Author: Leo Nelson

By Nelson Ayivor Ghana and Burkina Faso have taken a significant step toward deepening bilateral cooperation following the signing of seven major agreements aimed at strengthening security, cross border governance, disaster management, and regional integration. The agreements were concluded at the end of a two day official visit by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, to Burkina Faso, marking a renewed phase of engagement between the two neighbouring countries. The signed agreements span multiple sectors critical to regional integration and governance. They include arrangements on the mutual recognition of national driver’s licenses and on transport and road transit,…

By Nelson Ayivor Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has moved to shut down a suspected transit diversion racket after customs officers intercepted 18 articulated trucks hauling cooking oil and other goods declared for landlocked Niger, but travelling without the mandatory customs escorts that Ghana’s transit regulations require, exposing the state to a revenue loss the minister has placed at over GH¢85 million. Dr. Forson disclosed the operation in a Facebook post on Friday, February 20, 2026, describing it as evidence of both systemic control failures and deliberate human complicity within the customs system. Subsequently, he directed the Ghana…

By Nelson Ayivor The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has dismissed LPG Shortage Claims circulating in sections of the media, assuring consumers that there is sufficient stock to meet national demand. In a press release issued on Friday, 20 February 2026, the Authority urged the public to disregard commentary suggesting an imminent shortage of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The statement follows remarks attributed to the Chief Executive of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies, Dr Riverson Oppong, who reportedly advised the public to fill their gas cylinders in anticipation of supply constraints. The NPA stated that it had taken notice of…

By Nelson Ayivor In a resounding validation of Ghana’s digital finance strategy, the Bank of Ghana (BoG) has announced that the nation has once again secured the top global position in the 2025 GSMA Mobile Money Regulatory Index (MMRI). Released on Friday, February 20, 2026, the index confirms that Ghana has not only defended its title but has actually improved its standing, scoring a record-breaking 96.10%. This marks a significant jump from the 95.06% recorded in the previous year, solidifying Ghana’s reputation as the gold standard for digital financial governance. The ranking, which evaluates 90 countries worldwide, placed Ghana ahead…

By Nelson Ayivor In many parts of Africa—and particularly in Ghana—the prophetic ministry has evolved from a purely spiritual calling into a thriving enterprise. What was once confined to modest prayer camps and wooden pulpits has transformed into a sophisticated industry, complete with television studios, branded merchandise, digital payment platforms and international branches. The question increasingly being asked is not whether prophecy is real or relevant, but whether it has become a business. Across cities like Accra, Kumasi, Ho and Takoradi, billboards advertise “One-on-One Prophetic Encounters,” “Destiny Alignment Services,” and “Breakthrough Consultations.” Radio and television stations dedicate prime airtime to…

By Nelson Ayivor President John Dramani Mahama has underscored the importance of compassion, discipline and generosity as Muslims in Ghana and across the world commence the holy month of Ramadan. In a message posted on Facebook, to mark the beginning of the sacred period, President Mahama encouraged the faithful to reflect on the core values of Ramadan in their daily lives. “As you break the fast each evening, with family and friends, remember that the true beauty of Ramadan is not the abstinence from food, but in the discipline, compassion and generosity we show to all, especially those who are…

By Nelson Ayivor The Member of Parliament for Sunyani West, Millicent Amankwaah, has pushed back against critics who mocked her online after a verbal slip during a parliamentary address on the killing of Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso. The incident occurred on February 19, 2026, as the MP contributed to a debate on the tragic deaths of eight Ghanaian traders and extended sympathy to their families. In the course of her remarks, she mistakenly pronounced “bereaved” as “believed”, an error that was swiftly clipped and circulated across social media platforms, attracting ridicule and questions about her competence. What might…

By Nelson Ayivor Ghana has formally notified the government of Togo of its decision to seek international arbitration to delimit the maritime boundary between the two countries. In a statement issued on Friday, February 20, 2026, the government said the boundary would be determined through recourse to arbitration under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). A maritime boundary dispute between Ghana and Togo over offshore oil exploration began in December 2017 and May 2018, when Togolese authorities halted two Ghanaian seismic vessels conducting deep-sea data acquisition in an area near Togo’s waters. The development came…

By Nelson Ayivor The Ghana Centre for Democratic Development has credited President John Dramani Mahama with easing financial strain in Ghana’s health sector through the uncapping of the National Health Insurance Levy, describing the move as a critical stabilisation measure after a period of severe funding stress. This assessment formed part of CDD-Ghana’s one-year review of the Mahama administration, presented by Dr. Kojo Pumpuni Asante, Director of Policy Engagement and Partnerships at the CDD. According to Dr Kojo Pumpuni Asante, health sector reforms over the past year have largely focused on restoring financial stability following constraints inherited from the previous…

By Nelson Ayivor The Minerals Income Investment Fund (MIIF) has signaled a transformative shift in its operational trajectory, moving beyond its traditional role as a domestic royalty collector to become a formidable sovereign investor within the sub-regional mining landscape. This strategic expansion aims to leverage Ghana’s mineral wealth to pursue high-impact co-investment initiatives and regional partnerships. By recalibrating its focus toward the monetization of royalty flows and the competitive deployment of capital across diversified assets, MIIF is positioning itself to maximize long-term value for the Republic of Ghana while asserting its presence as a world-class institutional investor. “Our goal is…