LETTER TO THE CITIZENS OF UNCOMMON SENSE

Dear Citizens of Uncommon Sense,

Once again, our annual national ritual has taken place. Not Akwasidae. Not Hogbetsotso. I refer to that grand festival where our Honourables wear their best suits, sharpen their tongues, and perform economic jazz like seasoned palm-wine guitarists. Yes — The Great Parliamentary Budget Drama.

This year, the Finance Minister entered the chamber holding the 2026 Budget as if it were freshly baked communion bread. The title alone — “Resetting for Growth, Jobs & Economic Transformation” — was heavy enough to require its own seatbelt. In this Republic, the longer a budget title is, the shorter its lifespan after reading.

The moment the Minister cleared his throat, Parliament transformed into a theatre. Majority MPs adjusted their ties with the confidence of ushers at a VIP wedding. Minority MPs sharpened their eyebrows until you could use them to slice cassava. The Speaker closed his eyes briefly, perhaps whispering, “Oh Lord, if today You must take someone, please take the microphones first.”

Citizens, the Majority rose faster than your data bundles get finished. These were people spiritually prepared for praise. They clapped with techniques—two claps and a nod, three claps and a gentle smile, one clap mixed with “Hear! Hear!” For them, this budget was not a document; it was an economic deliverance service.

One MP proclaimed, “This is the staircase to Ghana’s prosperity!” Another shouted, “Inflation is tamed!” Someone added, “Growth is reset!” And a patriotic optimist declared, “We are becoming Singapore!”

The way they were testifying, I almost believed the budget contained free petrol, a bag of rice, and one month’s supply of encouragement for every household.

Then, dear citizens, the Minority rose.

Slowly. Like a lion whose nap has been disrespected.

These were not people who came to clap. Their faces carried the same look your father gives when school fees are due but your report card reads like a police caution statement. Their leader sighed — not an ordinary sigh, but the heavy sigh of a nation carrying tomatoes priced like foreign exchange.

“Honourable Speaker…” he began. “This budget…”

He paused long enough for the Majority to start sweating.

“…is a decorated empty bowl.”

Chaos.

The Majority murmured and rolled their eyes like teenagers. Another Minority MP, wearing the face of a disappointed mathematics master, said, “This is poetry. Beautiful, yes — but still poetry.” One added, “A reset without a remote. A promise without a plan. A slogan wearing agbada.” At that point, even the Speaker’s glasses felt pressure.

The Majority shouted, “You don’t love Ghana!”

The Minority replied, “We love Ghana. We just don’t love fiction.”

My dear citizens, this is why Parliament deserves Netflix rights.

Soon, they entered their favourite national sport: the Point of Order Olympics.

“Mr Speaker, he is misleading the House!”

“Mr Speaker, the budget is misleading the country!”

Withdraw! Don’t withdraw! Withdraw something — anything!

At a point, the Speaker stared into the distance like a headmaster regretting his life choices.

Meanwhile, outside Parliament, the real economy was running its own commentary.

At Kaneshie, tomatoes were still behaving like they attended a private school. Bread was rising as if it had joined a charismatic church. Transport fares were galloping like horses on Easter Monday.

A market woman shouted, “Budget? My brother, bring your money first before you talk big English.”

At Suame, a mechanic whispered, “If this budget is resetting anything, let it reset the price of spare parts.”

In a trotro, one man said, “They say inflation has dropped,” and the other replied, “Yes, it dropped — but it didn’t land here.”

Citizens, when Parliament debates graphs, the streets debate survival.

Economists then appeared on TV holding graphs resembling ECG bills. Political commentators explained fiscal policy using proverbs. WhatsApp groups flooded with “leaked budget documents” typed by the same people who think GDP is a football club.

By midday, the country had seventeen interpretations of the same document, eleven “corrected explanations,” and three conspiracy theories — one involving dwarfs and another involving Dubai.

But let me tell you the truth as your humble Correspondent-General:

A Ghanaian budget does not succeed until kenkey drops in price,

until onions calm down,

and until ECG bills stop misbehaving like toddlers in a supermarket.

When trotro drivers reduce fares without threats, that is economic transformation.

Until then, we remain in the Republic of Uncommon Sense —

where the Majority sees gold,

the Minority sees ghosts,

and the average citizen sees the same market prices staring back with disrespect.

Yes, the budget will pass. It always does.

But will it land? That, dear citizens, is the true question.

As the elders say:

“You don’t judge a farmer by the size of his cutlass, but by the size of his harvest.”

And so we wait — patiently, skeptically, and with calculators in hand — for the harvest.

Yours in patriotic bewilderment,

Jimmy Aglah
Republic of Uncommon Sense

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.

Sammy Gyamfi is the CEO of the GoldBod

Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, has called for an international gold certification regime to curb smuggling and strengthen responsible sourcing across the global supply chain.

He made the call while addressing industry leaders at the 2025 Dubai Precious Metals Conference held at the Atlantis Palm Jumeirah Hotel.

Delivering a detailed statement on Ghana’s transformation of its artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) sector, Gyamfi highlighted the sector’s extraordinary contribution to Ghana’s economic turnaround in 2025.

He revealed that ASM alone produced 90 tons of gold, representing 53% of Ghana’s total gold export earnings and generating over US$9 billion in foreign exchange.

Gyamfi noted that these gains had significantly boosted Ghana’s economic indicators, including a 35% appreciation of the cedi this year, a US$2.1 billion trade surplus, reduced inflation, and a decline in government debt-servicing costs.

Ghana Battles Illegal Mining and Gold Smuggling

Despite ASM’s economic value, the CEO expressed deep concern about illegal mining activities and the environmental destruction they cause.

He stressed that “no volume of gold is worth a human life,” pledging the government’s renewed commitment to protecting rivers, forests, and communities.

Gyamfi pointed to longstanding discrepancies between Ghana’s official export figures and import data from destination countries, blaming gold smuggling and the complicity of foreign buyers.

He warned: “If you are not buying from a licensed large-scale mine, you must buy only from GoldBod. Failure to do so makes you a gold smuggler or an abettor of smuggling, and the laws of Ghana will catch up with you.”

GoldBod’s major reforms and new systems

Since its establishment in early 2025 under Act 1140, the Ghana Gold Board has introduced sweeping reforms, including:

Exclusive authority to assay, grade, value, purchase, and export ASM gold

A new transparent pricing model for miners and licensed buyers

A strengthened regulatory framework to curb smuggling

Deployment of a national aggregation system for gold collection

Licensing reforms to ensure responsible sourcing

Anti-smuggling operations leading to arrests and prosecutions

Gyamfi also announced that by 2026, GoldBod will introduce a blockchain-powered Track and Trace system to ensure full transparency and traceability of every gram of gold purchased.

Global Call to Action

The CEO urged the DMCC, OECD, LBMA, the World Gold Council, and governments worldwide to rally behind developing countries striving to formalise ASM.

He advocated for a global certification scheme for gold, similar to the Kimberley Process for diamonds, to block smuggled gold from entering legitimate supply chains.

“Gold smuggling fuels money laundering, terrorism financing, and criminal networks,” he said. “We cannot allow this menace to thrive.”

Investing in Sustainable ASM

Sammy Gyamfi outlined the government’s plans to invest in geological surveys, modern assay technology, and capacity-building for miners. Initiatives such as the Mining Support Program and the Responsible Co-operative Mining and Skills Development Program (rCOMSDEP) are geared toward improving recovery, modernising ASM, and reducing environmental impact.

He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to eliminating mercury and other harmful substances from ASM through modern processing technologies.

A New Future for Mining

Closing his speech, Gyamfi described ASM as a pathway to inclusive growth rather than a source of destruction.

“ASM is about uplifting communities and safeguarding our environment. At GoldBod, we are reshaping the sector into a force for economic transformation,” he said.

He expressed hope that future generations would look back with gratitude at the reforms being undertaken today.

Mr Adams’ concerns followed an inspection tour of the stadium last Friday, accompanied by the Chief Director of the ministry, Mrs Wilhelmina Asamoah, and the Director-General of the National Sports Authority (NSA), Yaw Ampofo Ankrah.

The delegation was confronted with stark evidence of prolonged neglect: corroded structures, failing components, and large sections of

the stadium visibly deteriorating, all underscoring the lack of substantial rehabilitation since it was constructed 16 years ago for the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

The extent of disrepair now raises serious questions about the facility’s safety, sustainability, and capacity to host high-profile sporting events. 

Encroachers on stadium lands

One of the most troubling developments observed during the visit was the encroachment on parts of the stadium’s land by private developers. 

Unauthorised structures have sprung up around the facility, posing a major threat to future expansion and the development of essential auxiliary installations.

Mr Adams described the situation as “deeply worrying” and called for the immediate intervention of the Western Regional Coordinating Council and traditional authorities.

“We cannot rehabilitate Essipon while private developers are taking over the land,” he warned. “I urge the Regional Coordinating Council and our chiefs to act swiftly to protect this national asset.”

Rehabilitation works lag 

The inspection also revealed that progress on the Phase I and II rehabilitation works has been significantly slower than expected. 

These phases include re-roofing with anti-rust materials, replacing spectator seats, refurbishing washrooms, installing air conditioning systems, fitting sunglasses, upgrading lighting systems, and installing a new electronic scoreboard.

However, substantial aspects of then stadium remain untouched. The ministry plans a further round of improvements, including a refurbished playing pitch, modernised public address system, enhanced corporate boxes, improved hostel facilities, tighter security zones, and upgraded dressing rooms, to fully restore the stadium’s capacity to host major sporting events.

Funding and media advocacy

Mr Adams reiterated the need for dedicated and sustained funding for sports infrastructure nationwide. He appealed to the media to support efforts to raise resources through the National Sports Development Fund, emphasising President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to revitalising the sector.

“Sports infrastructure cannot maintain itself,” he stressed. “We need collective support to bring facilities like Essipon back to life.”

Although the minister expressed satisfaction with the quality of work completed so far, he was unequivocal about the need for speed.

“The progress is too slow,” he said. “We must accelerate the work to ensure Essipon becomes fully functional as soon as possible. 

The government is committed to restoring this facility for the people of the Western Region and for Ghana.”

The minister assured the public that urgent measures will be taken to return the stadium to operation and reaffirmed the government’s pledge to rejuvenate sports infrastructure across the country.

The Ghana Health Service (GHS) has received 486 new motorcycles to support Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) operations across 10 regions.

The motorbikes were procured by the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) with funding from the Global Fund as part of efforts to improve healthcare in high-burden districts.

The handover ceremony formed part of the Sub-District Strengthening Initiative, a programme aimed at boosting primary healthcare delivery at the community level.

Presenting the motorcycles, Acting Head of UNOPS Ghana, Ms. Linda Agbesi, reaffirmed her organisation’s commitment to helping strengthen Ghana’s health systems.

Speaking on behalf of the Acting Director-General of GHS, the Acting Deputy Director-General, Dr. Caroline Reindorf-Amissah, described the support as crucial.

She explained that investments under the Resilient Systems for Sustainable Health framework play a vital role in advancing universal health coverage.

Dr. Reindorf-Amissah noted that the CHPS model remains Ghana’s most effective strategy for bringing essential health services closer to communities.

She said the new motorcycles will help health workers improve home visits, community outreach, emergency referrals and HIV, TB and malaria services.

She added that GHS will soon receive more medical equipment, including diagnostic tools, obstetric kits and infection-prevention supplies.

These items, she said, will address long-standing gaps in CHPS facilities and help strengthen both preventive and curative services.

Receiving the motorcycles on behalf of the beneficiary regions, the Acting Greater Accra Regional Health Director, Dr. Robert Amesiya, thanked the Global Fund and UNOPS for the support.

He assured them that the motorbikes will be used effectively to enhance health service delivery.

The ceremony was attended by senior officials from the GHS Headquarters, the Greater Accra Regional Health Directorate and UNOPS Ghana.

By: Jacob Aggrey

Dr Johnson Asiama is the Governor of the Bank of Ghana

Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Johnson Asiama, says Ghana is moving into what could be a long stretch of price stability, even though businesses continue to struggle with taxes, utility costs, and high lending rates.

Speaking at the opening of the 127th Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting in Accra on Monday, November 24, Dr Asiama noted that the growth of money supply has slowed sharply, helping to stabilise inflation.

He explained that real interest rates remain elevated, providing space for a gradual and cautious reduction in policy rates. Inflation, he added, is expected to fall between 4–6% by the end of the year and remain within the target range in 2026.

While Ghana’s progress is encouraging, the Governor warned that the global environment remains uncertain, with risks linked to commodity prices, geopolitical tensions, and tighter external financial markets.

He stressed that, on the domestic front, many firms continue to feel the pinch of persistent tax obligations, rising utility tariffs, and increasing credit costs—factors that still drag on business performance despite a broad improvement in sentiment.

For this quarter’s MPC discussions, Dr Asiama highlighted three priority areas:

The Path of Disinflation and Real Interest Rates: He explained that inflation is falling faster than earlier projected, causing real interest rates to rise. Although the data points to room for easing, he emphasised the importance of maintaining credibility and safeguarding the progress made in reducing inflation.

Foreign Exchange Market Reforms and Reserve Strategy: According to him, the revised FX operations framework has boosted transparency and improved market efficiency.

However, he noted the need for more public education and diversification of reserve assets to minimise concentration risks, especially those linked to gold holdings.

Financial Sector Stability and Credit Transmission: Dr Asiama reported that the banking system is generally stable, but a few institutions still face asset quality and recapitalisation challenges.

Strengthening the credit channel, he said, is crucial for sustaining Ghana’s ongoing growth rebound.

He pointed out that economic activity this quarter has been stronger than anticipated. The first six months of the year delivered 6.3% GDP growth, fuelled by strong performances in services and agriculture, while non-oil GDP expanded by 7.8%.

High-frequency indicators reinforce this trend, with the Composite Index of Economic Activity rising by about 9%, and confidence levels among consumers and businesses remaining upbeat.

These developments, he said, indicate that the economy’s negative output gap is closing and that Ghana is steadily transitioning from recovery to expansion.

Dr Asiama attributed this progress to continuous fiscal discipline, a prudent but firm monetary policy stance, and key structural reforms, such as improvements to the FX framework and efforts to rebuild external reserves.

He added that the 2026 Budget maintains this discipline and places job creation and economic expansion at the forefront.

Across many rice-growing belts in Ghana, from Fumbisi in the Upper East Region to Nasia in the North East and Ohiamadwen in the Western Region, farmers are watching mountains of bagged paddy rice sit idle in warehouses. This season has produced one of the largest gluts of locally grown rice in years, yet thousands of bags remain unsold.

The government tried to mop up this excess with GH¢200 million, but this amount has been described as “a drop in the ocean” by the National Food Buffer Stock Company, which requested around GH¢700 million to buy up excess rice and maize.

Ironically, while Ghana has more rice than it can absorb in the short term, the country is battling an acute scarcity of tomatoes. Markets are overflowing with plantain, cassava and garden eggs, but fresh tomatoes are scarce and expensive. The two extremes show a food system that swings between surplus and shortage, putting both farmers and consumers under stress.

This feature explores how Ghana arrived at this troubling imbalance, why rice farmers are struggling to survive even amid bumper harvests, and why tomatoes remain out of reach for many households.

A Country of Contradiction: Too Much Rice, Too Few Tomatoes

The word “glut” has been used many times in Ghana’s food conversations, but nowhere is it more evident today than in the country’s rice sector. Several regions have recorded bumper harvests, especially after years of sustained cultivation under agricultural programmes and expansions in irrigated rice fields. But without enough buyers, processors or storage facilities, the output has outstripped market demand. Farmers in Fumbisi, for instance, say that out of thousands of bags harvested, only a fraction have been purchased by market actors.

Meanwhile, tomatoes, one of the most widely consumed vegetables, are scarce. In major markets in Accra and Kumasi, traders display tall heaps of cassava, plantain and garden eggs, but offer only small portions of tomatoes at painful prices. A small bowl of tomatoes can cost more than an entire bunch of plantains. Meanwhile, in September 2025, the government had to step in to purchase 1,000 boxes of tomatoes and 2,000 bags of onions cultivated by farmers in the Ashanti Region due to an abundance.

The market seems to be screaming two messages at once: Ghana cannot manage abundance, and it cannot prevent scarcity.

Rice Glut: How We Produced Too Much Without a Market

This year’s rice glut is the climax of several intersecting factors:

1. Expanded Production Encouraged by Previous Success

After earlier years of strong demand for local rice, many farmers increased their acreage. Government programmes under Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ), combined with improved seed varieties and expanded irrigation in schemes like Tono and Vea, boosted production. Farmers invested heavily buying fertiliser, hiring labour, and renting harvesters, expecting a profitable season.

2. Lack of Storage and Processing Capacity

Though Ghana repeatedly encourages consumption of local rice, the country still lacks sufficient milling and storage capacity. The absence of a robust warehouse receipt system means farmers cannot store paddy for future sale or use it as collateral for financing.

3. Competition from Imported Rice

Despite campaign after campaign promoting “Eat Ghana Rice,” imported rice continues to dominate the market. Urban consumers often prefer the uniformity and appearance of imported brands, making it difficult for local rice to compete. This season, rice importers have not slowed down, so farmers are battling both oversupply and weaker demand.

Why Tomatoes Are Scarce: Seasonal and Structural Realities

If rice shows Ghana’s problem with abundance, tomatoes show its ongoing struggle with scarcity. Tomato production faces a unique set of challenges that make the country chronically dependent on imports.

1. Seasonal Production and Climate Pressures

Tomato farming in Ghana is tied to specific cycles. Regions like Akomadan, Tuobodom, and the northern irrigation schemes produce tomatoes only during peak seasons when conditions are right. This year, irregular rainfall and heat waves disrupted expected yields. Pest outbreaks, especially the notorious Tuta Absoluta in Nigeria, wiped out large acres of tomato farms.

2. Dependence on Imports From Burkina Faso and Niger

Ghana relies heavily on fresh tomatoes from Burkina Faso and Niger during the lean season. When production or logistics issues hit those countries, Ghana feels the pinch immediately. Recent insecurity and high transport costs on the Burkina Faso–Ghana corridor have limited supply and increased spoilage.

3. Weak Local Production Systems

Tomato farmers currently operate in an environment where: irrigation systems are inadequate, farm inputs are unaffordable, storage systems are nonexistent, and market linkages are weak.

The Root of Ghana’s Food Imbalance

Ghana’s seasonal food imbalance, excess of some crops and shortage of others, comes from deeper systemic gaps.

1. Poor Market Forecasting

Farmers often make production decisions based on the previous year’s prices rather than data-driven projections. If plantain or rice sold well last year, many switch to it, creating oversupply the following year.
2. Limited Storage and Processing

Ghana loses between 30 and 50 percent of fresh produce annually due to weak storage infrastructure. When gluts occur, these losses worsen. Without cold-chain systems or warehousing, produce floods the market at once, causing prices to fall.

3. Fragmented Value Chains

While some crops like rice require structured buyers and processors, many farming regions operate without organised market linkages. The tomato sector is especially vulnerable because of lack of processing factories after the collapse of facilities like the Pwalugu Tomato Factory.

4. Over-Reliance on Regional Imports

For tomatoes especially, overdependence on Burkina Faso and Niger exposes Ghana to external risks. A disruption there immediately destabilises supply here.

How the Glut and Scarcity Affect Farmers and Consumers

Despite bumper harvests, many farmers are struggling. Some are forced to sell below cost just to clear their fields, while others watch crops rot in the absence of proper storage. At the same time, urban consumers are paying the price, tomatoes are expensive, pushing households to rely on substitutes like tomato paste or garden-egg stews.

Traders, struggling with high spoilage rates, unstable bulk prices, and rising transport costs, pass these expenses on to shoppers. The result is a distorted market where farmers lose, and consumers don’t necessarily gain.

What Experts Say

Agricultural economists argue that Ghana’s problem is not production capacity but coordination and infrastructure. The Chief Executive Officer of Agri-Impact, Daniel Fahene Acquaye, has urged the government to adopt long-term policies rather than temporary interventions that ensure consistent support for local rice, maize, and poultry producers.

Some tomato traders say stabilising the Burkina Faso trade route is essential for short-term relief, but long-term solutions like storage and proper logistics would reduce heavy losses. Without these, they warn that even abundant.

The Way Forward: A More Balanced Food System

1. Government Purchase and Buffering of Surplus Rice

Buying locally grown for school feeding programmes, buffer stocks and institutional consumption can stabilise prices and prevent wastage. President Mahama has ordered public institutions to prioritise locally produced food to help absorb the current harvest surplus. Schools and prisons are now required to source all their food locally, and excess eggs and grains are being directed into the School Feeding Programme to support farmers and help them recover their investments.

2. Expand Irrigation and Greenhouse Cultivation for Tomatoes

Expanding irrigation in major tomato-growing zones like Akomadan, Afram Plains, Tono and Vea, remains one of the most reliable ways to secure year-round production and avoid Ghana’s recurring tomato shortages. The collapse of the Pwalugu Irrigation Project, which left farmers dependent on rainfall stands as a reminder of what happens when such investments stall.

3. Invest in Storage, Milling and Processing Facilities

Modern rice mills, cold storage facilities, and reactivation of tomato processing factories are essential to balance the market.

4. Implement a National Crop Forecasting System

A centralised agricultural data platform can guide farmers on the crops that will be profitable and prevent herd production.

5. Strengthen Regional Trade Routes

Formalising cross-border tomato trade can reduce logistics disruptions and stabilise prices for consumers.

Conclusion

Ghana’s simultaneous rice glut and tomato scarcity reveal a food system struggling with coordination, infrastructure and resilience. Farmers who should be celebrating bumper rice harvests are pleading for intervention, while consumers scrambling for basic tomato supplies are spending more than they can afford.

With deliberate planning, improved storage, strong irrigation and market intelligence, Ghana can turn this irony into balance, ensuring that abundance translates into prosperity for farmers and stable prices for consumers.

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.

The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiama, has stated that the Ghanaian economy is now transitioning from a phase of recovery into a period of real expansion.

According to him, several parts of the economy have performed better than expected, showing that growth momentum is now more widely distributed rather than driven by only a few industries.

Speaking at the opening of the 127th Monetary Policy Committee meeting on 24th November, 2025, Dr. Asiama said economic activity has strengthened significantly this quarter, with growth becoming broader and more stable across multiple sectors.

“What stands out this quarter is the broad momentum in economic activity. Growth has been stronger and more diversified than anticipated,” he said.

The first half of the year recorded 6.3 percent GDP growth, propelled by strong performance in services and agriculture, while non-oil GDP rose to 7.8 percent. High-frequency indicators reinforce this trend, with the Composite Index of Economic Activity up about 9 percent, alongside continued optimism among businesses and consumers. These gains show that the negative output gap is narrowing and the economy is steadily shifting from recovery to expansion,” he added.

Dr. Johnson Asiama stressed that the progress is the result of deliberate policy actions. He pointed to sustained fiscal discipline, a cautious but firm monetary policy approach, and structural reforms, especially in FX operations and rebuilding external buffers.

He further noted that the 2026 Budget strengthens this discipline and places growth and job creation at the centre of Ghana’s next phase of economic transformation.

This comes on the back of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has beguns its 127th meeting today, November 24, 2025, with discussions expected to focus on key macroeconomic developments shaping the country’s recovery trajectory.

It also comes at a time when inflation has also continued its downward path falling to 8 percent in October, driven by sustained tight monetary policy, fiscal consolidation, and improved food supply conditions.

Eric Opoku is the Minister of Food and Agriculture

Ghana’s heavy dependence on imported food reached a worrying point before the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration took office on January 7, 2025, with the nation spending close to $3 billion annually on basic items such as rice, poultry, vegetable oils, sugar, and processed foods.

These products, many of which could be produced locally, placed intense pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves and left Ghana vulnerable to global price fluctuations.

The Minister for Food and Agriculture, speaking at a press conference in Accra on November 24, 2025, cautioned that between 2022 and early 2025, food prices soared across the country.

In several major urban markets, the cost of staple goods more than doubled. The situation peaked in January 2023, when food inflation hit a historic 61%, marking the highest level ever recorded. Though inflation eased slightly afterward, it remained uncomfortably high, severely affecting household purchasing power and increasing the overall cost of living.

“By the time the NDC government assumed office, food inflation stood at 28.3%, reflecting a fragile economic environment,” he said.

However, through targeted interventions and stronger policy direction, the government has successfully stabilized price pressures. As of October 2025, food inflation has dropped to 9.5%, offering significant relief to families and businesses.

According to the Minister of Food and Agriculture, this progress was achieved through foundational reforms implemented immediately after the administration took office. These reforms aim to boost Ghana’s long-term agricultural productivity, ensure sustainability, reduce import dependence, and build a resilient food system.

One of the most urgent priorities has been seed production and localization. For years, “Ghana faced delayed deliveries of imported seeds, many of which arrived well after planting seasons, affecting yields and undermining food security,” he added.

To address this, the government has made local seed production a national strategy, stressing that seed sovereignty is essential for food sovereignty.

The Ministry has also moved to deepen collaboration with Ghana’s research institutions in areas of seed development, testing, and certification. In a major policy shift, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture has announced that starting in 2026, all seeds supplied to Ghanaian farmers will be sourced locally—a move expected to strengthen domestic production capacity and support long-term agricultural transformation.

Deloitte Ghana is warning that the Bank of Ghana’s push to cut non-performing loans to 10% by end-2026 is ambitious and will demand aggressive recovery actions from banks, despite recent improvements in asset quality.

The auditing firm in its post 2026 budget presentation analysis says the sector’s ability to meet this target will be a defining test for Ghana’s financial stability.

The caution comes as the NPL ratio has already fallen from 22.8% in 2024 to 20.4% by September 2025, helped by a stronger cedi, write-offs, recoveries and moderate credit growth.

Under the central bank’s new NPL reduction guidelines, regulated financial institutions are expected to submit board-approved strategies detailing how they intend to manage and reduce bad loans over the period.

Deloitte also highlights a sharp easing in credit conditions, with average lending rates dropping from 30.6% in 2024 to 22.7% in 2025, and expects further declines as macroeconomic conditions stabilize.

On restructuring, Deloitte points to a major turnaround at the National Investment Bank following government’s interventions—GH¢450 million in cash, GH¢1.5 billion in marketable bonds, and the transfer of GH¢500 million in Nestlé Ghana shares.

These measures have reversed NIB’s negative capital adequacy position to 23% and restored full compliance, paving the way for the bank to refocus on SMEs and expand its transaction capacity.

The firm notes that government plans to recapitalize other state-owned banks could further strengthen the industry, stabilize depositor confidence, protect jobs and position the institutions for eventual listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange.

American actor and rapper Donald Glover, who performs as Childish Gambino, revealed on stage during a concert that he had a stroke last year.

While performing at Tyler, the Creator’s Camp Flog Gnaw festival in Los Angeles on Saturday night, Glover opened up about the reason he had to cancel his tour not long after it began in 2024.

“I had a really bad pain in my head in Louisiana, and I did the show anyway,” Glover said on stage. “I couldn’t really see well, so when we went to Houston, I went to the hospital and the doctor was like, ‘You had a stroke.'”

About a month after his New World tour began in August 2024, Glover postponed the tour, and then later cancelled the remaining dates, citing health issues.

During his performance on Saturday, Glover, 42, sat down on the stage as slow music continued in the background, as videos widely shared on social media show.

Glover – who is famous for both his music and his acting roles in shows like Community, Atlanta, and Mr and Mrs Smith – joked that he was copying fellow US actor and comedian Jamie Foxx, who suffered a stroke in 2023 that also at first presented as a bad headache.

On stage, Glover then turned more serious, telling the crowd that when he first found out he had had a stroke, he felt like he was letting everyone down. Specifically, he said, he had always promised to perform in Ireland, but he still hasn’t been able to.

Glover added that doctors also found a hole in his heart, so he had to have two surgeries.

“They say everybody has two lives and the second life starts when you realise you have one,” Glover said.

“You got one life, guys, and I gotta be honest, the life I’ve lived with you guys has been such a blessing,” he told fans.

When Glover first postponed his world tour in September 2024, he wrote on social media that he had to focus on his “physical health for a few weeks”, but still urged his fans to hang onto their tickets.

But a month later, Glover announced he was forced to cancel the rest of the tour because of an “ailment” that required tests, surgery, and “time out to heal”.

“As my wife says, which I love, ‘If this life is the flavour, as soon as I’m done, give me another scoop'”, Glover told the crowd on Saturday after revealing his medical struggles.

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.

NHIA says increase in tariffs will increase support to NHIS providers

The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has announced that healthcare providers across Ghana are set to receive significantly increased financial support from January 2026, as the Authority prepares to implement a projected 120% upward adjustment in service tariffs.

According to the NHIA, the revised tariffs — among the most comprehensive reforms to Ghana’s health financing system in recent years — will only take effect after formal approval from the Minister for Health, in line with statutory requirements.

The adjustment is expected to improve service delivery, enhance the sustainability of health facilities, and boost the overall patient experience under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

Addressing health sector leaders from the Volta and Oti Regions at a regional training programme, Dr Senanu Kwesi Djokoto, Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Operations, speaking on behalf of the NHIA Chief Executive Officer, commended the Independent Clinical Experts’ Group for developing evidence-based tariffs that reflect the actual cost of healthcare services.

He explained that although the headline increment is 180%, the effective increase in claims reimbursements will average at least 120%, depending on the service mix provided by each facility.

Dr Djokoto attributed the breakthrough to the government’s decision to uncap the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), which has made an additional GH¢3.4 billion available for improved healthcare delivery.

“The uncapping of the NHIF by His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama gives us the fiscal space to implement the reviewed tariffs, roll out the Free Primary Healthcare programme, and dedicate resources to the Ghana Medical Trust Fund for chronic disease support.”

Dr Djokoto also raised concerns about the persistence of illegal charges in some health facilities.

He stressed that with the introduction of realistic tariffs, the NHIA will step up its enforcement measures, noting that a task force commissioned by NHIA CEO, Dr Victor Asare Bampoe, identified tariff alignment as a key tool in eliminating unauthorised payments.

Healthcare leaders at the training welcomed the impending reforms, describing them as timely and necessary.

Rev Prof. Adukwei Hesse, a World Bank consultant on the tariff review process, described the new structure as “comprehensive and consistent with global best practices.”

Similarly, Dr Isaac Koranteng, a Consultant Obstetrician at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, expressed optimism that the revised tariffs will reduce illegal co-payments, restore provider confidence, and enhance patient welfare.

The NHIA will continue its nationwide regional engagements to ensure health facility managers and frontline staff fully understand the implications of the new tariff regime ahead of its rollout.

Manasseh Azure Awuni claims Ken Ofori-Atta left Ghana using three different visas

Award-winning investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has shared details of his investigation into how the former Minister of Finance, who has been charged with several corruption-related offences by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) in the SML case, left the country.

According to Manasseh, the investigation he conducted revealed that Ofori-Atta left Ghana on January 4, 2025, three days before the swearing-in of President John Dramani Mahama, who was elected on December 7, 2024.

He said that the former finance minister left Ghana with three valid visas: one for the United States of America (US), one for Canada, and the other for the United Kingdom (UK).

“My investigation has also revealed that Ken Ofori-Atta, whose date of birth is November 7, 1959, left Ghana on January 4, 2025. He departed from Terminal 3 of Kotoka International Airport and travelled on United Airlines Flight 997 to Washington, D.C., in the United States.

“Ken Ofori-Atta travelled on a Ghanaian passport and has valid visas to the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States,” Manasseh wrote in a write-up copied to GhanaWeb.

He added, “Ken Ofori-Atta’s US visa will expire on February 14, 2026, about three months from now. His UK visa will expire on April 21, 2032, and his Canadian visa will expire on May 31, 2031.”

The renowned investigative journalist also disclosed that Ernest Darko Akore, a former technical advisor at the Ministry of Finance, who has also been slapped with charges in the SML case, left Ghana in November 2024.

“Ernest Darko Akore, born on February 5, 1958, left Ghana on November 19, 2024. He travelled to New York on Delta Airlines Flight 156. He departed through Terminal 3 of Kotoka International Airport.

“Ernest Darko Akore travelled on a ten-year US passport, which expires on August 4, 2031,” he wrote.

On November 18, 2025, the OSP formally charged Ken Ofori-Atta and seven others with 78 counts of corruption and corruption-related offences.

The charges include conspiracy to directly or indirectly influence the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a contract, among other violations, in the award of a revenue assurance contract between the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).

According to the OSP, the charges, filed on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, constitute violations of section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).

Akufo-Addo, Sabotage: Kissi Agyebeng opens up about how OSP watched Ken Ofori-Atta leave

Portions of the suit, filed at the Criminal Division of the High Court in Accra under case number CR/0106/2026 and shared by the OSP, read: “Conspiracy to commit the criminal offence of directly or indirectly influencing the procurement process to obtain an unfair advantage in the award of a procurement contract, contrary to section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), and section 92(2)(b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663).”

The other seven individuals charged include:

* Ernest Darko Akore, former Chef de Cabinet to the Minister of Finance;

* Emmanuel Kofi Nti, former Commissioner-General of the GRA;

* Rev Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah, former Commissioner-General of the GRA;

* Isaac Crentsil, former Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA and General Manager of SML;

* Kwadwo Damoah, former Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA and current Member of Parliament for Jaman South;

* Evans Adusei; and

* Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).

BAI

Watch the promo to GhanaWeb’s latest documentary, which uncovers the evolution of ‘kayamata,’ an exploitative practice fueled by love charms and manipulation, titled, “The Dark Side of Kayamata,’ below:

Patrick Boamah rejects Minority Leader position

The wait is over! The GhanaWeb Excellence Awards 2025 is officially launched. Let’s celebrate impact, innovation and excellence across Ghana.

Who deserves to be honoured this year?

Nominate now 👉 https://ghanaweb.com/ghanaexcellenceawards/nominate

Patricia Adusei-Poku is the Chief Executive Officer of Estabridge Africa Limited

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Estabridge Africa Limited, Patricia Adusei-Poku, has outlined several key data-protection projects she is currently leading on the global stage.

Speaking to GhanaWeb on Monday, November 24, 2025, during the Artificial Intelligence Policy Summer School at GIMPA, Adusei-Poku said her expertise in global data protection has earned her multiple major international roles.

According to her, she is serving as a commissioner on a team that has produced a report guiding the use of AI in the military sector, which has since been submitted to NATO.

She explained that the report is intended to support the United Nations (UN) in guiding countries on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in military operations.

“Internationally, the critical one that I’ve been on is the UN GCAIM group, which is the Global Committee for the Use of AI in the Military Domain,” she said.

Patricia Adusei-Poku added, “I was there as a commissioner for over a year, and this year, we completed documentation on a report that provides guidance on using AI in the military domain. It’s a very important report that was delivered to NATO to help support the UN in guiding nations on what to do regarding AI in the military domain.”

Divorce, Setbacks, Success: Patricia Adusei-Poku inspires young women with life story

The data protection expert also disclosed that she is contributing to another significant international initiative, this time in the area of counterterrorism.

She revealed that she has been appointed as a voluntary expert for the United Nations, providing specialised data-protection advice on global counterterrorism efforts.

“The other one that I’ve just recently been added to is giving advice as a data protection expert in the global counterterrorism effort at the UN. The headquarters in Austria has now recruited me as a voluntary expert to advise globally on data protection relating to counterterrorism,” she said.

Patricia Adusei-Poku’s expanding portfolio underscores her growing influence on global frameworks for data protection, artificial intelligence, and security.

Watch a video of her remarks below:

MAG/MA

Watch the promo to GhanaWeb’s latest documentary, which uncovers the evolution of ‘kayamata,’ an exploitative practice fueled by love charms and manipulation, titled, “The Dark Side of Kayamata,’ below:

Patrick Boamah rejects Minority Leader position

The wait is over! The GhanaWeb Excellence Awards 2025 is officially launched. Let’s celebrate impact, innovation and excellence across Ghana.

Who deserves to be honoured this year?

Nominate now 👉 https://ghanaweb.com/ghanaexcellenceawards/nominate

Watch the promo to GhanaWeb’s latest documentary, which uncovers the evolution of ‘kayamata,’ an exploitative practice fueled by love charms and manipulation, titled, “The Dark Side of Kayamata,’ below:

Patrick Boamah rejects Minority Leader position

The wait is over! The GhanaWeb Excellence Awards 2025 is officially launched. Let’s celebrate impact, innovation and excellence across Ghana.

Who deserves to be honoured this year?

Nominate now 👉 https://ghanaweb.com/ghanaexcellenceawards/nominate

Patricia Adusei-Poku is the Chief Executive Officer of Estabridge Africa Limited

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Estabridge Africa Limited, Patricia Adusei-Poku, has outlined several key data-protection projects she is currently leading on the global stage.

Speaking to GhanaWeb on Monday, November 24, 2025, during the Artificial Intelligence Policy Summer School at GIMPA, Adusei-Poku said her expertise in global data protection has earned her multiple major international roles.

According to her, she is serving as a commissioner on a team that has produced a report guiding the use of AI in the military sector, which has since been submitted to NATO.

She explained that the report is intended to support the United Nations (UN) in guiding countries on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in military operations.

“Internationally, the critical one that I’ve been on is the UN GCAIM group, which is the Global Committee for the Use of AI in the Military Domain,” she said.

Patricia Adusei-Poku added, “I was there as a commissioner for over a year, and this year, we completed documentation on a report that provides guidance on using AI in the military domain. It’s a very important report that was delivered to NATO to help support the UN in guiding nations on what to do regarding AI in the military domain.”

Divorce, Setbacks, Success: Patricia Adusei-Poku inspires young women with life story

The data protection expert also disclosed that she is contributing to another significant international initiative, this time in the area of counterterrorism.

She revealed that she has been appointed as a voluntary expert for the United Nations, providing specialised data-protection advice on global counterterrorism efforts.

“The other one that I’ve just recently been added to is giving advice as a data protection expert in the global counterterrorism effort at the UN. The headquarters in Austria has now recruited me as a voluntary expert to advise globally on data protection relating to counterterrorism,” she said.

Patricia Adusei-Poku’s expanding portfolio underscores her growing influence on global frameworks for data protection, artificial intelligence, and security.

Watch a video of her remarks below:

MAG/MA

Watch the promo to GhanaWeb’s latest documentary, which uncovers the evolution of ‘kayamata,’ an exploitative practice fueled by love charms and manipulation, titled, “The Dark Side of Kayamata,’ below:

Patrick Boamah rejects Minority Leader position

The wait is over! The GhanaWeb Excellence Awards 2025 is officially launched. Let’s celebrate impact, innovation and excellence across Ghana.

Who deserves to be honoured this year?

Nominate now 👉 https://ghanaweb.com/ghanaexcellenceawards/nominate

Watch the promo to GhanaWeb’s latest documentary, which uncovers the evolution of ‘kayamata,’ an exploitative practice fueled by love charms and manipulation, titled, “The Dark Side of Kayamata,’ below:

Patrick Boamah rejects Minority Leader position

The wait is over! The GhanaWeb Excellence Awards 2025 is officially launched. Let’s celebrate impact, innovation and excellence across Ghana.

Who deserves to be honoured this year?

Nominate now 👉 https://ghanaweb.com/ghanaexcellenceawards/nominate

Telecel Ghana’s CEO, Patricia Obo-Nai, has advised organisations navigating ownership changes, restructuring, or rebranding to prioritise strong governance controls as guardrails against operational loopholes during the transition.

Delivering the keynote at the Institute of Internal Auditors Ghana 2025 Governance Forum on the theme, Governance Amidst Transition, Ing. Obo-Nai shared insights and lessons from Telecel Ghana’s transition from Vodafone Ghana between 2023 and 2024.

“Transition, uncomfortable as it may feel, is a great teacher. It reveals whether we built institutions on solid grounds or on convenient assumptions,” she told the audience.

“One of the biggest governance failures in any transition is assuming old controls will automatically fit into a new structure. They rarely do.”

The IIA Governance Forum is an annual platform for advancing good governance, accountability, and effective internal audit practice across both the public and private sectors.

It brings together senior executives, board members, risk and audit professionals, policymakers, and thought leaders to share best practices and equip them with insights and tools needed to build resilient institutions.

In her address, Ing. Obo-Nai described how leadership established a Risk Council, a cross-functional team drawn from across the business, to conduct risk reviews and audit sessions.

She said the telco integrated internal auditors into the redesign process from the first day of the transition, and this decision prevented control gaps that often haunt businesses after major acquisitions and mergers.

“Our transition was a major shift across every part of the business. It was about replacing many systems, creating and localising new roles, revising and redocumenting processes and embedding new ways of working without compromising our pledge to employees, customers and other stakeholders.”

She said Telecel Ghana implemented a Control Continuity Plan to track financial, operational and reputational risks daily and treated data migration as its most critical exposure.

The outcome, she said, was one of the smoothest transitions in business, marked by the company’s lowest attrition levels during any major shift.

Telecel Group’s 2023 acquisition of Vodafone’s 70 per cent stake in Ghana Telecommunications Company Limited set in motion a major transition for Ghana’s second-largest telecom giant.

The rebranding to Telecel Ghana was completed in 2024, with a renewed push for investment and innovation towards an advanced digital future.

Ing. Obo-Nai urged Ghanaian corporate leaders to rethink their approach to transition as a defining moment in leadership and governance, offering three lessons applicable to any major transition across industries.

“Embedding audit early, confronting internal cultural uncertainty head on, and protecting data with uncompromising discipline, makes the difference between a transition that strengthens a company and one that weakens it,” she added.

Convened annually by the Ghana chapter of the Institute of Internal Auditors, an international professional association that promotes and develops the practice of internal auditing, the Governance Forum this year spotlighted agile governance models for navigating economic and institutional transformation.

Through expert panels, capacity-building sessions, and peer exchanges, the Forum drives home the importance of transparency, accountability, and internal audit functions in safeguarding institutional integrity and steering national development.

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.

Ghana is preparing to advance one of the most punitive anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the region, as President John Dramani Mahama says he will sign the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill if Parliament passes it, a decision that threatens queer and trans Ghanaians and mirrors a dangerous, accelerating trend across Africa where identity, autonomy, and empathy are being treated as crimes in the name of “culture” and “family.”

Ghana is edging closer to one of the harshest anti-LGBTQ+ legal regimes on the African continent, as President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to sign the revived Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill if Parliament passes it. The bill, which seeks to criminalize queer and trans identity, gender-affirming care, same-sex relations, and even allyship, represents a tightening noose around Ghana’s LGBTQ+ community, and a signal of a wider, alarming trend across Africa.

The resurrected legislation follows earlier versions introduced in 2021, after the opening of an LGBTQ+ community center in Accra sparked backlash from conservative religious groups. That initial effort led to the center’s abrupt closure and the drafting of the first “Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.”

Under the newest version, individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, transgender, nonbinary, or queer could face up to three years in prison. People who “promote or support” LGBTQ+ inclusion could face up to 10 years behind bars. Funding, organizing, or forming an LGBTQ+ advocacy group would be grounds for prosecution. Even seeking gender-affirming care would criminalize a person.

Homosexual conduct is already illegal in Ghana under a British colonial-era statute, though prosecutions are rare. The new bill would radically expand criminal liability, turning queerness itself into a crime and punishing empathy in the process.

Human rights organizations have sounded the alarm. Human Rights Watch has condemned the bill as fundamentally incompatible with Ghana’s tradition of tolerance. “Such a law would not only further erode the rule of law,” researcher Larissa Kojoué said, “but could also lead to further gratuitous violence against LGBT people and their allies.”

The stakes are high—The IMF warned in 2024 that the bill could jeopardize billions in international financing, though supporters have dismissed those concerns. In March 2025, opposition lawmaker John Ntim Fordjour told Reuters that, with Donald Trump back in the White House, Ghana no longer needed to fear global backlash.

“The global political climate is favorable for conservative values,” he said, pointing to the emboldening effect of the second Trump administration. That influence has reached deep.

Trump’s foreign policy has already reshaped the terrain for LGBTQ+ people abroad. Four days after he took office, the administration cut over 90% of USAID and State Department foreign assistance programs, including major reductions to PEPFAR, a vital HIV/AIDS initiative that has saved millions across Africa. Clinics in Accra and other major cities have shuttered or run out of essential medications, leaving LGBTQ+ Ghanaians, who already navigate discrimination in health care even more vulnerable.

The rise of American conservative evangelical organizations has further fueled the movement. Groups such as the American Center for Law and Justice and Family Watch International, long involved in crafting anti-LGBTQ+ legislation in Uganda and Kenya, have intensified efforts in Ghana.

Bloomberg reporting shows that 17 U.S. conservative groups spent $5.2 million in Africa in 2022, a dramatic 47% increase from 2019 to champion legislation restricting queer and trans people’s rights.

This surge is part of a broader pattern across the continent. From Uganda’s draconian Anti-Homosexuality Act to similar legislative pushes in Kenya and Tanzania, Africa has become the testing ground for an imported, well-financed project of moral panic.

It is a trend that weaponizes colonial criminal codes, wraps them in the cloth of “family values,” and punishes those who dare to dream of living freely. It is dangerous not only for LGBTQ+ communities but for democracy, public health, and basic civil liberties. When a state criminalizes identity, it corrodes the social fabric that keeps a nation whole.

President Mahama’s support of the bill has intensified anxiety among LGBTQ+ people, activists, and allies. During a November 18 meeting with the Christian Council of Ghana, Mahama said he was “completely aligned” with the group’s beliefs.

He emphasized that “marriage is between a man and a woman” and that “a person’s gender is determined at birth,” aligning himself with religious conservatives who have long championed the bill.

Mahama clarified that the bill expired when the previous Parliament dissolved, but confirmed that lawmakers will soon reintroduce it. “If the Parliament of the people of Ghana endorse the bill, and vote on it, and pass it, and it comes to me as president, I will sign it,” he said.

The endorsement has widened a political rift. Members of the Minority in Parliament accused the government of intentionally delaying the bill’s reintroduction for political gain. Yet a cross-party coalition has already revived it, setting the stage for swift passage.

Meanwhile, Ghanaian artists and activists have urged citizens to recognize the sweeping consequences of the bill. In an interview with Context, musician Emmanuel Owusu-Bonsu, known as Wanlov the Kubolor, warned that the legislation is about far more than sexuality or gender.

“This is a bill that criminalizes empathy and humanity,” he said. “If you’re a landlord, an employee, an employer, and you don’t report people whom you suspect to be queer, you are going to be criminalized. So it’s actually a bill against every single person in Ghana.”

His warning is a reminder that anti-LGBTQ+ laws rarely stop at criminalizing identity. They create a culture of suspicion, empower police to act without accountability, and fracture communities. They invite everyday citizens to police one another. And they transform fear into governance.

For many queer and trans Ghanaians, the danger is immediate. For Africa, the pattern is becoming unmistakable. As conservatism rises globally, encouraged by shifts in U.S. foreign policy, a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment is making its way across the continent, carried on the winds of nationalism, fundamentalism, and foreign influence masquerading as faith.

The story unfolding in Ghana reaches beyond its borders. It asks the world to pay attention to a continent where queer lives remain under siege, and where silence has always been a dangerous ally to oppression.

By Jibril Abdul Mumuni

Accra, Nov. 25, GNA — The government has pledged to eliminate financial obstacles that prevent Ghanaians from accessing life-saving blood transfusions, signaling a major policy push for equitable healthcare.

Dr. Grace Ayensu-Danquah, the Deputy Minister of Health, conveyed this commitment during the 25th National Blood Donor Day celebration and the launch of the 2026 Annual Voluntary Blood Donation Campaign in Accra.

The National Blood Service (NBS) was held on the theme, “Give Blood, Give Hope, Together We Can Save Lives.”

The Deputy Minister, speaking on behalf of the Vice President, stated that the Ministry is “reviewing ways to ease the financial burdens on families.”

This, according to her, include exploring measures that may reduce blood processing fees over time, so that no Ghanaian is denied life-saving blood because of costs.

“This initiative is part of broader efforts to strengthen Ghana’s blood transfusion system, which includes enhancing infrastructure, equipment, and logistics in regional and district blood services to ensure more efficient collection and equitable access nationwide,” she said.

Dr. Shirley Owusu-Ofori, Chief Executive Officer(CEO), National Blood Service, highlighted the urgent need for more voluntary donors.

She noted that only 40 per cent of the current blood supply came from voluntary donors, with the majority still relying on family replacement donations.

She appealed to new and existing donors, emphasising that the annual target of 308,000 units was attainable if just one to two per cent of Ghanaians embraced blood donation as a civic responsibility.

The event also served to celebrate and honour exceptional voluntary donors and partner institutions.

In the National Best Blood Donor category, the top three positions went to Andrews Kwasi Siaw of GT. Accra with 63 donations, followed by Joseph Sunny Acquah of Cape Coast with 62 donations, and Adu Gyamfi Buadi of Kumasi with 61 donations.

The National Best Youth Blood Donor was Aaron Obeng of GT. Accra with 41 donations, while the National Best Female Blood Donor was Margaret Darko of Koforidua with 26 donations.

Among the schools, Accra Academy was named the 1st Best Second Cycle School with 491 donations, Kumasi Academy took 2nd with 448 donations, and Koforidua Secondary Technical placed 3rd with 375 donations.

GNA
25 Nov. 2025
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong

Tatiana Schlossberg, granddaughter of former US President John F Kennedy, moved many Americans over the weekend with her emotional essay about being diagnosed with terminal cancer shortly after giving birth to her second child.

In the New Yorker, the 35-year-old stunned readers, writing that she was battling acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), an aggressive blood cancer, and had less than a year to live.

Doctors and researchers say the essay helped raise awareness about the deadly illness and the critical need for more funding and research to tackle treatment-resistant cancers.

“It’s such an obviously moving and courageous essay,” said Vijay Sankaran, a physician with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. “She comes from a very prominent family, and yet anybody can be affected by cancer, even people who are young, who are seemingly healthy.”

In the essay, titled A Battle With My Blood, Schlossberg said she was diagnosed after doctors noticed an abnormally high white-blood cell count after giving birth to her daughter in May 2024.

The daughter of designer Edwin Schlossberg and diplomat Caroline Kennedy, she said she was shocked by the diagnosis, as she considered herself “one of the healthiest people I knew”.

One of the dangers of acute myeloid leukaemias is that they can emerge suddenly, going from being undetactable to affecting hundreds of cells in a matter of days, said Dr Sankaran.

The cancer – affecting both the bone marrow and blood – is rare, sickening four in 100,000 adults each year.

Schlossberg’s subtype of leukaemia – a chromosomal abnormality formerly called Inversion 3 – is even rarer, affecting only 1% to 2% of people with acute myeloid leukaemia.

The rare genetic mutation makes Schlossberg’s cancer even more dangerous. It is one of the few subsets of acute myeloid leukaemia for which there are few effective therapies – meaning remissions or cures are the minority”, said Courtney DiNardo, professor of leukaemia at University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre.

The most common treatments involve bone marrow transplants, chemotherapy and clinical trials.

Schlossberg tried them all.

She described in her essay the transplant doctors drained from her sister’s arms and chemotherapy that made her once “great hair” fall out.

She joined a clinical trial for CAR-T-cell therapy, a type of immunotherapy for certain blood cancers, in which she said scientists “engineered my sister’s T-cells, directing them to attack my cancer cells”.

Though the therapy has been revolutionary for other types of leukaemia, it is less so for acute myeloid leukaemia, Dr Sankaran said.

In the last clinical trial, her doctor told Schlossberg that he could “keep me alive for a year, maybe”.

She also discussed battling cancer while watching her cousin, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, make massive cuts to research funding, including for cancers. She and other family members are ardent critics of Kennedy since his unsuccessful presidential campaign and nomination for the health role.

“As I spent more and more of my life under the care of doctors, nurses, and researchers striving to improve the lives of others, I watched as Bobby cut nearly a half billion dollars for research into mRNA vaccines, technology that could be used against certain cancers,” Schlossberg wrote.

Kennedy, a vaccine sceptic, announced in August that he was pulling the funding over claims that “mRNA technology poses more risks than benefits” for certain respiratory viruses. He also revoked funding for hundreds of research grants through the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Even though cuts to mRNA funding were only for respiratory viruses, they have had a chilling effect in the entire mRNA research community, said Jeff Coller, a Bloomberg Distinguished Professor at Johns Hopkins University focused on RNA therapeutics.

“We’ve seen that researchers are, quite frankly, afraid to put together proposals for clinical trials that would be using mRNAs. And we call these cancer vaccines,” he said.

The NIH was once a global leader in funding for biomedical research, but that has changed this year, Dr Sankaran said.

“That’s been limiting, because you could just imagine you need to take more shots on goal to actually have research that will successfully lead to therapies,” he said.

Schlossberg’s battle – while having access to the best care as a member of a prominent American family – highlights the need for more funding to develop better screening tools and treatments for all patients, physicians said.

“[Schlossberg] continues to have a poor prognosis with even the best available tools that we have, and so I think it just really emphasises our need to do better for many of our patients,” Dr Sankaran said.

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.