Author: THE NEW REPUBLIC

By Nelson Ayivor In what can be described as a structured plan to put smiles on the faces of thousands of Ghanaian health workers, the Mahama administration has approved a structured plan to settle salary arrears owed to nurses and midwives recruited during the 2024 and 2025 posting period, bringing relief to health workers who went unpaid for several months. The approval follows negotiations between the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance aimed at resolving what officials describe as lingering payroll challenges. Under the approved arrangement, outstanding arrears will be paid in four instalments from April to July.…

The government of Ghana has firmly reaffirmed its commitment to responsible drug control, public health, safety, and economic development through the enactment of the Laboratories Control Act (Act 1100) and MLI 2475. These laws establish a comprehensive framework for regulating, cultivating, and managing cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes. Interior minister, Mohammed Muntaka Muabarak, addressing the media in Accra stated that, Ghana is leveraging the economic potential of medicinal and industrial cannabis while prioritizing public health and national security through strict regulations, LI 2475, which grants 11 license categories, including cultivation, processing, breeding, laboratory testing, storage, transportation, importation, and exportation,…

The Oil Palm Development Association of Ghana (OPDAG) calling on the government to empower the Tree Crop Development Authority (TCDA) to establish a robust monitoring system to track the importation of oil palm produce into the country. This move aims to identify and prevent illicit imports, as the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) appears unable to effectively address the issue. According to the association, granting the TCDA regulatory powers would help curb the smuggling of oil palm produce, which is allegedly facilitated by GRA and customs officials. The association’s president, Paul Amaning, claims that Ghana loses over 80 million cedis in…

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has successfully convened a homecoming presentation session in Accra for Ghanaian government officials who studied in Japan under the “Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship” (JDS). JICA also organized a seminar titled “Japan’s Diplomacy toward Africa and the Current State of Japanese Corporate Investment,” delivered by Professor SHIRATO Keiichi of Ritsumeikan University as part of its ongoing efforts to deepen Japan–Ghana cooperation. A Decade of Investing in Ghana’s Human Capital. Funded by the Government of Japan, the JDS program supports promising young Ghanaian civil servants to pursue graduate degrees in Japan, equipping them with…

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…