The Ecobank-JoyBusiness SME Fair 2025 burst into life on Friday, October 31, with an exciting display of innovation and enterprise, setting a pace for Ghana’s biggest business showcase.
From the early morning hours, eager entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and a massive, enthusiastic crowd thronged the Ghud Park, Accra Mall, cementing Day 1 as an unparalleled success.
Organisers estimate that over 1,000 people passed through the gates on the opening day alone, a colossal turnout that has guaranteed a successful weekend for the over 160 vendors from Ghana’s thriving Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) sector.
The fair, a three-day economic empowerment bazaar organised by the Multimedia Group Limited in partnership with Ecobank, with JoyPrime leading the charge, runs until Sunday, November 2, from 8 am to 8 pm daily.
Day 1 was a feast for consumers and a massive financial victory for exhibitors.
The schedule was jam-packed as visitors capitalised on exclusive deals, with staggering discounts ranging from 10% to an incredible 50% across most stands.
One vendor, showcasing a wide array of cosmetic products, beamed: “The energy here is phenomenal! We’ve received more enquiries in a single day than we usually get in a week. This fair is a golden platform for SMEs like ours.”
The venue remains fully stocked with essentials and luxuries alike, including:
Beauty & Wellness: Specialized hair products, cosmetics, and personal care items.
Agribusiness & Food: A wide range of food products and processed goods.
Service Sector: Financial institutions, service providers, and sector stakeholders offering consultations and packages.
Ecobank, the headline sponsor, anchored the financial services sector, setting up a dedicated hub to offer quick account openings, loan assessments, and free business advisory sessions, directly linking entrepreneurs to crucial capital.
If you missed the excitement today, Day 2 promises even more:
Meet celebrity guests and performances from Keche, Tulenkey and Perez Muzik
Business Clinics offering consultations with financial advisors, legal and regulatory advice from agencies such as the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and marketing gurus.
Free makeup, hair washing, perming, and retouching sessions, among others.
Expanded vendor offers are rolling out “Day 2 Only” deals, with discounts up to 70% on select products and services.
Supported by major partners including MTN, Sintex Tank, Wintiz Special Gari Mix from JW Foods, Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), Greenbox Sewage, and DPS Pipes, the fair is a celebration of innovation and growth.
With overwhelming foot traffic, robust sales, and high-profile media coverage, vendors are reaping the rewards of unprecedented exposure.
For the public, Day 2 offers a unique, high-value opportunity to discover the best of Ghanaian entrepreneurship and snag unbeatable deals.
Head to the Ghud Park, Accra Mall, tomorrow (Saturday, November 1) from 8 am to 8 pm, and be part of the excitement!
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.
Four personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces have reportedly been arrested over an attempt to install a new chief in Awutu Senya West District of the Central Region.
According to the report, the soldiers were arrested together with two national security operatives by the Bawjiase District Police Command.
The report indicated that the six security officials were arrested after the police got intelligence that some individuals were trying to enstool a rival chief despite the presence of the already recognised traditional ruler, Nai Kwashie Abbey VII.
It further indicated that the arrest of the security officers sparked a reaction by the supporters of the new chief, who surrounded the police station, demanded their release, and threatened violence.
It added that a military vehicle bearing registration number 52 GA 62 arrived with additional personnel at the police station in the midst of the chaotic scene to secure the release of the suspects.
Watch CCTV footage of alleged soldier assaulting two civilians inside a pharmacy
Members of the community loyal to Nai Kwashie Abbey VII have condemned the attempted installation.
The members of the Asafo group of the community, in particular, have accused state security agencies of interfering in local chieftaincy affairs.
Asafo Supi Nipa-Nka, the leader of the group, called on the military and national security personnel to refrain from interfering in traditional disputes.
He warned that such interference could provoke unnecessary conflict within the community.
The Ghana Police Service is yet to comment on the incident.
BAI
Watch as Ghanaians share bold ideas to end galamsey
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Hundreds of people have been killed in Tanzania during three days of protests following Wednesday’s general election, the country’s main opposition party has said.
A Chadema party spokesperson told the AFP news agency that “around 700” people had died in clashes with security forces. A nationwide internet shutdown has made it difficult to verify reports of deaths.
The BBC has spoken to a diplomatic source in Tanzania who said there was credible evidence that at least 500 people had died.
However, a government minister has defended the authorities’ handling of the unrest, saying that “nobody can state how many were injured”.
Demonstrations have taken place in major cities, with young protesters denouncing the vote as unfair after key opposition figures were barred from running against President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
Foreign Minister Mahmoud Kombo Thabit described the situation as “a few isolated pockets of incidents here and there… our security forces acted very swiftly and decisively to address this situation,” he told BBC Focus on Africa TV.
“We are also continuing to receive reports of vandalised properties,” the minister added, saying the internet blackout was necessary to stop such vandalism and save lives.
Protests continued on Friday in the main city, Dar es Salaam — particularly in the neighbourhoods of Salasala, Yombo and Tegeta — as demonstrators defied warnings from the army chief to end the unrest.
“Some people went to the streets on 29 October and committed criminal acts. These are criminals and the criminal acts should be stopped immediately,” Gen Jacob John Mkunda said on state TV on Thursday, adding that the army had “controlled the situation”.
The government has sought to play down the scale of the violence and has extended a curfew in an attempt to quell the unrest.
It has been difficult for journalists and human rights groups to verify reports of deaths because of the internet shutdown.
Hospitals across the country have reportedly refused to release information about casualties.
A source at one referral hospital in Dar es Salaam told the BBC it had been overwhelmed with patients since Thursday.
The source added that other public hospitals in the city were reportedly in a similar situation, with morgues said to be full.
One Chadema politician told the BBC he feared for his life, claiming “massacres are carried out during night hours when no one is there to witness them”.
“They are tracking down all our leaders and some have had to leave the country. These people kill with impunity,” John Kitoka, Chadema’s director of foreign and diaspora affairs, told the BBC’s Newshour programme.
The UN has called on Tanzania’s security forces to refrain from using unnecessary or disproportionate force.
“We are alarmed by the deaths and injuries that have occurred in the ongoing election-related protests in Tanzania. Reports we have received indicate that at least 10 people were killed,” Reuters quoted UN human rights spokesperson Seif Magango as saying earlier on Friday.
The BBC understands that ambassadors from several foreign embassies have also engaged the Tanzanian government to urge restraint by the security forces.
By late afternoon on Friday, the electoral commission had announced results from about 80 of the country’s 272 regions, according to state broadcaster TBC.
The BBC also understands that international observers reported an exceptionally low turnout during polling on Wednesday.
President Samia is expected to win the vote under the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party, which has governed the country since independence in 1961.
Official results are expected on Saturday.
On Tanzania’s semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar — which elects its own government and leader — the CCM’s Hussein Mwinyi, the incumbent president, won with nearly 80% of the vote.
The opposition in Zanzibar said there had been “massive fraud”, the AP news agency reported.
Tourists on the island were also reported stranded at the airport, with flight delays linked to the protests on the mainland and the internet shutdown.
A Kenyan music publicist said she was stranded for three days in Tanzania because of the communication blackout.
“Internet, shops, petrol stations, email, social media, everything was down. Total disconnect. No international or regional calls in or out. No text messages in or out. There were no Ubers or Bolts available because there was no network,” Anyiko Owoko posted on Instagram after making it home on Friday on a Kenya Airways flight.
“Many flights were cancelled; Tanzania’s national airline was grounded. There were so many people stranded at the airport who couldn’t book tickets or reschedule flights because of the connectivity blackout,” she said.
Protesters accuse the government of undermining democracy, as the main opposition leader, Tundu Lissu, remains in jail and another opposition figure was disqualified from the election — bolstering Samia’s chances of winning.
Lissu is being held on treason charges, which he denies, and his party boycotted the vote.
The only other serious contender, Luhaga Mpina of the ACT-Wazalendo party, was excluded on legal technicalities.
Sixteen fringe parties — none of which have historically had significant public support — were cleared to contest the election.
President Samia came to power in 2021 as Tanzania’s first female leader following the death in office of President John Magufuli.
She was initially praised for easing political repression, but the political space has since narrowed, with her government accused of targeting critics through arrests and a wave of abductions.
There has been tension and, at times, the atmosphere has been cold between Vinicius and Xabi Alonso, and he did not reference his manager in his apology on Wednesday afternoon.
The incident that defined the current mood came in the final training session before the Club World Cup semi-final against PSG. Vini, who had started every match until then, was told he would be a substitute. He did not take it well and Xabi Alonso stood firm, determined to show that no player, however talented, is beyond instruction.
That dynamic has continued.
The manager has insisted Vinicius will not finish every game, that he needs to rest more, and Rodrygo will challenge him for a place on the left side of the attack. Xabi Alonso’s stance is rooted in authority and planning. Vini Jr, used to being indulged, has found it hard to adapt.
The coach’s approach is consistent with the way he was as a player: methodical, controlled and, on top of that, he has the personality to be unafraid of confrontation. He wants every member of the squad to understand who sets the tone. For him, managing Real Madrid means creating order, not deferring to star power.
Vinicius, meanwhile, feels treated like any other player when he expected a closer, more personal relationship. The warmth he shared with Ancelotti is missing, replaced by professional distance.
The Volta Region occupies a central position in President John Dramani Mahama’s economic transformation blueprint, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah declared Friday at the Volta Economic Forum, outlining ambitious plans to leverage the area’s natural resources and strategic location for national growth.
Deputy Chief of Staff Nana Oye Bampoe Addo delivered Debrah’s address at the maiden forum held at Reddington Beach Resort in Keta, describing the Volta Economic Corridor as a land of natural wealth and power that will serve as a logistics and production backbone to accelerate north-south integration and establish Ghana as a regional trade hub.
The corridor, spanning more than two million hectares, is expected to anchor the government’s 24-Hour Economy policy, with development plans already completed in July 2025 for the Volta River Basin to guide establishment of industrial parks, economic enclaves, and inland water transport systems.
Bampoe Addo outlined government vision for transforming Lake Volta and surrounding areas into a multimodal corridor linking production zones to ports and regional markets. The infrastructure development represents more than regional policy rhetoric, according to officials who point to concrete partnership agreements and international backing as evidence of genuine commitment.
The African Development Bank signed a landmark Letter of Intent with Ghana in July 2025 to support development of the Volta Economic Corridor, with the agreement setting the stage for repositioning Lake Volta as a multimodal transport spine for agricultural and industrial expansion. Under this arrangement, the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund will establish three Special Purpose Vehicles to drive investment across critical sectors.
The 24-Hour Economy Plus concept has drawn international attention, featuring prominently at the Africa-Singapore Business Forum in August 2025, where President Mahama outlined how extended-hour operations can boost exports and job creation. The United Kingdom’s Jobs and Economic Transformation Programme has aligned its support to Ghana’s 24-hour policy pillar, suggesting international partners view the initiative as credible rather than merely political messaging.
The forum forms part of broader government strategy to transform the Volta Basin into a strategic economic growth corridor. President Mahama has made the 24-hour economy a centerpiece of his administration’s economic policy, arguing that Ghana must maximize utilization of existing infrastructure and resources by extending operating hours across key sectors.
Critics have questioned whether the concept represents genuine structural transformation or merely rebrands existing shift work. Supporters counter that it signals a comprehensive approach to boosting productivity, improving export competitiveness, and attracting private investment through strategic public-private partnerships.
The Volta Region’s strategic coastal location, skilled workforce, and expanding infrastructure base position it as a prime destination for investment and industrial growth, according to government officials and business stakeholders. The area’s natural resources include Lake Volta, West Africa’s largest man-made lake, which covers approximately 8,500 square kilometers and offers significant potential for inland water transport and fisheries development.
The Chief of Staff stated that the Volta Economic Forum represented a significant advancement in collective efforts to bring investment closer to the populace, demonstrating the government’s commitment to transforming the region’s abundant potential into successful enterprises supporting the President’s economic reset agenda.
Debrah described the Volta Region as an emerging engine of growth within a balanced, inclusive, and prosperous country, adding that the initiative was a declaration that Ghana’s economic transformation would no longer be limited to a few select areas.
The forum follows closely on heels of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre’s regional investment roadshows conducted in the Volta and Oti Regions from October 27 to 30. Those events, held at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho and the Bosatsu Hotel in Dambai, focused on connecting local entrepreneurs with domestic and foreign investors through business-to-business engagements, company visits, and project presentations.
The GIPC roadshows highlighted opportunities in manufacturing, agribusiness, tourism, and renewable energy, sectors that government officials believe can drive economic transformation across both regions. The initiatives serve as precursors to the Ghana International Investment Summit scheduled for 2026, amplifying Ghana’s position as a premier destination for global investment.
President Mahama’s economic reset agenda extends beyond the Volta Region to encompass digital transformation, youth empowerment, and private sector engagement as interconnected pillars of national development. The Chief of Staff has repeatedly emphasized that the administration’s vision places technology and innovation at the heart of inclusive growth.
Digital infrastructure development features prominently in government plans, with ambitious targets including completion of the Eastern Corridor Fibre Optic Project by 2027, launching a National Digital Development Council by 2026, and training 500,000 youth and women in emerging technologies by 2028. These efforts are expected to create over 200,000 digital jobs and generate more than $2 billion in annual digital exports.
The Volta Region development strategy connects to this broader digital agenda through plans for enhanced connectivity and technology-enabled services that will support the 24-hour economy framework. Government officials argue that regional economic transformation requires both physical infrastructure and digital capabilities that allow businesses to operate efficiently and access regional and international markets.
Private sector engagement represents another critical component of the reset agenda. Julius Debrah has disclosed that creating a conducive environment for businesses to thrive is a priority, with government believing that solving Ghana’s employment challenges hinges largely on a thriving private sector empowered to play frontal roles in implementing flagship economic programs.
Youth unemployment constitutes one of the country’s most pressing challenges that the administration seeks to address through its economic initiatives. Officials emphasize that youth empowerment serves not only as a moral imperative but also as a critical economic necessity, with the aim being that everyone, especially young people, benefits from the development agenda.
The Volta Economic Forum attracted stakeholders from across government, business, and civil society, creating a platform for dialogue about investment opportunities, infrastructure development, and policy frameworks needed to unlock the region’s economic potential. Similar forums have been held in other regions, including the Kwahu Business Forum conceptualized by Julius Debrah as venues for the President to explain economic policies and their implications for business growth.
Implementation timelines for Volta Region development plans extend across the current administration’s tenure, with different projects scheduled for completion at various stages. Government officials acknowledge that transforming economic potential into tangible results requires sustained effort, adequate financing, effective coordination across multiple agencies, and consistent political will to see initiatives through completion.
The African Development Bank partnership for the Volta Economic Corridor represents significant international validation of government plans. Multilateral development institutions typically conduct extensive due diligence before committing to major initiatives, and their involvement suggests technical and financial assessments support the feasibility of proposed interventions.
Lake Volta’s transformation into a multimodal transport corridor would require substantial investments in port facilities, cargo handling equipment, vessel acquisition or rehabilitation, and supporting infrastructure connecting waterways to road and rail networks. The Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund’s role in establishing Special Purpose Vehicles aims to mobilize private capital alongside public resources for these capital-intensive projects.
Agricultural and industrial expansion plans for the Volta Basin build on the region’s existing strengths in crop production, fishing, and emerging manufacturing activities. The area produces significant quantities of rice, vegetables, and fish that currently serve local markets, with development plans envisioning expanded production for domestic consumption and export to regional markets.
Tourism potential remains largely untapped despite the region’s natural attractions, cultural heritage sites, and coastal beauty. Government officials believe enhanced infrastructure, improved marketing, and integration with the 24-hour economy framework can position the Volta Region as a competitive tourism destination attracting both domestic and international visitors.
The forum’s timing in late October 2025 allows government to showcase progress made since the administration began implementing its economic reset agenda in January while outlining plans for remaining years of the current term. Officials use such gatherings to build stakeholder buy-in, address concerns, and demonstrate tangible achievements beyond policy announcements.
Whether the ambitious vision for the Volta Region materializes into sustained economic transformation depends on multiple factors including financing availability, effective project implementation, private sector response to investment incentives, and ability to navigate political and bureaucratic obstacles that have historically slowed infrastructure development in Ghana.
LI 2462 is set to be revoked as the government takes decisive steps to strengthen its fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey, and protect Ghana’s forest reserves.
The government has presented before Parliament the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Revocation Instrument, 2025.
The legislative instrument, expected to mature into law within the next 21 sitting days, aims to revoke LI 2501 — which had limited the President’s authority to approve mining in forest reserves — and completely abolish LI 2462.
Acting Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, addressing journalists after laying the instrument, explained the rationale behind the move.
He said, “Mining Forest Reserves Revocation Instrument 2025. If you recall, LI 2462, which was enacted in 2022 to ensure that environmental management principles are legally enforced in mining operations in forest reserves, there was obviously a public outcry. That led to an amendment of that LI by deleting Regulation 32 to effectively limit the powers of the President to allow mining in forest reserves.”
He added, “Obviously, that led to the new LI 2501, which entered into force on June 2, 2025. However, in light of continued public outcry, as a listening government, and after a complete consultation and review with experts, it was very clear that we could completely revoke that LI and use the guidelines that were enacted in 2020. And so that’s effectively what I’ve done today.”
The Acting Minister stressed the government’s commitment to environmental protection.
This move, according to Armah-Kofi Buah, reflects Mahama’s administration’s ongoing efforts to respond to public concerns while reinforcing environmental stewardship and sustainable resource management in Ghana.
The South African government has strongly criticized a United States decision to prioritize refugee applications from white Afrikaners.
Officials labelled the policy misguided and based on discredited claims of systematic persecution.
In an official statement, Pretoria asserted there is no credible evidence supporting a so called white genocide. The government cited an open letter from prominent Afrikaners who themselves rejected the narrative, with some calling the US scheme racist and politically motivated.
The criticism targets a move by the Trump administration to create a special admissions category within its historically low annual refugee cap of 7,500 people. South African officials accused Washington of weaponising misinformation for political purposes.
The government stressed that national crime statistics show violent crime affects all racial groups. Using this issue to justify racialized asylum policies is deeply irresponsible, the statement read.
Analysts link the controversy to President Trump’s longstanding opposition to South Africa’s land reform policy. The dispute escalated further after Washington expelled South African Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool for accusing Trump of mobilising supremacism.
The diplomatic rift deepened following a reported Oval Office meeting where President Trump allegedly presented misleading evidence, including a photo from the Democratic Republic of Congo falsely described as murdered white South Africans.
Pretoria said these factual distortions prove the persecution narrative is a manufactured myth. It reaffirmed its commitment to protecting all citizens equally and called on the US to base its foreign policy on reality, not falsehoods.
Germany’s President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will touch down in Ghana this Sunday for a three-day state visit that officials say aims to reshape bilateral cooperation around technology, trade and development, marking his second trip to the West African nation since December 2017.
The official program kicks off Monday with the ceremonial inspection of a full military Guard of Honour at the Forecourt of the Presidency, followed by closed-door discussions between Steinmeier and his host, President John Dramani Mahama. Both leaders will subsequently convene their delegations for broader bilateral talks in the Credentials Room, where conversations are expected to center on strengthening economic and technological partnerships.
Ghana’s Presidency Communications Directorate released details of the visit Friday, outlining an itinerary that emphasizes digital innovation alongside traditional diplomatic protocols. The agenda suggests German interest in Ghana’s emerging technology sector, particularly through scheduled interactions with young IT specialists who represent the country’s growing digital economy.
A State Luncheon honoring Steinmeier and his delegation will take place at the Presidential Banquet Hall on Monday afternoon, maintaining diplomatic traditions that accompany high-level state visits. The German president travels with a business delegation, indicating commercial interests accompany the diplomatic engagements.
Later Monday, Steinmeier will participate in what’s become a standard gesture for visiting heads of state by laying a wreath at the tomb of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. The ceremonial visit to Ghana’s founding father symbolizes respect for the nation’s independence history and its pan-African legacy.
The technology focus becomes more apparent with Steinmeier’s scheduled meeting with young Ghanaian IT specialists, though officials haven’t disclosed specific details about which companies or sectors these professionals represent. Ghana’s digital economy has experienced significant growth in recent years, with tech hubs in Accra attracting both regional and international attention. Monday concludes with a reception at the German Ambassador’s Residence.
Tuesday’s program shifts to Kumasi, the Ashanti regional capital, where Steinmeier will perform a sod-cutting ceremony at the Kumasi Technical Institute. Technical and vocational education represents a longstanding area of German development cooperation across Africa, with numerous training institutes receiving support through German development agencies.
The German president’s engagement with Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology includes meetings with the Vice Chancellor, staff, and alumni, underscoring educational and research collaboration between the two nations. KNUST ranks among Ghana’s premier institutions for science and technology education, making it a natural focal point for discussions about technical cooperation.
Steinmeier will also visit the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, though the Presidency statement didn’t specify which research areas or projects would be highlighted during the tour. Such centers often serve as platforms for international academic partnerships, particularly in fields like tropical medicine, agriculture, and materials science.
The visit culminates with a courtesy call on Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, at Manhyia Palace. Meetings with traditional rulers have become standard protocol for visiting dignitaries in Ghana, acknowledging the continued cultural and social influence that chiefs wield alongside the formal government structure. The Asantehene leads one of West Africa’s most historically significant kingdoms.
Steinmeier’s Ghana visit forms part of a broader African tour that includes stops in Egypt and Angola, with the German leader departing Ghana Tuesday evening to continue his continental engagements. The multi-country trip reflects Germany’s efforts to strengthen ties across diverse African regions.
Germany has emerged as one of Ghana’s significant European development partners in recent years, with cooperation spanning renewable energy, technical education, good governance, and sustainable economic development. German companies maintain a presence in Ghana’s mining, manufacturing, and service sectors, while development cooperation projects focus on areas including climate change adaptation and youth employment.
The emphasis on technology and innovation during this visit suggests evolving priorities in the bilateral relationship. Ghana’s government has positioned digital transformation as central to its development agenda, seeking to leverage technology for economic diversification beyond traditional sectors like cocoa, gold, and oil.
Presidential spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu characterized the visit as underscoring the strong partnership between the two nations, expressing expectations that it will open enhanced cooperation opportunities. Such diplomatic language typically signals ongoing negotiations around specific projects or agreements that may be announced during or following high-level visits.
The timing of Steinmeier’s visit comes as Ghana navigates economic challenges that have prompted closer engagement with international partners. The country recently completed negotiations with the International Monetary Fund and continues implementing reforms aimed at fiscal stability and economic growth.
Germany’s interest in Ghana’s technology sector aligns with broader European strategies to engage with Africa’s digital economy, which analysts project will experience significant expansion over coming decades. Young African tech entrepreneurs have attracted increasing attention from international investors and development agencies seeking to support innovation ecosystems.
The state visit protocol reflects the formal diplomatic relationship between Ghana and Germany, with both nations maintaining embassies and consular services. Germany’s development cooperation agency operates programs across multiple Ghanaian regions, focusing on areas where German expertise can support local development priorities.
While officials haven’t announced specific agreements or memoranda expected from the visit, such high-level engagements typically precede or accompany concrete cooperation initiatives. The presence of a business delegation traveling with Steinmeier suggests commercial relationships may feature in discussions alongside government-to-government cooperation.
Ghana’s diplomatic engagement with European partners has intensified as the country seeks to attract foreign investment, enhance trade relationships, and secure development cooperation funding. President Mahama, who recently attended the Paris Peace Forum, has emphasized strengthening international partnerships as part of his administration’s approach to economic development.
The three-day visit represents a relatively substantial time commitment for a head of state’s foreign trip, indicating German prioritization of the bilateral relationship. Most state visits compress official business into shorter timeframes, making Steinmeier’s extended stay noteworthy.
As preparations finalize for Sunday’s arrival, Ghana’s security and protocol officials have been coordinating arrangements for the various ceremonial and substantive elements of the visit. Such state visits typically involve coordination across multiple government ministries and agencies to ensure smooth execution of complex itineraries.
Asamoah Gyan is a former captain of the Black Stars
The Supreme Court has unanimously quashed garnishee proceedings at the High Court in Accra, which had ordered seven banks of former Black Stars Captain Asamoah Gyan to show cause why a judgment debt of over GH₵1 million against him should not be paid.
A five-member panel, presided over by Justice Amadu Omoro Tanko, which also includes Justices Yoni Kulendi, Senyo Dzamefe, Prof. Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu and Yaw Asare Darko, said that the ex parte proceedings be quashed.
This decision came after lawyers for the Black Stars’ all-time leading scorer, Asamoah Gyan, filed an application at the Supreme Court to quash the garnishee proceedings and subsequent orders made by Justice Owusu Dapaa, who was sitting as an additional High Court judge on November 19, 2024.
While an appeal against the execution of the order and a substantive appeal are pending, the High Court (differently constituted), presided over by Justice Nana Brew, had granted an ex parte motion against Asamoah Gyan and his manager.
“Upon reading the affidavit of Anthony Osarfo, of House Number GA-540-5173, Ken Kan Street, Dansoman, Accra, the Plaintiff/Judgment-Creditor/Applicant herein, filed on July 9, 2024, in support of a Motion Ex parte for a Garnishee Order Nisi to issue for an amount of GH₵1,061,000.00, representing damages and costs, in the accounts of the Defendants/Judgment Debtors/Respondents,” the Court ruled.
Consequently, the court directed the managers of the following banks to appear before it: CBG Bank, Accra; Ecobank Ghana; Zenith Bank Ghana; GT Bank; Access Bank Ghana; GCB Bank Ghana; and Stanbic Bank Ghana.
The court ordered them to show cause why the amounts standing to the credit of the Defendants/Judgment Debtors/Respondents, amounting to GH₵1,061,000.00, should not be applied to satisfy the judgment debt in favour of the Judgment Creditor.
Dissatisfied with the ruling, Asamoah Gyan’s lawyers, led by Bobby Banson, filed an application at the Supreme Court to quash the garnishee orders.
The execution of the judgment is stayed until the hearing of the application for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal.
The applicants have fulfilled all the conditions of appeal and are awaiting the hearing of the substantive appeal.
Background:
Following their acquittal and discharge in an action involving an alleged rape incident, Osarfo Anthony and his lawyers sued for malicious prosecution.
Osarfo Anthony demanded compensation in the sum of GH₵1 million over what he described as malicious prosecution.
On December 8, 2023, Justice Ernest Owusu Dapaa, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court judge, held that the plaintiff had proven his case for malicious prosecution.
Consequently, the court awarded GH₵900,000 in damages to the plaintiff, GH₵111,000 for 111 months of lost income, and GH₵60,000 in costs, totalling over GH₵1 million against Asamoah Gyan and his manager.
Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwaah, has called for a broader and more coordinated approach to tackling illegal and irresponsible mining in Ghana, warning that the current environmental crisis goes beyond the scope of existing legal instruments.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Top Story on Thursday, Awula Serwaah said. At the same time, the repeal of L.I. 2462, which previously granted mining leases in forest reserves, was a positive step; it alone would not address the widespread destruction of water bodies and farmlands across the country.
“The fight against irresponsible mining — the existential threat we currently face — must be fought on different fronts,” she said. “L.I. 2462 had to do with granting leases to mine in forest reserves. But a lot of what is going on now is pure irresponsible mining without any licence whatsoever.”
READ ALSO : Lands Minister lays LI 2462 in Parliament to revoke law allowing mining in forest reserves
She noted that many miners either operate illegally or exceed the boundaries of their licences, resulting in massive environmental damage. According to her, this has led to the poisoning of more than 60 per cent of Ghana’s water bodies and the rapid destruction of forest reserves.
Citing a recent example, Serwaah said activists in the Adjonsu community have reported illegal mining activities threatening farmlands and the community’s only source of drinking water.
“Two excavators have found their way onto the landscape. They’ve tried unsuccessfully to reach NAIMOS to get them removed. The Adjonsu stream is their only source of drinking water — and poisoning water, even in wartime, is a war crime,” she said.
She added that the affected residents have struggled to get help from both the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the police, leaving them vulnerable to environmental harm.
Awula Serwaah stressed that while the repeal of L.I. 2462 was necessary, communities like Adjonsu — which are not forest reserves — remain exposed.
“They will not be helped by L.I. 2462, so we need to support activists who are trying to protect their landscape,” she said.
Her comments follow the revocation instrument laid before Parliament on Friday, October 31, seeking to repeal L.I. 2501 and completely revoke L.I. 2462, both of which have been criticised for enabling environmentally destructive mining in forest reserves.
The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation says the repeal forms part of a broader strategy to combat illegal mining under the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) and enforcement operations led by NAIMOS.
Environmental groups, however, insist that without strong enforcement and community-level protection, Ghana’s water bodies and ecosystems remain at serious risk.
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.
Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori Atta (L) and President John Mahama (R)
The Manhyia South Constituency Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Adjei Mensah Ofori Atta, has reaffirmed the exceptional leadership and peacebuilding legacy of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, as the Asante Kingdom prepares to mark the 27th anniversary of his coronation in 2026.
According to Ofori Atta, the year 2026 has been specially dedicated to celebrating Otumfuo’s enduring contributions to peace and national development under the theme “Otumfuo, the Pillar of Peace.”
As part of the celebrations, a #PeaceConcert will be organized in honour of the Asantehene to highlight his unmatched role in promoting harmony and unity across Ghana.
Reflecting on a memorable moment in history, Ofori Atta recounted his honour of presenting the Otumfuo Commemorative Gold Coin to President John Dramani Mahama.
The gold coin, he said, symbolizes peace and the Asantehene’s tireless efforts in conflict resolution and national reconciliation.
During that encounter, President John Dramani Mahama lauded Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as a true “Pillar of Peace”, commending his pivotal mediation in resolving the protracted Dagbon chieftaincy conflict in northern Ghana a landmark intervention that restored stability and unity to the Dagbon Traditional Area after years of tension.
The President also acknowledged Otumfuo’s instrumental role in supporting Ghana’s economic stability, particularly in 2016 when the Asantehene facilitated discussions between the government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that led to the successful negotiation of an Extended Credit Facility (ECF).
Mahama credited that intervention as a turning point for Ghana’s economy, stating, “That was the programme which turned the economy around, because in 2016, almost for the first time in our history, we did zero central bank financing of the budget.”
Ofori Atta emphasised that these tributes and milestones underscore the Asantehene’s unique influence beyond the boundaries of Asanteman, noting that Otumfuo Osei Tutu II’s reign has been marked by peace, progress and unity.
He concluded by urging Ghanaians to join in celebrating Otumfuo’s legacy through the upcoming #PeaceConcert and other commemorative events, reaffirming that the Asantehene’s leadership continues to serve as a beacon of peace and stability for the nation and beyond.
AM
Tragedy as farmer drowns while seeking loan to send child to SHS
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Ghana’s vast Voltaian Basin will mark a new dawn for the country’s oil and gas industry, serving as a game changer for energy security, job creation, and economic transformation, the Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Commission has declared.
Emefa Hardcastle told the Volta Economic Forum in Ho that government is accelerating efforts to attract investment into the basin, Ghana’s largest and only fully onshore petroleum reserve covering about 103,000 square kilometers, representing 40 percent of the country’s land mass.
“The Voltaian Basin holds the key to Ghana’s oil and gas future. It is therefore imperative to accelerate exploration activities to establish its petroleum potential, and the government is committed to ensuring same,” she stated.
The basin spans eight regions, including Volta, Eastern, Oti, Ashanti, Bono East, Savannah, Northern, and North East, but its petroleum potential has remained largely untapped since early Soviet geological work in the 1960s and 1970s.
Under a renewed policy directive, the Petroleum Commission, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation, and the Ministry of Energy have been tasked with attracting the needed investments to expand exploration, generate data, and accelerate drilling operations.
The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation has already completed Phase 3 of its 2D seismic data acquisition, adding 1,655 line kilometers in 2021, and plans to drill two exploratory wells by the third quarter of 2026.
Three new exploration and production licenses have also been issued to private operators to undertake drilling activities in the basin, signaling growing confidence in the area’s commercial viability.
“Without exploration, without data, we cannot find oil and become commercial. The key thing for us then is to acquire data, to explore, and to drill, drill, drill,” Hardcastle emphasized at the forum themed “Harnessing the Volta Corridor Economic Potential for the 24 Hour Economy Take off.”
She noted that successful exploration in the Voltaian Basin would significantly boost Ghana’s energy independence by reducing reliance on imported fuel while providing new revenue streams for the state through taxes and royalties.
Beyond oil and gas, the basin’s development could stimulate growth in local infrastructure, small business participation, and industrial supply chains across the eight regions it covers.
“There are substantial opportunities in the Volta Region which will offer benefits such as increased government revenues, job creation, SME development, and enhanced energy security by reducing reliance on imports,” she explained.
However, Hardcastle cautioned that petroleum development also brings social and environmental challenges requiring careful management and proactive engagement with affected communities.
She cited potential migration pressures, land use conflicts, and livelihood disruptions as areas demanding early engagement and coordinated policy responses from multiple government agencies.
The Commission is already working with the Attorney General’s Department, the Ghana Revenue Authority, and the National Oil Company to review Ghana’s onshore petroleum policy and adopt best practices from other African countries with similar onshore operations.
“We are reviewing the Ghana Government’s onshore policy to promote greater participation in governance and production, and to ensure wider access to the benefits derived from activities in the Voltaian Basin,” she added.
The Petroleum Commission chief emphasized the importance of community engagement and securing social license to operate, ensuring inclusive development while avoiding the resource management pitfalls experienced in some other extractive regions across Africa.
“We really do not want to learn the bad lessons that some of our neighbours have learnt with onshore exploration and production. We have to learn from best practice,” she said.
Ghana’s offshore oil and gas industry, dominated by the Jubilee, TEN, and Sankofa fields, has generated billions of dollars in revenue since commercial production began in 2010, but operations remain expensive and technically complex.
Developing onshore reserves in the Voltaian Basin could offer a more cost effective alternative while spreading the economic benefits of petroleum development to regions that have historically remained on the periphery of Ghana’s oil boom.
The basin’s geological characteristics suggest it may contain significant hydrocarbon deposits, though the full extent won’t be known until extensive exploration and drilling campaigns are completed over the coming years.
Industry analysts suggest successful development could position Ghana as a more significant regional energy player, potentially reducing West Africa’s dependence on imported refined petroleum products.
The government’s renewed focus on the Voltaian Basin comes as global energy markets experience volatility and many African nations seek to maximize domestic resource development to reduce vulnerability to external supply shocks.
Hardcastle called on Ghanaians, especially residents of the Volta Region, to support government’s drive to unlock the basin’s economic potential for national prosperity.
“Following the drilling of the exploratory wells by GNPC next year, our investors will be invited to acquire rights to conduct exploration and production activities in several acreages within the basin. We need to support the government in executing its objective of attracting needed investment in the Voltaian Basin for our collective benefit,” she said.
The Volta Economic Forum brought together policymakers, regional leaders, diplomats, and industry executives to explore opportunities within the Volta Economic Corridor, which forms a key pillar of Ghana’s 24 hour economy strategy.
Regional leaders expressed optimism that petroleum development, combined with agricultural modernization and infrastructure improvements, could transform the Volta region from a largely rural area into an industrial and commercial hub.
However, civil society groups have urged caution, emphasizing the need for robust environmental safeguards and transparent revenue management to ensure local communities benefit meaningfully from any oil and gas discoveries.
The coming months will prove crucial as GNPC prepares to drill its first exploratory wells, a milestone that could either validate decades of geological speculation or require a fundamental reassessment of the basin’s commercial potential.
For now, government officials remain bullish, framing the Voltaian Basin as the next frontier in Ghana’s energy story and a potential catalyst for broader economic transformation across the country’s northern and eastern regions.
Whether the basin lives up to its billing as a game changer will depend on exploration results, policy implementation, and the government’s ability to balance development ambitions with environmental and social responsibilities.
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Ayine, has clarified that he personally funded the purchase of six heavy-duty printers for the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO).
His clarification follows concerns raised by members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), who questioned whether EOCO had received grants or donations from unapproved sources.
Appearing before the committee, Dr. Ayine explained that EOCO does not accept financial support or donations from private individuals or institutions, stating that his contribution was a personal gesture intended to enhance the agency’s efficiency and does not constitute a conflict of interest.
“EOCO does not receive such donations from private persons because of issues of conflict of interest. When I assumed office in February, one of the things they briefed me on was that they did not have printers,” he said.
He further explained that after exploring various funding options without success, he decided to purchase the printers using his own resources.
“We looked everywhere and couldn’t find money to buy the printers, so I bought six heavy-duty printers for them out of my own funds. There is no conflict in this because I wanted the entity to work efficiently,” Dr. Ayine added.
The clarification came in response to a question from the Member of Parliament for Kpando, Sebastian Deh, who had sought to determine whether it was ethically appropriate for EOCO to receive in-kind grants, given the sensitive nature of its work.
Dr. Ayine reaffirmed that EOCO remains a public institution funded solely through approved government channels, and his donation was purely to support the operational needs of the office.
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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 Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has announced plans to intensify enforcement and monitoring activities for the second edition of National Sanitation Day scheduled for Saturday, November 1, warning that failure to comply with the sanitation directive could result in fines or imprisonment.
According to a statement signed by Head of Public Affairs Gilbert Nii Ankrah, residents who refuse to participate in the communal labour exercise face fines of up to 100 penalty units or imprisonment for between 30 days and six months, or both. Continuing offenders will incur additional daily penalties under the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Communal Labour Bye Laws 2017.
The exercise forms part of government efforts to promote environmental cleanliness and ensure full public participation in the nationwide campaign to make Accra cleaner, safer, and healthier. All shops, markets, and business premises are required to remain closed from 6:00 a.m. until the exercise is completed to allow traders, residents, and market associations to participate fully.
The operation will involve deploying 21 Public Health Officers, 200 members of the AMA Sanitation Taskforce, and 81 labourers, including sweepers and janitors, across all sub-metropolitan areas. Heavy duty equipment including compactor trucks, backhoe loaders, excavators, tipper trucks, and a pay loader will support the exercise to facilitate desilting of drains, clearing of refuse, and transportation of waste.
Cleansing activities will focus on desilting drains, brushing road kerbs, sweeping, and removing unauthorized banners from public spaces. The comprehensive approach reflects the Assembly’s determination to tackle sanitation challenges that have historically plagued the capital city.
The November 1 exercise marks the second monthly observance since President John Dramani Mahama officially relaunched National Sanitation Day on September 6 at the Institute of Local Government Studies in Madina. The maiden exercise took place on October 4, with enforcement teams touring major commercial areas including Tudu Market, Kantamanto, Agbogbloshie, and Abbossey Okai to monitor compliance.
Mayor Michael Kpakpo Allotey has been at the forefront of the renewed sanitation drive, describing the initiative as timely and crucial for the city’s ongoing Reset Accra agenda. The AMA has deployed Rapid Response Teams that operate continuously to ensure public spaces, ceremonial streets, and transport terminals remain clean throughout the day, not just during monthly exercises.
“We are determined to stop the cycle where people dump waste indiscriminately right after major clean up exercises,” Mayor Allotey explained during the October launch. The Rapid Response Teams enforce compliance immediately rather than simply cleaning up after violations occur.
The reintroduction of National Sanitation Day aligns with Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs Ahmed Ibrahim’s directive requiring all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies nationwide to clear visible filth by 8:00 a.m. daily. Sanitation has become a Key Performance Indicator for all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives, signaling government’s seriousness about addressing Ghana’s environmental challenges.
Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo has announced that the last Friday of every month will also be observed as Sanitation Day in the region, complementing the first Saturday national exercise. Her administration is implementing a comprehensive sanitation policy that encourages waste segregation and provision of garbage bags and bins in public places and homes.
The October exercise saw rigorous enforcement of business closure directives, with inspection teams led by Mayor Allotey, Minister Ibrahim, and Ga Mantse King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II touring commercial areas to encourage traders to take ownership of their environment. October was declared Clean Up Month for Accra, emphasizing that sanitation is a continuous campaign rather than a one day event.
The Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council, led by Regional Minister Ocloo, has supported the AMA with additional sanitation logistics including gloves, rakes, and brooms to complement existing resources. This collaborative approach demonstrates government’s commitment to providing assemblies with tools needed for effective sanitation management.
The legal framework backing the exercise derives from the Accra Metropolitan Assembly Communal Labour Bye Laws 2017, enacted pursuant to Section 181 of the Local Governance Act 2016. The law mandates observation of the first Saturday of every month as National Sanitation Day, giving the Assembly legal authority to enforce compliance through fines and other penalties.
Critics have historically questioned whether monthly sanitation exercises produce lasting results or simply create temporary cleanliness that disappears within days. The AMA’s response through Rapid Response Teams and continuous enforcement represents an attempt to address these concerns by maintaining pressure between monthly exercises rather than allowing standards to lapse.
The exercise seeks to rid Accra of filth, reduce flooding caused by clogged drains, tackle environmental health risks, and improve overall sanitation across the metropolis. Assembly members will lead clean up activities across their respective electoral areas to ensure coordinated operations and visible leadership at the community level.
Social and behavioural change campaigns are being intensified to educate and reorient citizens on proper sanitation practices. The government recognizes that enforcement alone won’t solve sanitation challenges without corresponding shifts in public attitudes and behaviors around waste disposal and environmental responsibility.
The AMA’s strengthened enforcement approach reflects lessons learned from previous attempts to institutionalize regular sanitation exercises. Past initiatives often lost momentum due to weak enforcement, inadequate resources, and public apathy. By deploying substantial personnel, providing necessary equipment, and threatening meaningful penalties, the Assembly signals determination to make this relaunch more sustainable.
Traditional authorities, religious organizations, and other stakeholders are being engaged to deepen decentralization and ensure community buy in for sanitation initiatives. The involvement of the Ga Mantse and other traditional leaders in October’s exercise demonstrates the cultural and social dimensions of the sanitation campaign beyond mere government directive.
For residents and business owners across the Accra metropolis, the message is clear: participation in Saturday’s sanitation exercise isn’t optional. The Assembly urges all residents, traders, transport operators, and businesses to actively take part, emphasizing that maintaining a clean city represents a shared responsibility that requires collective action.
As November 1 approaches, the test will be whether the AMA can sustain enforcement momentum and whether residents embrace the initiative as genuine civic duty rather than burdensome obligation. The success of National Sanitation Day ultimately depends not just on Assembly actions but on citizens’ willingness to maintain cleanliness standards beyond monthly exercises.
The goal, as the AMA emphasizes, is making Accra a cleaner, safer, and more sustainable city for everyone. Whether the combination of enforcement, resources, and public engagement proves sufficient to achieve that vision will become apparent as the monthly exercises continue throughout 2025 and beyond.
The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) has unveiled its first edition of the African Journal of International Criminal Justice, marking what officials describe as a transformative moment for legal scholarship across the continent.
Thursday’s launch at the Dr Daniel McKorley Moot Courtroom brought together leading jurists, academics, and legal practitioners who gathered to witness what many see as a long overdue platform for African voices in international criminal law discourse.
The journal, a flagship publication of GIMPA’s African Centre of International Criminal Justice (ACICJ), aims to deepen research and scholarly debate on criminal justice issues affecting Africa, from genocide and war crimes to crimes against humanity.
Dr Kwaku Agyeman-Budu, Dean of GIMPA’s Faculty of Law, told guests the publication embodies the institution’s commitment to advancing scholarship in international criminal law while promoting accountability across Africa.
“This occasion marks a significant milestone in our journey to promote International Criminal Law and justice in Africa,” he said, noting the journal provides scholars and practitioners with a credible platform to share insights on critical justice issues.
The African Centre of International Criminal Justice, established in 2017, serves as both a research hub and advocacy platform dedicated to disseminating knowledge about the International Criminal Court’s work and promoting international criminal law principles on the continent.
Since its inception, the Centre has spearheaded several initiatives aimed at enhancing understanding of international criminal law, building capacity among legal professionals, and fostering collaboration between academic institutions and practicing lawyers.
Dr Agyeman-Budu praised students in GIMPA’s Master of Laws program in International Criminal Law and Justice, who played an instrumental role in producing the publication. “With this journal forming part of their LLM project, I must congratulate them for their dedication and hard work,” he said, adding with characteristic humor that the event’s success was tied to their graduation prospects.
Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, through Justice Hafisata Amaleboba of the Supreme Court, commended GIMPA for advancing legal scholarship and fostering dialogue on international criminal law across Africa.
Justice Amaleboba highlighted Ghana’s longstanding commitment to the rule of law, human rights, and justice, noting these principles continue to guide the country’s legal and judicial philosophy. She described the journal as a “contextually relevant academic platform” that will foster rigorous scholarship and thoughtful dialogue.
“The foundation of any robust criminal justice system rests not merely on adjudication and enforcement alone, but also on critical and reflective scholarship,” she emphasized, underscoring the symbiotic relationship between academia and legal practice.
She noted that in international criminal law, where complex crimes such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity demand principled interpretation, scholarship becomes indispensable.
Justice Amaleboba acknowledged that Africa’s engagement with international criminal justice has been marked by both promise and controversy, stressing that African scholars have a critical role in bridging the gap between aspirational legal ideals and the realities of justice on the continent.
“Through research, discourse, and publication, platforms such as this journal amplify African perspectives and experiences that are often underrepresented,” she said.
The launch’s theme, “recognizing the relationship between legal scholarship and criminal justice,” reflects the publication’s mission to demonstrate how academic inquiry shapes effective and credible criminal justice systems responsive to Africa’s unique complexities.
Legal scholars at the event expressed optimism that the journal will provide a much needed African perspective in global discussions about international criminal law, potentially influencing policy and judicial practice across the continent.
The publication represents GIMPA Law School’s expanding role in shaping continental discourse on justice, accountability, and the rule of law, positioning the institution as a key player in African legal education and research.
Ghana’s pending investment legislation aims to dramatically simplify how foreign companies transfer technology and technical knowledge to local businesses, addressing longstanding complaints about bureaucratic complexity that has discouraged international partnerships.
Emmanuel Osei, Head of the Technology Transfer Agreement Department at the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, described the Ghana Investment Promotion Authority Bill 2025 as a major step toward creating a more responsive regulatory framework during a UK Ghana Chamber of Commerce webinar on Friday.
The GIPA Bill 2025 is designed to create a more responsive and efficient framework to regulate Technology Transfer Agreements and to promote, facilitate, and regulate technology transfers in Ghana, Osei explained during the virtual session moderated by Theophilus Tawiah, Managing Partner of WTS Nobisfields.
The bill seeks to replace the GIPC Act 2013, establishing GIPA as the primary agency responsible for encouraging, promoting, and regulating investments in Ghana. It represents a comprehensive overhaul rather than simple amendments, following advice from the Attorney General after previous revision attempts lapsed with Parliament’s dissolution in January 2025.
Technology Transfer Agreements involve transactions where foreign entities provide industrial property rights, technical support services, technical know how, or management expertise to Ghanaian companies for fees. These arrangements serve as critical bridges through which knowledge, innovation, and capital flow into Ghana’s economy, yet many businesses struggle to navigate the complex registration process currently administered by GIPC.
Osei acknowledged these challenges during the webinar titled “Technology Transfer Agreements: Updates and Changes,” reaffirming GIPC’s commitment to simplifying procedures and modernizing legal frameworks to attract greater foreign investment. GIPC management has set up a new department for technology transfer administration with the aim of expediting the application process, he revealed.
The importance of proper registration extends beyond bureaucratic compliance. When agreements are registered, GIPC can monitor transactions, evaluate whether fees fall within permissible ranges, and ensure local companies genuinely benefit from knowledge transfer rather than simply paying royalties without building internal capacity.
However, current regulations create friction points that frustrate both foreign technology providers and Ghanaian recipients. Technology Transfer Agreements must have durations between 18 months and 10 years, with renewals not exceeding five years, requiring companies to repeatedly navigate approval processes even for successful ongoing partnerships.
The GIPA Bill 2025 aims to address such inefficiencies while strengthening oversight mechanisms. Among key reforms are efforts to collaborate with banks to ensure that only valid, registered TTAs are used for foreign exchange remittances, closing loopholes that allow unregistered agreements to operate outside regulatory scrutiny.
Osei emphasized that compliant agreements must be governed by Ghanaian law and include clear provisions for training local staff. “That is what ensures true knowledge transfer, not just payment of fees,” he stated, distinguishing between arrangements that genuinely build local capacity versus those that merely extract payments while keeping expertise offshore.
He cautioned against restrictive clauses such as grant back provisions or exclusivity terms, which aren’t acceptable under Ghanaian law. These restrictions typically prevent local companies from improving upon transferred technology or sourcing alternatives, effectively locking them into dependence on foreign suppliers beyond what’s necessary for legitimate intellectual property protection.
Tawiah, the webinar moderator, added that clarity and consistency in compliance shouldn’t be viewed as investment hurdles but rather as enablers of confidence. “The more transparent our systems are, the easier it is for investors to trust the process and for local businesses to benefit,” he remarked.
The legislative update ties into government’s broader 24 hour economy agenda. Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson underscored in his 2025 budget presentation the need to revise both the Labour Act and GIPC Act to enable the private sector to adapt to round the clock business operations, targeting investments in logistics, manufacturing, digital services, and business process outsourcing sectors that benefit from extended operating hours.
GIPC CEO Simon Madjie has called for active stakeholder participation in shaping the proposed legislation during consultations with public sector representatives, stressing that effective regulation requires listening, building consensus, and ensuring rules actually work for investors and Ghanaians alike.
The bill addresses persistent challenges beyond just technology transfer, including fronting, where foreign investors use Ghanaian partners as fronts to circumvent local ownership requirements, and regulatory inconsistencies across government agencies that create conflicting demands on businesses.
Current technology transfer regulations date back to 1992, predating the internet economy, mobile technology revolution, and contemporary digital business models that now dominate international commerce. Updating this framework represents an acknowledgment that Ghana’s investment promotion infrastructure must evolve to remain competitive in attracting modern capital flows.
The webinar forms part of UKGCC’s Mandatory Regulatory Compliance Series, supporting the chamber’s mission to foster dialogue between private sector actors and regulatory bodies. Such engagement helps ensure that regulations reflect practical realities businesses face rather than theoretical frameworks disconnected from operational challenges.
For foreign companies considering technology partnerships with Ghanaian firms, the promise of streamlined processes could prove decisive. Bureaucratic complexity adds costs and delays that make Ghana less attractive compared to regional competitors with simpler approval mechanisms, potentially costing the country valuable investment opportunities and knowledge transfers.
Yet simplification alone won’t suffice if enforcement remains inconsistent or corruption undermines formal procedures. The bill’s success ultimately depends on implementation quality, adequate staffing of the new technology transfer department, and whether digital systems can genuinely accelerate approvals rather than simply digitizing existing inefficiencies.
Ghana’s experience illustrates broader tensions developing economies face in regulating technology transfer. Governments want to ensure genuine knowledge transfer occurs, protect local companies from exploitative terms, and maintain oversight of foreign exchange outflows through royalty payments. However, excessive regulation discourages partnerships by making compliance too burdensome relative to benefits.
The GIPA Bill 2025 attempts to strike this balance through modernized procedures backed by clearer legal authority. Whether it succeeds will become apparent as the legislation moves through Parliament and subsequently gets implemented through regulations, departmental procedures, and actual processing of applications under the new framework.
For now, Osei’s remarks signal government recognition that current systems need improvement. The establishment of a dedicated technology transfer administration department and pending comprehensive legislation represent concrete steps toward addressing longstanding frustrations, though businesses will judge outcomes by whether approval timelines actually shrink and regulatory clarity genuinely improves.
As Ghana positions itself as West Africa’s investment destination of choice, the efficiency of technology transfer registration could significantly influence whether international companies choose Ghana over regional alternatives for partnerships that drive industrial development, job creation, and knowledge building in strategic sectors.
The Republic of Paraguay materialized, on Wednesday, its recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara through the announcement of the opening of a Consulate General.
During his meeting in Rabat with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Paraguay, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, reaffirmed his country’s full support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its Sahara and for the autonomy initiative presented by the Kingdom in 2007, considered as the only serious, credible and realistic basis for settling the regional dispute.
On this occasion, the Paraguayan Foreign Minister announced his country’s decision to soon open a Consulate General in the southern provinces, as a clear sign of support for the Kingdom’s territorial integrity.
This stance follows the withdrawal, in 2014, of Asunción’s recognition of the puppet entity, as well as the series of joint statements and political consultations that have since consolidated Paraguay’s support for Morocco’s national cause.
Paraguay’s decision to open a Consulate General in the Kingdom’s southern provinces constitutes a strong political act, illustrating the growing recognition, in Latin America, of Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces and the strength of the ties of friendship and cooperation between the Kingdom of Morocco and the Republic of Paraguay.
Cape Coast, Oct 31, GNA – Mfantsipim School, the reigning champions of the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), has beaten city rivals, Adisadel College and visitors Prempeh College emphatically to book their ticket to the semi-finals of the 2025 edition of the competition in Cape Coast.
‘The School’ thrashed the two colleges severely in what was supposed to be a ‘clash of the titans, taking a comfortable lead right from the onset of the contest and cruising to victory by a landslide to cement their reign.
As expected, the contest was characterised by excitements, tensions, cheers and a series of protests.
When the last bell went off, the Botwe boys emerged victors with 64 points, leaving Adisadel and Prempeh with 40 points each.
Mfantsipim demonstrated their resolve from round one when they took the lead with 25 points as Prempeh and Adisadel followed with 20 and 15 respectively.
‘The School’ doubled their pace in the “speed race” in round two, ending the round with 41 points while Prempeh and Adisadel trailed behind with 22 points and 15 points respectively.
Adisadel showed potential as title contenders when they bagged the highest point (six) for the “problem of the day” in round three to bring their points to 21. Mfantsipim, however, maintained their lead with 45 points while Prempeh remained second with 24 points.
Heated prayers and worship by the Adisadel boys at the end of the third round were not enough to save them from trailing as they ended the “True/False” session in the fourth round with 31 points while Botwe stretched their lead with a whopping 61 points.
Prempeh on the other hand were 21 points shy of the reigning champions.
Indeed, the die had already been cast by the last round as the sterling performance of Adisadel in the “riddle” session was not enough to qualify them for the next round.
Mfantsipim School joins Ghana Secondary Technical School, and Mankranso SHS for the semi-finals awaiting comfortably for six more schools.
Richard Ahiagbah, the New Patriotic Party’s Director of Communications, has mounted a robust defense of the NPP’s economic stewardship, arguing that the current National Democratic Congress administration inherited a stable and recovering economy rather than the crisis they’ve claimed.
Speaking on Good Morning Ghana, Ahiagbah pushed back against NDC assertions that the economy was in poor shape when they took office. He pointed to Ghana’s 2024 growth rate of 5.7%, a figure he said was confirmed by international financial institutions, as evidence of the NPP’s successful economic management before leaving power.
“If they are slow in building the economy, that is their responsibility,” Ahiagbah said during the monitored interview. “They cannot blame the opposition.”
The communications director contrasted what he described as the current government’s sluggish performance with the NPP’s track record during their time in office. He emphasized sectoral growth achievements and job creation initiatives that his party implemented, suggesting these accomplishments laid a foundation the NDC should be building upon rather than criticizing.
International bodies including the International Monetary Fund and World Bank have documented Ghana’s economic recovery, supporting Ahiagbah’s claims about the state of the economy at the time of the transition. The growth figures represent a significant rebound from the macroeconomic challenges that plagued the country in 2022 and 2023.
However, Ahiagbah didn’t shy away from pointing out what he sees as failures by the current administration. He specifically highlighted two major campaign promises that remain largely unimplemented: the 24 hour economy initiative and the Feed Ghana program. Both initiatives were centerpiece proposals during the NDC’s campaign, yet months into their tenure, little progress has been made on either front.
“They cannot blame the opposition,” he reiterated, placing responsibility squarely on the ruling party’s shoulders.
The NPP official argued that the real challenge facing Ghana isn’t the economic foundation that was left behind but rather what he characterized as a lack of political will and prompt execution from the current government. In his view, the Mahama administration should be using the inherited economic growth as a launching pad for further development rather than as an excuse for inaction.
Ahiagbah stressed that the current government needs to act decisively if it wants to maintain and accelerate the economic momentum. He suggested that blaming previous administrations, while politically convenient, won’t translate into tangible improvements for Ghanaians who are waiting to see the promised economic transformation materialize.
Ghana’s economic stabilization has been supported by policy tightening, improved reserves, and currency appreciation, creating what Ahiagbah considers favorable conditions for the NDC to implement their development agenda.
The debate over economic inheritance has become a recurring theme in Ghanaian politics, with incoming administrations often criticizing their predecessors’ economic management. But with concrete growth figures now available, the NPP is using those numbers to challenge the NDC’s narrative and defend their own legacy.
As Ghana moves forward, the question remains whether the current administration can capitalize on what international observers have called a genuine economic recovery. For Ahiagbah and the NPP, the answer will determine whether the NDC’s criticisms were justified or simply political positioning.
eputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi (R) among some top officials of the military
Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a historic retooling and modernization of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), promising an unprecedented investment in military equipment, infrastructure and personnel welfare beginning next year.
Speaking at the 2025 Land Combat Power Demonstration Exercise at the Bundase Training Camp on October 31, 2025, the Deputy Minister said the initiative forms a core part of President John Dramani Mahama’s ‘Resetting’ Ghana Agenda, aimed at boosting national security readiness and ensuring the Armed Forces are equipped for modern challenges.
“This commitment shall take full effect next year, with steady and sustained supplies in all subsequent years of President Mahama’s government,” he announced to a gathering that included top Defence officials, members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior and the National Security Coordinator.
The event, which showcased the Ghana Armed Forces’ combined Land, Air and Maritime capabilities, brought together Senior Officers, Commandants and Students from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFCSC), as well as visiting officers from other African nations.
Brogya Genfi lauded the Ghana Armed Forces for their professionalism and precision, describing the exercise as “a vivid expression of discipline, strategy, and coordination; the very marker of military excellence.”
He emphasised that the demonstration served not merely as a show of firepower but as a living lesson in doctrine, leadership, technology and tactical synergy.
The Deputy Minister further highlighted ongoing efforts to retool the Armed Forces through the acquisition of new armoured vehicles, modern communication systems, and drone technology.
He also underscored the government’s focus on improving the welfare of service personnel.
“We recognize that the strength of our military lies not only in its arsenal, but in the well-being of those who serve,” he said.
“We are upgrading accommodation and training facilities, expanding access to healthcare and improving family support systems.”
He added that professional development remains central to the military’s evolution, as Ghana continues to build a force capable of handling the complex, asymmetric and transnational threats confronting the West African sub-region.
Brogya Genfi reaffirmed Ghana’s longstanding leadership role in promoting peace and security across Africa.
He praised the presence of officers from allied African nations, noting that their participation reflects a shared vision for regional military cooperation and the African Union’s goal of establishing fully operational standby forces.
“The friendships and shared experiences cultivated here form the bedrock of regional military cooperation and collective security,” he remarked.
While commending the Armed Forces for their sterling record at home and abroad, the Deputy Minister cautioned personnel to maintain the highest standards of conduct both in and out of uniform.
“Any actions that bring the image of our revered Ghana Armed Forces into disrepute will be dealt with decisively,” he warned, emphasising that discipline remains the cornerstone of military honour.
He expressed appreciation to the Chief of the Defence Staff, the Military High Command, the Commandant and staff of GAFCSC and the 1st Infantry Battalion for their roles in organizing the exercise.
He also acknowledged the presence and support of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior and defence attachés from partner nations.
Concluding his remarks, Brogya Genfi declared the 2025 Land Combat Power Demonstration officially closed, reaffirming the government’s unwavering commitment to a strong, modern and professional Armed Forces.
Energy Minister (L) in a high -level meeting with Ashish Khanna (R)
Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has held a high-level bilateral meeting with Ashish Khanna, Director-General of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), on the sidelines of the 8th Session of the ISA Assembly in New Delhi, India.
The discussions centred on strengthening collaboration between Ghana and the ISA to accelerate renewable energy deployment and enhance efficiency across the country’s energy value chain with a particular focus on improving performance within the electricity distribution sector.
Minister Jinapor highlighted Ghana’s ongoing commitment to expanding access to clean, reliable, and affordable energy, stressing that effective partnerships and innovative financing mechanisms are essential to achieving the country’s green transition agenda.
“Our engagement with the International Solar Alliance reaffirms Ghana’s determination to pursue sustainable energy pathways that leverage solar power to improve livelihoods, enhance energy security and promote inclusive growth,” he stated.
The two parties explored opportunities for technical cooperation, capacity building and sustainable financing arrangements to fast-track solar infrastructure investments and promote decentralised renewable solutions across Ghana’s urban and rural communities.
Khanna, on his part, reaffirmed the ISA’s unwavering commitment to supporting Ghana’s renewable energy ambitions through technical expertise, project development support and access to funding instruments that can scale up solar initiatives nationwide.
“Ghana remains a key partner in Africa’s renewable transformation story, and the ISA stands ready to provide the tools, knowledge, and resources needed to help deliver on that promise,” the ISA Director-General assured.
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing optimism about the future of their cooperation, emphasising that Ghana and the ISA share a common vision of building a resilient, efficient and inclusive solar-driven energy ecosystem that contributes to global climate goals and sustainable development.
THE BLACK QUEENS have finally received their outstanding bonuses from their third-place finish at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, following their emphatic win over Egypt on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Sports and Recreation settled the arrears shortly after Ghana’s 4–0 victory over Egypt in the second leg of the 2026 WAFCON qualifiers at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Each player received a cheque of $9,000, representing payment for their performance at last year’s continental tournament.
Reports indicate that $500 was withheld as tax, with players receiving the balance on Tuesday night.
The payment brings relief to the team after a tense standoff with the Ministry earlier in the week.
The Queens had threatened to boycott the qualifier against Egypt, missing two consecutive training sessions to press home their demand for the delayed bonuses.
Coach Kim Lars Björkegren’s side eventually resumed training on the eve of the match after several meetings with key officials.
Despite the off-field tension, the Black Queens delivered a dominant performance to thrash Egypt 7–0 on aggregate, having already claimed a 3–0 win in the first leg in Ismailia.
The cheques were presented to the players at their base at Erata Hotel following Tuesday night’s victory.
The Black Queens broke camp on Wednesday, October 29, to rejoin their clubs and will regroup in late November ahead of their high-profile friendly against England on December 2.
Chief Executive Officer of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), Julius Neequaye Kotey, has confirmed that he honoured an invitation from the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in relation to his recent claim of a GHC 4 million bribery attempt.
The invitation followed Mr Kotey’s disclosure that unidentified individuals allegedly offered him GH¢4 million to halt the implementation of the digitalised vehicle registration plate policy.
The Coordinator of Eco-Conscious Citizens, Awula Serwah, has welcomed the government’s decision to revoke the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Legislative Instrument, 2025, describing it as a step in the right direction. However, she cautioned that the fight against illegal mining, or galamsey, remains far from over.
The revocation instrument, laid before Parliament on Friday, October 31, seeks to repeal L.I. 2501 — which limited the President’s authority to approve mining in forest reserves — and completely revoke L.I. 2462, which has long been criticised for enabling environmentally destructive mining activities.
According to the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, the repeal forms part of a broader strategy to combat illegal mining through measures such as the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) and operations led by the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Friday, October 31, Serwah commended the move but warned that illegal mining continues to ravage Ghana’s forests despite the legislative changes.
“It is a step in the right direction but we know that the house is on fire and right now it looks like we are using buckets of water instead of calling the fire service. What I am saying is that even with the revocation of L.I 2462, there is still illegal mining going on in forest reserves.
“…I am saying that so much is a step in the right direction and we applaud it, but we can’t celebrate as our waterbodies are still being poisoned, as the rise in kidney diseases has gone up four times, as we are being told that we can’t consume ‘kontomire’ because most of it is poisoned and a lot of our foodstuff are poisoned,” she said.
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Government tables L.I. to revoke mining in forest reserves
Blakk Rasta (M) questions Shatta Wale (L) and Sarkodie’s (R) links to alleged fraudsters
Reggae musician and media personality, Blakk Rasta, has said it is no coincidence that Shatta Wale and Sarkodie’s names mostly come up whenever talk of alleged fraudsters or criminals surfaces in Ghana.
In a video shared on his Blakk Empire Media YouTube channel, Blakk Rasta questioned why some of Ghana’s top artistes are associated with people who later become subjects of criminal investigations.
According to him, some alleged fraudsters use musicians as a means to clean or “launder” their money.
He explained that over the years, whenever certain high-profile individuals have been accused of fraud or corruption, Shatta Wale’s name, in particular, has surfaced in discussions.
Behind Bars: Unravelling the events leading to Shatta Wale’s EOCO detention
“Any time a certain criminal is mentioned in Ghana, some names come up from the music world. Shatta Wale and Sarkodie. What’s wrong with us? Especially Shatta Wale,” he said.
Blakk Rasta listed a number of cases, including that of the former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau, Kwabena Adu-Boahene, businessman Kofi Boat, who was reportedly picked up by the FBI, and socialite Hajia4Reall, who was also arrested by the FBI in connection with a romance scam.
He said in each of these instances, conversations about the alleged offenders somehow included Shatta Wale’s name.
“Shatta Wale’s name is mentioned any time a certain fraudulent criminal is pinpointed, Kwabena Adu-Boahene, Shatta Wale is in there. Kofi Boat, Shatta Wale is in there. Hajia4Reall, Shatta Wale is in there. This guy called Dr Sledge, Shatta Wale is in there,” he stated.
Blakk Rasta suggested that some of the lavish displays of wealth by certain musicians might be connected to the money they allegedly receive from these individuals.
He argued that even the funds some artistes throw to fans during public events could have questionable sources.
“What kind of nose do you have that smells money from every corner? And these are the guys who go around also throwing money to so-called fans.
As for Sarkodie, I hear he is more stingy than the devil. ‘Money no be problem,’ huh! Yet, the money that they are smelling around could be coming from some of these Dr Sledge, Kwabena Adu-Boahene, yellow Lamborghini guy, and all these people,” he added.
Watch the video below:
Anytime a certain criminal is mentioned in Ghana, some names comes out from the music world especially especially Shattawale and Sarkodie -Blakk Rasta #PrimeRakonpic.twitter.com/joatzbhzKm
Frank-Walter Steinmeier is President of the Federal Republic of Germany
President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will embark on a three-day visit to Ghana from Sunday, November 2, to Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
The news of his visit was announced in a statement issued by the Minister of State in charge of Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, on Friday, October 31, 2025.
“The President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, will pay a three-day state visit to Ghana from November 2 to November 4, 2025,” the statement noted.
According to the statement, the visit forms part of ongoing efforts to deepen bilateral relations between Ghana and Germany, focusing on trade, investment, technology, and development cooperation.
President Mahama attends Paris Peace Forum
“The discussions between President Mahama and President Steinmeier are expected to reinforce Ghana-Germany relations and explore new avenues of cooperation that align with both nations’ development priorities,” the statement said.
It further indicated that President Steinmeier and Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, will hold a closed-door meeting before engaging their respective delegations in bilateral talks in the Credentials Room.
A state luncheon will later be held in honour of President Steinmeier and his delegation at the Presidential Banquet Hall.
On the third day of his visit, President Steinmeier will travel to Kumasi, where he will perform a sod-cutting ceremony for the new Kumasi Technical Institute. He will also interact with the Vice-Chancellor, staff, and alumni of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).
President Mahama meets Macron to strengthen Ghana-France ties at Paris Peace Forum
“The visit continues in Kumasi with a sod-cutting ceremony at the Kumasi Technical Institute, an interaction at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), a visit to the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research, and a courtesy call on the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, at Manhyia Palace,” it stated.
President Steinmeier is expected to depart Ghana on Tuesday evening.
The initiative was designed to give pupils hands-on experience in applying science to solve problem
Young pupils at Divine Mission Academy School are turning heads with groundbreaking science experiments that merge creativity, sustainability and local resources.
Through innovative projects using hibiscus leaves, scent leaf (nunum) and wastewater, the students are showing that scientific discovery can begin at any level even in the basic classroom.
The initiative, guided by the school’s supervision teachers, was designed to give pupils hands-on experience in applying science to solve real-world challenges.
Combining chemistry, biology and environmental studies, the projects inspired students to explore how everyday materials can be used to improve lives and promote environmental responsibility.
In their first experiment, the pupils worked with hibiscus leaves, widely known for producing Ghana’s beloved sobolo drink.
By extracting the plant’s natural pigments, they demonstrated its ability to function as a natural acid-base indicator, changing colour when exposed to acidic or basic solutions.
The experiment offered a practical and visual understanding of chemistry, using a familiar local resource.
Next, the students explored the potential of “nunum”, Ghana’s well-known aromatic scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum).
Under the guidance of their teachers, they processed the herb into a natural hand sanitizer, harnessing its essential oils and antimicrobial properties.
This project showcased how traditional herbal knowledge can be adapted for modern hygiene needs, especially in promoting community health through science.
Perhaps, the most striking of their achievements was the generation of electricity from wastewater.
Using a simple microbial fuel setup, the students demonstrated how organic matter in wastewater can produce small amounts of electric current. The experiment successfully lit up LED, teaching pupils about renewable energy, resource recovery and the importance of protecting the environment.
The supervision teachers overseeing the projects explained that their goal was to inspire innovation through practical learning.
“We want our pupils to understand that science is not limited to laboratories. With creativity and curiosity, even local materials can lead to meaningful discoveries,” one of the teachers shared.
These projects have demonstrated creativity, teamwork, and sustainability. The school continues to nurture curiosity and hands-on learning, encouraging pupils to see science as a pathway to solving everyday problems.
From sobolo leaves to nunum herbs and wastewater, the young innovators at Divine Mission Academy at Ejisu- Donaso in the Ashanti Region are redefining classroom science proving that great ideas can grow from simple beginnings.
1.Pupils prepare hand sanitizer from scent leaf locally known in Ghana as “nunum”
2.The pupils generate electricity from kitchen wastewater
The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has issued a strong warning to chiefs and individuals involved in illegal mining activities, vowing that anyone found complicit will face severe criminal sanctions.
He urged the courts and security agencies to take firm action against offenders, emphasizing that the government remains committed to eradicating galamsey and safeguarding Ghana’s natural resources.
Ashanti Region produced a resilient display to defeat Greater Accra Region 2–1 in a thrilling final Group B clash of the MTN Elite U19 Championship on Wednesday, clinching top spot and securing a semi-final berth.
The much-anticipated encounter at the Ghanaman Soccer Centre of Excellence lived up to its billing, featuring intensity, skill and determination from both sides.
Ebenezer Anane fired Ashanti ahead in the 22nd minute, setting the tone for a fiercely competitive contest. Greater Accra’s hopes of a comeback were dashed late on when defender Afetse Emmanuel inadvertently turned the ball into his own net in the 85th minute to double Ashanti’s lead.
Despite a spirited late response, capped by Mustapha Bunyamimu’s fine strike in the 89th minute, Greater Accra fell short of finding an equaliser — suffering their first defeat of the campaign.
The result means Ashanti Region finished atop Group B with 10 points, just one ahead of Greater Accra, who also progress to the semi-finals. Both teams have been standout performers throughout the tournament, setting up a mouthwatering knockout stage.
With the group phase now concluded, attention turns to the semi-final fixtures today, October 31, before the grand final on Sunday, November 2, 2025.
Running from October 23 to November 2, the MTN Elite U19 Championship features ten regional teams from across Ghana and serves as a crucial platform for emerging footballers to showcase their talent, gain valuable experience and attract the attention of national selectors and professional scouts.
Powered by MTN Ghana, the tournament underscores the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) commitment to youth football development — creating a structured pathway from grassroots to the professional level and nurturing the next generation of Ghanaian stars.
Switzerland and Ghana are deepening their cultural and educational cooperation through music, as both countries partner to empower young artists and promote cross-cultural understanding.
On Thursday, October 30, 2025, the Embassy of Switzerland in Ghana, Benin, and Togo hosted The Ghana Experience, an interdisciplinary concert in Accra that brought together Swiss and Ghanaian musicians in a unique fusion of jazz, classical, and traditional West African music.
The concert marked the climax of a collaboration between Switzerland’s Haute École de Musique (HEMU) and Ghana’s Accra Jazz Academy (AJA), under the Ghana Jazz Foundation. The project focuses on mentorship, musical innovation, and international exposure for young artists.
Head of Jazz at HEMU and Artistic Director of AJA, Thomas Dobler, said the initiative represents more than a musical exchange, describing it as a tool for youth empowerment and global connection.
“We’re not just teaching music — we’re equipping young artists with the skills, networks, and global perspective they need to explore the world and build their futures through their artistry,” he said.
The event featured joint performances from Swiss and Ghanaian musicians, including Thomas Dobler on vibraphone, Alex Tseh and Lucas Doe on traditional Ghanaian instruments, and vocalists Gaiane Gantier, Maxine Vulliet, and Raphaël Descotes. A string ensemble and traditional percussionists added rich layers of sound that celebrated both musical traditions.
Organisers say The Ghana Experience demonstrates how culture can foster peace, innovation, and opportunity in a time of global division. It offers participating students international experience, professional mentorship, and the chance to perform on global stages.
Supported by DGES (Vaud), Fondation Culturelle HEMU-CL, and the Ghana Jazz Foundation, the project is being described as a model for sustainable cultural diplomacy.
“The collaboration embodies the spirit of cultural diplomacy at its finest,” Mr. Dobler said, adding that it shows what can be achieved when nations invest in their youth and shared humanity.
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.
A FIFA Foundation Board Member, Isha Johansen, has called for stronger collaboration to harness football as a catalyst for social change and prison reform across Africa.
She made the call during a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the Ghana Prison Service, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, in Accra, as part of her regional engagement tour promoting football for rehabilitation, reintegration, and social development within correctional institutions.
Commending the Ghana Prison Service for its progressive approach, Madam Johansen praised the Service’s commitment to inmate welfare, skills development, and rehabilitation.
She lauded Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie’s “visionary and transformative leadership,” urging her to sustain programmes that restore purpose and hope to inmates.
Drawing from her extensive experience as a former FIFA Council and CAF Executive Committee member, as well as past President of the Sierra Leone Football Association, Madam Johansen shared success stories of football-based rehabilitation projects in Sierra Leone and Liberia.
She noted that the sport has helped inmates develop discipline, teamwork, and self-confidence — essential values for positive behavioural change.
As part of her proposals, Madam Johansen suggested the creation of a “Football for Reform Summit” to be hosted in Ghana.
The summit would bring together Football Associations and Prison Services from Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone to exchange best practices and explore innovative ways of integrating football into correctional reform initiatives.
In her response, Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie expressed gratitude for Madam Johansen’s visit and her commitment to advancing the Service’s reformation agenda.
She commended the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for their support through the GFA Foundation Ghana Prisons Project and the CAF Football for Reform initiative.
Both parties underscored their shared commitment to promoting dignity, purpose, and transformation within correctional facilities, emphasizing that football can serve as a powerful instrument for social change.
Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has alleged that former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta played a central role in extending the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) contracts to the mining and petroleum sectors, despite objections from key regulatory agencies.
The Office of the Special Prosecutor is currently preparing to press charges against several individuals linked to the SML contracts, including Mr. Ofori-Atta, following investigations that uncovered alleged corruption, procurement breaches, and abuse of office in the award and execution of the agreements.
The OSP has described the contracts as unnecessary and “blighted by statutory breaches,” with investigations showing that SML lacked both the infrastructure and competence to perform the services it was contracted to deliver. Legal proceedings are expected to begin before the end of November 2025.
Speaking in an interview following revelations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on the SML-GRA deal, Manasseh said his investigations showed that neither the Minerals Commission nor the Petroleum Commission — the statutory regulators of those sectors — were consulted before the extensions were approved.
“When we saw this outrageous contract extending the services to the mining and oil-producing sectors, we wrote to the Minerals Commission and they said they knew nothing about it,” Manasseh stated. “We wrote to the Petroleum Commission — they are the sector implementers and regulators of the petroleum sector — and they also said they knew nothing about it. But Ken Ofori-Atta sat in his office and determined, according to the letter, that the services of SML were needed there.”
The journalist further claimed that the commissions had no evidence of revenue leakages to justify the involvement of another company.
“We asked these agencies if they had any reports or evidence that there were leakages that required a third company. They said no,” he added.
Manasseh accused the former Finance Minister of being deeply involved in the controversial deal, describing him as “the mastermind” behind what he called an “outrageous contract.”
“So, Ken Ofori-Atta, contrary to what people think — that the buck stops with him — is very much deeply involved in it, and there is evidence to that effect,” he alleged.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has directed the immediate termination of all contracts between the Government of Ghana and SML following the conclusion of an investigation by the OSP.
This directive was contained in a letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr. Callistus Mahama, and addressed to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson. The letter instructed the Finance Minister to take immediate steps to end all existing agreements involving SML.
Veteran Ghanaian filmmaker and former Director of Creative Arts at the National Commission on Culture, Socrate Safo, has said the downfall of Ghana’s creative industry is largely self-inflicted by the very people within it, the creatives themselves.
In a passionate post shared on his Facebook page, Safo argued that the sector’s struggles have little to do with government neglect or lack of talent, but rather with the indiscipline, mistrust, and poor accountability of industry players, which have driven investors away.
“The Ghanaian creative industry didn’t collapse because of a lack of talent or government neglect. It fell apart because we, the creatives ourselves, lost discipline, broke trust, and destroyed investor confidence,” he wrote.
Safo explained that despite the government’s efforts to establish supportive institutions and policies, creatives failed to build proper structures or maintain the trust of investors who once funded projects in film, music, and fashion.
“We insulted them, disrespected them, defaulted on our promises, and made them feel their money didn’t matter. But it does. Because creativity without capital is just imagination,” he stated.
He cited the Zylofon Art Fund as a painful example of what he described as “self-sabotage,” recalling how some beneficiaries failed to return funds meant to revolve and support other creatives.
“Many treated it like free money. Some refused to return funds, and when accountability was demanded, they mocked the initiative instead,” he lamented.
I’ve not been paid for 5 years as Director for Creative Arts at NCC – Socrate Safo
According to him, such behaviour destroyed investor confidence and discouraged potential backers from supporting the industry again.
Safo noted that the problem extends beyond film to other sectors, including music, fashion, and digital content creation, where frequent disputes, broken contracts, and unprofessional conduct have further eroded credibility.
He called for a new era of discipline, accountability, and structure, urging policymakers to enforce licensing and training standards while creatives learn to respect contracts and business ethics.
“No government can fix an industry whose people refuse to fix themselves. The journey must begin with discipline and accountability,” he emphasized.
Concluding his message, Socrate Safo said his intention was not to condemn but to awaken the industry to self-reflection and reform.
“I have seen its glory days, and I refuse to watch it die from pride and ignorance. Let us humble ourselves and rebuild trust with those who once believed in us,” he urged.
ID/MA
The wait is over! The GhanaWeb Excellence Awards 2025 is officially launched. Let’s Celebrate impact, innovation and excellence across Ghana.
Who deserves to be honoured this year?
Nominate now 👉 https://ghanaweb.com/ghanaexcellenceawards/nominate
The official trailer for King of Tɛma, Ghana’s first feature film made entirely in and about the city of Tema, has been released.
The film, directed and produced by Kobina de Graft-Johnson, represents a significant step forward for Ghana’s film industry and for Tema’s growing creative community.
Produced by Anibok Studios in association with Organized Khaoz Productions, King of Tɛma is described as a gritty crime drama exploring loyalty, betrayal, and redemption in an urban landscape where ambition often collides with faith and survival.
According to director Kobina de Graft-Johnson, the project seeks to extend Ghana’s storytelling tradition while giving voice to new perspectives from Tema. “Tema has always been a city of builders,” he said.
“Now we’re building our stories on screen.”
King of Tɛma is the first feature film to be conceived, written, directed and produced by a native of Tema.
The production celebrates authenticity and community collaboration, echoing Ghana’s cinematic heritage shaped by pioneers like Kwaw Ansah.
Media personality Ivy Prosper described the trailer as “raw, authentic storytelling from Tema to the world,” noting the film’s grounded approach and emotional realism.
The film features a blend of Ghana’s seasoned actors and emerging talents, including Fred Amugi, Kingsley Yamoah, David “Big Tim” Osabutey, Kweku Elliott, Mynna Otoo, Melvin Dain and Naya Pratt.
The film will premiere first in Tema with an exclusive screening at Avalon Gardens, Community 25, on Thursday, November 7, 2025, followed by a red-carpet event at Silverbird Cinemas, Accra Mall, on Friday, November 14, 2025.
Additional screenings will take place the same day at Silverbird Cinemas, West Hills Mall.
Filmed entirely in Tema, King of Tɛma captures the pulse and spirit of the industrial city, portraying characters whose choices test the limits of loyalty and faith.
The film aims to highlight both the challenges and resilience that define everyday life in Ghana’s port city.
Tragedy as farmer drowns while seeking loan to send child to SHS
The wait is over! The GhanaWeb Excellence Awards 2025 is officially launched. Let’s Celebrate impact, innovation and excellence across Ghana.
Who deserves to be honoured this year?
Nominate now 👉 https://ghanaweb.com/ghanaexcellenceawards/nominate
The bursar of NOBISCO has surrendered after the food theft allegations
The Bursar of the Northern School of Business Senior High School (NOBISCO), Fedelia Kudaariwo, has surrendered to the police after large quantities of foodstuffs meant for students were allegedly discovered in her home.
According to a myjoyonline.com report on October 31, 2025, nine bags of maize were intercepted in the school’s minibus, reportedly being transported out of the stores when a team of volunteers apprehended two drivers, Alhassan Sulemana and Osman Asma, on Thursday, October 30, 2025.
The volunteers said they had been monitoring the school’s stores following tips from students that a syndicate had been moving food items out at night. When they spotted the minibus on Thursday, they reportedly intervened and uncovered the maize.
It’s either govt has spent the money meant to pay suppliers or refused to pay – MP
One of the drivers allegedly told the volunteers that the bursar had instructed him to deliver the food to her house.
Acting on this information, the team visited her residence, where they reportedly found additional quantities of foodstuffs.
However, Kudaariwo was said to have fled before their arrival, but later turned herself in to the police.
The Headmaster of NOBISCO, Alhassan Dokurugu, said he was informed of the incident after returning from an engagement outside campus.
Asukawkaw SHS matron arrested for allegedly stealing students’ food
He expressed disappointment, describing the alleged theft as a setback to the school’s efforts to build a positive reputation.
Dokurugu assured that the school administration would cooperate fully with investigations to uncover the truth behind the incident.
MRA/AE
NPP’s KOKA speaks on NDC government’s performance in 10 months
Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah
The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition has urged closer collaboration among key stakeholders to build a more sustainable and vibrant energy sector capable of powering homes, industries and national development.
Speaking at the 4th edition of West Africa’s Largest Building, Construction, Power, Electrical, and Energy Exhibition in Accra, a Deputy Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Richard Gyan-Mensah, stressed the need for greater commitment to renewable energy and innovation.
“It is time we show true commitment to sustainable energy to light up every home and power every factory in Ghana,” the Deputy Minister stated, emphasising that the transition to cleaner energy is critical to achieving economic growth and environmental resilience.
The event, which brought together investors, energy experts, and policymakers, focused on partnerships for sustainable infrastructure and energy security in the subregion.
The High Commissioner of India to Ghana, Manish Gupta, also addressed the gathering, reaffirming India’s commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation and supporting Ghana’s energy and infrastructure development.
“India and Ghana share a strong history of partnership, and we are ready to elevate it to a comprehensive level that supports Ghana’s economic transformation,” he noted.
Ambassador Gupta commended Ghana’s energy transition agenda, describing it as a model for clean, affordable, and inclusive power delivery in Africa.
He underscored the role of solar energy not only as a sustainable power source but also as a key driver of industrialisation and agricultural productivity — particularly in northern Ghana.
He called for innovative financing and technology transfer to accelerate renewable energy deployment across the country.
Photos of Abakaliki FC players undergoing medical tests ahead of the new Nigerian football season have gone viral, but not for the reasons the club might have hoped.
The images, meant to show the Ebonyi-based team’s readiness for the campaign, quickly became a source of amusement across social media, with fans questioning the setup and comparing the scene to something out of a hospital ward or a movie set.
Many users joked that the players looked like patients in intensive care rather than professionals preparing for a new season.
Comments poured in from across Africa, where users couldn’t resist turning the photos into a meme fest.
Nigerians fume as $1.2 million stadium sparks corruption suspicions
Despite the online teasing, Abakaliki FC have been one of Nigeria’s fastest-rising sides.
Just eight months after being formed, they reached the 2025 President Federation Cup final, stunning top clubs like Enyimba and Nasarawa United before losing narrowly on penalties to Kwara United.
Their efforts earned each player a ₦1 million reward from Ebonyi State Governor Francis Nwifuru.
While their medical photos may have become an internet joke, their football story remains a serious tale of ambition, resilience, and a rapid rise in Nigerian football.
Read some of the comments below:
FKA/BAI
OSP provides update on Ken Ofori-Atta’s extradition process
England forward Michelle Agyemang has confirmed she has suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and will miss the rest of the season.
The 19-year-old, who played a key role in England’s Euro 2025 triumph, sustained the injury during the Lionesses’ 3–0 friendly win over Australia. She was carried off on a stretcher after going down in a non-contact incident just 13 minutes after coming on as a second-half substitute.
“Disappointed that results show a torn ACL,” Agyemang wrote on Instagram. “I am so grateful for all the kind words and support from everyone. Recovery starts now — I will be back stronger than before.”
Agyemang, currently on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion from Arsenal, has been one of the standout young talents in the Women’s Super League this season, starting five of Brighton’s six league games.
Brighton confirmed they will work closely with Arsenal, England, and the Football Association on her rehabilitation programme.
“Everyone at Albion sends all their support to Michelle as she begins her recovery, with her wellbeing foremost in all of our minds,” the club said in a statement.
Agyemang was instrumental in England’s Euro 2025 success, scoring crucial goals off the bench in the quarter-final against Sweden and the semi-final against Italy. She was also shortlisted for the Kopa Trophy, awarded to the world’s best Under-21 women’s player.
Medical experts are sounding urgent alarms about Ghana’s escalating self medication crisis, warning that the widespread practice of treating illnesses with over the counter drugs and home remedies without professional guidance has evolved into a major public health threat contributing to antimicrobial resistance that could render common infections untreatable.
The World Health Organization warns that by 2050, drug resistant infections could cause 10 million deaths globally every year if current trends continue, a projection that carries particular weight for countries like Ghana where antibiotics flow freely without prescriptions and self medication has become what health professionals describe as almost cultural.
From bus terminals in Madina to market stalls in Kumasi, antibiotics are being misused and abused, with people buying them without prescriptions, taking incomplete doses, or sharing leftovers with family and friends. The consequences now spill into hospitals where doctors confront a growing wave of infections that no longer respond to standard treatments, creating scenarios where even minor injuries or routine surgeries could become life threatening.
Young adults and students represent a particularly vulnerable demographic. Research shows self medication prevalence reaches 70% among tertiary students in Accra, with amoxicillin emerging as the most commonly purchased antibiotic without prescription. Even more concerning, nearly half of respondents demonstrate poor knowledge about health implications of irrational antibiotic use, and 46% fail to complete the full course of antibiotics.
The practice isn’t limited to less educated populations. Among healthcare students at tertiary institutions, more than 90% admit to previously misusing antibiotics, suggesting the problem transcends educational backgrounds and reflects deeper systemic issues around medication access, affordability, and health seeking behavior.
Dr. Jonathan Caleb Akuaku, a medical officer in Accra, reports that resistance levels are very high, especially for infections like typhoid, tuberculosis, and urinary tract infections, with 70 to 80% of bacteria tested showing resistance to available drugs. This means treatment options are running out, leaving physicians facing infections that once required simple treatments but now demand expensive imported medicines or extended hospital stays.
The stories emerging from communities illustrate how individual choices accumulate into collective crisis. One Madina resident recalls buying antibiotics from trotro hawkers whenever her child coughed, believing she was providing quick, affordable treatment. Eventually, the medications stopped working, landing her son at a major teaching hospital where doctors confirmed the bacteria had become resistant to the very medicines she’d trusted.
Economic factors drive much of this behavior. Healthcare remains largely unaffordable for many Ghanaians facing considerable financial strain from high out of pocket expenses, restricted public health insurance coverage, and minimal government healthcare investment compared to other global regions. When confronted with illness, convenience stores and roadside medicine sellers offer immediate, cheaper alternatives to lengthy hospital visits and expensive consultations.
The Ghana Health Service warns that drug resistant infections are quietly adding hundreds of millions of cedis in extra hospital costs each year through extended hospital stays, repeated diagnostics, and stronger imported medicines. This creates a vicious cycle where vulnerable households sink deeper into debt, forcing impossible choices between paying for antibiotics or covering food and school fees.
The misconceptions fueling inappropriate antibiotic use remain widespread and troubling. Studies show younger individuals particularly believe antibiotics work effectively against viruses, headaches, and malaria, conditions where antibiotics provide no therapeutic benefit but contribute significantly to resistance development. These erroneous beliefs likely stem from experiences where bacterial co infections during malaria episodes required antibiotic prescriptions, creating confusion about when antibiotics actually help.
Weak regulatory enforcement compounds the crisis. While Ghana has guidelines restricting excessive antibiotic dispensing, poor implementation has rendered these rules largely ineffective. Pharmacies, chemical shops, and street vendors sell antibiotics freely, often in broken blister packs because that’s all customers can afford. The Pharmacy Council has promised strategies to remove unlicensed drug sellers from markets, yet the number keeps escalating, raising questions about whether authorities are genuinely enforcing their mandatory roles.
The threat extends beyond bacterial resistance. Counterfeit and substandard medicines pose additional dangers in Ghana’s weakly regulated supply chains. Research indicates over 10% of medicines in low and middle income countries contain too little active ingredient, with antibiotics and antimalarials particularly vulnerable. Persistent under dosing from poor quality medicines accelerates antimicrobial resistance while increasing mortality risks, particularly for children.
Self medication patterns reveal troubling treatment failure rates. Among tertiary students practicing self medication, 35% reported treatment failures, highlighting both health risks and economic losses when purchased medications prove ineffective. When treatments fail, most don’t revisit hospitals but instead continue self medicating with different antibiotics, perpetuating the cycle of inappropriate use.
The practice transcends urban areas. In rural Abokobi, self medication prevalence reaches 36%, with past successful experiences and ease of purchasing antibiotics cited as major motivations. Rural settings face additional challenges from limited healthcare infrastructure, making self medication sometimes the only practical option despite risks.
Dr. Akuaku describes the phenomenon as deeply embedded in community behavior, where people recommend antibiotics to one another the same way they share home remedies. Someone feels feverish, and a friend suggests trying amoxicillin because it worked previously. Each such recommendation, each misuse, gives bacteria opportunities to adapt and survive, spreading resistance through populations.
The problem’s compounded by weak diagnostic systems in many Ghanaian health facilities where broken or outdated lab equipment forces doctors to prescribe antibiotics blindly, hoping something works. This trial and error approach meets unregulated drug sales to create dangerous conditions that accelerate resistance development.
Public awareness remains inadequate despite the gravity of threats. Research shows 63% of Ghanaians are unaware of antibiotic resistance, indicating massive gaps in health education and communication. Without understanding that bacteria can evolve to resist medicines, people lack motivation to change medication seeking behaviors that feel convenient and affordable.
Healthcare system inefficiencies contribute significantly to the crisis. Long waiting times at hospitals, limited availability under the National Health Insurance Scheme, and perceived high costs push people toward self medication as pragmatic responses to immediate health needs. For working class Ghanaians and those in deprived areas, visiting hospitals means losing work hours and paying fees they can’t afford.
The situation carries profound implications for Ghana’s development trajectory. When people must choose between antibiotics and other basic needs, society loses twice, fighting both bacteria and poverty simultaneously. Drug resistant infections threaten to reverse years of public health progress, pushing the country toward futures where even minor injuries become potentially fatal.
Hope exists through coordinated action. Countries implementing national antimicrobial resistance action plans with surveillance systems and public education show promising results. Ghana has taken initial steps, but scaling these efforts requires commitment at all levels, particularly in local communities where awareness remains lowest.
Solutions demand multiple approaches. Stronger regulation and enforcement must limit over the counter antibiotic sales, ensuring prescriptions become genuinely required. Public education campaigns need to explain that antibiotics only treat bacterial infections, not viral illnesses like colds or flu. Healthcare system improvements must reduce barriers that drive people toward self medication in the first place.
Pharmaceutical regulation requires strengthening. The Food and Drugs Authority has made progress but needs resources for consistent enforcement. Surveillance systems tracking and removing counterfeit drugs must expand. Healthcare providers need training on medication safety, appropriate prescribing practices, and drug interactions.
For individuals, behavior changes matter enormously. Stopping purchases of antibiotics without prescriptions, finishing prescribed doses completely, avoiding sharing leftover medications, and seeking medical guidance instead of self diagnosing all help preserve antibiotic effectiveness for future generations.
The fight against antimicrobial resistance transcends medical concerns into moral territory, asking each person to act responsibly and think beyond immediate convenience. When drugs stop working, everyone loses. Ghana stands at a critical juncture where collective action could prevent the catastrophic scenarios health experts warn about, but only if awareness translates into sustained behavior change across all population segments.
As one medical professional put it, Ghana isn’t just fighting bacteria but battling weak systems and poverty simultaneously. Until healthcare becomes genuinely accessible and affordable, until education reaches every corner explaining resistance dangers, until enforcement genuinely limits inappropriate access, the self medication crisis will continue fueling a silent epidemic that threatens the nation’s health security and economic future.
An American development consultant has accused officials within the Ghanaian government and certain local banks of obstructing and allegedly diverting billions of dollars intended for humanitarian and infrastructure projects.
The allegations were made at a press conference in Accra on Tuesday, addressed by Wayoe Ghanamannte on behalf of Michael Bass, a U.S.-based consultant and Director of the Primary Group Global Foundation (PGGF).
Bass, who has lived and worked in Ghana for 15 years, claimed his foundation had secured a funding agreement with MAEC Financial, an Italian firm, to channel $100 million monthly over a 48-month period into development projects in Ghana. However, he said the process was derailed after what he described as a “suspected circumvention” by government officials and partner banks.
“We had completed all due diligence, obtained the necessary documentation, and received assurances from participating banks,” Bass stated in a written address read by Ghanamannte. “But after nearly a year of cooperation, the banks and state representatives went silent and cut off communication. We have reason to believe that our initiative was circumvented.”
Funding Process and Breakdown
According to Bass, the Primary Group Global Foundation was registered in Ghana on June 10, 2024, and subsequently opened accounts at Republic Bank, ADB Bank, and UMB Bank to facilitate the incoming project funds.
Republic Bank, he said, had initially issued a letter in October 2024 confirming its readiness to process the funding protocols once the due diligence was completed. The foundation also held meetings with top officials, including Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, to discuss coordination with multiple banks for the project inflows.
However, after months of assurances, communication from the banks reportedly ceased. Bass claimed that when he attempted to meet Republic Bank’s Managing Director directly, he was informed through the MD’s office that the bank had decided not to proceed — though no official letter was issued to that effect.
“Republic Bank dragged us along for 11 months,” Bass alleged. “We were constantly told that progress was being made, only to be shut out without explanation.”
Alleged Circumvention
Bass said individuals linked to the government, including lawyer Lawrence Addison and others who facilitated introductions with state officials, later stopped communicating with him. He claimed that the state appeared to have taken over the process to engage MAEC Financial directly, effectively bypassing the foundation.
He suggested that the Ghanaian government’s subsequent appointment of the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) as the coordinator of international grants — as reported earlier this year — coincided with the period when his foundation’s funding plans were allegedly derailed.
Bass referenced a video and news article appearing to show President John Mahama discussing multi-billion-dollar inflows over a four-year period, similar to the proposed MAEC funding arrangement.
He said the foundation has since submitted documents and evidence to Interpol Italy, the FBI, and the U.S. Embassy in Accra.
“We have been left with no choice but to pursue legal action against the parties involved,” Bass said. “This is not just about us — it’s about protecting Ghana’s integrity and ensuring transparency in global development financing.”
Government and Bank Response
As of press time, neither the Ghana government nor the named financial institutions — Republic Bank, ADB Bank, and UMB Bank — had issued official statements responding to the allegations.
The Primary Group Global Foundation maintains that it holds full documentation of its engagements with the government and banks and is prepared to present these in court if necessary.
Bass added that this was not the first time he had encountered obstacles in attempting to bring grant funding to Ghana, recalling a similar experience in 2014 when officials allegedly demanded a 20 percent “kickback” from an earlier funding initiative.
“Corruption continues to undermine Ghana’s development,” he stated. “Enough is enough.”
The allegations, if substantiated, could raise serious questions about the handling of international financing initiatives in the country.
The Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, led by General Superintendent Rev. Stephen Wengam, has paid a condolence visit to the family of the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings.
The visit was to commiserate with the bereaved family and offer prayers for comfort and strength during this period of mourning.
Rev. Wengam expressed the church’s heartfelt sympathy, describing the late Nana Konadu as a remarkable woman whose impact on national development and women’s empowerment would long be remembered.
He highlighted her leadership and vision through the 31st December Women’s Movement, noting that her advocacy for women’s rights remains a defining part of Ghana’s socio-political history.
The family thanked the Assemblies of God leadership for their visit and words of encouragement.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, wife of the late former President Jerry John Rawlings, passed away recently after a short illness. She was widely admired for her dedication to public service and her lifelong commitment to advancing the welfare of women and children in Ghana.
🕊 The Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, led by General Superintendent Rev. Stephen Wengam, has paid a condolence visit to the family of the late former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, to express their sympathies and offer prayers of comfort.… pic.twitter.com/gOSoPnfAwg
The North-West University (NWU) in South Africa has honoured Ghanaian health economist, Professor James Avoka Asamani, for his outstanding contribution to public health and research across Africa.
The recognition came during the university’s biennial Alumni Excellence Awards ceremony held in Pretoria. The awards celebrate past students of the university who continue to make a lasting impact in their respective fields.
Other honourees included veteran South African actor Hans Strydom and World Cup cricket star Tazmin Brits, among several other distinguished personalities.
The university praised the awardees for using their knowledge and experience to shape society positively and for serving as role models for the next generation of leaders.
Speaking after receiving his award, Professor Asamani said the recognition brought back memories of his time at North-West University — especially during the difficult period of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the university’s innovation in learning and research played a major role in helping students and researchers continue their work.
“NWU has not only sharpened my intellect but also shaped my values, my leadership, and my lifelong commitment to public service,” he said.
“The rigorous academic training and mentorship I received at NWU – particularly the impeachable guidance from Prof. Gerda Reitsma and Prof. Christmal Christmals – provided a strong foundation for my professional journey.”
Professor Asamani’s PhD work at North-West University has been central to his career at the World Health Organization (WHO), where he currently leads regional programmes aimed at strengthening Africa’s health workforce.
“The health workforce tool we developed during my PhD has been adopted by WHO and applied in more than 15 countries across Africa and beyond,” he explained.
“It ensures that every community has access to skilled and motivated health workers they need.”
He said the award is not only personal recognition but also a celebration of what North-West University stands for — excellence, innovation, and service to humanity.
“This honour reminds us that the true measure of success lies in how our knowledge transforms lives, strengthens systems, and brings hope to others,” Prof. Asamani added.
He dedicated the award to his family, mentors, colleagues, and the more than five million African health workers who continue to serve their communities despite many challenges.
“May this recognition inspire us all to continue investing in people — the foundation of every nation’s progress,” he said.
Professor Asamani’s achievement adds to the growing list of Ghanaians making a mark on the global stage through education, research, and public service.
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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.
Clydestone Ghana PLC delivered the kind of headline revenue growth that typically excites investors, nearly doubling sales to GHS 22.9 million for the nine months ending September 2025. Yet behind that impressive 94% top line surge lies a troubling reality: net profit collapsed by 53%, dropping from GHS 1.18 million to just GHS 551,000 as the fintech company’s aggressive expansion strategy consumed margins and generated massive cash outflows.
The stark contrast between revenue growth and profit decline tells a story increasingly common in technology companies chasing market share at the expense of profitability. Clydestone’s third quarter results, released to the Ghana Stock Exchange, reveal a business stretching itself thin as it opens new service points across Ghana while simultaneously managing operations in Nigeria and Kenya.
What makes these numbers particularly concerning is the margin compression across every level of operations. Gross profit margin shrank 8.1 percentage points to 29.5%, meaning the company earned significantly less on each cedi of sales compared to last year. Operating profit margin suffered an identical 8.1 point contraction to just 7.2%, indicating the problem extends beyond procurement challenges into fundamental business model questions.
Cost of sales exploded 119%, outpacing the already impressive 94% revenue growth. This dynamic suggests Clydestone is either winning business through aggressive pricing that leaves little room for profit, or facing input cost pressures it can’t pass along to customers. Operating expenses nearly doubled, growing 99% as the company invested heavily in infrastructure, personnel, and market development across multiple geographies.
Finance costs tell another part of the story. Interest expenses surged 178% to GHS 882,000, reflecting the debt burden financing this expansion. For a company generating operating profit of just GHS 1.64 million, interest costs eating up more than half that amount creates uncomfortable financial arithmetic that limits strategic flexibility.
The balance sheet reveals where much of this expansion capital went. Trade receivables jumped 79% to GHS 5.0 million, a dramatically faster increase than the revenue growth supposedly generating those receivables. This massive buildup in amounts owed suggests customers are taking longer to pay, or Clydestone is offering generous credit terms to win business, neither scenario boding well for near term cash generation.
Cash holdings paint perhaps the starkest picture. The company’s cash balance plummeted 63% from GHS 8.74 million at year end 2024 to just GHS 3.20 million by September. That GHS 5.5 million drawdown funded operations that generated a negative GHS 4.23 million in operating cash flow, a dramatic reversal from last year’s positive GHS 5.54 million.
Working capital changes consumed GHS 6.28 million during the period, driven primarily by the receivables buildup and inventory increases. When a growth company can’t convert sales into cash, it typically signals either aggressive revenue recognition, weak credit controls, or customers struggling to pay. None of these scenarios inspire confidence.
Yet paradoxically, Clydestone’s stock has been the Ghana Stock Exchange’s best performer in 2025. Shares trading at GHS 0.17 as of mid October represent a stunning 467% gain year to date, ranking the stock first on the GSE despite these deteriorating fundamentals. This disconnect between operational reality and market enthusiasm creates cognitive dissonance for anyone analyzing the company objectively.
The stock’s performance likely reflects investors betting on Ghana’s fintech growth story rather than current profitability. Clydestone’s positioning as a payment processing infrastructure provider connecting banks, mobile money platforms, and merchants puts it at the center of Ghana’s ongoing digital payment revolution. The company serves 19 African banks as a principal acquiring member of UnionPay International and provides cheque truncation systems to 12 leading Ghanaian banks.
Management’s strategy appears focused on capturing market share while Ghana’s digital payment ecosystem expands rapidly. The company’s operations in payment processing, transaction switching, instant card issuance, and KYC and AML compliance systems address genuine needs as Ghana’s economy continues digitalizing. The question is whether securing market position today justifies the financial strain evident in these results.
Clydestone’s expansion into cities like Kumasi, Tamale, and Takoradi aligns with broader economic trends seeing regional cities gain importance. These secondary markets offer growth potential as financial services penetration deepens beyond Accra and as mobile money adoption continues its explosive trajectory. However, establishing presence in these markets requires upfront investment that won’t generate returns immediately.
The company’s 2024 annual report, released earlier this year, had shown revenue surging to GHS 23.92 million from GHS 7.34 million in 2023, with net profit reaching GHS 3.95 million. Those results demonstrated the company could grow profitably when conditions aligned properly. The nine month 2025 numbers suggest the challenges intensified as expansion accelerated.
Industry context matters here. Ghana’s fintech sector faces intense competition as both local startups and international players vie for market share in payment processing and digital financial services. Margins compress when multiple providers chase the same customers with similar offerings. Clydestone’s first mover advantage as Ghana’s first ICT company to list on the stock exchange provides brand recognition but doesn’t guarantee pricing power.
The receivables situation deserves particular scrutiny. When trade receivables grow 79% while revenue grows 94%, and the absolute increase in receivables (GHS 2.2 million) approaches 20% of total revenue (GHS 22.9 million), it raises questions about revenue quality. Either customers are taking dramatically longer to pay, or accounting policies around revenue recognition merit examination.
For investors who’ve enjoyed the 467% stock price gain, these financial results create difficult questions about valuation sustainability. At current prices, the market seems to be betting on future potential rather than present performance, a familiar pattern in growth technology stocks but one that requires eventual vindication through improved fundamentals.
The company’s liquidity ratios appear superficially healthy, with current and quick ratios around 1.39 and 1.33 respectively. However, these metrics prove somewhat misleading given the composition of current assets. Strip out the questionable receivables, and liquidity looks far more constrained. The GHS 3.2 million cash balance must fund ongoing operations while the company waits for customers to pay outstanding invoices.
Management faces tough choices heading into the final quarter of 2025. Continuing the current growth trajectory risks further cash depletion and potential liquidity crisis. Pulling back on expansion to prioritize profitability could sacrifice market share gains competitors would eagerly claim. Threading this needle requires operational excellence the nine month results don’t clearly demonstrate.
The competitive landscape adds complexity. As Ghana’s digital payment infrastructure matures, customers gain leverage to demand better pricing and terms. Banks and large merchants can play providers against each other, compressing margins industry wide. Clydestone’s technical capabilities and regulatory compliance certifications provide differentiation, but whether these translate into sustainable competitive advantage remains unclear.
Earnings per share dropping from GHS 0.0346 to GHS 0.0162 means shareholders now own claims on less than half the per share profits compared to last year. The market appears willing to overlook this deterioration given the growth story, but history suggests investors eventually demand profitability from even the most exciting growth companies.
The company’s commitment to Environmental, Social, and Governance principles, including coastal cleanup campaigns and gender equity initiatives in tech, demonstrates corporate citizenship but doesn’t address the fundamental financial sustainability questions these results raise. ESG initiatives matter for long term brand building but require profitable operations to fund sustainably.
Looking ahead, Clydestone’s path forward likely requires addressing the receivables crisis as priority one. Converting outstanding customer obligations into cash would simultaneously improve liquidity, validate revenue recognition practices, and demonstrate operational competence. Without progress here, questions about business model viability intensify.
The company’s regional expansion could prove prescient if Ghana’s secondary cities develop as expected and if Clydestone establishes market leading positions before competition intensifies. Digital payment adoption in cities like Kumasi and Tamale lags Accra significantly, creating genuine growth opportunities for providers willing to invest early. Whether Clydestone’s financial resources can sustain presence until these markets mature remains the critical question.
For the Ghana Stock Exchange, Clydestone’s performance adds another chapter to the complex relationship between investor enthusiasm and underlying fundamentals. The stock’s 467% gain demonstrates the exchange’s capacity for spectacular returns but also highlights how disconnects between price and performance can persist when growth narratives capture imagination.
As 2025’s final quarter unfolds, attention turns to whether Clydestone can demonstrate improved cash collection, margin stabilization, and more balanced growth that doesn’t sacrifice profitability entirely. The company’s November and December performance will prove particularly telling, as year end typically sees improved collections and business activity that could meaningfully improve full year results.
The fintech sector’s importance to Ghana’s economic development means Clydestone’s success or struggles carry implications beyond individual shareholders. The company’s ability to deliver secure, reliable payment infrastructure affects thousands of businesses and millions of consumers relying on digital financial services. That broader context makes the operational challenges evident in these results something worth watching closely.
For now, Clydestone presents a classic growth versus profitability dilemma. The company proved it can grow revenue dramatically but hasn’t yet shown it can do so sustainably. The market’s enthusiastic response suggests many investors believe profitability will eventually follow once scale advantages emerge. These third quarter results test that optimism severely, creating a fascinating case study in how investors value present pain against future potential in Ghana’s dynamic fintech landscape.
play videoErnestina Fosu is the elder sister of the late Daddy Lumba (R)
Ernestina Fosu, the elder sister of the late Highlife legend Daddy Lumba, has said she will not allow the family to hold Lumba’s funeral until the true cause of his death is known.
In an interview with Adum TV after her appearance in court on October 28, 2025, Ernestina said she and other close relatives were still in the dark about what led to her brother’s passing.
She noted that no amount of court ruling or family decision would compel her to allow the funeral to proceed until the truth is revealed.
Odo Broni has filed a counterclaim in court – Lawyer claims
“The funeral will not be held on December 6. We did not seek an injunction because we are mad. We still don’t know what killed my brother. We cannot allow people to rush with his funeral,” she said.
Ernestina Fosu noted that she is open to having the funeral on the scheduled date if she receives a clear explanation about what caused Daddy Lumba’s death before then.
“There will be no problem if we find out about the cause of Daddy Lumba’s death before December 6. But if we don’t find out what killed my brother, I won’t allow my family to bury my brother, Charles,” she said.
The musician’s sister also said she did not trust the autopsy report that was presented to her. According to her, she suspected that some individuals might have tampered with the report.
She emphasised that, as the eldest sibling, she was representing the interests of her other sisters in rejecting what she described as a rushed burial process.
Ernestina went on to accuse some members of the funeral committee and others close to the late musician of using his death to secure business deals and make money.
Without naming specific individuals, she alleged that certain people had already profited from her brother’s demise by signing brand deals behind the family’s back.
“Some people have taken deals. They signed a contract with Flora Tissue and kept two billion for themselves, and that’s why they’re in a hurry,” she claimed.
Her comments come after the Kumasi High Court dismissed an injunction application filed by Daddy Lumba’s first wife, Akosua Serwaa, who had sought to stop the funeral from going ahead.
The court, presided over by Justice Dorinda Smith Arthur, ruled in favour of the late musician’s family head, Kofi Owusu Banahene, permitting him to proceed with the funeral as planned.
Akosua Serwaa had accused the family head of sidelining her and claimed she only learned of the funeral date, set for December 6, 2025, through social media.
She also alleged that her husband’s co-wife, Odo Broni, and some members of the funeral committee were keeping her out of key decisions.
Daddy Lumba passed away on July 26, 2025, at the Bank Hospital after what has been widely reported as an illness.
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Pupils from Divine Mission Academy during the experiment
Young pupils at Divine Mission Academy School are turning heads with groundbreaking science experiments that merge creativity, sustainability, and local resources.
Through innovative projects using hibiscus leaves, scent leaf (nunum), and wastewater, the students are showing that scientific discovery can begin at any level, even in the basic classroom.
The initiative, guided by the school’s supervising teachers, was designed to give pupils hands-on experience in applying science to solve real-world challenges.
Combining chemistry, biology, and environmental studies, the projects inspired students to explore how everyday materials can be used to improve lives and promote environmental responsibility.
In their first experiment, the pupils worked with hibiscus leaves, widely known for producing Ghana’s beloved sobolo drink. By extracting the plant’s natural pigments, they demonstrated its ability to function as a natural acid-base indicator, changing colour when exposed to acidic or basic solutions.
The experiment offered a practical and visual understanding of chemistry, using a familiar local resource.
Next, the students explored the potential of “nunum”, Ghana’s well-known aromatic scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum). Under the guidance of their teachers, they processed the herb into a natural hand sanitiser, harnessing its essential oils and antimicrobial properties.
This project showcased how traditional herbal knowledge can be adapted for modern hygiene needs, especially in promoting community health through science.
Perhaps the most striking of their achievements was the generation of electricity from wastewater. Using a simple microbial fuel cell setup, the students demonstrated how organic matter in wastewater can produce small amounts of electric current.
The experiment successfully lit up an LED, teaching pupils about renewable energy, resource recovery, and the importance of protecting the environment.
The supervising teachers overseeing the projects explained that their goal was to inspire innovation through practical learning.
“We want our pupils to understand that science is not limited to laboratories. With creativity and curiosity, even local materials can lead to meaningful discoveries,” one of the teachers shared.
These projects have demonstrated creativity, teamwork, and sustainability. The school continues to nurture curiosity and hands-on learning, encouraging pupils to see science as a pathway to solving everyday problems.
From sobolo leaves to nunum herbs and wastewater, the young innovators at Divine Mission Academy at Ejisu-Donaso in the Ashanti Region are redefining classroom science, proving that great ideas can grow from simple beginnings.
A senior lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN), identified as Professor Abraham Chinedu, has found himself at the center of a major scandal after a compromising video involving him and a female student surfaced online.
According to reports, the lecturer, who teaches Statistics, has long faced allegations from students for allegedly demanding sexual favors in exchange for better grades but he has consistently denied.
The Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced three individuals to 20 years imprisonment each for robbing travellers on the Jacobu–Anwiankwanta highway in the Ashanti Region.
The convicts — Peter Boadi, alias Kwao Ziggy, Daniel Kwaku Owusu, and Eric Kwaku Danso — were found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery after trial.
Presenting the facts of the case in court, the prosecution said the three, armed with pistols, ambushed and robbed travellers at Fiankoma near Jacobu on April 29, 2024.
The prosecution further noted that they seized two iPhones, GH¢7,000 in cash, and forced a Chinese national to transfer GH¢30,000 via mobile money to an accomplice’s account.
A sustained police operation between June and September 2024 led to their arrest and, investigators, acting on intelligence, raided Boadi’s residence at Obuasi Bogobiri, where they retrieved a foreign Bruni pistol, a locally manufactured pistol, and live ammunition — all of which were tendered in evidence during the trial.
Delivering his verdict, the presiding judge, His Honour Appiatu described the robbery as a “shameful and heartless crime against innocent travelers,” warning that such acts would not be tolerated in a civilised society.
The Ghana Police Service has since lauded its investigative team for their professionalism and assured the public of its unwavering commitment to flush out highway robbers and ensure the safety of commuters across the country.
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) USA Chicago Chapter has issued a strong appeal for unity, mutual respect and peaceful competition as the party prepares for its flagbearer election scheduled for January 31, 2026.
In a statement, the Chapter reminded members, supporters and aspirants both in Ghana and abroad that the true strength of the NPP lies in its democratic tradition, discipline and shared commitment to national development.
As the flagbearer race heats up, the NPP Chicago Chapter emphasised that internal competition must remain healthy and constructive, serving as a testament to the party’s deep-rooted democratic ideals rather than a source of division.
The Chapter underscored the NPP’s proud legacy of transparent and credible internal elections and urged that this tradition be upheld throughout the current contest.
The Chapter’s message comes at a time when several prominent figures have declared their intention to lead the party.
They include Kennedy Agyapong, Dr Bryan Acheampong, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, and Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, all recognized for their leadership experience, service to the NPP and dedication to Ghana’s progress.
Since its re-establishment in 1992, the NPP has consistently upheld the democratic principles that have made it one of Ghana’s most respected political movements.
From Prof Albert Adu Boahen’s pioneering leadership to John Agyekum Kufuor’s unifying victories in 2000 and 2004 and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s resilient leadership from 2008 to 2016, the party has shown that leadership renewal and democratic integrity can coexist.
Grounded in the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition, these values continue to guide the NPP as it faces the critical task of selecting its next flagbearer.
The Chicago Chapter noted that the process must reflect the party’s enduring commitment to freedom, transparency and democracy.
The Chapter further acknowledged the collective aspirations of all five hopefuls, noting that while their approaches may differ, their goals remain aligned to serve Ghana and advance the NPP’s developmental agenda.
From policy innovations to long-term strategies, each aspirant represents a continuation of the party’s mission to build a prosperous nation.
At a recent engagement with the aspirants, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo urged them to maintain unity and focus on the party’s long-term vision.
He emphasised that no matter the outcome, the NPP must remain a cohesive force ready to serve the Ghanaian people.
Echoing the President’s sentiments, the NPP Chicago Chapter called on all members to campaign with dignity and respect.
It cautioned against personal attacks and divisive rhetoric, stressing that the real test of democracy lies not in the competition itself, but in how united the party stands afterward.
“The red, white, and blue bind us under one destiny and one mission — to serve Ghana better,” the statement read.
“Let us honor every contribution, respect every voice, and show that our democracy thrives when rooted in discipline and solidarity.”
The Chapter urged members to focus on ideas and policies that will propel Ghana forward, rather than on internal rivalries.
It reaffirmed that discipline and unity the hallmarks of the NPP’s success must continue to guide the party through and beyond the flagbearer election.
“No matter who you support Dr Bawumia, Kennedy Agyapong, Kwabena Agyapong, Dr Bryan Acheampong or Dr Adutwum we remain one family,” the statement concluded.
“Victory begins with unity. Unity begins with us.”
As the NPP heads toward its January 2026 election, the Chicago Chapter’s call for peace, discipline and solidarity stands as a timely reminder of the values that have sustained the party and will continue to shape its future.
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Kasapreko PLC, Ghana’s largest indigenous beverage company, delivered extraordinary financial performance in the first nine months of 2025, with net profit surging 265% to GHS 258.8 million as the company prepares for its highly anticipated listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange by year end.
The unaudited financial statements for the period ended September 30, 2025, show revenue climbed 38.7% to GHS 2.56 billion from GHS 1.85 billion the previous year, driven by strong market demand and successful commercial strategies. However, the real story lies in the dramatic margin expansion that translated robust top-line growth into an explosion of bottom-line profitability.
Net profit margin more than doubled from 3.8% to 10.1%, while operating profit nearly doubled to GHS 432.4 million from GHS 221.8 million, representing a 95% increase. Operating profit margin expanded from 12% to 16.9%, demonstrating powerful operational leverage as the company managed costs effectively despite rapid growth.
The profitability transformation was driven by a 3 percentage point expansion in gross profit margin to 30.9%, indicating Kasapreko benefited from lower costs of imported raw materials and better pricing power. Gross profit surged 53.8% to GHS 790.4 million, growing faster than the revenue increase and providing the fuel for the record earnings.
Operating expenses rose 22.6% to GHS 358 million, but this growth rate lagged far behind the 53.8% surge in gross profit, showcasing the company’s ability to leverage its fixed cost base. Finance costs fell 12.5% to GHS 115.5 million, reflecting strategic debt reduction that further boosted net earnings.
The balance sheet strengthened dramatically during the period. Total equity more than doubled to GHS 605.1 million from GHS 279.4 million at the end of 2024, directly fueled by the massive retained profits. At the same time, total liabilities decreased by GHS 104.5 million to GHS 1.17 billion, indicating aggressive debt paydown.
Cash and equivalents jumped 57% to GHS 185.9 million from GHS 118.4 million, providing a much stronger liquidity cushion. Current assets grew to GHS 1.01 billion from GHS 804 million, while inventory levels increased to GHS 504.7 million from GHS 450 million, possibly reflecting strategic buildup to support continued growth.
The company generated GHS 307.8 million in cash from operating activities, consistent with the high profitability shown in the income statement. However, Kasapreko nearly doubled its investment spending to GHS 101.4 million, reflecting significant capital expenditure on property, plant, and equipment to support future expansion.
Cash used in financing activities totaled GHS 183.4 million, primarily from net repayment of borrowings. This aggressive debt reduction aligns with the decreased liabilities on the balance sheet and explains the lower finance costs that contributed to the profit surge.
The stellar results come as Kasapreko prepares for what will be Ghana’s first major initial public offering since MTN Ghana’s 2018 debut. Chief Executive Officer Richard Adjei announced in May 2025 that the company plans to list 25% of its equity shares on the main market of the Ghana Stock Exchange by year end, with board approval already secured.
First quarter 2025 performance showed equally impressive momentum, with a 52% increase in revenue and 184% surge in profit after tax, attributed to higher product volumes and effective cost controls. Full year 2024 results were transformational, with revenue hitting GHS 2.7 billion (up 45% year-on-year), while profit after tax recorded a remarkable 574% growth driven by expanded market reach and increased sales volumes.
Kasapreko currently ranks number one in the spirits category in Ghana and remains within the top three in both the bottled water and soft drink categories, controlling nearly 45% of Ghana’s beverage market. The company exports to 16 African countries and has been aggressively expanding into Nigeria and other regional markets.
Ghana’s alcoholic drinks industry recorded growth across both volume and value metrics in 2024 despite turbulent economic conditions, with an average inflation rate of 20% and the cedi depreciating over 20% against the US dollar. Currency fluctuations contributed to price increases of between 25% and 30% for many alcoholic products, yet overall demand proved resilient.
Known for flagship products including Alomo Bitters, Cardinal Beer, Storm Energy Drink, and various spirits and soft drinks, Kasapreko has leveraged research and development, incorporating cutting-edge technology with local and traditional recipes. The company operates a state-of-the-art ISO 22000:2005 certified production facility in Nungua, a suburb of Accra.
Industry experts project non-alcoholic drinks revenues to grow at an average of 15% annually in the medium term, while alcoholic beverages revenues are expected to increase at 13% annually until 2026. Ghana’s consumption of alcoholic drinks is projected to reach 54,000 metric tons by 2028, up from 43,000 metric tons in 2023, marking an average annual growth rate of 3.7%.
Ghana Stock Exchange Managing Director Abena Amoah has commended Kasapreko’s trajectory, emphasizing that the company’s expansion and performance demonstrate the kind of indigenous success stories that contribute significantly to national economic growth.
The upcoming equity listing follows a GHS 350 million landmark capital raise in 2024 when Kasapreko entered the fixed income market, raising funds through corporate bonds. The company has described this as a transformational period that helped shape the business as it appears today.
With the nine-month results showing continued acceleration beyond the already impressive first quarter and full year 2024 performance, Kasapreko appears well positioned for its stock market debut. The company has successfully shifted from a moderate-profit to a high-profit business, using soaring earnings to strengthen its balance sheet, reduce financial risk, and invest heavily for future growth.
Potential risks include sustaining the current margin levels, which benefited partly from favorable raw material costs, and managing the inventory buildup to avoid obsolescence or excessive working capital tie-up. The performance also remains linked to continued consumer demand and stable macroeconomic conditions in Ghana.
However, by strategically deploying record profits to reinvest in the business while paying down debt, Kasapreko has positioned itself with a much stronger and more resilient financial foundation. The transformation represents one of the most impressive turnarounds among publicly disclosed Ghanaian companies in 2025, setting high expectations for the upcoming IPO.
