The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako popularly known as Chairman Wontumi has expressed his thanks to Dr Bryan Acheampong the former Food and Agriculture for helping him with his EOCO bail conditions.
Chairman Wontumi was released from EOCO custody on June 2, after meeting his bail GHS50 million conditions.
The UK government has threatened to sue former Chelsea Football Club owner, Roman Abramovich, to make sure the money from the club’s sale goes to Ukraine.
The £2.5bn in proceeds have been frozen in a UK bank account since the sale, with Mr Abramovich sanctioned after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The UK government wants the money to be for Ukrainian humanitarian aid, but Mr Abramovich has said he wants it to go to “all victims of the war in Ukraine”.
In a joint statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required.”
They said they wanted “to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible”.
They added: “The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion.
“We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far”.
The delay in releasing the funds centers on a disagreement between the UK government and his lawyers.
Mr Abramovich, a Russian billionaire who made his fortune in oil and gas – was granted a special licence to sell Chelsea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, providing he could prove he would not benefit from the sale.
He is alleged to have strong ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, something he has denied.
He cannot access the £2.5bn sale proceeds under UK sanctions but the money still legally belongs to him.
When he announced his decision to sell the club, he said proceeds from the sale would be donated via a foundation “for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine”, which would include those in Russia.
The UK government has pushed back and argued that the funds should only be spent on humanitarian efforts inside Ukraine.
A House of Lords committee said last year said it was “incomprehensible” that Mr Abramovich’s promise to use the funds to support Ukraine remained unfulfilled, and that the assets remained frozen.
“This impasse reflects badly on both Mr Abramovich and the government, which ought to have pushed for a more binding commitment,” the report said. —BBC
Goosie Tanoh is a founding member of the National Democratic Congress
A founding member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Goosie Tanoh, has urged the party to learn from the mistakes of its political opponent – the New Patriotic Party (NPP), and govern with a focus on the collective upliftment of Ghanaians.
As the NDC commemorates the 46th anniversary of the June 4 Uprising, the Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development praised President John Dramani Mahama for initiating a reset agenda.
According to Tanoh, the reset agenda aims to restore public trust and align governance with the needs of ordinary Ghanaians.
However, he stressed that the party must complement this vision with internal reforms.
In a release sighted by GhanaWeb, he said; “The overwhelming defeat of the NPP at the 7th December 2024 polls is a wake-up call not just to the NPP but to the NDC as well and all who seek to govern our beloved country, Ghana. The decisive rejection of the erstwhile regime of the NPP is pregnant with lessons about how not to govern, whether it be the state, a political party or any other public institution.
“We, as a party, must learn from this in the governance of our affairs. The state is not to be governed for private gains but for collective upliftment and the conquest of poverty in all its aspects, including the conquest of the poverty of mind that leads to the reckless dissipation of our national resources and collective patrimony.”
The June 4 Uprising, spearheaded by the late Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings, marked a turning point in Ghana’s history, leading to the overthrow of the Supreme Military Council and paving the way for the country’s transition to civilian rule.
Its annual commemoration serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of ethical leadership and civic responsibility.
As the nation reflects on this defining moment, the values of the uprising remain as relevant as ever, guiding current and future generations toward justice, accountability, and principled governance.
SA/AE
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A scene at the Guinness Smooth Runway
When creativity, culture, and music collide, something magical happens; and this year’s Telecel Ghana Awards (TGMA) was living proof. Back for its second year as an official partner, Guinness Smooth helped shape the night with the right spark.
From the red carpet to the main stage, the energy was unmistakably Ghanaian and unapologetically bold.
This year’s theme, “Proudly Made in Ghana,” was a salute to local talent and cultural pride; values that align perfectly with the Guinness Smooth vibe.
One of the night’s standout moments was the Guinness Smooth Runway Experience. It was the ultimate expression of the “Make It Yours” spirit.
Guinness Smooth sponsored the event and elevated it. Guests enjoyed smooth tastings in curated lounges and stylish brand zones scattered across the arena. With its easy-drinking vibe and confident character, the stout became part of the night’s rhythm; woven into the fashion, the conversations, and the celebrations.
Beyond the glamour, Guinness Smooth’s presence at TGMA is a reflection of a commitment to Ghana’s cultural and creative landscape. From fashion and music to bold, everyday expressions of identity, the brand continues to champion the creators, disruptors, and tastemakers shaping what it means to be Ghanaian today.
As the lights dimmed on TGMA 2025, one thing was clear: Creativity met confidence. Flavor met flair. And just like that, the night became unforgettable, with Guinness Smooth.
SOME SURVIVING victims of the June 3 fire and flood disaster, which claimed over 150 lives and injured more than 100 others, have registered their displeasure over the neglect of government to seek justice following the tragic incident.
According to them, for the past decade, no proper legal action has been taken against GOIL, the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in holding them accountable for their alleged roles in the incident.
Speaking to Citi News during the 10th-anniversary commemoration at the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange GOIL fuel station on Tuesday, June 3, where the disaster occurred, Leader of the Movement, Senyo Hosi, expressed disappointment over the lack of accountability, and urged the state to deliver justice.
Chairman of the Flood and Fire Victims Association, Thomas Sekyi, lamented the continued neglect of survivors and the indifference often displayed by some public institutions.
He mentioned how survivors have been met with bureaucratic silence when engaging the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly (KoKMA), adding that the worst-case scenario was the absence of a coordinated national support system to reintegrate victims into society.
On the legal front, counsel for the victims, Sampson Lardi, who filed a class-action suit in 2018, remains optimistic about a favourable court ruling.
“They are in court, 69 of them seeking help for themselves and over 100 others. They are seeking about GH¢42 million. With inflation, the value isn’t the same today. Even if they are granted the amount, the government can still intervene meaningfully to provide solace,” he stated.
Meanwhile, some victims, while recounting the tragic events, appealed for the government’s support beyond the court process.
“It was a sad day for me. I lost my wife and our child. It’s only by God’s grace that I’m still alive. The government should take care of the injured and victims,” one survivor shared.
Another survivor stated, “I had come to buy fuel and was met with this unfortunate incident. My whole body was burned. The government paid our hospital bills, but since then, there’s been no support. We plead with the government to come to our aid.”
Background
On June 3, 2015, exactly 10 years and a day ago, Accra experienced a devastating flood and fire disaster. The disaster was caused by heavy rainfall and flooding, which led to an explosion at the GOIL filling station near Kwame Nkrumah Circle. The explosion triggered a massive fire, engulfing the area and resulting in widespread destruction.
The tragedy on that fateful Wednesday night claimed over 150 lives, injured several others, and caused damage to properties worth hundreds of thousands of Ghana Cedis, sending the entire nation into a state of shock.
Over the years, legal teams representing some survivors of the flood and fire disaster have threatened court actions, demanding that both the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) compensate them.
Meanwhile, the One Ghana Movement has renewed its call for justice for victims of the June 3 fire and flood disaster, as the nation marks ten years of the tragedy.
BY Prince Fiifi Yorke
Dr Anthony Nsiah-Asare, former Presidential Advisor on Health has quizzed Ghanaians about the former finance minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
The former presidential advisor is quoted to have said, “If Ken Ofori-Atta was your relative, would you give him this advice?”
His comments come on the back of some Ghanaians suggesting Ofori-Atta return to Ghana for treatment of diagnosed prostate cancer.
By Gideon Peprah
Kumasi, June 04, GNA – The Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) is urging the government and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) to extend the two-week deadline for the registration of excavators.
While the association strongly supports the initiative, they fear the short timeline may present logistical difficulties for their members.
Mr. Adu Gyamfi, the Ashanti District Secretary of the GNASSM, pledged the association’s support for the DVLA’s efforts to regulate heavy-duty equipment, a move aimed at curbing illegal mining activities and protecting the environment.
“We commend the DVLA for their proactive approach to this critical issue, however we believe a two-week window may not be sufficient for all our members to gather the required documentation, particularly considering existing purchase and payment agreements,” he told the Ghana News Agency in an interview.
The association is therefore appealing for an extension to ensure its members have ample opportunity to comply with the new regulations and avoid potential penalties.
Mr. Adu Gyamfi emphasized the importance of registration and urged all excavator owners, especially those within GNASSM, to prioritize compliance.
“Failure to register within the stipulated timeframe could lead to negative consequences,” he warned.
He believed that an extension would allow its members to fulfill the registration requirements effectively, contributing to the overall success of the government’s initiative to combat illegal mining.
GNA
Edited by Yussif Ibrahim/Kenneh Odeng Adade
Ghana Link Network Services Ltd, operators of the country’s Electronic Cargo Tracking (E-Tracking) system under the Integrated Customs Management System (ICUMS), has strongly refuted claims made by a National Security officer questioning the reliability of the system.
In a statement issued today, the company described the remarks—made publicly during a cargo examination in Kumasi—as “inaccurate and misleading.”
Ghana Link outlined a detailed timeline, noting that all tracking devices were properly installed under Customs supervision, route and cargo changes were duly approved, and system-generated alerts were triggered and investigated as designed.
The company also raised concerns over an incident where one of its officers was briefly detained by National Security operatives for refusing to bypass standard protocols.
“The facts speak for themselves,” the statement said. “There was no tracking failure. Devices functioned as intended, approvals were obtained, and alerts were generated and acted upon.”
Ghana Link reaffirmed confidence in the E-Tracking system, describing it as a GPS-enabled, tamper-evident solution that meets international standards.
The company expressed disappointment that a National Security officer would publicly undermine a system credited with improving revenue assurance and trade transparency.
It reiterated its commitment to collaborating with all stakeholders to strengthen inter-agency coordination and uphold the integrity of Ghana’s cargo monitoring systems.
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The team from the British Council with the Ministry of Tourism staff when they met
The British Council, led by Nii Doodo Dodoo, has paid a working visit to Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts to explore areas of collaboration in promoting Ghana’s rich cultural heritage.
The visit was marked by discussions on enhancing the creative arts sector and leveraging tourism as a significant economic contributor.
Welcoming the delegation, Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie expressed appreciation for the British Council’s longstanding role in supporting arts and culture in Ghana.
She emphasised the need for increased support in areas such as gastronomy, craft, dance, and painting, which she said receive minimal investment despite their potential to elevate Ghana’s cultural presence globally.
“Ghana does not lack talent, but we require the correct training to make our creatives marketable and competitive on the world stage,” the minister stated.
She also underscored the importance of educating and professionalising tour guides, ensuring they narrate Ghana’s history accurately and engagingly without distorting facts.
Dodoo, an international development expert who led the group, reflected on his ties to Ghana’s tourism sector, describing the visit as a “homecoming” and recounting his early experiences as a tour guide in Ghana.
He noted that the British Council has been active in the country for over 80 years, contributing to various sectors, particularly arts and culture.
The organisation expressed keen interest in the “Black Star Experience” initiative and its role in shaping Ghana’s cultural narrative.
“In the UK, tourism contributes close to 16 billion pounds annually, with about one million people employed in the industry. There are immense lessons Ghana can take from such a model,” Dodoo remarked.
The discussion also touched on empowering young artists with business skills to maximize commercial benefits from their talents.
The British Council reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating cultural exchanges and strengthening Ghana’s creative economy through strategic partnerships.
The minister, reiterating the need for consistency and quality in Ghanaian arts and crafts, shared a personal observation: carvings she traded in the 1980s remain intact, whereas more recent gifts from other countries have deteriorated quickly.
“Policy must recondition mindsets and ensure consistency in our cultural outputs,” she asserted.
The engagement between the British Council and the ministry marks a step forward in fostering stronger partnerships for the development of Ghana’s tourism, Culture, and creative arts sectors.
The Director of Finance at the National Signals Bureau (NSB), Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah, has given details of how she unknowingly transferred the GH¢49 million at the heart of the prosecution of Kwabena Adu-Boahene, her former Director-General.
In her witness statement cited by GhanaWeb, Opokua Adumuah, as the custodian of the cheques of the NSB: ‘Bureau of National Communications,’ ‘Bureau of National Communications 2’ and ‘The Director BNC,’ said she received instructions from Adu-Boahene to write cheques.
She said she handed them over to the signatories to the accounts, which included the former NSB director, for approval.
She indicated that the first cheque she issued on the GH¢49 million in contention was on February 6, 2022, and was on the instruction of Adu-Boahene (A1).
She added that Adu-Boahene instructed her to write the cheque of GH¢27.1 million with “BNC Operations” as the payee.
Ruth explained further that she thought that “BNC Operations” was the NSB’s ‘Bureau of National Communications 2,’ which is the operational account of the bureau kept at the Bank of Ghana (BoG), but later got to know that it was the account for Adu-Boahene and his wife (A2), which they kept at the UMB.
“On February 6, 2020, A1 instructed me to write a cheque for twenty-seven million, one hundred thousand Ghana cedis (GH¢27,100,000.00) with ‘BNC Operations’ as the payee. After writing the cheque, I handed it over to A1 for the necessary signatures. My Lord, when A1 directed me to write the cheque with ‘BNC Operations’ as the payee, I understood the description to refer to an existing operational bank account belonging to the bureau, which I was not privy to due to my level of clearance.
“I later found out, when I was invited for questioning concerning this case, that that particular cheque was deposited into an account named ‘BNC Communications Bureau-Operations’ at UMB Bank. I did not know this at the time I wrote the cheque for A1. I also found out from EOCO investigators that that bank account belonged to a private company called ‘BNC Communication Bureau Limited,’ which is owned and controlled by A1 and A2,” parts of her witness statement read.
Adu-Boahene is a Director-General of the NSB, formerly known as the Bureau of National Communications (BNC)
The NSB finance director further stated that she received similar instructions from Adu-Boahene and wrote cheques of GH¢1 million and GH¢21 million, which were all drawn from the bureau’s ‘The Director BNC’ account.
“Also, on March 18, 2020, A1 instructed me to write a cheque for one million Ghana cedis (GH¢1,000,000.00) to be drawn on BNC’s ‘The Director BNC’ account at Fidelity Bank. Then, on March 30, 2020, I wrote another cheque for twenty-one million Ghana cedis (GH¢21,000,000.00), also to be drawn on the BNC’s ‘The Director BNC’ account at Fidelity Bank. I wrote this third cheque, too, on the instructions of A1. I wrote the second and third cheques also with ‘BNC Operations’ as the payee. After A1 and the late JOSHUA KYEREMEH had signed, A1 then gave me an account number and directed me to deposit the two cheques into the ‘BNC Operations’ bank account at UMB Bank.
“I complied with A1’s directive, believing that the ‘BNC Operations’ bank account was an additional BNC operational account which I did not have the security clearance to know. I can identify the copies of cheque numbered 020086 for GH¢27,100,000.00, cheque numbered 020089 for GH¢1,000,000.00, and cheque numbered 020094 for GH¢21,000,000.00 to the honourable court,” she added.
About the state’s case:
Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine
The Office of the Attorney General slapped Kwabena Adu-Boahene; his wife, Angela Adjei-Boateng; their associate, Mildred Boateng; and a company jointly owned by Adu-Boahene and his wife, Advantage Solutions Limited, with 11 charges for allegedly transferring GH¢49 million (approximately $7 million) from the bureau’s account to his personal account.
Addressing the press on Monday, March 24, 2025, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine stated that Adu-Boahene was implicated in the unauthorised transfer of $7 million, originally allocated for cybersecurity infrastructure, into his private accounts.
“In his capacity as Director of the National Signals Bureau, Mr Adu-Boahene, on January 30, 2020, signed a contract on behalf of the Government of Ghana and the National Security on the one hand, and on the other hand, an Israeli company named RLC Holdings Limited. The contract was for the purchase of a cyber defence system software at a price of $7 million,” the Attorney General said.
Read the full witness statement below:
BAI/AE
Former Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama
Former Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has asserted that the 1,346 containers reported missing are still at the port.
According to him, containers cannot be cleared and released without the payment of duties and adherence to due processes at the port.
Speaking on TV3, in an interview monitored by GhanaWeb Business, the former ECG boss stated that every container has a unique number that can be tracked.
He emphasised the need for the Minister of Energy, John Jinapor, and other key stakeholders to investigate the matter further.
Mahama urged these individuals to visit other terminals, engage with shipping lines, and explore all possible avenues to locate the “missing” containers belonging to ECG.
“I strongly believe that the containers are at the port… There are only two entities that have control over those containers. The discussion is that those containers are at the port, under the custody of GPHA and Ghana Customs,” he said.
“ECG hasn’t paid its duty, fine. But why auction a container belonging to ECG without ECG’s knowledge? Because, in my candid opinion, that’s the only way a container can leave the port,” the former ECG boss stated.
He added, “A container is not like a piece of paper that you fold and throw away. In international supply chain logistics, a container has a unique number. There are processes at the port; let’s go through those processes.”
It may be recalled that the Chairman of the investigative committee, Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah, disclosed that while ECG claimed to have 2,491 uncleared containers filled with cables and other essential equipment, an independent audit at the port found only 1,134 containers, leaving 1,357 unaccounted for.
The issue of the missing ECG containers, which remain locked at the Tema Port and were intended for clearance, has raised significant concerns among stakeholders in the power industry and the general public.
Before 2022, ECG had a dedicated fund that received weekly allocations for clearing shipments.
However, the practice was discontinued due to a lack of funds, according to the ECG board.
Despite financial constraints, ECG awarded contracts to two firms to clear the containers, one of which was pre-financed by ECG.
One of these companies lacked the necessary license to handle the contract, raising concerns about procurement violations.
Additionally, ECG’s procurement directorate had been merged with its Housing and Estate unit.
The Director of Procurement had no prior experience in procurement and was not a member of any professional procurement body.
This story was earlier published on April 3, 2025
Former ECG MD Dubik Mahama insists ‘missing’ containers are still at the port#TV3GH
— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) April 3, 2025
SA/MA
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Regina Daniels has replied once more as tensions continue to rise online — this time, shortly after Mercy Johnson announced she would be speaking her truth.
In a new post, Regina addressed fresh claims made about her, saying:
“Kwete o! 😂 My mama you no go talk shishi for here. No one deserves that explanation. Leave her for me. Now I will answer as the disrespectful child you branded me. But deep down, you know you do not have the privilege to call me a child but rather ‘sis’.”
She continued, throwing more shade:
“Now Let’s drop the maturity cloak I hide behind. Werey I thought you were good at typing and speaking loud like you own a megaphone. Mind you, I haven’t dropped any tangible receipt or moved beyond my keypad except the ones your chochocho mouth has produced. But thanks for revealing that my ancestor blocked you. May we not do anything to offend our ancestors. They move faster than karma.”
Reacting to the claims that her husband once wanted to feature someone in a movie, she said:
“Now to the biggest lie you dropped like it was gospel. That my husband wanted me in your project? C’mon girl even you know that’s fiction from the pits. Or you meant begging for support for your project?”
She also recalled a moment from the past:
“Remember your first ever movie role? Was with me and my mama Mercy Johnson where the whole jealousy began because you couldn’t take your lines and wasted over 20 tapes… Even then, the gap was obvious.”
And to round off her message:
“Also, if you spoil for my eye, you don spoil for my ancestors too… It’s not by age, it’s by spirit and my lineage doesn’t play with disrespect.”
Regina ended with a final note:
“Don’t let pride blind you to the people who carried you. Last Warning !!!! ❤️”
The online back-and-forth shows no signs of slowing down — and all eyes are now on Mercy Johnson’s promised live session.
View post…
Interior Minister Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka has defended the controversial raid on the residence of former Bank of Ghana Governor, Dr. Ernest Addison, describing it as a lawful operation carried out under a valid court warrant.
On the morning of Wednesday, March 19, 2025, about 20 armed men, led by Richard Jakpa, Director of Special Operations at the National Security Secretariat, stormed Dr. Addison’s residence at Roman Ridge in Accra.
The operatives—some masked and wielding AK-47 rifles—reportedly disabled the home’s CCTV system and demanded access to alleged “vaults.” Dr. Addison denied the existence of any vaults or large sums of cash in his residence. Nonetheless, the team is said to have ransacked the property, leaving with the CCTV monitor and control unit.
No vaults or significant amounts of cash were discovered during the operation. The incident has been widely criticised by elements within the opposition, with a former central bank official calling the episode “unprecedented and disturbing.”
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the Interior Minister—who also serves as the Member of Parliament for Asawase—insisted the operation followed due legal procedure.
“Mr Speaker, prior to the operation, an ex parte search warrant was duly filed before the High Court in Accra on March 12, 2025, and was obtained in accordance with established legal procedures. The search was carried out in strict adherence to due process and in full compliance with the laws of the state. It was meticulously conducted in the presence of the former governor,” Muntaka stated.
Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development, Comrade Goosie Tanoh, has marked the 46th anniversary of the June 4 uprising with a powerful message to the National Democratic Congress (NDC), warning the party not to fall into the same pitfalls that led to the defeat of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general elections.
In a reflective and strongly worded statement, Tanoh called for a “radical reset” within the NDC, stressing that the overwhelming rejection of the NPP by voters should serve as a serious lesson for any party hoping to govern Ghana responsibly. “Our party, too, needs a radical reset if we are to provide Ghanaians with the leadership they deserve and desire — and not degenerate into what our friends in the NPP have become,” he said.
Tanoh emphasised that the NPP’s defeat was a direct consequence of poor governance marked by arrogance, elitism, corruption, and disregard for the public good.
“The decisive rejection of the erstwhile regime… is pregnant with lessons about how not to govern, whether it be the state, a political party or any other public institution.”
He condemned the use of state resources to finance political parties through inflated contracts, stressing that public resources must be used to empower citizens, not political elites. “The state is not there to finance political parties… It is there to finance development and opportunity for all through investments in job creation and meaningful livelihoods.”
Reflecting on the legacy of the June 4 uprising led by Jerry John Rawlings, Tanoh described it as a historical call to accountability, justice, and people-centred governance.
“June 4 is not evidence of our righteousness or entitlement to rule… It is a sacred charge… and a stark warning to ruling elites… about the dangers of betrayal and the retribution of the masses.”
He drew parallels between the uprising and recent events in the Sahel, warning that popular anger, when ignored, can explode with unpredictable consequences, even against regimes with strong control over state institutions.
“The people keep their own counsel and will tolerate only so much and no more… We must be vigilant in protecting our guiding principles of probity and accountability.”
Turning inward, Tanoh was critical of the current state of the NDC, describing it as “an electoral machine” overly reliant on top-down power and disconnected from its grassroots base. “We must commit to systematically correcting our top-down structures… Our branches are mostly dead or shells mobilised only for elections.”
Read Also: Resetting Ghana for Accountable Governance: Goosie Tanoh’s message to mark the 46th anniversary of June 4th uprising
He urged a bottom-up ideological and constitutional reset, starting with revitalising the party’s branches and reconnecting with the struggles of ordinary Ghanaians. “We must commence a national conversation within the party… leading to a national ideological and constitutional reset convention.”
Tanoh endorsed President Mahama’s governance reset agenda but warned the NDC not to squander its current political momentum through internal squabbles or elite greed.
“We must not make the mistake of thinking that our impressive mandate or the ongoing collapse of the NPP is a licence to descend into greed and arrogant elitism.”
He ended with a solemn call to remember the spirit of sacrifice and service exemplified by Rawlings and other revolutionary figures.
“There is a way forward back to our roots… Let us recall Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings and all of our fallen heroes whose heroic example inspires us.”
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 seven-member National Economic Dialogue Planning Committee, chaired by economist Dr. Ishmael Yamson, is expected to present its final report to the President later today.
The National Economic Dialogue was an event held as part of the President’s 120-day Social Contract with Ghanaians.
The event, held from March 3 to 4 at the Accra International Conference Centre brought together a range of stakeholders including the private sector, civil society organisations, traditional authorities, and academia.
The final report is expected to contain comprehensive analysis and clear recommendations as well as a roadmap aimed at restoring the economy.
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GH¢1 Fuel Levy to raise GH¢5–6bn, still not enough – Jinapor
Federal prosecutors say that for decades, Combs abused, threatened and coerced women to participate in marathon s£xual encounters called “freak offs” and used his business empire, along with guns, kidnapping and arson, to conceal his crimes.
The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs resumed on Tuesday in Manhattan federal court, featuring testimony from two additional witnesses, including a hotel security guard who claimed he was paid $100,000 by Combs to hand over surveillance footage allegedly showing the music mogul ass@ulting Cassie Ventura.
Ghanaians divided as Parliament passes controversial GH¢1 Energy Sector Levy
The passage of the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025, has sparked mixed reactions on social media.
The bill was passed by Parliament on Tuesday, 3rd June, amid a walkout by the Minority Caucus, who accused the government of placing an additional burden on Ghanaians.
Mr Kwabena Boateng, Deputy Managing Director in charge of Wholesale Banking at Fidelity Bank Ghana has reaffirmed the bank’s position as a leading partner in youth-driven enterprise development and inclusive financing during the 2025 Ghana-European Union Business Forum.
The event, held under the theme: “Fostering Collaboration Between Ghanaian and European Entrepreneurial Ecosystems – Investing in Young Businesses in Ghana under the EU Global Gateway Strategy.”
Mr. Boateng, in a high-level panel discussion focused on deepening cooperation between financial institutions, development finance institutions (DFIs), and entrepreneurial support networks, underscored Fidelity Bank’s deep-rooted dedication to supporting Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) and young entrepreneurs, highlighting a comprehensive portfolio of lending and technical assistance initiatives.
He particularly lauded the crucial role played by the European Union (EU) and other Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) in these efforts.
“Fidelity Bank is truly committed to supporting SMEs and young entrepreneurs,” Mr. Boateng stated.
“Our collaboration with the EU and partners like the Netherlands Enterprise Agency on initiatives such as the Orange Corners Innovation Fund has been instrumental. This fund offers up to €50,000 in a blend of grants and concessional loans at a 5% interest rate, providing vital capital to promising ventures.
“As a bank, we manage and disburse these funds, but we critically rely on the expertise of partners like Growth Africa, who provide the invaluable capacity training, technical assistance, and market access that truly ‘hand-hold’ entrepreneurs through their journey from fantastic ideas to sustainable businesses.”
Fidelity Bank’s comprehensive approach to nurturing entrepreneurship includes initiatives such as the Orange Summit, a biannual gathering for entrepreneurship training, and the Fidelity Young Entrepreneurs Initiative, which provides funding, structured capacity building and mentoring support.
Another innovation, the Orange Market, serves as a curated marketplace where young entrepreneurs can showcase and sell their products to the public, closing the loop between ideation and commercialization.
Beyond the EU partnership, Mr. Boateng also highlighted Fidelity Bank’s significant collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, particularly within the agri-sector.
“With the Mastercard Foundation, we’ve been able to roll out approximately GHS 57 million in funding over the past 18 months, directly contributing to the creation of 12,000 new jobs and sustaining an impressive 11,300 existing jobs,” he revealed.
“This support has also reached over 21,000 smallholder farmers, demonstrating our broad impact across vital sectors.”
Addressing the persistent challenge of gender-lens investing, Mr. Boateng affirmed Fidelity Bank’s intentional measures to ensure that EU and DFI support genuinely reaches women-led enterprises.
“Supporting women has to be intentional,” he emphasized. “We identify sectors with a high concentration of women entrepreneurs, such as fashion, food processing, and small-scale manufacturing, and specifically target them through programs like the Orange Corners with the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Our Bridge-in-Agriculture program with Mastercard is also specifically designed to target women aged 18 to 35 years, and businesses that employ youth and women.”
He further detailed concrete steps taken to reduce barriers for women entrepreneurs: “Recognising the high cost of borrowing, our partnerships, like the Orange Corners, offer rates as low as 5%, and Mastercard’s program offers 7%. Critically, we have also significantly reduced collateral requirements to as low as 20%, ensuring that women entrepreneurs, who often lack traditional collateral, can still access the capital they need.”
Fidelity Bank’s commitment to gender equality extends beyond external initiatives. Mr. Boateng shared the bank’s internal dedication to gender equality and gender action plans, including partnerships with Accion and the Coca-Cola Foundation for product and organizational culture review, and with Value for Women, for a comprehensive gender action plan.
“We do not just preach; we practice what we preach internally,” Mr. Boateng asserted. “Our gender equality program is fully aligned with the Bank of Ghana’s sustainability principles, and our signing onto the United Nations Global Compact underscores our commitment to these values. We strive to be the benchmark for gender equality within the banking sector.”
Fidelity Bank Ghana continues to lead by example, demonstrating that strategic partnerships, tailored financial solutions, and a deep-seated commitment to inclusivity are essential for fostering a thriving and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem in Ghana.
Listowel Mensah petitioned FIFA to probe Fred Acheampong
The Ethics Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA) has invited sports journalist Mensah Daniel Listowel for a petition he presented against Executive Council Member Frederick Acheampong.
Listowel petitioned FIFA to investigate and possibly take action against Frederick Acheampong, a member of the GFA Executive Council.
The petition requests the Ethics Committee of FIFA to sanction Frederick Acheampong for allegedly contravening Article 15 (1) of the FIFA Code of Ethics.
Article 15 (1) of the FIFA Code of Ethics states, “Any person who offends the dignity or integrity of a country, a person, or group of people through contemptuous, discriminatory, or derogatory words or actions on account of race, skin color, ethnicity, nationality, social origin, gender, disability, sexual orientation, language, religion, political or any other opinion, wealth, birth, or any other status, or any other reason shall be sanctioned with a suspension lasting at least ten matches or a specific period, or any other appropriate disciplinary measure.”
Listowel Mensah’s allegation is based on Frederick Acheampong’s decision to contest the 2024 general elections as a parliamentary candidate for the New Patriotic Party.
But in response, the GFA has invited the sports journalist to provide more details on his petition and explain his case to aid investigations.
“The Ethics Committee is currently reviewing a petition you submitted regarding an alleged breach of Article 15(1) of the FIFA Code of Ethics by Executive Council Member Frederick Acheampong.
“You are hereby invited to appear before the Committee on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at 2:00 pm, at the GFA Secretariat, Accra, to assist with investigations,” the statement read.
Meanwhile, Acheampong’s Parliamentary bid failed after losing the elections.
SB/EB
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Kweku Zurek
Business News
Ghana’s year-on-year inflation rate fell significantly to 18.4 per cent in May 2025, marking a continued slowdown from the 21.2 per cent recorded in April and extending the country’s disinflation trend for a fifth consecutive month.
The Ghana Statistical Service attributed the sharp decline to lower transport fares, a direct result of falling fuel prices, and easing pressures in the non-food inflation basket. It is the lowest inflation rate recorded since February 2022, suggesting growing stability in consumer prices after a prolonged period of economic turbulence.
Ghana 5-year historical inflation
Addressing journalists in Accra, the Government Statistician Dr Alhassan Iddrisu said: “The reduction in fuel prices at the pumps, and the subsequent reduction in transport fares contributed the highest to the May inflation.” He noted that non-food inflation had also dropped sharply, pointing to broader relief across multiple sectors of the economy.
“The inflation trend we are witnessing shows sustained deceleration,” Dr Iddrisu said. “Food remains a key inflation driver, but the sharper drop in non-food inflation suggests a broad-based easing of inflation across the economy.”
The current slowdown in inflation is being linked to a combination of tighter monetary and fiscal measures, relative exchange rate stability, and improved external price conditions. “This trend underscores the effectiveness of recent monetary and fiscal measures, the recent appreciation of the Cedi against the major international currencies, favourable external price dynamics and positive market sentiment,” Dr Iddrisu added.
The Producer Price Inflation (PPI), another key metric of pricing pressure, also showed a significant deceleration—slowing to 18.5 per cent in April from 24.4 per cent in March. The figures point to continued softening of price pressures at the factory gate, offering some relief to manufacturers and consumers alike.
Despite the improvement, inflation remains more than double the Bank of Ghana’s medium-term target of 8 per cent, with a tolerance band of plus or minus 2 percentage points. The central bank has maintained a cautious stance in its monetary policy to anchor inflation expectations.
The country is gradually recovering from economic challenges stemming from currency volatility, global commodity price shocks, and disruptions in key export sectors, including cocoa and gold.
Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi with Dr. Bawumia
The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako aka Chairman Wontumi, has expressed gratitude to the leadership and members of the party for their love and support during his brief detention by the Economic and Organised Office (EOCO).
Chairman Wontumi paid a surprise visit to the head office of the party yesterday, where he was greeted by jubilant supporters who had gathered there in anticipation of his visit.
Dressed in an all-white kaftan, he looked lively compared to his frail appearance moments after he left the custody of the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), where he had been transferred following heightened tension at the EOCO.
In a light-hearted gesture, Chairman Wontumi hoisted one leg and shook it in the air briefly to prove he was doing well, attracting cheers from the supporters present.
The NPP official, in a brief comment, expressed his appreciation to the General Secretary of the party, Justin Kodua Frimpong, for his leadership throughout his detention.
He indicated that he had gone there to show his appreciation, and assured them that everything would be fine.
Chairman Wontumi also visited former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia at his private office in Accra, to thank him for his role in his release.
Arrest
Chairman Wontumi was arrested by EOCO on May 27, 2025, moments after he exited the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the police headquarters in Accra, where he is facing interrogations for allegedly entering and mining in a forest reserve without authorisation.
His arrest and detention generated both public and political interest as well as uproar among sections of the public, with the Minority Members of Parliament and leadership of the NPP staging a protest at EOCO, by sitting on the bare floor on the road opposite the anti-graft body.
Deputy Attorney General, Dr. Justice Srem-Sai has clarified that the suspect is under investigation for various criminal offences, including fraud, causing financial loss to the state, and money laundering.
He indicated on his social media handle that the “criminal investigation is running concurrently with asset recovery processes – to prevent further dissipation of what law enforcement agencies strongly suspect to be proceeds of crime.”
Dr. Srem-Sai further indicated that Chairman Wontumi is also under a second strand of investigation which is part of a lager international organised crime scheme, adding that EOCO “is assiduously working with our international law enforcement partners on this second strand of criminal investigations.”
In the heat of a streak of protests staged by the NPP members and their leadership for his release, EOCO transferred him to the National Intelligence Bureau, amid heightened tension.
On May 30, 2025, former Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the NPP in the 2024 election, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and the leadership of the party were granted access to the NIB facility where Chairman Wontumi was being held.
He eventually met the terms of the GH¢50 million bail bond set by EOCO, and was released on Monday night.
Before his release, Wontumi’s legal team had withdrawn a motion seeking a review of the GH¢50 million bail condition. The motion, which was filed at the High Court in Accra on May 30, 2025, was scheduled for hearing on Tuesday, June 3.
However, private legal practitioner Gary Nimako, acting on behalf of the NPP Chairman, formally filed the application to discontinue the motion for bail variation on Monday.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak
Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has formally entered an appearance in the GH¢10 million defamation suit filed against him by businessman Ibrahim Mahama at the Accra High Court.
Mr. Simons has filed a motion demanding that Mr. Mahama and his company, Engineers & Planners (E&P), formally admit to 38 distinct facts central to their ongoing legal dispute.
Mr. Mahama’s suit, filed on Wednesday, May 28, stems from an article written by Mr. Simons titled published on his website, brightsimons.com, on April 19, 2025.
Mr. Mahama claims the article contains statements that have severely damaged both his personal reputation and that of his company.
The article was later shared on Mr. Simons’ official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @BBSimons, where it garnered over 93,000 views, 250 reactions, 98 reposts, 26 comments, and 109 bookmarks. According to the plaintiff, this wide engagement significantly contributed to the circulation of the allegedly defamatory content.
However, Mr. Simons’ motion seeks to establish key background facts regarding Mr. Mahama’s extensive business dealings, strong political ties, and financial interests—particularly in Ghana’s mining sector.
His legal team has given Mr. Mahama a 14-day deadline to respond to the assertions, which cover a range of topics—from Mr. Mahama’s status as a politically exposed person (PEP) to specific financial and contractual relationships involving E&P.
Among other things, Mr. Simons is seeking confirmation that Mr. Mahama is the sole shareholder of Engineers & Planners (E&P), and draws attention to his familial link to the presidency, identifying him as the brother of President John Dramani Mahama.
The motion further cites a 2013 classification by offshore legal firm Appleby, which identified Mr. Mahama as a “high-risk politically exposed person” during the registration of Red Sky Aviation in the Isle of Man—an element that could influence the court’s assessment of his public profile.
A substantial portion of the motion focuses on E&P’s contracts with Abosso Goldfields Limited. Mr. Simons is urging the court to confirm that these contracts—estimated at $117 million between 2015 and 2019 and rising to $300 million from 2020 to 2025—are among E&P’s most significant revenue streams both locally and internationally.
The motion specifically states that revenue from the Damang Gold Mine alone accounts for at least 25% of E&P’s total mining income over the past decade. It also alleges that E&P has not received payments from Abosso Goldfields since operations at Damang were halted in 2023.
As a result, Mr. Simons contends the company has entered critical negotiations with financial institutions, including Stanbic Bank Ghana, over loan repayment challenges.
The motion further reveals that E&P has secured loans exceeding $50 million from Stanbic and signed a $230 million equipment financing deal with the Mansour Group, primarily for Caterpillar machinery.
Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has called for stricter penalties for individuals involved in violent conduct at football stadiums across the country.
His remarks follow the chaotic scenes that marred the Ghana Premier League Matchday 33 fixture between Basake Holy Stars and Nations FC at the Ampain AAK II Sports Arena, a match that held significant implications for the 2024/25 league title race.
The game was abruptly halted after tensions escalated on the pitch. The chaos erupted when Nations FC players and officials protested a second penalty awarded to the home side, prompting a pitch invasion.
In a statement, Nations FC alleged that their club chairman, Dr. Kyei, and club president, Mr. Divine Kyei Boadu, were both assaulted during the violence.
“This hostile and violent conduct created an unsafe environment for our players, technical team, and officials,” the club said, justifying the eventual abandonment of the match.
Reacting to the incident, Minister Adams stressed the need for accountability and swift disciplinary action, regardless of a person’s status or political ties.
“People must be punished when they are found to be doing something wrong, irrespective of their status in the country or their political affiliation,” he told Sporty FM.
“We must have the tenacity to punish people when they do wrong. That is the only way, as a country that loves football, we must go, and we will benefit from it.
“If we allow such things to continue, 90 per cent of the football-loving fans will focus on the foreign leagues rather than your own league.”
Despite the urgency of the incident, nearly 48 hours later, no sanctions have been issued.
However, the Ghana Football Association has acknowledged the disturbance and confirmed that an investigation is underway.
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’s inflation rate dropped to the lowest level in more than three years, as the country’s world-beating currency helped reduce the cost of imports.
Inflation slowed for a fifth straight month to 18.4% in May, compared with 21.2% in the previous month, Government Statistician Alhassan Iddrisu told reporters in the capital, Accra, on Wednesday. Prices rose 0.7% in the month, he said.
Ghana, Africa’s biggest gold producer, is benefiting from a surge in the price of the metal that’s fueled a 44% rally in the cedi this year — making it the world’s best-performing currency at Tuesday’s close. The gain, along with a decline in global oil prices, is helping rein in price-growth that exceeded 20% for the past three years.
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The cedi weakened 0.1% to 10.25 per dollar by 10:12 a.m. in Accra.
Food inflation rose 22.8% and non-food costs increased 14.4%, Iddrisu said.
The improving inflation reading may enable the central bank to cut interest rates next month, after it left the gauge unchanged at 28% in May, Courage Boti, an economist at Accra-based GCB Bank Ltd., said before the data release. He anticipates a reduction in borrowing costs by as much as 200 basis points.
“It will not be tenable again to keep the policy rate that high,” given that it would leave a historically “huge” gap between inflation and official interest rates, he said.
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File photo of a worried man
Dear GhanaWeb,
I’m currently in a very toxic and painful marriage. I say “toxic” because my wife physically abuses me. I don’t retaliate, not because I don’t want to, but because I’m either not strong enough or I’m afraid of hurting her if I fight back.
Whenever we get into an argument, she gets physical. She punches and hits me, and I end up with bruises and injuries I have to hide. Sometimes I try to defend myself, but she’s quick, she blocks my attempts, and I still end up losing every time.
This didn’t start after marriage. Before we got married, she would hit me occasionally. My friends warned me and encouraged me to leave her, but I truly believed she could change. She also told me she wanted to change, and for a while, it seemed like she did, she only hit me a few times that year. So I stayed, and we eventually got married last year.
But everything changed after the wedding. Now, it happens almost every week. The moment she gets angry, she lashes out. The physical abuse is constant, and it’s breaking me emotionally and mentally.
I love her. I still do. She has a beautiful side, she’s loving, affectionate, and we have great intimacy when things are good. But the violent side of her is destroying me, and I’m at a loss for what to do.
People have told me that if I can fight back and overpower her just once, she’ll stop. But I’ve tried, and I can’t. She’s stronger than me, or maybe I just don’t have the heart to hurt someone I care about, even when she’s hurting me.
I’m too ashamed to talk to anyone about this in person. How do I tell people that my wife beats me? It’s humiliating, and I fear that no one would take me seriously.
I’m writing to ask for help. I don’t want a divorce, but I don’t want to live in fear or pain either. I want to help her change, if that’s even possible. But I also fear that one day, she might cause serious, permanent harm.
Please, what should I do?
FG/EB
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Photo of the 2nd session of the conference held in Kigali to establish the African Medicines Agency
Ghana has won the bid to lead Africa in the establishment of the African Medicines Agency.
The African Medicines Agency (AMA) is a specialized agency of the African Union (AU) established to improve equitable access to quality, safe, and effective medical products in Africa.
The agency aims to promote harmony in the regulation and trade of pharmaceutical products across the continent.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Dr Delese Mimi Darko has been appointed as the Head of the African Medicines Agency.
This comes as great news to the nation as Ghana beat Morocco among 100 other member FDAs that aimed to lead the move.
This happened during the 2nd Session of The Conference of State Parties To The Treaty For The Establishment Of The African Medicines Agency held at Kigali in Rwanda from June 2 to June 4, 2025.
AME
GSE equity index slips despite financial sector gains
The GSE equity index fell on Tuesday, June 4, 2025, with the Ghana Stock Exchange Composite Index (GSE-CI) losing 25.37 points to close at 6,012.29.
This marked a 0.42% decline from the previous session, trimming the index’s Year-to-Date (YTD) return to 22.99%.
The GSE Financial Stock Index (GSE-FSI), however, posted a marginal rise of 22.12 points to settle at 3,244.81, standing at a 36.29% gain on a Year-to-Date basis.
Total market capitalisation dipped to GH¢134.17 billion from GH¢134.82 billion amid subdued investor appetite.
Trading activity surged with a total of 1,927,636 shares exchanged representing a sharp 359.27% increase from the previous day’s tally.
The value of shares traded climbed to GH¢5.1 million up 243.30% from GH¢1.49 million previously.
Telecoms giant, MTN Ghana (MTNGH), dominated market activity, accounting for over 88% of the total market value traded.
The stock saw 1.6 million shares change hands generating a value of GH¢4.53 million.
Access Bank Ghana (ACCESS) was the standout performer, gaining GH¢0.92 to close at GH¢13.12, translating to a 152.31% YTD gain.
SIC Insurance (SIC) also posted strong gains adding GH¢0.03 to close at GH¢1.04, up 285.19% YTD. BOPP, FML, and GCB also posted marginal gains.
On the downside, Ecobank Transnational Inc. (ETI) dipped by 0.02 pesewas to GH¢0.85 despite a YTD return of 174.19%, while MTN Ghana and CAL Bank lost 0.05 and 0.01 pesewas respectively.
SP/AE
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Abraham Neequaye is running for second term as GBA President
The Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) goes to an important Elective Congress on July 12, 2025, at the Mudor Conference Hall inside the Trust Sports Emporium (Bukom Boxing Arena).
The filing for nominations closed on June 2, 2025 with three personalities filing their nominations to contest for the President’s position.
One person each is going for First Vice President and Treasurer position, while two are going for the Second Vice President slot and seven people are contesting for the Executive Members position.
The GBA thanked each of the contestants for the interest in contributing to the Ghana Boxing Authority’s growth and development.
“The elections will be held on July 12, 2025, and we assure you that the process will be transparent, free, and fair, as reiterated by our current President, Abraham Kotei Neequaye. We look forward to a peaceful and competitive election process.” it expressed.
In a release issued by the Communications Department of the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), the contestants are as follows:
President
- Abraham Kotei Neequaye
– Rabbon Kwashie Doddoo
– Ivan Bruce Cudjoe
1st Vice President
-Michael Leviticus Attoh Tetteh
2nd Vice President
-Shadrach Acquaye
-Ellis Afotey Quaye
Treaaurer
-Nathaniel Obeng Awuku
Executive Member
– Alhaji Tofiki Muritala
– John Owiredu Manfo
– Gideon Hansen Appiah
– Derek Ansai Ankrah
– Bernard Tetteh Nartey
– Johnny Otutey Gordon
– Gideon Happy Kwamla Oyiadzo
SB
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A former Director of the Ghana School of Law has accused the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) of acting in a manner that amounts to terrorising former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta.
Professor Kwaku Ansa-Asare believes the handling of the corruption probe by the OSP is excessive, unfair, and unconstitutional.
Speaking on Joy News’ on Tuesday, June 3, Prof. Ansa-Asare questioned the basis for the OSP treating Mr. Ofori-Atta as if he were a convicted criminal.
“Ken Ofori-Atta, as at now, is not a suspect who has been tried. He has not been found guilty. No one has established his guilt, so he’s a suspect,” he said.
He stressed that the Constitution protects all citizens from being treated as guilty before trial.
“Because he’s a suspect under Article 19, Clause 3 of our own Constitution, he is presumed to be innocent until we are able to bring him down,” he added.
Prof. Ansa-Asare was especially alarmed by what he described as an aggressive approach by the Special Prosecutor.
“My take on this whole issue is, why declare him the most wanted fugitive running away from justice?” he asked.
“You are making Ken look like a murderous fugitive who has stolen all the assets.”
He emphasised that the issues raised by the OSP so far have not been proven offences.
“The Special Prosecutor has outlined five very serious issues. Not offences—issues. If they are not established offences, there’s a way all of us will have to go about it, because of dignity and the fundamental human rights enshrined in the Constitution,” he explained.
When asked if the OSP was being high-handed, Prof. Ansa-Asare responded directly.
“I think the state hasn’t approached it in a way that connects with the fundamental human rights and freedoms enshrined in our Constitution,” he said.
“If the Constitution gives us the presumption of innocence, don’t declare anybody the most wanted fugitive on a Red Alert he can deposit on the way.”
He said the result of such actions is fear and humiliation.
“When you terrorise an innocent citizen, the end result is that he’s so intimidated he will find it difficult to come back. Because the moment the plane lands, he will be arrested,” he warned.
Asked again if he believed Ofori-Atta was being terrorised, Prof. Ansa-Asare was unequivocal.
“I think so,” he replied. “The long arm of the criminal law is seeking to arrest him. So it’s now longer than what we are imagining. We could have gone about it in a much more decent manner.”
Ken Ofori-Attah
A medical excuse letter has popped in the midst of uncertainties concerning the medical condition of former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, and when he would return to Ghana.
Th Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) on Monday, June 2, 2025, declared Mr. Ofori-Atta wanted and a fugitive from justice for failing to meet its deadline to report in person in connection with corruption and corruption-related investigations.
While his legal team maintain that the OSP had been informed about the former minister’s health condition, the OSP insists that till date, the former minister has failed to provide any medical report which suggests that “he is a travel risk and unable to return to the jurisdiction by reason of his medical condition.”
But a medical report from Mayo Clinic, one of the top-ranked hospitals in the United States, making rounds on various social media platforms, clearly indicate that Mr. Ofori-Atta has been diagnosed with cancer, as revealed by the Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng at a press conference on Monday.
The letter points out that Mr. Ofori-Atta underwent an MR-guided Biopsy and has been diagnosed with cancer.
It continued that a surgical intervention has been deemed necessary after the testing, MRI and Biopsy procedures in March 2025, as indicated in a previous letter written in February this year.
“This surgical procedure has been scheduled for June 13, with Dr. Paras Shah of the Department of Urology. It is hoped that a closer date may open up,” the letter indicated.
The letter further pointed out that following the procedure, Mr. Ofori-Atta will require a recovery period before he is able to travel to Ghana.
OSP Not Aware
Meanwhile, the OSP, in a statement, has indicated that the said letter circulating on social media has not been submitted to the office either by Mr. Ofori-Atta or his lawyers.
“The only correspondence received from his legal representatives is a letter notifying the OSP of a change in his medical condition and on their say so,” the OSP said in a statement.
Wanted
The Office of the Special Prosecutor has re-entered the name of former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta on the list of wanted persons and declared him a fugitive from justice in relation to an ongoing investigation into corruption and corruption-related offences.
Speaking at press conference on Monday, the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, indicated that the OSP has also triggered processes for the issuance of an Interpol Red Notice of the location and provisional arrest of Mr. Ofori-Atta in whichever jurisdiction.
Again, the OSP has dispatched a request for extradition processes to be instituted for the provisional apprehension of Mr. Ofori-Atta in any jurisdiction he may be located or found, and his extradition to Ghana.
The Special Prosecutor further indicated that his office will initiate criminal proceedings against Mr. Ofori-Atta whether in absentia or otherwise.
The investigations are in connection with payments relating to the National Cathedral, contractual arrangements between Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Beijing Technology (BXC) contract, purchases and after sales service and maintenance of 307 Mercedes Benz sprinter ambulances for the National Ambulance Service contract, as well as payments out of and utilisatiion of the tax refund account of GRA.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak
Pakistani TikTok star Sana Yousaf was shot to de@th at her home in Islamabad on Monday, June 2, just hours after she shared a video that showed her celebrating her 17th birthday.
The video showed 17-year-old Sana Yousaf cutting a cake, meeting friends and eating at a restaurant. She was seen dressed in a brown skirt and shirt, laughing and smiling.
While she celebrated her birthday, a 22-year-old man plotted her murd£r. He spent hours loitering outside her home in the lead up to her de@th, police said.
“It was a case of repeated rejections. The boy was trying to reach out to her time and again,” Islamabad police chief, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said.
Sana had celebrated her birthday on May 29. She posted the video of the celebration on TikTok and Instagram mere hours before her tragic de@th.
The comments section of the post has now been flooded with shocked comments from grieving fans of the influencer, who had more than a million followers across platforms.
Islamabad Police said that Sana Yousaf was shot at her home in front of her mother on June 2. The murd£r sent shockwaves through the country.
Umar Hayat, a 22-year-old man, was arrested for shooting the Pakistani TikTok star. Hayat was traced to Faisalabad, located more than 300 km away from Islamabad.
Her “gruesome and cold-blooded” murder was driven by rejection and obsession, police said.
In a press conference on May 3, Islamabad Inspector General (IG) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi said that Umar Hayat, 22, had tried to contact Sana repeatedly after being rejected. He wanted to befriend the TikTok star and had even reached her birthday party on May 29.
Umar “tried to meet her for seven to eight hours but failed.”
On the day of the murd£r, he again tried to meet Sana. This time, too, he waited for seven to eight hours to meet her in vain.
After being rejected several times, Umar entered the house by force and shot Sana.
Fellow influences have gone online to mourn Sana.
Influencer Waliya Najib wrote: “This doesn’t feel real. You were glowing, just being 17. I’m so sorry this world didn’t protect you. Rest in peace, sweetheart.”
UK-based content creator Kashaf Ali wrote: “This is so awful. A literal 17 year old with so much innocence, killed for what?”
See the video below.
Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, a former Minister of Education has revealed he was summoned to the National Intelligence Bureau(NIB) for questioning.
Napo revealed that he has been visiting the National Intelligence Bureau to respond to inquiries regarding his tenure in the previous Akufo-Addo Bawumia government.
The former NPP running mate in the 2024 election stressed the importance of accountability for persons of public office.
Ghanaian rapper M.anifest(R) and AratheJay(L)
Ghanaian rapper Kwame Ametepe Tsikata, popularly referred to as M.anifest, has revealed that he supported AratheJay before he gained traction in the Ghanaian music industry.
Speaking in an interview on Capital Xtra, M.anifest revealed that he first discovered AratheJay’s music on Instagram and was immediately drawn to his unique sound.
According to the God MC rapper, this was about a year after he had connected with Shake It to the Max hitmaker, Moliy, when both artistes were relatively unknown in the industry.
“It’s funny. I think I connected with Arathejay maybe a year after I connected with Moliy, a couple of years ago. I heard snippets of his stuff, I think on Instagram or something,” M.anifest said.
The “No Shortcut to Heaven” hitmaker went on to describe what stood out about AratheJay’s music and why he felt connected to his sound.
“He had this very unique sound where it’s like, I could tell maybe this guy used to rap, but then he’s also soaked in highlife, and it feels very spiritual, like soulful. So, I connected with him,” he explained.
M.anifest shared that after building a relationship with AratheJay, he introduced him to music producers in the UK.
“We started working a while back. I even connected him to some producers from the UK at the time, but you know, sometimes it’s not time yet, you know?” he said.
The rapper noted that, while working on his new album New Road and Guava Trees, he felt that one of his songs needed AratheJay’s touch, trusting in his talent, he reached out to him for a collaboration.
“So, as I was working on this album, I sent him a record because I could only hear him on it. I started working on it, and then, he jumped on it,” he said.
That collaboration led to the creation of Wine and Blues, a standout song on the album.
He also shared that just a few months after their recording session, AratheJay began gaining attention in the Ghanaian music industry on his own.
“And then crazy enough, he just like maybe a few months after he started gaining some traction in Ghana by himself,” M.anifest noted.
The rapper expressed his happiness at seeing AratheJay’s rise, knowing he had always believed in his potential.
“So, it was beautiful to see that somebody who, I definitely saw had the potential is beginning to realise even before our song came out,” he concluded.
M.anifest (@manifestive) Speaks Highly Of Arathejay (@arathejay) On Capital Xtra With Ras Kwame, Recounts The Inception Of Their Creative Bond. pic.twitter.com/Yzwi61MWmJ
— AccraGuy🇬🇭 (@AccraGuyy) June 2, 2025
Also, watch an exclusive interview with Ayisi on the latest edition of Talkertainment below:
AK/EB
The Energy Sector fee (Amendment) Bill, 2025, which imposes a GH¢1 fee on petroleum products, has been approved by Parliament.
The contentious bill was approved late today, Tuesday, June 3, 2025, with the goal of generating more money to pay off the country’s chronic energy sector debt and guarantee a steady supply of electricity.
The overall debt of the energy sector as of March 2025 is US$3.1 billion, according to Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who laid the measure under a certificate of urgency.
He added that in order to pay off this debt in full, at least US$3.7 billion will be needed, and an extra US$1.2 billion will be needed to buy the fuel that thermal power plants need to run throughout 2025.
Customers will not immediately see a price increase as the Minister promised Parliament that the effects of the new charge on ex-pump prices would be “absorbed by the gains made from the strong performance of the Ghana Cedi.”
The Minority Caucus, on the other hand, strongly opposed the law, calling it an unwarranted burden on Ghanaians.
They contended that the Majority side lacked the necessary numbers to make a legally binding judgment on the measure, and their resistance resulted in a walkout during the approval process.
Before the vote, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga had fervently argued for the levy, arguing that it was an essential communal sacrifice to put an end to the ongoing “dumsor” power crisis.
He made a conscious effort to differentiate the new charge from the government’s recently scrapped and highly unpopular E-levy.
Ayariga asked Ghanaians to ensure a steady power future by contributing “one cedi, just one cedi” each liter of fuel.
To alleviate the financial difficulties facing the energy sector, it is anticipated that the approval of this measure will result in an extra GH¢5.7 billion in revenue each year.
SP
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Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) running mate and Education Minister Dr. Mathew Opoku Prempeh, known as Napo, has publicly confirmed his voluntary cooperation with Ghana’s National Investigations Bureau (NIB) regarding his ministerial tenure.
Dr. Prempeh stated he has attended two sessions at the NIB offices to provide a detailed account of his stewardship while leading the Education Ministry, with a third session scheduled.
“The NIB has invited me, and no one knows about it,” Prempeh disclosed. “I have been to their office twice to account for my stewardship at the Education Ministry.
I can’t even remember some of the things, but that is why we have administrators who keep records.” He framed these sessions as part of necessary public accountability, noting, “This is why I say, as public officers, we need to ensure that we are accountable. A number of people who were in the previous government also go to the NIB.”
While confirming the visits relate to his four-year term as Education Minister, Prempeh declined to reveal specific details of the NIB’s inquiries.
He emphasized his view that legal proceedings do not inherently validate a position, stating, “the fact that you take the lead in court does not mean you have a good case.” He further urged fellow politicians to serve diligently when entrusted with public office.
The NIB, Ghana’s primary domestic intelligence agency, holds a mandate encompassing investigations into potential corruption and misconduct within public office, underscoring the significance of voluntary disclosures by senior officials like Prempeh within the nation’s governance framework.
GoldBod exported over 41.5 tons of artisanal gold between February and May 2025
Revenue reached about $4 billion, surpassing industrial gold exports for the first time
Ghana aims to earn $6 billion from ASM gold in 2025 and $12 billion in 2026
GoldBod, the state-run body overseeing gold trade in Ghana, exported more than 41.5 tons of gold from artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) between February and May 2025, earning around $4 billion. The announcement was made by CEO Sammy Gyamfi on June 3, during the Mining in Motion Summit taking place this week in Accra, from June 2 to 4.
As of May 1, GoldBod holds the exclusive right to buy and export ASM gold in Ghana. The institution now aims to purchase at least 3 tons of gold per week, up from around 1.5 tons per week at the beginning of the year. The latest export data reflects the early impact of this more aggressive strategy.
According to Gyamfi, this marks a historic shift. For the first time, ASM gold exports have surpassed those from large-scale industrial mines in the country. However, he did not disclose export revenue figures from industrial mining for the same period, which would have backed up the comparison. It also remains unclear whether the reported $4 billion includes gold traded by the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC), the former state entity in charge of buying ASM gold.
Ghana has been working in recent years to bring more order to its local artisanal mining sector. The goal is to boost public revenue and reduce gold smuggling, which has caused major losses. Giving GoldBod sole buying power is part of that effort. This move also comes at a time when global gold prices are soaring. In 2025, the price of gold crossed $3,000 per ounce for the first time, and is now hovering around $3,300, according to the World Gold Council.
With prices high and market conditions favorable, GoldBod is pushing ahead with its reform plans. The agency wants to generate $6 billion in ASM gold revenue by the end of 2025, and double that to $12 billion in 2026. Achieving this target will depend on how well GoldBod can manage the sector, which it claims to control over 90% of current ASM production.
One critical issue will be how GoldBod handles gold pricing policies. Pricing remains a sensitive point for small-scale miners, especially in a rising market. Ghana’s Chamber of Mines has recently raised concerns, warning that even small pricing changes under the new system could lead to sharp shifts in ASM output.
President John Dramani Mahama has said that he thinks that the real exchange rate value of the Ghana cedi against the United States dollar is in the range of GH¢10 to GH¢12.
The President made the revelation when he received a delegation of the Federation of Associations of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), led by its President the Davies Narh Korboe at the Presidency in Accra.
The President said the recent appreciation in the value of the cedi was one that Ghanaians had kept watching as the cedi started to strengthen and the dollar depreciated.
“I mean, with our A-level economics, we all know that it’s a balance between imports and exports. What it means is that it makes your imports cheaper and your exports more expensive,” he said.
He said there must be a fair balance to try and achieve the true value of the cedi.
“Some people say, oh, it will come down to four. But, of course, we know the true value of the cedi is not four. And if it went as far down as four, it would kill all your export businesses.” The President said.
“And so, I, the Governor, and the Finance Minister met and discussed it.
And they think that the real value of the cedi is anywhere between 10 and 12. Luckily, the Forex option has brought it to just above 10, and it appears to have stabilized there.”
He said, he thinks that going forward, anything between 10, 11, and 12 cedis to the dollar as a band where the cedi operates would be a fair value, both to encourage the nation’s exports, but at the same time, not make imports so cheap that importers would flood the nation’s markets with goods such as toothpicks, biscuits and coconuts.
President Mahama said it was a challenge to the nation’s exporters to take advantage of the cedi appreciation, because the advantage they also had was that the raw materials could be cheaper.
He said fuel prices had gone down, and therefore transporting products would be cheaper.
He said Port charges would also go down, which would serve as an incentive for both exporters and importers.
He said, he was asking the importers not to take advantage of it and flood Ghanaians with all kinds of goods from other countries.
“Let’s try on the import side to import substitutes and produce as many of the products that we bring from outside. Let us produce them here,” he said.
“And at the same time, let’s produce more products that people demand outside so that we have a better balance in terms of economic growth.”
He reiterated that the cedi’s appreciation against major international currencies was an advantage for Ghanaians, which they must take the opportunity of.
He said FAGE was a key partner in their efforts to achieve the economic objectives under the 24-Hour Economy Policy.
He said they had inaugurated the Accelerated Export Development Advisory Committee, which he was chairing personally as part of efforts to expand Ghana’s export sector.
He said they would work together to implement the National Exports Development Strategy so that Ghana could become a net exporter instead of an importer.
Mr Davies Narh Korboe, FAGE President, pledged the Association’s support for the government’s 24-Hour Economy Policy.
He complained to the President of FAGE being removed from the Boards of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) and the Ghana Exim Bank.
Mr Korboe extended an invitation to the President to address the opening ceremony of the Ghana Horticulture Expo, which was being organized by FAGE on June 11.
The three-day event on the theme “Innovate, Transform, sustain: Driving Growth in Ghana’s Horticultural Sector,” is a major industry event featuring conferences, seminars, workshops, trade exhibitions, and networking events.
Source: GNA
Photo of the 2nd session of the conference held in Kigali to establish the African Medicines Agency
Ghana has won the bid to lead Africa in the establishment of the African Medicines Agency.
The African Medicines Agency (AMA) is a specialized agency of the African Union (AU) established to improve equitable access to quality, safe, and effective medical products in Africa.
The agency aims to promote harmony in the regulation and trade of pharmaceutical products across the continent.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Dr Delese Mimi Darko has been appointed as the Head of the African Medicines Agency.
This comes as great news to the nation as Ghana beat Morocco among 100 other member FDAs that aimed to lead the move.
This happened during the 2nd Session of The Conference of State Parties To The Treaty For The Establishment Of The African Medicines Agency held at Kigali in Rwanda from June 2 to June 4, 2025.
AME
Former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta
The then-Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, noted in November 2022 that the National Cathedral project was 100% state-owned.
His comment was in response to allegations that he was not authorised to spend funds on the National Cathedral project.
“The National Cathedral is 100% owned by the State and is not the President’s Cathedral as described by the Proponents,” he said.
“Indeed, the Attorney General issued an opinion on January 6, 2022, that the National Cathedral is a state-owned company limited by guarantee, under the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board,” Ken Ofori-Atta said.
Read the full story originally published on November 18, 2022 by www.ghanaweb.com.
Finance minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, has denied allegations that he did not get authorisation to spend funds on the National Cathedral project.
According to him, the construction of the project was 100 percent owned and funded by the state contrary to impressions that it was the project of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo.
He told the Adhoc Committee of Parliament hearing the censure motion to remove him, that expenditures in respect of the National Cathedral were made from the Contingency Vote under the “Other Government Obligations” vote.
The finance minister said the spending was done from that in line with the practice before his tenure.
“I have copies of several payments from the Contingency Vote dating back to 2015 to share,” he said.
He said, as finance minister, he was fully aware of the approval procedures for use of the Contingency Fund and had not breached its requirement.
“The National Cathedral is 100% owned by the State and is not the President’s Cathedral as described by the Proponents.
“Indeed, the Attorney General issued an opinion on January 6, 2022, that the National Cathedral is a state-owned company limited by guarantee, under the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board,” Mr Ofori-Atta said.
He said the policy direction and updates on the National Cathedral have been publicly presented over the years through the National Budget Statement and Economic Policy presented to Parliament.
“In conclusion, Co-Chairs, all the payments made for the National Cathedral were lawfully done and from the Contingency Vote under the ‘Other Government Obligations’ vote and not from the Contingency Fund as alleged by the Proponents,” he added.
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Kofi Adams is the Minister of Sports and Recreation
Sports and Recreation Minister Kofi Adams has expressed his approval of the Black Stars’ participation in the recently concluded Unity Cup tournament held in London.
The senior national team competed in a four-nation event at the Gtech Community Stadium. Although Ghana narrowly lost their opening match 2-1 to Nigeria, they bounced back strongly with a convincing 4-0 victory over Trinidad & Tobago to secure third place in the competition.
With the 2026 World Cup qualifiers’ Matchday 7 and 8 fixtures scheduled for September, Minister Adams sees the tournament as a valuable preparation opportunity for the team ahead of these crucial games.
“From the technical angle, I believe we have achieved so much even though we lost to Nigeria, but we had only two games to play, and for me, it has been a great tournament for the team, and we should be happy about it,” he told Sporty FM.
Currently leading Group I, Ghana will travel to face Chad before hosting Mali, and then conclude their qualification campaign with matches against Comoros and the Central African Republic in October.
The four-time African champions are targeting qualification for their fifth World Cup appearance, with the 2026 tournament set to be hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Meanwhile, watch as Eleven Wonders beat RTU 2-1 in the Division One League play-off final
Uche Elendu has weighed in on the war of words between her colleague Angela Okorie and their junior colleague Regina Daniels.
Recall that Regina Daniela went online to call out Angela Okorie for disrespecting Mercy Johnson, whom Regina calls her “Mama”. Read here
Angela hit back and both women have been calling each other out since then.
Uche Elendu has now addressed the fight and she is apparently on the side of Regina. She stated that “the little ones are not as little upstairs afterall”.
Uche also appeared to make reference to Angela recently throwing shade at their colleague Destiny Etiko.
Destiny Etiko had walked out with the money she was spraying at actress Ruby Ojiakor’s wedding over the weekend after Angela came close to her to perform her song.
This led Angela to state that when “light” walks in, “darkness disappears”. read story here
While reacting to Angela Okorie and Regina Daniels’ fight, Uche Elendu hinted that the supposed light is the real darkness.
“Their darkness seems to be the real light, evidence seen,” Uche Elendu wrote. “Their light is perpetual darkness, envy, bitterness, strife, addiction, abuse. Abeg, if na so light dey be, NEPA kuku carry am. No need.”
Uche Elendu added: “Kindly tag the best psychiatrist in town. It’s about time.”
Dr. Nyaho Nyaho-Tamakloe is no stranger in the news. He would always come out to speak out his mind, without “tuuingsebi.”To such a fellow as the adage goes, you do not “beg pardons,” when speaking the truth.
As a leading firebrand and member of the New Patriotic Party, he threw aside his blood-links with Jerry John Rawlings and bullshitted him, his party and political ideologies.
Energy Minister John Jinapor says the recently introduced GH¢1.00 fuel levy is expected to generate between GH¢5 billion and GH¢6 billion to support the procurement of liquid fuel, but stressed that the amount will still fall short of what is needed.
Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show, the Minister justified the levy as a necessary intervention to address Ghana’s mounting energy sector debt and ensure continuous fuel supply to power plants.
“This amount, if you look at the object clearly, we talked about the debt that we have and how unsustainable the debt is,” Jinapor explained.
He added: “But when you look at the real object, it is to help us first to procure liquid fuel, and within the veil of the liquid fuel, it will be about GH¢1.2 billion. The government said that this GH¢1 would give us about GH¢5–6 billion, which is about 60% of what we require.”
He noted that even with revenue from the levy, the Finance Ministry would still have to step in to bridge the gap.
“So, even with this GH¢1, the Finance Minister will still have to assist us in getting some additional money to buy liquid fuel,” he added.
Addressing the debt issue, Mr. Jinapor noted that the government is actively renegotiating terms with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) and developing a payment plan to stabilise the sector.
“As for the debt, we are renegotiating with the IPPs, and having a payment plan with them so that we stop the bleeding, reduce the inefficiency, and turn the sector around. our immediate challenge now is how to get liquid fuel to sustain the power,” he stated.
Meanwhile, the Executive Director of the Centre for Environment and Sustainable Energy, Benjamin Nsiah has raised strong concerns over the government’s newly approved GHȼ1 fuel levy, describing it as regressive, uncreative, and detrimental to already strained consumers.
In a Citi Business News interview, he questioned the government’s continued reliance on petroleum taxes to address financial gaps in the energy sector.
He argued that while the fuel levy is expected to raise GHȼ5.7 billion to support energy sector obligations, it merely adds to a history of ineffective fiscal interventions that fail to resolve the sector’s structural inefficiencies.
“This approach is not only tired but unfair,” Nsiah said. “We’ve seen this playbook before. The Energy Sector Levies Act (ESLA), and the Energy Sector Recovery Levy have provided a lasting solution to the underlying issues. It’s not about collecting more. It’s about managing what’s already collected.”
GHȼ1 fuel levy unjustified and burdensome – Energy Analyst cautions
Fewa, the only son of billionaire businessman Femi Otedola, has been living with autism. DJ Cuppy and her family have always spoken about him with immense love and pride.
Nigerian disc jockey, DJ Cuppy has celebrated her younger brother, Fewa Otedola in the most heartfelt way.
Japan has reaffirmed its strong interest in supporting the construction of a bridge over the Volta Lake at Volivo—an essential component of Ghana’s Eastern Corridor road project.
The commitment was conveyed by Miyazaki Katsura, Senior Executive Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), during a courtesy call on President John Mahama at the Presidency on Tuesday.
The Ghana Cedi is projected to maintain its relative strength and strong trajectory against the major international trading currencies for the second quarter and throughout 2025, the Ghana International Trade and Finance Conference (GITFiC), has said.
“GITFiC’s analysis suggests that the Ghanaian Cedi will continue its recovery trajectory in 2025, supported by robust macroeconomic and technical indicators. While short-term corrections are possible due to market dynamics, the overall outlook is cautious optimism. Strategic policy implementation and external stability will be essential to maintaining the cedi’s strength throughout the year,” it said in its 2025 Exchange Rate Projection Report.
The report, developed by GITFiC’s Lead Analyst, Research, Advocacy and Policy, Isaac Osei Owusu, said “GITFiC projects an average USD/GH¢ exchange rate of 10.02 for 2025, within a range of 7.09 to 13.16.”
The report said the cedi would enjoy strong stability for the year but “Volatility remains a risk due to domestic import demand and potential shifts in global monetary policy.”
GITFiC Attributed the strong performance of the Cedi to debt restructuring success (including bilateral and multilateral agreements), firming commodity prices (especially gold, cocoa, and crude oil), reduced speculative activity in forex markets, central bank liquidity interventions and monetary stability.
“The Ghanaian Cedi has shown a notable recovery against the United States Dollar (USD) in recent months, driven by significant structural adjustments, monetary discipline, and external sector performance. As of May 24, 2025, the cedi appreciated by 8.891 per cent every week, with the interbank mid-rate reaching 11.07 GH¢/USD,” the GITFiC said.
It said the appreciation reflected investor confidence following Ghana’s successful debt restructuring, improved commodity exports, and decisive interventions by the Bank of Ghana.
“On an annual basis, the Cedi is projected to appreciate by approximately 28.94 per cent in 2025 compared to its average rate in 2024, underscoring a strong recovery trajectory and sustained macroeconomic stability,” GITFiC stated.
The organisations said despite the Cedi’s bullish momentum, the following risks could introduce volatility.
It said high domestic import requirements, especially for refined petroleum, machinery, and food, may exert pressure on the C edi.
“Although headline inflation has moderated from the peak, persistent core inflation above 20 per cent could limit monetary policy flexibility,” GITFiC stated.
In addition, the report said potential delays in rate cuts by the U.S. Federal Reserve might strengthen the USD globally, reversing some gains for emerging market currencies.
It further said commodity price fluctuations or geopolitical tensions might impact Ghana’s trade and capital inflows and post-election implementation of fiscal and structural reforms would be critical to sustaining macroeconomic stability.
Among other suggestions, GITFiC said policymakers should prioritise structural reforms, domestic revenue mobilisation, and diversification of export base to reduce Cedi vulnerability.
“Businesses must adopt hedging strategies against currency risks, particularly those with high foreign exchange exposure,” the report said.
It said investors: should consider medium- to long-term opportunities in Cedi-denominated assets, especially in government bonds and real sectors aligned with export expansion.
GITFiC said the country’s development partners must continue technical and financial support for the country’s reform agenda, with a focus on debt sustainability and inclusive growth.
BY KINGSLEY ASARE
Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has publicly conveyed his heartfelt appreciation to His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II and the people of the Ashanti Region for their steadfast support throughout his political journey.
During a courtesy visit by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II to Nana Akufo-Addo’s private residence in Nima, Accra, the former president acknowledged the pivotal role the Ashanti Region played in his rise to the presidency.
The Ho Municipal Assembly is looking into how a permit was granted to a private developer to construct a gas station amid houses at the C. K. Road residential area at Ho-Hopedo.
The walls of the ongoing project are just about one metre away from some of the houses.
Apart from that, the erection of the walls of the station has resulted in persistent flooding in the area, making life unbearable for the residents.
The residents last Thursday took to the streets to protest against what they called the wrong choice of site for the project, saying they would resist its continuation since their safety was at stake.
A spokesman for the residents, Abel Youngs, told the Daily Graphic during the demonstration that the project started in 2018 in defiance of objections by the residents.
He said in 2023, the residents wrote to the then Volta Regional Minister, Dr Archibald Yao Letsa, who asked the developer to halt the project.
Mr Youngs said the residents also had an engagement with a representative of the developer, whose name he gave as David Debre, on the issue and made clear their stance against the project.
“We told them we are concerned about our safety and how water now fills our homes and leaves the roads soggy in the area,” the spokesman added.
Mr Youngs also said that the station was sited beside a power transformer, making it a recipe for disaster.
The power transformer beside the project site
He said the residents also met with officials of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and regional command of the Ghana National Fire Service to ensure the project was halted.
Mr Youngs said the residents were now left with more questions than answers with the recent resumption of the project in the swampy area.
He said the developer had already sunk two tanks at the site surreptitiously, raising more fears and anxiety among the residents.
When contacted, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Stephen Adom, said the permit was issued to the developer some years ago, “before we took office”.
He said the assembly had already invited the developer and his team to the assembly for discussions as part of investigations into the matter.
“We are looking into the matter meticulously,” the MCE added.
