President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Singapore for a three-day state visit, aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation, expanding trade and investment, and advancing partnerships in education, science and innovation, urban solutions, agribusiness, and the digital economy.

During the visit, President Mahama will hold bilateral discussions with the President of the Republic of Singapore, H.E. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, and the Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong.

He will also deliver the keynote address at the 8th Africa–Singapore Business Forum (ASBF) and headline a Ghana country-specific Investment and Business Forum, convening public- and private-sector leaders to unlock new opportunities between Ghana and Singapore.

Speaking on arrival, President Mahama said: “Ghana and Singapore share a forward-looking outlook anchored in innovation, skills, and enterprise. This visit will translate our shared values into practical cooperation, bringing Singaporean investment and know-how into Ghana’s priority sectors while opening new pathways for Ghanaian businesses across Southeast Asia.”

The president is accompanied by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister for Foreign Affairs; Joyce Bawah Mogtari, an Advisor and Special Aide to the President and Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, Minister for Trade, Agribusiness and Industry.

Also part of the delegation are Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Presidential Spokesperson and Minister of State for Government Communications; Simon Madjie, Chief Executive of the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre; and Francis Kwarteng Arthur, Chief Executive of the Ghana Export Promotion Authority.

Free SHS: Double-track has negatively affected education – Haruna Iddrisu

Fishermen pulling back their net after making a catch

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) has welcomed the new Fisheries and Aquaculture law, describing it as a crucial step toward lifting the European Union’s ‘yellow card’ trade warning against the country.

By enshrining stronger measures to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and enhancing fisheries transparency, the law, according to EJF, gives regulators and enforcement agencies the needed tools to act decisively against law-breaking vessels.

With these new powers, the country can now demonstrate to international partners that it is serious about reforming fisheries management and protecting the nation’s marine resources.

Welcoming what the organisation described as an historic assent, EFJ explained that the bold act of leadership will help to build effective protection for the country’s small-scale fishers, strengthen food security and lay the foundation for marine ecosystems to recover.

Fisheries law to safeguard US$425 million seafood exports

“By signing the bill into law exactly as passed by parliament, Ghana’s president has shown a clear commitment to safeguarding the livelihoods of over 400,000 small-scale fishers and millions of Ghanaians who depend on fish as a vital source of food and income,” EJF noted.

Indeed, EJF and other key stakeholders have said the new Fisheries and Aquaculture law introduces critical reforms – including the long-awaited expansion of Ghana’s Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ) from 6 to 12 nautical miles.

Reserved for artisanal fishers, this extended area will shield them from destructive industrial trawlers that have too often encroached illegally – killing fishers in collisions, destroying their nets and depleting fish populations.

Commenting on the feat, CEO-EJF Steve Trent said: “This new law marks a turning point for Ghana’s fisheries and coastal communities. The president’s assent to the Fisheries and Aquaculture bill sends a clear signal of leadership, vision and commitment to the millions of people who rely on a healthy ocean.

“By supporting small-scale fishers, safeguarding food security and tackling illegal industrial fishing head-on, Ghana has set a course for a sustainable and equitable future. We commend the president, Minister Arthur and Ghana’s parliament for this bold step forward.”

The bill’s passage comes at a critical time as more than 90 percent of artisanal fishers report declining catches, while populations of small pelagic species such as sardinella have almost entirely collapsed in a few years.

EJF maintains that without urgent action such as the new law, Ghana risked losing not only a vital food source but also a cornerstone of national culture and livelihood.

The organisation however emphasises that the focus must now shift to swift and complete implementation.

It added that: “Laws alone cannot deliver change without consistent and robust enforcement. With effective monitoring, transparent governance and strong penalties for illegal operators, the law can deliver on its promise of rebuilding Ghana’s fisheries and protecting ocean ecosystems for generations to come”.

Meanwhile, watch the trailer to GhanaWeb’s upcoming documentary on teenage girls and how fish is stealing their futures below:

Graduation day is one of the proudest moments in a student’s life. Families travel from far and near, sometimes sacrificing their little savings, just to watch their loved ones walk across the stage. For many, it is a dream come true to be the first graduate in a family or even in a whole village.

But at most university graduations in Ghana, something happens that takes away from this joy. The Vice Chancellor, council members, and guest speakers usually get up to shake the hands of only First Class students. After that, they sit down. The rest (Second Class, Third Class, and Pass students) simply walk by without the same recognition.

This tradition, in my view, is unfair. It sends a message that only the First Class students deserve to be celebrated, while the others did not put in effort. But that is not true. Every student who crosses that stage has worked hard in their own way. Some battled with financial struggles, health challenges, or family responsibilities, yet made it through. That is a big achievement and deserves celebration.

A handshake is a small act, but it carries a big meaning. It says, “We see you. We value your effort. You belong here.” Why should this recognition be reserved for a few? Who knows? The graduate with a Pass today may become the employer of the First Class graduate tomorrow. Life has shown us that success is not written only in grades.

This thought comes from my very critical thinking self, shaped by years of questioning unfair traditions. I was once an SRC president, and today I serve as the Head of the Public Relations Department at one of Ghana’s specialised public universities, the University of Media, Arts, and Communication (UniMAC), and also doubles as President-elect of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), UniMAC branch.

These roles have deepened my conviction that our academic spaces must be made fairer and more humane. As an academic who has taught in higher education for over nine years, I have seen the struggles of students firsthand. And yes, I was once a First Class student myself. But that does not mean I should ignore the efforts of others.

We cannot continue with traditions that divide our graduates into the “worthy” and the “less worthy.” The university must be a place of inclusion, where every single graduate is celebrated equally. To shake the hand of one and not the other is to say that some lives matter more. That cannot be the message we send.

The time has come for change. Universities in Ghana must rise above these outdated rituals and embrace fairness. Let us extend the handshake to all, not just the few. Let every graduate leave with the pride that their effort, no matter the grade, was fully acknowledged.

Graduation should not reinforce inequality. It should unite us. And until every graduate is given that handshake, our ceremonies will remain incomplete.

–

The writer is Dr Noel Nutsugah, who is a lecturer and the Head of the Public Relations Department at one of Ghana’s specialised public universities, the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC) and doubles as President-elect of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UTAG), UniMAC branch.
Email: [email protected]

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.

Prudential Bank Ltd has taken a significant step to support the growth of its Commercial Banking customers and prospects by organising an international business trip to Turkey, Qatar and China.

The trip facilitated in partnership with Nita Travel and Shipping Company, aimed to expose Ghanaian business leaders to new trading opportunities and partners, promoting business growth and development.

The Managing Director of Prudential Bank, Bernard Gyebi, commenting on the tour emphasised the bank’s commitment to providing advisory services & customer growth.

“We are dedicated to ensuring our customers get the best from their trading activities. This business trip is a testament to our goal of providing stress-free business deals for our cherished customers,” he said.

A section of the participants travelled to Turkey and another group went to Qatar before they all arrived in China for the major session. 

African Business

In Turkey, they attended the African Business Forum and Expo (AFEX), a 2-day International Trade Fair that connected them with high-level investors, business leaders and enterprises from Turkey and beyond.

In China, aided by the local partners of Nita Travels, the customers were taken on guided tours of various product markets, including furniture, hardware, jewellery, clothing, electronics, and cosmetics.

These visits enabled direct purchases, pricing negotiations, and new supplier relationships.

The Head of Commercial Banking at Prudential Bank, Frederick Adomako-Ansah, accompanied the customers and described the trip as very successful.

Experience

“The customers had a wonderful experience, and the guided tours provided unique insights that shaped their time in China and the other countries,” he said.

“This is the value we want to give to our customers as a Bank.” 

In the spirit of promoting a cash-lite ecosystem, Prudential Bank used the opportunity to showcase it’s Union Pay International (UPI) card specifically for China & the Asian Region.

The participating customers expressed their gratitude to the Bank’s management for organizing the trip, suggesting that it should be held annually with an extended stay period.

This feedback underscores the success of the initiative and the potential for future growth and collaboration with Nita Travel & Shipping.

Former Second Lady Samira Bawumia, wife of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia

Former Vice President and 2024 NPP flagbearer, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has hit back at suggestions by some party figures that his wife, Samira Bawumia, is not a “true Ghanaian.”

Addressing the NPP New York 33rd Anniversary on Sunday, August 24, he dismissed such claims as desperate propaganda aimed at discrediting him.

“When Samira was campaigning the length and breadth of Ghana for the party, they did not say she was not a true Ghanaian. So what has changed now? Why now?” he asked.

He described the attack, reportedly made by a senior party figure aligned with one of his rivals, as “unbelievable” and “dangerous.”

Dr Bawumia praised the immense contributions of his wife to the party, noting that she had worked tirelessly to mobilise support across the country both in government and in opposition.

He argued that questioning her Ghanaian identity was not only unfair to her but also undermined the party’s ability to appeal to minority groups in national politics.

He said such propaganda was symptomatic of desperation among some aspirants who lack a clear message or vision.

“It made me realise how desperate and dangerous some of our internal opponents have become. NPP is not a tribally or religiously bigoted party, so look for other issues to market yourselves,” he declared.

Dr Bawumia urged members to reject divisive rhetoric and instead focus on what unites the NPP.

“We are the party of inclusivity and hope. Our strength has always come from embracing Ghanaians of every background. That is what will make us win in 2028,” he concluded.

Ghana’s domestic poultry sector is demanding urgent government intervention as cheap foreign imports continue decimating local production, with new data showing a dramatic shift in the country’s food security landscape over three decades.

The West African nation once boasted poultry self-sufficiency in the 1980s, when local farms employed over 120,000 people across a thriving ecosystem of producers, feed suppliers, and processors. Today, that workforce has collapsed to fewer than 15,000 jobs as Ghana imports roughly 340,000 tonnes of its annual 400,000 tonne poultry consumption.

European Union exports to Ghana jumped 31.3% in early 2025 compared to the same period last year, reaching 59,474 tonnes between January and April. This surge continues a pattern that began in 2014 when EU producers, blocked from Russian and South African markets due to trade restrictions, redirected surplus poultry parts to West Africa.

The price differential tells the story of an unwinnable competition. EU frozen chicken enters Ghana at approximately $850 per tonne while local producers face costs exceeding $1,600 per tonne for live birds. Brazilian exporters, backed by vast agribusiness operations and cheap feed costs, often undercut even these European prices.

Trade liberalization in the 1990s dismantled tariff protections that had previously safeguarded Ghanaian farmers. What followed was an influx of frozen wings, thighs, and backs that European and American consumers typically reject, sold at prices below Ghana’s production costs.

The United States has emerged as another significant supplier, benefiting from government subsidies and large-scale farming operations. American poultry companies export surplus parts to Ghana while retaining premium cuts for domestic markets, further squeezing local producers.

Industry analysts point to a broader pattern where developed nations maintain agricultural subsidies and tariff protections at home while exporting surplus production to liberalized African markets. The EU, which heavily subsidizes its own farmers, exemplifies this approach by flooding Ghana with poultry parts priced below cost of production.

Recent feasibility studies suggest Ghanaian poultry operations remain potentially profitable, with return-on-investment rates above 20% per production cycle when accounting for typical mortality rates. However, these projections require market conditions that allow fair competition with imports.

The employment impact extends beyond direct farming. Feed millers have lost domestic customers, while maize and soya farmers face reduced demand from a shrinking livestock sector. Transport, processing, and retail businesses linked to poultry have similarly contracted.

China represents an emerging factor in Ghana’s poultry trade landscape. While currently a minor supplier, Chinese agribusiness firms have expressed investment interest in Ghanaian farms and processing facilities. This development presents both opportunities for capital injection and risks of further foreign dominance in the sector.

Agricultural economists argue that managed trade policies could provide breathing space for domestic recovery without eliminating imports entirely. Such frameworks would involve negotiated quotas with major suppliers and minimum price controls to prevent below-cost dumping.

The broader stakes involve food security and economic sovereignty. Ghana’s dependence on imported protein leaves it vulnerable to global supply disruptions while transferring potential economic benefits abroad. Reviving domestic production could create employment opportunities for young entrepreneurs entering agriculture.

Feed costs remain the single largest challenge for local producers. Maize and soya prices in Ghana often exceed international levels, putting domestic poultry operations at an inherent disadvantage before considering other production factors.

Government officials have yet to announce concrete measures addressing the sector’s decline, though industry groups continue advocating for trade policy reforms that would provide local producers opportunity to rebuild market share.

Interest rates for 91-day bills stand at 10.41%

The government’s latest Treasury Bill auction, held on August 22, 2025, resulted in an undersubscription of GH¢608.88 million for the third consecutive week, as interest rates increased slightly.

The Bank of Ghana failed to meet its target of GH¢6.426 billion after accepting bids worth GH¢5.817.12 billion out of the GH¢5.817.12 billion received.

Mitigating misinformation: BoG trains journalists on financial, economic reporting

The 91-day bill accepted GH¢4.029.52 bids out of the GH¢4.029.52 billion tendered.

For the 182-day bill, all bids tendered worth GH¢1.327.22 billion were accepted.

Cedi recovers marginally, now at GH¢10.90 to the dollar

However, the 364-day bill saw a total of GH¢430.38 million being tendered, but only GH¢397.82 million was accepted.

Interest rates, however, have risen marginally from 10.13% for the 91-day bill last week to 10.41%.

Yields on the 182-day bill fell from 13.08% to 12.38%, and the 364-day bill fell to 13.00%.

The government, however, is targeting GH¢6.723 billion from the 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day bills in its next auction on August 29, 2025.

SSD/EB

Ghana’s Free Senior High School programme may be inadvertently creating a skills gap as graduates increasingly reject trade-based careers in favour of white-collar aspirations that don’t exist, a leading economist has warned.

Professor William Baah-Boateng, a labour economist, told a World Bank forum that the celebrated education policy has produced an unexpected side effect. Young people who complete secondary school now consider themselves above manual trades, even when such skills offer better employment prospects than academic qualifications alone.

The contrast is stark. Students leaving Junior High School readily embrace apprenticeships in auto mechanics, hairdressing, or tailoring. But after three years of secondary education, those same career paths suddenly seem beneath them.

“When a young person finishes JHS and you want them to learn a trade, they’re willing to do it,” Professor Baah-Boateng explained. “But the moment they move into secondary school and finish, they don’t want to do it anymore.”

He illustrated the problem through a personal example. His own niece rejected opportunities in hairdressing and dressmaking after completing SHS, despite poor grades that made professional programmes unlikely. She insisted on pursuing nursing instead, only to become pregnant before achieving her goal.

The Free SHS programme, launched to remove financial barriers to education, has dramatically increased enrollment across Ghana. Yet Professor Baah-Boateng argues the curriculum remains too focused on traditional academic subjects rather than practical skills development.

This academic bias creates unrealistic expectations. Graduates emerge expecting white-collar employment in an economy that cannot generate enough such positions. Meanwhile, the vocational sectors crucial for Ghana’s industrialization struggle to attract workers despite offering genuine career opportunities.

The economist’s research reveals a troubling pattern where educational achievement paradoxically narrows rather than expands career options in young people’s minds. The stigma attached to manual work persists even as Ghana desperately needs skilled tradespeople to drive economic development.

Professor Baah-Boateng called for urgent reforms to integrate robust skills training and apprenticeship programmes within the Free SHS framework. Without such changes, he warned, Ghana risks producing a generation of certificate holders lacking practical employable skills.

The challenge reflects broader tensions in Ghana’s development strategy. While expanding access to education represents genuine progress, the content and direction of that education must align with economic realities and labour market demands.

Ghana is in the grip of a silent epidemic as more young people fall victim to drug addiction, with devastating consequences for their health and future.

At the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, a young woman, Veronica, is battling addiction after being introduced to cocaine, marijuana, and opioids by her ex-boyfriend.

Health workers say her story is not unique – teenagers as young as 13 are already trapped in the cycle of abuse.

In its latest Hotline Documentary titled Deadly Doses, JoyNews goes beyond the statistics to reveal the human faces of Ghana’s drug crisis.

From the ghettos where narcotics are openly traded to hospital wards where lives hang by a thread, the documentary exposes the scale of the problem and the urgent need for action.

Watch the full documentary below:

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 efforts to boost domestic palm oil production face a critical obstacle that increased cultivation alone cannot solve, according to policy research organization IMANI Africa.

The think tank’s latest analysis warns that smuggling and unfair competition threaten to undermine government initiatives aimed at revitalizing the country’s struggling palm oil sector. Without addressing illicit trade flows, higher production volumes may simply create processing bottlenecks while smuggled imports continue dominating retail markets.

The Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana estimates the economy loses approximately $40 million annually from palm oil products entering through unauthorized routes or exploiting the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme. These products bypass customs duties and taxes, reaching consumers at prices local manufacturers cannot match.

“While the production drive is timely, the bigger structural challenge lies in smuggling and unfair competition,” IMANI stated in its analysis. The organization argues that market distortions persist regardless of domestic output levels when smuggled goods evade proper taxation.

Ghana’s palm oil industry faces multiple challenges beyond production capacity. Smuggled products slip past border controls and arrive at retail outlets priced significantly below locally produced alternatives, creating an uneven competitive landscape for domestic farmers and processors.

The current market structure disadvantages Ghanaian producers even when they increase cultivation efforts. Higher yields risk creating surplus raw palm fruit that small-scale artisanal millers cannot adequately process, while refined imports and duty-free smuggled products maintain market dominance.

IMANI’s analysis highlights how tax-evading imports effectively reduce incentives for local production investment. Farmers and processors struggle to compete when foreign products enter the market without bearing appropriate customs duties and regulatory compliance costs.

“Without strong enforcement, higher production will not translate into stronger industry performance,” the think tank observed. “It will simply create surplus raw fruit that small artisanal millers cannot process, while refined oil imports and smuggled products continue to dominate retail shelves.”

The organization emphasizes that addressing smuggling requires comprehensive border control improvements and stricter enforcement of ECOWAS trade regulations. Current loopholes allow products to enter Ghana under trade liberalization provisions while avoiding proper documentation and taxation.

For palm oil farmers, the situation represents both economic and survival challenges. Increased investment in seedlings and cultivation provides little benefit when finished products cannot compete fairly in domestic markets against cheaper smuggled alternatives.

The warning comes as the government promotes expanded palm oil cultivation as part of broader agricultural development initiatives. However, IMANI suggests that production increases without parallel enforcement improvements may prove counterproductive for industry development.

The think tank advocates shifting focus from purely production-oriented policies toward comprehensive market protection strategies. This includes strengthening illicit trade route monitoring, enhancing border control mechanisms, and preventing abuse of regional trade frameworks.

Ghana’s experience mirrors challenges faced in other commodity sectors where production increases failed to translate into industry growth due to smuggling and unfair competition. The palm oil sector’s future depends on balancing cultivation expansion with effective market protection measures.

Without addressing these structural issues, the country risks perpetuating cycles where domestic producers cannot benefit from increased output while consumers continue relying on improperly imported products.

President John Mahama is Special Guest of Honour of the event and will deliver the keynote address

Ghana will host a three-day Public Relations Conference and IPRA Golden World Awards Gala under the auspices of President John Dramani Mahama, himself a Fellow of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana, as well as the African Public Relations Association (APRA).

Organised by IPR Ghana, in partnership with APRA and the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), this historic event is scheduled to take place from Wednesday, 1st October to Friday, 3rd October 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre. It will draw global leaders in communication, artificial intelligence (AI), mining, development, policy, and innovation.

Themed “Global Realities and Innovative Communication”, the conference will explore how strategic communication is evolving in response to global shifts, with a strong emphasis on communicating AI for Africa’s development and employing effective communication to help address the issue of illegal mining (Galamsey).

Through expert discussions, practical case studies, and sector-focused sessions, participants will gain insights and tools to navigate the changing communication and technology landscape. The programme will also highlight the role of communication in tackling urgent environmental issues, including the devastating impact of Galamsey on Ghana’s communities and ecosystems. Exhibitions and optional guided heritage tours will further enrich the blend of professional and cultural engagement.

President John Dramani Mahama is the Special Guest of Honour and will deliver the keynote address. He will be joined by prominent national leaders, including the Minister for Communications, Digital Technologies and Innovation, Sam Nartey George; the Minister for Government Communication, Felix Kwakye Ofosu; and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who will deliver special addresses on the focus areas of the conference. They will be joined by Ministers of Communication from other African countries, further enriching the continental dialogue on innovation, communicating AI for Africa’s development, and employing communication for climate action.

Other featured speakers include Mr. Jan Eissfeldt, Director and Global Head of Trust and Safety at the Wikimedia Foundation, and Emmanuel Lubanzadio, Africa Lead at OpenAI, alongside other high-profile experts from the public relations, policy, and technology sectors.

Also delivering special remarks at the conference will be Ms. Esther A. N. Cobbah, President of IPR Ghana and CEO of Stratcomm Africa; Mr. Arik Karani, President of the African Public Relations Association (APRA); and Ms. Nataša Pavlović Bujas, President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA). Their contributions will highlight the global significance of the event, the evolving role of public relations in addressing critical issues, and Africa’s growing leadership within the global communication landscape.

The conference will culminate in the IPRA Golden World Awards for Excellence Gala Dinner on Friday, 3rd October 2025, at 7:15 p.m., to be held at the Mövenpick Ambassador Hotel. This prestigious gala, taking place in Ghana for the first time, celebrates the world’s most outstanding PR campaigns and also marks the 70th anniversary of IPRA.

The international conference is open to AI experts, communication professionals, media practitioners, policymakers, academics, students, development actors, and all who are passionate about technology and the power of strategic communication to shape the future.

The police anti-galamsey task force has intensified operations in the illegal mining areas, making several arrests in the Ashanti and Western regions in separate exercises over the weekend.

The Special Anti-Galamsey Task Force based at Manso Adubia in the Ashanti Region, last Saturday extended its daily operations to Juaso, a suburb of the Asante Akim South Municipality, where the task force impounded two excavators.

A team of  37 personnel, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Bawah Abdul Jalil, onboard six service vehicles, proceeded to Dwendwenase, a suburb of Juaso, to carry out the operation based on intelligence that indicated that Chinese nationals had invaded parts of the Dwendwenase Forest Reserve for their illegal mining activities.

“Upon noticing the presence of the task force, the suspects fled the scene, abandoning two excavators.

“Efforts were made to start and relocate the excavators. However, one of them was found to be faulty and could not be started or moved. The other excavator was successfully loaded onto a low-bed carrier,” a police situational report said.

It said the team received additional intelligence about a nearby village, Atta Ne Atta, near Dwendwenase, that an excavator operator had hidden another machine in a cocoa farm.

The team proceeded to the location and impounded it. 

Components

The operator had disconnected some components, making it difficult to start or move it.

The destruction by team NAIMOS and the blue water guards in the nzema east District

However, the report said, with the expertise of the task force’s technical team, the excavator was successfully started and subsequently loaded onto the low-bed carrier.

“Both excavators were then transported to the base at Patase for safekeeping and further action,” the report said.

Western Region

In the Western Region, the team stormed separate locations at Adiewoso and Tettrem in the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipality where 12 suspects, including a female, were arrested.

The joint anti-galamsey operation involved personnel from the Second Infantry Battalion (2BN), police and national security.

The team retrieved two tricycles, a motorcycle, and destroyed 25 chanfang machines, which were subsequently burned.

The 12 suspects, along with the seized exhibits, are currently in custody at the Agona Nkwanta Police District Police Command in the Ahanta West Municipality, helping in the investigations.

The arrests came after the security task force in the Western Region resolved to make the region unattractive to the illegal miners in any form to halt the degradation of the environment.

The squads operate back-to-back, rely on intel from the local communities and AI technology to identify targets and deal with the miners who largely are not natives of the affected communities.

The squads of security task force is a collaboration between the army, the commands of the two police regions, the taskforce of the National Anti-illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and the Blue Water Guards.

The operation over the weekend, led by the NAIMOS and the Nzema Blue Water Guards at Abelebo and Akango communities in the Nzema East Municipality, saw the destruction of 50 chanfang machines, polytanks, power generators and pipe lines at the sites.

The task force also dealt with several makeshift structures erected along the course of the Ankobra River used as shelters by the illegal miners.

The Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, said the fight against illegal mining would not be an event but a sustained fight until the environment was rid of the sins against nature.

“From my observation, when operations are executed, the illegal miners often retreat, only to return when they think the coast is clear. We will not relent, we will make sure we deal with them and sustain the fight,” he said.

Rubber production

Earlier, the illegal miners had made serious incursion into the plantation of matured rubber ready for tapping.

The situation is crippling the operations of the Ghana Rubber Estate Limited (GREL) in some areas, with more than 6,000 hectares of rubber plantation totalling more than 2,000 trees destroyed by the activities of illegal miners.

Officials of the company said illegal mining had slashed the company’s yields in affected areas, with the Western Regional Coordinating Council describing the situation as worrying.

The Western Regional Security Liaison Officer, Brigadier General Musa Whajah (retd), said to mitigate the incursion, aside from the clampdown on galamsey,  there was the need to engage host communities in dialogue to highlight the devastating impact of illegal mining on their operations.

CEO and founder of Degas Limited Doga Makiura with President

Degas Limited has announced a $100 million investment over the next four years to position Ghana as Africa’s first AI-powered agricultural hub.

The initiative will expand a model that has already financed more than 86,000 smallholder farmers across 122,000 acres nationwide.

“Ghana has shown that when technology meets a clear national vision, smallholder farmers can thrive,” said Doga Makiura, CEO and founder of Degas Limited, at a meeting with President John Dramani Mahama on the sidelines of the Ghana Presidential Investment Forum.

“Our $100 million commitment will scale AI-driven satellite monitoring and precision agriculture techniques so farmers can boost yields, reduce risk, and access fairly priced finance.”

According to Makiura, Degas’ model has already doubled farmer incomes with a 95% repayment rate.

Degas’ platform combines AI-driven satellite monitoring with precision agriculture techniques, results that are now attracting strong interest from Japanese investors.

“Many Japanese partners now consider Ghana’s integrated approach the gold standard for agricultural investment in Africa,” Makiura added. “President Mahama’s focus on value-chain integration aligns closely with Japan’s search for credible, scalable partnerships.”

President Mahama welcomed the announcement, describing it as a vote of confidence in Ghana’s agricultural transformation agenda.

“This investment reinforces our commitment to integrated agricultural value chains that connect farmers to markets, finance, storage, and processing,” he said. “By leveraging AI and precision technologies, we will improve productivity, enhance food security, and create dignified jobs for youth across rural communities.”

The new funding will support the expansion of Degas’ farmer financing, satellite-enabled crop monitoring, and precision agronomy services, while deepening partnerships across input supply, logistics, and offtake to strengthen local value chains.

Introduction

ON August 6, 2025, a devastat­ing Z-9 helicop­ter crash shook our nation to its core. As the dust settled, Ghana’s forensic community has stepped forward, not only to uncover scientific truths but to provide the needed narrative to be ardently captured in our national disaster emergen­cy preparedness plan to uphold dignity and compassion for victims and their families. This article, aims to illuminate the often unseen pro­cedures that follow such tragedies. Through the prism of forensic expertise, it documents the es­sential steps from site recovery to identification designed to ensure respect, accuracy, and healing.

Procedures at the

disaster site

At the crash scene, forensic first responders must follow a disci­plined sequence of actions. Their overriding priority is saving lives followed by expert management of human remains. Each recovered body must be assigned a unique alphanumeric code, combining the location, team name, and sequen­tial number vital for traceability.

Immediate documentation includes detailed photography and data recording, ideally before de­composition begins. Photographs should capture full-body and facial views, distinguishing features, personal effects, and include the body code for later identification. First responders must also fill out a “Dead Body Information Form,” capturing physical details and scene context.

Transfer of human

remains

Once bodies have been coded, photographed, and documented, they require secure, respectful transfer. The use of body bags or similar sealed containers is imper­ative. It must be durable, water­proof, and properly labelled to preserve dignity and prevent con­tamination. However in situations of unavailability, plastic sheets, shrouds, bed sheets, or other locally available material can be used in a culturally and religiously sensitive manner. Handling must respect chain-of-custody proto­cols. At least two handlers should oversee removal or movement, documenting transfers carefully and maintaining labels on both the body and its container. The use of stretchers or plastic skeds may be required to safely lift or move heavy or fragile remains.

Holding and

examination site

Transferred remains must be moved to a dedicated holding area or temporary morgue, where fur­ther processing can occur. Ideally, this location is cooler, shielded from direct sunlight, scavengers, and public view. If refrigeration is unavailable, carefully managed temporary burial may serve as interim storage, but only after cod­ing, photography, and documenta­tion are complete.

Temporary burial sites must be respectful and traceable: bodies placed individually (not piled), buried at least 1.5 m deep, located away from water sources, and me­ticulously mapped so each body’s location is recorded.

Viewing area

Where cultural or legal norms permit, establishing a viewing area gives families the chance to see loved ones before formal disposition. This must be man­aged sensitively, under controlled, supervised conditions to balance mourning with orderly procedure. The principles of dignity, safety, and informed, respectful access are embedded throughout.

Examination Area

In the examination site, forensic experts conduct thorough exter­nal—and when required, internal examinations. Handling here calls for strict adherence to safety protocols: standard precautions, protective equipment, and aware­ness of disease risks, even if those risks are lower postmortem. Health research confirms that bodies from traumatic disasters typically pose minimal risk of infection to the public. Yet, risks from con­tact with bloodborne pathogens (like hepatitis or HIV), especially through sharps or open wounds, mandate careful safeguards during examination. This ensures forensic accuracy without compromising staff safety.

Conclusion

In the aftermath of the Z-9 helicopter tragedy, Ghana’s foren­sic practitioners have a profound responsibility to collaborate with Disaster Management Authorities and other stakeholders: to ensure that every life lost is also seen, recorded, and remembered with dignity.

Through structured procedures: unique coding, meticulous docu­mentation, secure transfer, respect­ful storage, regulated viewing, and safe examination as captured in international disaster management standards (i.e. PAHO/WHO/ ICRC guidelines)— the forensic approach honors both scientific precision and human decency. When tragedy strikes, it is in these protocols that healing, justice, and collective memory can begin.

The writers are medical pro­fessionals

BY DR LAWRENCE KOFI ACHEAMPONG & PROF. FRANCIS AGYEMANG YEBOAH

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