The Exclusive

  The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has issued a strong warning to staff of the Minerals Commission, declaring that anyone who attempts to sabotage the government’s reform agenda will be dealt with decisively. Speaking during his first official visit to the Commission, the Minister stressed that the overwhelming mandate given to President Mahama and the NDC in the 2024 elections was a clear call for change and resetting national institutions, including the Minerals Commission. “We campaigned on resetting Ghana. That includes this Commission. Anyone who stands in our way is free to walk out now,” he said. Hon. Buah made it clear that while the government values professionalism and integrity, it will not tolerate individuals who cling to old ways or seek to frustrate efforts to reform the mining sector. He assured that committed and competent professionals have nothing to fear, but warned that anyone using political influence or engaging in ...

  The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has urged the Minerals Commission to fundamentally change the way it operates, particularly with regards to the licensing of mining activities. During his maiden working visit to the Commission, the Minister emphasized that while the Commission plays a crucial role in Ghana’s development, its regulatory mechanisms need urgent transformation. According to him, the current system of granting prospecting licenses has been abused, with some individuals misusing the permits to engage in full-scale mining under the guise of prospecting. He called this “a top-down approach” that must be changed to a “bottom-up” system with proper community engagement before licenses are granted. “I’ve seen prospecting licenses being waved at communities, destroying cocoa farms and polluting rivers. That must change. The idea that one can just get a license and start digging anywhere, including our water bodies, is unacceptable,...

  By Obenfo Nana Kwasi Gyetuah NED - GNACOPS The recent shooting incident at Adventist Senior High School, Bantama-Kumasi, is a stark reminder of the deep-seated problems plaguing Ghana's education system. As the National Executive Director of Ghana National Council of Private Schools, I am compelled to speak out against the alarming trends that are turning our schools into breeding grounds for crime and violence. *The Rotten Apples* The incident involving Bernard Amoabeng, a student who took a gun to school and threatened his colleagues, is a symptom of a larger problem. It highlights the failure of our education system to nurture moral values, discipline, and skills development in our children. The fact that this student was able to bring a gun to school undetected raises serious questions about the safety and security measures in place. *Causes of the Problem* The lack of moral education is a significant contributor to the problems facing our education system. The emphasis on ac...

The Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, has directed the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to immediately transfer all regional, divisional, and district police commanders stationed in mining areas across Ghana. This directive is part of a broader strategy aimed at intensifying the fight against illegal mining, which continues to ravage the country’s environment and water resources. According to the minister, officers who have served in mining regions for extended periods without yielding significant results in combating illegal mining will be replaced. The move is intended to introduce fresh leadership that can effectively address the menace. Under the new policy, the transferred commanders will be reassigned to non-mining areas, while the newly appointed officers will undergo a three-month probationary period. Those who fail to demonstrate progress in curbing illegal mining within this timeframe will also face transfer. Speaking during an engagement with Imams and ...

The Ghana Police Service has launched an investigation into the tragic death of General Constable John Kwabena Dogbey, a member of the Central North Regional Police Anti-Galamsey Taskforce. The incident occurred on April 2, 2025, at Assin Domeabra in the Central Region. According to preliminary findings, Constable Dogbey, identified as No. 63055, was part of a team dismantling a Chanfan machine used by illegal miners when he slipped and fell into the Offin River. After hours of intensive rescue efforts by divers, his body was retrieved and transported to the St. Francis Xavier Hospital in Assin Foso, where medical personnel pronounced him dead. The deceased officer’s body has been moved to the Police Hospital morgue for preservation and autopsy. Meanwhile, the Police Administration is in contact with the family of the late officer to offer support during this difficult time. In a related development, the Taskforce managed to dismantle one Chanfan machine and seized two pumping mach...

The Western North Regional Police Command has announced the arrest of two suspects for the illegal possession and discharge of firearms during a funeral celebration. The suspects, identified as Frank Afoko, 41, and Kojo Agyapong, 31, were apprehended on April 2, 2025, at approximately 2:00 PM by the Police Intelligence Department, with support from the Formed Police Unit. The arrests follow an investigation into an incident that occurred on March 14, 2025, at Attakrom, near Bibiani. A viral video circulating on social media showed individuals openly discharging firearms without lawful authority during a funeral event. According to the Western North Regional Police Command, the suspects admitted during interrogation to being the individuals seen in the video. Both have been detained to assist with further investigations, while efforts continue to apprehend other individuals involved who remain at large. The police have urged the public to provide any information that could help in t...

The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA), Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim has hailed Zoomlion Ghana Limited for the unparalleled sanitation infrastructure  so far in West Africa amid a strategic collaboration to tackle Ghana’s waste management crisis, particularly plastic. The minister was peaking on Adom TV in Accra, when he underscored the indispensability of Zoomlion’s cutting-edge facilities, which position Ghana as a regional leader in sustainable waste solutions.  "The kind of sanitation infrastructure that Zoomlion has invested - both in municipal solid and liquid waste and robustness of the recycling waste management plants is so unparalleled," he averred. Hon. Ahmed proceed on to praise Zoomlion’s nationwide network of modern recycling plants, faecal waste management systems, and sewage-to-resource technologies, which convert waste into compost and charcoal.  These facilities, he noted, align with Ghana’s 2016 ban on ocean dumping of faeca...

  The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku, has urged religious bodies, schools, and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) to actively participate in farming to help ensure food security in the country. The call was made at a press conference ahead of the official launch of the "Feed Ghana" flagship program, which aims to tackle food security challenges by boosting local agricultural production. In his address, Hon. Opoku emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to supplementing the school feeding program and supporting institutional farming. He called on schools and district assemblies to join the initiative and leverage agriculture as a revenue-generation tool. "Under the law, district assemblies have the power to generate their own revenue, and we want them to use agriculture as a conduit for this purpose," he said. The Ministry has already directed agricultural offices to work closely with local authorities, advising on suit...

The Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy, and Religious Affairs, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has assured Ghanaians that President John Dramani Mahama will honor his promise to distribute free sanitary pads. According to the minister, the government is making significant progress toward implementing the initiative, which will be spearheaded by the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection. Speaking at the Women in WASH Advocacy Network Ghana (WinWASH) event, Naa Odoley Sowah noted that the programme would initially target school pupils before expanding nationwide. She emphasized that the Ministry of Gender would ensure the smooth implementation of the project, which is aimed at addressing a pressing challenge faced by young girls in rural Ghana. She pointed out that many girls often skip school during menstruation due to the lack of sanitary pads, fearing teasing from their male counterparts if they soil their uniforms. This situation, she added, has negatively impac...

The Eastern South Regional Police Command has arrested eleven suspects in connection with illegal mining activities at Fichser, near Bunsu. The arrest, made on April 2, 2025, follows a complaint about their involvement in galamsey operations. The suspects include nine Ghanaians and two Burkinabes. The Ghanaian suspects are identified as Kwaku Owusu (42), Philip Tetteh (52), Abdul Raham (27), Philip Duvor (40), Joseph Asare (32), Charles Manu (35), Joseph Araboga (32), Daniel Bangah (20), and Amoaho Isaac (25). The two Burkinabes are Jey Done (40) and Adomah Bouba (25). During the operation, the police also impounded an excavator used in the illegal mining activities. All eleven suspects are currently in police custody and are being processed to face justice. Assistant Superintendent of Police, Foster Owusu, who signed the statement, reassured the public, particularly communities within the Eastern South Regional Police Command, that the Ghana Police Service remains committed to fig...

  The Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku at a press conference leading to the official launch of Feed Ghana Programme (FGP) said, the ambitious initiative is aimed at transforming Ghana's agricultural sector.  Speaking at a press briefing, the Minister highlighted the programme's goal to reduce food imports, boost local production, and create sustainable jobs. The Feed Ghana Programme forms a core component of the Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA), which seeks to modernize agriculture and secure food availability. Ghana currently spends over $2 billion annually on food imports, with poultry alone accounting for $300 million. The FGP aims to reverse this trend by promoting local food production and reducing reliance on imports. President John Dramani Mahama is expected to officially launch the flagship programme on April 11, 2025, in Techiman, Bono East Region. The programme will advance SMART agriculture, establishing Farmers' Service Centres ...

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has announced significant progress in the fight against illegal mining, highlighting the government's dual approach of military operations and community-focused initiatives. Briefing the media today, the Minister emphasized the government's commitment to reclaiming forest reserves and curbing illegal mining activities. According to the Minister, at the start of 2025, nine forest reserves were classified as "no-go zones" due to the presence of armed illegal miners. However, through sustained joint military operations, seven of these reserves, including Jimira, Afao Hills, and Tano Anwia, have been successfully reclaimed. Efforts are ongoing to reclaim the remaining two reserves, namely Asenayo and Desiri. Hon. Armah-Kofi Buah noted that the joint task force's operations in high-risk areas such as the Ashanti and Western North regions led to the seizure of 100 excavators, three bulldozer...

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has reaffirmed the government's commitment to eradicating illegal mining, also known as 'Galamsey'. He emphasized that illegal mining is considered terrorism and that the government is determined to protect the nation’s natural resources, including water bodies and forest reserves. According to the Minister, the government has taken a multi-stakeholder approach anchored on five pillars: licensing reforms, law enforcement, stakeholder engagement, reclamation of degraded lands, and providing alternative livelihoods. Coordination with key stakeholders has been pivotal in dismantling illegal mining networks. Upon assuming office, the Minister consulted experts from the Minerals Commission, EPA, and Forestry Commission to understand the challenges. He noted that the withdrawal of military support in 2022 significantly weakened enforcement efforts, prompting the redeployment of military personnel. Additionally...

The Agroecology and Circular Economy for Ecosystem Services (ACE4ES) Consortium, coordinated by the CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CSIR-CRI), alongside key stakeholders from government, academia, civil society, and the private sector, highlights the critical role of agriculture in Ghana’s climate commitments. The consortium, supported by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition emphasizes urgent and targeted actions to mitigate Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCPs), specifically methane (CH₄), nitrous oxide (N₂O), and black carbon, to strengthen Ghana's response under the Paris Agreement and significantly advance national sustainable development objectives. Agriculture, accounting for approximately 25% of Ghana’s greenhouse gas emissions, notably contributes substantial amounts of methane from rice and livestock systems, nitrous oxide from fertilizer and manure use, and black carbon emissions through biomass burning practices. Addressing these SLCPs presents an exceptional opportunity ...

The Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs (MLGCRA) under which sanitation falls under has made a shocking revelation that the government owed Zoomlion Ghana Limited a staggering 1.2 billion Ghana cedis for services provided over the last two years.  The Minister, Hon. Ahmed Ibrahim, made this revelation on Adom TV in Accra, while addressing delayed payments to firms under the Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA). This debt, inherited from the Akufo-Addo administration, he said, has been a significant concern for the current government. Despite this, he underscored the importance of collaboration between the government and private waste management companies like Zoomlion to address Ghana's waste management challenges.     “We are collaborating closely with Zoomlion to address waste management challenges in the country, particularly focusing on recycling plastic waste,” he noted.   He stressed the necessity for the governmen...

Kigali, Rwanda—28 March 2025: Project Management Institute (PMI), the world’s leading authority on project management, is pleased to announce that PMI® Global Summit Series Africa 2025 will take place from 19 to 21 August 2025 at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda. This marks the highly anticipated return of the event following its postponement in 2024. As the only event of its kind in Africa, the Summit will convene key stakeholders shaping the future of project management—fostering collaboration, innovation, and skills development.  PMI Sub-Saharan Africa’s flagship Global Summit Series Africa returns with an expanded agenda, offering expert-led discussions and enhanced engagement for project professionals. With the theme “Africa On Purpose: Gather. Grow. Guide,” the event will convene industry leaders, executives, and government representatives to advance project management’s role in Africa’s development.  Held in Rwanda, renowned for its world-class infrastructure and ...

  The 4th edition of the West Africa Pharma Healthcare Exhibition, the premier international pharmaceutical, medical, and healthcare industry event in Ghana, is scheduled for May 6 to 8, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), Accra. Organized by Astrovision Global FZCO Dubai and ACE Group, the exhibition is held under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, with the support of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and key stakeholder organizations, including the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Ghana National Chamber of Pharmacy (GNCP), Pharmaceutical Society of Ghana (PSGH), and others. The Business & Financial Times (B&FT) is the official Conference Partner. This year's event, themed "E-Pharmacy & Digital Health", will focus on leveraging technology to enhance healthcare delivery. The expo will feature 100 exhibitors from countries such as India, Turkey, the USA, Egypt, Italy, and Ghana. It is expected to attract over 5,000 visitors fr...

The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) has introduced a groundbreaking 24-hour premium service aimed at fast-tracking investment processes, piloting initially in Accra before being extended to other regions. This initiative aligns with President John Dramani Mahama’s bold decision to create jobs through the 24-hour Economy Policy, designed to stimulate economic growth and attract foreign investment. Speaking at the launch, GIPC’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Simon Madjie, emphasized that the service is designed to expedite key processes such as the registration of investments, renewal processing, and the issuance and renewal of automatic quotas—all within a 24-hour timeframe. He noted that the 24-hour countdown begins when the Investor Services Department verifies that all necessary documents are complete, an invoice has been generated, and payment has been received. Mr. Madjie pointed out that in an increasingly competitive global market, enhancing business efficiency is cruc...

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, accompanied by some members of the Police Management Board (POMAB) on Monday 24th March, 2025 paid a courtesy call on the National Chief Imam, His Eminence, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu. The Chief Imam  welcomed the IGP and congratulated  him on his elevation to the highest office in the Ghana Police Service. The IGP Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno in his remarks thanked the National Chief Imam for his warm reception and support. He also thanked him for his continuous prayers for the peace and stability of the nation. He further assured the National Chief Imam of his commitment to work together with his management team and all other police officers to bring policing closer to the people and ensure the safety and security of the country. He therefore called on the National Chief Imam and all Muslim faithfuls to support the Police Administration. The National Chief Imam urged the POMAB members to support the IGP achie...

The Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Christian Tetteh Yohuno, today, 2nd April, 2025 met with former Inspectors-General of Police at the National Police Headquarters, Accra to seek their counsel and share experiences to enhance the administrative and operational effectiveness of the Police Service.  The meeting aimed to strengthen collaboration between the current leadership of the Ghana Police Service and its former IGPs.  Discussions focused on personnel welfare, crime fighting efforts across the country, stakeholder engagement, ongoing reforms in the Police Service and other general issues affecting the Ghana Police Service as well as the security, law and order in the country. The meeting ended with a commitment to regular engagements to ensure the continued growth and effectiveness of the Ghana Police Service. The attendees included Christopher Komla (C K) Dewornu, Nana Stephen Owusu-Nsiah, David Asante-Apeatu,  James Oppong-Boanuh, Elizabrth Mills-Robertson, John Ku...