Policy analyst Bright Simons

Policy analyst Bright Simons has questioned the African Union’s (AU) call for the world to ditch the Mercator map projection, arguing that the bloc often pursues geo-politics without the matching geo-policy required to achieve lasting results.

In a post shared via X on Monday August 18, 2025, Simons said the AU’s position reflects a long-standing weakness stating, “African elites are very attuned to geo-POLITICS but not so much to geo-POLICY. They often push Africa’s political interests without syncing with the underlying policy-plumbing that actually shapes outcomes. I call this problem: Katanomics.”

The Mercator projection, created in 1569, is the most widely used map design but has long been faulted for making Africa appear smaller than its true size. Greenland, for instance, looks equal to Africa on Mercator maps even though it is 14 times smaller.

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Simons stressed that the map was never designed for comparing landmasses but for navigation.

“Mercator was only interested in navigation. Distorting sizes was not a problem for the mariners he was serving,” he explained.

He added that while alternative projections such as Gall-Peters better capture Africa’s scale, they come with their own trade-offs, distorting shapes.

“Any solution that focuses on popular preferences, wants, likes, fears, etc. without enough focus on the HOW we got there will fail or be ignored,” he cautioned.

Simons noted that despite decades of debate over projections, African cartographers have been largely absent.

“African cartographers were nowhere in the debates. Once again, missing in geo-POLICY,” he said, urging the continent to not only demand recognition but also to contribute technically to the solutions.

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See his full post below:

1. Our beloved African Union wants the world to ditch maps based on the Mercator projection because it makes Africa look smaller than it really is.

2. Mercator is the most popular map projection. Its size distortion is why Greenland looks equal in size to Africa when it is in… pic.twitter.com/Qc2zUat3RV

— Bright Simons (@BBSimons) August 18, 2025

MA

Catholic professionals from diverse fields across Ghana have formally united under a newly inaugurated Catholic Professionals Guild (CPG) Council, pledging to uphold integrity and contribute to national development through service.

The historic Induction and Inauguration Ceremony, hosted during the 9:30 a.m. Mass of the St. Bakhita Catholic Church in Sakumono, drew clergy, professionals, and parishioners for a celebration that highlighted the growing role of Catholic professionals in the Church and the Ghanaian society.

The ceremony was presided over by Most Rev. Bishop John Kobina Louis, who called on the new leaders to serve with dedication and urged the Catholic community to fully support their work.

Induction of Guild Executives

The event marked the induction of new executives for several professional guilds, including the Accra Chapter of the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners, Ghana (CAMP-G), the Catholic Health Professionals Guild (CATHPROG), the Association of Catholic Teachers Guild (ACT), and the Business, Management & Finance Guild (BMF).

These guilds join a wider network of professional bodies already under the Catholic Professionals Guild umbrella, representing disciplines such as law, education, sports, IT, agribusiness, hospitality, creative arts, and security.

A Vision of Service and Integrity

Delivering his maiden speech as the incoming Chairman of the Council, Samuel Benedict Kwaku Nugblega described the inauguration as “a renewal of purpose and a recommitment to our shared mission.”

He explained that the Council’s mandate extends beyond ceremony, but to build a united, faith-driven community that reflects Catholic values in both professional and personal life.

“I salute the outgoing leadership and all who have served before us for their tireless dedication. You have laid a strong foundation of faith, values, and service. Now, with humility and determination, we take up the mantle and promise to build on it—guided by the Holy Spirit and the teachings of our Church,” Mr Nugblega assured.

In his speech, Mr. Nugblega also outlined the Council’s three-pillar agenda:

1. Formation in Integrity and Catholic Social Teaching – providing continuous mentoring, faith-based guidance, and ethical formation for professionals, especially the youth.

2. Building a Strong and Caring Guild Community – strengthening solidarity, prioritizing members’ welfare, and empowering Catholic professionals to rise collectively as one family.

3. Deepening Collaboration to Influence Society and Policy – working with the Church hierarchy, policymakers, and institutions to promote human dignity, social justice, and the common good.

He also reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to mentoring young Catholic professionals, mobilizing resources for community development, and supporting the Church’s mission in evangelization and social action.

Call to Collective Responsibility

Mr. Nugblega acknowledged the foundation laid by outgoing leaders, pledging to build on their legacy “with humility and determination, guided by the Holy Spirit.”

He stressed that the Council’s vision cannot be achieved by its executives alone, but requires the commitment of clergy, professionals, and the wider Catholic community.

National Outlook

The inauguration of the Catholic Professionals Guild Council represents a significant step in mobilizing Catholic expertise to contribute to national discourse and policy direction.

By combining professional skill with faith and ethical leadership, the new Council positions itself as a strong moral voice within Ghana’s professional and civic landscape.

As Bishop John Kobina Louis reminded the gathering, the Catholic community has a responsibility to stand behind these professionals as they bring Catholic values to bear on national life.

The event closed with prayers for guidance from the Holy Spirit for the new leaders, marking the beginning of what the new leaders hope will be a new era of integrity, mentorship, and impactful service by the Catholic Professionals Guilds across Ghana.

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.

Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Minister of Finance

The World Bank has proposed a set of medium-term policy measures the government can adopt to enhance fiscal consolidation.

According to its 9th Ghana Economic Update, the Bank noted that sectoral reforms are necessary to address structural fiscal imbalances by eliminating deficits at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and COCOBOD, while also strengthening the financial sector.

It said private sector participation is required to overhaul the ECG in order to improve operational efficiency, boost revenue collection, and reduce losses.

“Moreover, it is necessary to ensure the consistent implementation of the quarterly debt settlement system and bring the Energy Sector Recovery Program (ESRP) back on track,” the report stated.

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On the cocoa sector, the Bank proposed a comprehensive reform of COCOBOD’s functions and responsibilities. It recommended that COCOBOD maintain its core mandate of cocoa production and marketing while phasing out quasi-fiscal expenditures.

In the financial sector, the World Bank stressed the importance of establishing a robust framework for resolving non-viable banks, strengthening supervisory systems to integrate fintech players while ensuring systemic stability, and expanding access to affordable financial services.

“Continued macroeconomic stabilisation, particularly sustained disinflation and fiscal consolidation, is essential to lower nominal interest rates and improve real borrowing conditions,” it said.

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On the fiscal front, the Bank underscored that the full rollout of the Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS) will be key to strengthening domestic revenue mobilisation.

“Remaining measures include rationalising VAT, expanding excise tax coverage, improving tax compliance, and broadening the tax base,” it added.

SSD/MA

It has been established that Maripoma Enterprise Limited, contractors working on the Ofankor–Nsawam Road, has returned to site as of Thursday, August 14, 2025.

For commuters, business owners, and residents, the return is seen more of progress; “We are glad the contractor has shown up. We want results, not excuses anymore,” one commuter told this reporter.

The Ofankor–Nsawam Road, one of Ghana’s busiest highways, has long symbolised neglect and betrayal.

For weeks, despite the government settling arrears owed to the contractor- an eye-watering GHS809 million (about $77 million), the road lay abandoned, dusty, and deadly which caused protests from citizens.

However, documents sighted by this paper confirm that the government released the full payment to Maripoma in just one week.

The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department issued three separate instructions to the Bank of Ghana:

• 28th July 2025: GHS359,928,437.70 transferred to Maripoma’s account at Zenith Bank (UK).
• 31st July 2025: GHS100,000,000.00 transferred.
• 4th August 2025: GHS350,000,000.00 transferred.

All three directives, signed by Controller and Accountant-General Kwasi Kwanin Agyei and copied to the Ministers of Finance and Roads & Highways, explicitly stated the funds were for the rehabilitation of the Nsawam–Ofankor Road.

In total, more than GHS809 million left state coffers.

The company has confirmed payment and has since last Thursday, been to site to continue work.
Until August 14, community leaders alleged sabotage, hinting that the contractor was deliberately stalling to embarrass government.

That narrative shifted last Thursday, when Maripoma’s teams were spotted resuming work along the stretch.

It is believed that, before Maripoma’s return, the road’s neglect was inflicting a heavy toll on commercial drivers, businesses, and accidents have been reported.

It was reported that, commuters last Saturday, staged demonstrations in Nsawam and Amasaman, carrying placards that read:
• “Accidents Daily, How Many More?”
• “Accountability Missing!”
• “Years of Dust, Delays and Broken Promises,” and warned they would block the Accra–Nsawam road
on Thursday, August 21, if rehabilitation does not progress at a meaningful pace.

While Maripoma Enterprise Limited—founded by Managing Director Ali Seidu and incorporated in 1998—has finally moved back to site, doubts have been cleared.

Certified under the highest financial and road construction classifications in Ghana, the company has handled road and civil engineering projects nationwide.

Until real progress is made, commuters of Ofankor, Amasaman, and Nsawam will remain on edge—cautious witnesses to a project that has only just stirred back to life.

One of the scenes in Osu

Growing piles of uncollected rubbish, choked gutters, and indiscriminate dumping of waste are fueling public health fears in Osu, one of Accra’s most vibrant neighbourhoods.

From Asafoaste Ankaa Street’s bustling commercial strip to the narrow residential lanes behind Ringway Estates, the stench of refuse and stagnant water is becoming part of daily life.

Residents say the worsening sanitation situation is already taking a toll on their well-being and warn it could spiral into a major health crisis if left unchecked as the raining season peaks.

“Every day I sweep in front of my shop, but people come and dump their rubbish again,” lamented Aunty Mabel, a shop owner near Ringway Estates. “We are just surrounded by filth, and the smell is terrible,” she added.

Like many others, she blames the poor state of waste management partly on irregular refuse collection by city authorities. “Sometimes, the bins are full for days. Who is supposed to collect them?” she asked.

A walk through parts of Osu paints a grim picture; gutters clogged with plastic and food waste, flies buzzing around open drains near food vendors, and pools of stagnant water breeding mosquitoes. The environmental conditions, health experts warn, are fertile ground for outbreaks of cholera, typhoid, and malaria. Although city by-laws prohibit littering and open dumping, enforcement remains weak.

Shared Responsibility

Some residents, however, acknowledge that the community itself bears part of the blame.

“Some of us are not helping at all,” admitted Mr. Godwin Tetteh, who has lived in Osu for over 20 years. “People dump ‘Borla’ behind their houses and leave it to rot. You can’t blame everything on the government.”

Mr. Tetteh recalls a time when “town council” officers patrolled neighbourhoods, inspecting premises and summoning offenders to court. He believes reviving such measures could improve the situation.

Calls for Action

Residents of Osu are now calling for urgent intervention from the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly to step up waste management services, enforce sanitation laws, and educate the public on proper waste disposal.

Residents fear that blocked drains could worsen flooding in low-lying areas, spreading contaminants through homes and businesses.By

By Yussif Hawa

The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC)

The Director of Business Registration and Licences at the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC), Yayra Adzo Banini, has urged businesses to register their companies or risk sanctions and possible closure.

According to her, business registration is the only legitimate way to prove a company’s existence.

“We can boast that if you are born, you will have a birth certificate, and if you are travelling, you will have a passport. So, if you claim that you have a business, the only way you can prove you actually exist is to register. There are many benefits attached to it, so don’t wait until the opportunity comes before you run to our offices,” she said, as quoted by myjoyonline.com.

The Director of Inspection and Compliance at the ORC, Sandrah Koko Quacoe, also emphasised that the Registrar has the power to strike out companies that fail to comply with the law.

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She explained that adhering to the Act and filing regularly prevents “unnecessary” sanctions and penalties.

“Update your records with us, make sure you file, comply with the Act, and that will prevent unnecessary penalties. In the worst case, the Registrar has the mandate to strike out companies if they fail to comply,” she warned.

To improve compliance, the ORC is organising registration exercises in various communities to raise awareness and educate business owners on best practices.

“We are bringing registration clinics to all environments. Anytime you want to do something and engage us, we are gladly ready to come there to serve you on the spot,” Banini added.

SSD/MA

The government is taking steps to restore the country’s once-thriving textiles and garments sector with the introduction of a new policy framework designed to position Ghana as a leading sourcing hub for ethical and sustainable apparel production in West Africa.

Spanning a 10-year implementation period, the draft policy proposes interventions across nine thematic areas, including infrastructure development, cotton cultivation, investment incentives, skills training and trade facilitation.

Among the proposed measures are the establishment of five world-class industrial parks, zero-rated taxes and duties for eligible investors, and the creation of a Ghana Textile Upgradation Fund (G-TUF) to support the modernisation of ageing machinery.

It also introduces a Cotton Development Fund to revive local cotton farming, and a Textile and Garment Sector Development Unit to coordinate activities, attract foreign direct investment, and serve as a one-stop shop for industry stakeholders.

Consequently, a three-day validation workshop has been organised to refine and validate the proposed measures to ensure the final policy reflects the country’s industrial realities and aspirations.

The workshop, which commenced in Accra on Wednesday, August 6, brought together key stakeholders from academia, the financial sector, the garment and textile industry, government agencies, labour unions and development partners.

The finalised policy, once adopted, is expected to provide the clarity, incentives and institutional coordination needed to rebuild the sector and reclaim its role as a cornerstone of the country’s industrial and economic development.

Alignment

Speaking at the opening of the workshop, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, stressed the need for alignment between industrial operations and national development goals.

“Textiles are a key enterprise that drive the development of any country. If a factory exists and does not follow the policy of the existing government, it means that the factory shouldn’t exist at all,” he said.

Dr Pelpuo also emphasised the importance of the sector in addressing youth unemployment. “This policy must not just be validated, it must be a catalyst to reset the economy, reset the mindset and reset the development path of Ghana,” he stated.

The Deputy Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Samson Ahi, said the sector remained one of the country’s most historically significant and economically promising industries.

He explained that while Ghana once had a flourishing textiles and garments industry, only a handful of legacy companies currently remain in operation, with many running below capacity.

Mr Ahi noted that the draft policy was the result of extensive research, stakeholder consultations, and a clear-eyed assessment of global trends. He was confident that it would help address the current challenges through a coherent and competitive framework that would attract investment, boost productivity and position Ghana as a regional hub for ethical and sustainable apparel manufacturing.

Ghana is on the cusp of a regulatory overhaul that could place it among Africa’s most forward-looking economies when it comes to digital assets. With the central bank expected to present a crypto licensing framework to parliament in September 2025, the next few weeks will be pivotal not just for Ghana’s fintech future, but for the broader West African region.

The urgency is well placed. According to Chainalysis data, Ghana recorded over $3 billion in crypto activity between July 2023 and June 2024, a staggering figure that underlines both the appetite for digital assets and the risks of operating without a clear legal framework.

A robust, well-balanced policy could transform this informal momentum into sustainable economic value in the country, expanding access to capital, improving financial inclusion, and generating new revenue streams for the state.

If passed in, the framework would permit only registered exchanges and wallet providers to operate legally, subject to capital thresholds and anti-money laundering requirements, keeping Ghana off the FATF grey list.

It’s a commendable step toward consumer protection and financial stability. However, the usual concerns are beginning to surface, particularly around the enforcement capacity, the ability of local startups to meet stringent licensing conditions, and the risk that an overly rigid approach could push innovation underground.

How Licensing Passporting for virtual asset service providers who already have licences in recognised jurisdictions is also yet to be seen, as such a provision is a catalytic game-changer for the African continent.

The current draft is said to offer clarity on how supervision will be carried out and how smaller players and new businesses can be supported.

This will be covered by a sandbox model licence, which has been introduced to avoid a divide between large, well-capitalized firms and grassroots fintech innovators.

This would also encourage incubation for local stablecoin issuers, which Binance has encouraged local stablecoins to build on its BNB Chain.

Larry Cooke, Africa’s Head of Legal at Binance, says “Ghana has an opportunity to showcase to the world and the continent what robust and fair legislation looks like that is supported by stable infrastructure, innovative solutioning, and role modelled leadership”.

There’s precedent to learn from. Global exchanges like Binance have voluntarily implemented Know-Your-Customer (KYC) protocols, user education initiatives, and fraud prevention tools across several African markets.

In Kenya, Binance has actively engaged with regulators and the local Virtual Assets Chamber of Commerce during the drafting of the Virtual Asset Service Providers Bill, supporting efforts to improve user protection and financial education.

The question now is whether Ghana’s framework will foster similar cooperation or risk deterring it.

This push toward regulation comes amid increased dialogue between the public and private sectors. In recent months, the Bank of Ghana and various stakeholders have held consultations on draft proposals, including a licensing regime for virtual asset service providers.

These engagements are widely seen as crucial to shaping legislation that balances investor protection with the need to encourage innovation and enable cross-border trade.

With the central bank expected to present the framework to Parliament in September, sustained collaboration between regulators and industry players will be critical to getting it right.

The opportunity is clear: digital assets can be a powerful lever for economic transformation. Now it’s up to policymakers to match the momentum on the ground, without losing sight of the local realities that could make or break the success of this bold regulatory shift.

Baffour Kwadwo Damoah Afari, Sanaahene (sub-chief) of Dormaa Traditional Area in the Bono Region, has called on the government to subsidise poultry feed for farmers to produce more and to meet the growing national poultry demand.

He noted that poultry farmers were unable to produce more because of the high cost of feed, saying with the subsidy, the farmers could improve productivity.

Baffour Afari indicated that presently farmers could only produce between 57,000 metric tons and 60,000 metric tons of the expected annual national demand of 460,000 metric tons.

The chief made the call when speaking at the opening session of a two-day maiden poultry business clinic at Dormaa-Ahenkro, jointly organised by the Business Resource Centre, Dormaa Central Municipal Assembly and the Dormaa Poultry Farmers Association.

It was attended by traditional authorities, input dealers, financial institutions, poultry farmers and other stakeholders in the agriculture sector and the poultry value chain.

Baffour Afari expressed concern that poultry farmers spent about 80 percent of capital on feeding, saying the importation of low-cost poultry products like day old chicks, poultry meat and feed supplement as well as eggs from countries like Argentina, Poland, Brazil and Holland were also another challenge confronting the nation’s poultry sector.

Other pressing challenges include, poultry disease, lack of insurance for poultry farms and birds, poor farm management practices, as well as stealing of eggs.

“These challenges drive marketing and sales control to the disadvantage of domestic poultry producers”, Baffour Afari stated, and stressed the need for the government to do more to make the sector more attractive and to boost farmers’ confidence and productivity as well.

Baffour Afari lauded the organization of the poultry clinic, saying that remained crucial to improving and turning round the economic prospect of the nation’s poultry sector.

He told the farmers that the Dormaa campus of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) had a dedicated department for agriculture and advised them to visit the department and to seek information, knowledge and expertise to transform their businesses.

Baffour Afari advised the poultry farmers in the area to also create a realistic data base for their poultry business to aid effective business decision-making and enable them to receive support from development partners.

He said truthful data on their operations would further guarantee the sustainability, growth and expansion of their businesses, urging them to form cooperatives and to share information among themselves.

“Sharing real data will enable them to also benefit from government intervention and support as well as get some tax incentives”, he stated.

Daniel Sena Tsorme, the Head of the BRC, took the participants through various classifications of Micro, Small, Medium and Enterprises (MSMEs), their differences, annual turnovers, and fixed assets value.

He said the Center would continue to promote the poultry industry in the Dormaa Central Municipality by highlighting its prospects, challenges and opportunities as well as producing documentary films about the sector.

“We are concentrating on Dormaa Central for now, however poultry farmers in Dormaa East and Dormaa West Districts can join us if they want to”, he stated, saying that the center would also work to help create a reliable data base that would drive investments.

Tsorme also advised the farmers to leverage social media opportunities, saying the center also had intentions to create a social media handle to promote the industry in a more positive way.

He urged, especially the women farmers to acquire the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA)’s certification and licensing of their pack house or warehouse for eggs to ensure that they meet the required standards.