Welcome to our rolling news update from Ghana. We’re tracking stories across news media in Ghana. Check back regularly as we add new updates throughout the day.

US Court Denies Bail to Former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta

A United States immigration court has denied bail to former Ghanaian Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, who has been in ICE custody at the Caroline Detention Facility since January 6, 2026. On February 19, 2026, Judge David Gardey rejected the application, ruling that adequate medical care is available at the facility despite arguments from Ofori-Atta’s lawyers for release to access better treatment. He remains detained ahead of a deportation hearing set for April 27, 2026.
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Government Eyes Local Reinvestment of Petroleum Funds to Boost Energy and Industry

The Ghanaian government is pushing to reinvest portions of the Ghana Petroleum Funds domestically into energy and industrial projects, such as thermal power plants and gas facilities, to enhance energy reliability, create jobs, and support the 24-Hour Economy initiative. Technical Advisor to the Finance Ministry Dr. Theo Acheampong highlighted this shift during a February 23, 2026, roundtable, noting proposed amendments to the Petroleum Revenue Management Act would allow initial allocation of 40% from merged stabilisation and heritage funds to local projects, with safeguards against risks. While proponents see diversification benefits, critics warn of political interference and fiscal risks.
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Senegal’s Gold Surge Narrows Trade Deficit to $2.4 Billion Amid Persistent Import Reliance

Senegal’s booming gold exports, fueled by a 41% global price rise and strong demand, drove a 51% increase in total exports to $10.67 billion in 2025, significantly narrowing the trade deficit from $5.76 billion in 2024 to $2.4 billion. Despite this improvement and gains in crude petroleum exports, the deficit persists due to heavy reliance on imported fuel, machinery, and manufactured goods, with imports edging up to $13.09 billion. The trends underscore commodity-driven external account gains but highlight structural import dependencies. (Published February 23, 2026)
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Foreign Affairs Ministry Shuts Down Premium Passport Centres in Accra and Kumasi

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has closed the Premium Passport Application Centres in Accra and Kumasi effective February 20, 2026. Applicants are directed to use Regional Passport Application Centres instead, with assistance available via the Passport Office Client Service Unit at 0302-754-200. The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to efficient passport services amid the change. (Announcement February 23, 2026)
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Tomato Prices Set to Stabilise Gradually After Burkina Faso Supply Disruptions

Tomato prices in major Ghanaian markets like Accra, Kumasi, and Takoradi remain elevated due to supply shocks from a February 14, 2026, terrorist ambush in Titao, northern Burkina Faso, which killed at least seven Ghanaian traders and halted imports. Nana Tuffuor of the Ghana National Tomato Traders and Transporters Association predicts gradual stabilization as trade normalizes and supply resumes, emphasizing that demand-supply dynamics will drive prices down naturally once safety and flows are restored.
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CDD Lauds Mahama’s Administration for Exceptional Macroeconomic Stability

The Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) praised the John Mahama II Administration’s first-year achievements in a report launched in Accra on February 23, 2026, highlighting significant reductions in food inflation (from 28.3% to 4.9%), fuel prices, and transport fares, alongside cedi appreciation that lowered import costs. While urban areas saw rising disposable incomes, northern regions lagged due to logistics issues. The report also noted governance challenges like low public trust, vigilante violence, and transparency concerns, but commended anti-corruption measures and investments in education, health, and social programs, urging focus on debt sustainability.
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Student Injured in Clash at Agona Swedru District Schools Athletics Games

A violent altercation erupted between students from Obrachire Senior High Technical School and Swedru School of Business during the District Schools Athletics Games in Agona Swedru, Ghana, on February 19, 2026. The incident involved an attack with sticks and stones, leaving one student from Obrachire injured and requiring medical treatment. Police have launched an investigation amid growing concerns over violence at inter-school sports events, following a recent stabbing at a similar festival in Koforidua.
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24-Hour Economy Will Be Driven by Incentives, Not Compulsion – Goosie Tanoh

Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy, clarified in a GBC interview that the policy—enacted via a bill signed by President John Dramani Mahama on February 19, 2026—relies on voluntary business participation through incentives rather than mandates. Emphasizing productivity, industrial capacity, and investment appeal, Tanoh stated that extensions beyond standard hours would be based on economic viability to boost exports and employment.
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Ex-Soldier, Pastor Jailed for Death of Man Over Alleged Fake GH¢50 Claims

In a 2018 incident in Accra, Ghana, retired military officer Joseph Abusah and pastor Benjamin Kofi Agbetiafah were convicted of conspiracy and manslaughter for chasing and assaulting Solomon Dapaah, who died from severe injuries after they suspected a GH¢50 note he used was counterfeit. The High Court, under Justice Lydia Osei Marfo, sentenced them to six months imprisonment each (concurrent) following a jury trial, factoring in their first-offender status and trial duration.
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Government Will Not Appoint More Than 60 Ministers – Ayariga

Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga assured Ghana’s Parliament on February 23, 2026, that the government would adhere to its opposition-era pledge by limiting ministerial appointments to no more than 60, promoting efficiency and accountability. Amid debates on government size, he accused the Minority of potential politicization, while civil society and opposition groups advocate for leaner structures to reduce costs.
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CEMSE: Ghanaians Overpaid GH¢1.5bn for Power, Demands 11% Tariff Cut

The Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) revealed in a policy review that Ghanaian electricity consumers overpaid about GH¢1.5 billion in Q4 2025 due to the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission’s inflated exchange rate (projected GH¢12.3715 vs. actual GH¢10.8733) and inflation assumptions (12.43% vs. 6.6%). Applied to 6,459 GWh of consumption, this led to over-recovery, prompting CEMSE to demand an 11% tariff reduction in Q1 2026 to restore public confidence.
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Ghana’s Tomato Crisis Deepens as Farmers Abandon Fields

A perfect storm of broken irrigation infrastructure, staggering post-harvest losses, and a dangerous reliance on imports from Burkina Faso has plunged Ghana’s tomato sector into a deep crisis, leaving farmers impoverished and traders counting their losses. Despite being a staple of the Ghanaian diet, the country’s domestic tomato industry is in steep decline. The Business & Financial Times reports that while attention often focuses on production deficits, the core issues are a collapse in the supply chain. Key irrigation dams in the north, such as Tono and Vea, are broken, forcing farmers to abandon tomato cultivation for less perishable crops like pepper and rice. This has left the market heavily dependent on imports from Burkina Faso, a journey that takes up to five perilous days. Read the full story here