Accra, Ghana – As global oil prices continue to surge due to the ongoing Middle East conflict, the Ghanaian government has announced immediate and practical measures aimed at cushioning citizens from the impact of rising fuel costs.

Following an emergency Cabinet session chaired by President John Dramani Mahama, the government outlined three key interventions focused on direct price relief, affordable public transportation, and cutting unnecessary government expenditure on fuel.

Here are the 3 major steps Ghana is taking:

1. Suspension of Selected Taxes and Margins on Fuel

Ministers of Finance and Energy have been directed to suspend certain taxes and margins in the next fuel pricing window. This temporary reduction, which will last for four weeks (subject to review based on developments in the Middle East and global crude prices), is expected to ease the burden on consumers and transporters.

2. Massive Expansion of Affordable Metro Mass Transit Buses

The Minister for Transport has been tasked with fast-tracking the deployment of 100 newly acquired Metro Mass Transit buses onto high-traffic routes across the country. These state-owned buses will maintain significantly lower fares compared to private operators, offering citizens a cheaper and more reliable alternative for daily commuting.

3. Strict Enforcement of Ban on Fuel Allocations for Government Officials

All Ministers and senior government appointees have been reminded to strictly comply with President Mahama’s earlier directive cancelling fuel allocations and allowances. This move is aimed at reducing government expenditure on fuel and demonstrating leadership in belt-tightening during these challenging times.

These interventions form part of the government’s broader strategy to protect the economy and citizens from external shocks while hoping for de-escalation in the Middle East conflict.

Climate scientists and food security experts are warning that a powerful “super El Niño” expected later in 2026 could significantly intensify global food price pressures already heightened by the ongoing Middle East conflict involving Iran.

According to US meteorologists, there is roughly a one-in-three chance of a strong El Niño forming between October and December, while European models suggest an even higher probability of an exceptionally strong event.

A “super El Niño” occurs when sea surface temperatures in the eastern Pacific rise at least 2°C above normal. This phenomenon typically triggers extreme weather patterns, including severe droughts in key agricultural regions, which can sharply reduce crop yields for commodities such as cocoa, rice, sugar, food oils, coffee, bananas, and soy.

The timing is particularly concerning because the Iran conflict has already disrupted global fertilizer supplies and shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, driving up costs for fuel and agricultural inputs. Analysts say the combination of war-induced supply shocks and El Niño-driven weather extremes could create a “double squeeze” on food production and prices. The United Nations World Food Program has cautioned that prolonged conflict and elevated oil prices could push the number of acutely food-insecure people globally significantly higher.

Dawid Heyl of Ninety One noted that while the Russia-Ukraine war affected food markets, the current situation is more worrying due to its direct impact on fertilizer production and availability.

He warned that overlapping negative factors — geopolitical disruption and strong El Niño conditions — could prove especially damaging for vulnerable countries in Africa, India, Australia, Brazil, and Argentina.

Experts state that long-term resilience will require greater investment in climate adaptation, diversified supply chains, and international cooperation to protect global food security as geopolitical and climate risks increasingly intersect.

Accra, Ghana – The decision to award the Damang gold mine lease to Ghanaian-owned company Engineers and Planners Limited (E&P) has sparked public debate over transparency and due process, even as the Minerals Commission insists the tender was competitive and fully compliant with regulations.

The Damang Mine, previously operated by South Africa’s Gold Fields, is being transferred to Ghanaian ownership, i.e. a company owned by Ibrahim Mahama, the younger brother of President John Mahama, following the non-renewal of Gold Fields’ lease.

In March 2026, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources opened a competitive tender for the asset. Four companies submitted bids. According to the Minerals Commission, only E&P satisfied all technical, financial, and regulatory requirements under the Minerals and Mining (Licensing) Regulations 2012 (L.I. 2176). To be sure, E&P has been in the mining game for years, before Mahama became president the first time and thrived after he left office.

The Mineral Commission’s Acting Director of Legal Affairs, Josef Iroko, has strongly defended the process to hand over the mining concession to E&P, stating that the evaluation was merit-based, impartial, and guided strictly by published tender guidelines. He has said that no favouritism was shown and that the outcome was determined solely by compliance and capability.

However, concerns have been raised about the speed and transparency of the approval process. The Minority in Parliament, through MP Akwasi Konadu (Manhyia North), has clarified that it is not opposed to Ghanaian participation or local ownership of mining assets. Instead, the Minority is calling for a demonstrably fair, open, and competitive process. Konadu highlighted that the tender closed on March 31, 2026, yet review, recommendation, and approval reportedly occurred within a week — including public holidays — raising questions about whether sufficient time was allowed for thorough evaluation. He also noted that key details, such as full evaluation criteria, minimum capital requirements, and operational plans, have not been publicly disclosed in detail, making independent verification difficult.

The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) has also questioned the unusually rapid timeline of ministerial approval. Governance experts argue that while local ownership of strategic assets is welcome, speed must not come at the expense of transparency and public confidence in the management of Ghana’s natural resources.

The controversy occurs against the backdrop of Ghana’s long-standing policy to increase indigenous participation in the mining sector, which has historically been dominated by multinational companies.

Both the government and the Minerals Commission maintain that the Damang award followed due process and represents a legitimate step toward greater local control. The mine is scheduled for formal handover from Gold Fields to E&P in mid-April 2026.