Bank of Ghana’s new headquarters

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has withdrawn from the Gold for Oil programme following significant financial losses recorded under the initiative.

The decision was made during a board meeting held on March 13, 2025, and comes after the central bank reported a staggering loss of GH¢41.82 billion from the programme for the financial year ending December 31, 2024.

This marks a sharp increase from the GH¢317 million loss recorded in the previous year.

According to the BoG’s financial report, as of December 31, 2024, the bank had committed GH¢4.69 billion in seed capital toward the programme.

A key component of the overall exchange losses was a GH¢1.82 billion shortfall, specifically attributed to the Gold for Oil initiative.

The programme, which aimed to use locally sourced gold to purchase oil in a bid to reduce pressure on the country’s foreign exchange reserves, was a central part of the government’s strategy to stabilise fuel prices and ease forex demand.

The central bank’s exit signals a major shift in its policy direction amid rising concerns about fiscal sustainability.

It remains to be seen how the government will restructure or continue the Gold for Oil programme following the Bank of Ghana’s withdrawal.

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#TrendingGH: Drivers react to government’s new GH¢1 energy levy on petroleum products

The Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental and Sustainable Energy, Benjamin Nsiah, has questioned the government’s justification for the proposed GHC1.2 billion expenditure on emergency fuel, arguing that the figure lacks transparency and inconsistent with available data from energy sector institutions.

His remarks come after the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, stated in an interview on the Citi Breakfast Show on June 4 that government would require about GHC1.2 billion to procure emergency liquid fuel to stabilize the country’s power supply.

However, speaking on The Big Issue on Channel One TV on Saturday, June 7, 2025, Mr. Nsiah challenged the rationale behind the figure, urging the government to provide clarity on how the estimate was calculated.

“They should come clear on how they arrived at the GHC1.2 billion,” he said. “This is because we do not need GHC1.2 billion to procure emergency fuel. We know they are very expensive, and they don’t want to rely on them. When we need them, we need them in smaller volumes for times when we experience disruption in any of the gas suppliers.”

Citing figures from the Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and the Energy Commission, Nsiah asserted that the actual cost of emergency fuel for the entire year should be significantly lower.

“I do not agree because I have said earlier that we need $189 million for procuring the emergency fuel. GRIDCo gave this figure; in fact, they earlier said $90 million, later they revised it to $180 million for the liquefied fuel for the entire year,” he explained.

He also pointed to the Energy Commission’s projections, which place emergency fuel costs at around $33 million, noting that emergency fuel is not typically included in long-term energy planning due to its unreliability and high cost.

Nsiah raised further concerns over inflated pricing and possible corruption in the procurement process.

“When I look at the estimates made by GRIDCo, I do not think that we should be buying light crude oil for $100 per barrel. I also do not think that we should buy diesel oil for $1,600 per metric tonne, but those estimates have been included anyway,” he said.

“If the GHC1.2 billion they are talking about is truly for liquid fuel, then it suggests that the government would be spending GHC2.4 billion on fuel for the year—and that is not sustainable.”

GH¢1 Fuel Levy to raise GH¢5–6bn, still not enough – Jinapor

Dennis Miracles Aboagye, an aide to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has fiercely criticised the recently passed Dumsor levy, describing it as a betrayal of public trust.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme on Saturday, 7 June, Aboagye launched a scathing attack on the Mahama administration for imposing what he called an unjust and burdensome tax on Ghanaians.

“It is a betrayal of trust,” he stated. “The situation we find ourselves in is simply a clueless, everlasting incompetent bunch of arrogant braggarts who have simply scammed their way into government.”

His comments reflect the growing frustration among segments of the public and political opposition over the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Bill, 2025.

The newly approved legislation imposes a GH¢1 per litre surcharge on petroleum products to raise revenue to tackle Ghana’s ballooning energy sector debt.

Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who presented the bill under a certificate of urgency, revealed that the sector’s total indebtedness stood at US$3.1 billion as of March 2025.

He argued that an estimated US$3.7 billion is required to settle the debt, with a further US$1.2 billion needed to secure fuel for thermal power generation.

However, the Minority in Parliament has denounced the bill as a “predatory tax,” claiming it will extract GH¢5.7 billion annually from already burdened households and businesses.

They have demanded transparency and broader stakeholder consultation, warning that the hurried passage of the levy raises concerns about accountability and financial mismanagement.

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.

ERTAINLY, Ghana’s agri-food Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) industry plays a vital role in building a robust economy.

The sector, which remains an essential contributor to the growth of the country’s economy, continues to contribute significantly to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP), employment and food security.

The agri-food value chain involves the journey of a food product from the farm to the consumer, including input suppliers, farmers, processors, distributors and retailers, creating vast employment opportunities and promoting food security.

It’s a well-known fact that the northern belt is a major contributor to Ghana’s agricultural industry. 

Bono East

The Bono East Region within the northern belt is noted for its active involvement in agri-food SMEs.

Gloria Azerongma Salifu, Bono Regional Principal Regulatory Officer of the FDA

The region, with 11 municipal and district administrative areas, has vast fertile land suitable for agriculture and agribusiness.

Its population is about 880,921 according to the 2021 Population and Housing Census.

Majority of its population are energetic young people, including graduates who have ventured into agriculture and agribusiness, increasing the number of youth in the industry.

The Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Bono East Regional Department of Agriculture, Bawa Amidu, told the Daily Graphic that several youths in the region had ventured into agriculture and agribusiness.

He, however, said the youth were interested in vegetable production more than the tree crops because of their short gestation period.

“But we also realised that the elderly have shifted from crop production to tree crops such as cocoa and cashew because the sector is more regulated,” he said.

Mr Amidu said the region’s agriculture and agribusiness prospects were bright because of the youth’s active involvement in the sector.

Challenges

However, one of the major challenges that keeps frustrating the industry players, particularly start-ups in the agrifood-SMEs is bureaucracy and regulatory hurdles hindering the efficient operation of agrifood-SMEs.

Bawa Amidu, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Bono East Regional Department of Agriculture

Some Agrifood entrepreneurs, mainly start-ups, told the Daily Graphic that the process involved in registering their business or products was too cumbersome and frustrating.

The industry players said they go through several frustrations and processes when engaging with regulatory agencies to license and register their businesses.

These challenges, they said, negatively affect the growth of their businesses.

They said they had to go through several regulatory agencies such as the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Registrar General’s Department (RGD), Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) and Ghana Standards Authority (GSA).

Others include the Ghana Enterprises Agency (GEA), metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs), among others, to get their businesses licensed.

Frustrating processes

Sharing her experience, a 33-year-old Sobolo (a beverage made from hibiscus) producer, Asana Fatima, told the Daily Graphic that she went through several frustrating processes to get the FDA to approve her products.

Prof. Justice Bawole (inset), Dean of the University of Ghana Business School

She said it took her more than six months to complete the registration process because of the long procedure and requirements involved.

“I nearly halted the process because it was time-consuming, frustrating and costly because I had to travel from Techiman to Sunyani every week,” she said.

Another fruit juice producer, Evelyn Pomaa, who had no formal registration of her business, told the Daily Graphic that she was interested in registering, but the process involved was killing her desire to do so.

“I have not made any attempt, but I had an experience with my friend, who registered her business. I don’t want to go through similar frustrations,” she said.

Mrs Pomaa appealed to the government to decentralise the operations of the regulatory agencies to reduce the cost of travelling.

FDA response

However, the Bono Regional Principal Regulatory Officer of the FDA, Gloria Azerongma Salifu, told the Daily Graphic that FDA registration processes were not as cumbersome as the public say.

The participants

“Our officers are willing to help applicants go through the process. So you don’t need a middleman to register your products,” she said.  

Mrs Salifu said because safety was paramount to the FDA, they had put in place several measures, including online registration, to make the process easier and faster.

She said the documentation was for safety purposes, which focused on the persons, the raw materials, lab analysis of the product and the facility.

Mrs Salifu said some of the processes were free, adding that FDA was always ready to assist businesses acquire the necessary documentation.

She urged potential agrifood entrepreneurs and other MSMEs to ignore the information that registering businesses with FDA and other regulatory agencies was frustrating.

NKABOM initiative

In a bid to resolve the frustrations start-ups go through to register their businesses and expand access to education and career opportunities in the food systems, a northern belt stakeholders dialogue on Agrifood Regulation and youth enterprises has been organised for the industry players at Hansua near Techiman in the Bono East Region.

It was organised by the University of Ghana (UG) through its Nutrition and Sustainable Agri-food Collaborative (NKABOM), an entrepreneurship pillar, in partnership with McGill University and Mastercard Foundation.

The engagement brought together key regulatory institutions, youth-led agri-food businesses, and local policymakers across the nine regions in the northern belt of Ghana.

The aim was to foster dialogue on regulatory challenges, support mechanisms and pathways for co-creating an enabling environment for agrifood SMEs.

The pillar is part of the institution’s efforts to strengthen Ghana’s agri-food entrepreneurship ecosystem and promote dialogue between regulatory agencies and agri-food start-ups.

The partnership is to enhance capacity building by equipping students and beneficiaries with skills and resources needed to create sustainable livelihoods within the agri-food systems sector.

The project is guided by three key objectives, namely learning and training, inclusive access and food security and entrepreneurship promotion. 

Food safety

The Dean of the University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), Professor Justice Bawole, said the engagement was to foster a dialogue-driven approach to address challenges in food production, processing, distribution and retail.

He said the dialogue was also to advocate regulatory reforms that align with international food safety and trade standards.

Prof. Bawole said the engagement was to enhance policy implementation, compliance and enforcement in food safety, trade and sustainability.

He said it would help bridge the gap between regulatory bodies and agri-food start-ups across the northern belt by facilitating dialogue and co-developing strategies for a more enabling business environment.

He said the UG NKABOM was a strategic initiative aimed at transforming the agri-food system of Ghana, by empowering people, particularly the youth, women, persons with disabilities and internally displaced persons.

Prof. Bawole said the project was crucial for improving food security, enhancing livelihoods and driving national development.

The Bono East Regional Head of Compliance and Debt Manager at the GRA, Mohammed Ibrahim, said: “By law, the first institution to go to when developing a business idea is GRA.

At this initial stage, you will discuss your business plan with GRA for advice.”

He explained that GRA would give advice on the proposed business in order to help them succeed.

The stakeholder interactions brought to the fore the need for regulatory reforms to streamline regulations and reduce bureaucratic hurdles, to create a more conducive environment for agri-food SMEs.

Writer’s email: [email protected]

L-R: Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Ex-President Kufuor and late President Jerry John Rawlings

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II have opened up about how an elderly woman in Kumasi was apprehended by soldiers during late President Jerry John Rawlings’ tenure in office.

They shared that Rawlings launched an operation to crack down on the hoarding of essential commodities that could benefit the country economically.

Kufuor disclosed that during the operation, an elderly woman was searched by military personnel who found that she was hiding a prestigious beverage and was subsequently questioned.

“During Rawlings’ era, soldiers were searching for hidden commodities and they entered a certain woman’s house in Kumasi.

“They found a prestigious beverage thus EC Africa hidden under her bed, so the soldiers interrogated her on how she got it and the motive behind the hoarding,” Kufuor recounted in Twi during a public encounter.

In a light moment where both personalities were sharing the story and laughing together, Otumfuo confirmed the ex-president’s account and added that the woman was apprehended for failing to justify her actions.

“Yes, it happened in ’79. The beverage was popular in Africa, so the woman’s case was the first one they had seen, and the woman had hoarded it. That was when the woman was arrested and later dealt with,” the Asantehene added.

Watch Kufuor and Otumfuo narrating the story below:

Watch as Effia MP criticises President Mahama over the implementation of 1% Energy Levy hike

SB/AE

President John Mahama has defended the government’s decision to impose an additional GH¢1 Energy Sector Recovery Levy (ESLA), stating that the move, though difficult, is critical to resolving the country’s crippling energy sector debts and preventing a return to erratic power supply.  

Speaking at the Jubilee House during the presentation of the final report of the National Economic Dialogue, the President gave the assurance that the recent appreciation of the Ghana cedi had cushioned the impact, meaning consumers would not face immediate fuel price increases.  

The energy sector, burdened with over $3.1 billion in debt, faces an additional $1.8 billion requirement to finance fuel for thermal power generation in the coming months.

President Mahama warned that failure to act would risk another cycle of “dumsor” (power outages), which could cripple businesses and stifle economic recovery.  

Parliament, under a certificate of urgency, approved an amendment to the Energy Sector Levies Act (ESLA), introducing the GH¢1 increment expected to generate GH¢5.7 billion annually.  

The President also assured that revenues from the levy would be strictly ring-fenced, meaning it would not go into the Consolidated Fund to pay energy sector debts and fund fuel purchases.  

President Mahama added that the government would also work to reduce inefficiencies in energy procurement and distribution, while expanding social interventions for vulnerable groups.  

Future outlook

Looking beyond the immediate crisis, President Mahama outlined a brighter energy future for the country.

He expressed confidence that the country’s energy mix would gradually shift away from expensive liquid fuels as domestic gas production would increase from the ENI Sankofa field, Jubilee and TEN fields.

Additional gas supplies expected through the West African Gas Pipeline would further reduce reliance on costly fuel imports, he added.  

Economic Reform

The National Economic Dialogue report presented to the President contained a comprehensive blueprint for economic recovery, with several key reform areas.

On fiscal discipline, the government has committed to implementing a binding debt ceiling designed to reduce Ghana’s debt-to-GDP ratio to 45 per cent by 2028.

To strengthen oversight, an Independent Fiscal Council will be established by the third quarter of 2025 to provide professional, non-partisan monitoring of national budgeting and borrowing practices.

A major economic stimulus will come through the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy programme, which will provide incentives for extended operations in key sectors, including agri-processing, manufacturing and logistics.

The Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) has been tasked to implement an ambitious new strategy targeting $10 billion in non-traditional exports by 2028.  

Recognising the need for institutional reform, the government will launch a Public Sector Productivity Strategy in January 2026 to eliminate duplication, digitise operations and improve service delivery standards.

President Mahama said education and training systems would be realigned to better meet labour market demands, with particular focus on preparing the youth for emerging job opportunities.  

The ceremony was attended by cabinet ministers and senior government officials, including the Minister of Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, and the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah.

Also present were members of the planning committee of the National Economic Dialogue, including its chairman, Dr Ishmael Yamson.

Dr Gideon Boako is Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee

Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee and Member of Parliament for the Tano North Constituency, Dr Gideon Boako, has criticised the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiamah, for what he describes as a politically motivated attempt to alter existing Bank of Ghana accounting reporting approach to declare losses in the 2024 financial statement and blame it on the Gold-for-Oil programme.

In a statement issued on Thursday, June 6,2025, Dr Gideon Boako called on the Governor to “speak like a Governor and stop the needless politicking”.

Dr Boako argued that central banks are not designed to be profit-making entities and should not be compared to commercial banks.

“Central banks provide public goods, and their services are not charged for. Currency printing is distributed free, and the public doesn’t pay for using the currency printed,” he explained.

He further clarified that nearly 90.6% of the BoG’s 2024 losses stemmed from Open Market Operations (OMO), a key tool in managing liquidity and inflation, while the losses attributable to the gold for life programme, about 18.9%, are essentially exchange losses.

He revealed that the BoG board had voted to alter the accounting policy for 2024 by shifting from IMF-recommended practices to those strictly outlined in the BoG Act.

“All the gains previously reported in the operating account have been moved to Other Comprehensive Income (OCI)… this resulted in an operating loss, but a gain in OCI,” Dr Boako stated, noting that despite the reported loss, the Bank’s negative equity had actually decreased.

Dr Boako questioned the motive behind the change in reporting, asserting that it was designed to create a perception of continued mismanagement under current leadership.

“It is evident that the board’s intention was to ensure that the public perceives BoG management in 2024 as making a loss once again,” he said.

According to Dr Boako, “there was certainly a problem with the application of the standards and the BoG law on the treatment of certain items in the 2024 financial statement. I call it Accounting Mismatch.”

He added that the new accounting approach must be applied consistently in 2025, signaling his intent to closely monitor the Bank’s reporting going forward.

Players of the Black Stars during a football game

Ghana international Christopher Baah Bonsu has set sights on 2026 World Cup qualification following 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification setback.

The West African powerhouse will miss the upcoming AFCON tournament to be staged in Morocco later this year after failing to secure qualification. Ghana finished bottom in Group F, suffering three defeats and three draws from six matches.

However, Bonsu, who recently earned his maiden invite says the team is focused on securing qualification to the World Cup tournament to appease Ghanaians.

“We want to qualify for the World Cup to appease Ghanaians after missing out on the AFCON 2025. For now, we are focusing on the World Cup qualification” he told Angel FM in an interview.

Ghana has been impressive in the World Cup qualifiers and are currently on top of their group with 15 points after six matches.

The Black Stars will return to action in September for the World Cup qualifiers against Chad and Mali.

The 20-year-old attacking midfielder has returned to Ghana for the holidays after a long campaign in the Belgium Pro League.

Bonsu Baah scored three goals and delivered four assists in 38 matches for Genk in the just ended campaign.

David Beckham looks set to be awarded a knighthood in the King’s Birthday Honours, but the ex-footballer has already become a very visible part of the royal circle.

It can feel, sometimes, in football terms, as if Beckham has been man-marking the royals, as he’s become an ever-present at royal occasions.

The Chelsea Flower Show, a Buckingham Palace state banquet, an Italian dinner at Highgrove, and charity events have all seen the Beckhams in the line-up of guests to meet the royals.

Last month, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, wore a dress designed by Victoria Beckham at a British Fashion Council event.

There is an independent honours committee that considers who should get awards such as knighthoods, rather than the royals.

But if he becomes “Sir David”, the ceremony won’t be the first time he’ll have met the royals. There is already a close relationship.

At the recent Chelsea Flower Show, a conversation between the King and Queen and Beckham seemed to hint at birthday gifts being exchanged.

“Nice to see you again, glad you got the roses,” Queen Camilla seemed to be saying about this flowering relationship.

It’s not just roses he’s cultivating, as David Beckham has some new shared passions with the royals, a long way from his days as a footballer.

He swapped “bee-keeping tips” with King Charles at a meeting at his Highgrove Estate in Gloucestershire last year.

The former England star has become an enthusiastic environmentalist, taking on the role of ambassador for the King’s Foundation, which promotes traditional crafts.

“Having developed a love for the countryside I’m also on a personal mission to learn more about rural skills which is so central to the foundation’s work,” said Beckham.

He attended an awards ceremony run by the King’s Foundation at St James’s Palace where he was teased by another guest, Sir Rod Stewart, who told Beckham that his knighthood “was coming soon”.

That could prove far-sighted of Sir Rod if the current speculation is correct.

At the awards event, Beckham showed his versatility, manning an exhibition about bringing together science, technology and nature, including a display of hand knitting using Dumfries House wool.

As a footballer, he must have rarely played so many different positions.

For the royals, Beckham has plenty of authentic star appeal, developing a post-football identity as a celebrity involved in charity projects.

His iconic sporting status is strong enough to attract public attention and he’s supported many different causes.

For an air ambulance fundraiser last year, it was Beckham that Prince William asked to help successfully raise £15m.

“I had to hide my excitement a little bit,” said Beckham afterwards about being asked to get involved.

It was once considered important to keep honours a secret until they were officially announced, but details of this award seems to have emerged early, even though there is no official confirmation from the Cabinet Office, the government department that oversees honours.

The news of “Sir David” might raise concerns among other sports, who will be looking out for their own stars in next week’s honours.

Rugby league authorities and supporters have complained that their sport has never had a single knighthood or damehood in 130 years.

There have also been challenges about whether top honours are being given to the most deserving.

But in terms of David Beckham’s long wait for a knighthood – if they thought it was all over, it is now.

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.

GYEM says it supports the call for a ban on plastics

The Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM) has issued a strong call to action, urging the Government of Ghana to implement a nationwide ban on single-use plastics.

The group highlighted the severe consequences of plastic pollution on the environment, marine ecosystems, and public health, stressing the urgent need to transition to sustainable alternatives.

Speaking at the World Environment Day commemoration under the theme “From Action to Policy: A Roadmap to Ban Single-Use Plastics in Ghana”, Glory Emmanuella Appiah, National Coordinator for GYEM, outlined key demands for legislative intervention.

She called on the government to enact laws to ban the production, importation, and use of single-use plastics across the country, promote the adoption of biodegradable and reusable products and strengthen recycling infrastructure and waste management systems.

Adding her voice to the call, Mabel Naa Amorkor Laryea, Project Coordinator for the Green Africa Youth Organisation, emphasised the urgent need to enhance recycling systems nationwide.

Charles Smith, Project Coordinator of the Environment Report, also expressed support for the ban, reinforcing the collective demand for environmental policy reforms.

The Ghana Youth Environmental Movement (GYEM) is a leading youth-led environmental policy advocacy and non-violent campaign group in Ghana, aimed at mobilising and organising young people to take action to solve the environmental challenges in their communities, and also address the global climate emergency

A photo of someone planting a tree as part of the tree for life initiative

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called on all Ghanaians to embrace the ‘Tree for Life’ Reforestation Initiative, underscoring its vital importance in restoring biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and safeguarding the nation’s ecological future.

Officially launched in March this year by President John Dramani Mahama in Nkawie, Ashanti Region, the initiative is a cornerstone of the government’s broader strategy to revive degraded lands, bolster forest reserves, and foster long-term environmental resilience.

Speaking at the “One Child, One Tree” commemorative tree-planting exercise on World Environment Day (June 5, 2025) at Kwabenya Community Senior High School, President Mahama commended Hon. Buah’s visionary leadership in spearheading the “Tree for Life” program, which is set to transform Ghana’s environmental landscape.

The ambitious initiative aims to plant 30 million trees by the end of the year, with carefully selected seedlings tailored to local ecosystems.

Guided by educators and environmental officers, the program will also integrate a new instructional model, “Child Beyond Academic Skills,” designed to instill responsibility, environmental stewardship, and practical life skills—including tree planting and creative activities like painting.

Armah-Kofi Buah stressed the power of individual action in a passionate address to Parliament ahead of the launch: “The ‘Tree for Life’ initiative is a month-long nationwide campaign running from June 5th to 30th, therefore everyone will have the opportunity to participate in the programme.

“I will encourage members of Parliament to be involved in the national tree planting exercise actively”.

Buah further emphasised that the success of this initiative hinges on collective effort, calling on schools, religious institutions, corporate organizations, and citizens to join forces in this critical environmental mission.

To support the initiative, the Ministry, in partnership with key stakeholders, will distribute a diverse array of seedlings adapted to regional climates, including timber, fruit, and ornamental trees.

These seedlings will be free at the Ministry of Lands, selected Regional Coordinating Council offices, other Ministries, and all District and Regional Forestry Commission offices nationwide.

The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has asserted that the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) remains Ghana’s most effective instrument in combating corruption.

He made this statement during a high-level conference in Accra on Friday, 6th June, themed “Revitalising the Anti-Corruption Architecture in Africa: Ghana’s Accountability Journey.”

Mr Agyebeng underscored the distinctiveness of the OSP, describing it as a “unique and never-before-seen remedy” established specifically to address the persistent failings in the country’s traditional anti-corruption mechanisms.

He maintained that the OSP framework marks a significant departure from previous approaches, offering a more robust and legally grounded structure.

“The OSP model represents our best bet in tackling corruption. It is a unique and never-before-seen remedy designed to cure the inadequacies of the traditional methods we have previously adopted,” he stated.

He highlighted that the office is fully empowered to initiate and carry out investigations independently, a major shift from past institutions that lacked enforcement authority.

He further elaborated on the OSP’s autonomy, noting that it holds complete control over the commencement of investigations and the prosecution of criminal proceedings. This, he said, enables the office to operate independently, ensuring transparency and fairness in its operations.

Significantly, Mr Agyebeng emphasised the OSP’s capacity to pursue cases across both the public and private sectors, including politically exposed persons.

“For the first time in our history, the OSP model forcefully carries the fight against corruption not only in the province of public officers and public life, but also among politically exposed persons and persons in the private sector,” he noted.

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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 Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has expressed his appreciation for a delegation of Northern Chiefs residing in the Central Region, who paid a courtesy call to congratulate him and offer support for ongoing national efforts.

The meeting took place within the week with the Minister sharing details via his official Facebook page.

Dr Boamah welcomed the delegation’s commendation of the Mahama administration’s impartial handling of the long-standing Bawku chieftaincy conflict.

“I appreciate their commendation of the Mahama Government’s impartial stance on the Bawku Chieftaincy conflict, trusting in traditional resolution,” he stated.

He reiterated the government’s belief in allowing traditional mechanisms to lead the peace process.

The Minister also noted the chiefs’ constructive engagement regarding future recruitment into the Ghana Armed Forces.

He described their suggestions as “objective” and timely, especially as efforts continue to ensure inclusive and fair enlistment processes across all regions.

“Their objective discussion on future recruitments into the Ghana Armed Forces is also welcome,” he added.

Dr Boamah concluded by thanking the chiefs for their encouragement and their recognition of the Defence Ministry’s dedication to public service.

“Thank you, esteemed chiefs, for recognising our efforts and urging continued dedication to public service,” he wrote, pledging to sustain the government’s commitment to peace, unity, and national security.

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.

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