Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has called on Ghanaians to stop pricing goods and services in US dollars, warning that the practice threatens the nation’s monetary sovereignty and undermines confidence in the local economy.

Speaking at the launch of the Cedi@60 anniversary celebration in Accra on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, Dr. Forson emphasized that the Ghana cedi remains the country’s only legal tender and urged citizens to treat it with the dignity it deserves. His message came during a grand ceremony that brought together Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, the Speaker of Parliament, ministers of state, Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama, diplomats, and business leaders.

“Let me once again stress that as Ghanaians, the Ghana cedi remains the only legal tender,” the minister stated firmly. “The continuous pricing of goods and services in US dollars will only hurt us. Let’s stop it, and let’s stop it now.”

The Finance Minister’s passionate appeal highlights growing concerns about dollarisation in Ghana’s economy, where many businesses, particularly in real estate, hospitality, and high-end retail, routinely quote prices in foreign currency despite legal provisions requiring transactions in cedis. This practice, economists say, creates artificial demand for dollars and puts unnecessary pressure on the exchange rate.

Dr. Forson traced the cedi’s journey from its introduction in July 1965 by Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, describing it as more than just a medium of exchange but rather a symbol of sovereignty, stability, and economic resilience. The currency replaced the colonial era Ghanaian pound, shillings, and pence in a bold step toward freeing the nation’s economy from colonial frameworks. He reminded Ghanaians that the currency has weathered periods of inflation, devaluation, redenomination, and recovery throughout its six decades of existence, yet remains the heartbeat of the nation’s economic independence.

The government’s commitment to maintaining a strong cedi has shown remarkable results recently. Vice President Opoku-Agyemang noted during the ceremony that while the Ghana cedi was labelled the world’s worst-performing currency in 2022, Bloomberg now reports it as the best-performing currency globally in 2025. Additionally, inflation has dropped dramatically from 54.1 percent to 13.7 percent, and gross international reserves now exceed $12 billion, signaling renewed market confidence.

“Confidence is returning to the markets, to investors, and slowly but surely, to our people,” the Vice President said. “But trust in the cedi will not sustain itself. It must be maintained through sound decisions, transparent actions, and accountable policies.”

Dr. Forson attributed the cedi’s resilience to sustained reforms aimed at restoring confidence in the economy and pledged that the government would stay the course to ensure the currency’s gains are maintained. He emphasized that fiscal discipline remains at the heart of the administration’s strategy to strengthen the cedi and restore investor confidence in Ghana’s economy.

However, the Finance Minister stressed that government efforts alone won’t suffice. Citizens, traders, and institutions must play their part by upholding the sanctity of the Ghana cedi in daily transactions. “The cedi is the wealth we have,” he declared. “Let us protect it, let us trade with it, and let us defend it.”

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang echoed this sentiment in her own remarks, emphasizing that macroeconomic stability must not be treated as an abstract achievement. “It must be seen as the quality of life for every Ghanaian,” she stressed, noting that a strong currency affects everything from business planning and foreign investment to the affordability of school fees, farm inputs, and household goods.

The Vice President also warned against fiscal irresponsibility. “Government must lead by example. No more reckless borrowing or surging deficits that pass today’s problems to tomorrow’s generations,” she stated. “Every loan must be tied to a return, and every cedi spent must have corresponding value.”

The Cedi@60 celebration, themed “60 Years of the Cedi: A Symbol of Sovereignty, Stability and Economic Resilience,” marks six decades since Ghana asserted its financial independence. The year-long programme, announced by Governor Asiama, will feature exhibitions, lectures, community forums, digital outreach, and a currency conference bringing together stakeholders from central banks worldwide, academia, and the private sector. Youth competitions in music, art, essays, and quizzes are also planned to engage younger generations.

A significant innovation unveiled during the ceremony was the e-Cedi initiative. Vice President Opoku-Agyemang revealed that the Bank of Ghana is currently developing and testing this digital version of the currency to modernise Ghana’s payment systems. “Once fully scaled, the e-Cedi will modernise our payment systems and ensure that even in a cashless future, the cedi retains its importance,” she explained, while stressing the need for digital inclusion so no Ghanaian is left behind.

The Finance Minister’s call comes at a critical time when Ghana is working to consolidate recent economic gains. While the cedi has performed remarkably well this year compared to previous periods, maintaining that stability requires collective action. Businesses that continue pricing in foreign currencies not only violate the spirit of national economic independence but also contribute to the very instability they claim to be protecting themselves against.

Dr. Forson concluded his address with an appeal to patriotism, urging Ghanaians to see the cedi not as a burden but as a badge of economic independence. “As citizens, we have a role to play,” he said. “We must maintain the sanctity of the cedi by preserving it with dignity and protecting it jealously.”

Vice President Opoku-Agyemang added her voice to this call for collective responsibility, paying tribute to Dr. Nkrumah, past Bank of Ghana governors, and the “quiet dedication” of citizens who have kept the economy running through six decades of change. “As we buy, sell, borrow, save, and even repay debts, we must remember that the cedi has been a symbol of our national identity and aspiration for 60 years,” she said.

The question now is whether businesses will heed this call or continue practices that undermine decades of effort to build a truly sovereign monetary system. For Ghana’s economic future, the answer matters more than many realize.

President John Dramani Mahama and his wife, Lordina Mahama, have signed the book of condolence in honour of the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.

The visit took place on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at the family’s residence in Accra.

It followed widespread media reports confirming that the former First Lady had passed away at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.

In his condolence message, President Mahama paid glowing tribute to Nana Konadu, describing her as a dedicated leader and a tireless advocate for women’s empowerment.

“Ghana is proud of your achievements in your 19 solid years as First Lady and ‘Mother of the Nation.’ While we are all saddened by your passing, we celebrate your life,” the President wrote.

He noted that her passing was especially painful as it came at a time when preparations were underway to mark the fifth anniversary and final funeral rites of her late husband, former President Jerry John Rawlings.

“You fought a good fight and deserve a peaceful rest,” his message concluded.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, served as Ghana’s First Lady from 1981 to 2000.

She was the founder of the 31st December Women’s Movement and is remembered for her lifelong commitment to advancing women’s rights and national development.

By: Jacob Aggrey

By Isaac Arkoh  

Cape Coast, Oct. 28, GNA – The Ghana Institution of Surveyors (GhIS) has called for the immediate integration of Value Engineering as a game-changing strategy to revolutionise the efficiency and impact of Ghana’s infrastructure projects. 

Highlighting its transformative potential, GhIS indicated that Value Engineering was essential key to overcoming the persistent national challenges of infrastructure budget overruns and project delays, that had severely strained and limited resources   hindered accelerated development. 

Speaking at the annual conference of the Quantity Surveying Division of GhIS in Cape Coast, Mr Kofi Obeng-Ayirebi, the President of GhIS declared, “As Ghana accelerates its journey toward urbanisation and smart city innovation, Value Engineering stands as an indispensable catalyst for sustainable growth and cutting-edge infrastructure development.” 

“Value Engineering is not just cost-cutting; it is about doing things right and doing them well to maximize the benefits of every cedi spent on our national projects.” 

Value Engineering is about optimising resources while maintaining high standards of quality and safety by carefully analysing project components to find cost-effective alternatives without compromising function, thus ensuring better value for public investments. 

The conference was held on the theme: “Integrating value engineering into infrastructure procurement”. 

It brought together members and representatives of GhIS subsidiary institutions like the Quantity Surveying that hosted the event, Land Surveying and Valuation and Estate Surveying Divisions. 

Mr Obeng-Ayirebi said Value Engineering would prevent wasteful spending on infrastructure, increase longevity and durability of roads, bridges, and buildings by selecting optimal materials and methods. 

He said it will inform better allocation of scarce resources, allowing more infrastructure to be built within available budgets and promote environmentally responsible engineering practices. 

He said it would lead to enhanced public trust through timely completion and quality delivery of projects. 

Mr Osei Agyeman-Badu, Chairman of the Quantity Surveying Division of GhIS, similarly advocated for a national policy on value engineering to rake in its enormous benefits. 

He said having a national policy on Value Engineering would help standardise Value Engineering practices, ensuring consistent application across infrastructure projects to achieve better outcomes of taxpayers’ money. 

For that matter, he called for comprehensive procurement reforms, policies, and regulations to include value engineering, particularly for projects of high value threshold. 

“In our professional practice, we should also strive to apply Value Engineering principles in a structured approach using systematic analysis, cost-benefit analysis, alternative solutions of construction methods, risk management and life cycle costing,” he noted. 

In a speech read on behalf of Osabarimba Kwesi Atta II, Omanhen of Oguaa Traditional Area, he highly commended GhIS for their immense contributions to the infrastructure development nationally, particularly impactful in the Central Region, including the Oguaa Traditional Area. 

Osabarimba Kwesi Atta pledged his full support and collaboration with the GhIS to further enhance their mutually beneficial relationship.  

“Together, we can ensure that the development projects undertaken are not only sustainable but also culturally respectful and aligned with the aspirations of our people,” he said. 

GNA 

Edited by Alice Tettey /Linda Asante Agyei 

Ghana’s sovereign minerals wealth fund has completed a two-day capacity building programme focused on improving staff responses to audit queries, signaling the institution’s renewed emphasis on transparency amid heightened scrutiny of public financial management.

The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) partnered with the Internal Audit Agency to deliver specialized training under the theme “Effectively Responding to Audit Queries,” bringing together employees from multiple departments at the fund’s Accra headquarters last week.

Chief Executive Officer Justina Nelson, who assumed leadership following the inauguration of a new nine-member board earlier this year, used the occasion to underscore what she described as the non-negotiable nature of accountability in managing Ghana’s mineral revenues. Speaking to participants, she emphasized that public trust depends entirely on how the fund handles every decision and every cedi under its stewardship.

The timing of this training appears particularly significant. MIIF recently addressed media reports alleging financial irregularities during the tenure of its previous chief executive, noting that comprehensive audits are currently underway. While the fund has committed to making audit findings public once completed, the institution clearly recognizes that operational excellence requires more than reactive measures.

Mrs. Nelson told staff members that their ability to respond clearly and promptly to audit queries demonstrates technical competence, but it also reflects something deeper. It shows whether the organization truly embodies a culture of transparency and integrity, she noted. She challenged participants to view the training not as a bureaucratic exercise but as an opportunity to strengthen systems that will enhance MIIF’s credibility and effectiveness.

The Internal Audit Agency’s acting Director for Technical, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation, Senanu Mensah, led the training sessions with a pointed message for public servants. He cautioned that officials must be extremely deliberate about what they write in audit responses because they cannot predict where those documents might ultimately end up or how they might be interpreted.

Mr. Mensah stressed the critical importance of succinct, unambiguous language that leaves no room for misinterpretation. In the public sector, he explained, vague or poorly constructed responses to auditors can create unintended consequences that extend far beyond the original query.

The Internal Audit Agency has been conducting extensive capacity building initiatives across Ghana’s public sector, including onsite training programmes for Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. These efforts align with broader government reforms aimed at strengthening financial management and accountability mechanisms throughout state institutions.

For MIIF specifically, enhanced audit response capabilities come at a crucial moment in the fund’s evolution. The organization has grown its assets under management from approximately $180 million in 2018 to around $1 billion by 2024, making it one of Africa’s fastest-growing sovereign wealth funds. This rapid expansion has brought increased public expectations for transparency and sound governance.

MIIF’s mandate centers on maximizing the value of dividend and royalty income from Ghana’s mining sector while investing mineral revenues to generate prosperity for current and future generations. The fund manages the government’s equity stakes in major mining operations and has made strategic investments in lithium development, industrial salt production, and small-scale mining formalization programmes.

The training programme, which was coordinated jointly by MIIF’s Internal Audit Department and the Internal Audit Agency, focused on practical skills including documentation standards, regulatory compliance, and procedural adherence. Participants engaged with real-world scenarios and departmental case studies designed to improve both the speed and quality of their audit responses.

Mrs. Nelson concluded her remarks by commending the collaborative effort between MIIF’s internal audit team and the external facilitators. She reminded staff that the fund’s pursuit of excellence cannot afford compromise, particularly as it manages resources belonging to all Ghanaians. The systems they strengthen through training like this, she said, won’t just make daily operations more efficient. They’ll make MIIF stronger, more credible, and better equipped to fulfill its constitutional mandate of transforming mineral wealth into lasting national value.

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has directed that staff of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) responsible for over GHC180 million in unapproved budget overruns in 2023 face prosecution.

During a PAC meeting on Tuesday, October 28, ranking member Samuel Atta-Mills revealed that, according to the Auditor General’s report, ECG exceeded expenditure on thirteen budget line items without approval from the company board.

The report showed that while the company budgeted GHC2.8 million, GHC4.2 million, GHC40 million, and GHC3.1 million for staff fuel, communication, consultancy, and stakeholders’ expenses respectively, actual spending reached GHC3.6 million, GHC7.9 million, GHC58.6 million, and GHC49 million — all without board approval.

“Staff fuel, did they drive around the world? The budget was 2.8, you spent 3.6 million. Communication expenses, ECG, their budget was 4.2, but you spent 7.9 million. Consultancy, the budget was 40 million, but you spent 58.6 million.

All these you did on your own without even board approval. Stakeholders’ expenses, your budget was 3.1 million, and you spent 49 million, and you want to increase our tariffs,” he said.

Mr. Atta-Mills further recommended that the managers involved be made to face the Attorney General for prosecution due to the financial indiscipline.

“This shows financial indiscipline. Those managers who were involved, I’m recommending that they need to face the Attorney General for prosecution,” he added.

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The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has ruled that the controversial Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill must be reintroduced in the current Parliament, as it expired with the end of the 8th Parliament.

This clarification follows a week of uncertainty and debate among lawmakers, after the Majority Leader argued that the bill had already been passed by the 8th Parliament and therefore did not need to be reintroduced.

However, the Speaker firmly disagreed, explaining that all pending business in the 8th Parliament ceased to exist when that Parliament was dissolved.

“The eighth Parliament is history. So are all the businesses that were pending in the eighth Parliament. They all ended with the eighth Parliament and so we have a new Parliament — the ninth Parliament — and therefore what was pending there came to an end and has to be reintroduced,” he said.

Providing further clarification, the Speaker revealed that the bill had been transmitted to former President Nana Akufo-Addo, who declined to assent to it. However, according to Mr. Bagbin, the presidency failed to fulfill its constitutional obligation to return the bill to Parliament with reasons for the refusal.

“They wrote to tell us that they would not assent to it. The only constitutional error they committed was that they didn’t give us reasons why they would not assent to it, and they did not transmit the bill back to us. They imprisoned it there,” he explained.

He added that the 9th Parliament has now taken back the bill, which originated as a private member’s bill spearheaded by MPs with the backing of traditional, religious, and civil society leaders.

“As you would recall, that’s a private member’s bill, and so members of this House took it up. It went through the whole process as detailed in our Standing Orders. But as it went through the process, the new government indicated that they wanted to take it as a public bill.

“I personally disagreed and made it known to His Excellency the President that this was an initiative of our people — the traditional leaders, the religious leaders, civil society leaders and so we would process it as a private member’s bill.”

The Speaker indicated that before the bill can be laid before the House again, he must perform the procedural duties required by the Standing Orders of Parliament. “Our rules have given what the speaker is expected to do, which I will do before it can be laid in the House.”

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.

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.

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance

Ghana’s Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has reaffirmed government’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a strong and stable cedi, describing it as a sacred national duty and a cornerstone of economic sovereignty.

Speaking at the launch of the Cedi@60 Anniversary Celebration in Accra on October 28, 2025, Dr Forson said the management of the national currency remains a top priority in government’s economic strategy.

“As managers of the economy, we have remained steadfast in our duty to ensure a strong and stable cedi,” he stated, noting that the recent strengthening of the currency reflects disciplined fiscal and monetary policies.

Take a look at all the cedi notes since independence

Dr Forson attributed the cedi’s resilience to sustained reforms aimed at restoring confidence in the economy. He pledged that the government would “stay the course to ensure that the cedi’s gains are maintained.”

The Minister urged the public to help preserve the integrity of the local currency by avoiding practices that undermine its value, especially the pricing of goods and services in foreign currencies.

“The US dollar is not our currency,” he emphasised.

“The continuous pricing of goods and services in US dollars will only hurt us. Let’s stop it. The Cedi is the only currency we have, let us protect it, trade with it, and defend it,” Dr Forson added.

Reflecting on the journey of the Ghana Cedi since its introduction in 1965, Dr Forson described it as more than a medium of exchange, calling it a “symbol of sovereignty, stability, and economic resilience.”

He encouraged Ghanaians to speak of the Cedi with pride and view it as a “badge of economic independence,” while rallying collective responsibility toward building “the Ghana We Want.”

The Cedi@60 celebration, themed “60 Years of the Cedi: A Symbol of Sovereignty, Stability and Economic Resilience,” highlights six decades of the national currency, which has weathered cycles of inflation, devaluation, redenomination, and recovery.

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JKB/MA

Paul Baffoe-Bonnie is the Acting Chief Justice

Parliament’s Appointments Committee is scheduled to vet Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie on Monday, November 10, 2025, following his nomination as Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana.

An official notice from Parliament stated that the vetting will commence at 11:00 a.m. in Committee Rooms 1, 2 and 3 of the New Administration Block.

Baffoe-Bonnie was nominated by President John Dramani Mahama in accordance with constitutional provisions requiring parliamentary approval for the appointment of a Chief Justice.

The Baffoe-Bonnies: The couple dominating Ghana’s Judiciary and Prison Services

The vetting will assess his qualifications, judicial experience and overall suitability for the role before the committee submits its report to the plenary for consideration.

His nomination follows the suspension and subsequent removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo.

Profile of new Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie

Read the notice from Parliament below:>

JKB/MA

Tragedy as farmer drowns while seeking loan to send child to SHS

John Jinapor, Minister of Energy and Green Transition

Ghana has strengthened its position as a continental leader in market-based climate action with the launch of a $200 million National Clean Energy Programme (NCEP), the country’s first clean energy project implemented under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

The landmark programme, launched in partnership with the Government of Switzerland, represents a major milestone in Africa’s participation in international carbon markets and global efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions through cooperative approaches.

The NCEP, spearheaded by the KliK Foundation in collaboration with Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition (MoEnGT), seeks to expand access to renewable energy while delivering verified carbon credits that will contribute to both Ghana’s and Switzerland’s climate targets.

The programme will mobilize about $200 million in investment to develop 4,000 rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across the country, totaling 137 megawatts (MW) of clean energy capacity. The initiative will also stimulate private sector participation, local innovation, and green job creation.

At the launch event in Accra, Felix Addo-Okyeireh, Deputy Executive Director of the EPA, said the programme was a tangible outcome of Ghana’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and its strategic use of Article 6 mechanisms to attract climate finance.

“This programme demonstrates how Ghana is leveraging international carbon markets to achieve real, measurable, and credible emission reductions,” he said. “It is a significant step forward in our national climate ambition and our transition to clean energy.”

Addo-Okyeireh noted that Ghana’s partnership with Switzerland began in 2020 through the signing of one of the world’s first bilateral climate cooperation agreements, ratified by Parliament. This paved the way for a series of mitigation projects, including the Solar Rooftop Programme launched under the NCEP.

In an address delivered on his behalf, John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, said the initiative was consistent with Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework, which charts a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2070 and targets 10 per cent renewable energy integration by 2030.

“The National Clean Energy Programme demonstrates that international cooperation can deliver concrete climate solutions,” Mr. Jinapor said. “It supports our NDC goals while creating jobs, promoting innovation, and driving sustainable development.”

He said the Ministry was updating the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) to guide investments between 2026 and 2030 and had established a Renewable Energy Investment and Green Transition Fund to attract private capital and promote local solar manufacturing.

Ms. Simone Giger, Switzerland’s Ambassador to Ghana, Benin, and Togo, said Ghana was among the first countries in the world to operationalize an Article 6 agreement, highlighting its leadership in Africa’s clean energy transformation.

“This partnership is a model of how ambition can be turned into action,” she said. “Ghana is climbing the right tree — the tree of clean and sustainable energy — and Switzerland is proud to lend its push through partnership, investment, and shared expertise.”

She noted that while 90 per cent of Ghanaians now have access to electricity, about 64 per cent of generation still depends on fossil fuels — a trend that underscores the urgency of accelerating the transition to renewable sources.

The NCEP will deliver verified emission reductions that count toward Ghana’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which aim to reduce 64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030.

As the first rooftop solar PV programme under Article 6 in Ghana, and the second of its kind globally, the NCEP positions Ghana as a frontrunner in climate cooperation, showcasing how international partnerships can drive sustainable growth and deliver measurable environmental results.

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John Jinapor, Minister of Energy and Green Transition

Ghana has strengthened its position as a continental leader in market-based climate action with the launch of a $200 million National Clean Energy Programme (NCEP), the country’s first clean energy project implemented under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

The landmark programme, launched in partnership with the Government of Switzerland, represents a major milestone in Africa’s participation in international carbon markets and global efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions through cooperative approaches.

The NCEP, spearheaded by the KliK Foundation in collaboration with Ghana’s Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition (MoEnGT), seeks to expand access to renewable energy while delivering verified carbon credits that will contribute to both Ghana’s and Switzerland’s climate targets.

The programme will mobilize about $200 million in investment to develop 4,000 rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems across the country, totaling 137 megawatts (MW) of clean energy capacity. The initiative will also stimulate private sector participation, local innovation, and green job creation.

At the launch event in Accra, Felix Addo-Okyeireh, Deputy Executive Director of the EPA, said the programme was a tangible outcome of Ghana’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and its strategic use of Article 6 mechanisms to attract climate finance.

“This programme demonstrates how Ghana is leveraging international carbon markets to achieve real, measurable, and credible emission reductions,” he said. “It is a significant step forward in our national climate ambition and our transition to clean energy.”

Addo-Okyeireh noted that Ghana’s partnership with Switzerland began in 2020 through the signing of one of the world’s first bilateral climate cooperation agreements, ratified by Parliament. This paved the way for a series of mitigation projects, including the Solar Rooftop Programme launched under the NCEP.

In an address delivered on his behalf, John Abdulai Jinapor, Minister for Energy and Green Transition, said the initiative was consistent with Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework, which charts a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2070 and targets 10 per cent renewable energy integration by 2030.

“The National Clean Energy Programme demonstrates that international cooperation can deliver concrete climate solutions,” Mr. Jinapor said. “It supports our NDC goals while creating jobs, promoting innovation, and driving sustainable development.”

He said the Ministry was updating the Renewable Energy Master Plan (REMP) to guide investments between 2026 and 2030 and had established a Renewable Energy Investment and Green Transition Fund to attract private capital and promote local solar manufacturing.

Ms. Simone Giger, Switzerland’s Ambassador to Ghana, Benin, and Togo, said Ghana was among the first countries in the world to operationalize an Article 6 agreement, highlighting its leadership in Africa’s clean energy transformation.

“This partnership is a model of how ambition can be turned into action,” she said. “Ghana is climbing the right tree — the tree of clean and sustainable energy — and Switzerland is proud to lend its push through partnership, investment, and shared expertise.”

She noted that while 90 per cent of Ghanaians now have access to electricity, about 64 per cent of generation still depends on fossil fuels — a trend that underscores the urgency of accelerating the transition to renewable sources.

The NCEP will deliver verified emission reductions that count toward Ghana’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which aim to reduce 64 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent by 2030.

As the first rooftop solar PV programme under Article 6 in Ghana, and the second of its kind globally, the NCEP positions Ghana as a frontrunner in climate cooperation, showcasing how international partnerships can drive sustainable growth and deliver measurable environmental results.

All you need to know about Ghana’s new vehicle number plates |BizTech:

The highly anticipated parliamentary vetting of President John Dramani Mahama’s Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, will proceed with the participation of NPP MPs, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has assured.

In a remark aimed at dispelling speculations of a potential opposition boycott during an interview on JoyNews with Evans Mensah, Mr Afenyo-Markin declared that the minority caucus will be present for the vetting process, but only after addressing deep constitutional concerns surrounding the nominee’s elevation.

Boycott is “Out”: A Commitment to Constitutional Duty

The Effutu Member of Parliament dismissed suggestions that the opposition would employ political manoeuvres to stall the process, despite their strong disagreement with the process that led to the departure of the immediate past Chief Justice, Gertrude Torkonoo.

“Boycotting is out. Anybody who is expecting us to boycott, I say here and now, we will never boycott it. We will do what is right. All our cards are on the table. We’ll get there,” Mr. Afenyo-Markin stated, confirming the minority’s commitment to their legislative duties under Article 144(1) of the Constitution, which requires parliamentary approval for a Chief Justice nomination.

Justice Baffoe-Bonnie, a seasoned Supreme Court judge who has served on the bench since 2008, was nominated by President Mahama on September 23, 2025, following the removal of his predecessor, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, in early September 2025. Justice Baffoe-Bonnie has since been serving as the acting Chief Justice.

The Critical Legal Roadblock: Former CJ’s Pending Case

Mr Afenyo-Markin, however, made it clear that the minority’s participation in the vetting does not signal approval of the circumstances surrounding the nomination.

He highlighted a critical, unresolved legal issue concerning the pending court case filed by the former Chief Justice, Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, which challenges the legality of the process that led to her dismissal.

The Minority Leader raised sharp questions about the ethical implications of Justice Baffoe-Bonnie continuing to act in the role while the matter remains before the Supreme Court, of which he is the most senior member.

“He [Baffoe-Bonnie] himself must know that there is a Chief Justice. He himself must know. Yes, he knows he’s acting, and he knows that there’s a substantive Chief Justice,” Mr Afenyo-Markin insisted.

He pointed to the extraordinary circumstances where a litigant—the former Chief Justice—is challenging her removal processes on grounds of being “irrational, absurd, and perverse” yet the court, under the Acting Chief Justice, has not empanelled a court to hear the case.

“The woman has a case before you challenging the processes. You’ve refused to empanel the court. You know that you are to empanel. If you want to rule, empanel the court, determine the matter and then bring a finality then we can talk,” he challenged.

This unresolved legal challenge places a significant cloud over the legitimacy of the process and will undoubtedly form the central line of questioning when Justice Baffoe-Bonnie appears before Parliament’s Appointments Committee.

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.

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.

President John Dramani Mahama has eulogised the late Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, Ghana’s longest-serving First Lady, describing her life as one of extraordinary dedication and service to the nation.

In a statement written in the book of condolence, Mahama praised her 19 years as First Lady, saying Ghana was proud of her achievements.

“Ghana is proud of your achievement in your 19 solid years as First Lady and mother of the nation. While we are all saddened by your passing, we celebrate your life. It’s been unsettling that you passed when we were just planning the fifth anniversary and final funeral rites for our former president, your husband. You have fought a good fight and deserve a peaceful rest,” he wrote.

The passing of Nana Konadu was announced on Thursday, October 23, while she was receiving treatment at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital.

She was widely respected for her tireless advocacy for women’s empowerment, a cause she championed throughout her time as First Lady.

During a condolence visit to the family in Accra on Tuesday, October 28, Mahama highlighted her contributions to women and national development. He announced that she would be accorded a state burial, while the family retains the option to hold traditional funeral rites afterward.

“She took women’s empowerment as her focus. When you go around the country, you see evidence of her work. On behalf of the people of Ghana and the government, I extend our condolences and sympathy to the family,” Mahama said. “We will work closely with the family. Once we know the dates, we will organise a programme, and the state will give her the full honours that she deserves.”

The late First Lady’s eldest child, Dr. Zanetor Rawlings, MP for Korle Klottey, expressed gratitude to President Mahama for the support extended to the family during their time of grief.

Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings leaves behind a legacy of service, advocacy, and commitment to the people of Ghana. Her life and work continue to inspire generations of women and citizens nationwide.

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