana Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), has boldly stated that the polluter pays principle must be applied for illegal mining (galamsey) king/queen-pins and operators to pay for the destruction caused to the environment.

According to Professor H Kwasi Prempeh, he would hate for his taxes to fund the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Nano-liquid technology to clean the galamsey polluted rivers.

He argued that Ghana must enact new laws targeting galamseyers’ assets for forfeiture and recovery, with the proceeds being used to fund ecological restoration.

He stressed that Ghana cannot lose so much of its ecology to galamsey, then turn round to use its scarce tax resources to fix the damage.

Professor H Kwasi Prempeh boldly declared that the government shouldn’t tax innocent citizens to repair the damage from galamsey, when the criminal-beneficiaries and their networks have profited. 

In a Facebook post dated February 24, 2026, Prof Prempeh wrote, “I would hate for my taxes to fund any of this, when we are making no credible effort to arrest and prosecute galamsey king/queen-pins and operators, enact and enforce new laws targeting their assets for forfeiture and recovery, and use the proceeds to fund ecological restoration.

We cannot lose so much of our ecology to galamsey, then turn round to use our scarce tax resources to fix the damage. The damage from galamsey must be repaired from assets and funds recovered from those who profit from it.

The “polluter pays principle” must be applied here. The government shouldn’t tax innocent citizens to repair the damage from galamsey, when the criminal-beneficiaries and their networks that have caused and profited from such untold damage are left to walk away with their loot in plain sight”.

His remarks follow, the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Nana Ama Brown Klutse, has said  $35 million will be required to completely restore the Birim River.

The EPA boss made this known during the pilot application of ionic nano copper technology on the Birim River.

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