The Exclusive

   The Minister for Education, Hon. Haruna Iddrisu, has charged the newly inaugurated Governing Council of the Ghana Scholarship Authority to administer scholarships strictly on the principles of merit, genuine need, national development priorities, and transparency. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held in Accra, the Minister said the establishment of the Authority fulfills a major campaign promise made by President John Dramani Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2024 general elections to end cronyism and abuse in the award of government scholarships. He noted that in the past, public office holders and politically connected individuals often took undue advantage of scholarship schemes at the expense of needy but brilliant students, a practice he described as unacceptable and contrary to good governance. “This will no longer be an individual decision where someone simply decides to award a scholarship to a son, cousin, or politically connected...

  When the Fourth Estate/Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) started their negative campaign against KGL, their suggestion to Mahama's government was Cancellation/Termination/Abrogation of the 'terrible' NLA-KGL contract BUT in the wisdom of Mahama's government, the NLA-KGL deal SHALL STAY FOREVER  with reviews and renegotions in the interests of the State(NLA and GRA) and KGL.  We seriously need to commend the efforts of Mahama's government for protecting as well as creating enabling environment for private sector and indigenous entrepreneurs to  grow as enshrined in Article 36(Economic Objectives) of the 1992 Constitution.  When the facts, data and reality defeated Fourth Estate/Media Foundation for West Africa, they have now made a u-turn to claim credit for the Review Process being  undertaken by the Attorney-General and Ministry of Justice.  Before the propaganda by Fourth Estate and subsequent petition to the Office of the President, the curr...

  The government of President John Dramani Mahama has rejected calls for the cancellation, termination, or abrogation of the National Lottery Authority (NLA)–KGL licensing agreement, opting instead to maintain the contract with provisions for review and renegotiation in the interest of the State and all parties involved. This position follows sustained public criticism of the NLA–KGL deal by investigative media group The Fourth Estate and its parent organisation, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), which had described the agreement as “terrible” and petitioned the government to annul it. According to a statement issued by Razak Kojo Opoku (PhD), a former Head of Public Relations at the NLA, the Mahama administration, after assessing the facts and data surrounding the agreement, determined that the deal should remain in force, subject to periodic reviews and renegotiations rather than outright termination. “The wisdom of Mahama’s government has prevailed. The NLA–KGL deal s...

   Pressure group Arise Ghana has delivered an extensive independent national assessment of Ghana’s state of affairs, marking one year of the John Dramani Mahama administration, describing the period as one of economic stabilization, cautious optimism, and unresolved structural challenges. Addressing a press conference, the group said the engagement was not partisan but intended to spark a national conversation on governance, accountability, and the social contract between government and citizens. According to Arise Ghana, Ghana inherited a deeply distressed economy in January 2025, characterized by inflation exceeding 23 percent, a rapidly depreciating cedi nearing GH¢16 to the dollar, soaring food and fuel prices, weak foreign reserves, high public debt, and collapsing investor confidence. One year on, the group acknowledged significant macroeconomic improvements, citing a drop in inflation to 6.3 percent, economic growth above 6 percent, foreign reserves exceeding $11 billi...

  Lands and Mines Watch Ghana (LMWG) has strongly defended the licensing of Bawa Rock Limited as an aggregator under the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) scheme, describing recent claims by the Minority Caucus in Parliament as misleading, politically motivated, and lacking industry context. In a press statement issued in Accra on January 7, 2026, the watchdog group said while parliamentary oversight remains vital to democratic accountability, the Minority’s approach to the issue has generated “more heat than light” and risks undermining confidence in ongoing reforms within Ghana’s gold trading and mining sector. LMWG stressed that Bawa Rock Limited is not a newly created entity positioned to exploit policy changes, but a long-established indigenous company with operational experience in Ghana’s extractive industry. According to the group, the company has made deliberate investments in infrastructure, systems, and professional management aligned with international best practices in precio...

   The Korle Gonno Central Seventh-day Adventist Church has officially dedicated its church building to the glory of God, crowning decades of faith, sacrifice, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to the gospel mission. The sacred dedication ceremony, held on the Sabbath, was led by Pastor Dr. Chris Annan-Nunoo, Pastor of the Korle Gonno Central SDA Church and Executive Secretary of the Southern Ghana Union Conference (SGUC), who described the occasion as a testimony to God’s faithfulness rather than the inauguration of a physical structure. “Today, on this sacred Sabbath, we gather not to begin a new building, but to bear witness to God’s faithfulness,” Pastor Annan-Nunoo declared. “Though the structure before us already stands solid, complete, and beautiful, this dedication affirms what has always been true—Christ is the real foundation upon which this church is built.” He emphasized that the dedication was not about chronology but conviction—a public declaration that beh...

   Supporters and beneficiaries of Bawa-Rock Company Limited have issued a strong statement of unwavering support for the company, describing it as a model of integrity, ethical business practice, and community-driven development in Ghana. In a press release dated January 4, 2026, the group praised Bawa-Rock for standing out in an era often marked by allegations of corporate misconduct. Incorporated on January 14, 2015, Bawa-Rock Company Limited has, over the years, built a reputation not only as a successful corporate entity but also as a key driver of social progress, particularly within the Obuasi Municipality and surrounding communities. According to the statement, Bawa-Rock’s operations have consistently been guided by principles of service, accountability, and social responsibility. The company has reportedly reinvested its success into initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and addressing pressing community needs. A major focus of the company’s work has been youth e...

   President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfour, has extended a major act of benevolence to over 2,000 households in selected communities as part of a Christmas outreach dubbed “Sharing of Love.” The donation exercise, which benefited residents of Alajo, Kotobabi Down and Newtown Down, attracted several distinguished personalities, including the Alajo Mantse, Nii Armah Ajoor II; the Member of Parliament for Gomoa Central, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus; as well as chief editors and leading figures within the media fraternity. Speaking at the event, Mr Dwumfour explained that the gesture was inspired by Christian teachings, particularly the biblical message that God gave His only begotten Son to mankind. He noted that Christmas, which marks the birth of Jesus Christ, should serve as a reminder for people to show love and compassion, especially to the less privileged in society. “This season should motivate all of us to share what w...

   The Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF), Mrs Justina Nelson, has pledged the commitment of management to consolidate the gains made last year to position the Fund as one of the best world-class sovereign wealth funds in the world. She said this will be done together with stakeholders of the Fund to secure value for both present and future generations. Mrs Nelson made the commitment in her New Year message posted on all the social media handles of the Fund. “Last year marked a defining phase in our transformational journey, delivering strong institutional reforms aligned with the standards of a world-class sovereign wealth fund. In 2026, together with our stakeholders, we will build on the successes of 2025; strong financial performance, robust internal systems, sound compliance and risk management, and strategic investments that secure value for both present and future generations. Wishing you a Happy and Prosperous New Year,” she said in t...

   In a move to harness global intellectual capital for national advancement, the Jospong Group has formalised a collaboration with Ghanaian Scholars in the Diaspora (GSD). The partnership, sealed by a Memorandum of Understanding, on Friday, January 2, 2026, in Accra, is designed to channel the specialised knowledge of Ghanaian postgraduate students in the US, Germany, Japan, South Korea, India, Hungary, and China into practical, innovative solutions for the Group's diverse operations, directly contributing to Ghana's socio-economic growth. The MoU was signed by JGC's Executive Chairman, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, alongside the leaders of the seven GSD country associations, marking a concerted effort to translate academic research into real-world development impact. Speaking after the signing ceremony, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong emphasized that the initiative's scope extends beyond the Jospong Group, declaring that "this is for Ghana." He announced the establishm...

  The Ghana National Association of Small Scale Miners (GNASSM) is calling on politicians to safeguard the progress made in the artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) gold sector. In a statement released in Accra on Thursday, January 1, 2026, and signed by its General Secretary, Godwin Nickleson Armah, the association emphasised that despite the losses incurred by the Bank of Ghana in Artisanal Small Scale Mining (ASM) gold trading in 2024 and 2025, the gains made so far are enormous and impactful on the Ghanaian economy. "GNASSM wishes to place on record that under the previous administration, when the Gold‑for‑Oil and Gold‑for‑Reserves programmes were rolled out, data from the Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) indicated that in 2024, 63.6 metric tons of ASM gold were exported, and in that same year the Bank of Ghana recorded losses. Under the current administration, through the Domestic Gold Purchase Programme, 101 metric tons of ASM gold had been exported as of 23rd De...

   The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has kicked off 2026 with a renewed focus on tax compliance, as Commissioner-General Anthony Sarpong declares the year "a year of compliance". In his New Year message, Sarpong urged taxpayers to comply with tax laws, emphasizing the GRA's commitment to building a fair and trusted tax system. The amended Value Added Tax (VAT) Act, effective January 15th, 2026, aims to simplify the tax system, consolidate tax laws, and improve compliance through digitization. Key changes include:the - VAT Rate Reduction: The VAT rate has been reduced from 21.9% to 20% - Abolition of COVID-19 Levy: The COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy has been abolished - Decoupling of VAT on GETFund and NHIS Levies: VAT on GETFund and NHIS levies has been decoupled - Increased Registration Threshold: The VAT registration threshold has been increased from GH¢200,000 to GH¢750,000 - Digitalization: The GRA will leverage technology, including an Integrated Tax Administration Sy...

   The Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies, Dr.Joseph Siaw Agyepong, and his wife, Dr. Mrs. Adelaide Siaw Agyepong, provided essential food items and transportation cash to over 5,000 Ghanaians at their Accra residence on New Year’s Day January 1, 2026), continuing a decade-long tradition of festive season support. Over 5,000 Ghanaians from far and near gathered at the couple's Accra residence to receive essential food items and drinks. In a notable and practical addition to this annual gesture, the Agyepongs also provided cash gifts for transportation, directly assisting beneficiaries with their travel costs and further easing the financial burdens of the season. Speaking to the media after the donation, the Public Relations Manager of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Ernest Morgan Acquah, provided details on the longstanding initiative. "As the New Year begins, the Executive Chairman of the Jospong Group of Companies continues his long-standing tradition of giving ba...