President John Dramani Mahama

Ghana has joined the rest of the world to mark the National Cyber Security Awareness Month (NCSAM), a month-long programme dedicated to building a safe, informed, and accountable digital space for all.

The 2025 edition of NCSAM, themed “Building a Safe, Informed, and Accountable Digital Space,” responds to growing digital threats by focusing on the intersection of cybersecurity, misinformation and disinformation, and human rights in the era of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

The programme, scheduled throughout October, seeks to raise awareness among children, businesses, the public, and government institutions on the importance of protecting digital rights, combating misinformation and disinformation, and promoting the ethical and responsible use of technology.

President John Dramani Mahama is expected to inaugurate members of the JCC.

Watch the live stream below

SP

Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:

The Head of the Centre for European Studies at the University of Ghana, Dr Kwame Asah-Asante, has criticised President John Mahama’s call for reparations during his recent address at the United Nations General Assembly, describing it as misplaced.

Speaking on the AM Show on JoyNews, Dr Asah-Asante acknowledged that many people have praised the former president’s UN speech as bold and visionary.

“It is an apt description of a speech from a leader who is visionary, who fears nobody, and a leader worth his salt,” he said.

“I have no problem with that, and I concede to a large extent that yes, the speech had what it takes to be presented at that forum.”

However, he said he disagreed with the part of the address that focused on reparations for slavery. “The president touched on the issue of reparations, and that is where I have a difficulty,” he said.

Drawing on history, Dr Asah-Asante said Africa’s role in the transatlantic slave trade cannot be ignored. “If you look at the history of the slave trade, it was not committed by one person. In every market, there is the demand and there is the supply. Who were those who supplied the slaves? Our people here, chiefs, opinion leaders, and all that. We sold our people into slavery,” he said.

“So that exercise, if there is a problem, it cannot be borne by only one person. It takes two to tango. We sold our people, people bought them, and then used them for whatever purpose they wanted.

“That argument for me has been discussed and discarded, and I was not looking forward to hearing my president recounting that because it can never be sustained anywhere,” he added.

According to him, while the slave trade was “distasteful” and its methods “inhuman,” Africans must also admit their complicity. “With all due respect to Mr President, I disagree that Africans qualify for any reparations because we were part and parcel of the slavery,” he said.

Dr Asah-Asante recalled his own visits to slavery heritage sites abroad and recognised the pain associated with that history, quoting the late historian Professor Adu Boahen, who once described slavery as “an unmitigated misery.”

“But I believe that Africans were part and parcel of it even before the transatlantic trade, we also had domestic slavery. What about that?”

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.

Ghana’s consumer price inflation extended its nine-month decline

Ghana’s consumer price inflation extended its nine-month decline, hitting single digits for the first time in four months at 9.4% in September 2025.

This marks the lowest rate since August 2021 and the ninth consecutive monthly drop.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, the slowdown was largely driven by an easing in food prices, with food inflation falling to 11% in September from 14.8% in August.

The year-on-year rate eased to 9.4% in September 2025, down from 11.5% in August.

Non-food inflation also edged down, declining to 8.2% from 8.7% in August.

Ghana’s inflation drops for 8th straight month

Inflation for locally produced items slowed to 10.1% in September from 12.2% in August 2025, while imported items recorded 7.4% in September, down from 9.5% in August.

SP/MA

Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:

 The Parties without Rep­resentation in Parliament (PwRP) have accused the government of engaging in selec­tive prosecution in its anti-cor­ruption campaign, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).

According to the group, while officials of the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) adminis­tration are being targeted, cases involving individuals linked to the ruling National Democrat­ic Congress (NDC) are quietly abandoned in the name of public interest.

Addressing a press conference in Accra yesterday, the General Secretary of the Great Consol­idated Popular Party (GCPP), Citizen Ato Dadzie, alleged that the Mahama administration was undermining the credibility of the ORAL Committee by weaponising its findings against political opponents.

“We are witnessing a disturb­ing trend where the law is applied differently depending on one’s political affiliation. This is not the justice Ghanaians voted for. Justice must be impartial, not partisan,” he stated.

The ORAL Committee was established by President Maha­ma in 2024, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, as Chair. It was tasked to investigate cor­ruption under the previous NPP administration.

The committee’s report reportedly triggered 33 prosecu­tions, with the Attorney General, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, confirming that some trials had commenced while others were still pending.

However, Mr Dadzie ex­pressed concern that high-profile scandals involving NDC figures, like the Saglemi Housing Project, the fertiliser contract saga, and the ambulance procurement deal had seen little or no progress, de­spite evidence of huge financial losses to the state.

“In contrast, individuals associated with the former NPP government have been arrested, paraded in the media, and sub­jected to public trials before any court ruling. This is not justice; it is political theatre,” he argued.

Mr Dadzie also criticised the ongoing trial of former National Signals Bureau (NSB) Direc­tor-General, Kwabena Adu-Boa­hen, describing it as weak and a threat to national security.

He cited a letter from Israeli firm, ISC Holding Limited, which he said confirmed that the cyber defence systems in question were fully delivered, contradicting the Attorney General’s claim that no equipment was received.

“This case should never have been made public. It compro­mises sensitive national security infrastructure and undermines Ghana’s ability to protect itself in the digital space,” he warned.

Mr Dadzie, therefore, called for an immediate review of the Attorney General’s handling of corruption-related cases. He insisted that justice must be pur­sued transparently and without political bias.

“Justice cannot be selective. If the fight against corruption is to be credible, it must be even-hand­ed and grounded in evidence, not partisanship,” he emphasised.

 BY CECILIA YADA LAGBA

🔗 Follow Ghanaian Times WhatsApp Channel today.
🌍 Trusted News. Real Stories. Anytime, Anywhere.
✅ Join our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q

Jemilat Mahamah is the Vice President of the Ghana Chamber of Shipping

Persistent congestion, high costs and operational inefficiencies at Ghana’s seaports are undermining trade and investment and weakening the country’s competitiveness, according to Jemilat Mahamah, Vice President of the Ghana Chamber of Shipping.

Addressing the Maritime Transport Stakeholders Forum in Tema, she said that unless transparency and efficiency are made central to port reforms, Ghana risks losing ground in regional and global trade.

“Our maritime sector stands as a gateway to regional trade and a cornerstone of our national economy. Yet, the challenges surrounding port congestion, operational inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and high costs have hindered the full realisation of our maritime potential,” she noted.

The forum, convened under the theme ‘Streamlining Ghana’s Maritime Transport and Logistics Sector for Transparency, Efficiency and Competitiveness’, brought together officials from the transport ministry, private operators, regulators, and civil society to examine reforms aimed at strengthening port performance.

She stressed that the economic toll of inefficiencies extended beyond Ghana’s borders. Tema and Takoradi ports handle the vast majority of the country’s seaborne trade, with Tema alone processing about 80 percent of all imports and exports. Both ports also serve as gateways for landlocked neighbours including Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, making their performance critical to regional supply chains.

“These issues not only stifle trade and investment but also diminish Ghana’s standing in the African Continental Free Trade Area and the global marketplace,” she said.

She identified transparency as a critical tool for reversing the trend, arguing that openness in port operations would enhance regulatory compliance, reduce costs, and encourage innovation.

“The nexus between transparency and shipping efficiency is one of a positive correlation,” she told attendees.

“Together, these effects reduce costs, improve sustainability, and increase customer satisfaction, fundamentally transforming shipping performance,” she added.

Discussions at the forum centred on port modernisation, the deployment of digital tools such as the Port Community System, and policy frameworks intended to improve accountability. Industry leaders were expected to share experiences and propose strategies for tackling the high costs and delays that continue to burden shippers and businesses.

Mahamah urged stakeholders to take a proactive role in shaping reforms, warning that the nation’s maritime transport system could not sustain inefficiencies if it was to compete effectively.

“Your insights, experiences, and commitments are vital to shaping a maritime landscape that not only serves the economy efficiently but also attracts sustainable investment and unleashes new economic opportunities for Ghanaians,” she said.

She further called for collective resolve to reposition Ghana’s ports as efficient and competitive trade gateways capable of delivering long-term economic benefits.

Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:

Tema, Sept. 25,GNA-The AbibiNsroma Foundation, a climate change focused Civil Society Organisation(CSO), has embarked on a massive capacity building community engagement on Just Energy Transition in the Tema Metropolitan Area.

The group, led by its Comvenor, Mr Bob K. T. Amiteye, engaged with traditional rulers, Councilors, drivers and transport union members, and market women.

The rest are retired workers, teachers in coastal communities, Director of the Tema Central Sub Metro Council, Journalists and the Youth.

Speaking at the coastal community of Tema Manheam, where the whole coastal line has suffered sea erosion, he called for the official involvement of community leaders and members in the Ciimate Change and energy transition process.

He said Ghana’s current approach remains heavily centralized and investor-focused, sidelining traditional authorities and rural communities which held deep ecological knowledge and bore the greatest burden of energy poverty and climate vulnerability.

He told the pathetic story of a fish monger who after a night toil, woke up the next morning only to find out that all her smoked fish had been washed away by sea erosion.

In such circumstances, who does she go to for relief? He asked. “Obviously, the poor woman has to figure out a survival strategy all by herself after losing all her investment.”

Community-led energy governance structures offer a transformative solution. These institutions would allow for inclusive co-decision-making, ensure fair allocation of project benefits, and strengthen accountability through citizen-based monitoring and localised oversight, he said.

Expanding on the foundation’s policy on energy transition, he said Ghana’s just energy transition would remain incomplete without deliberate and institutionalised mechanisms for community engagement at the local level.

The foundation recommends that Ghana formally establish community-led energy governance structures as a central feature of its national energy transition strategy.

These bodies must reflect the legitimacy of traditional authorities—who hold jurisdiction over land and natural resources—and build upon their lived experience and contextual expertise.

” However, recognition alone is insufficient. Local authorities must also be equipped with technical capacity and embedded within national policy processes to co-govern energy systems from the outset. ” Mr Amiteye said.

To ensure that these structures are effective, they should be recognised under national law, endowed with regulatory and oversight responsibilities, and supported through a blend of public, donor, and private finance. They must not operate as temporary consultative forums but as statutory mechanisms with powers over planning, budget review, and dispute resolution.

These structures should also serve as local delivery arms for Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), helping translate national climate targets into place-based implementation strategies that reflect community needs and rights.

Ghana should establish Regional and District-Level Community Energy Committees with inclusive representation from traditional authorities, women’s associations, youth leaders, and cooperative groups.

These committees must hold formal co-decision-making powers on issues such as site selection, procurement terms, and community impact assessments for renewable energy projects.

Drawing in the experiences from Kenya’s Energy Sector Working Groups and Senegal’s Local Energy Committees, he said early-stage community involvement improved project acceptance, reduced implementation delays, and enhanced sustainability.

He explained that those bodies should serve as formal interlocutors with state and private actors and be embedded in statutory planning cycles.

We are also calling for the introduction of Community Benefit Trusts to create local financial structures that allocate a designated share of renewable energy project revenues to social infrastructure and development programmes, he said.

Transparent revenue management builds public trust and creates a material stake in energy infrastructure.

He said developing a Citizen Energy Audit Framework could also empower communities to track project compliance with environmental laws, labour standards, and equity commitments.

“This function is critical in areas where state enforcement remains weak. Drawing lessons from Peru’s Environmental Vigilance Committees and Ghana’s own Local Governance Act (Act 936), community monitors should be trained and supported by the Energy Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority(EPA). Such frameworks must be codified in national guidelines, with legal pathways for escalating violations and submitting compliance reports.”

The foundation bemoaned that fact that
customary ecological knowledge remained vastly underutilised in national energy planning.

Ghana has an opportunity to develop hybrid energy solutions by connecting traditional knowledge systems with modern technological innovation. Partnerships between technical universities, vocational training centres, and grassroots innovators can generate context-specific solutions such as solar-powered irrigation, wind pumps, and biomass conversion systems adapted to regional ecosystems,it said.

Ghana’s energy transition can set a precedent for equity, sustainability, and accountability in Africa—if it roots innovation in local institutions, not just infrastructure. Community-led energy management structures offer more than consultation; they provide a governance scaffold for just transition outcomes.

These structures can stabilize energy markets, enhance policy legitimacy, and deliver measurable development dividends.

“As international institutions, donors, and state actors invest in clean energy expansion, their frameworks must reflect the social architecture that sustains long-term equity. Supporting local governance in Ghana is not only good development practice—it is a strategic choice that aligns climate ambition with social cohesion.”Mr Amiteye said.

Some participants called for regular interaction and partnership with the CSO for constant information sharing which they could use as a tool for community sensitization and development.

GNA
25 Sept. 2025
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong

Ghana’s consumer price inflation has dropped into single digits for the first time in four years, extending a nine-month streak of declines.

The year-on-year rate eased to 9.4% in September 2025, down from 11.5% in August.

According to the Ghana Statistical Service, the slowdown was largely driven by an ease in food prices, with food inflation falling to 11% in September from 14.8% the previous month.

Non-food inflation also edged down, easing to 8.2% from 8.7% in August.

The sustained decline means inflation has already beaten government’s full-year target, offering relief to households and businesses that have endured prolonged price pressures.

This trend strengthens prospects for monetary policy stability, exchange rate resilience, and improved consumer confidence heading into the final quarter of the year.

The last time Ghana enjoyed single-digit inflation was in August 2021.

Sam George is the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations

Local talent and resources will be placed at the centre of efforts to build a multibillion-dollar digital economy, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has said at the opening of the Africa Internet Summit (AIS) 2025 in Accra.

Speaking at the summit, which also marked 30 years of the internet in Ghana and the country’s pioneering role in Africa’s digital transformation, he said the government’s strategy aims to shift Ghana from being mainly a consumer of foreign technology to a producer of home-grown solutions.

The approach, George added, will nurture indigenous tech talent, support local start-ups and promote open digital infrastructure to retain more value within the domestic economy.

“For too long, Africa has been a consumer of technology rather than a creator. We are determined to train a generation that will design, code, secure and scale digital solutions made in Ghana, for Africa,” he said.

The plan includes expanding national training programmes such as the One Million Coders initiative, scaling digital innovation hubs, and boosting university-based research and development through targeted funding, he explained. The pathway also intends to adopt open-source software, open standards and transparent artificial intelligence frameworks to cut costs while enhancing national digital sovereignty, he noted.

This comes against the backdrop of a fast-growing sector, with the GSMA projecting that reforms could add US$3.4 billion to the economy and create 500,000 jobs by 2029. While estimates vary, analysis in early 2024 put the size of Ghana’s digital economy at around US$1 billion, with forecasts suggesting growth to reach US$5 billion by 2030.

Much of this expansion has been driven by mobile broadband penetration exceeding 90 percent and internet usage reaching about 68 percent of the population. Yet Mr. George acknowledged that significant revenue continues to leave the country, captured by foreign-owned platforms in areas such as cloud hosting, software licensing and e-commerce infrastructure.

“Every year, billions of cedis in digital value leak out of our economy to pay for foreign services. Our goal is to reverse this trend by building systems that are open, secure and locally driven,” the minister said.

The commemoration of Ghana’s three decades of internet connectivity also highlighted the contributions of Prof. Nii Narku Quaynor, a key architect of the country’s early adoption of the technology. Often referred to as the “Grandfather of the internet in Africa,” Professor Quaynor said the anniversary was both a milestone and a call to action.

“Thirty years ago, Ghana showed that Africa could lead in digital innovation,” he said at the summit, which had as its theme: ‘A resilient internet ecosystem for an innovative digital Africa’.

“We now have the responsibility to ensure that the next phase is built on African expertise, African infrastructure, and African solutions. The internet must become a tool of empowerment, not dependency,” he added.

Professor Quaynor also urged policymakers to sustain investments in skills, research and infrastructure.

“Digital sovereignty is not achieved by declarations alone. It requires long-term commitment to building talent pipelines, securing our networks, and ensuring that our entrepreneurs have the capital to innovate,” he noted.

Whilst welcome, sector analysts continue to insist that the strategy’s success would depend on sustained investment, access to venture capital and stronger collaboration between academia and industry to close persistent skills gaps.

There is the prevailing sentiment that Ghana should aim for a bigger share of the pie, especially as Africa’s digital economy is projected to reach US$180 billion by 2025 and to expand to US$712 billion by 2050.

The strategy aligns with broader continental ambitions under the African Union’s Digital Transformation Strategy and the Smart Africa Alliance, both of which emphasise building local capacity in the creation and governance of digital technologies.

George further called for deeper regional cooperation, stating: “Let us move beyond access metrics to focus on real impact. By building apprenticeships, research labs and start-ups, we can ensure that African engineers and entrepreneurs will design and maintain Africa’s internet infrastructure and services”.

Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:

Ghana’s agricultural sector, a cornerstone of its economy, has long been a story of immense potential held back by persistent challenges. For generations, farmers have battled with the unpredictable nature of the weather, significant post-harvest losses, and limited access to modern farming methods and financial support.

These problems represent the real struggles of small-holder farmers and the missed opportunities for a nation’s growth.

Today, we stand at the intersection of opportunity and urgency.

According to the World Bank’s Commodity Markets Outlook and Agricultural Risk Assessment, agriculture is a US$4.82 trillion industry in 2025, projected to grow steadily at 3.44% Compound Annual Growth Rate, driven by demand for food, biofuels, and sustainable commodities.

However, the sector faces risks from climate change, input costs, and geopolitical tensions, making innovation and resilience more critical than ever.

In Africa, agriculture remains the backbone of economies.

As reported by the World Bank’s West Africa Digital Agriculture Projects, the connected agriculture market alone is expected to grow from US$2.9 billion in 2025 to US$9.87 billion by 2031, as digital platforms revolutionize access to markets, finance, and advisory services for smallholder farmers.

In Ghana, the agriculture sector is valued at US$15.2 billion in 2025, with a projected growth rate of 7.01% Compound Annual Growth Rate, fueled by urbanization, mechanization, and digital transformation.

A year ago, Fidelity Bank, through its Young Entrepreneurs Initiative,

decided to tackle these deep-rooted problems head-on.

They did this to to support a new way of thinking. This led to the launch of the GreenTech Innovation Challenge (GTIC), a program designed to empower young minds in the use of technology to transform agriculture.

The story of impact

The inaugural GreenTech Innovation Challenge (GTIC) was a journey of transformation, designed to turn untapped potential into market leadership. In partnership with InnoHub Foundation, Fidelity Bank invested GH¢1,400,000 in 17 brilliant young entrepreneurs.

This funding was strategically deployed to both nurture innovative ideas and provide critical scale-up capital for existing commercial ventures ready to expand their impact.

The problem was clear: How do we use technology to make farming more resilient, efficient, and profitable for everyone? Derrick Awumey, the founder of AgricCom Assurance, saw the vulnerability of farmers to climate risks.

His solution? A service that provides smallholder farmers with insurance,

protecting them from the financial devastation of drought or floods.

The GTIC was instrumental in helping him refine his business model, connecting him with key players in the ecosystem, and helping him shape a viable and sustainable business.

Another innovator, Emmanuel Acquah of AgriMercab, was on a mission to solve the problem of organic waste.

He saw the potential to turn waste into valuable resources like animal feed and

fertilizer. Before the GTIC, his operation was limited, processing only two tons of waste monthly.

With the support from the challenge, he was able to expand significantly, jumping to processing six tons of organic waste monthly. The grant also enabled him to invest in solar panels, a leap towards a sustainable, mechanized process.

This is a powerful example of how solving one problem like waste management can create a solution for another: a sustainable supply of agricultural inputs.

For Abdallah Salia of Farmitecture, the challenge was addressing the disconnect between urban living and fresh, healthy food. His company provides urban farming systems for people with limited space.

The capital boost from the GTIC was a game-changer, transforming his

“demo farm idea into reality” and allowing for crucial product development to make his systems more market-ready.

The GTIC also supported established businesses like Axis Drone Surveys, led by Derrick Annan.

He recognized the lack of reliable data for farmers, a critical barrier to modern, efficient farming.

His drone services provide farmers with the data they need to make informed

decisions.

The program didn’t just support his current operations; it helped him think bigger, providing a roadmap to expand into new markets like Tanzania.

And then there’s Violet Amoabeng of Skin Gourmet. Her company makes raw, handmade skincare from wild-sourced Ghanaian ingredients.

While seemingly unrelated to agriculture, her work highlights the potential of value addition and a robust supply chain.

The GTIC grant helped her strengthen her supply chain and expand her reach and impact, ensuring that the investment made would continue to benefit the community.

These are just a few of the 17 success stories from the first cohort. The numbers speak for themselves: these businesses collectively generated over GHS 13 million in revenue, created 49 new jobs, and raised an additional GHS 597,000 in funding.

These represent real lives transformed, communities empowered, and a more resilient agricultural sector taking root.

The Next Chapter: Cohort 2 and beyond

Following the remarkable success of the first cohort, Fidelity Bank is now preparing for GTIC Cohort 2.

Building on what they’ve learned, they are focusing on identifying and empowering a new wave of innovative entrepreneurs.

This time around, the challenge is concentrating exclusively on early-stage businesses (the Ideation Tier).

The bank is providing over GHS 1 million in grant funding and support to 16

selected enterprises, with the top three receiving GHS 200,000, GHS 100,000, and GHS 70,000 respectively.

This strategic shift is designed to nurture disruptive concepts, accelerate early validation, and build collaborative teams from the ground up.

The focus areas for this new cohort remain vital to Ghana’s agricultural future, including:

• Precision Agriculture: Enhancing crop monitoring and resource management.

• Post-Harvest Management: Innovations to reduce losses and add value.

• Digital Finance Services: Improving financial access for farmers.

• Climate-Smart Agriculture: Promoting sustainable farming practices.

• Value Chain Optimization: Enhancing the efficiency and profitability of the entire agricultural process.

The success of the first cohort, and the commitment to a second one, shows a clear message: the problem isn’t a lack of brilliant ideas; it’s a lack of the right partnerships and support to turn those ideas into reality.

Fidelity Bank’s approach is about seeing the potential in people, investing in their solutions, and helping them build a future where Ghana’s agriculture is not just a source of food, but a source of innovation and prosperity.

Watch the latest edition of BizTech below:

Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC and Swedru All Blacks Football Club have announced an official partnership, with the Bank (ADB) becoming the club’s Official Banking and Match Day Sponsor.

The announcement, which was made at a short unveiling ceremony at the bank’s head office in Accra, marks the beginning of a strategic relationship between one of Ghana’s oldest football clubs and ADB.

Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of ADB, Edward Ato Sarpong, explained that the bank was excited about the partnership, adding that advancing football is part of the bank’s agenda of building partnerships and nurturing communities.

“At ADB, our goal is to go beyond banking by investing in institutions that positively impact lives, and Swedru All Blacks is a perfect partner in that regard,” the MD remarked.

Mr. Sarpong emphasized that ADB’s partnership with Swedru All Blacks is rooted in shared values of transformation, innovation, and excellence.

“Just as the football club is committed to rebuilding its legacy, ADB is equally focused on becoming one of the top three banks in the country,” he stated.

“This alignment of vision makes the partnership a natural fit, as both institutions are driven by the desire to create lasting impact within their communities, industries and beyond,” he added.

The ADB MD also noted that the partnership was part of efforts to complement the government’s support towards the Premier League, describing it as a renewed advocacy for domestic football and to strengthen sports development across the country.

Mr. Sarpong disclosed that the bank is prepared to offer other incentives to motivate Swedru All Blacks Football Club to ensure a successful season and beyond.

The General Manager of the club, Eugene Nobel Noel, welcomed the partnership, noting that ADB’s involvement is timely and will serve as a springboard for Swedru All Blacks Football Club to achieve greater heights in the Ghana Premier League.

He described the sponsorship as a vital boost that will provide financial stability while enhancing the team’s ability to compete at the highest level.

“With ADB as our partner, I am confident Swedru All Blacks will not only rise to greater heights on the field but also play a vital role in creating opportunities off the field,” he noted.

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.

Ghanaian boxer, Jacob Dickson has revisited the humble beginnings of his professional career in an exclusive interview with Joel Eshun on GhanaWeb’s Sport Check show.

According to Jacob Dickson, his loss to Albert Ramirez was due to a late change of opponent, as the boxer he had originally prepared to face withdrew at the last minute because of immigration issues, leaving him with little time to prepare for Ramirez.

Dickson explained in the interview with GhanaWeb that visa issues prevented Perez from traveling which led to a sudden switch to Venezuelan powerhouse Albert Ramirez, an unbeaten veteran boasting 14 knockouts in 14 victories as a late replacement.

‘Bahubali forced me into a fight I never wanted’ – Jacob Dickson

“When we got to France, we were told that my opponent couldn’t get his visa to travel for the fight, since we went there for business we had to pick another opponent who was much experienced and better than me. That was how my first defeat came about.”

“When the contract came I went through it together with my coach, saw my potential opponent’s credentials and video and I was sure I will defeat him but i lost,” Dickson declared.

Watch the latest episode of Sports Check with Boxer Jacob Dickson below:

ALL/JE

More than 100 Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the Northern Region have received intensive training in entrepreneurship to help them unlock their business potential and strengthen their participation in Ghana’s economy.

The programme aimed at equipping the participants with knowledge in customer care, business management, financial literacy, digital skills and access to finance.

It also educated them on how to pitch business ideas to attract sponsorship and investment.

The training, which was organised by Innohub, a business accelerator and impact investment platform, and sponsored by MTN Ghana and Fidelity Bank Ghana, sought to prepare PWD-led enterprises to take advantage of economic opportunities.

Building Capacity

At the event, the Corporate Communications and Marketing Lead at Innohub, David Amoa, said PWDs represented a significant but often overlooked pool of entrepreneurial activity.

“Several of them are already running businesses, but many lack the skills to communicate effectively with customers or access finance. With this training, they have gained foundational knowledge that can transform their operations,” he said.

He stressed that empowering PWDs with managerial skills such as leadership, communication, and decision-making would help them grow sustainable businesses and reduce dependence on street begging.

Mr Amoa further urged financial institutions to deliberately design inclusive lending opportunities that consider the unique circumstances of PWD entrepreneurs.

Corporate support

The Manager in Charge of Enterprise Business at MTN Ghana, Adwoa Ackonor, said the initiative was in line with MTN’s Ambition 2025 Strategy, which prioritised digital inclusion, SME empowerment and community support.

“The goal is not only to train but also to ensure that PWDs have the resources, networks and support to sustain and scale their businesses,” she stated.

She explained that MTN’s business growth and enterprise solutions provided SMEs, including PWD-led enterprises, with tools to reach customers, manage payments and operate more efficiently.

Ms Ackonor encouraged PWDs to leverage MTN’s digital platforms to access partnerships and continuous innovations designed to support small businesses.

Communication Minister Sam Nartey George has rejected suggestions that he called for a state of emergency in the fight against illegal mining, insisting his call has always been for targeted operations.

Speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express on September 30, he said surgical strikes by the security forces were the best way to deal with galamsey.

“Let me put it on record here, I have never talked about a state of emergency. I believe that you can have targeted operations without necessarily declaring a state of emergency.

“People have said ‘Sam George calls for a state of emergency’…I have never, ever called for a state of emergency,” he said.

The minister described galamsey as Ghana’s most pressing threat.

“Don’t forget I said, and I still stand by, that galamsey remains the biggest existential threat to our nation, and that galamsey is Ghana’s version of Colombia’s drug cartels.

“I’ve said that you can have targeted surgical operations led by our security forces. And I believe that we’re on our way there,” he said.

Mr George said President Mahama had shown more will to deal with the problem than the previous government.

“President Mahama has been president for nine months now. Do I wish I have seen more? Absolutely. I wish it’s ended today.

“But in the nine months, I can confidently say that I see a desire and a will to deal with galamsey that didn’t exist in the previous eight years,” he said.

He contrasted Mahama’s actions with the past administration.

“I see a president who has asked the security services to investigate two of his own national executives on allegations of being involved in galamsey.

“Meanwhile, under the previous president, you had a regional chairman talking to a minister saying that they must engage in galamsey because ‘party hiya sika.’

“And the president went to campaign for that individual in their party’s elections. You saw the tacit endorsement of the presidency then of party apparatchiks getting involved in galamsey,” he said.

According to him, President Mahama had already chalked up progress.

“I see a president who, under the immediate past, may his soul rest in peace, Defence Minister Dr Omane Boamah, had the military carry out operations and recover seven out of nine forest reserves where mining operations were. All of this, in seven months.

“In fact, on Friday, October 3, the president has invited over 30 CSOs to come and sit with him, for us to develop that roadmap and work collectively to rid our country of the menace of galamsey,” he said.

Mr George added that while progress had been made, enforcement needed to go further.

“A lot more in terms of enforcement, we could move a bit faster. I believe that there could be a lot more. And again, I see the work. I see the briefs in the cabinet that the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources brings, the joint briefs between himself and other sectoral ministers working towards this.

“So I have seen it, and I know what’s going on. I’m just saying that we need, we don’t need to rest on our oars,” he said.

He said Ghanaians voted for a change, and the government had a duty to deliver.

“Ghanaians voted for us as a political party because they thought that we will do better, and we should do better. And all I’m saying is, let’s not rest on our oars.

“Yes, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has started fantastically well. They’re doing a lot of work, working under the auspices of the president. But let’s not relent.

“Let’s go all out and win this war, if not for anything, in memory of the eight gallant sons who died in the helicopter crash,” he said.

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.

Featured

GraphicOnline

Business News

Oct – 01 – 2025 , 07:45