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Fuel Prices Set to Rise From May 16, Disturbing Sex Abuse Images and Other Big Stories in Ghana Today

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Welcome to our curated morning news roundup. We have sifted through the major headlines to bring you the most relevant stories shaping Ghana today.

Disturbing Images Surface in East Legon Sex Abuse Case

Graphic images and videos have surfaced online depicting a 35-year-old businessman, identified as Joshua Kojo Anane Boateng who was arrested by the Ghana Police Service for allegedly drugging and sexually abusing multiple young women at his East Legon residence. The visuals, which have sparked widespread outrage on social media, allegedly show the suspect with unconscious victims in various states of undress. Police have confirmed that the suspect is in custody and that investigations are ongoing, with authorities urging any other potential victims to come forward to assist in building a strong case against him.

The arrest followed a formal complaint from a victim who alleged she was offered a drugged drink, leading to her incapacitation and subsequent assault. Investigators reportedly retrieved several incriminating items, including drugs and recording devices, from the suspect’s home. The case has reignited public conversation about the safety of women in social settings and the urgent need for stricter enforcement of laws against sexual violence. The police have assured the public that a thorough investigation will be conducted to ensure justice is served, as the suspect is expected to be arraigned in court soon. Read the full story here

Parliamentarian Breaks Silence on Arrest and Fraud Allegations

Member of Parliament for Asante Akyemm North Ohene Kwame Frimpong, popularly known as O.K. Frimpong, has publicly addressed reports of his arrest over alleged fraud in 2025, providing his side of the story. The outspoken lawmaker clarified that the issue stemmed from a business transaction gone wrong, which he described as a contractual dispute rather than a criminal act of fraud. He emphasized that he was never formally charged or detained by police, contrary to circulating rumors, and that the matter was resolved amicably between the involved parties without any judicial proceedings.

In his detailed explanation, Frimpong used the opportunity to criticize what he termed a politically motivated smear campaign aimed at tarnishing his reputation. He revealed that the complainant in the case later withdrew the petition after realizing it was a misunderstanding over payment schedules for a service rendered. The MP, known for his anti-corruption advocacy, expressed frustration over how unverified information spreads rapidly, causing undue harm to public figures. He reaffirmed his commitment to transparency and promised to release documents related to the transaction to clear his name completely. Read the full story here

Togo Police Arrest Suspect in Murder of Ghanaian Car Dealer

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has arrested a suspect in connection with the murder of 27-year-old car dealer, Yaw Osei Ashitey Amma, whose burnt body was discovered inside a vehicle at Atomic Junction on the Legon bypass road on April 7, 2026. Briefing the press on May 12, 2026, the Director-General of the CID, Lydia Yaako Donkor, said the suspect, Wisdom Tetteh, was arrested in Togo.

“The suspect, a close friend and neighbour of the deceased, was arrested on April 30, 2026, in the Republic of Togo through Interpol collaboration while attempting to sell the deceased’s mobile phone. He was subsequently handed over to the Ghana Police Service at the Aflao border and conveyed to the CID headquarters homicide unit for further investigations,” she noted. Read the full story here

Over 500,000 Candidates Begin 2026 WASSCE Across Ghana Today

Today marks the commencement of the 2026 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), with over 500,000 candidates from accredited senior high schools across Ghana sitting for their first paper. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has deployed thousands of invigilators and supervisors to ensure the smooth conduct of the exams, which will run for the next several weeks. Students are expected to write papers in core subjects including English Language, Mathematics, Integrated Science, and Social Studies, alongside various electives. WAEC has reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for cheating, with advanced security measures, including biometric verification and drone surveillance at high-risk centers, put in place.

The examination has gotten off to a largely peaceful start, with no major incidents reported in the morning sessions. Education Minister Yaw Osei Adutwum visited several centers in the Greater Accra Region to boost the morale of candidates, urging them to remain focused and avoid any form of malpractice. Parents and guardians have been advised to provide the necessary support for their wards, including ensuring they arrive at examination centers on time. The results of this examination are critical for university admissions, and the government has assured the public that all logistical challenges have been addressed to protect the integrity of the exams. Read the full story here

NIA Workers Begin Strike Over Conditions of Service

Staff of the National Identification Authority (NIA) have downed tools today, initiating a nationwide strike over protracted negotiations regarding their conditions of service. The workers, under the auspices of their various unions, are demanding improved remuneration, better safety protocols at registration centers, and a clear career progression path. The strike action has effectively paralyzed the registration and replacement of Ghana Cards at many district offices, causing frustration among citizens who rely on the card for access to banking, healthcare, and other essential services. The unions have vowed to continue the industrial action until their grievances are addressed by management.

The NIA management has appealed to the striking workers to return to the negotiation table, warning that the shutdown is negatively impacting the authority’s mandate to enroll eligible Ghanaians. In a statement, the authority acknowledged the workers’ concerns but described the strike as premature and illegal, given that discussions were still ongoing with the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission. Meanwhile, civil society organizations have urged both parties to find a quick resolution, as prolonged delays in issuing the Ghana Card could derail government’s digitalization agenda. No date has been set for the next round of negotiations. Read the full story here

Fuel Prices Set to Rise From May 16 Despite Possible Extension of Gov’t Intervention

Ghanaian consumers are bracing for an increase in fuel prices starting May 16, 2026, even if the government extends its current price stabilization policy, according to the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC). CEO Dr. Riverson Oppong outlined two scenarios: if the government extends the intervention, petrol could rise by 2.5-3% to around GH¢14.50 per litre, and diesel to about GH¢16.50. If the intervention ends, prices could climb more steeply to approximately GH¢15.80 for petrol and GH¢18.05 for diesel. The looming increase is attributed to rising global crude oil prices, which have hit about $107 per barrel, driven partly by fears of potential US strikes on Iran.

Dr. Oppong cautioned against the assumption that importing products from Nigeria would automatically lead to lower local prices, drawing a clear distinction between product availability and pump prices. The expected fuel hike is likely to exert further pressure on domestic inflation and transportation costs, even as institutions like the IMF and World Bank project Ghana’s inflation to end the year at single-digit levels. Meanwhile, the government is facing mounting pressure from labor unions and transport operators to absorb the impending increases to prevent economic shocks. A final decision on the intervention extension is expected from the Finance Ministry before the May 16 deadline. Read the full story here

Bank of Ghana Mops Up GH¢19bn to Manage Excess Liquidity

The Bank of Ghana (BoG) has successfully absorbed GH¢19.06 billion from the domestic money market through its latest 14-day bill auction (Tender 861), conducted on May 11, 2026. The short-term bills were allotted at a weighted average discount rate of 10.4579%, translating into an effective interest rate of 10.50% for the investment period. This significant liquidity mop-up is a key monetary policy tool deployed by the central bank to regulate money supply, prevent surplus funds from fueling inflation, and stabilize the foreign exchange market. The auction attracted bid rates ranging between 10.40% and 10.49%.

The operation comes at a time when Ghana’s interest rate environment has seen sharp declines following sustained disinflation and recent policy easing. However, the scale of the auction suggests the central bank remains cautious about liquidity conditions in the banking sector. This move reinforces the BoG’s active liquidity management strategy to maintain price stability. For commercial banks, the 14-day bill offers a low-risk short-term investment alternative as yields on Treasury bills and other government securities moderate. Analysts see this as a prudent step to consolidate macroeconomic gains achieved under the ongoing IMF-supported program. Read the full story here

Ghana Urged to Reduce Dependence on Dollar Loans for Infrastructure

The Ghana Consulting Engineers Association has issued a strong call for the government to significantly reduce its reliance on foreign currency borrowing for infrastructure projects, advocating instead for long-term local currency bonds. Association President Kwabena Bempong, speaking at the FIDIC Africa 2026 Infrastructure Conference in Accra, warned that heavy dependence on dollar-denominated financing exposes the country to severe exchange rate risks. He noted that whenever the cedi depreciates, the cost of repaying external loans for roads, bridges, and other projects balloons, undermining fiscal stability. He stressed that infrastructure requires patient capital, not short-term instruments like treasury bills.

The Association recommends issuing cedi-denominated infrastructure bonds targeted at local institutional investors such as pension funds. This strategy would provide a stable, predictable funding source while deepening Ghana’s domestic capital market and creating local investment opportunities. Bempong pointed out that past projects financed through external borrowing have led to higher debt servicing costs during periods of currency volatility. The proposal aligns with Ghana’s ongoing efforts to balance infrastructure expansion with debt sustainability and fiscal consolidation. The government is yet to officially respond to the recommendation, but the call adds to growing expert consensus for innovative, sustainable infrastructure financing models. Read the full story here

Ghana News

Ghanaian Firms Inject €425,000 of Own Funds to Ignite ‘Made in Ghana’ Health Innovation

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In a powerful demonstration of local ownership, Ghanaian research institutions and pharmaceutical manufacturers are contributing an additional €425,000 of their own money to implement innovative health projects, signaling a robust commitment to advancing homegrown medical solutions beyond relying on foreign aid alone.

The co-funding is part of a €2 million grant package awarded under the PharmaVax Ghana program, backed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU).

The initiative is designed to bridge the critical gap between scientific discovery and industrial-scale manufacturing within Ghana.

While the grants provide vital financial fuel, the local co-investment—which ranges from €10,000 to €150,000 across the eight winning projects—represents a crucial “skin in the game” approach.

It shows that local institutions are not merely passive recipients of aid, but active stakeholders willing to risk their own capital to bring products to the market. This practical commitment underscores the sustainability of the projects, ensuring they are not abandoned once international funding cycles end.

The projects span a wide range of medical priorities, including fast-dissolving oral tablets for child-friendly malaria treatment, AI-powered diagnostic tools for Mpox and malaria, standardized herbal treatments for hypertension and liver disease, and stability data for locally produced tetanus-diphtheria vaccines.

Highlighting the importance of this local participation, Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute (NVI), emphasized that the funds are meant to catalyze local capabilities.

“Ghana has the scientific talent, the research institutions and an increasingly capable pharmaceutical industry to develop health solutions that respond to our own priorities,” he stated. “By bringing these strengths together, we are creating the foundation for medicines and vaccines that are developed in Ghana, manufactured in Ghana, and have the potential to benefit the wider region.”

Ghana’s Minister of Health, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, echoed this sentiment, noting that the initiative marks a journey where researchers and manufacturers collaborate to transform scientific discoveries into life-saving products.

The €425,000 in local contributions—combined with the €2 million in grants and technical assistance from the EU and Germany—positions Ghana as a rising hub for pharmaceutical industrialization in West Africa, moving the nation closer to health security and economic self-reliance.

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From Default to Discipline: How Ghana is Legally Binding Itself to Prevent the Next Debt Crisis

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Fresh off a landmark agreement with Belgium that eases its debt burden, Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has unveiled a sweeping package of legal and institutional reforms designed to permanently prevent the country from sliding back into the fiscal chaos that triggered its 2022 sovereign default.

The deal with Belgium to restructure €163 million in debt owed to the country’s Export Credit Agency marks a pivotal step towards completing Ghana’s broader debt restructuring program. Crucially, the agreement frees up much-needed “fiscal space” by slashing the amount of national revenue consumed by debt servicing. Minister Forson revealed that Ghana’s debt-service burden has fallen drastically from a crippling peak of roughly 50% to 55% of national revenue to less than 20% today—a shift that directly impacts the government’s ability to fund schools, hospitals, and roads.

However, the most significant aspect of Ghana’s strategy is its attempt to codify fiscal prudence into law, ensuring that the discipline learned from the crisis is not lost by future administrations.

A Three-Pronged Strategy for Fiscal Discipline

1. The Commitment Authorization Regime
At the core of the immediate controls is a strict mandate for all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs). Under the amended Public Financial Management Act, no government institution can initiate a contract for goods, services, or works without first securing commitment authorization from the Finance Minister . This process, integrated with the Ghana Integrated Financial Management Information System (GIFMIS), acts as a “roadblock” to prevent overspending and the accumulation of hidden arrears—a practice that historically poisoned the country’s finances.

2. Binding Fiscal Rules in Law
Beyond day-to-day controls, the government has instituted statutory targets to ensure long-term solvency. The Public Financial Management Act has been amended to require a minimum annual primary surplus of 1.5% of GDP and to cap the national debt-to-GDP ratio at 45% by 2034 . These are not policy recommendations but binding legal requirements, with the Finance Minister potentially facing censure for breaching these targets.

3. Independent Oversight Institutions
To guarantee that fiscal responsibility is maintained even after Ghana concludes its International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, the government has established two powerful oversight bodies:

  • The Value for Money Office: Parliament passed the Value-for-Money Office Bill in March 2026, creating an independent body to scrutinize major public expenditure. This office will combat inflated contracts, cost overruns, and abandoned projects by issuing mandatory “Value for Money Certificates” before major contracts are awarded.
  • The Independent Fiscal Council: The government is establishing a council composed of locally appointed experts to provide advisory support on financial controls and fiscal decision-making . This council, scheduled to take effect after the IMF programme ends, aims to strengthen domestic oversight and accountability, ensuring that Ghana owns its fiscal destiny.

From Recovery to Sustainability

Finance Minister Ato Forson is clear about the goal: “We want to ensure that the fiscal rules that we have instituted today are enshrined in law, so that even if this government is not there, the next government will have to make sure that these fiscal rules are respected” .

The Belgium agreement is the immediate piece of good news that provides tangible relief—allowing Ghana to redirect more resources towards essential public services. But the real measure of Ghana’s recovery will be its ability to enforce these new legal shackles.

By moving from crisis management to institutionalized discipline, Ghana is attempting to break the cycle of over-borrowing, arrears, and economic collapse that has plagued the nation for decades.

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EU and Germany Inject €2 Million into Ghana to Boost ‘Made in Africa’ Pharma Production

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In a significant boost to Africa’s push for pharmaceutical self-reliance, the European Union (EU) and Germany have injected €2 million into Ghana to bridge the critical gap between laboratory research and industrial-scale manufacturing.

The funding, awarded under the PharmaVax Ghana programme, has been distributed to eight groundbreaking research partnerships aimed at developing and manufacturing medicines and vaccines locally, drastically reducing the continent’s historical reliance on imported drugs.

The announcement came during the “Research Meets Manufacturing” Award Ceremony in Accra on August 19, co-hosted by Ghana’s National Vaccine Institute (NVI) and the German development agency GIZ.

The grants are jointly funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU) as part of the broader Team Europe Initiative on Manufacturing and Access to Vaccines, Medicines and Health Technologies in Africa (MAV+).

This strategic geopolitical and economic move underscores Western Europe’s commitment to backing local African manufacturing ecosystems, countering the long-standing structural imbalance where Africa imports over 90% of its pharmaceuticals.

“A ceremony marks the beginning of an important journey—a journey that brings researchers, manufacturers, government and international partners together to transform scientific discoveries into medicines and vaccines that save and improve lives,” said Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, Ghana’s Minister of Health, during the event.

Innovation Across the Health Spectrum
The eight winning projects, selected from 43 competitive proposals by an independent committee of nine Ghanaian experts, represent the breadth of the nation’s scientific talent. They include:

  • AI-driven monoclonal antibodies and diagnostics for Mpox and malaria, using a Ghanaian artificial intelligence platform.
  • Fast-dissolving oral tablets for the treatment of malaria in children, addressing critical issues of accurate dosing.
  • Clinical trials for locally developed herbal treatments for prostate health, hypertension, and alcohol-related liver disease.
  • Stability data generation to support regulatory approval of locally produced tetanus-diphtheria vaccines, snake venom antiserum, and pain management therapies.

A Foundation for Health Sovereignty
Dr. Sodzi Sodzi-Tettey, Chief Executive Officer of the National Vaccine Institute, emphasized that the grants go far beyond financial aid.

“Ghana has the scientific talent, the research institutions and an increasingly capable pharmaceutical industry to develop health solutions that respond to our own priorities,” Dr. Sodzi-Tettey stated. “By bringing these strengths together, we are creating the foundation for medicines and vaccines that are developed in Ghana, manufactured in Ghana, and have the potential to benefit the wider region.”

Notably, Ghanaian partners are contributing an additional €425,000 towards implementing their projects, demonstrating a strong local commitment to advancing homegrown innovation. Alongside the direct funding, the projects will also receive technical assistance, networking opportunities, and knowledge exchange to ensure long-term commercial viability.

As the global health community increasingly looks to localized manufacturing to secure supply chains, this €2 million initiative serves as a pivotal case study.

It represents a concrete, actionable blueprint for how international development capital can ignite the “Made in Africa” pharmaceutical industrial wave, securing the continent’s health security and driving economic development from within.

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