Patrick Yaw Boamah, Chairman of Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee

Ahead of the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review, Chairman of Parliament’s Subsidiary Legislation Committee, Patrick Yaw Boamah, has hinted that Ghanaians may soon face a 30% to 40% increase in statutory fees and charges.

According to the Okaikwei Central lawmaker, the proposed hikes are contained in the new Fees and Charges Regulations, which are expected to be laid before Parliament by the Minister for Finance [Dr Cassiel Ato Forson] during the presentation of the 2025 Mid-Year Budget Review on Thursday, July 24, 2025.

In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter) on July 23, 2025, Patrick Boamah confirmed that the proposal is currently under pre-laying scrutiny by his committee.

“Ghanaians should expect a 30% to 40% increase in fees and charges, as proposed in the new Fees and Charges Regulations set to be laid before Parliament tomorrow by the Minister for Finance,” he wrote on Wednesday evening.

The adjustments, once approved, will apply to fees charged by ministries, departments, and agencies across the country.

The Mid-Year Budget Review is mandated by the country’s Financial Administration Act and aligns with Section 28 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), which requires the Finance Minister to update Parliament on the execution of the national budget and outline the fiscal strategy for the remaining half of the year.

Ghanaians should expect a 30% to 40% increase in fees and charges, as proposed in the new Fees and Charges Regulations set to be laid before Parliament tomorrow by the Minister for Finance. The proposal is currently before the Subsidiary Legislation Committee for pre-laying… pic.twitter.com/f6yZ1oWfRx

— Patrick Yaw Boamah (@pyboamah) July 23, 2025

https://t.co/qAcZ9xZMLy

— GhanaWeb (@TheGhanaWeb) July 23, 2025

MA

The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance technical and commercial collaboration.

The agreement, signed on Wednesday, July 22, 2025, in Tema, marks a strategic partnership aimed at revitalising Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, TOR’s Acting Managing Director, Edmond Kombat, said the collaboration is key to restarting refinery operations and ensuring long-term sustainability.

“We believe it is time for us to come together and work together to strengthen Ghana’s downstream sector,” he stated.

Kombat noted that BOST’s strong distribution network and trading expertise would be leveraged to support TOR’s recovery, while TOR would offer technical support in return.

He also confirmed that the MoU includes the resolution of longstanding debt reconciliation obligations between the two institutions.

“Our teams have reviewed the outstanding issues, and we’re starting on a clean slate. This MoU sets the foundation for us to move forward,” Kombat added.

Managing Director of BOST, Afetsi Awonoor, echoed the sentiment, describing TOR and BOST as “two sides of the same coin.”

He emphasised the importance of synergy in operations and mutual reliance on each other’s strengths.

“Just like TOR wants to lean on BOST’s trading expertise, we want to lean on their engineering know-how. If we work together, we complement each other,” Awonoor stated.

The MoU outlines collaboration in areas such as pipeline infrastructure, tank maintenance, fuel logistics, and refined product transportation.

The agreement is seen as a critical step in supporting Ghana’s energy infrastructure and aligns with the John Mahama government’s strategy to reduce reliance on fuel imports and strengthen local refining capacity.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) has condemned the incidence of electoral violence during elections especially the violence that characterised the rerun of 19 polling stations in the Ablekuma North Constituency, and the brutalisation of citizens, including journalists. 

It said such acts constitute a gross violation of human dignity and betray the very foundations upon which the country’s democracy stands.

A statement issued in Accra last Tuesday (July 22) and signed by its President, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, therefore, urged the state to initiate prompt, thorough and transparent investigations into those incidents and ensure perpetrators are held fully accountable, stressing that “impunity corrodes public trust and fosters a culture of lawlessness.”

It further called upon the government to implement without delay the recommendations of previous commissions of enquiry into electoral violence, ensuring lessons learned translate into meaningful institutional reforms. 

Social order

It said true democracy transcended the periodic casting of votes but embodied a just social order that respected the rule of law, upheld the intrinsic dignity of every human person, and guaranteed citizens the right to participate meaningfully in shaping the national destiny.

“At the heart of this vision lies the sanctity of the ballot and the imperative of peaceful elections,” it stated.

The statement reminded all political actors that elections were not a contest of might, but a platform for the exchange of ideas.

“It further urged political parties and their supporters to exercise maximum restraint and prioritise national peace above partisan advantage, even amidst intense political competition.”

“The Electoral Commission must sustain and deepen its stakeholder engagement efforts to bolster public confidence in the electoral process’s integrity.

Similarly, we urge the security services to act with professionalism, impartiality and foresight in preventing and managing potential conflict,” it said.

Credible judiciary

It said a healthy, functioning democracy equally demanded an independent, credible judiciary, free from political interference.

“Justice is the indispensable cornerstone of national cohesion; without it, grievances fester and violence finds fertile ground.

It is in this critical regard that we view the current tensions arising from the suspension of the Chief Justice.

While acknowledging the necessity of due process, we caution strenuously against any action, perceived or actual, that could compromise the independence or impartiality of the judiciary,” it said. 

The statement said the removal of a sitting Chief Justice was a matter of profound national significance.

“This process must be scrupulously guided by constitutional principles, absolute procedural fairness, and a clear respect for the doctrine of the separation of powers.

Any precedent that appears to place the judiciary at the mercy of the executive risks irreparably eroding public trust in the very institution citizens rely upon for justice,” it stated. 

It, therefore, urged all stakeholders to act with the utmost conscientiousness, safeguarding both the inviolable rule of law and the dignity of the judiciary.

The Ghana Chamber of Mines has released its Publish What You Pay 2024 report, revealing that producing member companies paid GHS17.68 billion in fiscal contributions to the Government of Ghana. 

This impressive figure underscores the large-scale mining sector’s continued role as a pillar of the national economy through tax revenue, local procurement, employment and social investment.

The report also highlights that out of a total mineral revenue of US$7.05 billion, companies returned US$4.99 billion, equivalent to 70.8 per cent, to Ghana’s economy in the form of direct payments, procurement, wages and social contributions.

Breakdown

On corporate tax, a total of GHS10.3 billion was paid by Chamber member companies on their profits. Corporate tax represents the largest single component of the sector’s contribution to state revenue in 2024.

It reflects the profitability of the mining operations; the high value suggests efficient tax compliance by companies and strong production output, especially from large-scale gold mining and these funds support national development programmes such as infrastructure, education and health.

On mineral royalties, a total of GHS4.89 billion was paid by mining companies to the government as compensation.

This is based on the gross revenue of mineral sales, not profits. Additionally, royalties provide a stable and predictable revenue stream for the state, regardless of a company’s profitability.

Also, a portion of royalties is earmarked for local government authorities and mining communities through the Minerals Development Fund (MDF).

On Pay As You Earn (PAYE), the mining sector paid GHS1.46 billion from the salaries of employees in the large-scale mining sector. It reflects the significant employment impact of the mining industry.

With over 11,300 Ghanaians employed directly, the PAYE figure underscores the sector’s role in formal job creation and tax mobilisation.

With respect to dividends, the sector paid GHS 1.03 billion to the government, through its free-carried stake in large-scale mining companies. 

These payments indicate that as a shareholder in some mining operations, the state benefitted directly from company earnings. It further reinforces the importance of state equity participation in resource extraction ventures.

Other Payments (Self-Employed and Miscellaneous) amount to GHS 75.3 million.

This category includes taxes paid by independent contractors and other non-corporate entities associated with the mining value chain.

Though relatively smaller, these payments show the breadth of the tax base within the industry. 

It reflects efforts to bring informal actors into the regulatory and fiscal framework.

A total of 358,218 ounces of gold was sold to the Bank of Ghana under its Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, reinforcing the country’s gold reserves and contributing to macroeconomic stability.

This aligns with the government’s efforts to mitigate forex pressures through strategic asset accumulation.

Large-scale mining companies also allocated US$28 million to corporate social investments, supporting community infrastructure, education and health projects.

This reaffirms the sector’s commitment to sustainable and inclusive development.

Bureaucratic bottlenecks and high regulatory costs at the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) are discouraging many small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from obtaining the necessary sanitary permits and product approvals – raising concerns about public safety and the long-term survival of this critical sector.

According to industry experts, the current regulatory regime creates a significant barrier for smaller producers, particularly in the food and beverage industry where a large proportion of businesses operate from informal or home-based settings. Failure to address these challenges increases the risk of unregulated and potentially contaminated products entering the market.

The SME sector, which constitutes 92 percent of all registered businesses and contributes approximately 70 percent to national GDP, is often heralded as the economy’s backbone. However, the sector continues to face persistent challenges such as limited access to finance, poor infrastructure and high operational costs. Regulatory hurdles, now more than ever, appear to be another pressing concern.

Research indicates that up to 75 percent of SMEs fail within their first three years of operation. Among those struggling is Kwaku Agyeman (not his real name), a honey seller operating from his home for the past eight years.

Despite his desire to formalise and scale up his business by obtaining FDA certification, his efforts have been thwarted by what he describes as unrealistic production requirements and a lack of clear guidance.

“I wanted to have the standard badge, the FDA number. But we are producing domestically and they are looking at larger quantities,” Mr. Agyeman told B&FT, recounting his first attempt to engage the FDA in 2017. “Even the sample quantity they required was more than I was producing.”

Now, in 2025, Mr. Agyeman still produces on demand for a small, loyal customer base. “I had a 20-bottle order for the whole of June. In July, I’ve had no orders at all,” he said.

With mounting production costs and no prospect of expanding to formal retail channels, his business teeters on the brink.

“The process is tedious. If you’re not producing large quantities, you’ll be discouraged. I closed my mind on it after the first rejection,” he admitted.

Despite the lack of certification, he continues to supply his honey to consumers who trust the product blindly.

This issue is not unique to Mr. Agyeman. Across the country many SMEs, especially those operating in informal settings, do not possess sanitary permits – posing a potential risk to public health. Because of their size and operational style, these businesses are hard to inspect and often overlooked by regulators.

Larger companies, with reputations to protect, are more likely to comply with safety standards. But it is the informal producers – without certifications, oversight or structured facilities – who pose the greater public health risk.

Another affected entrepreneur, Akosua Frema (not her real name) – a local fruit drink maker – initially received a three-year FDA certificate in 2021 through support from the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA).

“GEA paid for registration the first time. I don’t remember paying anything,” she said.

However, after the certificate expired in 2024 she has struggled to renew it – citing both financial and procedural burdens. “I paid about GH₵350 per flavour for testing – totalling over GH₵3,500 for my ten products. That’s just for testing. I still don’t know how much the certificate itself will cost,” she explained.

Ms. Frema has been shuttling between the FDA and Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) since February 2025 to renew her certification. After samples of her products were collected and tested, CSIR flagged problems related to water quality and production environment standards.

“They said something was wrong. I haven’t corrected it yet, but I’m still producing and selling,” she admitted.

The apparent disconnect between the FDA and CSIR raises additional questions about communication and enforcement. If test results from CSIR show a product is unsafe, how quickly and directly does that information reach the FDA? And if issues are identified, are there mechanisms in place to prevent continued production and sale?

These inefficiencies, compounded by a lax enforcement regime, could expose consumers to unsafe food and beverages – with broader public health consequences. Ghana already battles sanitation-related diseases such as cholera and diarrhoea. Without prompt intervention to streamline certification processes and bring more SMEs into the regulatory fold, the country risks a wider health crisis.

By law, the FDA is mandated to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of regulated products – including food, drugs, and tobacco – under the Public Health Act, 2012 (Act 851). The Authority issues food hygiene permits and conducts routine inspections of facilities before issuing approvals. However, the process appears skewed against small producers.

It remains unclear whether FDA’s reluctance to approve low-volume producers is grounded in policy or practice. Also unclear is whether CSIR’s test results are relayed directly to FDA or whether the burden falls entirely on applicants – adding yet another step in an already complex and costly process.

At the time of publication, the FDA declined to comment when contacted by B&FT.

With SMEs playing a vital role in employment, food security and national economic growth, there is an urgent need for the regulatory architecture to evolve – balancing rigorous safety standards with accessibility and support for small-scale producers. Otherwise, both public health and the very survival of the country’s SMEs remain at risk.

Three notorious poachers who were illegally hunting in the Ayensu beat of the conservation area have been arrested by forest guards. 

The three, were arrested by five Resource Guards of the Ankasa Forest Conservation Area stationed at the Dadwen Range Camp in the Ellembelle District.   

The poachers were identified as Frank Odame, aged 36 from Assin Manso in the Central Region, Abraham Kwasi Sikapa, 45 from Yilo Krobo in the Eastern Region, and George Avi, 48 from Akatsi in the Volta Region. 

All three were residents of Mumuni, within the Ellembelle District and reportedly engaged in cocoa farming. 

Some items retrieved during the arrest included three unlicensed locally manufactured shotguns, 18 live cartridges, seven flashlights, and three cutlasses 

Some wildlife species killed were a bay duiker, a maxwell’s duiker, and five giant rats. 

Mr Bona Kyiire, the Park Manager of the Ankasa Conservation Area, in an interview, said the arrest was made during a routine surveillance operation, and underscored the management’s intensified efforts to curb poaching and other illegal activities within the area. 

According to him: “Upon arrest, the suspects attempted to offer GH¢7,000 to the patrol team to evade prosecution, but the officers rejected the offer and proceeded with the formal report, demonstrating integrity and commitment to conservation enforcement.” 

He said all the poachers and their confiscated items, including the  GH¢7,000 amount offered had been handed over to the Elubo Police for further investigations and prosecution. 

“The case will likely serve as a precedent for future enforcement actions under the Wildlife Resources Management Act (Act 1115),” he stated. 

Mr Kyiire cautioned miscreants, poachers and all manner of persons not to indulge in such illegal activities to avoid sanctions. 

He warned that staff of the park were ready to ensure that the integrity of the Ankasa Forest Conservation Area was secured and well protected; “This is because the Park is the only wet evergreen rain forest managed by the Wildlife Division of the Forestry Commission.” 

Mr Kyiire also appealed to all stakeholders to help in the conservation of this unique landscape to become a centre of excellence for the management of rain forests in the sub-region. 

The Ankasa Forest Conservation Area, with a total estimated size of 509 square kilometres, is made up of the Nini Suhien National Park and the Ankasa Resource Reserve. 

It is located in the wet evergreen tropical High Forest Zone of Western Ghana and considered the most biodiverse protected area in the country in an almost pristine state. 

The park abounds in endemic and threatened flora and fauna such as forest elephant, bongo, and most of the primate species in Ghana. 

The Park was the first to pilot the community resource management area concept in Ghana with the establishment of the Amokwaw CREMA, and has a high potential for tourism development to benefit its adjoining Municipal and District Assemblies and the nation at large. 

Source: GNA 

Accra, July 24, GNA – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Ghana has commended the government for meeting its 2025 co-financing obligation of $24.5 million for vaccines.

A release copied Ghana News Agency said the timely payment would help sustain progress in protecting children’s health and reduce the risk of vaccine shortages.

“Ghana consistently and timely met its vaccine financing obligations until 2022, when post-COVID-19 economic challenges, rising co-financing requirements, and limited fiscal space – linked to the country’s transition from Gavi support – led to delays.

“This full payment marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s return to pre-pandemic financing performance.

“Completing the 2025 co-financing obligation is critical to ensuring uninterrupted vaccine supply, maintaining herd immunity, and supporting the introduction of new vaccines. It also strengthens the broader health system and safeguards the health and survival of Ghanaian children,” officials noted.

Mr Osama Makkawi Khogali, UNICEF Representative in Ghana, commended the government for prioritising children’s health.

“I am proud to stand with the Government of Ghana in celebrating this important milestone. Although post-COVID economic pressures led to delays in payments and interrupted regular vaccine availability and ultimately vaccination coverage, this full payment reflects a commendable prioritisation of child health.

“By investing in immunisation, the government is ensuring that every Ghanaian child – regardless of location – is protected from vaccine-preventable diseases,” he stated.

UNICEF called for sustained efforts to strengthen domestic vaccine financing as development aid declined.

“Investing in vaccines offers one of the highest returns in public health – preventing disease is far more cost-effective than treating it. Sustained investment today lays the foundation for a healthier, and more resilient future generation,” the organisation added.

UNICEF is the world’s leading child rights organisation, working in more than 190 countries and territories, committed to protecting and promoting children’s right to health and survival.

GNA

Edited by Beatrice Asamani Savage