Which government department, or official, is in charge of ensuring that online information on Ghana, including geographical, is accurate? That is the question I ask myself from time to time when I come across errors about the country; wrong details.
Perhaps it’s the Ghana Standards Authority (GSA)? Or a Ministry of Information – if we had one? Or both?
My latest concern has been prompted by what I have seen in a 2026 desk diary, produced by “WUCHARD MEGA”, which I bought recently. The second page of the attractive, medium size diary, features a colourful “New Ghana Map”, with regions and their capital towns identified but surprisingly it includes “BRONG AHAFO (sic), (SUNYANI).”
The problem is that the place formerly known as ‘Brong-Ahafo” (B-A), a combination in 1959 of two regions (Brong and Ahafo), and strategically joined by a hyphen, was officially decoupled in 2019! So, the name ‘Brong-Ahafo’ was cancelled SEVEN YEARS AGO; replaced by ‘Bono Region’ and ‘Ahafo Region’!
In the Wuchard map, no ‘Bono Region’ is indicated, though there is “Bono East”! On other pages, ‘Bono East’ is rendered as “Brong East” and “Dormaa Ahenkro” is missing its important hyphen.
In fact, although the Wuchard has comprehensive, standard, diary facts, there are numerous careless mistakes in it. Christmas Eve has been rendered as “Christmas Eye” and, not surprisingly, ‘New Year’s Eve’ is ‘New Year’s Eye’! What should be ‘Holidays and Observances’ is stated as “Holidays and Observations”.
Evidently, either the company didn’t employ a diligent editor or proof reader, or editorial scrutiny was missing. Very unfortunate!
It appears to be the same company that a reference source describes thus: “Wuchard Mega Enterprise is a Ghana-based importing business specializing in stationery and school supplies.”
If the company decided to venture into diary production, why not ensure a quality product, reliable and accurate information?
But unfortunately, there are many other offenders. I have come across some current reference documents, and official maps and publications with both “Brong-Ahafo” and “Ahafo”. But no official correction is ever seen or heard! Doubtless that is why the errors are constantly repeated. I can’t count the number of times I have had to draw attention that ‘Brong-Ahafo’ no more exists!
On January 8, I was sent a copy of a news release with the headline, “Assemblies of God, Ghana’s General Council donates vehicle to Brong Ahafo (sic) Region ‘B’.”
My reply to the sender was: “Brong-Ahafo”?!!! There is NO BRONG-AHAFO Region in Ghana, or anywhere in the world – since 2019!”
To refresh memories, I’m reproducing from a reference source, the following:
“In 2019, Ghana increased its administrative regions from 10 to 16 following a 2018 referendum.” (The referendum was reportedly prompted by requests from those areas seeking their own regional identities.)
“The six new regions—Ahafo, Bono East, North East, Oti, Savannah, and Western North—were carved from the Western, Volta, Northern, and Brong-Ahafo regions.
- Ahafo Region: Carved from Brong-Ahafo; Capital: Goaso.
- Bono East Region: Carved from Brong-Ahafo; Capital: Techiman.
- North East Region: Carved from Northern; Capital: Nalerigu.
- Oti Region: Carved from Volta; Capital: Dambai.
- Savannah Region: Carved from Northern; Capital: Damongo.
- Western North Region: Carved from Western; Capital: Sefwi Wiawso.
- Original regions remaining: Ashanti, Central, Eastern, Greater Accra, Northern, Upper East, Upper West, Volta, Western, and the newly renamed Bono Region (formerly part of Brong-Ahafo; emphasis added).
- The reorganisation was a campaign promise fulfilled by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to bring government closer to the people and foster development. Each new region received a seed fund of GH¢20 million.
“The total of 16 regions has been in effect since February 2019,” the source emphasised.
Incidentally, as I have pointed out in previous articles, my father, Mr. Boahene Yeboah-Afari, is credited with having played a very crucial role in the creation of the B-A Region, which took effect on April 4, 1959. Thus, it was that President Nkrumah assigned him as the first B-A Regional Commissioner (Minister). Following that, Dr Nkrumah appointed my father Ghana’s first Agric Minister.
(An early supporter of Dr Nkrumah, Mr. Yeboah-Afari later joined the New Patriotic Party.)
But can one really blame Wuchard, or any other company, for publishing maps with inaccurate information, when even government sites have the same wrong details? Who is copying who?
As recent as January 22, 2026, I found at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs internet site, “Various Regions in Ghana: Region – Brong Ahafo (sic), Capital, Sunyani”. (And no ‘Bono Region’ indicated!) However, interestingly, their map with the heading “GHANA IN PERSPECTIVE” lists the correct 16 regional names.
Unbelievably, the site of “THE PERMANENT MISSION OF GHANA TO THE UNITED NATIONS” features under “Map and Regions of Ghana”, the 16 regions, one of them identified as “Brong Ahafo…”, as well as text in a box with the heading “REGION, BRONG AHAFO (sic)…”. Interestingly, it also has “AHAFO” and “BONO EAST”, but no ‘Bono’!
Therefore, I suppose one can’t blame another private company, ‘Easy Track Ghana’, for making the same mistake. Interestingly, they, too, have the heading “THE NEW GHANA MAP, Regions and Their Capitals”, including “BONO EAST (Techiman); “BRONG AHAFO (sic) (Sunyani)”; and “AHAFO (Goaso)”. Here, too, ‘Bono’ is missing!
Clearly, those who compiled or approved those texts don’t seem to appreciate the fact that ‘Ahafo Region’ used to be part of the scrapped “B-A”; thus, once one refers to ‘Ahafo Region’, that automatically cancels out the ‘Brong-Ahafo’ designation.
Of course, as the daughter of the politician credited with having been extremely instrumental in the twinning of ‘Brong’ and ‘Ahafo’, uniquely joined by a hyphen, I should be happy that it seems some people are refusing to let the name die. But what is wrong is wrong; incorrect information is not acceptable.
And such clear, appalling ignorance, or misunderstanding of an official, well publicised decision about a 2018 Referendum and implementation is highly disheartening.
What I can’t help wondering is, does this mean that no members of the successive administrations, have noticed the mistakes? Not even officials or civil servants who must have been involved in the 2019 official separation and implementation?
Notably, another concerned citizen has informed me that he has been seeing wall maps with the misleading information being sold in traffic along some of Accra’s ceremonial routes, and has been pointing out the mistakes to the street sellers. But of course, they are only vendors, not the producers.
This leads me to my question again: whose duty is it to check that information about Ghana, especially on official websites, is accurate? Perhaps a Ministry of Information? But that portfolio no longer exists in the current ministerial lineup, so maybe the GSA?
The “GSA is the national statutory body, established in 1967, responsible for developing, publishing, and promoting standards in Ghana to ensure products and services are safe, high-quality, and reliable for both local and international markets. It manages national quality infrastructure through metrology, standardization, and conformity assessment (testing, inspection, and certification) ….”
Perhaps, with Parliamentary approval, the GSA could add that to its responsibilities. Or, maybe Minister for Government Communications Mr. Felix Kwakye Ofosu could assist?
Still, can it be that the seeming determination to cling to the ‘Brong-Ahafo’ name that was erased seven good years ago, its continuing placement on official maps and texts, is more than simple ignorance, negligence, or carelessness?
Could it be that like me, some people are simply enamored with the name ‘Brong-Ahafo’? Anyway, I confess that as an indigene, I regret the loss of the well-founded appellation ‘Brilliant Achievers’.
Or, have the Brong-Ahafo ancestral spirits vowed that they will not allow the name to be extinguished? Just a thought!
Nevertheless, on a serious note, if there is no designated office whose duty is to approve and supervise text for Ghana’s maps, and other national information, particularly online, my suggestion is that one needs to be established ASAP, because now online material is what the world relies on.
On the other hand, if there is already a department charged with that responsibility, then that office must be well- publicised so that anybody producing a map or any literature about Ghana, knows where to seek guidance.
Furthermore, there should be sanctions for office-holders neglecting to do due diligence with such publications, and for any company or individual producing inaccurate or misleading information about Ghana.
And, needless to say, maps need to be reliable, accurate!
By Ajoa Yeboah-Afari
