By Alex Ababio The Bank of Ghana (BoG) is taking proactive steps to stabilize the cedi by building up its reserves, particularly as the festive season approaches and the demand for foreign exchange surges. Currently, the cedi is trading at a rate of nearly GHS 17 to a dollar on the foreign market, reflecting a significant year-to-date depreciation of 24.3%. The Bank of Ghana’s strategy is to focus on bolstering confidence and assurance among businesses and consumers by piloting the local currency toward greater stability amidst the current economic pressures. According to the Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr.…
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By Alex Ababio The EKK Charity Foundation has called on the government to prioritize educational infrastructure in Ghana’s rural areas, urging the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration to bridge the educational divide between urban and rural communities. During a recent donation ceremony, Mavis Nyantakyiwaa Agyei, Secretary of EKK Charity Foundation, appealed to the Ministry of Education to address what she termed “a stark imbalance” in infrastructure investment. “We need to prioritize rural schools to ensure every child, regardless of location, has access to quality education,” she said, stressing the necessity of reaching some of Ghana’s most underserved communities. The appeal…
By Alex Ababio The Minister for Finance, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, has officially unveiled a Climate Financing Division within the Ministry of Finance to drive green growth. According to the Minister , the new division is created to coordinate and lead initiatives to attract international funding in order foster partnerships with investors and thus implement projects that drive green growth and sustainability. Dr Amin Adam reiterated that the creation of this division synchronizes with the goal of Ghana in building a sustainable and climate-resilient economy. He highlighted that effective economic management is closely tied to environmental stewardship. “The fact is…
By Alex Ababio The persistent pollution of the Danyame River has forced residents of Begroase, located in the Adonkoase Electoral Area of the Amansie Central District in the Ashanti Region, to depend heavily on purchased water for their daily needs. Residents complain that tap water is often unclean and unreliable, leaving them with no choice but to buy water to survive. When this reporter visited the area to assess the river’s condition and its impact on residents, it became evident that accessing safe water has become a major challenge. Threat of Food Shortages A troubling development is that this farming…
By Alex Ababio EKK Foundation has made a significant contribution to the education of pupils in Mirekukrom, Nsawora District in the Western North Region. The foundation, led by its CEO, Mr. Evans Kofi Kwafo, donated essential educational supplies and materials, while also calling on Ghanaians, particularly philanthropists and charitable organizations, to join efforts in supporting education in underserved areas. At the donation event, the foundation provided 50 bags of cement to help complete a six-unit classroom block, alongside 1,500 exercise books, school bags, shoes, desks for teachers, and other teaching materials. Mr. Kwafo stressed the ongoing struggles faced by rural…
Zijin Mining Group, through its subsidiary Gold Source International, has secured a $1 billion deal to acquire a significant gold mining asset in Ghana. The agreement involves an upfront payment of $900 million, with an additional $100 million contingent on specific conditions being met. The transaction is expected to close in the final quarter of 2024. Zijin will assume control of a Newmont subsidiary that manages the Akyem open-pit mine, a site that held 34.6 tons of gold reserves as of December 2023. The Chinese mining giant has ambitious plans for the mine, including transitioning to underground operations by…
Prologue: The Paper That Stole a Future
Inside a cramped room in Kumasi, 24-year-old Emmanuel Osei grips a crumpled pink receipt. The print reads: “Ghana Police Recruitment Form – GH¢200.” For Emmanuel, that piece of paper cost more than cash. To pay for it, he sold his late father’s funeral beads.
“They said this would change my life,” he murmurs. “Now I’m worse off than before.”
He is not alone. In 2023, 182,000 Ghanaians purchased police forms. Only 4,500 made it into the service – a meagre 2.5% acceptance rate, slimmer than Oxford University’s. Behind these figures is a shadow industry that thrives on desperation, preys on the poor, and leaves broken dreams in its wake.
By Alex Ababio The Ministry of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has embarked on a major initiative to establish approximately 80 traditional councils in the Volta Region by the end of November. This effort is significant as the Volta Region is home to the highest number of paramount chiefs in Ghana, surpassing all other regions in the country. “No other region in Ghana has even half the number of paramount chiefs that Volta boasts,” noted Mr. Harry Attipoe, the Volta Regional Registrar at the Volta Regional House of Chiefs. The ministry has already commenced the process of inaugurating the councils. “We…
By Alex Ababio The nation’s economic growth in the first half of 2024 has surpassed pre-pandemic levels, according to the Minister of Finance, Dr. Mohammed Amin Adam. Speaking at the Second Quarterly Economic Roundtable (QER) in Accra, Dr. Amin Adam revealed that the economy grew by 5.8% in the first half of 2024, 0.4 percentage points higher than the growth rate during the same period five years ago, before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. “The fact is, the half-year growth of 5.8% is the highest in the last five years,” the Finance Minister noted. “It’s encouraging to see…
By Alex Ababio The Ghana Medical Association (GMA) has expressed its solidarity with Organised Labour in the ongoing fight against illegal small-scale mining, commonly known as galamsey, but has made it clear that it will not participate in the planned nationwide strike scheduled for October 10. In a press release dated October 8, the GMA stated that no roadmap for industrial action has been outlined. “The Ghana Medical Association has not declared any plan for industrial action,” said GMA President Dr. Frank Serebour in the statement. “All members are expected to provide uninterrupted medical services.” Despite their decision to abstain…