GNA Feature by Elsie Appiah-Osei

Accra, May 07, GNA- The First Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana commenced on Tuesday, January 7, 2025, and ended on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

The House held 43 Sittings within 11 weeks, performing its deliberative, representational, oversight, and legislative functions, among others.

A statement issued by David Sebastian Damoah, Director, MEdison Relations Department, Parliament of Ghana and copied to the Ghana News Agency on Wednesday has said.

It said the First Session was quite long and characterised by many parliamentary-related activities.

As a result, this article highlights some of the activities during the Meeting under review.

Presentation of Business

Some parliamentary Businesses were carried out, including the presentation of Papers, reading of Bills, presentation of Regulations, Constitutional and Legislative Instruments, referrals to Committees, reports from Committees of the House, Ministries, Departments, and other agencies.

Bills

A total of 18 Bills were presented to the House during the First Meeting, namely Electronic Transfer Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025; Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Revenue Administration (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Special Import Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Emissions Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025; Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Growth and Sustainability Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Ghana Gold Board Bill, 2025; Energy Sector Levy Bill, 2025; Ghana Gold Board Bill, 2025; Public Financial Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Minerals Income Investment Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Petroleum Revenue Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Ghana Cocoa Board (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Public Procurement Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025; and the Appropriation Bill, 2025.

16 passed out of the 18 Bills read

The passed Bills were the Electronic Transfer Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025; Revenue Administration (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Emissions Levy (Repeal) Bill, 2025; Income Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Value Added Tax (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Special Import Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Growth and Sustainability Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Energy Sector Levy Bill, 2025; the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Earmarked Funds Capping and Realignment (Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Public Procurement Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Minerals Income Investment Fund (Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Petroleum Revenue Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025; Public Financial Management (Amendment) Bill, 2025; the Appropriation Bill, 2025; and the Ghana Gold Board Bill, 2025.

Regulations

One Regulation, the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025, was presented to the House and referred to the Committee on Subsidiary Legislation.

Annual Reports

Four Annual Reports from different Government agencies were presented to the House during this Meeting.

They were Annual Reports on the Petroleum Funds for the 2024 Fiscal Year, the Collection and Utilisation of the African Union Import Levy for the 2024 Fiscal Year, the District Assemblies Common Fund for the year 2023, and the Staffing Position of the Office of the President for the Period 1st January to 31st December 2024.

Committee Reports

Seventy-two Committee reports were submitted to the House by various Committees of the House for consideration and adoption. All the reports submitted were duly debated and adopted by the House.

Auditor-General’s Report

The House considered one Auditor-General’s Report. The report was on the Statements of Foreign Exchange Receipts and Payments of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for the half-year ended 30th June 2024.

Leadership Reports

One report from Leadership on the Formula for the Composition of Parliamentary Delegations, and other Parliamentary Groups and Associations was presented to the House on Tuesday, March 25, 2025.

State of the Nation (SONA)

On Thursday, February 27, 2025, and in accordance with article 67 of the 1992 Constitution and Standing Order 72 (1), President John Dramani Mahama, presented to Parliament SONA. Members had the opportunity to make comments in support of the Message of the President.

Ministerial and other Appointments

During the First Meeting, the President nominated 56 persons for appointment as Ministers, Deputy Ministers, and Members of Cabinet. The Appointments Committee of Parliament held public hearings to vet all the nominees, and they were approved by the House even though the Minority Caucus abstained from some of the approvals.

During the public hearing of the Appointments Committee, there were a lot of misunderstandings that led to disruptions.

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin suspended four Members of Parliament (MPs) for two weeks and set up a committee to investigate the chaos during the vetting.

The suspended MPs were the Majority Chief Whip and MP for South Dayi, Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, the Minority Chief Whip and MP for Nsawam-Adoagyri, Mr Frank Annoh Dompreh, the MP for Gushiegu, Mr Alhassan Tampuli Sulemana, and the MP for Weija-Gbawe, Mr Jerry Ahmed Shaib.

Presentation of Budget Statement and Economic Policy

In line with article 179 of the 1992 Constitution and section 21 of the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921), the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, presented the 2025 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on Tuesday, March 11, 2025.

MPs from both Sides of the House took turns to comment on the Budget Statement and later passed the Appropriation Bill.

Motions

One Hundred and Thirty-four (134) Motions were moved and adopted by the House during the Meeting. The Motions were mainly on the following: Adoption of the Annual Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government for 2025, adoption of Committee reports on the 2024 Annual Budget Estimates, motions for Second and Third Reading of Bills, motion to adopt His Excellency the President’s nomination of Ministers and Deputy Ministers.

Questions

A total of 52 questions were asked by MPs and answered by Ministers of State on the floor of the House. The MPs were also allowed to ask supplementary questions relating to the subject matter.

Statements

Ninety-four Statements were made by Ministers and MPs to commemorate important national and international events, draw the attention of the House to issues of public importance, and Government Policies.

Communication from the President

The House received a total of 14 Communications from the Office of the President during the Meeting. These communications were to inform Speaker and the House of the absence of the President from the country, the nomination of Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and other appointments.

Committee Sittings

The House recorded 73 Committee meetings. The meetings were held to consider Bills, vet ministerial nominees, consider budget estimates, and other issues of public concern.

Change in Leadership

On Thursday, January 23, 2025, Speaker, pursuant to Order 67(1)(r), informed the House of a communication from the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), designating the following MPs to leadership positions on the Majority Front Bench in the Ninth Parliament.

Mr Mahama Ayariga, Majority Leader; Mr George Kweku Ricketts-Hagan, Deputy Majority Leader; Mr Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor, Majority Chief Whip; Madam Comfort Doyoe Cudjoe, First Deputy Majority Whip; and Mr Richard Acheampong, Second Deputy Majority Whip.

Similarly, there were changes in the Minority front bench, with the following MPs assuming leadership positions in the Ninth Parliament.

Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, Minority Leader; Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Deputy Minority Leader; Mr Frank Annoh-Dompreh, Minority Chief Whip; Mr Habib Iddrisu, First Deputy Majority Whip; and Mr Jerry Ahmed Shaib, Second Deputy Majority Whip.

Adjournment

The Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, the Majority Leader, Mr Mahama Ayariga, and the Minority Leader, Mr Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin made their

closing remarks to thank the First and Second Deputy Speakers, Mr Bernard Ahiafor and Mr Andrew Asiamah Amoako and MPs for working hard and contributing to the Business of the House during the Meeting.

Even though the First Meeting of the First Session of the Ninth Parliament was scheduled to adjourn sine die on Friday, 28th March 2025, the House was officially adjourned sine die by the Speaker on Saturday, 29th March 2025.

GNA

GRB

By Francis Ntow

Accra, May 7, GNA – The Italian government is to provide a grant to support the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Thomas Nyarko Ampem, Deputy Minister for Finance, has announced.

Mr. Ampem said this following a high-level meeting, in Accra, with a delegation from the Italian government.

Although the Deputy Minister for Finance did not disclose the amount the grant would cover, President John Dramani Mahama, has indicated that COCOBOD’s debt stood at GHS32.5 billion.

In his 2025 message on the State of the Nation, delivered in February, the President noted that GHS9.7bn of the GHS32.5bn was to be paid in September this year.

“This grant, which has no conditions attached, reflects Italy’s goodwill and long-standing interest in supporting Ghana’s cocoa sector, making the sector robust and sustainable,” the Deputy Minister said.

In 2023, Ghana exported US$387 million worth of cocoa beans to Italy and US$55.38 million worth of cocoa and cocoa preparation, making Italy a dependable bilateral partner in Ghana’s real sector.

Mr. Ampem stated that the gesture formed part of efforts to deepen bilateral and economic cooperation between Ghana and Italy in agriculture and health.

He said the two sectors remained government’s priority, hence, the implementation of initiatives like the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (Mahama Cares) and Accelerated Export Development Programme (AEDP).

He also said the support would be pivotal in Ghana’s economic reset agenda and expressed the government’s gratitude to Italy, assuring Italian businesses of an enabling macroeconomic environment for them to thrive in the country.

The Italian delegation led by Stefano Gatti, Director-General of the Italian Development Cooperation, underscored Ghana’s global reputation for producing high-quality cocoa beans as a key interest in supporting the country.

In the area of health, the Italian government proposed a partnership with Ghana’s Ministry of Health (MoH) to undertake joint projects of mutual interest.

In the proposed partnership, Italy would provide technical expertise and capacity support for the implementation of the selected projects, with the Ministry of Health expected to identify and propose suitable projects.

The meeting was attended by the Italian Ambassador to Ghana, Deputy National Coordinator for Italy’s Mattei Plan/Africa, Italian Foreign Ministry’s Special Envoy for the Mattei Plan and Foreign Ministry’s Director-General for Africa.

Some Directors from their Ministry of Economy and Finance, and officials from the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation were also present at the meeting.

GNA

CA/

The government of Ghana, through the Ghana National Gas Company Limited, is set to construct a second gas processing plant, popularly termed GPP2.

This was announced by the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, at the Africa Energy Forum as part of the 2025 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC).

This significant announcement demonstrates the commitment of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama’s government to making Ghana energy sufficient and a major player in the energy sector in sub-Saharan Africa.

The Ghana Gas Processing Plant (GPP1) was conceived, constructed, and operationalized by the late H.E. John Evans Atta Mills and H.E. John Dramani Mahama.

Although there was a roadmap for the construction of the second phase, the immediate past administration failed to construct this critical infrastructure.

Upon assuming office, President John Dramani Mahama made a bold commitment to construct the GPP2.

The construction of GPP2 will create jobs for young, talented graduates and increase Ghana’s energy sufficiency.

More importantly, it will boost the economy with a continuous supply of cheaper, reliable power for industrial usage, domestic consumption, and international supplies to neighboring countries.

This project is expected to be constructed in Nzema.

The Nzemas have welcomed this development and pledged to support the government to construct it.

This marks a decline from the 22.4 percent inflation rate recorded in March

Ghana’s inflation rate has continued its downward trend, with the latest figure recorded at 21.2 percent in April 2025.

This marks a decline from the 22.4 percent inflation rate recorded in March.

However, food inflation remains high, posing a significant challenge for households.

Announcing the fourth consecutive drop in inflation at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu said; “Year-on-year inflation slowed to 21.2 percent in April 2025, largely driven by a moderation in both food and non-food prices, though food inflation remains elevated.”

Dr Alhassan further explained, “Despite the annual slowdown, monthly inflation edged up to 0.8 percent in April, compared to 0.2 percent the previous month—an early sign of renewed upward price pressures, particularly within the food segment.”

“On a month-on-month basis, food inflation increased, while non-food inflation remained stable,” Dr Iddrisu added.

Iddrisu however urged the government to sustain initiatives such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), Capitation Grant, and School Feeding programme.

SA/MA

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Black Satellites

Ghana’s Black Satellites secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Senegal in their second Group C match at the U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Egypt 2025.

Emmanuel Mensah netted the decisive goal in the 15th minute, capitalizing on a sharp pass from Jerry Afriyie. Despite sustained pressure from Senegal, Ghana held firm thanks to standout performances by goalkeeper Gidios Aseako and midfielder Lord Afrifa.

Aseako made several key saves, including a close-range stop in the 27th minute and a crucial intervention in added time. Ghana created more chances in the second half but couldn’t extend their lead. Afrifa controlled the midfield, winning tackles and disrupting Senegal’s rhythm throughout the match.

Coach Desmond Ofei made timely substitutions to maintain Ghana’s energy and composure. Senegal pushed for an equalizer but were let down by wasteful finishing, including a late header and a free-kick attempt in stoppage time.

Mensah was named Player of the Match as Ghana moved to four points—second in Group C behind DR Congo on goal difference. The top two teams in each group advance to the quarterfinals.

Ghana will wrap up their group-stage campaign against the Central African Republic, who lost 3-1 to DR Congo earlier.

By Wletsu Ransford

The University of Ghana has formally welcomed Ms. Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew as the new Chairperson of the Governing Council.

The Chancellor, Mrs. Mary Chinery-Hesse, extended her warm congratulations and expressed confidence in Ms. Brew’s leadership to advance the University’s mission and global ambitions during the event.

The brief introductory ceremony took place at the Chancellor’s residence, following the official inauguration of the Council by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, presented Ms. Brew to the Chancellor, noting that she joins the reconstituted Council alongside four new government appointees.

“This Council benefits from a healthy blend of new voices and diverse professional and academic expertise,” said Prof. Amfo. “It’s a timely development as we navigate a period of transformation at the University.”

She expressed gratitude to the Chancellor for her unwavering support and guidance. “Your consistent presence and wise counsel have been invaluable to our growth,” Prof. Amfo remarked.Highlighting the critical role of the Governing Council, she noted ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing academic and co-curricular programmes to better prepare students for industry demands.

In her remarks, Ms. Brew thanked the University for its trust and pledged to foster collaboration among stakeholders to achieve the institution’s strategic goals.“The Honourable Minister’s charge to us is clear—we must work diligently to support the University in producing graduates capable of transforming society,” she said.

Ms. Brew emphasized the importance of unity and teamwork, assuring that the government and its appointees are committed to supporting, not interfering with, the University’s operations.

“We are here to contribute meaningfully, not to disrupt. Teamwork will be our guiding principle,” she added.

Chancellor Chinery-Hesse welcomed the new Chair’s remarks and expressed her confidence in the Council’s ability to carry the University forward. “You’re inheriting a fantastic team,” she said, “and I’m optimistic about the direction in which you will lead.”

“You bring a wealth of experience and expertise and I am confident that you and your team will offer strong leadership to guide this University to greater heights,” she said.

She congratulated Ms. Brew on her appointment and commended the outgoing Council for their commitment and significant contributions that have helped redefine UG’s strategic direction and achievements on the African higher education landscape.

The Chancellor pledged her continued support to the Council, Vice-Chancellor and Registrar in the management and administration of the University. She urged the new Council to remain focused on aligning UG’s training programmes with labour market needs.

“We must ensure our graduates are not only educated but also industry-ready,” she stressed. “Our cooperation with the government remains strong and the management is committed to ensuring that the University of Ghana is not just a premier university by name, but in reality.”

Mrs. Chinery-Hesse also called on the Chair to use her goodwill and voice to advocate for the University and help amplify its priorities.

Also present was Registrar, Mrs. Emelia Agyei-Mensah, who serves as Secretary to the Council.

Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor

Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, has urged global investors to explore the growing opportunities within Ghana’s revitalised energy sector.

Speaking at the 2025 Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, United States, the sector minister positioned Ghana as a ready and reliable investment destination.

He emphasised government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for sustainable investment, particularly in energy and related infrastructure.

While wooing investors, he stated that; “Ghana is the right place to do business… With a new administration focused on overhauling systems and implementing bold fiscal and regulatory reforms, we are open and ready for investment.”

The minister outlined recent policy decisions and structural reforms that are already yielding tangible gains in the sector.

John Jinapor said Ghana is strategically expanding its energy infrastructure to solidify its role as a regional hub for energy supply and logistics across West Africa.

Highlighting the importance of regional collaboration in achieving shared development goals, he said; “The prospects are already becoming evident. We are determined to reverse the trend and scale up production. With these efforts, we will continue to supply reliable power to Benin, Togo, Côte d’Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. Ghana remains a pivotal force for energy security in the West African sub-region.”

A key highlight of his remarks was the US$60 billion Petroleum Hub project located in Jomoro in the Western Region, which is set to transform Ghana’s energy and economic landscape.

Speaking earlier at the “Invest in African Energy: Accra Investor Briefing” on April 14, 2025, Jinapor reaffirmed the government’s unwavering dedication to the hub’s completion.

He stated that; “We are resolute in completing Africa’s largest and only petroleum hub, complete with world-class ancillary infrastructure. This development opens up vast investment opportunities across the value chain.”

The energy and green transition minister added that Ghana’s vision includes the construction of three oil refineries, each with a minimum processing capacity of 300,000 barrels per stream day, alongside five petrochemical plants, extensive tank farms, and other critical infrastructure.

The Offshore Technology Conference brought together global industry professionals to exchange ideas, showcase innovations, and address key challenges in the offshore energy sector.

Ghana’s presence at the 2025 OTC was led by the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), represented by its CEO, Dr Toni Aubynn; Deputy CEOs Onasis Rosely and Halimatu Sadia Abdulai; and Senior Business Development Manager, Abigail Abrokwa.

SA/MA

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President John Dramani Mahama

Ghana is aiming to increase its non-traditional export earnings from the current US$3.5 billion annually to at least US$10 bil­lion annually by 2030, President John Dramani Mahama has said.

This ambitious target, the President said, would be achieved through value addition, industrial expansion, and fixing long-standing trade bottle­necks.

Inaugurating a 19-member Accelerated Export Development Advisory Committee (AEDAC) which he chairs in Accra on Monday, President Mahama said Ghanaian exporters face major chal­lenges with at least 47 percent of them having to deal with delays, high costs, and excessive paper works when exporting.

“An exporter may need up to 16 different docu­ments just to get a certificate of origin,” President Mahama revealed.

“These inefficiencies cost Ghana US$4.3 billion in export revenue losses every year, according to the International Trade Center.”

With this in mind, President Mahama an­nounced a raft of interventions government was to roll out including modernising the ports, revamping the Volta Lake Transport Company, complete the Mpakadan and Boankra inland ports amongst others to ameliorate the situation.

The President was convinced that the above stated measures would reduce logistics costs, add­ing that Ghana’s export industry would be hinged on digitalisation, creativity and knowledge-based going forward.

“Our future exports will not just be about cocoa and gold. We must also sell our innovations to the world,” he stressed.

He announced performance-based tax rebates, faster certification for exporters, and grants for businesses as part of measures to encourage local production.

“We want a Ghana that earns more than it borrows. A Ghana that processes more than it exports raw,” the President emphasised.

The initiative aims to broaden Ghana’s export base, enhance foreign exchange earnings, and fuel economic growth through the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy agenda.

The committee’s mandate includes providing strategic guidance, fostering innovation, and strengthening public-private partnerships to drive value addition, increase non-traditional exports, and diversify export markets.

Other members of the Committee are Augus­tus Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor, 24-hour economy policy; Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minis­ter of Finance; Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, Trade; Emelia Arthur, Fisheries; Eric Opoku, Food and Agriculture; Dominic Ayine, Attorney-General; Gen. Paul Seidu Tanye-Kulono, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong, and Gerald Nyarko Mensah.

The rest are Dr Eben Anuwa-Armah, Dr Akushika Andoh, Kwesi Korboe, Sampson Asaki Awingobit, Davies Narh Korboe, Dr Humphrey Darkeh, Jacob Ainoo Ansah, Gabriel Opoku Asare and Prof. John Gatsi.

 The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Ms Linda Ocloo, has called on Met­ropolitan, Munic­ipal, and District Chief Executive (MMDCE) aspirants to desist from instigating assembly members to vote against the President’s MMDCE nomi­nees.

She said if other shortlisted aspirants think rejecting the pres­ident’s nominee would give them the opportunity to be nominated, then it was not going to happen.

“You should not instigate people not to vote for the Pres­idential nominees by disgracing the president, if you think your name is shortlisted so you will be appointed, then it’s a lie.

We’ll make sure that if you don’t vote for the nominee, those shortlisted will also not be appointed, even, if we have to re-appoint someone, we’ll go outside the box to do that,” she cautioned.

The Minister made this known in Accra on Monday, when the Shai Osudoku District Assembly rejected Mr Ignatius Godfred Dordoe, the President’s nominee for the position of District Chief Executive.

Out of 32 votes, 10 govern­ment appointees and 22 elected, Mr Dordoe secured 17 out of votes, falling short of the required number for confirmation.

Despite her earlier plea to the assembly members to vote overwhelmingly for the nominee, the assembly members remained adamant as they voted against him.

“We are entering into the flood­ing season, and so the DCE should be at post and be doing sanitation works to prevent flooding in the region.”

Also, at the La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly, there was a re-run of the election leading to the confirmation of Mr Ibrahim Faila Fuseini as the MCE.

Mr Fuseini secured 13 votes out of the 20 votes cast in the initial round, falling short of the required number for confirmation.

With tension rising, a closed door meeting was held before members, in which they agreed to go for the re-run.

Mr Fuseini secured all the 20 votes, confirming him as the MCE for the La Nkwantanang Municipal Assembly.

He was sworn in by the Greater Accra Regional Minister and wit­nessed by the Member of Parlia­ment for the Madina Constituency, Mr Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu.

Interestingly, Ms Ella Esinam Nongo was confirmed as MCE in the Adenta Municipal Assembly peacefully after securing 13 votes representing 72 per cent out of the 18 votes.

The Minister expressed satisfac­tion over the outcome of the two assemblies and commended the assembly members and govern­ment appointees for siding with the president and having a peaceful election.

Both MCEs expressed their sincerest appreciation to the Pres­ident for entrusting them with the responsibility.

The MCEs also thanked mem­bers of the assemblies for their support by stating that their pres­ence and support symbolised their faith in them.

 FROM CECILIA YADA LAGBA

By James Esuon

Gomoa Potsin (C/R), May 7, GNA – A multi-million Cedis Museum has been commissioned at Potsin in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region to promote the Country’s traditions, customs and tourism.

Named ‘Scenes of Yester Years’, the Museum is strategically located at Potsin, few meters drive to Winneba-Junction – Kasoa road with seven scenes of sculptures, restaurant and entertainment centre.

Dr Ekuah Owusuwaa Amartey, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Museum, said the purpose of putting up the edifice at Gomoa Potsin was to create jobs and wealth among the youth in and around the enclave.

It is also to tell the real-life story of the Country’s forefathers from where they migrated from many years ago to settle in Ghana and to let the youth understand and appreciate their traditions.

The CEO said some of the incidents in the olden days such as the slave trade by colonial people, who took our kith and kin into slavery must be retold.

She said Ghana’s tourism had great potentials and there was the need to explore more to improve its economic and financial impact on the citizenry.

The CEO disclosed that tourism development in Ghana was capital intensive, especially for private investors, adding that there was the need for the government to lend support to them to enhance tourism.

Dr Owusuwaa Amartey said aside from hotels and other tourists’ attractions, the Museums also had great potentials that needed to be developed with full financial and logistical support to boost tourism in the Country.

She further stated that it was incumbent on government and its agencies to offer more technical and managerial support to enhance economic development in that sector.

Dr Owusuwaa Amartey expressed disappointment that letters sent by her outfit to Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) requesting for technical assistance during the construction of the Museum, were not heeded to.

She extended appeals to the GTA and the Year of Return Secretariat to go to the aid of the Museum Center to help achieve its aims and objectives.

The CEO commended some travel and tour companies for the support given her during the construction of the museum and expressed the hope that they would continue to rally behind the Postin Museum to become the most attractive tourism centre in the Gomoa East District of the Central region.

Ebusuapanyin Kwesi Jacob of Borda Asona Family of Potsin commended Dr Amartey for siting the museum at Postin to create jobs for some of the unemployed youth in the Area.

He appealed to the government to construct the road linking Postin town to Postin-Junction to facilitate transport of goods and services and to attract tourists to visit the museum without hindrance.

He gave assurance that the Chiefs and elders of the town would continue to rally behind the CEO and entire management of the Museum to become one of the best tourism attractions in the Region.

GNA

AT/CA

The expansion will support the creation of over 1,000 additional jobs by 2026

Growth Invest­ment Partners (GIP) Ghana Ltd, an invest­ment platform established by British International Investment (BII), has invested in Maagrace Garments Industries Limited (MGIL), a Ghanaian garment manufacturing company.

The investment will finance the construction of a new production facility at MGIL’s premises in Koforidua, aimed at developing the industry by boost­ing production capacity, increas­ing export volumes, and creating employment at scale particularly for women and youth.

Jacob Kholi, Chief Executive and Investment Officer of GIP Ghana in a statement issued in Accra yesterday said, “This invest­ment is a testament to Ghana’s industrial potential and our ability to compete globally in ethical gar­ment manufacturing.

“MGIL’s track record in creat­ing jobs, especially for wom­en, while driving export growth aligns with our mission to back scalable and inclusive businesses,” he said.

Since acquiring MGIL, EAA has invested heavily in produc­tivity-enhancing technologies, including solar power systems, dig­ital pattern software, smart metal detection, and a custom enterprise resource planning (ERP) platform.

These innovations have dou­bled productivity and enabled the successful transfer of technical skills to local middle managers.

MGIL is a subsidiary of Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA), an apparel sourcing and manufac­turing firm headquartered in the United Kingdom.

It currently employs over 700 direct workers, with 72 percent of its workforce being women.

The company exports over 90 per cent of its products to major international brands based in the United States, the United King­dom and Europe.

EAA has a strong social pur­pose and has a mission to create over 10,000 quality manufacturing jobs in West Africa by 2030, while shaping the emerging apparel ecosystem to prioritise people and protect the planet.

Keren Pybus, Co-Founder and CEO of Ethical Apparel Africa said, “We are delighted to partner with GIP to further expand MGIL’s operations. This investment supports our vision of building a world-class garment industry in Ghana, one that raises the standard for ethical manufac­turing, women’s empowerment, and environmental responsibility.”

The expansion of the Koforid­ua facility will more than double

existing capacity through instal­lation of new production equip­ment and warehousing space. The company estimates the expansion will support the creation of over 1,000 additional jobs by 2026.

The statement said Maagrace was deeply committed to measur­ing and continuously improving worker well-being, having already built an on-site wellness centre and implemented pay structures that offer wages four times higher than previous average earnings.

MGIL is actively working toward a 60 percent female leadership target and is recognised as a 2X-aligned company for its measurable progress in gender inclusion.

It is also playing a key role in establishing Ghana as a highly competitive garment manufactur­ing hub, attracting foreign direct investment and contributing to the country’s foreign exchange earnings as an export-focused business

Cocoa is a key export commodity for Ghana

The Chief Exec­utive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCO­BOD), Dr Randy Abbey, has called on the Attorney General and Parliament to implement more stringent legislation to safeguard cocoa trees from the destructive activities of illegal miners and chainsaw operators.

Speaking during International Labour Day celebrations with cocoa farmers in Nkawie in the Ashanti Region, Dr Abbey high­lighted the catastrophic loss of thousands of cocoa trees to illegal mining and logging operations, pos­ing an existential threat to Ghana’s vital cocoa sector.

“The current legal framework protecting our cocoa trees lacks sufficient punitive measures, effec­tively emboldening illegal operators to continue destroying our national treasure.

“After over a century of cocoa serving as the backbone of Ghana’s economy, this resource deserves robust legislative protection,” Dr Abbey stated.

COCOBOD, he said, was actively collaborating with the Attorney General’s Office and Parliament to draft comprehensive legislation specifically designed to protect cocoa trees from unautho­rised destruction.

Dr Abbey assured farmers that his administration was committed to halting the illicit destruction of cocoa plantations and establish­ing a collaborative framework for effective sector management.

The CEO also revealed con­cerning financial mismanagement within the sector, noting that a $263 million fund intended for rehabilitating 156,000 hectares of cocoa farms had been improperly utilised by the previous adminis­tration.

Despite allocating $223 million for rehabilitation and $40 million for irrigation, the entire amount was channelled solely toward reha­bilitation efforts, resulting in only 40,000 hectares being restored, a significant shortfall from the targeted area.

According to him, the rehabili­tation programme was initiated af­ter it was determined that roughly 40 percent of the country’s cocoa farms were severely impacted by disease, necessitating urgent intervention.

While the intention behind the project was commendable, the actual execution had come under scrutiny.

In addition to the $263 million loan, Dr Abbey revealed that a further GH¢700 million was pumped into the programme, rais­ing further questions about fund utilisation and project outcomes.

He said COCOBOD had since referred the matter to the appropriate authorities for a full investigation.

“This represents a critical missed opportunity to substan­tially increase our cocoa yields,” Dr Abbey lamented during his address.

He further emphasized that COCOBOD’s current finan­cial constraints were hampering efforts to improve cocoa road in­frastructure and implement other essential interventions.

Despite these challenges, Dr Abbey reaffirmed his adminis­tration’s dedication to addressing the sector’s problems, pledging to manage resources prudently as directed by President Mahama.

He urged cocoa farmers to work in close partnership with COCOBOD to overcome the industry’s obstacles and secure the future of Ghana’s cocoa produc­tion.

Ebenezer Kwabena Agyin, Ashanti Regional Manager, CO­COBOD, commended the farmers for their enormous contribu­tions to cocoa production in the country.