An eyewitness in the case against former Director-General of the National Signals Bureau (NSB), Kwabena Adu-Boahene, has cast doubt on the Attorney-General’s claim that the GH¢49.1 million involved equates to a $7 million transaction.

According to a report by asaaseradio.com, the source, whose identity remains confidential, argues that using the government’s exchange rate of GH₵5.45 to the dollar, the amount translates to over $9 million, not $7 million as stated by the A-G.

This, they say, raises concerns about the accuracy of the prosecution’s financial claims.

The source also insists the GH₵49.1 million in question was not part of any dollar-based transaction.

Rather, it was disbursed in cedis as part of special operations funds allocated for specific national security assignments.

This account supports the defence put forward by Adu-Boahene, who maintains that the funds were used for various operational activities, including payments to Members of Parliament and support for election-related engagements, all under the remit of national security.

However, the Attorney-General’s office alleges that Adu-Boahene, his wife, and associates diverted the money for personal enrichment, including the acquisition of real estate and luxury vehicles.

The prosecution contends the funds were meant for a $7 million cybersecurity contract with ISC Holdings Limited, a contract it claims was never executed, leading to charges of stealing, defrauding by false pretences, and money laundering.

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Dr Nii Moi Thompson, the Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC), has asserted that tackling corruption decisively will resolve more than 90 per cent of Ghana’s developmental challenges.

Speaking at the launch of the Ghana Statistical Service’s Governance Series Wave 1 Report in Accra, Dr Thompson described corruption as “the single largest threat to national development,” emphasizing its corrosive impact on public institutions and resource allocation.

Dr Thompson, who is also the Senior Advisor to the President on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), outlined a three-tiered “corruption pyramid,” starting with routine bribery at the base, which eroded public trust.

“When citizens must pay bribes for basic services, it poisons confidence in the very institutions meant to serve them,” he said.

At the middle tier, bureaucratic corruption, seen in procurement fraud, diverts critical resources.

“A school desk inflated from GH₵50 to GH₵100 due to graft means half as many desks for students. The same applies to hospital beds and roads,” he noted.

The most damaging, he argued, was political corruption at the apex, exemplified by opaque party financing and inflated contracts.

“Monetized politics forces winners to recoup campaign costs unethically, often at the public’s expense,” Dr. Thompson stated, citing past admissions by officials.

The report revealed that 70 per cent of Ghanaians felt excluded from decision-making, while 56 per cent reported contact with public officials in 2024—18.4 per cent admitted to bribery.

Dr Thompson urged deeper scrutiny of these findings, including whether “gift-giving” was conflated with bribery in the data.

He noted that inclusiveness alone was insufficient: “If citizens believe participation won’t yield responsiveness, indifference follows. We must address this disconnect.”

Dr Thompson challenged stakeholders to explore solutions, referencing anti-corruption models from China (strict penalties) to nations using institutional reforms.

“No country develops without slaying this monster. Ghana’s path must emerge from dialogues like today’s,” he said.

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Businesses are raising red flags over the timing of the recently approved GH¢1 per litre levy on petroleum products, warning it risks eroding recent gains in consumer relief and economic confidence.

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Mark Badu-Aboagye says government has not provided enough of a buffer before reintroducing cost pressures at the pump.

Speaking after the launch of the 5th Chamber Business Awards, Badu-Aboagye acknowledged the strategic intent behind the levy meant to support energy sector debt reduction but called for more sensitivity around timing and affordability.

“The intended purpose of the levy is very relevant in supporting the energy sector and addressing its mounting debt. However, I take issue with both the timing and the rate of the increase. The rate of about 8% of the current price per litre is quite high.

“We’ve only recently started enjoying some relief from lower fuel prices, just about a month ago. Considering the financial strain consumers have faced, there should have been a grace period before any additional burden was introduced,” he noted.

GNCCI President Stephen Miezen added that the private sector is willing to partner more closely with government to drive sustainable growth, reduce imports and expand local production but such collaboration requires mutual respect and strategic engagement.

“The private sector is eager and prepared to collaborate with the government to boost production, reduce imports, and expand exports. For this to be effective, there must be deeper engagement, shared goals, and a strong mutual commitment between policymakers and the business community.

The Chairman of the Awards Planning Committee, Prince Ackuaku, also noted that the November 8 awards event will recognise enterprises that have innovated through economic difficulty and contributed meaningfully to national development goals.

“We aim to honour those who have innovated during difficult times, collaborated with government or civil society for measurable impact and remained committed to Ghana’s development,” he said.

With the theme “Revitalising Ghana’s Development Agenda Through Strategic Public-Private Collaboration,” the 5th Chamber Business Awards aims to elevate the role of business in Ghana’s recovery strategy, while keeping government policy accountable to the pressures faced by the private sector and consumers alike.

Myjoyonline.com brings you the front pages of the various newspapers across the country.

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Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak [L] and Minority Leader, Afenyo-Markin

The Member of Parliament for Asawase Constituency in the Ashanti Region and Minister of Interior, Mohammed Mubarak- Muntaka, on June 3, 2025, criticised the Minority Leader of Parliament, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, for what he described as a disregard for the rules of the House.

According to Muntaka, Afenyo-Markin disrespected parliamentary procedure by frequently rising to speak without following the laid-down processes.

He accused the Minority Leader of behaving inappropriately during a parliamentary session and called on the Speaker to bring him to order.

“Mr Speaker, this is where my worry is. After you have referred this to the committee, reading Standing Order 160, it does not give any other member the opportunity to just get up and speak about what has been referred. You can only go to the committee and make your argument there. When the report comes, that is when you debate it,” Muntaka stated on the floor.

He continued, “But Mr Speaker, the way the Minority Leader is behaving, he is simply turning the rules of the House upside down. He gets up and speaks anyhow he wishes. With the greatest respect, we need to bring the Minority Leader to order, for him to understand that this House is governed by rules.”

“He cannot be speaking out of turn. He is behaving like a spoilt child who has lost his food and is therefore behaving anyhow. Mr. Speaker, let us get him to act in order.”

In response, Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin criticised Muntaka’s comments, describing them as a personal attack and inappropriate for parliamentary discourse.

KA

Ivory Coast opposition leader and former Credit Suisse chief Tidjane Thiam has been excluded from the country’s final list of presidential candidates, rendering him ineligible to contest an October election, a party official said on Wednesday.

Thiam told Reuters in April he would not drop his presidential bid despite a court ruling that his name be struck from the list due to his French nationality at the time of registration.

The electoral commission’s decision risks reviving tensions in a country that emerged from more than a decade of civil war in the early 2000s.

The conflict was partly fuelled by disputes over nationality and electoral eligibility.

Thiam, 62, was elected as leader of the PDCI, the main opposition party in the world’s top cocoa-producing nation, in December 2023.

“My removal from the electoral roll by the Independent Electoral Commission is a sad but telling example of Ivory Coast’s abandonment of democracy,” Thiam said in a statement to Reuters.

“We will fight, fight for democracy and peace in our country,” said Simon Doho, president of the PDCI parliamentary group.

Other prominent politicians, including former president Laurent Gbagbo and his close ally Charles Ble Goude – both acquitted on charges of crimes against humanity related to the civil war – were also ruled ineligible for the October election.

So too was former prime minister and rebel leader Guillaume Soro, who was sentenced in absentia to life in prison in 2021 on charges of plotting a coup against his former ally, President Alassane Ouattara.

Ouattara, who has served three terms, has not declared whether he’ll run in the election. His ruling RHDP party is scheduled to select its candidate on June 21 and 22.

Thiam’s lawyer, Mathias Chichportich, said his client had filed a complaint on Tuesday with the United Nations Human Rights Committee.

“This action seeks to compel the Ivorian state to take all necessary measures to ensure that the presidential election is held under fair, inclusive, and democratic conditions,” Chichportich said.

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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič’s meeting following US President Donald Trump’s steel and aluminum tariff hike, is reportedly showing signs of constructive progress. Investors also digested regional economic data and some corporate earnings updates, and looked ahead to the European Central Bank’s (ECB) monetary policy announcement on Thursday.

The ECB is widely expected to reduce interest rate by 25 basis points.

The pan European Stoxx 600 climbed 0.51%. The UK’s FTSE 100 gained 0.19%, Germany’s DAX ended 0.71% up, and France’s CAC 40 advanced 0.58%. Switzerland’s SMI closed 0.48% up.

Among other markets in Europe, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Iceland, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden and Turkey closed higher. Austria, Czech Republic, Ireland, Portugal and Spain ended weak.

In the German market, Infineon Technologies rallied nearly 4.5%. Deutsche Post gained about 2.3%. Symrise, Beiersdorf, Siemens, Brenntag, Qiagen, E.ON, Bayer, Heidelberg Materials, Merck and Henkel gained 1% to 2%. Deutsche Bank, Puma, Adidas, Sartorius, Zalando, Mercedes-Benz and Rheinmetall closed weak.

In the French market, STMicroElectronics soared nearly 12% after the company’s chief executive Jean-Marc Chery said that the French-Italian chipmaker has seen signs of an upcycle that will boost its results in the coming quarters.

Speaking at an event hosted by BNP Paribas, the chief executive said the company would deliver at least the mid-point of its second-quarter guidance. It had forecast revenue of $2.71 billion at mid-point for the quarter in its last earnings report.

Pernod Ricard, Kering, Teleperformance and L’Oreal gained 2.3% to 3.2%. Airbus Group shares climbed more than 2%. Saint Gobain, Dassault Systemes, Schneider Electric, Air Liquide, ArcelorMittal and LVMH also closed with strong gains. Carrefour closed down by about 2.5%. Thales, Michelin, TotalEnergies, Unibail Rodamco, Societe Generale and Renault lost 1% to 1.6%.

In the UK market, Babcock International climbed 4.3%. Games Workshop and Antofagasta gained about 3.5% and 3.2%, respectively. WH Smith moved up sharply following the company maintaining its full-year outlook after reporting continued strong performance in its global travel retail business for the 13-week period ending May 31,2025.

Discount retailer B&M European Value Retail tanked after posting a mixed bag of results for the past year. Hiscox, Anglo American Plc., Diageo, St. James’s Place, 3i Group, Glencore, Fresnillo, Spirax Group, Smiths Group, Scottish Mortgage and RightMove gained 1.4% to 2.6%. Property management firm Hammerson shares declined sharply after an announcement that its chief executive, Rita-Rose Gagne, plans to retire in 2026. Marks & Spencer, BP, Haleon, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Centrica, Land Securities and Shell drifted down 1.2% to 2.1%.

On the economic front, the UK service sector logged a renewed upturn in May amid rising confidence among clients along with receding concerns about US tariffs, final purchasing managers’ survey data from S&P Global showed on Wednesday. The services Purchasing Managers’ Index climbed to 50.9 in May from April’s 27-month low of 49.0. A reading above 50 indicates expansion. The score was above the initial estimate of 50.2. The composite output index rose to 50.3 in May from 48.5 in April, indicating a slight recovery in the British private sector economy.

The eurozone final HCOB composite output index fell to 50.2 in May from 50.4 in April. However, the score was above the threshold 50-mark and also the flash estimate of 49.5. The HCOB services Purchasing Managers’ Index dropped to 49.7 in May from 50.1 in April. Nonetheless, the PMI reading was above the flash estimate of 48.9.

Germany’s private sector slipped back into contraction in May. The final composite output index posted 48.5 in May compared to 50.1 in April. The flash reading was 48.6. The final services PMI dropped to 47.1 in May from 49.0 in the previous month. The flash score was 47.2.

France’s private sector came closer to stabilization in May and registered its slowest fall in the nine-month period of contraction. The final composite output index rose to 49.3 in May from 47.8 in the previous month. The flash score was 48.0.The final services PMI advanced to 48.9 from 47.3 in April. The reading was initially estimated at 47.4.

GNA

PDC

A young man, identified as Prosper Adedea, alias Tagoe, believed to be in his late 20s, was allegedly lynched to death in Agbozume-Adawukorfe after being accused of stealing a mobile phone.

According to information gathered by the Ghana News Agency (GNA), the incident occurred on Sunday night, and his lifeless body was discovered on Monday, June 2, lying under a mango tree in the area.

The Agbozume Police Command is appealing to the public for credible information that could lead to the arrest of those responsible for the heinous act.

The body of the deceased has since been deposited at the Hossana Mortuary in Agbozume for preservation and autopsy.

Meanwhile, Mr. Godson Ahiamadzi, Assembly Member for the area, told the GNA that one suspect has been arrested in connection with the incident and is assisting the Police with investigations.

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Consumer inflation slowed in May for the fifth month in a row to its lowest level since February 2022 as inflationary pressures ease across the board in the country, the statistics agency said on Wednesday.

Consumer inflation eased to 18.4.% year-on-year in May from 21.2% a month earlier, government statistician Alhassan Iddrisu told a news conference, adding that disinflation was expected to continue in the coming months.

“The inflation trend we are witnessing shows sustained deceleration,” Iddrisu said, adding that food remains a key inflation driver, but the sharper drop in non-food inflation suggests a broad-based easing of inflation across the economy.

“This trend underscores the effectiveness of recent monetary and fiscal measures, the recent appreciation of the Cedi against the major international currencies, favourable external price dynamics and positive market sentiment,” he added.

The bellwether producer price inflation reading slowed to 18.5% in April, compared with 24.4% in March.

Last month, the Bank of Ghana held its main interest rate (GHCBIR=ECI), steady at 28.0%, maintaining a tight monetary stance and citing sustained inflationary pressures.

Ghana has struggled to rein in “uncomfortably high” inflation, which remains well above the central bank’s target of 8% with a margin of error of 2 percentage points.

The country is recovering from its worst economic crisis in a generation, marked by disruptions in its cocoa and gold sectors.

Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson said in his March budget speech that sharp spending cuts will help bring inflation down to 11.9% by year-end.

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Attractive News Blog of Thursday, 5 June 2025

Source: Andre Mustapha NII okai Inusah

The Head of the Economic and Business Bureau at the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Charles Kusi Appiah Kubi, has noted that the prices of goods and services have seen some reductions in response to the recent appreciation of the cedi.

According to him, prices of certain commodities such as rice and cooking oil, previously affected by the depreciation of the cedi, have started to decline.

“For instance, a 50kg bag of rice, which used to sell for GH¢950, is now going for GH¢750, representing a GH¢200 reduction,” he said.

“Even within the food commodity space, we are seeing a drop in prices. We had initially projected that a significant price reduction would take up to two months, but even within that period, prices have already begun to fall. General cooking oil, which used to sell for GH¢780, is now available for GH¢650,” he explained.

Appiah Kubi stated that GUTA has taken into account the improved performance of the cedi and decided to ease the burden on consumers.

He, however, emphasised that other factors also influence the pricing of goods and services.

“We understand the dynamics of the market, and as key players in the country’s economic recovery, we have a responsibility. One of our goals is to safeguard the gains we’ve made. That’s why we asked for some time to better predict future trends,” he explained.

“When the foreign exchange rate rises, it affects us directly. Forex volatility has been the weakest link in terms of capital gains. A drop in forex has a direct impact on us, but it’s important to note that forex is not the only factor in our pricing model.”

He cited the cost of borrowing, fuel prices, and taxes as other components contributing to the final price of goods.

“There are many variables we consider, fuel, interest rates, consumption taxes, procurement and replacement costs, all of which add to the price build-up. After factoring in these elements, we have concluded that it is appropriate to pass on some of the gains to our customers. That’s why prices are dropping,” Appiah Kubi stated.

The cedi has appreciated against major trading currencies in recent weeks, prompting calls from consumers for prices to reflect the currency’s improved value.

SSD/MA

Aminu Alhassan is a cowpea farmer from a small rural community in the Nanton District of Ghana’s Northern Region. For years, his greatest challenge wasn’t just growing crops—it was feeding his family. Despite lacking access to advanced tools or technology, Aminu’s determination set him apart. When a devastating Maruca infestation began ravaging cowpea farms in his area, Aminu became a leader, travelling across communities to secure pesticides for fellow farmers.

The turning point came when Aminu realised that traditional methods couldn’t stop the persistent attacks by Maruca vitrata, a pest known to destroy between 20% and 80% of cowpea yields. “I always wished there was a better way,” he said. One day, he ventured into a nearby community in search of answers—and found one.

There, he met an Agricultural Extension Agent from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture who introduced him to a newly developed genetically modified cowpea variety designed to resist Maruca vitrata. “This got me and my colleague, Mrs. Hanifatu, very excited,” he recalled. “I was now going to do farming as a business and not the hand-to-mouth kind of work I was doing.”

Aminu soon joined a group of farmers working with the CSIR–Savanna Agricultural Research Institute (CSIR-SARI) on the Songotra T Cowpea project. “I planted one acre of the Songotra T Cowpea during last year’s harsh drought, and the outcome was amazing,” he said. “While others harvested nothing from conventional seeds, I got something from the PBR Cowpea. I sprayed only twice instead of 12 times, saw no Maruca, and the cost of production was lower.”

He harvested between 9 to 10 kilograms and plans to expand his acreage. “Songotra T Cowpea is salvation for Ghanaian farmers battling pests and climate change,” he declared. But access remains a concern. “We’ve seen the results. Now we need timely access to seeds. MoFA and CSIR-SARI must ensure a nationwide distribution process.”

Dr. Jerry Nboyine, Principal Investigator for the BT Cowpea Project at CSIR-SARI in Nyankpala, explained the science behind the breakthrough. “Maruca vitrata is the most significant threat to cowpea production in Ghana,” he said. “It can cause yield losses of up to 80% by destroying flowers and pods.”

The BT Cowpea variety, approved in July 2023, has a built-in resistance. “When Maruca larvae try to feed on the plant’s flowers or pods, they die,” Dr. Nboyine said. This reduces the need for pesticides, with farmers spraying just twice per season to target other pests.

Field trials showed clear results. “Where conventional cowpea failed under drought conditions, the BT variety still yielded,” he said. In 2023, when rains were delayed in Northern Ghana, only farmers planting Songotra T Cowpea harvested successfully. “Seed companies that planted in late August managed to harvest, thanks to the early maturity and pest resistance traits.”

Dr. Nboyine said over 7,000 kg of breeder seed has been produced, and efforts are underway to scale up nationwide distribution. “We are committed to making high-quality Songotra T seeds accessible at standard MoFA prices,” he assured. Delivery can be arranged for buyers outside Tamale, including in Southern Ghana.

CSIR-SARI is partnering with licensed seed companies to ensure national coverage. “External partnerships are welcome, but our focus is on regulated distribution,” he added. “The future is bright, but right now, we must get this variety into the hands of every farmer who needs it.”

Abdulai Abdulai Rafael, CEO of Prosperity Farms, praised the innovation’s impact on both agriculture and the seed business. “We’ve handled Songotra and other varieties for years, but this one is different,” he said. “Farmers want yield without high spraying costs. If I can supply such seed, everyone benefits—the producer, the seller, and the farmer.”

Alhassan Alhassan Baba of Heritage Seeds Company Ltd confirmed that demand for Songotra T has steadily risen. “We’re multiplying certified seeds from breeder stock for wider distribution,” he said. “It’s not just pest resistance—it’s consistent yield under erratic rainfall. That’s what farmers want.”

So far, distribution has reached several districts in the Northern, Upper East, and Bono East regions. But farmers still worry about one thing—access. “Getting seeds on time remains a major challenge,” said one farmer. “Even when we’re ready and convinced by the innovation, distribution delays hold us back.”

The CSIR-SARI-led innovation has proven its worth. Now, large-scale multiplication and distribution are essential. “The solution is here. Farmers want it. Researchers have done their part,” said Aminu. “Now it’s time for government and MoFA to step in and support this process.”

The stakes are high. As pest pressure and climate change intensify, the story of the PBR Cowpea is not just about science. It’s about resilience, innovation, and feeding a nation.

“The world is split between those who cannot sleep because they are hungry and those who cannot sleep because they fear the hungry,” the story reminds us. “Let’s not allow this noble innovation to sit idle. Our actions shape our future—better production, better nutrition, a better life for all.”

Or, as Virginia Woolf once put it: “One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well.”

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NACOC has issued a stern warning to courier and logistics companies

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has issued a stern warning to courier and logistics companies, particularly those handling international deliveries, to exercise greater due diligence by verifying the contents of packages and confirming client identities in a bid to prevent inadvertent involvement with narcotics trafficking.

This caution follows the recent arrest of three personnel from two courier companies linked to a narcotics bust at the port. Although the individuals have pleaded innocent, they are being treated as accomplices under the law.

Deputy Director-General of NACOC, Alexander Twum Barimah, stated that in cases involving narcotics smuggling via courier services, traffickers often provide fake contact details – making it difficult to trace them. This, he said, leaves the courier personnel vulnerable to prosecution.

“We urge courier and e-commerce companies, including key players such as Jumia, to insist on verifiable identification – preferably the Ghana Card – and carry out thorough inspections of packages prior to dispatch,” he said.

Mr. Barimah stressed that ignorance of the law is no defence – and although NACOC does not wish to penalise innocent delivery personnel, anyone found transporting banned substances will face the full rigours of the law.

He further disclosed that NACOC plans to deploy officers at major courier hubs to assist in scanning packages before they are transported to the ports, as a measure to help exonerate genuine operators from legal repercussions in drug-related incidents.

Additionally, he advised courier firms to invest in robust package tracking systems and infrastructure to enhance operational security and traceability.

These remarks were made during a stakeholder engagement organised by the Postal and Courier Services Regulatory Commission (PCSRC), in collaboration with the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), aimed at reviewing and strengthening Act 649 to boost regulatory efficiency in the sector.

Proposed amendments to Act 649

Head of Communications-PCSRC Nii Yeboah emphasised that a strengthened regulatory framework for postal, courier and logistics services would not only bolster e-commerce growth but also foster greater social inclusion across the country.

In a presentation on the proposed amendments, Lawyer Francis Adiasani of Kllenn Law Office highlighted the importance of consumer protection in ensuring the sector’s long-term sustainability.

Key proposed changes to Act 649 include:

Title revision: Part I of Act 649 will be amended to include logistics services, while the Commission’s name will be changed to the Postal, Courier & Logistics Commission.

Regulatory requirements: Amendment to Legislative Instrument (LI) 2205, Regulation 14(3)(e), will require individuals or entities intending to provide postal, courier and logistics services to present evidence of having the necessary technological and logistical infrastructure.

‘

Expanded regulatory coverage: Amendment to Section 10(2) of Act 649 will broaden the categories of service providers to include:

Private courier and logistics operators;

Operators of online shops and e-commerce platforms;

Supermarkets, shops, malls, restaurants and other commercial concerns providing courier services;

Public and private transport operators involved in transporting courier items by land, sea or air.

In conclusion, Mr. Adiasani stated: “As the industry continues to evolve, regulators and stakeholders must work collaboratively on addressing emerging challenges and opportunities, including the growth of e-commerce, security issues and consumer protection”.