Ex-Arsenal star Julio Baptista

Former Real Madrid player Julio Baptista has urged Premier League club Arsenal to sign another midfielder to give competition to Ghanaian player Thomas Partey in the 2025/2026 season.

The ex-Arsenal star suggested that although Partey is still playing at a peak level and giving the club control and dominance in midfield, it would be prudent for a new signing to be made to understudy the player for an easy transition.

The Brazilian advised head coach Mikel Arteta to heed his call and renew Partey’s contract, as he is still thriving for the club.

“I think for Arsenal, Thomas Partey has been an incredible player. In Partey, Arteta has found a player who understands what he wants. If I’m Arteta, I’d renew his contract but also bring in another player and put him under a bit of pressure, make him sweat.

“Put a player behind him in the pecking order who can start to understand how he plays and what he does for the team and ease him into the action,” he said, as quoted by Tribuna.

Baptista further indicated that Partey’s age, which is over 30 years, should not deter the Gunners from renewing his contract, as players perform well despite their age in recent times.

“I know he’s older, but I believe his age shouldn’t be a decisive factor in whether or not Arsenal gives him a new deal. Players are much fitter these days,” he added.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Arsenal are negotiating with the Black Stars midfielder to renew his contract for one year with an option to extend for another year.

Watch Ghana U-15 boys’ 1-0 defeat to Tanzania in the semi-finals

SB/MA

The Minority caucus on the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament has called on the government to act urgently following the United States’ issuance of a Level 2 Travel Advisory on Ghana.

The advisory warns U.S. citizens to “exercise increased caution” when travelling to Ghana due to rising violent crimes, weak law enforcement, and under-reported serious offences such as sexual assault.

It also flags indicators of widespread violence, political unrest, and organised crime.

In a statement signed by the Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, the Minority described the development as a “serious indictment” of Ghana’s reputation as a safe and democratic country.

They attributed the advisory to the government’s failure to address growing insecurity, law enforcement breakdown, and impunity in the face of rising violent incidents, particularly in Bawku in the Upper East region.

The caucus also raised concerns about the government’s silence on serious allegations, including drug trafficking and money laundering, warning that the situation could deter investors and harm Ghana’s global image.

They demanded immediate action from the government to restore the rule of law, rebuild trust in security institutions, and restore Ghana’s standing in the international community.

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.

President John Dramani Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the newly launched Adwumawura Program will lead to the creation of 40,000 Ghanaian-owned businesses over the next four years, translating to 10,000 new businesses annually.

The initiative is designed to stimulate youth employment, entrepreneurship, and innovation across key sectors of the Ghanaian economy.

Speaking at the official launch of the project at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi on April 28, 2025, President Mahama stated, “Our goal is to create at least 10,000 Ghanaian youth-owned businesses every year over a four-year period.”

He emphasised that the Adwumawura program is not merely a policy initiative but a cornerstone of his 2024 campaign promises.

“The Adwumawura program, which we are launching today, is a flagship fulfilment of that promise. It is a declaration of faith in the extraordinary potential of the Ghanaian youth,” he said.

“It is our commitment to nurturing their ambitions and translating their ideas into thriving enterprises that will drive our nation’s progress.”

Under the program, beneficiaries will receive comprehensive support, including skills training, mentorship, access to start-up capital, and equipment. This holistic approach is aimed at ensuring the sustainability and long-term success of new ventures.

The initiative is supported by a GH¢100 million allocation from the 2025 Budget Statement, as announced by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.

SA/MA

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Two unidentified men armed with knives reportedly attacked a revenue officer at the Outpatient Department (OPD) of the Yilo Krobo District Hospital at around 2 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29, in an attempted robbery.

The assailants approached the officer under the pretense of seeking help for a patient. Believing they were genuine clients, the officer opened her office to alert those in charge of registration. It was at that point that the men turned on her, demanding to know where the cash was kept.

The attackers inflicted a deep cut on her right eyebrow and arm, causing her to fall. They then forcefully opened the drawers in search of money. However, they fled moments later when the officer screamed for help.

The exact point of entry used by the robbers remains unclear. The security officer on duty claimed he did not see the suspects enter the premises.

Management, however, believes the hospital’s vulnerable perimeter fencing may have played a role in the breach.

Dr. Francisca Mensah Darkwah, Medical Superintendent of the Yilo Krobo District Hospital, told Citi News that the attack has prompted an urgent need for enhanced security measures. She also disclosed changes to the hospital’s operational schedule to reduce staff exposure during late-night hours.

Hospital authorities are calling for immediate improvements to security infrastructure to prevent future incidents.

Mobile Money vendor shot dead during robbery in Aflao

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Flaring of gas not only results in significant financial losses, environmental and health risks

The Country Director of ActionAid Ghana, John Nkaw, has disclosed that Ghana is losing approximately US$100 million worth of natural gas each year due to flaring activities in the oil and gas sector.

Speaking in an interview on GhOne TV, as monitored by GhanaWeb Business, Nkaw emphasised that the flaring of gas not only results in significant financial losses but also poses serious environmental and health risks, as it releases greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants into the atmosphere.

“We have data that shows the government flares about $100 million worth of gas. That is excess gas we are unable to process. We must find a way to contain it. Apart from being a cost to Ghana, it also has hazardous climate change effects,” he stated.

Nkaw criticised the persistent flaring as a waste of valuable resources, which could otherwise be harnessed for power generation, industrial use, or export, thereby generating additional revenue for the country.

His remarks come amid growing concern among civil society groups and energy experts regarding the inefficiencies and environmental damage associated with gas flaring in Ghana’s oil and gas sector.

Despite increased petroleum revenues, highlighted in the recently released 2024 PIAC Report, the continued flaring of gas undermines Ghana’s ability to fully capitalise on its natural resource wealth.

Nkaw called on policymakers to adopt stricter regulations and invest in infrastructure to support the commercialisation of associated gas, rather than allowing it to be wasted through flaring.

We have data that shows the government flares about $100 million worth of gas… – John Nkaw (Country Director, ActionAid Ghana)#GHOneNews #EIBNetwork#GHOneTV #NewsAlert#StateOfAffairs @_KodjoMensah pic.twitter.com/dWOkPypNJi

— GHOne TV (@ghonetv) April 29, 2025

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A commercial expedition is planning to take clients up the tallest mountain in the world in record time with the help of xenon gas. But some in the climbing and medical world worry whether the strategy is an unnecessary gamble.

When Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary made their first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, it took more than two months of effort to reach the summit.

In order to adjust to the extreme thin air at high altitude, the team spent several weeks acclimatising, working their way slowly upwards.

After reaching Base Camp, they spent seven weeks making brief forays up and down the mountain to set ropes, lay ladders and establish ever higher camps before their assault on the summit. In short, they laid siege to the mountain.

Today, the miles of fixed ropes put along the route by teams of Sherpas and the slick logistics perfected by commercial guiding companies allow hundreds of climbers to summit Everest every year. But the time it takes for most to climb Mount Everest hasn’t changed dramatically since that first ascent.

Many expeditions still recommend allowing around two months to reach the top with extensive acclimatisation, although this depends on a range of factors including the weather, traffic on the mountain and the fitness of the climber.

It can take up to a week to trek to Base Camp, but once there most people need, on average, around 40 days to reach the summit. But some companies even offer fast-track expeditions that claim to get clients there in as little as two weeks.

This season, however, one guiding company has promised to slash the time even further by taking its clients to the top of the world in just one week, starting from an airport in London.

They will fly to Kathmandu in Nepal, take a helicopter to Everest base camp and climb the mountain in only a few days. This way, they will skip the usual painstaking three weeks of acclimatisation in the mountains – all for around €150,000 (£127,000/$170,000) per person.           

The offer, which raised more than a few eyebrows in the climbing community, came from Austrian guide Lukas Furtenbach, who will rely on an unexpected new strategy – inhaling xenon, a noble gas that is sometimes used as an anaesthetic.

The logic behind the idea is relatively simple. Around 10 years ago, it became apparent that xenon has one interesting side effect – it increases production of a protein called erythropoietin.

Known for short as EPO, erythropoietin is a glycoprotein that our kidneys produce as reaction to insufficient oxygen levels. EPO fights hypoxia – a condition that occurs when the body can’t get enough oxygen – by increasing the number of red blood cells and the crucial protein they carry, haemoglobin, which transports oxygen around the body.

At high altitudes, this process will naturally happen after multiple rounds of going up and down the mountain – acclimatisation in other words – to slowly adapt the body to lower oxygen levels.

But xenon, it is claimed, could potentially offer a shortcut. By inhaling carefully controlled doses of the gas shortly before the expedition, it may be possible to accelerate the effects of acclimatisation. Furtenbach says he successfully tested xenon himself on previous expeditions.

There is, however, little published scientific evidence showing the strategy works. One recent systematic review of the scientific research, for example, found no conclusive evidence that inhaling xenon had a positive effect on the action of EPO in the human body.

“Increase in erythropoietin does nothing on its own,” says Andrew Peacock, an honorary professor specialising in altitude medicine at the University of Glasgow in the UK. “The question in this case is, does it really stimulate production of red blood cells in such a short period?”

For Furtenbach, the main goal of this strategy is to allow climbers to summit faster and so reduce the risk of being caught in bad weather, avalanches or getting sick.

“The less time you spend on the mountain, the safer the expedition becomes,” he says. 

Furtenbach has a reputation for pushing the limits of what is possible on Everest. He has specialised in offering “flash” three-week expeditions, where mountaineers pre-acclimatise at home before making their trip. In the Everest climbing season of 2025, he is planning to use the xenon approach to help four British clients reach the summit in early May.

Many in the mountaineering community, however, have reacted to his plans with a mix of scepticism and condemnation.

The medical commission at the International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation (UIAA) – the umbrella group for mountaineering organisations around the world – issued a cautionary statement after Furtenbach revealed his plans.

It warned of the absence of clinical research or scientific proof about the safety and efficiency of using xenon at high altitudes.

A previous assessment by the same body also warned that drugs designed to induce EPO could potentially increase the risk of blood clots capable of triggering strokes or pulmonary embolisms.

Some climbers have also pointed out that substances that artificially increase the amount of EPO in the blood – including xenon – are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) in competitive sport.

“Why would we use substances in mountaineering that are banned in all other sports,” says Adrian Ballinger, an American climber and owner of rival guiding company Alpenglow Expeditions.

His own company guided climber Roxanne Vogel to the summit of Everest in just 14 days in 2019, where she used an “altitude chamber” at the gym and work to help her pre-acclimatise before the expedition.

But in the world of commercial guided mountaineering, where anti-doping rules don’t apply, clients are largely unconcerned about the style of ascent. Some in the climbing community are simply curious to see how this will unfold.

“It would be great if this is true, and we could use xenon in the future to make the work of Sherpas safer,” says Dawa Steven Sherpa, owner of Nepal-based guiding company Asia Trekking.

After all, it won’t be the first time humans have enlisted the help of drugs to survive on the tallest mountains – one of the harshest environments on Earth.

Researchers who have studied blood oxygen levels of climbers on Everest have recorded some of the lowest levels ever seen in humans

As climbers ascend to high altitude, they experience a drop in atmospheric pressure that reduces the amount of oxygen they inhale.

This is because the number of air molecules in the atmosphere falls the higher you get. At 5,500m (18,045ft) – slightly above the Everest base camp – there is roughly only half as much oxygen available for us to breathe compared with at sea level.

On the summit at 8,850m (29,035ft), this drops to one-third of the usual oxygen. The weather on any given day can also have an effect, leading to dramatic swings in atmospheric pressure to such an extent that it would be equivalent to climbing an additional 700m (2,297ft), according to one study.

All of this means that climbers are able to get less oxygen into their blood stream and into their bodies. Researchers who have studied blood oxygen levels of climbers on Everest have recorded some of the lowest levels ever seen in humans.

If exposed suddenly to these conditions, people can become severely hypoxic, a state that is normally only seen in critically ill patients being treated in hospitals or during serious incidents while under anaesthetic. From altitudes as low as 4,500m (14,764ft) – brain function starts to become impaired in ways that affect decision-making and problem-solving tasks.

The human body, however, is able to adapt to hypobaric hypoxia (hypoxia caused by low air pressure) and reacts with a range of different responses, explains Martin Burtscher, a long-time researcher in the field of high-altitude medicine and professor at University of Innsbruck in Austria.

We start to hyperventilate and consequently exhale more carbon dioxide, which helps counteract oxygen desaturation. 

Kidney and bladder function also change to increase the concentration of blood cells, while an increase in heart rate drives more oxygen around the body, says Burtscher.

Erythropoiesis, a process that increases red blood cell production in response to the presence of EPO, is one of the most important adaptations. After weeks of acclimatisation, erythropoiesis increases total blood volume and oxygen transportation capacity.

Sometimes, however, these adaptive responses can fail.

“If hypoxia becomes too severe, acute mountain sickness or life-threatening pulmonary or brain oedema develop,” says Burtscher.

In those cases, capillaries of the lung and the brain lose their ability to retain fluids, which leaks out between the cells into brain or lung tissue, explains Andrew Peacock. The consequence is loss of brain or lung function, both potentially fatal.

It is why most climbers on the world’s highest mountains use supplementary oxygen, delivered from canisters through breathing apparatus, with a constant flow of the gas coming from high-pressure cylinders that mountaineers carry in their backpacks.

“It makes a huge difference,” says Peacock. “You are basically mimicking a lower altitude. It makes you less breathless, and it improves the function of the heart, lungs, kidneys, liver and muscles.”   

Both Hillary and Norgay used supplementary oxygen in 1953 and that approach continues today. Of 7,269 people known to have reached the summit of Mount Everest, only 230 have done it without the aid of supplemental oxygen.

There are some in the mountaineering community, however, who believe supplemental oxygen could also be considered as doping. It is a highly charged debate, balancing climber safety against ideals of a more “pure” style of mountaineering.

The Piolet d’Or, the most prestigious annual award in mountaineering, tends to celebrate ascents achieved without supplemental oxygen, for example.

Eager to mitigate the effects of altitude further, some mountaineers and doctors have been willing to experiment with other remedies too, from existing prescription drugs to sketchy stimulants.

In 1953, the legendary Austrian alpinist Hermann Buhl achieved one the greatest feats in the history of mountaineering, summiting alone on the 8,126m (26,660ft) Himalayan peak Nanga Parbat.

It remains the only time anyone has managed a “solo” first ascent of an 8,000m (26,247ft) peak. Buhl’s feat is considered even more impressive as he did it without supplemental oxygen.

During the gruesome descent, he was famously forced to spend the night at 7,900m (25,919ft), standing on a narrow ledge while leaning against a rock.

At that time, Buhl was already known as a hard-core, pioneering alpinist. Still, it was unthinkable that somebody could survive this ordeal.

As he later described in his autobiography, he did, however, have a little help in his backpack in form of pervitin, methamphetamine pills that had been widely used by Nazi troops during World War Two.

“At very high altitudes, experts agree that even with acclimatisation, the body will eventually start to deteriorate“

The search for other drugs that can help give climbers a boost in performance and acclimatisation at high altitude never stopped.

A team of doctors in Willemstad, Curaçao, for example, recently published details about a test of a drug normally used to treat anaemia in patients with chronic kidney disease. Two climbers took the drug, which stimulates EPO production, as they ascended Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador.

But even with all this help, Everest is a treacherous place and there is no guarantee of survival. Although there is little research on how long someone can remain at very high altitudes, experts agree that even with acclimatisation, the body will eventually start to deteriorate.

Extremes of cold and wind exposure, the strain placed on the lungs and heart, deterioration of the tissues and organs, dehydration and weight loss all make spending any prolonged visit to the so called “Death Zone” – generally considered to be above 8,000m (26,247ft) – increasingly dangerous.

So, cutting down the time spent on the mountain is always beneficial.

This is where xenon could make a real difference, at least according to Michael Fries, head of the department of anaesthesiology at St Vincenz Krankenhaus Limburg in Germany, who came up with the idea and suggested it to Furtenbach.  

Xenon has been used in a wide range of products, from car headlights to ion propulsion engines and ballistic missiles. It could also serve as an anaesthetic, which is something Fries spent years researching while working at University Hospital Aachen in Germany.

“It is an almost ideal anaesthetic since it has a very rapid effect, quickly leaves the body and doesn’t interact with other drugs,” says Fries.

Using xenon for anaesthesia, however, proved to be challenging for multiple reasons. This extremely expensive gas must make up 70% of the anaesthetic mixture and it requires special equipment for administration.

Then, in 2014, Fries and his colleagues heard claims that some Russian athletes had used xenon at the 2014 Winter Olympics to improve performance, so the group from University Hospital Aachen did their own study on 24 healthy volunteers.

The results confirmed that a single inhalation of 30% xenon for 45 minutes significantly increased EPO level eight hours after exposure.

According to Fries, the main effect of EPO production should be strongest within the first few days and last up to 14 days.

Curious if this advantage could be used in the hypoxia-inducing world of high-altitude mountaineering, Fries contacted Furtenbach.

Previously, Furtenbach had managed to shorten the Everest expedition time to two weeks by using so-called hypoxic pre-acclimatisation. However, sleeping at home for eight weeks in tents with a lower percentage of oxygen or repeatedly breathing reduced amounts of air through a mask was never a strategy that found much favour among his clients.

Keen to try the xenon idea, Furtenbach did a test run on Aconcagua, 6,961m (22,838ft) high mountain in Argentina. He received a low dose of xenon shortly before the expedition in 2020.

“I reached the summit within a week, without any prior acclimatisation. I felt strong and fast,” says Furtenbach.

He claims his red blood cell count went up by 10% while measurements of his blood oxygen saturation on the summit showed it was 89%.

If true, academics say, this would be remarkable.  At sea level, normal blood oxygen saturation is between 96-100%. Measurements taken from nine climbers during an expedition to Everest in 1993 showed that blood oxygen saturation of climbers fell below 90% at around 4,700m (15,420ft), while at 8,000m (26,247ft) climbers had only 70% saturation without supplementary oxygen. Even with supplementary oxygen, this increased only to 80%. Measurements taken during a research expedition to Everest in 2007 showed an even starker reduction in blood oxygen saturation in four climbers at an altitude of 8,400m (27,559ft), measuring some of the lowest levels ever recorded in humans who are not already close to death.

“I’m quite sceptical,” says Mike Grocott, professor of anaesthesia and critical care at University of Southampton who led the research team during the 2007 expedition and has summited Everest himself. “Xenon has a number of biological mechanisms, including boosting EPO, but the effect on red blood cells and oxygen transport is questionable.”

In 2022, Furtenbach and two fellow guides did another xenon test – this time on Everest. The results, he says, were the same as on Aconcagua, except this time the group prepared at home with hypoxic pre-acclimatisation, where their bodies were slowly introduced to lower levels of oxygen by sleeping in a hypoxic tent at home.

“In each of these cases, we could see the effects on the endurance and the physical abilities,” says Fries, who was involved in analysing the data gathered during the tests. “They all had high oxygen saturations without the long acclimatisation periods and increase in haemoglobin levels.”

But he acknowledges there is still a lack of peer-reviewed scientific research on this and says he hopes to publish findings in the future.

Fries also refutes concerns that xenon, when administered in small doses, could reduce decision-making ability on the mountain. The UIAA medical committee, for example, warned that using an anaesthetic gas in an unmonitored setting could affect brain function, stating “even slight sedation is detrimental in the potentially dangerous setting of high-altitude mountaineering”.

Fries says that in small doses, xenon only results in a short period of dizziness immediately after administration.  

Three medical experts the BBC contacted for this story – all veterans of high-altitude research – are not entirely convinced about the strategy as a way to summit the highest mountain on Earth. They argue there is insufficient scientific proof that xenon actually does enhance performance at high altitude.

Burtschner and Grocott both point to a study which confirmed that xenon did increase EPO concentration, but failed to “stimulate increases in plasma volume or erythropoiesis, leaving cardiorespiratory fitness and athletic performance unchanged”.

Xenon, Grocott says, would need to have an “extraordinary” effect to enable someone to climb to the summit in just one week. “That would have to be a very dramatic change. And I haven’t seen any data suggesting that’s true.”

In the meantime, Furtenbach is proceeding with the plan to send four clients up Everest with the help of xenon gas. All four are in good physical shape, he says. They will climb with guides and bottled oxygen. Once new fixed ropes are in place, all the team will need is seven days of good weather. 

The rest of the world, meanwhile, will be watching.

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PIAC releases 2024 annual report on petroleum revenues

Ghana’s petroleum revenue surged to US$1.35 billion in 2024, representing a 27.8% increase from the US$1.06 billion earned in 2023, according to the 2024 Annual Report by the Public Interest and Accountability Committee (PIAC).

This marks the second-highest annual petroleum revenue since Ghana commenced oil production in 2011. The all-time record remains the US$1.42 billion earned in 2022.

PIAC attributes the increase in 2024 earnings to higher international crude oil prices, which helped cushion the impact of a continued decline in oil production.

Crude oil output fell for the fifth consecutive year, dropping to 48.25 million barrels in 2024 from a peak of 71.44 million barrels in 2019.

The report cited a marginal year-on-year decline of 0.01%, with an average annual drop of 7.4% over the past five years.

Raising concerns over the persistent production downturn, PIAC urged the government to intensify efforts to attract fresh investment into Ghana’s upstream petroleum sector.

“Parliament should ensure that the Ministry of Energy and its allied agencies increase efforts to secure investments in Ghana’s upstream petroleum industry,” the report recommended.

The 14th edition of the PIAC Annual Report covers the performance of Ghana’s petroleum sector from January to December 2024, providing detailed analysis on production, liftings, revenue distribution, and utilisation of petroleum funds.

SP/MA

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The New Patriotic Party flag

The Upper West Regional Executive Committee of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has lifted the suspension of the Nandom Constituency Secretary, Martin Wuoyang.

The decision, announced on April 27, 2025, is seen as a step toward party reconciliation and unity ahead of the 2028 general elections, comes on the back of a passionate appeal for amnesty by the party’s former presidential aspirant and former Assin Central Member of Parliament, Kennedy Agyapong.

Kennedy Agyapong, during the NPP’s National Thank You Tour in Takoradi, on April 26, 2025, urged the party leadership to grant amnesty to all suspended members and those who left due to internal disputes.

He emphasised that unity is critical for the NPP to rebuild and recapture political power in 2028, citing the party’s 2024 electoral defeat as partly due to poor handling of disciplinary actions.

Agyapong specifically called for the reinstatement of high-profile figures like former National Chairman Paul Afoko and former Minister of Trade, Alan Kyerematen, alongside grassroots members and constituency executives.

Wuoyang’s reinstatement also follows earlier tensions in the Nandom Constituency, where two executives, including the Youth Organizer Patrick Napkenaah, were dismissed.

Kennedy Agyapong’s call for amnesty initially sparked mixed reactions, with some NPP members in the Western Region rejecting it, labeling defectors as “saboteurs and traitors.”

GA/AE

Ghana’s Gabriel Owusu made history at the 2025 African Weightlifting Championships in Mauritius by winning three silver medals at the event.

The Ghanaian team arrived in Mauritius ahead of the competition, which took place from April 15 to April 20, 2025. Over the six-day event, the continent’s best lifters battled for supremacy, with Gabriel firmly establishing himself among Africa’s elite.

“Gabriel Owusu’s achievement is a testament to dedication, discipline, and national pride. In every lift, he demonstrated the strength not just of the body, but of the spirit” said Kevin Frey, CEO of Just Keep Going Inc. who represents the athletes.

His performance stood out in a highly competitive field, earning him accolades from fellow athletes, officials, and supporters back home.

Trump is due to hold a rally in Michigan on Tuesday to mark his first 100 days in office

President Donald Trump is set to take action to ease the impact of his tariffs on US car makers, a top White House official says.

“This deal is a major victory for the President’s trade policy by rewarding companies who manufacture domestically,” Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said in a statement provided to the Reuters news agency.

The president will announce measures to reduce some import duties on parts from abroad used in vehicles manufactured in the US.

In addition, while cars made outside the country will still be subject to automotive tariffs, they will not be hit with further levies like those on steel and aluminium products, the Wall Street Journal reported earlier.

Trump is due to hold a rally in Michigan on Tuesday to mark his first 100 days in office.

The state is home to the so-called Detroit Three carmakers – Ford, General Motors (GM) and Stellantis – and a network of more than 1,000 major suppliers to the industry.

Trump has put tariffs at the centre of his economic plans, describing it as “the most beautiful word in the dictionary”.

But they have sparked turmoil in global financial markets, caused major uncertainties for businesses and increased fears of a sharp economic slowdown.

The move to ease the impact on the motor industry has been seen as the latest attempt by his administration to show flexibility on the policy.

GM’s chief executive Mary Barra welcomed the development.

“We’re grateful to President Trump for his support of the US automotive industry and the millions of Americans who depend on us,” she told the BBC in an emailed statement.

“We appreciate the productive conversations with the President and his Administration and look forward to continuing to work together.”

Ford said it appreciated Trump’s decision, which it said would “help mitigate the impact of tariffs on automakers, suppliers and consumers”.

“We will continue to work closely with the administration in support of the president’s vision for a healthy and growing auto industry in America,” a statement added.

The car maker said policies that encouraged exports and ensured affordable supply chains to promote more domestic growth were “essential”.

“It will be important for the major vehicle importers to match Ford’s commitment to building in America,” the company said, adding that if they did, the US would see a “windfall of new assembly and supplier factories and hundreds of thousands of new jobs”.

Stellantis chairman John Elkann echoed the sentiments of his rival carmakers in response to the tariff reliefs.

“We look forward to our continued collaboration with the US administration to strengthen a competitive American auto industry and stimulate exports,” he added.

Last week, a coalition of US motor industry groups called on the president to not impose 25% tariffs on imported car parts.

A letter to his administration from groups representing companies including GM, Toyota and Volkswagen said the levies “will lead to higher auto prices for consumers, lower sales at dealerships and will make servicing and repairing vehicles both more expensive”.

Trump had previously said the tariffs would come into effect by 3 May.

Accra, April 29, GNA – The Board of Directors of the Special Mothers project, a not-for-profit advocacy organisation have agreed to transition the project into an advocacy and consultancy organisation that will counsel and mentor parents of children with disabilities.

The project will now be called Inclusive Family Alliance to represent the broad scope of activities they will undertake on children with disabilities and their families as well as consult on how organisations and corporate Ghana can effectively include children with disabilities and their families in policy formulation

Inclusive Family Alliance (IFA) will operate as a social enterprise prioritising issues affecting children with cerebral palsy as well as families raising children with disabilities in general.

“IFA will also engage in disability advocacy, consultancy, mentorship and counselling of parents of children with disabilities,” Mr Alexander Tetteh, board member of the organisation said at a meeting.

Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Executive Director of Inclusive Family Alliance, said the organisation currently focuses on referring parents of children with special needs to the limited, but available support systems and services.

The organisation also has a parents’ support platform where parents of children with cerebral palsy and other disabilities engage in peer counselling and peer mentoring as well as share ideas and experiences

The Inclusive Family Alliance will among other activities embark on a mentoring and coaching programme dubbed “Life Beyond Diagnosis” to support parents of children with disabilities develop their own self care and self development plan.

GNA

HA/GRB

Matilda Asante Asiedu

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Matilda Asante-Asiedu as the Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG).
The appointment, announced in a letter issued on yesterday and signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, is in line with Section 17 of the Bank of Ghana Act, 2002 (Act 612).
Mrs. Asante-Asiedu is a Chartered Executive Banker and an experienced corporate leader who previously served as Group Head of Retail Banking at Access Bank Ghana PLC.
She holds an MBA in Marketing from the GIMPA Business School (2021) and an MA in Journalism Studies from Cardiff University (2005).
She also holds diplomas in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (1997) and in Politics and Public Affairs Reporting from the International Institute of Journalism, Berlin (2000).
Additionally, Mrs. Asante-Asiedu has undertaken executive programmes at Said Business School, Oxford University (2023), Wharton School (2015), and Marquette University’s Les Aspin Centre (2003), among others.

A Daily Guide Report

The highly anticipated Ghana Business and Innovation Awards 2025, organised by KN Unique Communications, a subsidiary of KN Communications Group came to a resounding close on Saturday night, with a dazzling ceremony at the Marriott Hotel in Accra.

The event celebrated outstanding businesses and individuals who have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and resilience in Ghana’s dynamic economic landscape.

The ceremony brought together leaders and stakeholders from across the country’s business community. Distinguished guest speakers for the evening included Mr. Tsonam Cleanse Akpeloo, Chairman of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Greater Accra, and Mr. Imram Shams Kwakye, Regional Chairman of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Accra Branch.

In their addresses, both speakers emphasised the crucial role of innovation, entrepreneurship, and effective leadership in shaping Ghana’s economic future.

Mr. Akpeloo encouraged businesses to continuously embrace technological advancement and sustainable practices, positioning themselves for both local and international competitiveness.

Mr. Kwakye echoed similar sentiments, calling for greater collaboration between industries and a renewed focus on creativity, skills development, and strategic partnerships.

A total of 16 outstanding companies and one distinguished individual were recognised for their exceptional achievements across various sectors, including technology, manufacturing, finance, education, health, and service delivery.

Each awardee was celebrated for setting benchmarks of excellence, fostering innovation, and contributing to Ghana’s socio-economic growth.

The evening was filled with inspiring success stories, powerful networking opportunities, and moments of reflection on the vital role of private enterprises in national development.

Awardees expressed their gratitude and reaffirmed their commitment to continuing the drive for innovation and excellence.

The Ghana Business and Innovation Awards has grown into one of the country’s most prestigious platforms for recognising visionary leaders and companies who are not only excelling in business but also making impactful contributions to society.

Organisers promised an even bigger event in 2026, as they continue their mission to spotlight businesses that are redefining industries through creativity and innovation.

The night ended on a celebratory note, with music, fine dining, and the promise of even greater milestones ahead for Ghana’s vibrant business community.

Here are the winners of the 2025 Ghana Business and Innovations Awards:

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Er Nikkesh Neel, Managing Director- Lambodra Enterprise Ltd – Innovative CEO of The Year

COMPANIES

Yango Ghana – Last Mile Logistics Company of the Year; Glico Life – Innovative Life Insurance Company of

the Year; Dettol Ghana (Dettol Original Soap) – Best Antibacterial Product of the Year; Modern Floors & Walls

Ghana – Innovative Building Finishing Company of the Year; Wami Agro Limited – Social Impact Company of the Year; B5 Plus – Indigenous Manufacturing Company of the Year; Inveteck Global – Consulting Company of the Year (Cyber Security).

Assempah Fie Graphics – Digital Printing Company of the Year; Enterprise Insurance – General Insurance Company of the Year; Lotus Detox & Wellness Center – Wellness Company of the Year Sewerage System Ltd – Environmental Sanitation Company of the Year; Tang Palace Hotel – Best Hotel of the Year (Service Excellence).

Moove Ghana – Fast Growing Transport Technology Brand of the Year; Atwima Kwanwoma Rural Bank – Innovative Rural Bank of the Year; Dps International Ghana – Innovative Educational Institution of the Year; Lambodra Enterprise Ltd – IT Business Service Company of the Year

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