Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority, James Gardiner

The newly appointed Deputy Executive Secretary of the National Film Authority, James Gardiner, has assured that his team is working hard to settle in and get things rolling quickly.

In an interview with Joy FM’s Kwame Dadzie on March 1, 2025, Gardiner described the appointment as an honour and pledged to work diligently alongside his immediate boss, Kafui Danku, to advance the goals of the film industry and the nation at large.

He added that he is already collaborating with industry players and stakeholders to achieve both short-term and long-term objectives.

“There’s a lot of work to be done, and as such, we’ve already marked out plans to meet and engage with some of the industry players and stakeholders to rub our minds together on how we can together work as a unit and achieve our short-term goals and our long-term goals as well.

“We are working very hard to settle in so we can set the ball rolling as quickly as we can. So help us God,” he said.

The actor, who shares a long-standing professional relationship with Kafui Danku in the acting space, expressed confidence in their ability to steer the NFA in the right direction.

“We are willing and ready to fill the big shoes of the office and to continue to drive the vehicle towards the right direction for the betterment of our industry and also the nation as a whole,” Gardiner stated.

Although some individuals are protesting it, the appointments of Kafui Danku and James Gardiner have been celebrated as a step toward strengthening Ghana’s film industry, with many anticipating innovative strategies and collaborative efforts under their leadership.

Meanwhile, the National Film Authority is expected to unveil its strategic plans in the coming weeks as it seeks to elevate Ghana’s film industry to new heights.

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Finance Minister, Dr Ato Forson, has emphasised the urgent need for comprehensive economic reforms to ensure the country achieves upper middle-income status before the year 2038.

Speaking at the National Economic Dialogue held at the Accra International Conference Centre, Dr Forson cautioned that without ambitious measures, Ghana is unlikely to attain this status until after 2025.

Dr Forson stated, “Without comprehensive reforms, unfortunately, Ghana will only achieve upper middle-income status after the year 2025, and we cannot wait until 2050 before we become an upper middle-income country.”

The Minister highlighted that introducing well-structured and ambitious reforms is imperative for the nation’s economic progress.

He underscored the government’s commitment to implementing these reforms to reset and strengthen Ghana’s economy, paving the way for sustainable growth and development.

“We have no choice but to introduce measures to reset our economy. If we are to do well and introduce very ambitious reforms, Ghana will indeed become an upper middle-income country before the year 2038,” Dr. Forson added.

The National Economic Dialogue has brought together policymakers, economists, business leaders, and civil society organisations to deliberate on key economic strategies.

The discussions aim to shape policies that will drive long-term economic stability and growth.

Read also…

Majority of Ghana’s economic challenges are self-inflicted – Dr. Ishmael Yamson

Rayo Vallecano head coach, Inigo Perez, has stated that more specific tests need to be run to properly diagnose the extent of injury Ghana defender Abdul Mumin Sulemana picked up recently.

The 26 year old had to be substituted in the 35 minute in Rayo’s 1-1 draw with Sevilla in the Spanish La Liga game played over this past weekend due to the injury.

Mumin’s injury comes ahead of Ghana Black Stars 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification games against Chad and Madagascar on March 21 and March 24 respectively.

He was one of two players to leave the game due to injury as Angolan attacking midfielder Randy Nteka also got substituted in the 26^th minute because of an injury.

Speaking in the post-game interview, Perez pointed to the need to run further tests to determine to get more information on Mumin’s injury.

“Randy’s seems well to have something muscular in the abductor…as for Mumin, he is waiting for some more specific test to be done to be able to diagnose it.”

Mumin has two goals and an assist in 24 appearances this season.

William Ato Essien is former CEO of now-defunct Capital Bank

A petition has been submitted to President John Dramani Mahama, urging him to grant a presidential pardon to William Ato Essien, the founder of now-defunct Capital Bank

Essien is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence after being convicted by an Accra High Court for misappropriating over GH¢90 million in liquidity support provided by the Bank of Ghana to Capital Bank.

Initially, Essien was given the opportunity to avoid imprisonment by agreeing to repay the GH¢90 million as restitution to the state. However, after paying GH¢30 million upfront in December 2022, he failed to meet the payment terms for the remaining GH¢60 million, leading to the imposition of a custodial sentence.

The petition, sighted by GhanaWeb Business and submitted by lawyer Andrew Appiah-Danquah on Thursday, February 27, 2025, challenges the fairness of Essien’s conviction and imprisonment.

It highlights his contributions to Ghana’s financial sector, emphasizing that his leadership at Capital Bank created jobs, supported local businesses, and empowered entrepreneurs.

The petition argues that Essien’s conviction undermines the achievements of a visionary entrepreneur who proved that local enterprises could thrive in a competitive financial market.

It also claims that the collapse of Capital Bank in 2017 was not due to fraud but rather a politically motivated move to consolidate financial power.

According to the petition, Essien resisted political pressure to relinquish control of his bank, which allegedly led to its targeted closure

“Capital Bank’s collapse in 2017 was not due to fraud but a politically orchestrated move to consolidate financial power. Mr. Essien refused to bow to political pressure to cede control of his bank to powerful interests, which ultimately led to its targeted demise. The GH¢620 million Liquidity Support Was a Commercial Loan, Not a Fraud…Capital Bank was repaying this loan and had already paid GH¢336 million in interest over two years-clear evidence that it was a legitimate banking transaction,” the petition read.

It continued, “The GH¢480 million described as a “shareholder loan” was not stolen but rather a strategic restructuring of non-performing loans accumulated over 14 years. Such restructuring is a common financial practice aimed at strengthening a bank’s financial position and was not an act of fraud.

“Three other accused persons—Dr. Tetteh Nettey, Rev. Fitzgerald Odonkor,and Kate Quartey-Papafio—were acquitted on the same charges for which Mr. Essien was convicted. The court held that: The GH¢70 million transaction involving Kate Quartey-Papafio was fully accounted for. The GH¢130 million transaction involving Dr. Tetteh Nettey was fully accounted for. The GH¢27.5 million transaction involving Rev. Fitzgerald Odonkor was legal and authorised,” it added.

See the full petition below:

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The Chairman of the National Economic Dialogue Planning Committee, Dr Ishmael Yamson, has stated that Ghana remains economically dominated and heavily indebted, despite marking its 68th anniversary of political independence.

He noted that the country continues to struggle with widespread unemployment, particularly among the youth, which has become a significant security concern.

Additionally, he said that, Ghana is the most food-import-dependent country in Sub-Saharan Africa, relying heavily on foreign markets to feed its population.

Speaking at the 2025 National Economic Dialogue in Accra today, March 3, Dr Yamson highlighted the collapse of the manufacturing sector and the pervasive economic hardship affecting citizens.

“We know why we are where we are today,” he stated, attributing Ghana’s economic struggles to systemic failures.

Dr Yamson criticised the country’s political culture, describing it as one motivated by power and self-interest, with politicians looting state resources for personal gain.

He lamented the prevalence of selfishness, arrogance, and impunity among political leaders and public officials.

He further pointed out that Ghana’s governance system had been reduced to a “party-capture” model, where opposition parties deliberately obstruct national progress rather than supporting genuine development efforts.

“A party capture political system where the party in the opposition chooses to sit on the fence and does everything even including misleading the people to undermine genuine efforts to develop the country. There is no longer love for country,” he remarked.

Dr Yamson listed several structural issues affecting Ghana’s economy, including mismanagement, macroeconomic instability, institutionalised corruption, and weak state institutions.

He described the government as “maximum governance with minimum leadership,” citing inefficiencies in economic and social infrastructure, failed agricultural policies, and a continued overreliance on imported value-added products rather than developing local industries.

Despite decades of independence, he noted that Ghana remained primarily an exporter of raw commodities while depending on imports for processed goods—an economic structure that has hindered sustainable development.

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Mohammed Ali

Mar – 03 – 2025 , 11:26

2 minutes read

Chairman of the National Economic Dialogue Planning Committee, Dr. Ishmael Yamson has expressed confidence in the governance of President Mahama to restore sustainable economic growth for Ghana.

Speaking at the launch of the National Economic Dialogue on Monday, March 3, 2025, Dr. Yamson noted that Ghana has long suffered serious economic mess, emphasising the need for an urgent strategic plan to revive Ghana’s economy.

He believes President Mahama has the wherewithal to reset Ghana’s economy as he says he’s been blessed with wisdom to put Ghana on the right path and reset the country’s destiny.

“Your Excellency, someone must reset the destiny of Ghana and it can only be you.

“Everywhere in the world that economic transformation has taken place, only one individual has led the charge and the Lord has blessed you with the wisdom to take on that task, the task to liberate Ghana from economic mismanagement and corruption to reset Ghana and put it on a path of sustainable and resilient growth including development and prosperity for all citizens of the country,” he noted.

Dr. Ishmael Yamson further painted a dark picture of Ghana’s political arena which he said has been captured by “a political mindset motivated by power to loot state coffers for personal gains, selfishness, arrogance and impunity by our political leaders and public officers.”

“A party capture political system where the party in opposition chooses to sit on the fence and does everything even including mislead the people to undermine judging effort to develop the country,” he added.

“There’s no longer love for the country, economic mismanagement, macro instability and macro-economic impediment to economic transformation,” he asserted.

The Economist noted that the harsh economic conditions and the failure of Ghanaian leaders to address the ‘sinking economy’ has caused Ghanaian youths to lose hope in the country and would want to migrate with the slightest chance.

“Additionally, Your Excellency we have succeeded in creating a new generation called generation hustlers who have lost hope and just want to leave their country and leave Ghana behind them and relocate to foreign land. A very sad spectacle of our once highly revered country.

“Your Excellency this is definitely not the Ghana that our forefathers once fought for and definitely not the Ghana that succeeding generations have toiled and hoped for,” he lamented.

President John Dramani Mahama

The 2025 National Economic Dialogue is currently underway at the Accra International Conference Centre.

President John Dramani Mahama, the Guest of Honor at the event, will deliver a speech on the theme, “Resetting Ghana: Building the Economy We Want Together.”

This forum brings together a diverse group of participants, including top economic experts, policymakers, and industry leaders.

The two-day event aims to address Ghana’s pressing economic challenges and develop strategies to place the country on a stable economic trajectory.

Discussions will focus on macroeconomic stability, economic transformation, infrastructure development, structural reforms, private sector growth, and governance, all with the goal of fostering sustainable economic growth.

Watch the livestream below:

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 There is the need to imple­ment digital revenue collec­tion systems at the Metro, Municipal, and District Assembly (MMDA) levels to secure essential funding for development initia­tives in various regions, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, the Deputy Minister -designate of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), has stated.

This approach, she said, would aid in identifying instances of mismanagement, ensuring adher­ence to financial regulations, and fostering best practices in revenue generation.

In her responses to questions when she appeared before the par­liamentary Appointment Commit­tee on Friday, the Deputy Minister Designate noted that traditional methods of revenue collection faced numerous challenges, result­ing in insufficient fund mobilisa­tion for development within the assemblies.

The Deputy Minister-designate, who is also the Member of Parlia­ment (MP) for La Dade-Kotopon Constituency, emphasized that the approach would ensure effective monitoring and records keeping of collected accounts.

“The traditional method of revenue collection by the assem­blies presents numerous challeng­es, primarily due to the physical nature of payment processing to officers. However, with the advent of digitalisation, clients can now make payments from the comfort of their own locations, and these payments are directly credited to the assemblies’ accounts for devel­opmental purposes,” she stressed.

She explained that most of the assemblies could be taken off from government subvention if they were able to generate enough revenue internally for their devel­opment.

“Assemblies with enough gener­ating resources like LaDMA with many residential and commercial infrastructures can be taken off government support if they can collect enough revenue for their development,” Ms Sowah indicated.

On gender equity, she empha­sised that the Affirmative Action Act, which was enacted by parlia­ment, should serve as a catalyst for encouraging women and girls to pursue roles of interest in politics and other sectors.

However, she observed that many tend to hesitate in expressing their interest.

“The Affirmative Action Act makes way for 30 per cent partic­ipation of female in all level of the economy but it’s not going to be preserved if they don’t show up so there should be efforts to make them to show interest,” she underlined.

Ms Sowah further expressed her intention to advocate a transforma­tive mentorship programme in part­nership with the Gender Ministry and various stakeholders.

This initiative aims to educate women and girls from primary through tertiary education, en­couraging them to engage actively in society, similar to their male counterparts.

The Deputy Minister stressed the importance of collaboration among regional houses of Chiefs, tradition­al leaders, parents, political parties, and other entities to empower girls from a young age through to higher education, highlighting the necessity for them to take an interest in all sectors of the economy.

 BY VICTOR A. BUXTON

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has issued a firm directive prohibiting the photocopying of Ghana Cards for banking transactions, emphasizing that biometric verification must be the standard method for identity authentication.

This directive aligns with the National Identity Register Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2111) and aims to eliminate outdated verification methods such as lookup lists and visual inspections, which pose security risks.

Speaking at an engagement with financial institutions, Mr. Ashitei Trebi-Ollennu, Deputy Head of the Financial Integrity Office of BoG, stressed that photocopying Ghana Cards compromises the integrity of financial transactions.

“We have never said that banks should photocopy Ghana Cards. Photocopying leaves room for fraud and weakens security,” he stated.

He further emphasized that Ghana’s National Identification Authority (NIA) database is a powerful asset and should be leveraged through biometric verification instead of manual processes that create security vulnerabilities.

The meeting brought together the Bank of Ghana, the Ghana Association of Banks, the National Identification Authority (NIA), and representatives of universal banks to discuss ways to improve identity verification processes.

Legal representatives from the NIA, including Head of Legal Directorate, Teresa Eson-Benjamin, reiterated that the Ghana Card is the sole legally recognized identification document for banking transactions.

Discussions underscored biometric verification as the most secure way to prevent fraudulent activities linked to photocopied Ghana Cards.

The BoG urged financial institutions to fully transition to biometric-based authentication to safeguard the financial system and align with international best practices.

National Economic Dialogue will help reset Ghana, drive sustainable growth – Ato Forson

The Director-General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Salam, has been appointed Vice President of the African Lotteries Association (ALA).

Mr. Abdul-Salam’s appointment as Vice President of ALA follows the resignation of the immediate past Director-General of NLA, Hon. Samuel Awuku, who was elected Vice President of ALA on March 8, 2024. On the appointment of Mr. Mohammed Abdul-Salam as the new Director-General of NLA, the ALA Board of Directors unanimously approved Mr. Abdul Salam to the Executive Committee to serve Hon. Awuku’s remaining term of office.

At an Online ALA Executive Meeting, the president, Mr. Dramane Coulibaly, and members of the Executive Committee congratulated the NLA Director-General and welcomed him into the Executive Committee.

Subsequently, Mr. Abdul Salam has paid a working visit to the NLA’s sister lottery body, the Loterie Nationale De Cote D’Ivoire (LONACI), where he was warmly received by the Director-General, Mr. Dramane Coulibay, who also serves as the ALA President.

In his new role as Vice President, Mr. Abdul-Salam expressed gratitude for the appointment and the longstanding relationship between NLA and LONACI. He pledged to build on the work of his predecessor, Hon. Samuel Awuku, and strengthen the ties between the two lottery bodies.

“I am most grateful to the President of ALA and the Executive Committee for my elevation as ALA Vice President. I pledge to work hand in hand with them to address our member bodies’ concerns and fulfil the Association’s goals”. Mr. Abdul-Salam said.

The NLA Director-General said he was happy to learn of some of the best practices that have boosted revenue for LONACI and sustained the business, which he plans to inculcate into NL’s operations.

Mr. Dramane Coulibaly expressed immense excitement at Mr. Abdul-Salam’s visit and said it was a testament to the excellent relationship between NLA and LONACI. He enlightened him on the intricacies of dealing with illegal lottery operators and pledged to give him all the support he needed to succeed in his role.

Mr. Abdul-Salam was also a guest at a ceremony for LONACI to receive its WLA Level 2 Certification in Responsible Gaming. According to Mr. Coulibaly, this certification would help them identify the gaps and fulfil their obligations regarding responsible gaming.

“The certificate we have received today is proof, if proof were needed, of our commitment to respecting the principles of Responsible Gaming, as laid down by the World Lottery Association (WLA), and attests to the fact that LONACI has successfully undergone a critical self-assessment to identify the challenges it will have to meet to comply with all the principles of Responsible Gaming”. Mr. Dramane Coulibaly said.

The WLA Level 2 Certificate was presented to LONACI by the Permanent Secretary to ALA, Mr. Driss Hamdoune, who said this recognition illustrates LONACI’s commitment to ensuring a safer, more transparent and more responsible gaming environment.

Mr. Abdul-Salam congratulated the LONACI for this achievement and wished them well as they prepared to begin the process for Level 3 Certification

Dr. Johnson Asiama, Bank of Ghana Governor

The Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Johnson Asiama, has announced the suspension of the country’s Gold-for-Oil program.

Speaking in an interview with Bloomberg, Dr. Asiama stated that the initiative has been put on hold due to unspecified policy and operational challenges.

However, he expressed optimism that the cedi would stabilize following last year’s volatility.

“We intend to maintain an appropriate monetary policy stance. Together with commitments to fiscal discipline under the administration of President John Mahama, this should help us maintain stability in the foreign exchange markets,” he told Bloomberg on Friday, February 28, 2025.

Dr. Asiama further revealed that the program had incurred some losses, prompting its suspension.

“We have had to incur some losses on that, so we have put some suspension on the trade,” he stated.

The Gold-for-Oil program, introduced by the erstwhile Akufo-Addo administration, aimed to reduce reliance on foreign exchange for fuel imports and stabilize domestic fuel prices.

Despite the suspension, Dr. Asiama assured stakeholders that the central bank remains committed to exploring alternative measures to ensure fuel price stability and sustainable economic management.

He also emphasized that improved monetary and fiscal policy coordination should help ease price pressures as Ghana moves past the economic turmoil caused by its 2022 debt default.

The economic challenges in Ghana forced the country to seek a $3 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and restructure its debt after defaulting on its obligations.

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