GNPC Explorco team with government officials in Tamale

GNPC Explorco, the exploration subsidiary of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), has concluded a high-level three-day stakeholder engagement mission in the Northern Region.

The visit aimed to reinforce strategic partnerships ahead of upcoming operations in the Voltaian Basin and to demonstrate the company’s commitment to social responsibility during the festive season.

The Principal Corporate Affairs Officer of GNPC Explorco, Kwasi Appiah, led a delegation to hold a series of critical meetings with key regional leaders, including the Northern Regional Minister, the Regional Coordinating Director, and the Mayor of Tamale.

The discussions focused on aligning the corporation’s 2026 operational roadmap with regional development priorities.

A central theme of the engagement was the progress of the Voltaian Basin Project—Ghana’s flagship onshore petroleum frontier.

Mr. Kwasi Appiah reaffirmed Explorco’s confidence in meeting the target to spud the first exploration well by the third quarter of 2026.

“The Voltaian Basin is more than just an energy project; it is a catalyst for economic transformation in the North. Our mission this week was to ensure that regional and municipal leadership are fully aligned with our progress. We are committed to a ‘Ghanaians-first’ strategy that prioritises local content, jobs, and capacity building for the people of this region,” he noted.

He, however, disclosed that in the spirit of the Christmas season, GNPC Explorco decided to extend its “Lighting Up the North” vision to the most vulnerable members of the community especially to the Tamale Children’s home.

Speaking during the donation to the Tamale Children’s home, Mr. Kwasi Appiah said, “Christmas is a time for family and for sharing hope. As a new member of this community, Explorco views these children as part of our extended family. While our technical work focuses on the resources underground, our heart is firmly with the people above ground. We want to ensure that the joy of the season reaches every corner of the region,” he stated.

The Principal Corporate Affairs Officer of GNPC Explorco, was optimistic about a great future between the Northern Region and GNPC Explorco.

“The three-day mission marks a new chapter in Explorco’s relationship with the Northern Region. The corporation has pledged to maintain transparent, consistent communication with all stakeholders as preparations for the 2026 drilling campaign intensify,” he said.

GNPC Explorco is the upstream exploration and production subsidiary of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). It is mandated to build the national capacity for standalone operatorship and lead the exploration of Ghana’s inland sedimentary basins, most notably the Voltaian Basin.

FROM Eric Kombat, Tamale

The third edition of the Luckiest seasonal draw, regulated by the National Lottery Authority (NLA), has concluded with ticket number “00029” identified as the overall Luckiest winner of the grand GHC 2.5 million cash prize.

The final draw held last Saturday also recognised other winners, including those who received electronic gadgets and cash prizes.

The draw attracted more than 850,000 entries on the platform, doubling the entries for 2024.

The Chief Executive Officer of Genius Loci, the owner of’ the Luckiest lottery, Mr Dennis Adutwum, stated that the third edition drew more participants than previous years, noting that the number of participants increased from 170,000 in its first edition in 2023 to a million in 2025.

He also mentioned that the company supported many Ghanaians and organisations, including providing 1, 000 white canes to the Ghana Blind Union(GBU) at the Accra Rehabilitation Centre, as part of its efforts to assist the disability community.

He affirmed that giving back to society is a core principle of his company’s philosophy, which motivated them to donate to the GBU, which aims to empower the visually impaired to move independently.

Mr Adutwum revealed that the Luckiest lottery intends to target the Nigerian market next year, with plans to gradually expand into nearly all African countries and expressed gratitude for the strong support and patronage from the public.

“This year was our brand positioning year, and we could not be more grateful for what we have achieved. The success of the event has prompted plans to expand the “Luckiest” concept to Nigeria and other African countries in the coming year. Next year is going to be bigger, better, and we are going to increase our CSR efforts,” Adutwum announced.

He congratulated the raffle winners and urged everyone to try their luck, emphasising that the platform’s primary goal is to help patrons become wealthy and improve their standard of living.

The Marketing Director of the NLA, Mr Kwabena Opoku Boakye, noted that the NLA’s Caritas Lottery Platform has supported various social responsibility programmes across Ghana, with the platform’s total funds increasing from GH ¢ 7. 6 million to GH ¢ 11. 6 million.

He stressed that the NLA aims to continue supporting such initiatives to positively impact lives nationwide. “Any activity without NLA approval is considered illegal,” he added.

BERNARD BENGHAN

When President John Dramani Mahama launched Ghana’s revolutionary diplomatic Key Performance Indicators on 1st September 2025, one mandate stood out for its transformational potential yet received surprisingly little analysis: the requirement for envoys to “secure scholarships and facilitate exchange programmes with foreign institutions to enhance Ghana’s human capital.”

Whilst this sounds like standard diplomatic fare, when coupled with the broader KPI framework’s emphasis on diaspora engagement and economic returns, it reveals a more sophisticated strategy that could fundamentally alter how Ghana approaches international education partnerships.

The question isn’t merely about sending students abroad, it is about creating a systematic reintegration architecture that captures and deploys internationally acquired knowledge for national development.

Ghana’s diplomatic missions now operate under explicit mandates to increase trade volumes by 10% annually, attract strategic investments, and compile diaspora investment databases.

Yet without robust mechanisms to reintegrate internationally educated Ghanaians into the domestic economy, these scholarships risk becoming expensive brain drain programmes rather than strategic human capital investments.

The Global Education Diplomacy Landscape

The economic value of this human capital could exceed billions of cedis but only if Ghana develops systematic reintegration strategies that prevent this investment from simply enriching other countries economies.

International evidence demonstrates both the promise and pitfalls of education diplomacy. Israel and India stand as the only two countries achieving large-scale success with diaspora engagement programmes, having raised billions through structured mechanisms that maintain diaspora connections whilst leveraging their international experience.

Israel’s approach is particularly instructive: beyond offering scholarships, the country created comprehensive reintegration support including Hebrew instruction, employment assistance, job retraining, and financial support for employers hiring returnees.

India’s experience reveals different but equally relevant lessons. Following independence, India initially disconnected from its emigrant population before recognising their economic potential in the late 1980s.

The State Bank of India launched the Resurgent India Bonds programme in 1998, raising $4.2 billion by 2003, with Non-Resident Indians holding close to 60% of the country’s sovereign debt to private creditors by that year. This success stemmed from systematic diaspora engagement that treated emigrants as strategic assets rather than lost citizens.

The Reintegration Challenge: Lessons from Failed Programmes

Ghana’s diplomatic KPIs emerge at a moment when global migration patterns increasingly challenge traditional assumptions about permanent emigration. Modern migration is increasingly multidirectional, frequently involving return to countries of origin for short or long periods, often followed by back-and-forth movement between two or more countries.

This reality creates opportunities for countries sophisticated enough to design policies that facilitate rather than resist circular migration patterns.

Reintegration remains notoriously difficult. Research demonstrates that reintegration is most successful in communities that are welcoming, have functional public services, and where livelihood opportunities are available.

Ghana’s challenge lies in creating these conditions systematically across multiple sectors whilst competing with international employers who often offer substantially higher remuneration.

The cautionary tales are instructive. Rwanda’s experience with diaspora reintegration, despite significant government effort, reveals persistent challenges in creating employment opportunities matching returnees international experience.

Rwanda’s Migration Profile focuses on availability of reliable migration data and includes diaspora mapping in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, yet economic absorption capacity remains limited.

Strategic Framework: A Ghanaian Reintegration Architecture

Ghana requires a comprehensive reintegration framework that addresses economic, social, and institutional dimensions of returnee absorption. This framework must recognise that successful reintegration isn’t simply about finding jobs for internationally-trained professionals it’s about creating ecosystems where their knowledge generates multiplier effects throughout the economy.

Economic Reintegration: Beyond Job Placement

Traditional reintegration approaches focus narrowly on employment, but internationally-educated Ghanaians represent potential economic transformation agents requiring more sophisticated support.

Ghana should establish sector-specific reintegration centres that combine employment facilitation with entrepreneurship support, providing returnees with options beyond conventional job markets.

The technology sector offers particularly promising opportunities. Ghana’s emerging fintech industry requires precisely the kind of international expertise that scholarship programmes could generate.

Returnees with Silicon Valley or London experience could catalyse Ghana’s digital economy development but only if systematic mechanisms exist to connect their knowledge with domestic opportunities.

Manufacturing and agricultural processing sectors similarly require internationally-acquired expertise in quality standards, supply chain management, and export market navigation.

Ghana’s diplomatic missions should actively facilitate partnerships between returnees and domestic industries requiring technical upgrading to compete in continental markets opened by the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Institutional Architecture: Creating Enabling Frameworks

Successful reintegration demands institutional mechanisms operating at multiple levels. Ghana should establish a National Returnee Integration Authority (NRIA) coordinating reintegration efforts across government ministries, private sector organisations, and educational institutions. This authority would manage several critical functions:

Skills Mapping and Labour Market Matching: Systematic tracking of internationally-educated Ghanaians, their specialisations, and return intentions, matched against domestic labour market needs and strategic development priorities.

Regulatory Facilitation: Streamlining professional certification processes, equipment importation, and business registration for returnees establishing enterprises. Many countries require lengthy recertification processes that discourage return; Ghana should implement fast-track recognition for international qualifications from accredited institutions.

Financial Instruments: Developing specific financial products supporting returnee reintegration, including preferential loans for business establishment, housing finance, and bridging capital for professionals transitioning from international to domestic employment.

Tax Incentives: Creating structured tax holidays for returnees establishing businesses in priority sectors, graduated over five years to encourage sustained commitment whilst recognising initial establishment challenges.

Knowledge Transfer Mechanisms: Amplifying Individual Impact

Individual returnees possess value extending beyond their personal employment. Systematic knowledge transfer mechanisms can multiply their impact throughout Ghana’s economy. Several models merit consideration:

University Partnerships: Returning academics should receive preferential consideration for Ghanaian university positions, with structured programmes facilitating research collaboration between Ghanaian institutions and international partners. This creates knowledge transfer pipelines whilst strengthening Ghana’s research capacity.

Corporate Mentorship Programmes: Pairing returnees with domestic companies requiring specific expertise, providing structured knowledge transfer alongside consulting fees that make such arrangements financially viable for both parties.

Innovation Hubs: Establishing sector-specific innovation centres where returnees can pilot new technologies, train local talent, and develop locally-adapted solutions to Ghanaian challenges. These hubs would operate as knowledge incubators, diffusing international expertise throughout domestic industries.

Diaspora Engagement: Beyond Remittances

Ghana’s diplomatic missions must develop sophisticated diaspora engagement strategies that treat internationally-resident Ghanaians as strategic assets for national development.

The scholarship component of Ghana’s diplomatic KPIs creates natural diaspora engagement foundations. Students studying abroad form networks, acquire market knowledge, and develop professional capabilities that Ghana can leverage even if they don’t immediately return. The key lies in maintaining structured engagement rather than viewing emigration as permanent loss.

Israel’s sustained diaspora engagement over seven decades demonstrates the potential: Israel Bonds have raised billions through maintaining strong emotional and financial connections with global Jewish communities. Ghana should similarly develop mechanisms that keep internationally-based Ghanaians economically engaged with homeland development.

Several specific mechanisms warrant implementation:

Diaspora Investment Platforms: Ghana should establish formal diaspora investment vehicles, potentially including diaspora bonds for infrastructure development. These instruments must offer competitive returns whilst providing patriotic investment opportunities for Ghanaians seeking to contribute to national development from abroad.

Virtual Talent Networks: Creating digital platforms connecting Ghana-based organisations with internationally-resident expertise, enabling consulting relationships, remote collaboration, and knowledge transfer without requiring permanent repatriation. Modern technology enables contribution without relocation.

Reverse Mentorship Programmes: Facilitating structured relationships where diaspora professionals virtually mentor emerging Ghanaian talent, transferring knowledge whilst identifying potential recruitment opportunities or business partnerships.

Staged Return Pathways: Developing policies facilitating gradual reintegration rather than abrupt return, including sabbatical programmes, part-year residency arrangements, and dual-base career options that acknowledge contemporary work flexibility.

Sector-Specific Strategies: Tailored Approaches

Different sectors require distinct reintegration approaches reflecting their unique characteristics, labour market dynamics, and development priorities. Ghana’s reintegration architecture must accommodate this diversity rather than imposing one-size-fits-all solutions.

Healthcare: Medical professionals face particularly acute challenges reintegrating into Ghana’s healthcare system after international training. Ghana should establish centre-of-excellence hospitals offering competitive remuneration, modern equipment, and research opportunities that make domestic practice professionally satisfying. These facilities would serve as magnets for returnee medical talent whilst upgrading national healthcare capacity.

Engineering and Technology: These sectors benefit most from entrepreneurship-focused reintegration emphasising business establishment over employment. Ghana should create technology parks with subsidised infrastructure, regulatory support, and venture capital access specifically for returnee-founded enterprises.

Education: Internationally-educated academics should receive preferential consideration for senior university positions, combined with research funding that enables them to establish world-class programmes in Ghana. This creates knowledge transfer mechanisms whilst building institutional capacity.

Financial Services: Ghana’s emerging fintech sector and broader financial services transformation require precisely the expertise international education provides. Returnees should find fast-track professional certification, preferential regulatory treatment for innovative financial products, and government support for fintech entrepreneurship.

Implementation Roadmap: From Policy to Practice

Translating these ambitious targets into systematic reintegration requires phased implementation with clear milestones and accountability mechanisms.

Phase One (Years 1-2): Foundation Building

Establish the National Returnee Integration Authority with dedicated budget, staff, and clear mandate. Conduct comprehensive diaspora mapping exercise identifying internationally-educated Ghanaians, their specialisations, and return intentions. Develop baseline data systems tracking outbound scholarship recipients and their subsequent career trajectories.

Launch pilot programmes in three priority sectors: technology, healthcare, and education, testing different reintegration approaches whilst building institutional capacity for broader implementation. Establish measurement frameworks tracking reintegration success rates, economic impact, and programme cost-effectiveness.

Phase Two (Years 3-4): Scaled Implementation

Expand successful pilot programmes to additional sectors based on evidence from initial implementation. Establish sector-specific reintegration centres in Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi, providing comprehensive support services including employment facilitation, entrepreneurship training, and regulatory guidance.

Launch diaspora investment platform enabling structured financial contributions from internationally-based Ghanaians. Implement tax incentive programmes for returnee entrepreneurs whilst establishing venture capital funds specifically supporting returnee-founded enterprises in priority sectors.

Phase Three (Years 5+): Systematic Integration

Full implementation of reintegration architecture across all diplomatic missions, with each embassy required to maintain databases of scholarship recipients, facilitate returnee engagement, and support reintegration processes. Establish Ghana as recognised leader in diaspora engagement and brain circulation, sharing successful models with other African countries.

Create self-sustaining mechanisms where successful returnees mentor subsequent cohorts, established enterprises provide employment opportunities for new returnees, and knowledge transfer becomes embedded in institutional operations rather than dependent on special programmes.

Measuring Success: Beyond Anecdote to Evidence

Performance-driven diplomacy requires robust measurement frameworks distinguishing genuine success from ceremonial reporting. Ghana must develop specific metrics tracking reintegration effectiveness:

Return Rates: Percentage of scholarship recipients returning to Ghana within specified timeframes, disaggregated by sector, qualification level, and destination country.

Economic Impact: Estimated economic value generated by returnees, including businesses established, employment created, tax revenues generated, and knowledge transfer multiplier effects.

Retention Rates: Percentage of returnees remaining in Ghana after initial return, tracking both geographic and sectoral retention patterns.

Innovation Metrics: Patents filed, research publications, technological innovations, and business models introduced by returnees, measuring knowledge transfer effectiveness.

Satisfaction Indicators: Returnee satisfaction with reintegration processes, identifying persistent challenges requiring policy adjustment.

Conclusion: Transforming Challenge into Strategic Opportunity

Ghana’s diplomatic KPI framework represents unprecedented ambition in African foreign policy, but ambitious goals require equally sophisticated implementation strategies.

The scholarship and exchange programme mandate creates potential for transformational human capital development but only if Ghana simultaneously builds comprehensive reintegration architecture that converts international education into domestic economic development.

International evidence demonstrates both possibility and peril. Israel and India have successfully leveraged diaspora engagement for development finance, whilst numerous other countries have watched educated citizens enrich foreign economies rather than contribute to homeland development.

The difference lies not in diaspora goodwill but in systematic policies that make return and engagement economically rational rather than sacrificial choices.

President Mahama’s charge to envoys was clear: “Your success is going to be measured not by ceremonial protocol, but by the scale of investment, trade, and opportunities you help secure for the people of Ghana”. This results-oriented approach demands equally rigorous attention to the mechanisms that translate international education into domestic development outcomes.

Ghana stands at a crucial juncture. The country can implement sophisticated reintegration strategies that position it as a continental leader in brain circulation and diaspora engagement, or it can watch its investment in international education become expensive subsidy for foreign labour markets.

The diplomatic framework provides unprecedented opportunities, but success demands institutional innovation, sustained commitment, and willingness to learn from both global successes and failures.

The choice Ghana makes in implementing these KPIs will determine whether the next generation of internationally-educated Ghanaians becomes a lost diaspora or a strategic development resource. That choice will shape Ghana’s trajectory for decades to come.

About the author

Dominic Senayah is an International Relations Researcher specialising in education diplomacy, diaspora engagement strategies, and human capital development in emerging economies.

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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 Sunyani business community has called for enhanced police visibility at the CBD

The Sunyani business community has called for enhanced police visibility at the Central Business District (CBD) as the festive season sets-in.

During a visit to the CBD enclave on Monday, December 22, 2025, the Ghana News Agency (GNA) noticed that economic activities were brisk, amid unusual human and vehicular traffic.

As at 0900 hours buying and selling had peaked, as scores of shoppers combed round the enclave for Christmas shopping.

Comparatively, some shop and store owners and petty traders told the GNA market survey that sales had picked up and remained encouraging this Christmas season.

However, they called on the police to improve personnel visibility and to control crime wave in the enclave.

Esi Araba, a dealer in rice and oil, expressed concern about petty theft, worrying that some of the traders had lost their mobile phones and other valuables.

She said the demand for rice and eggs was very good, however added that some of the buyers continue to complain about the price of eggs which ranged between GH¢

50 and GH¢60 as well as the rice pegging between GH¢290 and GH¢900 depending on the sizes of the bags.

A shop attendant, John Ansu Gyeabour said: “We anticipate good sales in the season because my customers keep arriving here for shopping”.

However, some of the dealers selling live fowls told the GNA that the demand for poultry products was not encouraging.

Nonetheless, Augustine Abu said: “It’s very early to say sales aren’t good because we often record good sales on Christmas Eve”.

Meanwhile, petty traders have taken over the shoulders of the streets creating nuisance in the enclave.

They have showcased and sold all kinds of Christmas souvenirs comprising children and baby caps, toys, teddy birds, Xmas hampers, footwear, and clothing.

AG to prosecute Kofi Akpaloo, wife over alleged COCOBOD contract fraud

By James Amoh Junior, GNA

Accra, Dec. 23, GNA – The Minerals Commission and the Ghana Chamber of Mines have reaffirmed the need for responsible investment, genuine partnerships and stronger local value creation as Ghana and China continue to deepen cooperation in the mining sector.

The call was made at the 2025 Annual Conference and Chairman Rotation Ceremony of the Association of China-Ghana Mining (ACGM) in Accra, which brought together senior government officials, diplomats, regulators, mining executives to review progress in bilateral mining cooperation and outline priorities for the future.

Mr. Isaac Andrews Tandoh, the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission, said Ghana remained committed to attracting responsible foreign direct investment into the mining sector, but stressed that such investments must align with national development goals and regulatory standards.

Mr. Tandoh noted that Chinese mining companies and institutions had played an important role in Ghana’s mining sector through capital inflows, technology transfer, productivity improvements and skills development, contributing to broader economic activity across mining communities.

“Your investments create jobs, introduce new technologies and help build local capacity,” he said, adding that the long-standing relationship between Ghana and China in the mining sector had delivered tangible benefits to communities across the country.

However, Mr. Tandoh cautioned that future cooperation must be built on genuine partnerships, particularly in the area of local content and enterprise development.

He said the Commission would not tolerate “fronting” arrangements that undermined Ghana’s laws and deprived the country of the full benefits of its mineral resources.

“We want your investments to grow and succeed, but we also want Ghana to grow,” he said, urging mining companies to engage openly with regulators and pursue partnerships that bring technology, skills and long-term development into the country.

He added that sustainable and equitable mineral development required continuous improvements in environmental management, health and safety, transparency and social responsibility, while accelerating value addition and formalisation within the sector.

Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Chamber of Mines, described the relations between the Chamber and the Association of China-Ghana Mining as constructive and cordial.

Dr. Ashigbey said Chinese enterprises continued to make meaningful contributions to Ghana’s economy, not only through mining operations but also across supporting value chains, including infrastructure support, employment creation and skills development.

“As representative bodies, we share a common interest in ensuring that Ghana remains a stable, competitive and attractive destination for responsible investment,” he said, stressing that this required continuous engagement, cooperation and balanced dialogue between industry players and state institutions.

He highlighted ongoing national discussions on fiscal reforms in the mining sector, including the review of mineral royalty frameworks, and called for inclusive dialogue that balances national revenue interests with the need to sustain investment and growth.

“We need to find a sweet spot that allows the country to benefit more from its mineral resources, while ensuring that mining companies are also able to grow and reinvest,” Dr. Ashigbey said.

He added that predictable and competitive fiscal regimes were essential to long-term sector resilience.

Dr. Ashigbey also encouraged closer collaboration between Ghanaian and Chinese business communities, regulators and diplomatic missions to support constructive policy engagement that served the sustainable development of both the industry and the national economy.

Mr. Tong Defa, who praised the progress made in China-Ghana mining cooperation, described the Association as an increasingly important bridge between the development strategies of the two countries.

He said Chinese mining investments in Ghana were evolving beyond commercial gain to support green transition, technological upgrading and community development.

Mr. Tang Zhenjiang, outgoing Chairman of the Association, reflected on achievements under his tenure, including the promotion of intelligent mining systems, green energy solutions, technical training programmes and community support initiatives.

He said the Association had sought to ensure that mining cooperation delivered shared value and aligned with Ghana’s development priorities.

Mr. Wang Jinquan, the incoming Chairman, pledged to build on that foundation, deepen engagement with Ghanaian authorities and industry stakeholders, and strengthen member services while promoting innovation, environmental sustainability and talent development.

Other mining stakeholders agreed that the future of Ghana-China mining cooperation would depend on stronger collaboration between regulators, industry associations and investors, underpinned by transparency, sustainability and mutual respect.

They said with clearer standards, effective regulation and shared commitment to responsible mining, the partnership had the potential to continue delivering inclusive and lasting benefits for Ghana’s economy, mining communities and the broader bilateral relationship.

GNA

Edited by Christian Akorlie

On Thursday, December 11, 2025, the Parliament of Ghana passed the Ghana Education Trust Fund (Amendment) Bill. This bill marks a major milestone in Ghana’s quest to expand equal access to education.

The amendment seeks to (i) ensure sustained financing for the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme, (ii) establish free tertiary education for persons with disabilities (PWDs), (iii) expand free education for learners with special educational needs, and (iv) permit the deductibility of the GETFund levy for tax purposes.

This review analyses the policy objectives, expected impacts, fiscal and administrative implications, and potential objections to the amendment. It concludes with recommendations to strengthen the effectiveness and sustainability of the reform.

Established in 2000, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) was designed to provide additional funding for education, considering educational infrastructure, teaching and learning materials, scholarships, and research grants. Over the years, GETFund has become a core financing mechanism, especially for secondary and tertiary education.

The passage of the amendment comes at a time when: • Free SHS continues to face funding gaps, delayed disbursements, and a huge infrastructure pressure. • The national disability agenda is calling for stronger inclusion in tertiary education. • Special education services in Ghana remain underfunded, with limited trained personnel and inadequate learning materials. • Businesses have requested clarity on the deductibility of the GETFund levy, which has long created tax interpretation challenges.

The amendment, therefore, seeks to streamline the Fund and align it with emerging national priorities.

This amendment comes with some key pillars.

a. Financing for Free SHS

The amendment formally mandates GETFund to contribute to the funding of Free SHS. This policy is justified on the grounds that high school enrolment has increased significantly since 2017, straining the budget and depleting the achievement rate of the core policy objectives as a result of the pressure on facilities and the lack of other essential materials. And also, this policy will create a dedicated and protected financing line to ensure programme continuity.

b. Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities

GETFund will now support full financing of tertiary education for PWDs. This policy move responds to Ghana’s commitments under the Disability Act (2006) and UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and also bridges the gap between the unequal access to education among minority groups, especially that of Persons with disabilities. Moreover, the policy will enhance the inclusion and economic participation of Persons with disabilities.

c. Free Education for Learners with Special Educational Needs

GETFund is empowered to support Special schools, Special needs teaching materials and Training of specialised educators. Only 1–2% of children with special needs receive adequate support, which deprives the greater percentage from participation. With that, the amendment solidifies the financing backbone for inclusive education in Ghana.

d. The amendment introduces tax relief on the GETFund Levy to reduce the overall tax burden on taxpayers. Businesses can now deduct the GETFund levy as an allowable tax expense. This will improve clarity and reduce business tax burdens, and equally ensure predictability in corporate taxation.

Potential Benefits of the Amendment

This amendment has the potential to strengthen and sustain education financing in Ghana. A clearly defined mandate for GETFund reduces dependency on irregular budget allocations and supports long-term planning.

Heighten Equity Education and Inclusiveness

The introduction of free tertiary education for PWDs and commitment to support the special needs of learners addresses long-standing educational disparities that hinder the access to education of most PWSs in Ghana.

And also, the policy is viable for improving the quality of education in Ghana. With more funds channelled to infrastructure, teaching materials, and specialised instruction, the amendment may improve effective learning and produce positive outcomes, particularly at the senior high school level.

Better Business Environment is another key feature of this amendment, on account that tax relief improves compliance, reduces litigation with GRA, and builds investor confidence.

e. Fiscal and Administrative Implications

Fiscal Burden

Increasing the financing mandate raises pressure on the Fund. Free SHS alone consumes a significant budget share; adding special needs and tertiary support could overstretch GETFund if revenue inflows do not also increase significantly.

Potential Crowding Out

The original functions of GETFund, such as infrastructure development and tertiary scholarships, could face reduced funding if Free SHS absorbs a large share of its funding.

Administrative Capacity

Managing new programmes, especially for PWD tertiary financing and special needs education, will require new operational frameworks, new disbursement criteria, monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, coordination with the Ministry of Education, GES, and disability institutions.

Tax Revenue Implications

Allowing tax relief may somewhat lessen short-term tax revenues, even though improved compliance could offset this loss.

Risks and Challenges associated with the amendment.

Inasmuch as the amendment has a lot of positive potential, it also comes with some risks and challenges.

Revenue unpredictability due to reliance on VAT-based collections could be a major challenge to the amendment, and also leakages and inefficiencies if monitoring systems remain weak

Additionally, possible politicisation of GETFund allocations, especially during election cycles and pressure from competing priorities, potentially reduces funding for tertiary infrastructure.

Inadequate data systems to identify PWDs and special needs learners accurately, and implementation delays if administrative capacity is not strengthened.

Policy Recommendations

For this policy to realise its full potential, strengthening transparency and reporting is a factor to consider.

Publishing annual GETFund allocation reports and creating an online dashboard for real-time disbursement tracking will boost the potential of the policy.

Restricts Funds for Special Education and PWD Tertiary Support Establishing a protected budget ceiling to prevent Free SHS from consuming all available funds.

It is pertinent to expand domestic revenue mobilisation; improve the account of VAT compliance mechanisms, and also explore earmarked education bonds for capital-intensive projects.

The amendment will build institutional capacity by training administrative officers on disability financing frameworks and partner with special schools and NGOs for programme implementation.

Strengthen Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning by conducting annual impact assessments alongside improving data collection systems across all education levels.

It is also recommended that there should be stakeholder engagement, which involves teacher unions, CSOs, disability groups, and local governments, to promote surveillance, oversight, and feedback concurrently.

In essence, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (Amendment) Bill represents an advanced policy shift toward equitable, inclusive, and sustainable education financing. By supporting Free SHS, expanding access for persons with disabilities, and strengthening special needs education, the bill amendment aligns with Sustainable Development Goals 4 and 10, which talk about quality education and reducing inequality, respectively.

The amendment further has the potential to substantially improve Ghana’s human capital development. However, its success will emphasise strong reliance on effective implementation, robust fiscal management, and transparent governance. Ensuring these safeguards will be essential to maximising the amendment’s long-term impact on Ghana’s education system.

Rihana Adam, GNA

Accra, Dec. 23, GNA – The Right. Reverend Andrew Mbeah-Baiden, Bishop of the Northern Accra Diocese of the Methodist Church Ghana, has inducted the Very Rev. Solomon T. Nortey as Superintendent Minister of the Church, urging him to serve faithfully and beyond expectations.

The induction service, held under the auspices of the Methodist Church of Ghana and the Northern Accra Diocese, brought together clergy, church leaders and congregants to witness the commissioning of the new Superintendent Minister.

Delivering the sermon, the Rt. Rev. Mbeah-Baiden drew inspiration from Bible (Luke 6 and Acts 13:1–4), describing the induction as a divine commissioning carried out by the Lord Himself.

He said the call to ministry was rooted in obedience to God and service to humanity, expressing confidence that the Very Rev. Nortey would perform his duties with dedication and excellence.

He said, “the ministry is a sacred trust. When God calls and sets apart His servants, He also equips them to minister effectively to His people.”

He charged the new Superintendent Minister to remain accountable to God, lead with humility and compassion, and work tirelessly to advance the mission of the Church.

In his acceptance remarks, the Very Rev. Solomon T. Nortey pledged to subject himself fully to the will of God and to serve the Church diligently.

He promised to continue winning souls for Christ, promote unity and peace within the Church, and work in love with clergy and laity to strengthen the Methodist Church of Ghana.

“I take this responsibility fully as a duty to God. I remain grateful to my Church mothers, congregants, my wife and my children, and I thank them for the love and support they have shown me throughout this journey.

I also acknowledge all the fathers present and pray that God will richly bless you all.

My final appeal is for your support towards the ongoing construction of a chapel, and I humbly invite everyone to contribute to the successful completion of the project.”

The Rt. Rev. Mbeah-Baiden wished the Very Rev. Nortey well in his new role, praying that his ministry would reflect the saving love of Christ to humanity and bring glory to God.

GNA
23 Dec. 2025
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong

Ghana is on the brink of a decisive shift in how its digital economy is governed. With the passage of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill 2025, the country formally ends the era of regulatory ambiguity of cryptocurrencies, tokens, stablecoins, and other blockchain-based assets. The bill establishes a legal framework that brings virtual asset activity into Ghana’s financial regulatory system under the joint oversight of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC). 

A recent report by Bloomberg reveals that about 3 million Ghanaians, an equivalent of 17% of the adult population of Ghana, deal in digital currency. The Web3 Africa Group also estimates that crypto transactions from June 2023 to June 2024  amounted to roughly $3billion. The numbers show how profitable and highly engaged the crypto sector is despite systematic regulation from the Central Bank and other financial institutions.

The implications for the digital economy are significant. First, the bill signals that virtual assets are now recognised economic instruments, not fringe experiments. By requiring Virtual Asset Service Providers to register and obtain licences based on the activities they perform, Ghana positions itself as a jurisdiction that supports innovation while demanding accountability. This alone improves investor confidence, especially for fintech startups, remittance platforms, blockchain developers, and foreign partners who previously viewed the sector as legally uncertain and unsafe.

Second, the bill strengthens Ghana’s digital financial system integrity. Ghana deliberately rejected an outright ban on virtual assets, aligning instead with global best practice recommended by international bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The risk-based regulatory model means higher-risk activities, such as custody, payments, and trading, would now face stricter oversight, while lower-risk innovation is not smothered by unnecessary bureaucracy. This balance is crucial for a country where digital payments, informal remittances, and mobile-first finance already dominate daily life.

Third, the bill improves consumer protection and cybersecurity resilience. Mandatory compliance with anti-money laundering, counter terrorist financing, and proliferation financing rules reduces the likelihood of scams, fraud, and platform collapses that have historically harmed users in loosely regulated crypto markets. Coordinated supervision involving cybersecurity and data protection authorities further reduces systemic digital risk.

Most importantly, the bill anchors Ghana’s digital future within the global financial system. Enforcing standards such as the FATF Travel Rule. The rule requires financial institutions and Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) to share sender/beneficiary information such as names, addresses, accounts and many more during virtual transactions. This ensures traceability of virtual asset transfers, making Ghana compatible with international payment rails rather than isolated from them. For a country positioning itself as a regional fintech hub, this interoperability matters.

In effect, the Virtual Assets Bill does not just regulate crypto. It formalises a new layer of Ghana’s digital economy, one where innovation is allowed to grow but not to run unchecked. The long-term outcome is a more credible, investable, and resilient digital financial ecosystem.

 – Elliot Nuertey

The SDG focuses on hunger, education, gender equality, climate action

With less than five years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, Ghana must confront uncomfortable truths about systems that continue to exclude the most vulnerable. One such system lies at the intersection of healthcare and justice, where women and children who report, abuse are required to pay for medical evidence before their cases can proceed.

In Ghana, survivors of domestic and sexual abuse are routinely referred by the police to hospitals for medical examination and completion of police medical forms. These forms are critical to investigations and prosecutions.

Yet, according to widely cited Ghana Medical Association fee schedules, doctors charge between GH¢300 and GH¢800 to complete and sign police medical forms for rape, defilement, and other sexual offences. In some cases, particularly where a formal medical opinion is required for court, the cost can rise to GH¢1,000 or more. These fees are typically paid directly by victims and are not covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme.

For many women and families, these costs are simply unaffordable. The result is predictable and tragic. Survivors withdraw complaints, parents abandon cases involving abused children, and investigations collapse before they can begin. The message unintentionally sent is that justice in Ghana is not a right, but a service reserved for those who can pay.

This reality undermines Ghana’s commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5 on gender equality, Goal 10 on reducing inequalities, and Goal 16 on peace, justice, and strong institutions. It also contradicts the spirit of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution and the Domestic Violence Act, which were designed to protect victims, not burden them with financial obstacles.

The issue is not about blaming medical professionals, who deserve fair compensation for their work. Rather, it is about state responsibility. When the justice system requires medical documentation, the state must ensure that the cost of obtaining that documentation does not fall on traumatised victims who cannot afford to pay. In a few districts, local authorities have absorbed these costs, proving that alternatives are possible when there is political will.

As Ghana counts down to 2030, the question is no longer whether this system is flawed, but how long it will be allowed to persist. Every abandoned case represents not only a failure of justice, but a breach of trust between the state and its citizens. If women and children cannot access justice because they cannot afford a doctor’s signature, then the promise of the SDGs remains unfulfilled.

Removing medical fees as a barrier to justice is not radical. It is necessary. It is achievable. And it is long overdue.