Author: Leo Nelson

Africa must overhaul its cross-border payment systems to unlock the full potential of its $2.8 trillion single market under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Bank of Ghana said on Wednesday, warning that high transaction costs and slow settlement times continue to constrain intra-African trade. Speaking on behalf of Governor Johnson Pandit Asiama at the African Prosperity Dialogue in Accra, Second Deputy Governor, Matilda Asante-Asiedu said trade agreements alone would not deliver integration without efficient mechanisms for transferring value across borders. “Trade agreements alone do not create trade. Payments make trade possible,” she said, describing payment infrastructure as…

The Office of the President has initiated a formal investigation into allegations that government-sponsored overseas scholarships were sold to individuals through bribery, a development that has thrust Ghana’s educational integrity programmes into the spotlight and ignited national debate about corruption in public institutions. The investigation was commissioned through a directive signed by Dr. Callistus Mahama, Secretary to the President, following a radio broadcast that captivated public attention and generated widespread concern about the administration of scholarship opportunities meant to benefit deserving Ghanaians. The controversy emerged from a discussion on Sompa 106.5 FM, a Kumasi-based radio station, where Kofi Ofosu Nkansah,…

Ghana’s Central Bank, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has disclosed that two banks remained undercapitalised as of December 2025, raising fresh concerns about balance sheet strength within parts of the country’s banking sector. The affected institutions are Universal Merchant Bank Ghana and Prudential Bank Ghana, according to the central bank. While the broader financial system has shown resilience following years of reforms and clean up efforts, the latest disclosure underscores the need for continued capital strengthening to safeguard stability. The Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Johnson Asiamah, made the revelation while outlining the state of the banking industry…

By Nelson Ayivor The Chiefs and people of Nsawam-AdoagyiriTraditional Area, have launched the maiden edition of Cassava Festival, marking a significant step toward promoting local agriculture, food security and agro-based industrialisation in the Eastern Region. The colourful launch event held on Saturday, January 31, under the auspices of Nana Kofi Azameti II, the Odikro of Avaga/Cannery Quarters, with support from Nana Kwamena Ansah I, Nsawam Hene and Otoobuor Djan Kwasi II, Aburi/Adontehene, brought together traditional leaders, farmers, agricultural extension officers, traders, youth groups and representatives from local government and the private sector. The festival is aimed at celebrating cassava as…

By Nelson Ayivor Member of Parliament for North Tongu and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has cut the sod for what he described as the largest educational intervention in the history of the constituency, marking the start of fifteen major education projects valued at GH¢107 million. The initiative is expected to significantly transform secondary and basic education infrastructure across North Tongu and improve access, quality, and learning outcomes for thousands of students. Speaking at the sod cutting ceremony, Ablakwa said the scale of the investment reflected a deliberate effort to place education at the centre of development in…

By Nelson Ayivor Torgbi Baku IV, Dufia of Denu in the Ketu South Municipality of the Volta region has donated 30 full sets of desk top computers, plastic chairs and dust bins to 3 basic schools under his chiefdom. The donation forms part of a broader vision to drive education, sanitation, economic empowerment and peaceful coexistence in the area. The beneficiary schools included Denu Chicago Junior High School, Denu R.C Basic School, and A.M.E. Zion Junior High School. At a brief ceremony to hand over the items, Torgbi Baku IV said the donation was aimed at positioning children in the…

By Nelson Ayivor Stakeholders in the fisheries sector across Ghana’s coastline are calling for a review of the country’s closed fishing season policy to better reflect local realities, traditional knowledge, and livelihood needs. The call was made during separate stakeholder validation and engagement forums held on Tuesday, January 27 and Wednesday, January 28, in Cape Coast, Central region and Denu, Volta region respectively. It was under the Indigenous and Scientific Integration for Sustainable Fisheries Knowledge (ISIPSK) or the Sankofa project. The forum brought together fishermen, fish mongers, fishing gear dealers, traditional leaders, and representatives of the Ghana National Canoe Fishermen…

By Nelson Ayivor Former Vice President and New Patriotic Party flagbearer elect for the 2028 general elections, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has made a strong appeal for unity, discipline, and collective purpose following his victory in the party’s presidential primaries. Speaking at the party’s headquarters at Asylum Down in Accra, Dr Bawumia described the contest as a hard fought but necessary democratic exercise and urged party members to rally together to rebuild and reposition the NPP for electoral success. Addressing party elders, national executives, Members of Parliament, constituency officers, polling station executives and supporters, Dr Bawumia began by expressing gratitude to…

By Nelson Ayivor As the New Patriotic Party (NPP) votes today to elect a flagbearer, the contest between former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and Businessman Kennedy Agyapong has evolved into more than a political race; it has become a massive short-term economic stimulus. From luxury hotels to street-side tailors, the sheer scale of the 2026 campaign cycle highlights how political competition is now a major driver of Ghana’s informal and service sectors. The Campaign Value Chain: Who Cashed In? The journey to today’s vote has triggered a surge in spending across several key industries. Both front-runners have crisscrossed the…

By Nelson Ayivor The New Patriotic Party (NPP), one of Ghana’s leading political parties, is holding its presidential primaries today as thousands of delegates cast their votes to elect a flagbearer for the December 7, 2028 general election. The contest, which has generated intense national interest, is widely seen as a defining moment for the opposition party as it prepares to face the governing party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the next election cycle. A total of more than 211,000 delegates across the country are participating in the exercise, which is taking place at designated voting centres nationwide. Five…