Author: Leo Nelson

By Nelson Ayivor The government is taking decisive steps to stabilize the cocoa sector by transferring the Cocoa Board’s legacy debt to the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Ghana. The move, disclosed by the Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, aims to restore positive equity and reinforce the Board’s balance sheet, paving the way for broader reforms and a new financing model. Cabinet has directed the Finance Minister to seek parliamentary approval for the transfer of approximately 5.8 billion Ghana cedis in inherited debt. This includes 3.7 billion cedis arising from non-marketable cocoa bills converted into loans, as…

President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated the Presidential Advisory Group on the Economy, marking a renewed effort to strengthen economic governance and restore long term stability. Speaking at the Jubilee House during the group’s inaugural meeting, the President described the moment as both consequential and demanding, urging members to approach their task with honesty, independence, and a deep sense of national responsibility. He thanked the appointees for accepting the call to serve, noting that their collective experience and expertise come at a time when Ghana faces complex economic challenges that require careful judgment rather than easy solutions. According to the…

By Nelson Ayivor Ghana’s food insecurity situation has worsened significantly, raising serious concerns about its implications for economic stability and long-term development. According to the latest Quarterly Food Insecurity Report released by the Ghana Statistical Service, national food insecurity prevalence rose from 35.3 percent in the first quarter of 2024 to 38.1 percent by the third quarter of 2025. This increase reflects a volatile upward trend, with food insecurity peaking at 41.1 percent in the second quarter of 2025 before easing slightly. In population terms, the figures are stark. The number of food-insecure persons increased from 11.2 million in early…

The Government of Ghana has officially declared every Wednesday as a day to wear a traditional smock, also known as batakari or fugu, in a nationwide initiative aimed at celebrating and promoting Ghana’s cultural heritage. The announcement, made by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts, emphasized the importance of deepening national cultural awareness, affirming Ghanaian identity, and projecting the country’s heritage with pride both locally and internationally. The directive encouraged all Ghanaians, as well as friends of Ghana at home and abroad, to don Fugu in all its diverse forms, designs, and expressions on the stated day to…

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has cleared Baba Jamal to contest the upcoming Ayawaso East by-election, following the submission of a report by an internal investigative committee into alleged vote-buying during the party’s primaries. The announcement was made by Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, General Secretary of the NDC, after the committee presented its findings to the party’s Functional Executive Committee. According to Kwetey, the committee’s investigation concluded that inappropriate conduct occurred among nearly all the candidates during the primaries. “Let me just say that the long and short of the report was this, that inappropriate conduct was exhibited by almost all…

President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance, declaring the country ready to undergo a comprehensive peer review under the African Peer Review Mechanism. He described the APRM as an essential continental framework for measuring governance performance, strengthening democratic institutions, and guiding reforms that respond to the expectations of citizens. The President made these remarks after swearing in members of the National African Peer Review Mechanism Governing Council, a body mandated to oversee Ghana’s participation in the APRM process and coordinate engagements with continental institutions. The ceremony marked a significant step in Ghana’s preparations…

President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to restoring lasting peace and accelerating development in Bawku, stressing that the rule of law remains the only sustainable path to resolving protracted conflicts. He made the remarks during a courtesy visit by the Upper East Regional House of Chiefs at the seat of government, where discussions focused on security, reconciliation, and development in conflict-affected areas of the region. The President acknowledged that although relative calm is gradually returning to Bawku, the situation remains fragile. He recalled that mediation efforts led by the Otumfuo Committee were initiated under his predecessor, former…

The Agricultural Development Bank PLC (ABD) has capped a challenging but rewarding year with an interdenominational Thanksgiving Service, expressing gratitude to God for a successful 2025 and seeking divine guidance for the year ahead. The service, held at the Head Office of the Bank in Accra, brought together Management, staff, and invited clergy in a solemn atmosphere of praise, worship, and reflection. The event formed part of ADB’s broader effort to reflect on its journey over the past year and to recommit itself to the strategic path it has charted for long-term growth and sustainability. It also provided an opportunity…

… A Deepening Concern for Faith and Society By Nelson Ayivor Across continents and cultures, a troubling trend is increasingly evident within Christian communities: the commercialisation of the Gospel—where spiritual mission and sacred teaching are being packaged, marketed, and sold in ways that blur the line between faith and commerce. What was once proclaimed as a message of hope, grace, and self-sacrifice is, for many observers, being reframed as a product to be consumed, a brand to be built, and a revenue stream to be maximised. This phenomenon is not isolated to megachurches or televangelists; it permeates social media evangelism,…

By Nelson Ayivor Renowned legal scholar and fellow of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, has called for replacing Ghana’s internal party delegate system with a nationwide primary framework, warning that the current model poses a serious threat to democratic governance under the Fourth Republic. His intervention comes amid renewed public debate on vote buying allegations linked to recent internal elections within both the New Patriotic Party(NPP) and the National Democratic Congress(NDC). Professor Asare argued that the greatest danger facing Ghana’s democracy today is not rooted in unresolved ideological disputes from earlier political eras, but…