Musician Cardi B surprised her social media followers with a candid confession about her personal hair care routine. In a recent Instagram Live session, the rapper stated she has not washed her hair for several months.

The artist later shared the video on the platform X, where she amended her initial statement. “Matter of fact I am lying, probably like three months, I do not know,” she said. She joked that her scalp might host “all types of roach eggs, mosquito eggs, everything.”

During the broadcast, the 33 year old also outlined her plans to address the situation. She explained she would first oil her scalp, then wash her hair, and finally have it braided later in the week. The graphic admission drew a range of reactions from users on social media, with some expressing horror at the disclosure.

By Albert Oppong-Ansah

Accra, Oct. 30, GNA – Betty Adza’s earnings from her coffee farm have increased more than a thousand-fold over the past five years.

Once making barely GHS 500 (about US$47.66) per season, the single mother and her group members now earn upwards of GHS 17,000 (about US$1,620), thanks to farm expansion, access to ready markets, and alternative income opportunities.

“Coffee farming was bequeathed to me by my mother years back. And I’m proud to have taken it to another level with support from One Tree Planted through Kawa Moka.” Betty says with pride.

Betty is just one of many women transforming their livelihoods, and landscapes, through climate-smart agriculture and ecosystem restoration, a nature-based solution to climate change and environmental degradation, also a national priority.

For Sylvia, another member, learning the craft of coffee-making at Kawa Moka opened new doors. She now runs a small business, baking coffee-flavoured cakes and training young girls who, like her, grew up orphaned or in poverty.

In the lush highlands of Leklebi, Sylvia and her cooperative of women farmers bend over rich, dark soil, pressing coffee seedlings into the earth beneath a canopy of young shade trees.

They sing as they work, songs of renewal and purpose. They reuse coffee husks for mulching, practice organic techniques, and participate in every step of the value chain, from nursery to harvest.

Restoring Land, Rebuilding Lives

The initiative is part of a broader project by One Tree Planted in Ghana, focused on restoring degraded lands, protecting biodiversity, and empowering women.

Since 2021, One Tree Planted and its partners have planted more than four million trees across the Volta, Western, and Eastern Regions of Ghana. 

Women make up over 60 per cent of the workforce, contributing to nursery management, planting, monitoring, and environmental education.

 Their roles extend far beyond labour; they are changemakers and guardians of Ghana’s forests.

“When women are empowered, nine out of ten returns, go back into the home. They invest in their children’s education, family nutrition, and healthcare,” says Emi-Beth Quantson, Founder of Kawa Moka Coffee.

“Empowerment also creates more income opportunities for young women, reducing early and multiple pregnancies and protection against domestic violence.

 Our partnership with One Tree Planted helps us grow not just trees, but futures.”

At Leklebi, one of their favourite songs, sung in Ewe, “Coffee is good, coffee will send our children to school,” echoes into a future of hope and comfort. 

From the Highlands to the Coast

What began in the Volta highlands is now spreading westward. Across Ghana, a women-led environmental movement is gaining strength, from forest farms to coastal wetlands.

In the Western Region, women in rubber wellington boots wade through brackish wetlands, planting mangrove saplings to stabilise shorelines and support fisheries, says Eunice Adofo Boanya, One Tree Planted’s Africa Project Manager.

“These wetlands are nurseries for fish and natural buffers against erosion,” she explains. “The women’s work here is protecting both livelihoods and marine life.”

Moving inland to the Eastern Region, others are restoring farmlands with native timber and fruit trees, reversing years of deforestation and land degradation.

“These women, farmers, mothers, traders, are the unsung heroes of a bold movement to reforest degraded lands and protect livelihoods.” Boanya adds.

Women, as primary caregivers and economic drivers, are often hardest hit by biodiversity loss and environmental degradation.

 Yet, they are also the most responsive, forming savings groups, managing nurseries, and diversifying income sources to build resilience.

Beyond Trees: Social and Economic Impact

The restoration work goes beyond tree planting. It tackles deep-rooted social challenges, offering alternative livelihoods in communities where deforestation was once driven by charcoal burning and illegal mining.

“Restoration reduces pressure on women, improves food security, and deters youth from migrating or engaging in harmful activities.” Boanya says.

Madam Lydia Opoku, Acting Executive Director of the Ghana’s Forest Services Division, praised One Tree Planted’s efforts as a major contribution to Ghana’s Tree for Life Initiative, which aims to plant 30 million trees nationwide.

“We cannot do this alone,” she notes. “Partners like One Tree Planted are helping us to raise awareness about the value of forests and the role each Ghanaian must play in protecting them.”

Mr Samuel Appiah Ofori, One Tree Planted’s Africa Project Manager, emphasises that lasting change requires deep community integration.

“It is not just about trees, it is about trust, livelihoods, and sustainability,” he says.

Ofori cites the work of Ghoshen Global with cocoa farmers in the Western Region, where shade trees have improved yields and restored biodiversity.

“When farmers see the benefits, better crops, new income, they are more committed. That is how restoration becomes truly sustainable.”

Ghana and Africa Leading by Example

Across Africa, One Tree Planted has supported more than 215 projects, planted over 36 million trees, and created more than 100,000 green jobs.

These efforts show that the continent, often on the frontlines of climate change, is also a global leader in community-driven conservation.

“Locally-led restoration works, and collaboration is the backbone of every successful effort,” says Mr John Ngahu, Interim Africa Regional Director of One Tree Planted, who visited Ghana from Kenya.

“When I see what’s happening in Ghana, and compare it to our work in the Mau Forest Complex back home, the message is clear: communities can regenerate landscapes.”

At a forest planted in 2020, trees now stand 20 metres high. Once a barren patch of land, it now teems with life, birds chirp, butterflies flutter, and insects thrive.

“It offers hope that all is not lost, and that concerted efforts toward restoration can work miracles,” says Mr Matthew Jeffery, Chief Programme Officer at One Tree Planted, after visiting project sites in Ghana.

“These forests are genetic banks. We do not yet know all the medicinal value or biodiversity they hold.” Jeffery notes.

“Restoration projects, whether in cocoa farms or wetlands, help protect this heritage while addressing climate change.”

Jeffery says One Tree Planted is committed to working with governments, nonprofits, and local leaders to ensure the trees survive, not just sprout.

“They do not just plant,” he adds. “They nurture, they teach, they protect. And the results are real, improved microclimates, increased biodiversity, restored fisheries, and new income.”

Sowing Resilience and Hope

Perhaps the most powerful outcome of all is that these women are transforming their relationship with the land, from exploitation to regeneration.

Their hands plant seeds, but their actions sow resilience, equity, and their minds sow hope for generations to come.

GNA

31 Oct. 2025

Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong

John Dramani Mahama is the President of Ghana

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to terminate all existing contracts between the Government of Ghana and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).

The directive follows the conclusion of investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which found no justifiable basis for the government’s engagement with SML.

A letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, instructed the Minister of Finance to take immediate steps to end all contractual arrangements involving the revenue assurance firm.

‘There was no genuine need for contracting SML’ – Kissi Agyebeng

At a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, October 30, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng disclosed that the investigation revealed no genuine need for the services SML was contracted to perform, raising concerns about value for money and procurement justification.

“The failure to obtain mandatory prior approvals for such a high-value contract represents a serious breach of the legal framework designed to protect state assets,” Agyebeng stated.

The contracts, which aimed to provide revenue assurance services in the petroleum, mining, and liquid bulk distribution (LBD) sectors, were found to lack legitimate operational requirements.

The investigation also revealed that key regulations under the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) were allegedly bypassed.

SML insists payments were verified, dismisses OSP claims of political ties

The OSP is set to press charges by the end of November 2025 against several individuals implicated in the SML-GRA contracts. Those expected to face prosecution include former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta; current and former Commissioner-Generals of the GRA, Rev Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and Emmanuel Kofi Nti; GRA officials Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoa; and former Ministry of Finance Technical Advisor Ernest Akore.

According to Agyebeng, evidence gathered points to criminal conduct during the negotiation, approval, and implementation of the contracts.

The OSP is expected to formally announce specific charges and commence legal proceedings in the coming weeks.

SA/MA

All you need to know about Ghana’s new vehicle number plates |BizTech:

The Government has laid before Parliament the Environmental Protection (Mining in Forest Reserves) Revocation Instrument, 2025.

The legislative instrument, which is expected to mature into law in the next 21 sitting days, seeks to revoke L.I 2501, which limited the President’s power to authorise mining in forest reserves and completely revoke L.I 2462.

The move forms part of the government’s renewed efforts towards the fight against illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

The Ministry for Environment, Science and Technology said the repeal forms part of a broader national strategy to combat illegal mining, including initiatives such as the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP) and the work of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS).

L.I. 2462, which allows mining activities in forest reserves, has faced fierce criticism from environmental activists and the public for its role in exacerbating the damaging effects of illegal mining, also known as galamsey.

Many environmental and civil-society groups argue that L.I. 2462 opens up forest reserves to industrial mining in a way that undermines forest protection.

Critics say the legal basis is weak and that the Regulations grant too much power to the Minister/President to authorise mining in protected zones, thereby bypassing stronger safeguards.

….

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The 10th edition of the Beauty Cosmetics & Wellness West Africa – Ghana Expo 2026 has been launched and is set to take place from April 16 to 18, 2026, at the Accra International Conference Centre.

The announcement was made during the 2025 Ghana Beauty Awards held in Accra, which celebrated excellence and innovation in the beauty, cosmetics, and wellness industries.

The event was attended by the Minister of Youth and Development, George Apparels Adda, and the Minister for Tourism, Abla Dzifa Gomsashie, along with key industry stakeholders and professionals.

The upcoming Expo will be organized by Ace Group and Astrovision, in collaboration with Makeup Ghana as the local organizing partner.

The three-day event will host 145 invited buyers from 10 countries, including importers, distributors, and retail chains.

Over 400 business-to-business meetings are planned between exhibitors and buyers, many of which are expected to result in trade deals and long-term partnerships.

Ace Group and Astrovision explained that the decision to host the Expo in Ghana follows the country’s fast-growing beauty and personal care market.

“Market data shows that Ghana’s beauty industry was valued at US$29.3 million in 2023 and is expected to reach US$46.2 million by 2027, growing at over 12 percent annually”

“The personal care market is projected to rise from US$70 million in 2023 to US$109 million by 2027, while the cosmetics market is estimated to generate US$226 million in 2024” the organisers said.

Both Ace Group and Astrovision noted that the increasing demand for natural and organic products was shaping the future of Ghana’s beauty sector, as more consumers seek sustainable and health-conscious options.

The Expo is expected to become one of the most influential gatherings for professionals in the beauty, cosmetics, haircare, and wellness industries, serving as a platform for innovation, business growth, and international collaboration.

Ace Group, Astrovision, and Makeup Ghana invited the media, partners, and beauty industry stakeholders to take part in the event, which is expected to strengthen Ghana’s position as a leading beauty and wellness hub in West Africa.

By: Jacob Aggrey

The Ghana Armed Forces is one of the most respected institutions in the country built on discipline, honor, and sacrifice.

Many of our officers are outstanding professionals, diligently serving the nation with pride and integrity. That must be acknowledged. But alongside the dedicated men and women in uniform exists a darker, troubling trend: the recurring pattern of abuse and brutality by some officers, acts that continue to stain the reputation of the institution and torment the very citizens they swore to protect.

The Viral Assault – Burma Camp

A recent viral video showed a soldier brutally assaulting a female customer and a pharmacist inside a pharmacy; slapping, kicking, and manhandling them over what appeared to be a misunderstanding about service. The video sparked public outrage and renewed the national conversation about military abuse of civilians; the footage was horrifying: a man trained to defend life turning that training against unarmed civilians. What began as a misunderstanding turned into a full display of power without control, discipline without purpose.

This isn’t an isolated act. Ghanaians still remember Ashaiman (2023), when soldiers stormed the town at dawn, beating residents after the death of a colleague. In Wa (2021), men in uniform were filmed flogging civilians over a missing phone. From Takoradi to Kumasi, stories of soldiers assaulting civilians have become too frequent, too familiar and too tolerated.

No matter the reason, assault is a crime under Ghana’s Criminal Code, 1960 (Act 29), classified as a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment. Uniform or not, no citizen is above the law It’s that simple. Being in uniform doesn’t make it legal, justified, or noble. It makes it worse because the uniform represents the law itself.

The Law Enforcer Who Breaks the Law

The uniform is meant to symbolize service and responsibility, not superiority or intimidation. An officer of the law does not break the law, he upholds it. When men in uniform turn their strength against unarmed civilians, they undermine the very moral code that gives their service meaning. An officer of the law breaking the law is the ultimate contradiction. The badge or uniform does not elevate a person above others; it burdens them with responsibility.

Why do we still see these acts? Is it a lingering colonial mindset, where power was enforced through fear and physical domination? Do some still believe that to be respected, they must first be feared? Being in uniform should not turn one into a demigod. The civilians being brutalized are also nation-builders: lawyers, teachers, nurses, traders, scientists and students: people whose work sustains the very peace the military exists to protect, people whose taxes sustain the very institutions that arm and feed the military

When you Train the Body, Train the Mind Too

We must ask ourselves honestly: what kind of training are our officers receiving? Are they being taught human rights, civil engagement, and the ethics of restraint or only obedience and dominance?

Military training should build discipline, not desensitize humanity, it should not strip away humanity. It should produce disciplined professionals capable of restraint under provocation. When a few officers behave like bullies rather than protectors, the institution must introspect A few officers display behaviors that belong to battlefields, not communities. How do we produce men trained to protect society, but some end up behaving as though they were trained for an animal farm?

The problem may not just be the curriculum, but also the culture of impunity that allows such acts to go unpunished. Until consequences are real, lessons remain empty.

Recording the Truth Should Not Be a Crime

Another recurring issue in Ghana is the attack on civilians for recording brutality. Citizens have been beaten or arrested merely for capturing soldiers on video. But globally, the right to record public officers performing their duties is protected. In the United States, UK, and South Africa, the law recognizes the public’s right to record as long as it does not obstruct operations. In Ghana, no law forbids a civilian from recording an officer committing a crime. So, why should anyone be beaten for documenting abuse? If the uniformed man’s actions are just, what is there to hide? A professional officer should not fear a camera; only the lawless do. A professional should not dread evidence only the guilty do. Trying to destroy recordings or punish citizens for filming is simply a way to erase accountability. A professional should not dread evidence only the guilty do. Trying to destroy recordings or punish citizens for filming is simply a way to erase accountability.

Justice for the Connected & Powerful, Silence for the Poor

The officer caught assaulting the pharmacist has been arrested and that is commendable. But one cannot help but wonder: Would this have happened if the victims were ordinary Ghanaians without influence or connections? We must admit: such swift action only happens when the victims have influence or visibility. If that woman had been a market vendor, a mason, or a poor student, would we still be talking about this?

For too long, poor civilians have suffered abuse with no justice. Many don’t know where to turn, and institutions often ignore them. Leadership routinely overlooks these “small issues,” forgetting that unchecked brutality corrodes public trust in security agencies. The true measure of justice is not how the powerful are treated, but whether the powerless are protected.

We are Better than these Archaic Practices

Ghana has reached a level of democratic maturity where citizens can no longer be treated as subordinates to state power. The days of “fear the soldier” must give way to “respect the soldier for his service.”

It’s time for the Ghana Armed Forces to match its discipline with transparency and self-policing. Public trust is built not by words, but by actions. Soldiers who brutalize civilians must face visible justice, not quiet transfers, training must emphasize human rights and ethical conduct, not blind aggression. The institution must protect its image by purging its ranks of those who stain the uniform.

We must move past the days when the uniform inspired fear. In modern Ghana, the soldier should inspire respect, safety, and confidence. Being a soldier is not a license to brutalize; it is a duty to serve with discipline, not dominance.

*****

The writer (Jonathan Awewomom) is a Research Scientist based in Miami, Florida, and a Contributor to National Discourse.

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.

US chip giant Nvidia will supply more than 260,000 of its most advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips to South Korea’s government, as well as Samsung, LG, and Hyundai.

The companies will all deploy the AI chips in factories to make everything from semiconductors and robots to autonomous vehicles and meant that South Korea can “now produce intelligence as a new export,” chief executive Jensen Huang said.

Mr Huang did not disclose the value of the South Korean deals.

It caps off a busy week for Nvidia, which on Wednesday became the first company to be valued at $5 trillion and on Thursday saw signs of a thaw in US-China trade relations that may mean it can export more of its chips to China .

Speaking at a CEO summit on the sidelines of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) in Gyeongju, South Korea, Mr Huang added that with the chips, companies would be able to create “digital twins” with other factories around the world.

These deals form part of Nvidia’s latest effort to expand AI infrastructure globally, to further integrate AI into products and services.

Nvidia has been striking international partnerships which helped it become the first company ever to be valued at $5tn (£3.8tn) on Wednesday.

Caught in the middle

The South Korea deals come as Nvidia grapples with the fallout of the China-US trade war.

China made up more than a tenth of Nvidia’s revenue last year, but the extent of China’s access to Nvidia’s chips has been a point of friction with Washington.

“We used to have 95% share of the AI business in China. Now we’re at 0% share. And I’m disappointed by that,” Huang said in Gyeongju on Friday.

Trump said after his meeting with Xi on Thursday that Beijing will hold talks with Nvidia to discuss sales of its chips in China.

Trump said the talks remained between China and the US company, but that the US government will play the role of a “referee” of sorts.

On Friday, Huang said he would like to sell Nvidia’s state-of-the-art Blackwell chips to China, although the decision needed to be made by the US President.

The US imposes export controls on sales to China of Nvidia’s most-advanced AI chips.

The tech boss had no news on China sales, or the talks between the two leaders but that he hopes they’ll find a way to have new policies that allow chips back into China.

“It’s in the best interest of America to have the China market and it’s in China’s interest to have an American company bring technology to the country,” Huang said.

“We’d like to see American technology be the global standard.”

AI power

South Korea – which is already home to major semiconductor companies and vehicle manufacturers – wants to become a regional AI hub.

The country is the ideal place to expand AI infrastructure, according to the Nvidia CEO, because of its access to energy and land, and its ability to construct factories.

President Lee Jae Myung said he would prioritise AI investment after coming into office in the face of US tariffs.

With the Nvidia deal, the South Korean government plans to build computing infrastructure that it will control, a term known as “sovereign AI”.

More than 50,000 Nvidia chips will power data centres at the National AI Computing Center and facilities owned by South Korean companies like Kakao and Naver.

The chip giant is dependent on the tightly-knit supply chains that run through the Asia Pacific region.

Nvidia is primarily a chip designer, and so outsources most of its physical production to manufacturers like Samsung, SK Hynix and TSMC.

TSMC has been a critical partner for Nvidia, making the company’s most advanced AI chips, including its flagship Blackwell series.

Samsung makes parts for Nvidia’s H20 chips, a scaled-down processor made for the Chinese market under US export rules.

National security experts and some politicians have long voiced concerns about the US selling AI chips to China, saying that Beijing could use them to gain an advantage in AI, as well as in military applications.

Analysts say that US efforts to block China’s access to advanced computer chips have fostered innovation within China.

Both Huawei and Alibaba have unveiled their own chips that they say can rival Nvidia’s products for the Chinese market.

Beijing has also reportedly prohibited local firms from buying from Nvidia, urging them to buy from Chinese chipmakers to give its domestic tech industry a boost.

“We respect deeply the capabilities of China,” Nvidia’s Jensen Huang said on Friday.

Nvidia’s share price was this week further boosted by a wave of new deals, including partnerships with the US Department of Energy, Nokia, Uber, and Stellantis – moves aimed at reassuring investors that AI investments will deliver returns.

Hopes of a revival in China sales, following trade talks between Presidents Trump and Xi, also lifted its share price.

DKB is a Ghanaian comedian

Comedian DKB has found himself at the center of backlash on social media following a remark he made about Ghanaian football legend Charles Taylor, after the ex-footballer revealed he was disrespected at the 2025 President’s Cup.

Taylor, who starred for both Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko, in an interview, recounted how he was denied parking access at the Accra Sports Stadium, only to watch Felix Afena-Gyan, arriving moments later in a luxury Range Rover, being escorted inside.

The former Black Stars forward described the experience as humiliating, questioning why he, despite his contribution to Ghanaian football, was treated with such disregard.

While many sympathized with Taylor, DKB’s reaction rubbed fans the wrong way. In a post on X, the comedian appeared to suggest that Taylor’s decision to stay in Ghana rather than pursue a career abroad was partly to blame for his current situation.

Charles Taylor cries over snub at President’s Cup

“You proved yourself in Ghana, go abrokyi go make money, you refused, you even changed phone line so many times so the deals couldn’t go thru.”

His comment, however, sparked outrage among fans who accused him of being insensitive and disrespectful to a player they consider a legend of the local game.

Many argued that Taylor’s influence in Ghanaian football, playing for the two biggest clubs and representing the national team, should earn him lasting respect, regardless of whether he played abroad or not.

Others defended Taylor’s choice to stay in Ghana. Some also pointed fingers at Ghanaian football administrators, accusing them of failing to properly honor former stars who helped to build the local game.

Read some of the comments below:

So are you implying he should be disrespected because he refused to travel outside to continue his career? He made a name for himself playing for the 2 biggest clubs in the country and playing for the national teams at different levels. That should count for something. Oh Numo

— Philip Sowah Otu (@OtuSowah) October 31, 2025

So he shouldn’t be honoured as a football legend because he didn’t play in aburokyi? Growing up as a kid back in my village, Charles Taylor, Don Bottey and the likes were players I always hear my uncles spoke about when it came to our local football. It’s sad this had happened.

— Mishael (@MGyemawu) October 31, 2025

Wtf dkb? I pray no one treats you like he was did at Stadium. No matter what he is a legend of the game. abrokyi or not. You better go joke for abrokyi go make money. Respect the legends big head

— MD (@Mantse_Darko45) October 31, 2025

So he should be treated like that…I don’t think that’s what you are insinuating

— P.K.N (@kwesiNyanke) October 31, 2025

The point he is making remains valid. You are simply changing the issues.

— RU 🖤🤍❤️💛💙 (@blak_chyniz) October 31, 2025

So you’re justifying what happened?

— LoneWolf_ (@AkyeremadePizza) October 31, 2025

So he deserves that huh…?😏

— Kobby_Criz (@CrizKobby) October 31, 2025

FKA/JE

OSP provides update on Ken Ofori-Atta’s extradition process

John Dramani Mahama is the President of Ghana

President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, to terminate all existing contracts between the Government of Ghana and Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML).

The directive follows the conclusion of investigations by the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), which found no justifiable basis for the government’s engagement with SML.

A letter signed by the Secretary to the President, Dr Callistus Mahama, instructed the Minister of Finance to take immediate steps to end all contractual arrangements involving the revenue assurance firm.

‘There was no genuine need for contracting SML’ – Kissi Agyebeng

At a press briefing in Accra on Thursday, October 30, 2025, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng disclosed that the investigation revealed no genuine need for the services SML was contracted to perform, raising concerns about value for money and procurement justification.

“The failure to obtain mandatory prior approvals for such a high-value contract represents a serious breach of the legal framework designed to protect state assets,” Agyebeng stated.

The contracts, which aimed to provide revenue assurance services in the petroleum, mining, and liquid bulk distribution (LBD) sectors, were found to lack legitimate operational requirements.

The investigation also revealed that key regulations under the Public Financial Management Act, 2016 (Act 921) and the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663) were allegedly bypassed.

SML insists payments were verified, dismisses OSP claims of political ties

The OSP is set to press charges by the end of November 2025 against several individuals implicated in the SML-GRA contracts. Those expected to face prosecution include former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta; current and former Commissioner-Generals of the GRA, Rev Dr Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and Emmanuel Kofi Nti; GRA officials Isaac Crentsil and Kwadwo Damoa; and former Ministry of Finance Technical Advisor Ernest Akore.

According to Agyebeng, evidence gathered points to criminal conduct during the negotiation, approval, and implementation of the contracts.

The OSP is expected to formally announce specific charges and commence legal proceedings in the coming weeks.

SA/MA

All you need to know about Ghana’s new vehicle number plates |BizTech:

Emmanuel Kotin (L) has sent a message to Ken Ofori-Atta (R)

The Executive Director of the African Centre for Security and Counterterrorism, Emmanuel Kotin, has questioned why former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, has refused to return to face prosecution and address allegations surrounding his tenure if he is not guilty.

According to a 3news.com report on October 31, 2025, he said the former finance minister owes Ghanaians an explanation regarding several unresolved matters linked to his management of the economy and financial agreements during his time in office.

“If I were the former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, I would have come back to defend myself if I had not done anything wrong. It’s as simple as ABC. If you have not done anything wrong, why are you running away? Ghanaians want to know, and you owe them that,” he said.

You must pay dearly for sitting down and allowing Ofori-Atta to ‘flee’ – Kpebu slams OSP

The security analyst again explained that the continued delay by the former finance minister can tarnish his family’s reputation and image.

“He (Ken Ofori-Atta) is creating a certain path that would damage his image and his children. And if you look at what is ahead in the future, it might not look good for the family. We had a former finance minister who had been declared a fugitive from justice and was not willing to turn himself in,” he stated.

Emmanuel Kotin also accused the Office of the Special Prosecutor of underperforming as the country’s second occupant of the office.

“I think the OSP has not performed well at all. If you look at the office and the number of resources allocated to the Office of the Special Prosecutor and the level of prosecution so far, I think that we need to have a rethink about the Act altogether,” he added.

Kotin’s comments come in response to the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, who disclosed at a press conference on Thursday, October 30, 2025, that his office is collaborating with the Attorney General’s Department to extradite the former Minister of Finance as part of ongoing investigations into the controversial Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) contracts.

‘Ken Ofori-Atta is not afraid of prosecution’ – Frank Davies hits back at OSP

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has indicated that it will prosecute six former senior public officials, including the former Minister of Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta, for their alleged roles in what it describes as the unlawful and wasteful engagement of Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) in revenue assurance contracts with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

The prosecutions are expected to start before the end of November 2025, following what the OSP described as ‘overwhelming evidence’ of procurement irregularities, poor value-for-money outcomes, and undeserved payments to the company.

MRA/AE

OSP to charge Ken Ofori-Atta, five others over SML-GRA contract

A photo of Strategic Mobilisation Limited building

Revenue assurance firm Strategic Mobilisation Limited (SML) has stated that it is a wholly Ghanaian-owned private company with no ties to former Minister of Finance Ken Ofori-Atta or any members of the previous Akufo-Addo administration.

In a press statement sighted by GhanaWeb Business, SML dismissed suggestions of political influence in its operations, describing such assertions as unfounded and inconsistent with official corporate records.

“SML is a wholly Ghanaian-owned private company duly incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Ghana. Its directors, shareholders, and beneficial owners are publicly registered with the Registrar of Companies. No current or former public official owns, controls, or patronises SML,” the statement read.

The company defended its performance under contracts awarded by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), stating that all payments received were tied to verified deliverables and subject to rigorous oversight.

“SML has efficiently executed its Transaction Audit, External Price Verification, and Downstream Petroleum Audit contracts under continuous GRA supervision. Payments were made only after technical validation, data reconciliation, and documentary confirmation,” it said.

‘There was no genuine need for contracting SML’ – Kissi Agyebeng

SML further noted that its scope was expanded by the GRA and the Ministry of Finance to include upstream petroleum and minerals revenue audits based on its proven capacity and technical expertise.

The statement comes in response to comments made by Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng, who at a press conference on Thursday, October 30, 2025, reaffirmed his office’s intention to recover GH¢125 million from SML, describing the amount as unjust enrichment through automatic payments not backed by performance.

SML, however, challenged the basis of the recovery claim, insisting that the state owes the company.

“SML questions the basis of the purported GH₵125 million ‘to be recovered’ by the state, as the evidence on record clearly indicates otherwise. Official statements on verified performance data and financial reconciliations are available directly from the GRA,” the company stated.

Addressing concerns about duplication of roles, SML clarified that its work in the downstream petroleum sector complements, rather than replaces, existing state functions.

“Our systems introduced continuous digital monitoring to address longstanding weaknesses in manual measurements and fragmented data. SML’s role is to enhance transparency and accountability, not to substitute government oversight,” it added.

Read Strategic Mobilisation Limited’s press release below:

SA/MA

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First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Zakari Mumuni, has highlighted the significant progress made in modernizing Ghana’s payment infrastructure to aid financial inclusion and facilitate transactions across the country.

Dr Mumuni noted that under the National Payment Systems Strategy (2019–2024), “We have witnessed the expansion of digital payment channels, deepened interoperability across platforms, and strengthened regulatory frameworks that foster trust and innovation.”

According to him, these collective efforts “have enhanced access, empowered consumers, and positioned Ghana as one of Africa’s leaders in payment systems development.”

The First Deputy Governor made these remarks at the 2025 National Payment Systems Workshop.

The Bank of Ghana is organizing this stakeholder workshop on the Draft National Payment Systems Strategy (2025–2029) to help shape the future of Ghana’s payments and fintech ecosystem.

According to Dr Mumuni, the workshop provides a platform for open dialogue on the draft strategy, “which has been designed as a living document that must draw on the collective wisdom, experiences, and aspirations of all stakeholders present.”

He added that, “The insights shared today will help refine its priorities, strengthen its relevance, and ensure it remains responsive to the fast-evolving payments environment over the next five years.”

Safeguarding Progress

The First Deputy Governor also revealed that the Bank of Ghana has observed a surge in cybersecurity threats and online fraud as the adoption of digital financial services accelerates.

“That is why we must not allow these risks, though formidable, to erode the considerable progress we have made,” Dr Mumuni emphasized.

He noted that payment platforms have revolutionized commerce and spurred innovation in financial services, serving as a critical network of the digital economy that enables seamless and real-time transactions.

Addressing concerns about the emergence of dominant digital platforms and their impact on competition, the First Deputy Governor explained that policymakers and regulators are implementing forward-looking strategies that preserve innovation while safeguarding stability.

“These include promoting data interoperability, often referred to as open banking, and developing public digital infrastructures that lower entry barriers for market participants,”
he said.

Dr Mumuni added that initiatives such as electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) frameworks and trusted digital identity systems have made it easier and more cost-effective for non-bank entities to participate in the payments ecosystem, thereby expanding financial inclusion in new and meaningful ways.

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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.

Dr Zakari Mumuni is the First Deputy Governor of Bank of Ghana

The Bank of Ghana has expressed concern over the growing incidence of cyberattacks and online fraud as the country’s financial sector becomes increasingly digital.

According to the central bank, the rapid rise in digital financial transactions has been accompanied by a surge in cybersecurity threats, posing new risks to both financial institutions and consumers.

Speaking at the National Payment Systems Workshop 2025 on October 29, 2025, the First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr Zakari Mumuni, said that while these threats are significant, they must not undermine the progress Ghana has made in expanding and modernizing its financial system.

“We have observed a surge in cybersecurity threats and online fraud as the adoption of digital financial services accelerates, almost mirroring the pace of growth in digital transactions. We must not allow these risks, though formidable, to erode the considerable progress we have made,” he said.

BoG charts path for inclusive, secure digital payments under 2025–2029 strategy

Dr Mumuni emphasised that ensuring the safety and resilience of the digital financial ecosystem requires collective action from all stakeholders.

“Our collective resolve, spanning regulators, innovators, and industry stakeholders, is stronger than the challenges confronting us. Together, we possess the capability and resilience to safeguard trust and integrity within the digital financial ecosystem,” he added.

SP/MA

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