The Exclusive

The Global President of the Cocoa Farmers Alliance Association of Africa (COFAAA), Comrade Adeola Adegoke, has called for an urgent and united African action to transform the continent’s cocoa industry from dependency to prosperity. Speaking at the African Cocoa Summit and Awards 2025 held at the ISSER Conference Centre, University of Ghana, Accra, Comrade Adegoke described the summit as “a historic convergence of voices, a call for unity, and a solemn moment of truth for Africa’s cocoa sector.” The two-day summit, organised by COFAAA in partnership with the Cocoa Roundtable Initiative (CORI), brought together government representatives, private sector players, researchers, development partners and farmers from across the continent under the theme “Building Sustainable Africa Cocoa Ecosystem: Unlocking Economic Potentials, Driving Inclusive Growth”. In his passionate keynote address, Comrade Adegoke Adeola declared that Africa must move from being a mere exporter of raw cocoa beans to ...

The Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Mr. Kwesi Afreh Biney, has reaffirmed the Trust’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the media to enhance public education on social protection in Ghana. Speaking during an engagement with journalists as part of activities marking Social Security @ 60 under the theme “A Legacy of Service,” Mr. Biney emphasized the vital role of the media in promoting accurate, balanced, and impactful reportage on social security issues. He explained that the engagement was designed to deepen partnerships with the media, share updates on SSNIT’s ongoing transformation initiatives, and create an open platform for dialogue, feedback, and collaboration aimed at improving public understanding and participation in the SSNIT Scheme. Mr. Biney lauded the media for their continuous support and constructive feedback, which he said would guide SSNIT in improving its services. “You’ve given us feedback that we will use to...

   Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has honoured the nation’s 2024 National Best Cocoa Farmers at a special reception held at the Ghana High Commission in London, celebrating their outstanding contributions to the country’s world-renowned cocoa industry. Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of COCOBOD, Dr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo commended the award-winning farmers for their hard work, dedication, and commitment to excellence, describing them as the backbone of Ghana’s cocoa success story. The Board Chairman emphasized that the London visit was designed to expose the farmers to the broader cocoa value chain, including the international markets, chocolate manufacturers, and consumers who enjoy the end products of their labour. He encouraged them to use the experience to exchange ideas, build networks, and gain insights into evolving global trends affecting the cocoa sector. “Your presence here in the United Kingdom marks not only a well-deserved recognition of yo...

   The Environmental Service Providers Association (ESPA) has issued a stern ultimatum to the Government of Ghana, demanding the immediate release of all outstanding payments owed to waste management contractors by November 7, 2025, or face a nationwide suspension of waste collection services. Addressing a press conference in Accra, the Executive Secretary of ESPA, Ama Ofori Antwi, warned that the nation’s waste management sector is on the brink of collapse due to crippling debts, delayed payments, and escalating operational costs. According to her, the continued failure of the government to settle arrears owed to contractors threatens to trigger a major sanitation and public health crisis, with the potential spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and malaria. ESPA noted that private waste operators are burdened by unrealistic fees set by Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs), which fail to reflect the true cost of service delivery. In addition, deteri...

The 7th International Agrofood and Plastprintpack Exhibition has opened in grand style at the Accra International Conference Centre, gathering exhibitors and industry leaders from 15 countries to explore the future of agriculture, food processing, and packaging in West Africa. Participating nations include China, Egypt, Germany, Ghana, India, Kenya, the Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Thailand, the UAE, and Côte d’Ivoire — all showcasing groundbreaking technologies and sustainable solutions to power Africa’s agri-food transformation. In his remarks, Mr. Paul Maerz, Managing Director of Agrofood Ghana, said this year’s event reflects strong international collaboration aimed at positioning Ghana as a regional hub for agro-industrial excellence. “Our focus is on driving investment, promoting innovation, and ensuring sustainable growth within Ghana’s agri-food value chain,” Maerz stated. The exhibition features national pavilions that highlight the ...

It is common knowledge that one of the most dangerous diseases claiming lot of lives and especially women is Breast Cancer. Globally, October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year, 2025, the theme for breast cancer is “Every Story is unique, every journey matters”. In 2022, statistics available from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Cancer reported that approximately an estimated 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer, leading to 670,000 deaths, painting a grim picture of the scale of the disease. Even more concerning is the fact that nearly 70 per cent of these cases are detected at late stages, drastically lowering the survival rate.  THE CURRENT STATE OF BREAST CANCER IN GHANA  According to the Ghana Health Service, breast cancer is currently the most common cancer among women accounting for more than 30 per cent of all female cancers diagnosed in the country. It says that between 2008 and 2018, the incidence of breast cancer rose from ...

The Bekwai Circuit Court has sentenced three men to 20 years imprisonment each for their roles in a violent armed robbery incident that occurred at Fiankoma near Jacobu in the Ashanti Region. The convicts — Peter Boadi (alias Kwao Ziggy), Daniel Kwaku Owusu, and Eric Kwaku Danso — were found guilty of conspiracy to commit robbery and robbery by the court, presided over by His Honour Mr. Appiatu. According to police reports, the incident took place on April 29, 2024, when the trio attacked and robbed victims on the Jacobu–Anwiankwanta road. The assailants, armed with guns, made away with two iPhones and GH₵7,000 in cash, and further compelled a Chinese victim to transfer GH₵30,000 via mobile money to an account belonging to an accomplice. Following intelligence-led operations, police apprehended the suspects between June and September 2024. A search conducted at Peter Boadi’s residence in Obuasi Bogobiri led to the recovery of a foreign Bruna pistol, a locally made pistol, and ammunitio...

  Ghana Water Limited (GWL) has announced the temporary shutdown of the Teshie-Nungua Desalination Plant, citing unresolved contractual issues and prolonged lack of critical maintenance necessary to sustain safe and efficient operations. The desalination plant, located along the eastern coastal corridor of Accra, has been a key source of potable water for communities including Teshie, Nungua, Spintex, Sakumono, La, and surrounding areas. Its closure is expected to disrupt water supply to thousands of residents and businesses within the affected zones. In a statement issued by management, GWL assured the public that contingency measures have been activated to reduce the impact of the shutdown. These measures include rerouting water from alternative treatment plants and prioritizing supply to essential facilities such as hospitals, schools, and health centres. “GWL remains committed to delivering safe, reliable, and continuous water supply services to our cherished customers. We sinc...

The Egyptian Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Wael Fathy Ahmad, has pledged his country’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Ghana in the areas of technical and vocational education, training, and capacity building. He made this known during his visit to the Eco Technical and Vocational Institute Centre for Trade, located on the Spintex Road near Kasapreko in Accra. “It’s a pleasure and honor to be here today,” Ambassador Ahmad said. “I am representing a great country, Egypt, to a great country, Ghana. We have historical relations, and we are here to help the Ghanaian people and government to achieve their success stories.” The Ambassador, who recently assumed office in Ghana, expressed admiration for the progress being made in the country’s industrial and vocational sectors. He praised the Ghanaian government’s efforts in creating jobs and strengthening the economy through initiatives that empower artisans and entrepreneurs. “I am always impressed to see the achievements here, eith...

   A major environmental crisis is looming along the coastline of Gomoa Fete in the Central Region, where illegal sea sand winning continues unchecked despite repeated warnings and reports to authorities. The destructive activity, which involves the extraction of sand directly from the seashore, has accelerated coastal erosion and poses a severe threat to nearby settlements. Experts warn that if the situation persists, more than 250 houses and several entire communities—including Gomoa Fetteh, Yesukrom, Tubai, and parts of Yenyano—could be submerged within the next decade. At a recent press conference held to highlight the escalating danger, speakers described the operation as “a national security threat” and expressed deep frustration over the lack of decisive enforcement. Reports have been sent regularly to regional and national offices, yet the illegal operations continue unabated. Concerns were also raised about the complicity of some local security personnel, who are alle...

 

  The Managing Editor of Environmental Guide, Mr. William Sarpong Djan, has lauded President John Dramani Mahama and the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, for their innovative and pragmatic decision to repurpose equipment seized from illegal mining (galamsey) operations to support agricultural production in Ghana. Speaking in an interview, Mr. Sarpong Djan described the initiative as a “brilliant and patriotic move” that demonstrates a strong commitment to food security, sustainability, and responsible governance. According to him, the redirection of seized water pumps and related equipment to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) for use by farmers in the northern regions is a far better alternative to destroying the equipment, which has often been the practice in previous years. “This initiative is one of the best moves from President Mahama and the Minister. Instead of burning these machines and allowing them to go waste, they are now...