The Hon. Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak has called for strengthening of security in the country through collaboration. He highlighted the crucial role of collaboration between the government and religious leaders in promoting peace, social cohesion and security across Ghana.

In an engagement with the Christian Religious Leaders in Kumasi, Hon. Muntaka acknowledged that maintenance of Peace and security in the country is a collective responsibility hence the need for engagement with key stakeholders to share ideas to promote peace and security.

‘Your influence in fostering peace and unity is invaluable. I urge you to continue preaching messages of love, forgiveness and hope from your pulpits. Together, we can create a Kumasi and indeed a Ghana that is safer, healthier and more secure for all,’ he stated.

Hon. Muntaka acknowledged the growing concern of drug abuse in the country, which threatens communities and endangers youth.  He urged Christian leaders to continue preaching messages of love, forgiveness, and hope, while also supporting initiatives that offer treatment and rehabilitation to those in need.

He sought partnership in bolstering the Ghana Prisons Service and Ghana National Fire Service to enable them address challenges like overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure.

Hon. Muntaka commended Christian bodies for their support, particularly the Church of Pentecost, which has built modern facilities to equip inmates with trades like farming and tailoring.

The Minister reaffirmed his commitment to collaborating with Christian leaders, ensuring an open-door policy to foster peace and understanding.

This partnership aims to promote social cohesion and security, recognizing the vital role religious leaders play in maintaining harmony within communities.

The meeting was attended by the Ashanti Region representatives of the Christian Council, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, the Catholic Archdiocese and the National Association of Christian and Charismatic Churches amongst others.

President of the Ghana Evangelical Missions Association, Rev. Kwame Ahlijah, has called on Ghanaians to fully embrace technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as key drivers of national progress.

He warned that Africa is still suffering from the consequences of being left behind in the Industrial Revolution, and Ghana must not repeat history by failing to engage with AI and digital transformation.  

Speaking at the 34th General Meeting of the society, Rev. Ahlijah cautioned that complacency and resistance to technological advancements will only widen Ghana’s gap in the global digital economy, making it harder for the nation to compete on the international stage. 

“Technology is not the enemy—it is the future. If Ghana fails to harness AI, we risk being sidelined in the global economy,” he indicated.

He further called for strategic partnerships between the government, private sector, and missionary organizations, stressing that collaboration is essential for Ghana’s economic and social development. 

“We must equip Ghanaians not just spiritually, but also intellectually and technologically, to compete on the global stage,” he added.

Addressing national security concerns, Reverend Enoch Nii Narh Thompson called for proactive peace building efforts, urging Christians to play a role in conflict resolution and reconciliation.

As part of its broader mission, the Evangelical Society of Ghana is expanding its nationwide outreach efforts.

The society aims to engage more communities, promote social transformation, and empower Ghanaians through faith-driven initiatives and technology integration.

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 suspects

An articulated truck transporting cables suspected to be part of the missing Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) containers has been intercepted at Gomoa Awombrew in the Gomoa Central Constituency of the Central Region.

The Central Regional Police Command confirmed the story and said two suspects have been arrested in connection with the transportation of the cables

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the area Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, was the first to post the story on his Facebook wall.

According to him, the truck broke down in the community, and the residents, who were suspicious of its content, quickly alerted the Swedru Divisional Police Command.

The police, with the help of ECG officials, inspected the cargo, and the driver was unable to provide clear details about the goods’ origin or destination, while the waybill was also suspicious.

ECG officials, after a thorough check, confirmed the cables matched their missing stock, leading to the arrest of the two.

The suspects, identified as Mohammed Sulemana and Iddrisu Basit, are both driver’s mates of the articulated truck.

The police said the truck, with registration number GC 7410-11, was found parked with 28 rims of ECG cables onboard.

According to a statement from them, ECG officials, led by their Operations Officer, David Ackom, confirmed the cables’ ownership but noted that no such consignment was expected in the area.

The truck is currently under police guard at Gomoa Awombrew while efforts are underway to arrest the truck driver, one Zibo Imoro, who is currently on the run.

This development comes amid growing controversy surrounding the disappearance of over 1,300 containers of ECG items at the Tema Port.

Following an intelligence-led operation by National Security, 14 individuals, including four Ghanaians and 10 Chinese nationals, have been arrested and are assisting with investigations.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi

A delegation from the Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has held discussions with the new leadership of National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) in Accra aimed at strengthening food security in Ghana and the sub-region. 

The visit was also intended to consolidate existing relationship between Ghana’s National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) and Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF) of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). 

The two-member visiting team also held similar discussions with Ghana’s Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku. 
Since 2017, Ghana’s NAFCO has been holding emergency food stocks for the regional economic bloc after winning a competitive bid as part a comprehensive action for a regional food security reserve supported by the European Union (EU) and being implemented by the Lome-based RAAF. 

The Executive Director of the ECOWAS Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF), Mr. Mohamed Zongo commended NAFCO and the Ghanaian government for being worthy partners in the food security agenda.

He said through the Regional Food Security Reserve concept, ECOWAS has carried out 23 interventions to forestall famine and insecurity in countries such as Niger, Mali, Sierra Leone, Cameroun and Ghana where some 70,000 metric tones of different grains and cereals were handed over to governments in beneficiary countries. 

Mr. Zongo hinted of a decision by RAAF to scale-up its reserves in Ghana in the course of the year.

The Chief Executive Officer of NAFCO, commended ECOWAS for prioritizing the food security needs of the subregion and expressed the readiness of NAFCO to deepen its relations with RAAF for the common good of the subregion. 

The Deputy Chief Executive Officer of NAFCO, Mr. Osmond Amuah asked RAAF to consider strategic supports to Ghana towards the enhancement of its storage facilities and management. 

Mr. Zongo was accompanied by the Head of the Regional Food Security Reserve Division, Mr. MalickBen Iddris Lompo.   

Present at the meeting were some management team members of NAFCO including Head of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel J.K Arthur; Head of Operations, Mr. Arnold Kojo Akah, Head of Finance, Mr. Titus Tawiah and Head of Human Resources, Mad. Rebecca Mensah.

In September last year, Ghana received 500 metric tonnes of cereals from the ECOWAS Regional Food Security Reserve to help its national response strategy following a drought that affected major grain supply areas in northern Ghana. 

The delivery of maize, sorghum, millet, and rice increased the resilience of populations facing food insecurity. 

The Reserve is the third pillar of ECOWAS’ regional storage strategy, adopted by its 15-member nations on February 28, 2013, in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire by ECOWAS Heads of States. 

Frankfurt, Apr. 3, (dpa/GNA) – Global markets reacted to US President Donald Trump’s massive tariffs with a worldwide sell-off, as investors worried about the economic effects and instability of the measures.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 2.7% at the start of trading to 41,098 points. However, it managed to initially not fall below its recent mid-March low of 40,661 points. This would have marked the largest percentage daily loss for the Dow since September 2022.

As of 10:11 am (1411 GMT) in New York it was trading at 40,687.87, down 3.64%.

Losses were even greater on the Nasdaq, which is dominated by major technology stocks. The Nasdaq 100 Index dropped 3.9% to 18,828 points, at the opening, reaching its lowest level since September last year.

It lost additional ground by 10:13 am when it was trading at 18,713.57, down 4.43%.

The Nasdaq has now recorded a loss of more than 10% for the 2025 trading year. The S&P 500 fell 3.2% to 5,487 points, also hitting its lowest level since September 2024.

At 10:14 am it was at 5,444.55, down 3.99%.

New York losses preceded by ones in Frankfurt, Tokyo

In Germany, the DAX fell to its lowest level since February. It was trading at 21,700.36, down 3.08% at the day’s close.

The MDAX of medium-sized companies fell by 2.44% to 26,824 points in early trading and was at 26,904.16 for a loss of 2.15% at the end of the trading day.

The eurozone’s leading index, the EuroStoxx 50, also lost more than 2% in early trading and was later 3.61% lower at the close.

Stephen Dover, market strategist at Franklin Templeton, described the development as the end of the free trade era. He said Trump’s tariffs were much higher than expected.

In this environment, assets considered safe havens, such as gold and government bonds, were in demand. The tariff package is accompanied by concerns about economic growth.

Central banks could cushion some of the economic consequences through loose interest rate and monetary policy measures, said stock market expert Andreas Lipkow.

However, he added that they are constrained by the tight framework of inflation developments, which are also being influenced by the punitive tariffs.

Activity in the German markets mirrored that of the Tokyo stock exchange, which tumbled on Thursday after tariff announcement.

Japan’s Nikkei index, comprising 225 leading stocks on the Tokyo stock exchange, fell sharply. It closed at 34,735.93, down 2.7%.

In Vietnam, the stock market experienced its most significant downturn in 24 years, with the VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) dropping 88 points or 6,9 %, to close at 1.229,8 point, the sharpest drop in the region.

Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday chaired an urgent cabinet meeting to discuss measures to limit negative effects of the US tariffs.

The US tariffs on Vietnam, among the highest on any of the targeted 180 economies, “did not reflect the strong bilateral relations between the two nations”, state media reported, quoting Chinh.

Euro gains over dollar

The euro significantly gained over the US dollar in Thursday trading, reaching $1.11191 just after noon (1000 GMT), its highest level in six months, before falling back a bit. Four hours later it was trading around $1.11027.

Prior to Wednesday’s press conference by US President Donald Trump, during which he announced extensive tariffs, the euro had been valued at $1.0850.

Trump’s new blanket tariffs include a minimum 10% on most US imports, with higher penalties based on trade deficits. Imports from the European Union will face a 20% tariff, while Japan, a key high-tech exporter, will see a 24% tariff.

The euro exchange rate had already risen sharply in recent weeks in response to Trump’s economic policies.

“Remarkably, the US dollar is not benefiting as a safe haven,” commented experts from Dekabank. Instead, the euro and the Japanese yen have been able to appreciate.

“Apparently, investors primarily see risks for the US,” they added. However, fluctuations in exchange rates are expected as trading continues. Markets are likely to hope for short-term negotiated solutions to limit the impact on the global economy.

GNA

PDC

Williams Okofo-Dateh, CEO of Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation

To reduce the country’s reliance on imported steel products, a US$600million iron ore project is set to commence by the end of this year (2025).

Indeed, Ghana has significant iron ore reserves – estimated at 1.7 billion tonnes primarily located in regions like the Savanah and Oti – with an iron content exceeding 55 percent. In spite of this, the country currently imports 800,000 metric tonnes of iron and steel annually, costing approximately US$900million.

The project will be executed and led by Emmerland Resource Limited, a local company with the necessary licences to begin mining operations at the Shieni iron ore deposit in the Northern Region.

The Shieni project is positioned to become a cornerstone of the economy and comes after decades of attempts by successive governments to establish an iron and steel industry in the country.

The Shieni iron ore deposit has long been recognised as one of the country’s most significant mineral resources, with an inferred resource of 1.312 billion tonnes grading 33.8 percent iron content. In comparison, the Opon-Mansi deposit in Western Region has an estimated 147 million tonnes with a higher iron content of 52.5 percent.

However, Mr. Williams Okofo-Dateh, Chief Executive Officer-Ghana Integrated Iron and Steel Development Corporation (GIISDEC) observed that setting up even a small steel plant requires about US$100million.

“To fully develop the industry, you need between US$300million – US$600million… and that’s why finding the right investor with financial capacity is critical,” he added.

“For any investor to commit in a project of this scale, they must be assured of the mineral’s availability for at least 20 to 30 years. The resource estimate confirms that we have the reserves to sustain long-term production,” he maintains.

Ghana currently relies heavily on imported steel products, with major supplies coming from China and Turkey. Nearly all steel-related materials – including construction steel requirements, components of vehicle frames, roofing sheets and several other steel articles – are imported due to lack of a domestic production facility to process iron ore.

In 2023, Ghana imported US$527.51million worth of iron and steel, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database. Specifically, US$35.6million was spent on steel bars – making Ghana the 24th-largest importer of steel bars globally.

Additionally, Ghana imported US$364million articles of iron or steel, accounting for 2.22 percent of total imports. Ghana’s steel industry has a surplus production capacity of 650,000 metric tonnes annually, which could be leveraged to reduce reliance on imports and boost exports.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has revealed that the government will scrap the COVID-19 levy in its next budget.

Addressing hundreds of Ghanaians resident in Benin,  the minister  stated, “Only one more tax remains for the government to scrap in order to fulfill its promise of removing four taxes imposed by the previous administration.”

The audience erupted in applause and cheered as the Foreign Minister highlighted that the betting tax, E-Levy, and emissions tax had already been scrapped following the president’s assent to the bills on April 2.

He also updated the Ghanaian community on developments back home, urging them to remain assured and trust in the Mahama administration to honour its commitments to the people.

He, however, mentioned that “the government is investing in the youth by setting aside funds to cater for their needs.”

Read also…

Govt bent on hiding information, evading accountability – Ntim Fordjour

The new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Volta River Authority, Ing Edward Obeng Kenzo has embarked on a strategic mission to recover all debts owed the institution.

The move forms part of efforts to strengthen the financial position of VRA and invigorate its operations as the most important energy firm in the country

To this end, the CEO, Ing. Obeng Kenzo has been travelling in and out of the country engaging with both internal and external partners in effort to recover all debts owed VRA

Since assuming office, Mr. Obeng Kenzo has stepped up efforts at promoting operational growth aimed at strategically positioning VRA’s operations to help sustain energy production and meeting the energy needs of the people of Ghana.

VRA is sincerely on a mission for growth with a good record of operational growth and profit.

It recorded a profit of GH¢110.893 million in 2022, based on the Auditor General’s 2022 Report. In 2021, the Authority also registered a profit of ¢112.758 million.

According to the 2022 Auditor General Report, the total income of the firm increased by 34% to GH¢5.628 billion in 2022, from GH¢4.199 billion in 2021.

The increase in total income was due to a 38.7% increase in revenue from power sales.

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 World Bank has debunked reports suggesting that it has suspended some of its projects in Ghana.

In an official release on April 3, 2025, the organisation stated, “No projects in the World Bank-financed portfolio in Ghana are currently suspended.”

It assured stakeholders, including government agencies, development partners, and beneficiaries, that all projects under its portfolio in Ghana remain active and operational.

Earlier reports had claimed that the institution had halted some projects and initiatives in Ghana due to the withdrawal of certain individuals.

The World Bank’s contributions to Ghana span various critical sectors, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, and energy.

Concerns over potential project suspensions could have raised uncertainties regarding funding availability, governance issues, and policy shifts, factors that may impact both public confidence and foreign investment.

The Minister of Communications, Samuel Nartey George, also refuted the reports that the World Bank had suspended projects due to government dismissals.

“The World Bank has NOT withdrawn any funds for the GDAP program. In the coming days, some interesting revelations will be made on previous activities under the program,” he wrote on his X page on April 2, 2025.

SSD/MA

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