Ghana News
Hannah Bisiw Claims She Was Poisoned Over Galamsey, Overall Best WASSCE Candidate Inspires, and Other Trending Stories (March 12, 2026)
Welcome to our live rolling news update from Accra, keeping you informed on the latest developments in Ghana and its international relations. New updates are added as events unfold — check back regularly!
Meet Ghana’s Overall Best WASSCE 2025 Candidate
Huda Suglo Suleman from Legacy Girls’ College has been named the overall best candidate in the 2025 West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in Ghana. The brilliant student, who scored 8As in the General Arts programme, received a certificate and cash prize from WAEC. She has gained admission to Ashesi University to study Mechatronics Engineering and dreams of becoming an aerospace engineer.
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Hannah Bisiw Claims She Was Poisoned Over Anti-Galamsey Campaign
Dr Hanna Louisa Bisiw-Kotei, Administrator of the Minerals Development Fund, has claimed she was poisoned because of her strong stance against illegal mining (galamsey). Speaking on GHOne TV, she revealed she survived the incident by God’s grace while describing the intense challenges faced in the field. She also highlighted new regional structures established to intensify the crackdown on galamsey operations.
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COCOBOD Disburses GH¢4.2 Billion to Settle Cocoa Farmers’ Arrears
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) has released GH¢4.2 billion to Licensed Buying Companies to clear long-overdue payments to cocoa farmers. The funds aim to restore confidence in the sector following recent reforms announced by the Finance Minister. COCOBOD expects to complete payments before the end of the 2025/2026 cocoa season.
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Government Sets April 1 Deadline for Courier Operators to Register
The government has set March 31, 2026, as the deadline for all courier operators and delivery riders to register on the Integrated Courier and Logistics Management System (ICOLMS-Ghana). Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George warned that unlicensed operators will face strict sanctions starting April 1, with no further extensions.
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Walewale MP Accuses President Mahama of Breaching Code of Conduct
Walewale Member of Parliament Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama has criticised President John Dramani Mahama for using his brother’s private jet for official travels, including a recent trip to South Korea. The MP claims the action violates the government’s own Code of Conduct for public officials and creates a conflict of interest.
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‘Sukudai’ Cocktail Poses Serious Kidney and Liver Risks – Lab Tests Kill Rats Within 24 Hours
A popular herbal cocktail known as ‘Sukudai’ or ‘Madara Sukudai’, widely consumed in parts of Ghana especially in Zongos, has been flagged as highly toxic. Laboratory tests conducted by the Department of Pharmacology at KNUST, in collaboration with the FDA and Ghana Standards Authority, revealed that the concoction contains dangerous chemicals including acetone, zinc chloride, and ethanol. All laboratory rats administered the mixture died within 24 hours. Health experts are warning the public to immediately stop consuming the product due to risks of severe gastrointestinal irritation and long-term damage to the kidneys and liver. National Security has launched operations to remove the cocktail from the streets.
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Scholarship Beneficiaries Are Ghanaians, Not Foreigners – Scholarship Authority Boss Clarifies
The Director-General of the Ghana Scholarship Authority, Alex Kwaku Asafo-Agyei, has dismissed claims that foreigners, including Canadian citizens, are benefiting from Ghana’s national scholarships. He stressed that all beneficiaries are Ghanaians by birth and parentage who meet strict eligibility criteria. The Authority has earmarked 5,000 scholarships for the 2026 cycle, with 2,000 reserved for needy but brilliant students. The clarification comes amid allegations of irregularities and political manipulation in the scholarship selection process.
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Health Ministry Suspends Principal of Nkanchina Nursing College Over Admissions Breach
The Ministry of Health has suspended the Principal of the College of Nursing at Nkanchina, Fredrick Anaba, for allegedly over-admitting students and introducing unapproved academic programmes for the 2025/2026 academic year. The Ministry has launched a full administrative investigation and directed the principal to hand over management responsibilities to the Acting Vice Principal. Authorities say they will enforce strict adherence to approved admission quotas and programmes across all health training institutions.
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President Mahama Commissions New LPG Vessel ‘Asharami Ghana’ in South Korea
President John Dramani Mahama has commissioned the new LPG vessel named ‘Asharami Ghana’ in South Korea. The commissioning is described as a significant milestone in strengthening Ghana’s energy infrastructure and supporting the country’s transition to cleaner energy sources. President Mahama emphasized the strategic importance of the project in improving energy security for Ghana and the broader West African region through partnerships and forward-looking investments.
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New Judge Takes Over Republic v Adu-Boahene Trial Midway
A new judge, Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga, has taken over the high-profile trial of former National Security Bureau Director-General Kwabena Adu-Boahene and two others midway through proceedings. The case, which was previously handled by Justice John Eugene Nyante Nyadu, involves allegations related to the management of National Security funds. The trial was adjourned to March 17 and 18, 2026, for continuation.
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Report Details Ghana’s Alleged Role in US Christmas Day Airstrike on ISIS Targets in Nigeria
A report has outlined Ghana’s purported involvement in the US airstrikes against Islamic State (ISIS) targets in Sokoto, northern Nigeria, on Christmas Day 2025. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa revealed at Chatham House on March 10, 2026, that both the US and Nigerian governments reached out to Ghana for collaboration. Journalist Alhaji Gbangbanku clarified that the US conducted only Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions from Ghana — permissible under the 2018 defence cooperation agreement — and did not use Ghana as a launchpad or base for the strikes. Opposition NPP figures, including Dominic Nitiwul and Samuel Jinapor, have claimed Ghana served as a base, prompting debate over sovereignty and the operation’s scope.
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US-Based Ghanaian ‘Dixon AI’ Jailed for Tuition Refund Scam at University of Connecticut
A 36-year-old Ghanaian resident of Greenwich, Connecticut, Dickson Alorwornu (known as “Dixon AI”), has been sentenced to 48 months in prison followed by two years of supervised release for a tuition refund fraud scheme. He used stolen identities to create student accounts at the University of Connecticut (UConn), funded them with over $62,000 in stolen credit card information from three victims, then withdrew and requested refunds, receiving approximately $46,000. His email accounts were linked to defrauding other US universities of more than $500,000. Alorwornu, with a prior 2017 New York conviction for similar fraud, was arrested in February 2023 and convicted by jury in October 2024; he reports to prison on April 20, 2026.
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IGP Deploys Special Police Team to Geniyiri After Reprisal Attacks in Savannah Region
The Inspector-General of Police has deployed a special team of intelligence officers and investigators to Geniyiri in the Savannah Region following reported reprisal attacks in the community. The move aims to reinforce security, restore law and order, intensify operations, identify perpetrators, support investigations, and facilitate arrests and prosecutions. The Savannah Regional Police Command reports that calm has been restored, with ongoing operations to apprehend those responsible. Authorities urge residents to remain calm and cooperate by providing information.
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Dancehall Star Shatta Wale Eyes Ablekuma South Parliamentary Seat as Independent
Popular Ghanaian dancehall artist Shatta Wale has revealed his ambition to contest the Ablekuma South parliamentary seat — but only as an independent candidate if there is a clear call from local residents. He emphasized he has no intention of joining any political party, stating, “Most definitely, but I don’t want to belong to any political party. I want to be myself.” Inspired by biblical leadership examples and a desire for better governance beyond the 1992 constitution, he stressed that any run would respond to community demand rather than personal initiative, focusing on improved policies and development. For now, he prioritizes his career and personal life.
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President Mahama Pursues Visa Waiver Deal with South Korea for Diplomatic & Official Passports
President John Dramani Mahama is actively seeking a visa waiver agreement with South Korea specifically for holders of diplomatic and official passports to facilitate easier travel and deepen bilateral ties. Announced during bilateral talks with South Korean President Lee Ja-Myung on an official visit to Seoul, Mahama stated: “We look forward to signing a visa waiver agreement with Korea for diplomatic passports and official passports. This will make it easier for exchanges between our two countries.” If successful, it would align South Korea with about 45 other nations offering similar reciprocity to Ghana, enhancing mobility for officials, diplomats, and delegations while boosting trade, education, and cultural links. Diplomatic relations between the two countries date to 1977.
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Security Services Recruitment: Just 5,000 Spots for 500,000 Applicants in First Phase
Ghana’s security services recruitment drive faces intense competition, with only 5,000 positions available in the initial phase against 500,000 applicants. The services include the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Prisons Service, Ghana Immigration Service, and Ghana National Service. After disqualifying some for documentation issues (leaving around 400,000), aptitude tests (65% pass mark required) and medical exams follow. Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka cited fiscal constraints for the limited intake, assuring future phases and urging disappointed youth to exercise restraint while the government creates jobs across sectors.
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Fact-Check: Did Ablakwa Claim US Used Ghana as Base for Nigeria Airstrike, as Jinapor Alleges?
A GhanaWeb fact-check has debunked claims by NPP’s Samuel Jinapor that Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stated the US used Ghana as a base for airstrikes on ISIS in northern Nigeria, with President Mahama’s approval. Jinapor made the assertion at a March 11, 2026, press briefing. Ablakwa’s actual words at Chatham House on March 10 touched on case-by-case collaboration with express approval, sovereignty respect, and that both US and Nigerian governments reached out to Ghana, without mentioning any base or territorial cession. Verdict: Jinapor’s claim is completely false.
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President John Dramani Mahama has challenged thousands of church delegates gathered in Ghana’s capital to measure the success of their global congress not by the eloquence of its sermons, but by the lives they transform after the final prayer is said.
“The lasting story of this conference, this congress, will be written in the lives that we touch after the closing prayer,” Mahama told more than 10,000 participants at the opening ceremony of the 10th Triennial Congress of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
The president urged delegates to return to their home countries with concrete plans to serve their communities — mentoring young people, supporting schools, strengthening health ministries and standing beside congregations serving under difficult conditions.
Faith Must Be Tangible
Mahama argued that faith becomes real only when it meets human need. He offered a vivid portrait of what practical Christianity looks like: a hungry child receiving a meal, a patient treated with compassion, a young person acquiring a skill, a widow finding companionship, and a struggling family receiving support from its community.
He called on the church to give greater attention to the relationship between preaching the gospel and serving people in practical ways, saying the two must not be separated.
“Spiritual authority entails a duty of care,” the president said, stressing that churches must provide safe environments for children and vulnerable people. He warned that spiritual leadership carries a responsibility to protect the trust placed in it through responsible conduct.
A Warning on Youth and Technology
Turning to youth development, Mahama acknowledged that young people today are growing up in a world of extraordinary opportunity, but also considerable pressure. Technology, he said, connects young people across continents while simultaneously exposing them to constant comparisons, misinformation and competing expectations about who they should become.
He urged churches and families to create environments where young people can ask questions freely, receive guidance, develop their abilities and take on meaningful responsibilities. Delegates, he said, should mentor young people by listening to them, offering opportunities for service and modelling integrity.
The president also called on the church to recognise the contributions of women of faith, saying their wisdom, talents and leadership deserve full recognition.
A Call for Global Solidarity
Addressing the global nature of the fellowship, Mahama expressed hope that members with greater resources would find ways to support those with fewer. The fellowship, he said, would grow stronger when its members shared their gifts and stood with one another through difficult times.
He also spoke directly to the responsibility of public office, saying those entrusted with power had a particular duty to serve with humility, honesty and integrity. Faith, he added, should deepen respect for citizens and concern for those whose voices are least likely to reach the centres of power.
Historic Honour for a Pentecostal President
At the ceremony, the World Assemblies of God Fellowship presented Mahama with its maiden Global Leadership Excellence and Trailblazer Award. The citation described him as the first member of the Assemblies of God worldwide to become president of a country — a milestone for the denomination.
Organisers also presented him with a Bible and urged him to allow the Word of God to guide his leadership.
The fellowship honoured First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama for her work supporting vulnerable people through her compassion ministry.
Former Malawian President Dr. Lazarus Chakwera also received the Global Leadership Excellence Award. His citation described him as the second member of the denomination — and the first minister of the gospel within the fellowship — to become president of a country.
Prayers for Wisdom and Redistribution
Following the awards, general superintendents and Ghanaian church leaders gathered around Mahama to pray for him. The prayer leader, Reverend Dominic Yeo, the fellowship’s Global Chairman, asked God to grant the president “divine wisdom” and prayed for the continuation of what he described as a reformation agenda.
He also prayed for “a redistribution of wealth throughout this nation so that all Ghanaians will be blessed,” a prayer that resonated beyond the sanctuary walls in a country where economic inequality remains a pressing concern.
A Global Gathering in Accra
The 10th Triennial Congress has drawn more than 10,000 participants to Accra, making it one of the largest Pentecostal gatherings on the continent this year. The event brings together delegates from across the global fellowship, reflecting the denomination’s growing presence in Africa and beyond.
For Mahama, however, the congress’s true significance will not be found in its attendance figures or its ceremonies — but in what delegates do once they return home.
“Faith becomes tangible,” he said, “when a hungry child receives a meal, a patient is treated with compassion, a young person acquires a skill, a widow finds companionship and a struggling family receives support from its community.”
The closing prayer, it seems, is only the beginning.
Gamal Gorkeh Nkrumah, the journalist, writer, and intellectual son of Ghana’s founding president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, has died in Cairo, Egypt, following a prolonged illness. He was 67.
The Nkrumah family announced his passing in a statement released Tuesday, describing it as “a profound loss not only to our family and loved ones, but also to the wider community of friends, colleagues and readers who valued his insight, humanity and unwavering engagement with the great questions of our time.”
According to the family, Gamal Nkrumah passed away peacefully after receiving care at a rehabilitation centre, where he had been recovering from a stroke.
A Life of Intellectual Engagement
Born in 1958, Gamal Nkrumah carved out a distinct identity as a newspaper journalist and commentator, dedicating his voice and intellect to examining the political, social, and cultural forces shaping Africa and the wider world.
Throughout his life, the family said, he remained “deeply committed to the ideals of justice, human dignity, African unity and international solidarity.”
Described as a man of “profound intellectual curiosity, independence of thought and quiet conviction,” Gamal carried forward the legacy of his father in his own distinctive way, while building a reputation firmly grounded in his own principles and achievements.
His passing marks the loss of a respected voice in African journalism and intellectual life, one whose work spanned continents and engaged deeply with the pressing issues of his time.
A Family in Mourning
Gamal was one of the acknowledged children of Kwame Nkrumah and Fathia Nkrumah. He is survived by his siblings: Samia Nkrumah (born 1960), a politician and former leader of the Convention People’s Party (CPP); Dr. Francis Nkrumah (born 1962), a paediatrician; and Sekou Nkrumah (born 1964), a politician and photographer.
The Nkrumah family remembered Gamal “with immense love, gratitude and pride,” stating that “his wisdom, kindness and devotion to the values he held dear will remain an enduring source of inspiration.”
Gratitude and Requests for Privacy
In their statement, the family expressed heartfelt appreciation to all those who stood with Gamal throughout his illness, particularly the medical professionals and caregivers in Cairo who provided him with care and dignity.
They also extended “deepest thanks” to the governments and people of his two countries, Egypt and Ghana, for their generous support.
The family has kindly requested privacy as it mourns this deeply personal loss. Details concerning memorial arrangements and opportunities to pay tribute to his life and legacy will be communicated in due course.
“May he rest in eternal peace,” the statement concluded.
Ghana News
Ohio Court Orders Ghanaian Care Worker to Repay $53,278 After Workers’ Compensation Fraud Conviction
Betty Boateng, 50, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree felony after investigators found she collected disability benefits while working for two in-home care employers
A US-based Ghanaian woman has been ordered to repay more than $53,000 to the state of Ohio after admitting she collected workers’ compensation disability benefits while simultaneously holding paid jobs, authorities announced.
Betty Boateng, 50, of Columbus, pleaded guilty to one count of Workers’ Compensation Fraud, a fifth-degree felony, following an investigation by the Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) Special Investigations Department, the agency said in a news release dated October 9, 2026.
Investigators found that Boateng “knowingly and with fraudulent intent returned to work for two different employers during periods when she was receiving BWC disability benefits to which she was not entitled.”
Evidence gathered during the probe showed she earned wages while continuing to accept disability checks, resulting in improper payments totaling $53,278.40.
Sentencing in Franklin County
On September 23, 2026, a judge in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas accepted Boateng’s guilty plea and proceeded directly to sentencing, ordering:
- A 12-month suspended sentence
- 60 months of community control
- Mandatory reporting requirements
- Restitution of $53,278.40 to the Ohio BWC
- Waiver of fines, with court costs imposed
The case centered on Boateng’s work providing non-medical in-home care services for multiple employers, work she performed while receiving disability benefits she was not entitled to.
“Fraud Hurts Honest Workers”
BWC Administrator Stephanie McCloud said the agency remains committed to protecting the state’s workers’ compensation fund.
“Fraud against the workers’ compensation system hurts honest Ohio workers and employers,” McCloud said. “We are committed to holding accountable those who abuse the system and ensuring that funds remain available for individuals truly in need.”
The BWC urged anyone who knows of or suspects workers’ compensation fraud to contact its Special Investigations Department at 1-800-OHIO-BWC.
A Cautionary Tale for the Diaspora
The conviction adds to a growing list of cases involving Ghanaian nationals abroad facing fraud-related charges in the United States. Ghanaian communities in the US — particularly in cities such as Columbus, which has a sizable Ghanaian population — have increasingly been urged to understand the strict compliance rules attached to public benefit programs.
Workers’ compensation fraud in Ohio can be prosecuted as a felony depending on the amount involved, and convictions typically require full restitution in addition to any criminal penalties.
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