Former Sekondi MP, Andrew Egyapa Mercer, has described as “far-fetched” the Tamale High Court’s decision to annul the entire 2024 parliamentary election in the Kpandai constituency, despite the petitioner raising concerns about only 41 polling stations.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, Mr. Mercer said the ruling raises serious questions about judicial consistency in electoral dispute resolution.

“For the petitioner to ask for the annulment of 41 polling stations where the issues actually took place, and for the court to annul the entire election and order a rerun of all 152 polling stations—amazing.

“You complain of 41 polling stations. Ordinarily, if I’m deciding based on the facts before me, I restrict myself to those facts. To go beyond that and invalidate the entire constituency is far-fetched,” he remarked.

He referenced the Supreme Court’s position in the 2012/2013 Presidential Election Petition—Nana Akufo-Addo vs. the Electoral Commission and John Mahama—where the Court stressed that votes cannot be invalidated merely because electoral officers failed to perform certain statutory duties.

“Based on that precedent, to invalidate the entirety of the votes in Kpandai because someone complained about 41 polling stations is difficult to accept,” he said. “If irregularities were established, it would have been reasonable for the court to annul those 41 polling stations and order a rerun there, not throw out the entire result.”

Mr. Mercer questioned the legal basis for extending the annulment beyond the specific polling stations the petitioner complained about.

“How would the remaining polling stations be tainted when evidence was only led on the 41? The rest were not even in issue,” he stressed.

The Tamale High Court, presided over by Justice Emmanuel Brew Plange, earlier this week annulled the 2024 parliamentary election in the Kpandai constituency and ordered a fresh poll within 30 days.

The case was brought by NDC candidate Daniel Nsala Wakpal, who alleged serious irregularities in 41 out of 152 polling stations, citing inconsistencies in Form 8A (pink sheets) that violated Regulations 39 and 43 of the Public Elections Regulations (CI 127).

The court concluded that the non-compliance “materially affected” the integrity of the vote and therefore ordered the Electoral Commission to conduct a rerun across the entire constituency, not just the disputed polling stations.

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.

L-R: Vincent Assafuah, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, and Alban Bagbin

On Tuesday, November 29, 2025, the word “tsobo” sparked debates in Parliament during the 2026 Budget debate.

Parliamentarians are sometimes known to use colorful and dramatic expressions that are deemed unparliamentary to emphasise their arguments. As such, the use of “tsobo,” a slang term in Ghanaian parlance, by the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo, Vincent Ekow Assafuah, was not taken lightly by the Majority side.

NDC is ready for the re-run in Kpandai, so the NPP better prepare too – Dafeamekpor

During proceedings, Assafuah accused the government of inflating the prices of sanitary pads, referring to them as a ‘tsobo’ government.

He argued that although the Ministry of Finance had earlier announced a drastic reduction in prices, the figures presented in the 2026 Budget appeared to show inflation instead.

In response, the Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, strongly objected to his colleague’s use of the word “tsobo,” describing it as unparliamentary. He called for the term to be expunged from the Hansard.

On a lighter note, amid the stir, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, who appeared not to understand the meaning of the word “tsobo,” sought clarification.

His confusion and attempt to grasp its meaning threw the chamber into a fit of laughter among some lawmakers.

Read the conversation that ensued in Parliament below:

Assafuah: Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Finance posted this on their Facebook wall. They said that sanitary pads have reduced from GH¢25 to GH¢15. According to their own words, if indeed a sanitary pad is now GH¢15, why are they now accounting to the people of Ghana that one sanitary pad is GH¢45? This is a tsobo government.

Dafeamekpor: Mr Speaker, I rise in pursuance of Order 123(1), content of speech. The Honorable Assafuah refers to the government as tsobo government. Mr Speaker, that is very unparliamentary.

Bagbin: Sorry, I didn’t hear the statement.

Dafeamekpor: Mr Speaker, you may not have heard it, but it has gone into the Hansard. Mr Speaker, the Honorable Member, as part of his commentary, said the NDC government is a tsobo government. Mr Speaker, that is unparliamentary. You can say so on radio, but in this House, that language is not permissible, and so, Mr Speaker, I am seeking your guidance that that portion of the speech be expunged. Mr Speaker, thank you.

Bagbin: Are you mentioning the word T-O-G-O? Did you say Togo government?

Dafeamekpor: Mr Speaker, not Togo. He said tsobo.

Bagbin: Choco? Choco.

Dafeamekpor: Tsobo. C-H-O-B-O or T-S-O-B-O.

Bagbin: Honorable Member, please, did you say the government is tsobo government?

Assafuah: Mr Speaker, precisely so.

Bagbin: What does that mean?

Assafuah: Mr Speaker, that means that 6.6 million pads that we could have used GH¢99 million, they are using GH¢292 million to buy. More than three times of the amount.

Bagbin: Please, the meaning of tsobo government.

Minority blasts Bagbin, Ayariga; demands immediate withdrawal of contempt petition against Afenyo-Markin

Assafuah: Mr Speaker, it means wasteful. You can also say that there is no value for money.

Dafeamekpor: Mr Speaker, not at all. Mr Speaker, it is a strict expression for fleecing somebody. When you are fleecing somebody, that is the phrase we use that you are taking tsobo from the person. You are fleecing the person, and that is what he is suggesting.

Bagbin: Honorable Members, these are words I don’t know which language, but I don’t understand the meaning of tsobo at all, and particularly the spelling, I am told either it is C-H-O-B-O or C-H-O-G-O or whatever. I don’t know.

MAG/AE

Stephen Atubiga reflects on his encounters with late Nana Konadu

Spanish-Ghanaian forward Nico Williams has playfully claimed he stands above Lamine Yamal in footballing ability, stressing the strong bond he shares with the Barcelona prodigy.

The Athletic Bilbao attacker made the remark during an interview with GQ, where he reflected on their friendship and their performances for Spain.

The pair have become central figures in Spanish football, with Yamal’s Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean roots and Williams’s Ghanaian background shaping two of the most compelling stories in the national team.

Their connection off the pitch has translated into decisive contributions on it, including their influence during Spain’s European Championship triumph last year.

Nico said his relationship with Yamal has grown through shared ambition and mutual respect.

“Lamine Yamal has incredible talent and he proves it every day… but he knows I’m his daddy,” he laughed. He added that their competitive edge keeps both players driven while maintaining a deep sense of camaraderie.

He also addressed the public scrutiny surrounding Yamal in recent months, offering a calm defence of his younger teammate.

“Everyone lives their life as they want, but I think the important thing is to be professional and always give your best when it matters,” he said. Nico stressed that elite footballers must find balance in their personal lives.

“Off the field, we also need to disconnect and enjoy ourselves, like everyone else. As long as there is respect and commitment, I don’t see a problem with that.”

The Athletic winger recently signed a new contract with the Basque club, reinforcing his long-term commitment to the team that developed him. He noted the emotional weight of representing a side so tied to community identity.

“Athletic and Bilbao mean everything to me… I’ve grown here as a person and as a player,” he said. “Representing this club and this city has made me understand the value of hard work, humility, and family. We all know that Athletic is unique in the world, as the motto says.”

The recent tragic deaths of six young women during the military recruitment stampede at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra have forced many of us to reflect on how seriously Ghana treats safety risks.

These events are not isolated; they occur during elections, protests, large gatherings, and almost daily on our roads.

Human life is priceless, but for policy and investment decisions, the U.S.

Department of Transportation currently assigns a statistical value of about $13.2 million per life (2023 dollars) to guide cost-benefit analyses.

The comparison underscores how advanced nations make safety a measurable, budgeted priority.

Road traffic fatalities remain one of Ghana’s most urgent public health challenges.

According to the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), more than 2,494 people died in road crashes in 2024, with over 12,000 injuries recorded from 15,000 incidents nationwide.

The World Health Organization’s 2023 Ghana Country Profile similarly identifies road traffic injuries as a leading cause of death, particularly among young people.

While reviewing resources on the National Road Safety Authority’s website, I found that much of the NRSA’s focus remains on legislation and enforcement.

A press release from the Ministry of Transport notes that during the Bloomberg Philanthropies Initiative for Global Road Safety meeting held in Accra in late August, the Ministry’s Chief Director, Mabel Sagoe, outlined government’s efforts to address the crisis.

Citing NRSA data that attributes most crashes to human behaviour, she announced that the Ministry is reviewing Ghana’s road traffic laws.

Media reports, including Modern Ghana, have highlighted proposals under discussion such as regulating commercial motorcycle use, revising licensing requirements, and introducing vehicle emission testing to promote

environmental responsibility.

However, legislation alone cannot solve Ghana’s road safety problem. Unlike countries such as the United States and Canada, Ghana is not an automobile-centric society.

Vehicle ownership remains relatively low, with most registered vehicles concentrated in Accra and Kumasi.

Across much of the country, mobility primarily means walking to school, markets, healthcare, churches, mosques, and workplaces.

Yet the infrastructure for pedestrians — and to a lesser extent cyclists — is sorely lacking.

As a result, vulnerable road users, who account for more than 60% of road traffic fatalities nationwide, are forced to share unconstrained and often unsafe road space with vehicles and motorcycles of varying sizes.

Unless Ghana approaches road safety from this reality—recognising how people actually move and committing to a safe-system design inspired by Vision Zero—preventable deaths are likely to continue.

Vision Zero, first adopted in Sweden and now promoted globally by WHO and Bloomberg Philanthropies, emphasises that no loss of life is acceptable and that road systems must be designed to anticipate human error.

Ghana’s participation in the Bloomberg Initiative for Global Road Safety reflects an important step toward this paradigm shift.

A Worsening Pattern: 2025 Crash Data Shows Rising Danger

Fresh NRSA data covering January–August 2025 reveals an alarming and sustained increase in nearly every category of road trauma when compared to the same period in 2024:

These figures paint a clear picture: Ghana’s road safety crisis is worsening, not improving.

Each category’s upward trend is troubling, but the 20 percent rise in fatalities is particularly devastating.

It shows that crashes are not only more frequent — they are becoming more severe and more deadly.

This escalation suggests that Ghana’s road system is failing on multiple fronts: road design, user behaviour, speed management, enforcement, and protective measures for pedestrians and cyclists.

When fatalities rise this sharply in just one year, it signals that the system is not absorbing risk — it is amplifying it.

Ghana’s Current Efforts and Persistent Gaps.

The Government of Ghana has taken important steps to improve road safety.

The NRSA has strengthened its crash monitoring and reporting systems, and in 2025, the Ministry of Transport launched a renewed national road safety strategy intended to respond to rising fatalities.

However, the latest crash data exposes a widening gap between policy ambitions and lived realities.

Despite the improvements in reporting, the real-world outcomes on the roads show deteriorating safety conditions.

The Accra Road Safety Report (2024) confirms that pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists—those least protected in traffic—account for the majority of deaths.

This is not surprising. For decades, Ghana’s transportation investments have largely prioritised vehicle movement over human safety.

Critical deficits remain in:

• Safe pedestrian crossings and walkways.

• Protected bicycle lanes.

• Speed management in urban areas.

• Traffic-calming infrastructure.

• Public transport efficiency and reliability.

These gaps are structural and systemic—not merely behavioural.

Enforcement alone cannot resolve them.

Global evidence shows that legislation and penalties may improve compliance, but no police-driven strategy can reduce fatalities without safe infrastructure and road design reform.

For Ghana, the rising crash figures confirm that incremental improvements—while necessary—are not sufficient.

Lessons from Vision Zero: A Systems Approach That Works Vision Zero, implemented in cities like San Francisco and New York, is based on a simple but radical premise: road deaths are not accidents; they are failures of the system, and every one of them is preventable.

Vision Zero shifts responsibility away from blaming individuals and toward the institutions responsible for designing the transportation environment: planners, engineers, policymakers, and government agencies.

In San Francisco, where I contributed to Vision Zero efforts, geospatial crash data was used to identify the city’s most dangerous streets—referred to as “high-injury network.” Notably, the network is made up of only a small percentage of the city’s road network but accounted for the majority of severe and fatal crashes.

Targeting these locations with tailored interventions—better crossings, improved lighting, lane reconfigurations, and speed management— is helping reduce severe collisions leading to fatal and serious injuries. Ghana can adopt the same principles:

• Target the roads where most deaths occur.

• Design out risk rather than merely reacting to it.

• Build systems that protect human error, rather than punish it.

When safety is treated as a design responsibility, outcomes change.

A National Vision Zero Agenda for Ghana

To reverse the rising death toll, as a key focus of the NRSA, Ghana must adopt a coordinated Vision Zero agenda anchored in three pillars: safe infrastructure, safe systems, and safe speeds.

The specific goal of this agenda is to zero-down traffic fatalities and serious injuries. Key components should include:

1. A bold national target of zero deaths and serious injuries by 2050

Setting a long-term goal focuses national attention and aligns policy, investment, and institutional culture toward safety.

2. Targeted infrastructure investment

Ghana must prioritise interventions that protect vulnerable road users — pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists — through protected crossings, dedicated cycle lanes, median refuges, raised intersections, and traffic-calming measures in urban centres.

3. Data-driven enforcement

Enforcement should be guided by crash data, deployed where fatalities and injuries are concentrated, and linked to speed management strategies.

4. Cross-sector collaboration

Road safety is not just a transportation issue.

It requires coordination across transport planning, public health, education, law enforcement, and community engagement.

These measures support the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030), which calls for halving global traffic deaths by 2030. Ghana cannot achieve this without a systemic shift.

Conclusion

The tragedies we witness on our roads are not random; they are predictable outcomes of how we design, regulate, and manage transportation systems.

Vision Zero offers a proven, evidence-based pathway to protect human life.

Every Ghanaian life is irreplaceable.

No death should ever be viewed as the unavoidable cost of mobility.

Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato, a political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, has called for the scrapping of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), arguing that the institution has outlived its usefulness and resources allocated to it should be channeled into development projects like the Big Push initiative.

The senior lecturer described the OSP as becoming a drain on the country, suggesting that funds used to service the office could be better utilized for other national priorities. His call comes amid growing debate about the effectiveness and independence of anti corruption institutions in Ghana.

Dr. Zaato has been a persistent critic of the OSP, particularly under the leadership of Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng. In August 2025, he accused the office of weaponizing bail against former Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) board chair Paul Adom Otchere, calling the conduct vindictive and an indictment of Ghana’s democracy.

Speaking on TV3’s Key Points following Adom Otchere’s brief detention after reporting to the OSP on July 31, Zaato criticized the office’s handling of bail conditions. Adom Otchere was released on August 1 after his legal team, including former Attorney General Godfred Dame, negotiated revised bail terms secured by the Jospong Group of Companies as surety.

The OSP confirmed in an August 1 statement that the new conditions met the objectives of the original bail, stressing that investigation into a GACL revenue assurance contract with a firm linked to Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) remained active. However, Zaato maintained that the initial bail conditions appeared designed to punish rather than facilitate justice.

In October 2025, Zaato challenged the fairness and impartiality of the government’s anti corruption drive, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL). Speaking on The Key Points on October 25, he questioned Attorney General Dominic Akuritinga Ayine’s decision to file nolle prosequi, a formal notice of abandonment of prosecution, for members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) who were standing trial for various offenses under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

While stating he supports accountability, Zaato criticized what he termed sweetheart deals granted to political allies. He argued that the practice undermines current anti graft efforts and estimated that the total value of money involved in the nolle prosequi cases would be equal to or almost close to what ORAL was supposed to recover, effectively calling the funds money flushed down the toilet.

Zaato outlined the massive opportunity cost of dropping the earlier cases, suggesting that if both the money involved in the nolle prosequi cases and the funds ORAL seeks to recover were successfully retrieved, the government could fund major national development projects. “Imagine in a fair world, we collected the money of the seven or five nolle prosequi cases. We could easily fund the Big Push Agenda,” he stated.

The Big Push initiative, launched by President John Dramani Mahama in February 2025, aims to accelerate Ghana’s industrialization through coordinated public investment in strategic sectors. The program focuses on industrial transformation, agriculture modernization, infrastructure development, and job creation for youth.

Zaato strongly advocated for non partisan judicial accountability, stating that politicians should not decide the fate of those accused of crimes. He offered a theory on post regime accountability, stating that if a government fails to hold its own people to account, the next government has every right to pursue justice. However, he maintained that the current government’s actions were hypocritical, effectively telling one group of political friends to keep the money while aggressively pursuing another.

The OSP was established in 2018 through Act 959 as an independent specialized agency to investigate and prosecute corruption and corruption related offenses involving public officials and politically exposed persons. The office is mandated to prosecute offenders on the authority of the Attorney General, who serves as the principal legal adviser to the government.

Kissi Agyebeng has been Special Prosecutor since August 2021, taking over from Martin Amidu, who resigned in November 2020 citing presidential interference. Under Agyebeng’s leadership, the OSP has pursued several high profile cases, including investigations into former Finance Minister Ken Ofori Atta over the SML revenue assurance contracts with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The OSP filed 78 charges against Ofori Atta and seven others on November 18, 2025 over alleged violations of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663). Those charged alongside Ofori Atta include former GRA commissioners general, senior GRA officials, a former technical advisor at the Ministry of Finance, and SML owner Evans Adusei.

However, controversy has surrounded the case after Ofori Atta left Ghana around January 2, 2025 while under investigation. Private legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has accused Agyebeng of complicity in the former minister’s exit and called for his resignation, pointing to the Special Prosecutor’s admission that he watched Ken Ofori Atta leave and was powerless to stop him.

On November 29, 2025, Kpebu stated that the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), National Security, and Ghana Immigration Service have all denied receiving any request from the OSP to stop Ofori Atta from leaving Ghana, directly contradicting Agyebeng’s claims. A group of Ghanaians led by Apostle Abraham Lincoln Larbi and Kpebu staged a protest in Accra on November 25 demanding the Special Prosecutor’s immediate removal from office over what they describe as his failure to deliver on his mandate.

Zaato’s latest call for scrapping the OSP adds to mounting criticism of anti corruption efforts in Ghana. Critics argue that political interference, selective prosecution, and lack of institutional independence undermine the effectiveness of agencies tasked with fighting corruption. Supporters counter that the OSP has made progress in investigating previously untouchable politically exposed persons and that dismantling the office would set back Ghana’s anti corruption agenda.

The debate reflects broader tensions about how Ghana should structure its anti corruption architecture and whether existing institutions can operate independently of political pressure while maintaining public confidence in their impartiality and effectiveness.

ITA Airways says it prioritises passengers satisfaction

ITA Airways has written to GhanaWeb to clarify details contained in an earlier news story with the headline, ‘Ghanaian travelers stranded after ITA Airways and KLM cancel flights.’

In that report, it was indicated that the cancelled flights by ITA Airways caused inconvenience to travelers who were left stranded, without prior notice.

But after its own investigations, ITA Airways has written to the website to clarify the situation, stating that the cancellations had been announced in advance.

“ITA Airways takes the satisfaction of its passengers very seriously. In response to the recent cases involving passengers affected by the cancellation of flight AZ853 on November 25 from Accra to Rome, we have conducted a thorough review of the circumstances. Based on this review, we confirm that the cancellations were communicated well in advance,” the rejoinder from ITA stated.

Read the full details of the rejoinder sent to GhanaWeb below:

ITA Airways Statement

ITA Airways takes the satisfaction of its passengers very seriously. In response to the recent cases involving passengers affected by the cancellation of flight AZ853 on November 25 from Accra to Rome, we have conducted a thorough review of the circumstances.

Based on this review, we confirm that the cancellations were communicated well in advance. Only in two cases, the passenger’s contact details was incorrect, and both the airline and the booking agency were unable to reach the affected passengers directly. The company ensured that both passengers were reprotected on alternative flights at the first available opportunity.

Therefore, in accordance with applicable regulations, no entitlement to compensation arises. However, as ITA Airways remains committed to passenger care, the company will review any reasonable expenses incurred by the two passengers and evaluate reimbursement where appropriate.

We remain available for any further clarification or information.

MAG/AE

ITA Airways says it prioritises passengers satisfaction

ITA Airways has written to GhanaWeb to clarify details contained in an earlier news story with the headline, ‘Ghanaian travelers stranded after ITA Airways and KLM cancel flights.’

In that report, it was indicated that the cancelled flights by ITA Airways caused inconvenience to travelers who were left stranded, without prior notice.

But after its own investigations, ITA Airways has written to the website to clarify the situation, stating that the cancellations had been announced in advance.

“ITA Airways takes the satisfaction of its passengers very seriously. In response to the recent cases involving passengers affected by the cancellation of flight AZ853 on November 25 from Accra to Rome, we have conducted a thorough review of the circumstances. Based on this review, we confirm that the cancellations were communicated well in advance,” the rejoinder from ITA stated.

Read the full details of the rejoinder sent to GhanaWeb below:

ITA Airways Statement

ITA Airways takes the satisfaction of its passengers very seriously. In response to the recent cases involving passengers affected by the cancellation of flight AZ853 on November 25 from Accra to Rome, we have conducted a thorough review of the circumstances.

Based on this review, we confirm that the cancellations were communicated well in advance. Only in two cases, the passenger’s contact details was incorrect, and both the airline and the booking agency were unable to reach the affected passengers directly. The company ensured that both passengers were reprotected on alternative flights at the first available opportunity.

Therefore, in accordance with applicable regulations, no entitlement to compensation arises. However, as ITA Airways remains committed to passenger care, the company will review any reasonable expenses incurred by the two passengers and evaluate reimbursement where appropriate.

We remain available for any further clarification or information.

MAG/AE

By Evans Worlanyo Ameamu, GNA 

Hatorgodo (V/R), Nov 28, GNA – The Keta Municipal Assembly in the Volta Region has honoured some hardworking farmers to mark the 41st Farmers’ Day celebration at Hatorgodo in the Municipality. 

Twelve categories of awards shortlisted included Best Crop Farmer, Best Livestock Farmer, Best Agro Processor, Best Youth Farmer and Best Person with Disability Farmer who received various awards to encourage and empower them to improve the development of agriculture in the municipality and in the country as a whole. 

Mr Godwin Tettey, the Keta Municipal Director of Agriculture said the event was to honour and celebrate hardworking farmers in the area to promote agriculture. 

“This year’s celebration is being marked under the powerful and inspiring theme, ‘Feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, Secure the Future,’ which reminds us of our shared responsibility to strengthen our food system, promote local consumption and build a resilient economy.” 

He said the celebration had provided the opportunity to reflect on the immense contributions of farmers and fishermen and women who woke up every day to endure that food reached various homes, markets, and industries. 

Mr Tettey explained that the resilience, particularly in the face of the rising production costs, climate variability, and environmental pressures continued to sustain the local and national economy while in Keta Municipality, agriculture remained the bedrock of livelihoods.  

“From vegetable farming and food crop production to livestock rearing and fishing, our agricultural sector plays a critical role in employment creation, nutrition, and food security. 

When we feed Ghana, Eat Ghana, we affirm the importance of supporting local farmers and strengthening the value chains that ensure high quality, safe, and nutritious food for all.” 

He emphasised that the farmers in the northern zone of the municipality strived hard to grow arable crops such as maize, rice, cassava, sweet potato, pepper and sugarcane, and rear animals including small and large ruminants and poultry every year to ensure food security. 

Mr Wisdom Bondeau Seade, the Keta Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), who was Guest of Honour at the event urged the public to always grow, eat and use local products for the progress and development of agriculture in the municipality and the country. 

He said agriculture was the backbone of the country and that government would continue to provide the necessary support to individuals, groups, and communities, who prioritised agriculture production to produce more yields to feed the country. 

For the awards, Mr Pascal Dasilveira, from Nolopi was adjudged overall Municipal Best Farmer while Regent Togbi Shikabli Christian of Tsiame, Mr Nelson Hormeku from Dorveme and Madam Angela Avettey of Dzelukope emerged First Runner-up, Best PWD Farmer and Best cCollaborating Farmer respectively of the year. 

Mr David Kpatta, the Assembly Member of Tsiame Electoral Area was also adjudged Best Crop Farmer, Mr Wokomayor Dovlo, Best Livestock Farmer, Madam Victoria Amegbe, Best Agroprocessor and Master Frederick Kumahor as the Best Youth Farmer of the year in the municipality. 

Other winners were Hamenu Farmers Group from Hatorgodo as the Best Farmer-based Organisation, Atsiame-Heluvi Basic School, the Municipal Best Agricultural Basic School and the host Hatorgodo community for the hosting efforts. 

The farmers received various forms of awards such as knapsack sprayers, Wellington boots, cutlasses, fertilizers, tricycle, insecticides, bicycles, and certificates among others. 

Some award winners Ghana News Agency interviewed expressed excitement over the awards and thanked the Municipal Agricultural Department for the recognition. 

They pledged to work beyond the limit to promote agriculture and produce more for the consumption of the public and appealed to the government to solve some pressing challenges in the area which included good roads, fertilizers and herbicides. 

GNA 

Edited by: Maxwell Awumah/George-Ramsey Benamba  

The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) has called on the government to explore public–private partnership (PPP) options instead of borrowing.  

Mr Stephane Miezan, President of the Chamber, said this could include partnerships with domestic private sector investors as an alternative to additional borrowing.  

Mr Miezan was speaking at the 6th edition of the Chamber National Dialogue Series in Accra.  

The Dialogue Series is designed to bring policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and experts into one shared space to exchange insights into critical national issues. 

This dialogue focused on the review of the 2026 National Budget, its orientation, policy direction, and, most importantly, its implications for private sector development.  

The president called on the government to remain steadfast in ensuring that the budget was effectively implemented to improve the economy. 

He said, “Over the years, we have observed well-designed policies presented in national budgets but left unimplemented.”  

He urged the government to reconsider plans to re-enter the domestic bond market, even with a cautious approach, to avoid a return to debt distress. 

“We believe it is too early in the day to start accruing debt,” he added.  

He said the 2026 Budget, as outlined by the government, seeks to consolidate the macroeconomic stability achieved in 2025, strengthen fiscal discipline, and accelerate inclusive growth under three foundational pillars.  

These are macroeconomic consolidation, expanded growth and job creation, and enhanced social and security investment.  

He said these commitments, if effectively implemented, present opportunities for industry, as well as areas requiring vigilance and strong advocacy.  

GNCCI will continue to champion a business-friendly environment, one that reduces the cost of doing business, boosts productive capacity, strengthens institutional frameworks, and unlocks new markets under AfCFTA and beyond. 

“We remain committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure that national policies translate into tangible outcomes for Ghanaian enterprises,” he added.  

An economist, Professor Patrick Opoku Asuming, projected a more business-friendly environment for Ghana in 2026.  

He cited the government’s planned VAT reforms, improved macroeconomic targets, and a stronger commitment to fiscal discipline.  

He said the business community was likely to welcome the government’s intention to keep expenditure under control while pursuing a primary balance to reduce the overall deficit.  

According to him, the measures signal a deliberate effort to stabilise the economy after years of turbulence.  

Prof. Asuming said the government appeared ready to ease restrictions and accelerate economic activities by reactivating key flagship programmes.  

He explained that it marked a shift from the tight fiscal conditions experienced in the current year.  

“There seems to be an attempt to move the handbrake a little to get the economy moving,” he said, adding that businesses would be encouraged by the renewed focus on growth-oriented initiatives.  

Mr Yaw Appiah Lartey, Partner for Strategy & Partnerships at Deloitte Ghana, described the 2026 Budget as a deliberate plan by the government to stimulate growth after stabilising the economy in 2025.  

He explained that much of 2025 was spent addressing the spillover effects of overspending from the previous year and meeting critical IMF-guided macroeconomic targets.  

He said the government’s decision to significantly increase capital expenditure from a projected 36 percent in 2025 to nearly GH¢60 billion in 2026 shows a renewed focus on infrastructure and growth-oriented investments, including major allocations to the Big Push initiative and other strategic projects.  

Mr Lartey cautioned that the ambitious infrastructure drive must not be fuelled by expensive borrowing, which had historically worsened Ghana’s debt situation.  

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.

Godfred Alufar Bokpin is a Professor of Finance at the University of Ghana

A Professor of Finance at the University of Ghana, Professor Godfred Alufar Bokpin, is advising caution regarding sustainability of fiscal reforms, stating that the 2026 National Budget fails to articulate a clear strategy for maintaining discipline once the country exits the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme in the middle of next year.

Speaking at the annual Deloitte Economic Dialogue held recently, Prof. Bokpin identified the absence of a defined post-programme path as the primary risk to budget objectives, arguing that it leaves the economy vulnerable to the cyclical fiscal indiscipline that has historically followed periods of IMF-supported stability.

“Is there going to be a technical extension of about three months, as we have seen with Zambia and the like?” Prof. Bokpin queried. Prof. Bokpin said in this referencing the nation’s history of reverting to excessive spending and money-printing once external supervision is lifted.

He also delivered a stringent critique of the current administration’s expenditure execution; arguing that resources are being allocated sub-optimally, even under the pressure of fiscal consolidation.

Prof. Bokpin highlighted that government revenue shortfalls often lead to immediate cuts in budgeted spending to avoid recourse to high-cost borrowing. While this approach signals prudence, it creates significant delays in vital infrastructure projects and leads to poor resource utilisation.

He cites data from the 2025 budget which allocated approximately GH¢33billion to Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) but only achieved an execution rate of roughly 55 percent.This disparity, he argued, indicates that the state is “not spending and allocating resources optimally” – thereby sacrificing growth that should accompany the current period of macroeconomic stabilisation.

The finance expert further criticised escalating institutional costs of implementing government policies, which he attributed to structural duplication across the public sector.

Meanwhile, civil society organisation (CSO) SEND Ghana’s analysis of the 2026 budget commended government for its “renewed effort to enhance development and reduce inequalities”.

“The 2026 budget analysis is a reminder that more must be done to ensure social sector spending translates into real improvements in wellbeing, inclusion and dignity for all Ghanaians.”

The CSO praised incentives for teachers in rural areas and value-addition in agriculture, however the CSO pointed pointed to “persistent gaps in service delivery, inequitable access and inconsistent funding flows” as barriers to implementing initiatives.

It also welcomeed the plans to construct hundreds of new schools and teacher-bungalows, celebrating government’s move to give 20 percent allowance for teachers in rural schools – sating this is victory for advocates and a direct response to SEND Ghana’s campaign.

Policy think tank IMANI Africa has cautioned the Government of Ghana against proceeding with a state led acquisition of Springfield Exploration and Production’s Afina oil discovery, describing the asset as high risk and warning that any purchase could reward poor corporate governance while exposing taxpayers to speculative liabilities.

The warning comes as the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) and its subsidiary GNPC Explorco engage in discussions with Springfield regarding a potential takeover of the company’s interest in the West Cape Three Points Block 2 (WCTP2). The Ministry of Energy and Green Transition confirmed the talks last week, stating that the government considers it urgent to advance development of the resource base as Ghana’s national crude oil production declines.

IMANI praised Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor’s February 2025 decision to withdraw the forced unitisation directive between ENI’s Sankofa field and Springfield’s Afina discovery. The original directive, first issued in April 2020, sought to compel Eni and Vitol to combine the Sankofa field, developed at a cost of almost 7 billion US dollars and already producing, with Springfield’s Afina, which did not have a confirmed commercial find, and hand over 55 percent of the merged field to Springfield.

An international arbitration tribunal ruled in July 2024 that the unitisation directive was unlawful. The tribunal found that while the concept of unitisation itself was not deemed invalid, the issuance of the directives breached the Petroleum Agreement due to specific circumstances of their implementation. Minister Jinapor announced the withdrawal on February 25, 2025, following a thorough review of the arbitral award and legal opinion from the Attorney General.

However, IMANI expressed concern that news of a potential government buyout could open doors for capitulation to lobbyists and backroom dealers. The organization characterized Afina as essentially a one well discovery with long delayed appraisal, fragmented testing history, and contested resource estimates. The absence of consistent, transparent, regulator validated data makes any attempt to fix a reliable commercial value inherently speculative and vulnerable to political influence, according to IMANI.

Ghana already owns stakes in Afina through Explorco and GNPC. IMANI suggested the government could instead lend funds to the implicit joint venture to reduce risk through additional appraisal, including drilling another well to improve commercial confidence. This loan could be structured as a convertible with Ghana owning the exclusive option to convert the loan to additional equity in the block, with step up provisions granting Ghana a controlling stake if necessary.

Springfield’s initial public claim of over one billion barrels of recoverable reserves has not been independently verified through a full appraisal program overseen by the Petroleum Commission. Contradictory interpretations from ENI, GNPC, and external analysts underscore the depth of technical ambiguity. IMANI warned bluntly that the block could be worthless.

The think tank argued that determining commercial viability cannot be limited to reviewing data collected by Springfield. Minister Jinapor’s suggestion that he could base a decision to acquire the block on such a review is untenable, IMANI stated. Determining commercial viability would likely involve significant new investment under an arrangement controlled by the government as a lender.

Springfield’s reported debt exposure and its legal dispute with Swiss trader Petraco raise serious questions about whether GNPC could inadvertently absorb legacy liabilities or financially distressed obligations through the Afina deal. The company that drilled the only well at Afina has already won arbitration proceedings against Springfield because of the latter’s refusal to pay its bills, raising questions about what actual serious investments Springfield has made in Afina.

GNPC has publicly denied endorsing a reported 700 million dollar valuation, but IMANI said denials remain insufficient if the process continues to rely on data curated or filtered by Springfield, the party with the strongest incentive to inflate asset value. Analysts have maintained that Afina’s commerciality is unproven and that prior valuation ranges derived from Springfield supplied data reflect optimism bias and weak regulatory oversight.

The Africa Centre for Energy Policy (ACEP) has similarly questioned the government’s approach. ACEP Executive Director Ben Boakye argued that the WCTP2 block already belongs to the state and should be reclaimed, not purchased, following Springfield’s alleged failure to meet contractual obligations. He described efforts to predetermine a valuation of up to 1.1 billion dollars as unrealistic and based on discredited data.

The Ministry of Energy stated that the Petroleum Commission and GNPC have commenced procurement to hire an independent technical consultant and transactional advisor. Their mandate includes comprehensive technical evaluation of the WCTP2 block, full audit and verification of historical expenditure including appraisal costs, financial due diligence review of Springfield’s liabilities and contractual commitments, and independent valuation and pricing framework to establish a fair and transparent acquisition price.

IMANI insisted there has simply not been sufficient appraisal to collect enough serious data for any valuer to work with. Once enough robust data is available, the focus can switch to the appraisal procedure, but who selects the valuer, defines the scope, and controls data access will remain critical. IMANI demanded a full seat for civil society at that table to boost public confidence, given the murky history of the Afina block.

The think tank warned that GNPC faces a structural conflict of interest as it cannot credibly act as buyer, technical assessor, and quasi regulator simultaneously. The Petroleum Commission must reassert primacy as the technical arbiter, with full access to raw seismic and well data, and authority insulated from political or commercial pressure, IMANI stated.

Ghana’s current macroeconomic context, including debt restructuring, fiscal consolidation, and International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditionalities, makes any large scale upstream acquisition particularly risky and unwise. Capital allocated to an outright acquisition of Afina could crowd out more sustainable investments in proven gas infrastructure or other energy infrastructure priorities.

International best practice from Norway, the United Kingdom, and Canada shows that unitisation and asset transfers work best when governed by transparent data sharing, regulator led reservoir modeling, and strict separation between state ownership and commercial decision making. Ghana’s process so far falls short of this benchmark, IMANI argued.

Comparative experiences from Brazil and Nigeria illustrate the danger of national champion strategies that overburden state oil companies with politically motivated acquisitions, leading to inefficiency, corruption exposure, and value destruction. Afina risks becoming another such cautionary tale if discipline is not enforced, the organization warned.

IMANI stated that a state acquisition of Afina can only be justified if strictly ring fenced to the asset itself, excluding all non Afina liabilities, backed by independent double blind technical reviews, and publicly scrutinized by Parliament with civil society input prior to any commitment. However, even these safeguards are not the first step.

The first step is to design, fund, and execute a robust appraisal program to gather rigorous data, IMANI said. This first step to reduce risk would naturally involve far less money than amounts being discussed. That money should be provided as a convertible loan after the governance of Afina has been retooled to ensure that the current joint management committee has multi stakeholder state and society dominance and assumes substantive control of the appraisal.

Otherwise, the Afina acquisition would represent a classic moral hazard scenario, rewarding weak corporate governance, offsetting speculative risk at public expense, and institutionalizing a precedent where distressed private oil firms can lobby the state for financial rescue via strategic resource narratives, IMANI concluded.

The organization characterized the Afina saga as not merely about petroleum but as a powerful test of the government’s commitment to good governance and prudent use of the public purse. Crude oil production fell 25.9 percent in the first half of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024, according to the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC), intensifying pressure on the government to reverse production declines.

Tony O. Elumelu, group chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) and holder of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) honor, has completed a two day official visit to Ghana during which he engaged with national leadership and addressed public finance managers at the third African Association of Accountants General (AAAG) Conference. The visit focused on accelerating sustainable development through public and private sector collaboration.

President John Dramani Mahama received Elumelu and senior UBA executives at Jubilee House. Their discussions centered on driving economic growth, boosting productivity, and expanding job opportunities across Ghana. The meeting aligned with a key objective of the UBA Africa Tour to deepen partnerships with African governments for prosperity, financial inclusion, and long term development.

Elumelu held a working session with the UBA Ghana Board of Directors and interacted with executive leadership, reaffirming the bank’s commitment to supporting Ghana’s economic agenda, strengthening the financial sector, and empowering businesses and communities throughout the region.

The highlight of the visit came during his keynote address at the AAAG Conference, held from November 24 to 27, 2025 at the Accra International Conference Centre under the theme “Africa of Tomorrow: Positioning Public Financial Management for Economic Prosperity.” The event brought together more than 2,000 public accountants, policymakers, and technology experts from across the continent.

Speaking to financial stewards, Elumelu emphasized the need for stronger collaboration between public and private sectors, anchored on transparency, trust, and accountability. He presented his philosophy of Africapitalism, which positions the African private sector as the driver of development while creating economic and social wealth for communities.

Elumelu highlighted Africa’s substantial financial resources available for development. “Africa has over 4 trillion US dollars available for development, not in foreign aid, but in our own pension funds and institutional assets,” he stated. “Yet these resources can only be mobilized when there is trust, discipline, and predictable rules. As Accountants General, you are the custodians of this trust and the vanguards of Africa’s transformation.”

He showcased the transformational impact of long term African investment through concrete examples. The UBA Group operates across 20 African countries, while Heirs Holdings generates multi sector impact throughout the continent. The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) has disbursed more than 115 million dollars to over 24,000 entrepreneurs since 2015, creating more than 1.5 million jobs across all 54 African countries and generating over 4.2 billion dollars in revenue.

The foundation’s 2025 cohort includes 3,000 newly selected entrepreneurs who will each receive 5,000 dollars in non refundable seed capital, business training on TEFConnect, one on one mentorship, and access to global networks. Women owned businesses represent 45 percent of TEF beneficiaries, collectively creating over 500,000 jobs.

Elumelu presented UBA’s White Paper, “Banking on Africa’s Future: Unlocking Capital and Partnerships for Sustainable Growth,” which provides a comprehensive roadmap for accelerating progress through innovative financial solutions, policy reforms, and strategic partnerships. The document focuses on trade facilitation, infrastructure development, digital innovation, climate finance, and inclusive growth.

“The time for talk is over. Africa’s transformation depends on all of us, government and private sector, working together with integrity, discipline, and purpose,” Elumelu concluded. “Let us build partnerships that deliver real impact and shared prosperity for our continent.”

The AAAG is a pan African organization established under African Union auspices to drive transformation, enhance transparency, and ensure accountability in managing public resources. The association brings together offices of accountants general across Africa as a strategic platform fostering excellence in Public Financial Management (PFM) through collaboration, knowledge sharing, technical assistance, and capacity building.

Malehlohonolo Mahase, AAAG chairperson and accountant general for Lesotho, noted the conference centered on ethics, technology driven service delivery, strong financial governance, and streamlined public processes. Frederick Riaga, AAAG chief executive officer, emphasized the critical role of accountants general in executing public programs and stressed the importance of capacity building and collaboration.

The visit reinforces UBA’s continued commitment to driving Africa’s economic renewal and collaborating with governments, regulators, and development partners to unlock the continent’s full potential. UBA aims to facilitate 50 billion dollars in trade and investment flows over the next five years by strengthening ties with global partners.

Ghana’s banking sector is closing 2025 with diminishing cash reserves and sharply declining liquidity as monetary authorities maintain pressure to control inflation. New data reveals banks are operating with significantly less free cash than a year ago, raising questions about spending momentum and economic vitality heading into year end.

Bank reserves, a major component of Reserve Money, have remained in negative territory for most of 2025. After hitting negative 11 percent in June, reserves briefly recovered in July before falling again to negative 3 percent in August, negative 13.4 percent in September, and negative 6.5 percent in October. The persistent downward trend indicates banks are managing substantially leaner cash balances compared to previous periods.

Total liquidity in the economy, measured by broad money supply (M2+), has weakened consecutively throughout the year. M2+ growth dropped from 31.7 percent in March to 18.1 percent in May, then to 15.6 percent in June, 16.6 percent in August, and finally just 8.2 percent in October. This represents one of the steepest liquidity slowdowns in recent memory, reflecting tightening cash flows throughout the financial system.

Currency outside banks, which remained extremely elevated through 2024, has fallen substantially during 2025. October saw a slight uptick, rising from 13.9 percent to 14.4 percent, but levels remain well below last year’s figures. The pattern suggests households and businesses continue spending cautiously with only minimal return to cash based transactions.

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) appears committed to maintaining tight liquidity conditions as part of its strategy to suppress inflation. Restrictive monetary policy typically cools price pressures by reducing demand, limiting excess cash, and moderating lending growth. Ghana’s headline inflation fell to 8 percent in October 2025 from 9.4 percent in September, marking the tenth consecutive monthly decline and the lowest level since June 2021.

Government Statistician Alhassan Iddrisu described the October inflation figure as confirmation that price pressures are moderating and stabilizing. Month on month inflation turned negative at minus 0.4 percent, meaning the overall price level of goods and services actually declined between September and October.

The disinflation success comes amid broader monetary policy actions. The BoG has implemented stepped up liquidity sterilization efforts alongside tight monetary stance, contributing to the gradual inflation decline. International reserves climbed to 10.7 billion US dollars in August 2025, providing critical financial stability.

However, the comprehensive liquidity squeeze raises concerns about real economic momentum. With bank reserves shrinking, liquidity growth slowing, and money supply indicators decelerating across the board, signs suggest the economy may be losing some steam as 2025 winds down. Banking sector liquidity surged to 343 billion Ghana cedis in August, driven primarily by increased foreign currency deposits that offset declines in domestic money holdings.

The central bank faces a delicate balancing act. Tight liquidity helps anchor inflation expectations and supports exchange rate stability, but excessive tightening risks choking off credit availability and dampening business activity. Private sector credit growth reached 26.3 percent in December 2024, up from 10.7 percent the previous year, but sustained liquidity restrictions could constrain lending capacity going forward.

Regional inflation disparities reveal uneven economic conditions. The North East Region recorded the highest inflation at 17.3 percent in October, while Bono East Region posted the lowest at 1.1 percent, reflecting differences in food production, market access, and transportation costs.

For now, monetary authorities appear comfortable maintaining restrictive settings. The strategy aims to cement gains against inflation while managing the risk of economic slowdown. Whether this tight rope walk can continue without triggering sharper growth deceleration remains a key question as Ghana enters 2026.

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) has ramped up preparations for the 2025 edition of December in GH with visible promotional displays across Accra and stakeholder engagements aimed at ensuring safety, compliance and operational excellence during the festive season.

Telescopic flags and strategically placed billboards highlighting the festivities have been installed from Airport Roundabout through key locations across the capital, making the celebrations visible to residents and visitors as December approaches.

The promotional push accompanies a series of high level stakeholder meetings convened by GTA to coordinate efforts among event organizers, industry partners, security agencies and tourism sector players. The most recent engagement took place on November 19 at the Shipper’s Authority, bringing together critical stakeholders across the tourism and creative sectors.

GTA Chief Executive Officer Maame Efua Houadjeto emphasized the need for stronger coordination and disciplined execution as Ghana prepares for another globally anticipated festive season. She said the Black Star Experience, anchored by December in GH, has evolved into a national economic engine driving tourism arrivals, stimulating investment, expanding the creative economy and boosting regional participation.

This year’s robust calendar reflects the increasing confidence the international community places in Ghana as a premium destination, Houadjeto stated. She added that visitors continue to choose Ghana for its authenticity and quality of experience, requiring stakeholders to work collectively to safeguard that reputation.

The CEO outlined three critical operational priorities for the 2025 festivities: strengthening compliance and safety protocols across all event venues, ensuring timely communication and coordination to eliminate last minute disruptions, and enhancing data collection and reporting to support evidence based planning and impact assessment.

She assured participants of the Authority’s support through structured facilitation, responsive inter-agency coordination and swift resolution of operational bottlenecks to ensure an efficient and successful festive period.

The official launch of December in GH 2025 took place earlier this year at the Banquet Hall in Flagstaff House, with Chief of Staff Julius Debrah leading proceedings. He described the initiative as a national movement rather than a government program, urging Ghanaians across all sectors to promote the country’s cultural wealth through digital storytelling and social media.

Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts Abla Dzifa Gomashie framed the campaign as a cultural renaissance. December in GH has evolved into more than a festive season. It is now a cultural movement, a global call to come home, she declared.

The GTA also engaged security leadership to ensure robust protection during the festivities. In a meeting with Inspector General of Police Dr George Akuffo Dampare, Houadjeto commended consistent professionalism and commitment to national safety. She cited the 2024 Tourism Report showing 65 percent of international visitors consider Ghana one of the safest destinations in Africa.

The Inspector General expressed appreciation for the proactive engagement and assured the GTA of police preparedness to provide robust security before, during and after the festivities. He emphasized that collaboration between both institutions is essential for delivering a seamless and incident free December experience.

Now in its sixth year, December in GH draws tens of thousands of visitors from across the globe, including the Ghanaian diaspora and broader African diaspora reconnecting with their roots. The initiative aligns with the Black Star Experience, Ghana’s global cultural positioning strategy.

First launched during the Year of Return in 2019 and followed by the Beyond the Return campaign, December in GH has grown into a globally recognized phenomenon. Events span from Accra to Kumasi, Cape Coast to Tamale, with celebrities, entrepreneurs and diasporans arriving each year to participate.

The month long celebration features a diverse calendar of curated events across music, fashion, art, nightlife and heritage tourism. Past editions have hosted major concerts, street carnivals, cultural showcases, art fairs and food festivals that contribute significantly to Ghana’s economy and global image.

The GTA opened calls for event proposals in May, inviting organizers, promoters and cultural curators to submit innovative proposals for events scheduled between December 1, 2025, and January 3, 2026. The deadline for submissions was June 16, with successful events to be featured on the official December in GH 2025 calendar.

Annabelle McKenzie, Director of the International Affairs Secretariat, said the authority is excited to work with event organizers who bring fresh ideas and energy to December in GH. It’s a time when the global diaspora comes home to experience Ghana, its culture, warmth, entertainment, food and welcoming spirit, she noted.

The 2025 edition promises to be the most inclusive and globally resonant yet, with the GTA encouraging proposals ranging from grassroots community events to large scale international showcases. The campaign continues to position Ghana as Africa’s cultural capital during the holiday season.

As preparations enter final stages with visible promotional infrastructure across Accra and coordinated stakeholder engagement, the Ghana Tourism Authority has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining the global credibility of the Black Star Experience and delivering a December season that positions Ghana at the forefront of cultural and tourism excellence.

By Philip Tengzu, GNA  

Nanvilli, (UW/R), Nov. 28, GNA – ActionAid Ghana (AAG), a social justice Non-governmental Organisation, has handed over 60 newly constructed boreholes to rural communities in the Upper West and Savannah Regions to help improve access to potable drinking water. 

The facilities were under the “Strengthening Community Resilience Through Community Action Plans (CAPs)” intervention, being implemented by AAG with funding from the European Union (EU) and German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) through the Resilience Against Climate Change (REACH) project.  

The facilities, which comprised 53 hand pumps and seven mechanised boreholes, were part of 141 climate adaptation projects under the REACH project, a component of the EU Ghana Agriculture Programme, co-financed by the EU and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development. 

A total of 60 communities in nine districts, eight in the Upper West and one in the Savannah region, benefited from the facilities to help build their resilience against climate change. 

Speaking at a symbolic handing-over at Nanvilli in the Nadowli-Kaleo District, Mr John Nkaw, the Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, said the interventions were priority needs of the communities in their CAPs. 

He said the 141 projects, which included boreholes, dams, irrigation systems, soil health improvement and agroforestry, aligned with ActionAid’s strategic priority of promoting green economy and climate-resilient livelihoods. 

Mr Nkaw indicated that the interventions were timely, particularly as climate change continued to heighten vulnerabilities among rural people, especially women and girls. 

“In regions like Sub-Saharan Africa, women manage households while trekking long distances to fetch water and firewood.  

“As weather patterns become more erratic, these realities expose them to serious health risks and gender-based violence,” he said. 

He added that about 690 vulnerable women, including widows and Persons with Disabilities, were supported with over 10,000 mango and cashew seedlings to strengthen their livelihoods, while 180 received improved cover crop seeds. 

Water and Sanitation Management Committees (WSMCs) had been formed in the 60 communities and trained in maintenance, governance and financial management to ensure sustainability of the water systems. 

Mr Matthias Berthold, the REACH Project Manager, said the water facilities represented more than expanded water access, describing them as “symbols of resilience, partnership and community-driven development.” 

He said over 200 communities had participated in the CAP process, which allowed the residents to identify their priorities and shape the solutions implemented. 

Mr Berthold observed that the EU and German government prioritised inclusive development models, which led to community ownership of the interventions. 

Mr Charles Lwanga Puozuing, the Upper West Regional Minister, in a speech read on his behalf, said the facilities would bring relief to many people in the districts under the project who hitherto, struggled to access potable water. 

He commended AAG for its commitment to promoting social justice, gender equality and community empowerment in its operational areas. 

Madam Mary Haruna, the Nadowli-Kaleo District Chief Executive, said the facilities would reduce waterborne diseases and improve school attendance. 

They would also reduce the burden on women and girls who travel long distances in search of water for their families. 

The community members were elated about the intervention, expressed gratitude to AAG and its partners, and assured the benefactors that they would properly maintain the facilities to ensure their longevity.  

GNA 

Edited by Caesar Abagali/Lydia Kukua Asamoah  

Ghana’s top business executives gathered at the Accra International Conference Centre on Thursday evening for the eighth edition of the Ghana Industry CEO Awards, where companies across multiple sectors received recognition for leadership excellence and innovation.

The Business Executive Media Group organized the black tie event, which brought together corporate leaders, government officials and international dignitaries. Labour consultant Austin Gamey and development consultant Lesley Casely Hayford attended alongside Sierra Leone High Commissioner Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba.

Gamey commended the private sector’s collective achievements, emphasizing the link between visionary corporate leadership, industrial harmony and national development. The High Commissioner brought a message of international collaboration, highlighting the award winning companies as benchmarks of excellence and expressing desire for stronger economic ties between Ghana and Sierra Leone.

The awards recognize chief executives who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and significant contributions to their industries. Winners emerged from a rigorous selection process involving expert research and industry data analysis.

Honored companies spanned diverse sectors including Iconic Events for event planning, Cargill Ghana Limited for sustainable agriculture, and Garden View Technologies Ghana Limited for electronic security. Nature Solutions Limited received recognition in waste management while Daniel Tech Limited won in information technology.

Publishing sector honors went to Ghana Publishing Company Limited, with Major Royal Venture recognized in printing. Aquatic Foods Limited earned the fish processing industry award and South Akyim Rural Bank won in rural banking. The National Beekeepers Association received the trade association award.

SanlamAllianz was honored in the insurance sector while SCAB Pharmacy won for e pharmacy and health services. Accord Industries Services received recognition as an industry safety equipment supplier and Digital Mogo Tech Solutions earned the digital marketing award.

EAP Consult Limited won the engineering consultancy category. Primary Care Innovators and Ghana Health Service’s Tain District Hospital both received healthcare innovation awards, with the latter recognized for transformational primary care innovation. Mind Snacks won in snack foods production.

Dr Stephen Clark Bandoh, honored in the pharmaceutical sector, said the accolade recognizes the collective dedication of the entire SCAB Pharmacy team. Our vision has always been to build a patient centric pharmacy model that Ghana can be proud of, he stated.

Elizabeth Okoro of Mind Snacks said the company was thrilled to be recognized. This fuels our passion to deliver quality and creativity in everything we do, she added.

Dr Papa Benin, Managing Director of Stark Energy Limited, received honors in the engineering consulting leadership category. Voted by the public as the Most Respected CEO in Engineering Consulting, Benin brings over 20 years of expertise in project development, crude oil refinery implementation and Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) operations.

His portfolio includes landmark projects such as the Jubilee and TEN FPSOs, Tema Oil Refinery and the Sentuo Crude Oil Refinery. A certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Project Management Professional, Benin has introduced cutting edge engineering solutions and asset integrity technologies to Ghana’s offshore petroleum operations.

Benin lectures at Regional Maritime University and the University of Cape Coast Institute for Oil and Gas Studies, shaping the next generation of engineers across West Africa. His educational background spans Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Sweden and the United States.

The awards citation highlighted Benin’s role in redefining the modern chief executive by harmonizing purpose with profit. His recognition demonstrated how sustainable corporate success drives tangible national development.

Beyond award presentations, the evening provided networking and dialogue opportunities among Ghana’s business leadership. The Business Executive Media Group described the event as underscoring the power of collaborative leadership.

The Business Executive Media Group operates as a leading pan African media entity renowned for high caliber business journalism and event management. Through its flagship publication, The Business Executive magazine, and a portfolio of prestigious events, the group fosters professional networks, elevates leadership standards and promotes institutional excellence across the continent.

The eighth Ghana Industry CEO Awards concluded with attendees expressing renewed commitment to corporate excellence and national development. The ceremony marked another milestone in recognizing and celebrating leaders driving innovation and growth across Ghana’s diverse economic sectors.

By Morkporkpor Anku  

Accra, Nov. 28, GNA- The Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) has called on the government to explore public–private partnership (PPP) options instead of borrowing.  

Mr Stephane Miezan, President of the Chamber, said this could include partnerships with domestic private sector investors, as an alternative to additional borrowing.  

Mr Miezan was speaking at the 6th edition of the Chamber National Dialogue Series in Accra.  

The Dialogue Series is designed to bring policymakers, industry leaders, academics, and experts into one shared space to exchange insights into critical national issues.   
This Dialogue focuses on the review of the 2026 National Budget, its orientation, policy direction, and, most importantly, its implications for private sector development.  

The President called on the government to remain steadfast in ensuring that the budget was effectively implemented to improve the economy.   

He said over the years, “We have observed well-designed policies presented in national budgets but left unimplemented.”  

He urged the government to reconsider plans to re-enter the domestic bond market, even with a cautious approach, to avoid a return to debt distress.   

“We believe it is too early in the day to start accruing debt,” he added.  

He said the 2026 budget, as outlined by the government, seeks to consolidate the macroeconomic stability achieved in 2025, strengthen fiscal discipline, and accelerate inclusive growth under three foundational pillars.  

These are macroeconomic consolidation, expanded growth and job creation, and enhanced social and security investment.  

He said these commitments, if effectively implemented, present opportunities for industry, as well as areas requiring vigilance and strong advocacy.  

GNCCI will continue to champion a business-friendly environment, one that reduces the cost of doing business, boosts productive capacity, strengthens institutional frameworks, and unlocks new markets under AfCFTA and beyond.   

“We remain committed to working collaboratively with all stakeholders to ensure that national policies translate into tangible outcomes for Ghanaian enterprises,” he added.  

Professor Patrick Opoku Asuming, an Economist, projected a more business-friendly environment for Ghana in 2026.  

He cited the government’s planned VAT reforms, improved macroeconomic targets, and a stronger commitment to fiscal discipline.  

He said the business community was likely to welcome the government’s intention to keep expenditure under control while pursuing a primary balance to reduce the overall deficit.  

According to him, the measures signal a deliberate effort to stabilise the economy after years of turbulence.  

Prof. Asuming said the government appeared ready to ease restrictions and accelerate economic activities by reactivating key flagship programmes.  

He explained that it marked a shift from the tight fiscal conditions experienced in the current year.  

“There seems to be an attempt to move the handbrake a little to get the economy moving,” he said, adding that businesses would be encouraged by the renewed focus on growth-oriented initiatives.  

Mr Yaw Appiah Lartey, Partner for Strategy & Partnerships at Deloitte Ghana, described the 2026 Budget as a deliberate plan by the government to stimulate growth after stabilising the economy in 2025.  

He explained that much of 2025 was spent addressing the spillover effects of overspending from the previous year and meeting critical IMF-guided macroeconomic targets.  

He said the government’s decision to significantly increase capital expenditure from a projected 36 per cent in 2025 to nearly GH¢60 billion in 2026, showing a renewed focus on infrastructure and growth-oriented investments, including major allocations to the Big Push initiative and other strategic projects.
 
Mr Lartey cautioned that the ambitious infrastructure drive must not be fuelled by expensive borrowing, which had historically worsened Ghana’s debt situation.  

GNA  

Christian Akorlie