Mohammed Abdul-Salam is the Director General of NLA

Director General of the National Lottery Authority, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, has participated in the 2025 end-of-year review meeting of the African Lotteries Association (ALA), held in Accra on December 18.

Abdul-Salam, doubles as the Vice President of the ALA, an association of national lottery bodies across Africa that promotes best practices and collaboration within the industry.

The Association, as a governing bodies of lottery across the continent, enhances the need for a common platform for sharing best practices and governance protocols on lottery operations.

Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, the NLA boss said, the event was an assembly of the board of the ALA, to review and take stock of 2025 happenings and to consider operational activities for the New Year, 2026.

Mr Abdul-Salam noted that the meeting afforded ALA officials the opportunity to discuss the calendar event for next year, with far-reaching decisions taken.

He said one of the successes chalked this year, was the training of member countries in cybersecurity and block chain administration of lotteries, which was done in Ivory Coast and Morocco respectively.

“In 2026, the ALA will conduct further trainings in other areas in lotto governance and operations, with seminars and executive meetings to discuss industry matters such as artificial intelligence, and responsible gaming” the DG noted.

Concerning operational activities of the NLA, Mr Abdul-Salam explained that the Authority has set out to implement several reforms in 2026, concerning lottery governance and the introduction of new products for the gaming public.

Products of the NLA, including the flagship ‘5/90’, according to the DG, is a shining example of a sustainable lottery product, which remains a trump card, with other African countries keenly taking inspirations.

The ALA, an association of 16-member countries is headed by the President of LONACI (Loterie Nationale de Cote d’Ivoire), as its Director-General.

The NLA’s strong relationship with the ALA as a prominent member and key contributor in decision-making concerning lottery governance, highlights the Authority’s leadership role in Africa’s lottery sector.

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Nollywood actor, Mike Folarin has opened up about his struggles with handling some female fans due to their overzealousness.

In a candid interview with VJ Adams, Folarin revealed that some overzealous female fans have gone as far as kissing him without his consent.

He described the incident as the most ridiculous experience in the entertainment industry.

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Ghana stands on the brink of a new mineral era. Lithium — the “white gold” powering electric vehicles, renewable energy storage, and the global green transition — is now one of the world’s most strategic resources. Countries that negotiate wisely will secure decades of prosperity. Those that negotiate poorly will watch their wealth exported in raw form while their citizens remain poor.

Recent analyses of Ghana’s Ewoyaa lithium agreement reveal a troubling reality. Independent policy think tanks argue that the fiscal and structural terms fall short of emerging global standards. While some government-aligned voices describe the deal as “forward‑thinking,” the broader international context tells a different story.

The truth is simple: Ghana can do better. And Ghana must do better.

HOW GHANA’S LITHIUM DEAL COMPARES GLOBALLY

1. The World Is Tightening Control Over Lithium

• Countries now treat lithium as a strategic mineral, not a regular commodity.
• Governments are raising royalties, increasing state equity, and enforcing local processing.
• The global goal is to capture value at home, not export raw wealth.

2. Ghana’s Current Position

• Ghana’s Ewoyaa agreement uses a fixed 5% royalty, which experts say is outdated for a volatile mineral like lithium.
• Analysts argue the deal lacks strong value‑addition requirements and robust state participation.
• Calls for a sliding‑scale royalty reflect a growing consensus that Ghana must modernize its fiscal terms.

3. How African Peers Are Moving Ahead

• Zimbabwe bans raw lithium exports and forces companies to process locally.
• Namibia restricts unprocessed lithium exports and embeds domestic processing in its national strategy.
• DRC charges higher royalties for strategic minerals and maintains strong state equity participation.

4. Global Benchmarks Beyond Africa

• Chile leads the world with high government take, strict oversight, and mandatory value addition.
• Australia uses moderate royalties but compensates with strong institutions and regulatory stability.

5. What This Means for Ghana
Ghana’s deal is less ambitious than the assertive models of Zimbabwe, Namibia, DRC, or Chile.

Ghana lags in:

• Local processing
• State equity
• Strategic control
• Future‑proof royalty structures
• Without reform, Ghana risks repeating the raw‑export trap seen in gold and bauxite.

6. The Bottom Line

• Countries that understand lithium’s strategic value are negotiating tougher, smarter, future‑oriented deals.
• Ghana’s current framework is not yet aligned with these global standards.
• Renegotiation is not optional — it is urgent and necessary.

THE CORE PROBLEM
Ghana is negotiating lithium as if it were gold in the 1990s — fixed royalties, limited state control, and weak value‑addition requirements. But lithium is not gold. It is a 21st‑century strategic mineral at the heart of a global technological race.

If Ghana does not renegotiate now, future generations will pay the price.

POLICY BRIEF: WHAT GHANA MUST DO NOW
1. Renegotiate the Royalty Structure
Adopt a sliding‑scale royalty tied to global lithium prices.

2. Increase State Equity
Move toward at least 30% state participation, whether through equity, carried interest, or a sovereign minerals fund.

3. Mandate Local Processing
No raw lithium should leave Ghana. Processing must occur in‑country — even if phased.

4. Create a Lithium Sovereign Wealth Fund

Ring‑fence revenues for youth employment, renewable energy, industrialization, and regional development.

5. Ensure Transparency and Public Oversight

Publish all contracts, fiscal terms, and environmental impact assessments.

6. Strengthen Environmental and Community Protections

Lithium mining is water‑intensive. Ghana must enforce water protection, land reclamation, and community benefit agreements.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO H.E. JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA

(Framed as civic advocacy, not personal political opinion)

1. Commission an Independent Review Panel

Include IMANI, CSOs, mining economists, and international mineral policy experts.

2. Suspend Implementation Until Renegotiation Is Complete

This aligns with calls from independent analysts who argue the deal is structurally weak.

3. Lead a Continental Lithium Strategy

Position Ghana as a leader in Africa’s critical‑minerals diplomacy.

4. Champion Local Processing and Battery Manufacturing

Use Ghana’s industrial base to attract battery producers and EV component manufacturers.

5. Launch a National Public Education Campaign

Citizens must understand what lithium is, why it matters, and what Ghana stands to gain or lose.

6. Protect Ghana from the “Resource Curse 2.0”

Ensure lithium becomes a blessing, not another missed opportunity.

CALL TO ACTION FOR CITIZENS
Ghana’s future is being negotiated today.

Lithium is not just a mineral — it is a national destiny.

Citizens must demand:

• Transparency
• Fairness
• Local value addition
• Environmental protection
• A deal that matches global standards

A nation that exports raw lithium will remain poor.

A nation that processes lithium will rise.

Retired Senior Citizen
Teshie-Nungua
[email protected]

Leadership, Management and Council Members of CIB in a group photo with Inductees after the event

Women now form the majority of newly qualified chartered bankers in Ghana, as the Chartered Institute of Bankers, Ghana (CIB Ghana) inducted and graduated 186 professionals at its 17th Induction and Graduation Ceremony in Accra. Of the 186 inductees and graduates, 55 percent were women, extending a trend that has gathered pace in recent years.

In the previous two years, women accounted for 51 percent and then 60 percent of new chartered bankers, a shift that Institute leaders described as a sign of growing sustainability and inclusion in the country’s financial talent pipeline.

The latest cohort brings the total number of chartered bankers produced by CIB Ghana over the past six years to 1,313, a figure the Institute said reflects sustained investment in professional standards, ethics and leadership within the financial sector.

Speaking at the ceremony, the chief executive of CIB Ghana, Robert Dzato, said the growing female participation was not incidental but the outcome of deliberate policies aimed at widening access to professional banking education while maintaining rigorous standards. “We are building a profession that reflects society and is fit for the future. The numbers show that women are not only participating but excelling, and that is essential for the long-term health of the financial sector,” he said.

The event, held under the theme ‘Building Future-Ready Banks: Ethical Leadership, Sustainable Finance and Currency Stability amid Disruption’, brought together regulators, industry leaders, bankers and families to mark what was repeatedly described as both an end and a beginning; the completion of a demanding programme of study and the assumption of new professional responsibilities.

Beyond gender balance, the 2025 cohort also illustrated the Institute’s emphasis on inclusiveness across age and career stage. The youngest graduate was 23 years old, having enrolled through the Institute’s Best and Bright Programme, which targets high-performing university students and offers conditional exemptions to accelerate their professional journey. The oldest inductee was 59, demonstrating the Institute’s message that professional development in banking is not limited by age.

“These stories matter. They show that you can start early or return later, but what matters is commitment to learning, ethics and professionalism,” Mr. Dzato added.

The President of CIB Ghana, Benjamin Amenumey, told inductees and graduates that their qualification went beyond technical competence.

In a speech read on his behalf by CIB Ghana’s Vice President, Samuel Asiama, he described the chartered banker designation as a public trust, rooted in the Institute’s statutory mandate under Act 991 to promote the study of banking and regulate professional practice in Ghana. “Today’s achievement is not just a credential,” he said. “It is a call to uphold honesty and integrity in your institutions and in your dealings with customers and society,” he further stated.

The CIB representatives linked the growing number of chartered bankers, particularly women, to broader national priorities, including financial stability, governance and sustainable economic growth. They argued that a deeper pool of ethically trained professionals was essential in a sector whose decisions directly affect households, businesses and public confidence.

Thomas Atta John, managing director of Guaranty Trust Bank Ghana and keynote speaker, said the increasing participation of women and younger professionals should be matched by an equally strong commitment to ethics and continuous learning. “Banking decisions shape lives in ways that are not always visible. That is why professionalism, integrity and relevance are non-negotiable,” he said.

Among the inductees was Eyram Amenyo Klutse, a relationship manager with First National Bank, who emerged as the overall best inductee. Speaking after the ceremony, she described the programme as demanding but transformative, offering exposure to the full breadth of banking beyond individual roles or departments. “It has not been easy combining work, study and family. But it gives you a broader understanding of the industry and reinforces the importance of ethics and professionalism,” she said.

For Rosemary Quansah, the youngest graduate, the ceremony marked the culmination of persistence after early setbacks. She urged students and young professionals to begin their professional qualifications early, warning that delaying often made the process more difficult later in life.

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has challenged technical universities across the country to place employable skills and hands-on practical entrepreneurship at the centre of their academic delivery to better prepare graduates for the job market.

According to him, as the government commits additional resources to resetting Ghana’s education system, institutions of higher learning are expected to work closely with industry to develop transformational curricula that will strengthen the economy and improve standards of living.

The Minister made the call in a speech read on his behalf at the 22nd Congregation of the Koforidua Technical University (KTU) in Koforidua over the weekend.

Reading the address, the Deputy Director-General of the Ghana Education Service, Professor Smile Dzisi, explained that the government’s reset agenda is focused on making education not only accessible and inclusive, but also more meaningful and impactful.

According to him, the agenda places strong emphasis on the development of employable skills, the promotion of innovative enterprises, and the advancement of excellence in human capital both locally and internationally.

“It is expected that our institutions of higher learning will collaborate with industry in leading the conversation on transformational curricula needed to leapfrog the country into a stronger economy and a better standard of living.

“I challenge Koforidua Technical University, and by extension all technical universities, to place employable skills and hands-on practical entrepreneurship at the core of their education delivery,” the Minister stated.

The ceremony, held under the theme “Technical Education for Innovation, Employability and Global Competitiveness,” saw a total of 3,011 students graduate in various programmes.

Addressing the graduands, the Vice-Chancellor of Koforidua Technical University, Professor John Owusu, urged them to apply the practical knowledge and skills acquired to solving real-life problems in their communities.

“The challenges of the world are waiting for your solutions,” he told the graduates. “Your wealth, success, reputation and fame are hidden in the challenges around you, and it is by providing solutions that you unlock them.”

The Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Mr Godwin Edudzi Tamekloe, has expressed satisfaction with the performance of Sentuo Oil Refinery Limited, describing its contribution to Ghana’s petroleum downstream sector as significant.

Speaking at a press soirée scheduled for Monday, December 15, 2025, held at the Authority’s headquarters in Accra, Mr Tamekloe disclosed that Sentuo currently supplies about 20 per cent of the diesel consumed in the country, a development he said has significantly eased pressure on the domestic fuel market.

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