The official logo of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea has written to GhanaWeb to clarify details contained in an earlier news story with the headline, ‘Chinese, Korean nationals arrested in 12-hour galamsey operation at sites linked to Akonta Mining,’ which has since been updated to ‘Chinese nationals arrested in 12-hour galamsey operation at sites linked to Akonta Mining.’

In that report, GhanaWeb detailed that as part of the arrested foreign nationals, were some Koreans, but after its own investigations, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Ghana has written to the website to clarify that that was not the situation.

“The Embassy of the Republic of Korea writes with reference to the article published by the Ghana Web news agency on April 18, 2025, titled: Chinese, Korean nationals arrested in 12-hour galamsey operation at sites linked to Akonta Mining. The article in question states that among those apprehended at the illegal mining site were two Korean nationals, alongside Ghanaian and Chinese nationals.

“Following verification with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Ghana Police Service, and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), we wish to clarify that no Korean nationals were among the foreign nationals arrested at Samreboi during the operation. The information provided by these official sources confirms that the foreign nationals apprehended in the operation were not nationals of the Republic of Korea,” the rejoinder from the embassy stated.

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

EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA

The Editor

Ghana Web News Agency

Accra, Ghana

May 7, 2025

Subject: Request for Correction of Article Published on April 18, 2025

Dear Editor,

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea writes with reference to the article published by the Ghana Web news agency on April 18, 2025, titled: *Chinese, Korean nationals arrested in 12-hour galamsey operation at sites linked to Akonta Mining*. The article in question states that among those apprehended at the illegal mining site were two Korean nationals, alongside Ghanaian and Chinese nationals.

Following verification with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Ghana Police Service, and the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), we wish to clarify that no Korean nationals were among the foreign nationals arrested at Samreboi during the operation. The information provided by these official sources confirms that the foreign nationals apprehended in the operation were not nationals of the Republic of Korea.

The Embassy would kindly request that your outlet issues a correction to the aforementioned article to reflect the accurate facts.

We would appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and kindly request that the correction, once made, be given similar prominence as the original article.

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require any additional verification or documentation.

Yours sincerely,

Counselor/Consul

Mr. Mincheol SHIN

No.10, Fifth Avenue Extension, Cantonments, P.O.Box GP 13700, Accra, Ghana

+233-302-771-705 / http://gha.mofa.go.kr

GSE Composite Index rose by 22.46 points to close at 6,311.45

Ghana’s benchmark stock index advanced on Tuesday, May 7, 2025 lifted by modest gains in telecommunications and banking shares even as overall trading activity declined sharply.

The Ghana Stock Exchange Composite Index rose by 22.46 points to close at 6,311.45, boosting its year-to-date return to 29.11%.

Meanwhile, the Financial Stock Index edged up 1.57 points to 3,130.76, taking its year-to-date performance to 31.50%.

Market capitalisation increased by GH¢287.34 million to GH¢138.97 billion.

Despite the upward movement in key stocks, trading activity slowed considerably.

Turnover dropped 86.27% to GH¢2.03 million while total shares traded declined 74.54% to 321,415.

Access Bank Ghana led the gainers, rising 8 pesewas to GH¢9.20, extending its year-to-date gain to 76.92%.

MTN Ghana added 2 pesewas to close at GH¢3.21, and the GLD ETF advanced GH¢3.00 to settle at GH¢441.50.

MTN Ghana was the most actively traded stock with 236,536 shares changing hands for a value of GH¢758,176.

Other actively traded equities included CAL Bank, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated, GLD, and GOIL.

SP/MA

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An Accra Circuit Court has granted bail to four individuals charged with allegedly attempting to export narcotic drugs.

The accused — Gariba Soli, Josiah Biney, Emmanuel Minta, and Kwabena Ampofo Anti — were each granted bail in the sum of GH¢13 million, with four sureties, three of whom must be justified.

The bail was granted by the presiding judge, Sedinam Awo Kwadam, following a bail application by lawyers for the accused.

As part of the bail conditions, one of the sureties must provide justification with a landed property valued at GH¢1 million, while two others must be civil servants earning not less than GH¢5,000 per month.

The four accused persons have pleaded not guilty to charges including attempted exportation of narcotic drugs without a licence, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of narcotic drugs without lawful authority, and further conspiracy charges.

Background

According to the prosecution, on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, authorised officers at the Export Section of the Swissport Cargo Terminal conducted a routine physical inspection of outbound cargo destined for Brussels, Belgium.

During the process, the officers intercepted three packages, packed in wooden boxes, on suspicion of concealing narcotic substances and en route to the Netherlands.

Initial examination of the packages revealed assorted wooden artefacts, with no incriminating items. However, upon emptying and scanning the boxes, the scanned images indicated false compartments had been created within each box.

These compartments were deconstructed and were found to contain a total of 73 compressed slabs of a suspected narcotic substance.

Substance

When opened, a sample slab revealed a whitish powdery substance, which subsequently tested positive for cocaine.

All four suspects were arrested and taken to the headquarters of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) for further investigation.

During preliminary investigations, the suspects denied knowledge of the concealed drugs. However, under interrogation, Soli — identified as the shipper of the intercepted packages — stated that he had been engaged by an individual named Patrick to export the artefacts to the Netherlands on his behalf.

Soli said he had been working with a representative of Patrick in Ghana, known only as Onik and Imex, since January 2025.

He disclosed that the three wooden boxes were delivered to him by Onik at the premises of the Art Exhibition Centre.

Soli further explained that he, along with his colleagues, had loaded the empty boxes with assorted wooden artefacts, sealed them with nails, and sent them to Swissport.

He added that the packages remained with the freight agents, Ansahdys Shipping & Logistics, until he was invited to witness the examination of the cargo — at which point he was arrested.

The suspected narcotic substances will be forwarded to the Ghana Standards Authority for analytical testing and reporting.

Accra, May 7, GNA – The Government, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has convened an executive leadership retreat at Ada in the Greater Accra Region to drive transformational development in Ghana. 

The retreat, held from 23rd to 26th April, 2025, was attended by ministers and their deputies, senior advisors, international and national resource persons, private sector players and representatives of the African Development Bank (AfDB). 

It was held on the backdrop of the recent democratic transition in the country and the Constitution of a new Cabinet, on the theme: “Re-imagining Leadership in a ‘Reset’ Ghana,” a release jointly issued by the Government and the UNDP said on Wednesday. 

The event offered participants a safe, co-curated environment to engage in real-world scenarios, regional and global trends, and leadership principles rooted in empathy, systems thinking, and collaborative governance. 

“Ghana stands at a crossroads, faced with diverse challenges. We must lead differently, think differently and act differently, as the true measure of our success is the lives we touch and the legacy we leave behind,” President John Dramani Mahama was quoted as saying. 

“Where we feel our development partners, especially UNDP, can come in, is bringing together various stakeholders, including the private sector and governments from across the aisle to agree on one development agenda that we all buy into and agree to move forward no matter who is in power,” he added. 

Mr Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria, called for a focused, consistent leadership and a reimagined approach to Ghana and Africa’s educational systems for a ‘true’ development. 

“We must not only invest in technology but also in the people who will create it. Education is the foundation for meaningful change,” he said. 

Mr Ahunna Eziakonwa, the UNDP Assistant Administrator, noted that a collaborative stakeholder aspiration would serve as a catalyst towards an inclusive and sustainable development for Ghana. 

Mr Eziakonwa, the UN Assistant Secretary-General, encouraged enhanced government-stakeholder collaboration to yield fresh perspectives, renewed energy, and actionable strategies to steer. 

“Let us seize this opportunity to reimagine leadership, not just for today, but for the Ghana we are building together,” he said, pledging UNDP’s commitment to partnering Ghana in this journey. 

GNA 

ABD 

The US and China will hold talks to try to ease their trade war

US and Chinese officials are set to start talks this week to try to deescalate a trade war between the world’s two biggest economies.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will attend the talks in Switzerland from 9 to 12 May, China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs says.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer will represent Washington at the meeting, their offices announced.

Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has imposed new import taxes on Chinese goods of up to 145%. Beijing has hit back with levies on some goods from the US of 125%.

But global trade experts have told the BBC that they expect negotiations to take several months.

It will be the first high-level interaction between the two countries since Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng attended Trump’s inauguration in January.

Mr Bessent said he looked forward to rebalancing the international economic system to better serve the interests of the US.

“My sense is that this will be about de-escalation, not about the big trade deal, but we’ve got to de-escalate before we can move forward,” he said in an interview with Fox News.

“If the United States wants to resolve the issue through negotiations, it must face up to the serious negative impact of unilateral tariff measures on itself and the world,” a Chinese commerce ministry spokesperson said on Wednesday morning.

Chinese state media reported that Beijing had decided to engage with the US after fully considering global expectations, the country’s interests and appeals from American businesses.

The report added that China is open to talks but reiterated that if the country decides to continue to fight this trade war – it will fight to the end.

The trade war has triggered turmoil in financial markets and sent shockwaves across global trade.

Two trade experts told the BBC that they were not particularly optimistic about the talks, at least in the initial phase.

“You have to start somewhere, so I’m not saying it isn’t worthwhile. Just unlikely to be the launch event people are hoping to see,” said Deborah Elms, Head of Trade Policy at the Hinrich Foundation.

“We should expect to see a lot of back and forth, just like what happened last time in 2018,” Henry Gao, Professor of Law at Singapore Management University and a former Chinese lawyer on the World Trade Organisation secretariat, said.

“I would expect the talks to drag on for several months or even more than a year”.

Financial markets in mainland China and Hong Kong rose on Wednesday as investors reacted to the news as well as announcements by Chinese authorities of measures to support the economy.

US stock futures were also higher. Futures are contracts to buy or sell an underlying asset at a future date and are an indication of how markets will trade when they open.

Investors are also waiting for the US central bank to make its latest announcement on interest rates on Wednesday afternoon.

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has addressed some university graduate teachers who picketed at the Ministry of Education forecourt on Wednesday, May 7.

The aggrieved teachers have demanded staff IDS for those already at post and regional posting letters for those whose documents are stuck at various regional offices across the country. They attribute the situation to what they describe as the unjust revocation of postings and delayed follow-ups after the validation process, issues that have resulted in about five months of unpaid salaries

According to the Minister, appointment letters were issued by the previous government, totalling 39,000, when there was no financial clearance to do that.

He indicated that out of the 39,000, the government might be able to absorb only 9,000–12,000.

An aggrieved teacher, Myers Assibi Akudbilla, shared what she described as an unpleasant experience after being posted from Tamale in the Upper East Region to the Ashanti Region. She disclosed that she hasn’t been paid after five months of being at post.

“I came here mainly because of my staff ID, or let me say, the recruitment process. I had my appointment dated 8th November. I went to the region for my regional posting letter, but when I got to the school, I was asked to go for my IPPD document to be processed.

“When I got there, the revocation had started, so my IPPD couldn’t be processed. As it stands now, I am at post in the Ashanti Region, but I do not know my fate. As I speak, my documents are stuck at the district level, and that is why I am here. We are here to find out how far our processing document has gotten,” he said.

Deputy Convenor of the aggrieved teachers, Emmanuel Ofori, mentioned that the Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, after a closed-door meeting with leaders of the group, indicated that directives have been given to regional offices to fast-track processes to ensure their grievances are resolved.

“We were called for a meeting, and the meeting lasted for about 35 minutes. During the meeting, he mentioned that we, the newly posted teachers who have been able to go through a successful validation, automatically we have been reinstated. But the truth of the matter is that they are facing some challenges, and the challenge is about financial clearance.

“The financial clearance was secured by the past government, but due to some reason, it has expired, so they have written to the Ministry of Finance to seek reactivation so that they can proceed to release our staff ID and also pay us our salaries,” he said.

President John Dramani Mahama has named esteemed Obstetrician and Academician, Prof Enyonam Yao Kwawukume, as the new Board Chairman of the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons (GCPS).

The appointment, which was announced during the inauguration of newly constituted Boards of several key health institutions, including the GCPS, Teaching Hospitals, and the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), places one of Ghana’s most respected medical figures at the helm of the nation’s premier institution for postgraduate medical education.

Prof Kwawukume brings to the role decades of experience in clinical practice, medical education, and healthcare leadership. He is the Founder and Vice Chancellor of Family Health University and also the Founder of Family Health Hospital, and has held the prestigious K.K. Bensti-Enchill Chair at the University of Ghana’s College of Health Sciences.

Speaking at the inauguration, Prof Kwawukume acknowledged the serious challenges confronting the country’s healthcare system, stressing the need for urgent, coordinated efforts.

“There is evidence that many hospitals across the country face significant challenges,” he said. “As Board Chairman, I am committed, along with my colleagues, to tackling these issues head-on. Having worked with many of these institutions, I am confident in our ability to foster a strong, collaborative approach.”

He expressed optimism about the sector’s prospects, pointing to the wealth of experienced professionals within Ghana’s healthcare system.

“What gives me hope is the presence of familiar faces—people I have worked with over the years,” he said. “This creates a foundation for improved collaboration and open dialogue, which will ultimately ease the burden on the Ministry of Health and its leadership.”

Prof Kwawukume emphasised the urgency of action over rhetoric: “There are times when what we need is not more talk, but action —and now is one of those times.”

A trailblazer in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Prof. Kwawukume is internationally known for performing the world’s first bloodless myomectomy during a Caesarean section using a tourniquet. He is also the co-inventor of the Medical Eligibility Criteria Wheel for Reproductive Health and Family Planning, a tool adopted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and used globally.

His previous roles include Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Korle Bu-based School of Medicine and Dentistry and leadership positions in numerous professional bodies, including past Chair of the West African College of Surgeons (Obstetrics & Gynaecology) and past President of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Ghana (SOGOG).

In recognition of his global contributions to women’s health, Prof Kwawukume was conferred Honorary Fellowship of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG).

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.

play videoCEO of Ghana Tourism Development Company, Professor Kobby Mensah

The Ghana Tourism Development Company (GTDC) has launched its Fleet Pool Management Services (FPMS), an initiative aimed at transforming the tourism transportation sector through strategic public-private partnerships.

The FPMS seeks to establish a robust driver database, offer refresher and capacity-building training, and track key transportation data such as travel times and service quality.

Speaking at the launch, the CEO of GTDC, Professor Kobby Mensah, explained that the FPMS is designed to consolidate privately owned vehicles into a unified fleet pool system, backed by government credibility, to provide quality services to tourists across the country.

“We are working with the private sector, we don’t have our own pool. We are collaborating with individuals who own vehicles, including those operating by the roadside or selling vehicles. Through a public-private partnership model, we believe all of us can operate sustainably,” he said.

Professor Mensah emphasised that the Fleet Pool initiative is not intended to replace private businesses, but rather to offer a structured platform where services can be better utilised to enhance the tourism sector.

“This is not a service where GTDC takes over jobs from the private sector to run tours. No. Everyone registered in the pool is a private individual who has agreed to contribute their vehicles. We use our distribution arm to manage the services, and we implement a revenue-sharing model,” he added.

For her part, the Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, Abla Dzifa Gomashie, called on private stakeholders and international partners to support the rollout of FPMS in order to help realise Ghana’s vision of becoming a leading tourism hub on the continent.

“We admit that we can’t do it alone. That’s why we’re opening our doors. We invite you to walk in and assist us in making the difference we know you can make, for us and for our motherland, Ghana. This is why FPMS matters. It’s not just about vehicles,” she stated.

SP/MA

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Dr Wisdom Kofi Dogbey is new MD for Cocoa Marketing Company

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed Dr Wisdom Kofi Dogbey to serve as the new Managing Director of Cocoa Marketing Company (CMC), the subsidiary of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) responsible for the marketing and sale of Ghana’s cocoa both locally and internationally.

Dr Dogbey brings to the position over 20 years of global leadership experience in corporate finance, global banking, investment management, and infrastructure development.

His appointment signals a strategic move aimed at strengthening Ghana’s cocoa marketing operations, deepening value addition, and enhancing the country’s competitiveness on the global cocoa market.

Prior to this appointment, Dr Dogbey held several senior roles in top-tier financial institutions in the United States, including Truist Bank, where he served as Consumer and Small Business Cards CFO, and American Express in New York, where he was Director of Funding and Investments.

In that role, he managed over $120 billion in trade value and led capital market funding efforts that secured $4 billion quarterly. He also generated $220 million in additional revenue by optimising international exchange rate programs.

His career includes impactful leadership positions at Bank of America and Wells Fargo Bank, where he managed multibillion-dollar budgets, streamlined financial operations, and spearheaded initiatives that delivered significant cost savings and operational efficiencies across private banking, consumer banking, wholesale banking, and technology operations.

Dr Dogbey began his professional journey in Ghana, contributing to financial audits at the Volta River Authority and conducting feasibility studies for key infrastructure and agricultural projects at Deloitte.

His long-standing commitment to economic development and public-private partnerships has remained a constant feature of his career, both in Ghana and abroad.

Academically, Dr Dogbey holds a Doctor of Humanities from Good News International University, a Doctor in Ministry (Ministerial Leadership) from BMI University, an MBA in Finance from Virginia Commonwealth University, and a Bachelor of Science in Banking and Finance from the University of Ghana.

He has also pursued executive education at Harvard Business School, earning certifications in Leadership and Generative AI for Business Leaders.

Beyond his corporate achievements, Dr Dogbey is a passionate advocate for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and has served as a regular economic policy pundit on Ghanaian media platforms.

He is the founder of Heaven’s Relief, a U.S.-based nonprofit organisation focused on poverty reduction and skills development initiatives in Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda.

His appointment comes at a crucial time for Ghana’s cocoa sector as it navigates global price volatility, climate challenges, and the need to improve farmer livelihoods.

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David Awuah-Darko is the President of the Accra Polo Club

David Awuah-Darko, Chairman of IC Securities Group and patron of the IC Polo Team, has been elected as the new President of the Accra Polo Club, one of Ghana’s oldest and most prestigious equestrian, polo, and social institutions, established in 1902.

His election marks a continuation of a proud family legacy. David is the youngest son of the late Nana Awuah-Darko Ampem II, who made history as the first Ghanaian and first Black president of the Accra Polo Club.

Now, decades later, his son follows in his footsteps at the helm of the club.

With a deep-rooted passion for polo and a wealth of experience in the sport, David Awuah-Darko is widely expected to usher in a new era of excellence for the club. His leadership is anticipated to bring innovation, broaden participation, and elevate the club’s profile both locally and internationally.

Beyond his involvement in Ghanaian polo, David is also a member of the prestigious Royal Guards Polo Club in the United Kingdom.

He is married and a father of four.

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SB/MA

A former Director of the Ghana School of Law, Kwaku Ansa-Asare, has raised concerns about the perceived partisan politicisation of the proceedings in the three petitions asking to remove Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo from office.

According to him, the perceptions of partisan politicisation could weaken public confidence in the judiciary.

Speaking in an interview with TV3 on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, Mr Ansa-Asare stated that political interests were inevitably involved in the constitutional processes because the people who operate them are not neutral actors.

“Well, as for it being politicised, every human being is a political animal,” he said in an answer to a question on whether there was partisan politics involved in the process.

“And therefore, if we take it from that perspective, whatever we do, people will read meaning into it. The constitutional mechanism has been spelt out. It is the human agent who operates the Constitution. And the human agents who operate the Constitution have their political interests challenged,” he added.

According to Mr Ansa-Asare, once politicians set a constitutional process in motion, public perception of political influence becomes difficult to ignore.

“Once we recognise and acknowledge the fact that it is politicians who set the machinery in motion, one can always conclude that it is being politicised,” he said.

He called on constitutional actors, particularly the judiciary, to correct these perceptions through their conduct.

“It is up to the operators of the Constitution to disabuse the minds of the populace that this impression or perception that we have does not chime with what they do,” he added.

Mr Ansa-Asare warned that if such doubts are not addressed, Ghanaians would continue to view appointments and legal decisions through a partisan lens.

“People will continue to say that if Akufo-Addo appoints, he is politicising; then Mahama appoints, politicising,” he said.

“At the end of the day, we must have confidence in the system that the operators will do what the Constitution has mandated them to do.”

He also commented on public expectations that judicial appointments should serve political ends.

“The way things happen in Ghana, we tend to over-satisfy our followers. So, if there is an NPP government in power, then they will look for judges who will be sympathetic to their political aspirations,” he noted.

Despite these challenges, Mr Ansa-Asare expressed hope that the judiciary would remain loyal to the Constitution, regardless of who appointed them.

“Once a judge has been appointed, whether from NPP or NDC or whatever, the judge becomes a justice of the Court of Ghana. And therefore, if you are a justice of the Supreme Court, your loyalty must always be to the Constitution and not to the person who appoints you.”

He cited past instances of judicial independence, recalling, “Sir Arku Korsah, I’m told, we are always reminded that he told Nkrumah to his face that, ‘You appointed me, but my loyalty is not to your personality, but to the Constitution of Ghana.’”

Mr Ansa-Asare added that if such examples of independence were followed, Ghana would be in a stronger position.

“If we can emulate those examples, there will be no problem for this country,” he said.

By Jibril Abdul Mumuni

Accra, May 7, GNA – The third edition of the Made in Ghana Business Summit is set to host over 300 influential figures from both the public and private sectors.

The summit slated for Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre is themed “Promoting Regional Industrialization and Business Integration in Ghana.”

It aims to foster the consumption of locally made goods and services to drive national economic growth.

Organized by the Entrepreneurs Foundation of Ghana, the event will bring together Chief Executives, captains of industries, business leaders, development partners, members of the diplomatic corps, policymakers, and entrepreneurs from across the country.

The focus will be on deepening discussions around the importance of supporting Ghanaian products and services to cultivate competitive homegrown brands capable of propelling the nation’s progress.

The summit will feature prominent guest speakers from various sectors and will also unveil leading Ghanaian brands in manufacturing and services that have demonstrated a strong commitment to the Made-in-Ghana agenda.

Reputable businesses spanning key industries such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, maritime logistics, automobiles, and aviation will be highlighted.
Key objectives of the summit include promoting and showcasing Ghanaian-made products to boost awareness and demand, providing a networking platform for potential local and international partnerships.

It would also feature expert discussions on crucial topics like regional industrialization, agribusiness, export and trade, local manufacturing, and overall economic growth.

An exhibition will also allow businesses to present their offerings to a broader audience. Furthermore, the summit intends to facilitate connections that will enable Ghanaian businesses to expand their reach into international markets.

GNA

SOF

play videoDirector-General of NCA, Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko

The Director-General of the National Communications Authority (NCA), Ing. Edmund Yirenkyi Fianko, has announced a proposed amendment to Section 77 of the Electronic Communications Act that seeks to impose administrative fines on individuals who damage telecommunications infrastructure in Ghana.

The amendment would allow for offenders to face criminal prosecution if they fail to pay the fines, which will carry a minimum penalty of 10,000 penalty units.

Ing. Fianko stated that individuals who fail to pay the fines could face up to five years in prison.

Speaking to GhanaWeb Business on the sidelines of the launch of the Fiber Infrastructure Standards Manual in Accra on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, Ing. Fianko explained that the measure is intended to ensure people exercise extra caution when working around areas where fiber cables are laid.

The amendment also aims to curb the increasing number of fiber optic cable damages and other disruptions to communication infrastructure.

He stated, “Under the proposed changes, offenders would be fined three times the cost of repair. In cases where fines are not paid, the ministry recommends criminal prosecution, with penalties including a minimum of 10,000 penalty units or up to five years in prison, or both.”

“This is intended to make people extra careful when working around areas where these cables are laid. Until people are punished for these acts, there will be no deterrent,” the NCA boss added.

Damage to telecom infrastructure has severely impacted service quality across the country. In some instances, cable cuts have disrupted voice and data services across entire regions.

The proposal is currently under review by the Ministry and will next be submitted to the Attorney General’s Department before being laid before Parliament.

However, no specific timeline has been provided for when the amendments will be implemented.

SA/MA

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