News Guide Africa

Category: Features

  • Toxic Waters, Empty Nets: How Light and Chemical Fishing Threaten Ghana’s Marine Ecosystem and Public Health

    Toxic Waters, Empty Nets: How Light and Chemical Fishing Threaten Ghana’s Marine Ecosystem and Public Health

    By Adnan Adams Mohammed, Financial and Resource Journalist

    Against the odds of strict legislative prohibitions and repeated government warnings, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices are surging to catastrophic levels along Ghana’s coastline.

    Nowhere is this crisis more visible than in the coastal communities of Ada, where the illicit use of high-intensity light aggregates and highly toxic chemicals is decimating marine ecosystems, plunging local fishers into poverty, and triggering an unfolding public health emergency.

    Environmental advocates and marine experts are now calling on the government to declare the situation a national security crisis before the country’s marine fisheries collapse entirely.

    The blinding lights at Ada

    In Ada and surrounding fishing hubs, the ban on light fishing a destructive practice where fishermen lower high-powered generator-fueled bulbs into the water to attract massive schools of fish, including juveniles is being openly flouted.

    “We go out at night and the sea looks like a city on its own because of the bright lights from these illegal operators,” said Nii Koblah, a local artisanal fisherman who has spent three decades on the water. “They take everything. They catch the mothers, they catch the babies. When we go out with our traditional nets during the day, the ocean is empty. They are killing our future.”

    The practice completely disrupts the natural migratory and breeding patterns of marine species. By scooping up juvenile fish before they have a chance to reproduce, light fishers are effectively collapsing the foundation of Ghana’s small pelagic fish stocks, such as sardines and mackerel, which are vital for local food security.

    “The law bans it, but enforcement on the high seas is practically non-existent,” noted Joseph Ocansey, an investigative journalist documenting the ecological fallout in Ada. “What we are witnessing is a lawless free-for-all that leaves law-abiding, traditional fishermen completely helpless.”

    A deadly cocktail: The rise of chemical fishing

    While light fishing hollows Ghana’s fish populations, an even more insidious threat is poisoning the waters: chemical fishing. Desperate for catches in depleted waters, some rogue operators have resorted to dumping toxic substances, including DDT, dynamite, and highly concentrated chemicals, directly into the ocean to stun and kill fish en masse.

    Experts warn that this crosses the line from an environmental issue to a severe public health hazard and a threat to national human security.

    “Chemical fishing must be treated as a national emergency,” stressed an environmental policy analyst advocating for maritime reforms. “When a fish is harvested using toxic chemicals, those poisons don’t disappear. They enter the human food chain. Every time a citizen buys contaminated fish in the market, they are ingesting carcinogens and toxins that damage organs and jeopardize public health.”

    The economic toll is equally devastating. As catch rates plummet due to habitat destruction, local coastal economies are crumbling, driving higher rates of poverty and forcing young men to migrate or seek illicit livelihoods.

    A call for aggressive state intervention

    The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) and the Fisheries Commission have previously instituted closed seasons to allow stocks to replenish. However, critics argue these temporary bans are useless if destructive, illegal practices resume the moment the season reopens.

    Civil society organizations, local chiefs, and law-abiding fishing associations are demanding a centralized, militarized crackdown on both light and chemical fishing. They are calling for stricter naval patrols, severe judicial penalties for boat owners utilizing generators and chemical agents, and rigorous testing of fish at major landing beaches.

    “We are fighting for our survival,” warned Naa Ayorkor, a prominent fish processor and vendor at a local market. “If the government does not stop the chemical and light fishers today, tomorrow there will be no fish for our children, no jobs for our youths, and only sickness in our communities. The sea is our life, and it is dying.”

    As the degradation of Ghana’s maritime domain accelerates, the window for action is rapidly closing. Stakeholders agree that without immediate, uncompromising enforcement, the nation’s waters will soon be completely empty—leaving behind an ecological wasteland and a deeply compromised population.

     

     

     

  • Gov’t backs hybrid funding for mining reforms …rejects risky 100% resource nationalization

    Gov’t backs hybrid funding for mining reforms …rejects risky 100% resource nationalization

    By News Desk

    The government of Ghana has formally backed a hybrid funding model for the country’s multi-billion dollar extractive sector, firmly rejecting mounting structural calls to move toward 100 percent state ownership of commercial mineral concessions.

    The policy shift forms part of a comprehensive legislative review aimed at aggressively boosting local equity, streamlining mineral rights renewals, and mandating value-addition industrialization within domestic mining contracts without alienating the foreign capital critical to keeping the sector viable.

    This comes at the heels of intense advocacy by mining sector stakeholders; including a veteran journalist and a mining health and safety professional, Adnan Adams Mohammed, whose insight on why it is risky for 100% nationalisation of large mining concessions has been captured in a series of published articles while proposing alternatives to optimise nation gains from the mining sector.

    “We must move past this populist sentiment that ignores the reality of global capital,” Mr Adnan Adams stated in one of a series of critiques. He pointed to the historical failure of state-run enterprises, referencing the era of the State Gold Mining Corporation (SGMC) which nearly collapsed the sector before privatization in the 1980s.

    “The calls by the IEA and Sophia Akuffo are not just ill-timed; they are dangerous. They are asking the state to take over complex, capital-intensive operations when we are currently struggling to manage basic public utilities. To suggest GoldFields should be pushed out is a betrayal of the investment stability Ghana has spent decades building.”

    Economic risk: Experts warn against resource nationalization

    Addressing a national extractive forum, economist Dr. Adu Owusu Sarkodie issued a stern caution against complete resource nationalization, warning that total state ownership has historically birthed severe operational inefficiencies, capital starvation, and political patronage.

    “100 percent government ownership is very risky,” Dr. Sarkodie warned. “Our management is questionable because politicians will employ party foot soldiers, so a state ownership and private management model is okay. Public-private participation helps protect operational efficiency, maintain investor confidence, and ensure that the sector remains competitive while still delivering high value to the state.”

    A mineral economist speaking on panel structures expanded on this, outlining why a hybrid capital model represents the most pragmatic economic pathway for the continent’s leading gold producer.

    “A hybrid funding approach is key to strengthening local mining participation because it blends state-led strategic financing with international risk capital,” the specialist argued. “By setting up state-backed equity funds or joint ventures, we can build true domestic wealth without cutting off the foreign direct investment pipelines that absorb the initial, multi-million dollar risks of mineral exploration.”

    The capital bottleneck vs. technical competency

    The call for high-capital private integration was strongly corroborated by energy and governance expert Dr. Boateng, who observed that while the domestic economy possesses the requisite engineering and operational expertise to handle extraction, it lacks the deep fiscal reserves to go it alone.

    “Ghana has the technical capacity, but capital remains our key constraint in the mining sector,” Dr. Boateng emphasized. “We have the geologists, the engineers, and the technical minds capable of managing tier-one assets. What we do not have is the deep financial pool to independently fund deep-level exploration and heavy machinery development. Ghanaian participation in the extractive sector must increase, but it must be driven through structured capital partnerships.”

    Enforcing local content and policy consistency

    For private investors, structural predictability remains the single greatest variable governing project lifecycles. Emphasizing this reality, a senior advisory partner at accounting and consulting firm Deloitte Ghana urged the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to codify explicit, immutable guidelines regarding mineral lease extensions and local equity frameworks.

    “The government must provide clear, consistent policies to govern mining license renewals and local content targets,” the Deloitte partner stated. “Regulatory ambiguity is the enemy of long-term investment. If mining companies and financial markets understand the exact timelines, compliance metrics, and equity expectations required for renewals years in out, they will confidently allocate the capital required to expand production and integrate local vendors into their supply chains.”

    Mining as a catalyst for industrialization

    Beyond royalties and corporate taxes, policy advocates are demanding that resource extraction serve as a direct springboard for national manufacturing. Outlining the structural conditions needed to ensure sustainable development, industrial strategist Ayi Owoo argued that extracting raw unrefined ore belongs to a bygone era.

    “Government must make in-country industrialization an absolute condition in all future mining contracts,” Ayi Owoo asserted. “We can no longer tolerate a framework where raw resources are extracted and exported out of our ports in their primary states. If a multinational corporation wants access to Ghana’s gold, lithium, or bauxite, their contract must explicitly commit them to investing in domestic processing plants, local refining infrastructure, and primary fabrication pipelines.”

    The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has indicated that these evolving policy pillars comprising the hybrid funding matrix, explicit processing targets, and standardized license rules will form the cornerstone of upcoming mineral bill revisions slated for parliamentary review.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • In Conversation With: Eng. Charles Sangweni & Paul Sinclair A Fireside Dialogue on Tanzania’s Upstream Future

    In Conversation With: Eng. Charles Sangweni & Paul Sinclair A Fireside Dialogue on Tanzania’s Upstream Future

    Introduction

    Paul Sinclair:

    Charles, it’s great to reconnect. Every time we sit down, the conversation seems to reflect a continent that is moving with renewed purpose. Across Africa, we’re seeing a more confident narrative around natural resources, particularly gas, and a clearer understanding of how these resources can underpin long-term development. Tanzania, in many ways, feels like it’s stepping into a key moment of growth and upstream success. How do you see Tanzania positioned within this broader African energy story?

    Eng. Charles Sangweni:

    Paul, thank you very much. It is always a pleasure to engage in such important discussions. Indeed, Africa’s energy narrative is evolving rapidly, and Tanzania is proud to be part of this transformation. We believe our country is strategically positioned to contribute significantly to regional energy security and future global energy supply.

    What we are witnessing today is the outcome of decades of geological work, institutional development, and strategic investment. Tanzania’s petroleum exploration journey dates back to the early 1950s with initial onshore exploration activities. Since then, the country has steadily built a strong foundation of geological knowledge and upstream capability.

    The early gas discoveries at Songo Songo in 1974 and Mnazi Bay in 1982 marked important milestones, confirming Tanzania’s substantial hydrocarbon potential. However, the offshore deepwater discoveries made between 2010 and 2015, particularly within the deep water of Indian ocean, significantly elevated Tanzania’s profile within the global upstream industry.

    Today, Tanzania possesses approximately 57.54 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of natural gas reserves, positioning the country among Africa’s leading natural gas holders. This scale of resources, combined with the quality of the subsurface geology and strategic geographical location, places Tanzania in a strong position both regionally and internationally.

    Tanzania’s Upstream Potential

    Paul Sinclair:

    That subsurface story is clearly compelling from a rock’s perspective Charles. From the outside, there’s a sense that Tanzania has moved from frontier to something much more exciting with a real risk adjusted opportunity on the table for operators and investors. What is it about the geology that continues to attract international attention?

    Eng. Charles Sangweni:

    Confidence in any upstream jurisdiction begins with the subsurface. Tanzania offers an exceptional combination of scale, prospectivity, and geological consistency. Our offshore basins, particularly in the Indian Ocean, have demonstrated a proven and working petroleum system with substantial gas accumulations.

    The discoveries made in the deepwater confirmed not only the presence of hydrocarbons, but also the repeatability of exploration success across multiple offshore blocks. This is extremely important for investors because it significantly reduces exploration risk while preserving considerable upside potential for long-term commercial development.

    At the same time, we should not overlook Tanzania’s onshore and shallow-water opportunities. While offshore gas discoveries have understandably attracted significant international attention, many frontier areas remain underexplored and continue to present promising opportunities. Tanzania is still an emerging basin with substantial untapped potential and that is part of its long-term attractiveness.

    Natural Gas and the Energy Future

    Paul Sinclair:

    Natural gas is clearly central to Tanzania’s strategy. Globally, there’s been a lot of discussion around the role of gas in the energy transition. How does Tanzania view this?

    Eng. Charles Sangweni:

    For Tanzania, natural gas represents a transformational opportunity and remains a cornerstone of our national development strategy. As a country, our priorities include expanding energy access, accelerating industrialisation, creating employment opportunities, and supporting sustainable economic growth. Natural gas provides a reliable, scalable and relatively cleaner source of energy capable of supporting these national objectives.

    It is also important to recognise that natural gas offers lower carbon emissions compared to many other conventional fossil fuels. In this context, gas serves as a pragmatic transition fuel that can support economic development while contributing to global climate and energy transition discussions.

    Looking ahead, the opportunities extend beyond domestic utilisation. Through the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure, Tanzania has the potential to become a globally competitive LNG exporter, connecting our resources to regional and international markets.

    Production and Infrastructure Development

    Paul Sinclair:

    You touched on production, which is an important point. There’s often a perception that Tanzania is still largely untapped, but there is already meaningful activity underway. Can you expand on that?

    Eng. Charles Sangweni:

    Absolutely. Tanzania is not starting from zero; we already have an operational natural gas industry that continues to support national economic development.

    The Songo Songo and Mnazi Bay gas fields are actively producing and supplying natural gas for domestic consumption. Between 2021 and 2025, Songo Songo and Mnazi Bay collectively contributed billions of cubic feet of natural gas to the domestic market, supporting electricity generation, industrial operations and commercial utilisation across the country.

    This production is supported by key national infrastructure, including the National Natural Gas Pipeline which connects southern gas fields to major demand centres such as Dar es Salaam. The availability of reliable gas supplies has played a major role in strengthening power generation capacity and supporting industrial growth.

    At the same time, Tanzania continues to invest strategically in midstream infrastructure. The planned LNG project in Lindi represents a major milestone that will unlock export opportunities and position Tanzania as an important regional energy hub. In parallel, pipeline and associated infrastructure development will further strengthen regional connectivity and energy integration.

    Policy, Stability, and Investment Climate

    Paul Sinclair:

    As Tanzania moves into this next phase, the investment environment becomes even more important. How are you ensuring that the country remains competitive and attractive to investors?

    Eng. Charles Sangweni:

    We fully recognise that upstream petroleum investments are long-term in nature and therefore require stability, predictability and confidence in both the resource base and regulatory framework.

    Tanzania has made significant progress in strengthening its institutional and legal framework governing upstream petroleum operations. Our focus remains on transparency, regulatory consistency, accountability and constructive engagement with industry stakeholders.

    Our objective is to maintain a balanced investment environment, one that remains attractive and competitive to investors while ensuring that Tanzania derives sustainable value and long-term national benefits from its petroleum resources.

    We also strongly believe in continuous dialogue and collaboration with industry players. Through regular engagement, we are able to improve our policies and ensure alignment with evolving global best practices and market realities.

    The Next Wave of Partnerships

    Paul Sinclair:

    As we look ahead, partnerships will be critical. What kind of partners is Tanzania looking to attract in this next phase?

    Eng. Charles Sangweni:

    We are looking for long-term strategic partners who bring not only financial investment, but also technical expertise, innovation, operational excellence and a genuine commitment to collaboration.

    The next phase for Tanzania is focused on execution, advancing LNG development, expanding infrastructure, commercializing resources and integrating Tanzania more effectively into regional and international energy markets. Achieving this requires strong partnerships across the entire petroleum value chain.

    We are particularly interested in partners who appreciate the importance of local content development, technology transfer and national capacity building. For Tanzania, petroleum development is not simply about resource extraction; it is about building a sustainable economic ecosystem capable of delivering long-term value to our people and future generations.

    Local Content and Capacity Development

    Paul Sinclair:

    Local content is becoming a defining theme across Africa. How is Tanzania approaching this?

    Eng. Charles Sangweni:

    Local content is central to Tanzania’s broader vision for sustainable petroleum development. Our objective is to ensure that Tanzanians actively participate in and benefit from the growth of the sector.

    This includes creating opportunities for local businesses, strengthening workforce skills, supporting knowledge and technology transfer, and integrating Tanzanian companies into the industry supply chain in a meaningful and competitive manner.

    At the same time, we recognise that building national capacity is a gradual process that requires collaboration between government institutions, industry players, universities and training institutions. We remain committed to ensuring that the growth of the petroleum sector contributes directly to national human capital and economic development.

    Tanzania at AOW:Energy

    Paul Sinclair:

    This is exactly where platforms like AOW:Energy come into play. From our perspective, it’s about connecting the right people and turning conversations into action. How do you see Tanzania leveraging this platform?

    Eng. Charles Sangweni:

    AOW: Energy remains an extremely important platform for Tanzania because it enables direct engagement with the international upstream and investment community.

    For us, it is an opportunity to showcase Tanzania’s resource potential, communicate our strategic priorities and attract the next generation of investment partners. We want the global market to clearly understand that Tanzania is ready, we have the resources, the vision, the institutional framework and the commitment required to advance our petroleum sector responsibly and competitively.

    We also view AOW:Energy as a practical platform for building meaningful partnerships and we have already witnessed growing international interest in Tanzania through previous engagements.

    Regional Perspective and Collaboration

    Paul Sinclair:

    East Africa as a region is gaining momentum. How important is regional collaboration in unlocking Tanzania’s full potential?

    Eng. Charles Sangweni:

    Regional collaboration is critically important because large-scale energy development often benefits significantly from regional integration and economies of scale.

    By working closely with our neighbouring countries, we can optimise infrastructure investments, expand regional markets, strengthen energy security and improve project viability. This is particularly relevant for LNG infrastructure, natural gas transportation systems and cross-border energy trade.

    More importantly, regional cooperation strengthens Africa’s collective voice within the global energy industry. Through collaboration, East African countries can create a stronger and more competitive regional energy ecosystem capable of attracting investment and delivering shared economic benefits.

    Tanzania remains fully committed to playing a constructive and leading role in advancing regional energy cooperation.

    Challenges and Opportunities

    Paul Sinclair:

    Every opportunity comes with challenges. What do you see as the key issues ahead?

    Eng. Charles Sangweni:

    Like any major energy producing jurisdiction, Tanzania faces challenges relating to financing, infrastructure development, global market conditions and evolving energy transition dynamics. However, these challenges are manageable through strong partnerships, sound policy frameworks and long-term strategic planning.

    What gives us confidence is that Tanzania possesses a clear national vision, strong institutional commitment and a substantial natural resource base. The opportunities ahead remain significant, and with the right collaboration and investment approach, Tanzania is well positioned to unlock the full value of its petroleum resources responsibly and sustainably.

    Closing Remarks

    Paul Sinclair:

    Charles, it’s clear that Tanzania is entering a defining phase. From our perspective, this is one of the most compelling upstream stories on the continent today.

    At AOW:Energy, we are proud to provide a platform where Tanzania can engage with the global energy community. This is a call to action, for investors, operators, and service providers to step forward and be part of this journey.

    Eng. Charles Sangweni:

    Thank you very much, Paul. Tanzania remains open and ready to engage with credible and committed partners who share our long-term vision and ambition.

    We firmly believe that through strong collaboration, responsible resource management, and strategic investment, Tanzania can unlock the full potential of its natural resources while creating sustainable and lasting value for our nation, our region, and future generations.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • In Conversation With… Paul Sinclair & Emeafa Hardcastle

    In Conversation With… Paul Sinclair & Emeafa Hardcastle

    INTERVIEW 1: DATA, SEISMIC DATA & THE NEW ERA OF AFRICAN UPSTREAM ACCESS

    Paul Sinclair:

    Emeafa, I want to start with something quite fundamental. When you look at where Ghana’s upstream sector is today, it feels like there has been a real focus recently on exploration, and new projects, with emphasis on quality data. Ghana currently has good quality multi-client proprietary seismic datasets in the offshore and onshore basins. From your perspective, what has really changed?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    First and foremost, Paul thanks for this opportunity and yes, you’re right, a lot has changed. Ghana’s upstream oil and gas industry continues to evolve and have a potential to grow at a steady and promising rate, rife with opportunities and certainly some challenges for the country and investors. The prospects are based on the perspective that seismic data is the gateway to long term success.

    E&P Investors require quality and extensive data coverage for exploration.

    Availability of petroleum data tends to reduce the exploration duration and geological risk and act as catalyst for investment attraction.

    The Commission’s assessment indicates that we need an investment outlay of over US$200M to bridge the data gaps in Ghana’s offshore sedimentary basin. We are pursuing various models of funding the data acquisition which include full funding by the State, Public Private Partnership and Private-led with State support e.g. Multiclient to support the acceleration of exploration activities by new E&P Contractors. The Government, through the Petroleum Commission, has approved the acquisition of Multi-client 3D Seismic data acquisition for; Tano Cape Three Points Basin: (12,000 sq.km), Accra-Keta Basin: (13,900 sq.km ) and Saltpond Basin (10,000 sq.km). These projects are expected to make seismic data readily available to E&P companies who desire to explore Ghana’s sedimentary basins for hydrocarbon. Also, GNPC has completed the phase 3 of its 2D seismic acquisition programme over the Voltaian Basin with an infill campaign of additional 1655 line kilometer (Km) of 2D seismic lines.

    We now have extensive 2D and 3D seismic coverage across our basins, including datasets from providers such as TGS and TG-GeoPartners. That coverage has given us a far more detailed understanding of our offshore potential, and it enables us to talk confidently to operators about geological prospects.

    However, I would like to emphasise that quality data alone is not the end point. Data is only powerful if it is accessible, interpretable, and actively used in decision-making. That is exactly why we focus our strategy on investment attraction driven by data.

    Paul Sinclair:

    That’s interesting because it sounds like you’re talking about a shift towards more bullish marketing via quality data, would you agree that’s where AOW:Energy comes in, and how do you view September as an opportunity to attract more market entrants?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    I would agree on that Paul, we will lean on AOW and other events to use our improved datasets to showcase Ghana’s geological prospects and promote investment into the sector. At AOW Energy in September, the Commission and its partners will host “free to all’Data Rooms access and meet with investors to discuss the subsurface in more detail highlighting new products and new insights.

    So, when companies come to AOW Energy we have made a point that they are not just attending a conference, but network with relevant stakeholders to review the available data to make informed business decision. I think that’s what makes AOW different. It is not a talk shop; we have been very intentional that AOW Energy in Ghana becomes a platform where one leave with new insights and business opportunities.

    Paul Sinclair:

    Talking of opportunity, let me ask you about one of the areas that’s been gaining attention recently, the Accra-Keta and Voltaian Basins. We’re seeing more seismic work being undertaken, and early indications are encouraging. As the regulator how are you viewing trend?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    Paul, we view the frontier basins to provide future opportunities with enormous resource potential. The Accra-Keta Basin is still underexplored compared to Tano-Cape Three Points Basins, but the geological indicators we are seeing are encouraging. The geoscientific data suggests potential commercial opportunities that align with known productive analogues elsewhere in West Africa.

    The Voltaian Basin is transitioning decisively from conceptual evaluation into active exploration. Currently, five companies hold licences, reflecting growing industry confidence and commitment. Current efforts are focused on systematically de‑risking the Voltaian Basin through the integration and evaluation of various datasets and preparation to drill exploration well.

    Then again, this is where AOW:Energy becomes extremely important. Because at AOW, we will be hosting dedicated basin sessions and data rooms focused specifically on acreage, where E&P companies can engage directly with the Petroleum Commission and its technical teams.

    So rather than conversations happening in isolation, everything is brought into one structured environment where progress can really be made.

    Paul Sinclair:

    I totally agree and that is an important key point, the idea of bringing everything together in one place, regarding both above and below ground issues.

    From your perspective Emeafa, what’s you view on the Ocean Bottom Node surveys over Jubilee and TEN. That is a big step in terms of subsurface clarity. How do you see that impacting production?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    This represents a significant milestone in how we understand the subsurface across the two fields. As you know, this Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) survey is the first of its kind in Ghana. OBN technology is increasingly proving to be a reliable tool for advanced subsurface imaging. For example, Total Energies has successfully applied it to enhance reservoir characterization in the Louro and Mastarda fields in Angola, with clear and measurable results.

    The Tullow and Partners OBN surveys follows a 4D streamer survey acquired in Q1 2025, and we are encouraged by the initial outcomes observed so far.

    OBN surveys require significant investment, therefore, this commitment by the Jubilee and TEN partners underscores their strong confidence in Ghana’s subsurface potential and the long-term value of these assets.

    But what’s also important is how we integrate this into the broader upstream conversation.

    At AOW Energy, we will be creating time for operators, service companies, and investors to engage directly through technical sessions and structured meetings hosted by the Petroleum Commission and our partners to ensure we maximise AOW Energy and deliver outputs and positive outcomes for Ghana.

    Paul Sinclair:

    It feels like there’s a broader narrative here, which is that Ghana is not just trying to attract exploration, but also optimise what it already has, while opening new frontiers.

    Would you say that’s a fair reflection?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    Yes, absolutely. That dual approach is very deliberate. We need to decisively accelerate exploration and field development operations to unlock additional resources, recognising that timely execution is essential in an increasingly competitive global energy landscape. That said, building reserves and advancing further exploration are key to achieving greater success, so we must pursue these in parallel.

    We are focused on three things at the same time, improving production from active fields, unlocking new offshore exploration opportunities, and developing frontier basins like the Accra- Keta, Saltpond and onshore Voltaian basins.

    And we are doing this in a coordinated way with our partners, operators, service companies, and investors alike, it is an ecosystem and we are here to continue to build partnership, trust, accelerate decision making and of course equitable growth.

    There is an intense sense of alignment right now. People are working together more closely, and there is a shared understanding that we want to see results for the greater good.

    That is why I keep coming back to AOW Energy. Because it is the platform where that alignment becomes visible, and where governments and industry sit in the same room and move things forward.

    Paul Sinclair:

    And would you say now the mood has shifted compared to a few years ago? What has changed where both Ghana and the West African sub region have exploded into life again.

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    Yes, I would. There is a more positive and pragmatic mood. I say that not just about what we are looking to achieve in Ghana, I really feel that whilst we have boosted our relationships with the private sector, and we are instilling more and more confidence to attract investment, West Africa is seeing a boom in activities with huge interest in the West African Transform Margin. Countries such as Nigeria have done an incredible job in creating enabling environments, Cote d`Ivoire has seen amazing growth and new markets such as Liberia and Guinea Bissau are also attracting attention. For me this is a good thing, its reinforcing the potential of Africa in a new market dynamic and attracting operators to the sub region.

    There is a real sense of momentum building, and I think that will become more visible over the next 12 to 18 months. We expect increased exploration activity, more investment, more discoveries, and new Petroleum Agreements being signed.

    For more information on Ghana’s upstream oil and gas opportunities, including access to data rooms, technical sessions, licensing rounds, and investment meetings with the Petroleum Commission of Ghana and GNPC, contact the AOW Energy team now.

    AOW Energy 2026, held in partnership with the Government of Ghana and leading African energy institutions, is the premier platform for upstream deal-making in Africa, bringing together operators, investors, and over 30 African governments to unlock exploration, production, and partnership opportunities across the continent.

     

    INTERVIEW 2 : VOLTAIAN BASIN, ONSHORE FRONTIERS & BUILDING A NEW ENERGY PROVINCE

    Paul Sinclair:

    Following our last meeting about the Sub Region and the outlook of exploration and production, I wanted to move onshore. The Voltaian Basin is enormous, over 100,000 square kilometres. It’s one of Africa’s least explored basins but the opportunity is proving to be unprecedented. When you look at it today, what stands out to you?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    What stands out to me is not only the scale of the opportunity of the Voltaian Basin, but also our improved ability to properly evaluate it.

    In the past, one key challenge of the Voltaian Basin has been the presence of a working petroleum system. Critical elements such as Reservoir, Source Rock, Migration Pathways, and an effective Cap Rock have historically posed significant risks.

    Today, however, we have acquired extensive Geological and Geochemical datasets alongside over 5,000 km of 2D seismic lines, which have enabled us to substantially de-risk these elements to acceptable levels. For example, through inhouse analysis, we have noticed that soil gas data available from the geochemical surveys conducted contain significant concentrations of methane, ethane, propane, and butane. These are light hydrocarbon gases that may well be considered as confirming the existence of active oil and gas sources within the Basin.

    Moreover, the planned exploration wells by GNPC Explorco also represent a significant step toward unlocking the full potential of the basin.

    We are very excited about the prospectivity of the Voltaian Basin and its potential to change the lives of our people.

    Paul Sinclair:

    GNPC Explorco is clearly preparing for drilling activity and seeking partners. How is that process working in practice?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    It is very structured as GNPC Explorco is actively preparing for its drilling campaign. Also, Explorco is engaging with potential partners through farm-down opportunities.

    We are looking for companies that brings technical strength and financial capability, but also a willingness to work within a long-term partnership framework.

    Onshore exploration in Ghana is relatively nascent and requires a different approach to development, it requires drilling expertise, logistics, infrastructure planning, and strong local integration.

    We are encouraging companies with the appetite for onshore exploration and production to engage with us now, and at AOW Energy, where we can host formal data rooms, technical meetings, and investor sessions specifically for the Voltaian Basin.

    Paul Sinclair:

    So when companies come to AOW:Energy, they can sit down with PC, Explorco and the broader stakeholder groups to review the basin in detail?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    That is our goal, we really want to maximise AOW:Energy, we don’t have to wait until then to open discussions, but we do want to make sure the sector knows that when it comes to AOW:Energy, we will be ready technically to dive into the geology and above ground to set the scene and to move conversation to action.

    At AOW:Energy, we will have dedicated Voltaian Basin sessions where companies can engage directly with our teams, review datasets, and discuss commercial structures.

    We will also have government-led meeting programmes, which allow investors to sit directly with decision-makers and move interest to commitments. We want to make this a platform for active deal-making.

    And importantly, they are not only meeting Ghana and Ghanaian opportunity. We are proud to be hosting the regional regulators, NOCs, and government leadership in Accra. We will ensure that the event is not only good for Ghana, but we carry the opportunity to promote our region as a whole. So, by attending AOW:Energy, investors and operators are also engaging with more than 30 African governments, all of whom are bringing upstream opportunities to the event, just as we the Ghanaian government will. That is what makes it unique.

    Paul Sinclair:

    Agree, I totally agree and it’s a crucial point, you’re essentially saying this is not just a Ghana event, it’s an African upstream convergence.

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    That’s it, and for me that is why AOW:Energy is so powerful, it’s a regional event of purpose, and we are determined to provide equitable upsides for all across the region and sector.

    Paul Sinclair:

    Let’s talk about infrastructure. Onshore basins are not just as good as the subsurface and geology, it’s also about the infrastructure, the roads, logistics, services, and local content development. How is Ghana approaching that?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    We are approaching it as part of a broader development strategy and one that we passionately believe will give us the advantage we need to attract investment and partners.

    The Voltaian Basin is a regional development opportunity that has the potential to stimulate economic growth in across Ghana, create jobs, and build new industrial capacity. I really think the end-to-end supply chain can develop upside, and then the natural resource development also that will contribute to economic advancement.

    So yes, infrastructure is critical, but we see it as an opportunity rather than a constraint.

    For more information on Ghana’s upstream oil and gas opportunities, including access to data rooms, technical sessions, licensing rounds, and investment meetings with the Petroleum Commission of Ghana and GNPC, contact the AOW:Energy team now.

    AOW:Energy 2026, held in partnership with the Government of Ghana and leading African energy institutions, is the premier platform for upstream deal-making in Africa, bringing together operators, investors, and over 30 African governments to unlock exploration, production, and partnership opportunities across the continent.

     

    INTERVIEW 3 : REGULATORY REFORM, INVESTMENT CLIMATE & AFRICA’S COMPETITIVE UPSTREAM FUTURE

    Paul Sinclair:

    Emeafa, let us talk about something that underpins everything we have discussed previously about geology and the rocks, and that is the regulatory environment here in Ghana. There’s been a lot of discussion in the industry about competitiveness, fiscal terms, and reform that could see Ghana take the lead as an investment choice, the rocks speak for themselves, but I sense a growing anticipation around how as a country Ghana is looking to compete via regulation, policy and fiscal terms. Where is Ghana right now in that conversation?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    We are in a highly active and constructive phase of review, and we know that competitive terms above ground will transform our sector. We have been blessed with amazing geology, and let’s be clear, basins are not confined to the boarders we see on a map. For investors, Ghana is an exciting place to be. I am glad this has been proven with steady increase in FDI over the years. The country has tremendous investment opportunities given its natural and human resource abundance and relatively well developed infratsructure.

    That said, we know competitive terms accelerate investment, just look at what has been achieved in Cote d`Ivoire. So, we want to make sure we give Ghana the best possible chance of success and that lies in developing enabling and competitive frameworks for the above ground, and I believe we can achieve this sooner rather than later.

    We recognise that the global upstream environment is highly competitive. Capital is mobile and seeks the best returns, and investors have many options across Africa and beyond, so we need to make sure we compete at the best level possible without compromising the value we retain in Ghana for our people. Beyond improving fiscal attractiveness, the key to investment attraction is regulatory predictability, certainty and respect of sanctity of

    Let me reiterate that message I began with this interview, Ghana is an exciting destination for petroleum and other investments. It is possible to invest securely and profitably for the long term.

    AOW:Energy will surely provide us a real opportunity for E&P companies to show to the world that their investments in Ghana are good for themselves, good for the country, and good for the people.

    So, our focus is ensuring that Ghana remains attractive, while also ensuring that we protect national value and deliver benefits to our people. That balance is especially important to us.

    Paul Sinclair:

    And how do you achieve that balance in practice?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    Through pragmatism and engagement, through understanding market drivers and analysis of how we achieve the best results for Ghana while attracting as much investment as possible. We are working closely with industry to ensure that our regulatory and fiscal frameworks support investment while maintaining fairness. It is about balance.

    Ghana has demonstrated over the years that, it is possible to invest securely and profitably for the long term in this country. Investors just have to follow common sense principles in investment -: Align Investments with the Country’s Development Priorities; Practice Transparency; Add Value to the Country and its People; Pay What is Due to the State and Do What is Right; and Engage with Local Communities.

    With AOW:Energies: There is a real opportunity for Investors to show to the world that their investments in Ghana are good for their Shareholders, and good for the country.

    We want more exploration, more production, and more partnerships. And we believe that is achievable through a well-calibrated framework.

    Paul Sinclair:

    There is a lot of speculation in the market that Ghana is moving toward more competitive fiscal terms. Is that fair?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    What I would say is that we are always reviewing how to remain competitive, we will always be making recommendations, and our government is not shy in making the right decisions to advance prosperity for our citizens. Our focus is on rewarding investors that take risks in deeper and ultra deeper water and the frontier basins. We are also minimizing front load payments and simplify computation of key fiscal elements to bring certainty in contractor’s obligation. We hope to make our upstream as competitive as possible and we will be working to achieve this in the shortest possible period.

    Our objective is not just to attract investment, obviously that is key, but to do so with sustainability and responsible terms. We want to attract sustainable investment that leads to long-term development.

    We are confident in the direction we are taking our sector; we hope to be able to communicate more positive news to the markets to help shape the best operating environment possible for our partners. We believe this action and sentiment will result in increased activity across the upstream sector.

    Paul Sinclair:

    And how does AOW:Energy fit into this broader reform and engagement process?

    Emeafa Hardcastle:

    AOW:Energy is central to it to be honest, bringing AOW:Energy to Ghana now was the perfect moment. West Africa is seeing a boom in interest, and our government is deeply committed to deriving as much value from the global community being here.

    At AOW:Energy 2026, we will host structured meeting programmes, data rooms, and technical engagement sessions led by the Petroleum Commission and our government partners. AOW:Energy affords us an opportunity not only to show to the world, our geological prospects, but also demonstrate how peaceful Ghana is, our unique and friendly hospitality and other remarkable investment opportunities especially in the mining sector.

    That is why AOW:Energy is so important. It is the largest niche upstream convening in the world for deal-making and investment.

    And we believe 2026 will bring even greater clarity, opportunity, and momentum across Ghana and Africa.

    For more information on Ghana’s upstream oil and gas opportunities, including access to data rooms, technical sessions, licensing rounds, and investment meetings with the Petroleum Commission of Ghana and GNPC, contact the AOW:Energy team now.

    AOW:Energy 2026, held in partnership with the Government of Ghana and leading African energy institutions, is the premier platform for upstream deal-making in Africa, bringing together operators, investors, and over 30 African governments to unlock exploration, production, and partnership opportunities across the continent.

    This is where Africa’s upstream deals begin.

    Contact: AOW:Energy : paul.sinclair@aowenergy.com

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Free Speech, Our Culture and the Lines That Must Be Drawn

    Free Speech, Our Culture and the Lines That Must Be Drawn

    The vibrant evolution of Ghana’s media landscape and the explosion of digital social spaces have brought a foundational democratic pillar to the forefront of national discourse: freedom of speech.

    While the 1992 Constitution unequivocally guarantees the right to free expression, an escalating debate is brewing across the country over where individual liberties end and cultural preservation, national cohesion, and public decency begin.

    ​At the heart of this national conversation is the delicate balancing act between modern democratic freedoms and traditional Ghanaian values, which heavily emphasize respect, communal harmony, and the protection of human dignity.

    ​The Constitutional Guarantee vs. Cultural Sensitivities

    ​Since the repeal of the Criminal Libel and Seditious Laws in 2001, Ghana has widely been celebrated as a beacon of free speech and press freedom in Africa. Talk radio, television panels, and social media platforms have empowered ordinary citizens to hold leadership accountable, demand better governance, and actively participate in civic discourse.

    ​However, cultural analysts and traditional leaders argue that this unhindered liberty is increasingly being weaponized to undermine the nation’s social fabric. In traditional Ghanaian society, communication is governed by deeply entrenched ethics of appropriateness. Respect for elders, revered institutions, and the community are cultural cornerstones.

    ​”Our freedom of speech was never intended to be an endorsement of insults, defamation, or the deliberate desecration of our cultural institutions,” noted a social commentator reflecting on the trend. “In our eagerness to embrace modern democracy, we must not throw away the values that make us uniquely Ghanaian.”

    ​Where Do We Draw the Line?

    ​The conversation has moved beyond mere societal complaints into a broader debate about legal and ethical boundaries. Legal experts point out that no freedom is absolute. Even under the 1992 Constitution, clauses exist to curb expressions that threaten national security, public safety, or incite communal violence.

    ​The gray area, however, lies in distinguishing between constructive criticism which is vital for a thriving democracy and speech that intentionally inflames passions, propagates hate, or damages reputations.

    ​Recent years have seen a rise in “serial callers” on radio shows and social media commentators who deploy hostile, unverified, and highly provocative rhetoric. While some view this as an unfiltered reflection of public frustration over economic hardships and political disillusionment, critics warn that leaving these trends unchecked invites chaos.

    ​The Way Forward: Self-Regulation or State Intervention?

    ​As the debate intensifies, stakeholders are divided on how to manage the growing friction between free expression and cultural decorum.

    ​Many fear that excessive state intervention or the introduction of heavy-handed regulations could inadvertently resurrect the “culture of silence” that plagued Ghana’s past political eras. Journalists, civil society organizations, and media advocates strongly advocate for self-regulation, calling on media houses and digital creators to enforce strict ethical standards and gatekeeping.

    ​Conversely, others call for a renewed focus on civic education and the revitalization of indigenous communication ethics. They argue that educating the younger generation on the balance between civic rights and social responsibilities is the most sustainable way to safeguard both Ghana’s democracy and its rich cultural heritage.

    ​As Ghana continues to navigate the complexities of the digital age, one truth remains clear: the survival of its acclaimed democracy depends not just on the right to speak freely, but on the collective responsibility to speak wisely. The lines must be drawn not to suffocate the truth, but to preserve the peace and dignity of the nation.

     

    Columnist: Delassie Mabel Awuku

    Disclaimer

  • Regulation by Invoicing: The Systemic Flaws in NITA’s Licensing Push and the Threat to Ghana’s Digital Trust

    Regulation by Invoicing: The Systemic Flaws in NITA’s Licensing Push and the Threat to Ghana’s Digital Trust

    By John Sitsofe Mensah , Technology Policy Analyst, IMANI

     

    The architecture of a nation’s digital economy relies entirely on the integrity of its regulatory frameworks. When the rules governing technological innovation are clear, predictable, and legally sound, Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) thrives, and digital trust is established. However, when regulatory bodies bypass foundational legislation in favor of administrative bootstrapping, the entire ecosystem is placed at risk.

    The recent push by the National Information Technology Agency (NITA) to mandate licenses for individual ICT professionals and general private tech businesses presents a textbook case of regulatory overreach. By leaning on the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022, and its subsequent 2023 Regulations to justify this sweep, NITA is attempting to extract a substantive regulatory mandate out of a consolidated financial instrument.

    A rigorous analysis of the underlying issues, laws, and frameworks surrounding this development reveals structural legal contradictions, a glaring historical legislative void, and a reactive regulatory posture that threatens to stifle local innovation and erode the very digital trust the agency was established to protect.

     

    The Foundational Blueprint: Strict Statutory Boundaries

     

    To understand the current friction, one must examine the original 2008 regulatory architecture. NITA was established by the National Information Technology Agency Act, 2008 (Act 771), with a companion framework provided by the Electronic Transactions Act, 2008 (Act 772).

    These laws were designed with a specific, corporate-focused regulatory intent:

    – Infrastructure over Individuals: NITA was tasked with regulating the “provision” of ICT, managing networks, and ensuring quality of service at the enterprise level.

    – Strict Licensing Limitations: Act 772 explicitly limits NITA’s certification powers to highly sensitive corporate services, specifically encryption and authentication.

    – The Individual Prohibition: Most crucially, Section 38(1) of Act 772 contains an unambiguous, specific prohibition: “A licence shall not be issued or granted by the Agency to an individual.”

    Under the 2008 framework, a data analyst or software developer simply utilizing ICT infrastructure to practice their trade operates entirely outside NITA’s licensing purview.

     

    The Legislative Void and the Pivot to “Regulation by Invoicing”

     

    To operationalize a primary Act especially one establishing a “Certifying Agency” with highly technical mandates a detailed Legislative Instrument (LI) is legally required. Despite multiple drafts circulating over the years, no comprehensive, sector-specific LIs were ever formally enacted to operationalize NITA’s broad statutory mandates under the 2008 Acts.

     

    Without an operational LI, NITA found itself holding broad enabling legislation but completely lacking the subsidiary legal tools required to actually execute its mandate. This legislative vacuum directly explains the agency’s current reliance on the Fees and Charges (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 2022.

     

    By sliding pricing schedules for “IT Professional Licenses” and broad business certifications into a general financial instrument, the agency engaged in administrative bootstrapping hoping the authorization to collect a fee would be interpreted as the legal mandate to establish the regulatory regime itself.

     

    This approach is legally flawed:

     

    – The Fallacy of Revenue as Regulation: The Fees and Charges Act is a consolidated national pricing catalog. Passing a financial schedule that sets a price tag for a “Software Developer Certification” does not magically grant the agency the substantive legal authority to create or enforce that professional guild. Pricing does not equal permission.

     

    – Hierarchy of Laws: A fundamental rule of statutory interpretation dictates that general laws cannot implicitly repeal specific laws. A line item buried in a general fees schedule cannot override the explicit prohibition against individual licensing found in Section 38(1) of Act 772.

     

    The Fallacy of the IT Guild: Why State Gatekeeping is Needless

     

    While legislative integrity demands that any move to regulate human capital must occur through rigorous primary legislation, we must ask a more fundamental question: Should the state be licensing IT professionals at all? Attempting to shoehorn the tech sector into a traditional, state-mandated professional guild is a profound misunderstanding of how the global digital economy operates. Creating a mandatory IT guild is entirely needless for two core reasons:

     

    – Global Standards Already Exist: The IT sector is inherently borderless and already governed by rigorous, globally recognized standards. International certification systems ranging from vendor-neutral accreditations like CISSP, CompTIA, and ISACA to vendor-specific credentials from AWS, Cisco, and Microsoft are continuously updated to reflect the bleeding edge of technology. A localized, state-run certification system cannot hope to outpace or out-rigor these global benchmarks. Rather than mandating a redundant local license, policy should encourage and perhaps subsidize the acquisition of these internationally recognized credentials.

     

    – The Meritocracy of Self-Taught Knowledge: Unlike medicine or law, the tech ecosystem thrives on decentralized learning and the open-source movement. A developer’s competence is proven by their code repositories, their problem-solving logic, and their deployment history, not by a state-issued piece of paper. The sector is famously meritocratic, heavily relying on brilliant, self-taught innovators. Erecting a mandatory guild system risks disenfranchising these self-taught experts, creating artificial barriers to entry that will ultimately starve the local industry of talent.

     

    The Path Forward: Fostering Enablement Over Gatekeeping

     

    In 1865, as the first motorized vehicles emerged, the British Parliament panicked. To maintain control over a disruptive new technology, they passed the Locomotive Act famously known as the “Red Flag Act.” It required every motorized vehicle to be preceded by a man walking on foot, waving a red flag to warn pedestrians. While intended to create order, the law effectively strangled the British automobile industry in its crib, allowing nations with more enabling frameworks to leapfrog them.

     

    Today, attempting to force the modern, decentralized IT sector into a localized, state-mandated licensing guild is the digital equivalent of the Red Flag Act. It imposes analog constraints on a purely digital frontier.

    Furthermore, in structural engineering, there is an unforgiving truth: you cannot build a skyscraper on a foundation poured for a bungalow. You can add as many floors as you like, and you can paint the facade to look modern, but eventually, the structural reality will assert itself, and the edifice will collapse. The exact same principle applies to regulatory frameworks.

    A regulatory regime built on the fragile foundation of a pricing catalog will inevitably fracture under the weight of actual enforcement and legal scrutiny.

     

    To foster innovation and build enduring digital trust, Ghana does not need to mandate professional guilds via invoices. We require:

    Regulatory Clarity: Agencies must operate strictly within the bounds of their enabling Acts.

    – Incentivizing Global Competence: The state should encourage the use of rigorous, existing international certifications to raise the national skill floor, rather than forcing practitioners into a localized licensing trap.

     

    – Transparent Recourse Mechanisms: The industry needs mandatory performance metrics and operational data publication from regulators to ensure accountability and prevent administrative overreach.

    If Ghana is to build a secure, effective, and globally competitive digital economy, its regulatory foundation must be grounded in robust law and an architecture of enablement, not merely in a schedule of fees.

     

    John Sitsofe Mensah is a Technology Policy Analyst with IMANI.

  • The Party That Cried Persecution

    The Party That Cried Persecution

    Ghana’s opposition is in court, in custody, and at the diplomatic corps simultaneously asking foreigners to save it from a legal system its own leaders attacked this week. The NPP’s accountability crisis is real. Its response to that crisis is making things worse.

    By The Kasoa Economist · Ghana Development Watch · 20 May 2026 · Article 07 of 10

    On 17th May 2026, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Minority Leader, Member of Parliament for Effutu, and one of Ghana’s most senior practising lawyers, stood before a press conference and publicly attacked the Circuit Court judge presiding over the case of Abronye DC, the NPP’s Bono Regional Chairman remanded to Bureau of National Investigations custody four days earlier. The judge’s bail denial was, according to Afenyo-Markin, politically motivated, a threat to due process, and evidence that the judiciary was “serving the interests of the government.” Two days later, on 19th May, he co-signed a petition, addressed to the diplomatic corps in Accra, accusing the Mahama administration of orchestrating “state-sponsored political persecution.” The Ghana Bar Association, which knows something about judicial proceedings, described his public attack on the judge as “unprofessional and unethical.” His reply: “I cannot in good conscience respect a judge who has no respect for the law.” A Minority Leader and senior lawyer, in 2026, declining to respect a sitting judge because he disagrees with her ruling. Ghana’s accountability architecture is in trouble. It is not in trouble only because of the government.

    AN OPPOSITION WITH LEGITIMATE GRIEVANCES AND ILLEGITIMATE REMEDIES

    The NPP’s complaints are not invented. Over 16 party members have been arraigned in court since January 2026. Abronye DC, a man who built his reputation on inflammatory attacks and who is now in BNI custody for calling a judge a politician in a sack, was re-arrested on 13th May after leaving the country for health reasons following his first arrest in April. His lawyers applied for bail; the court denied it. That denial may have been correct in law, or it may not have been. But the way to test a bail ruling in Ghana’s legal system is to appeal it. This is a process the NPP has not exhausted but rather hold a press conference attacking the judge’s integrity. The selective enforcement question, meanwhile, is real: pro-NDC commentators made sustained attacks on the judiciary during the previous administration and faced no equivalent criminal consequences. When the NPP says the law is being applied asymmetrically, the historical record supports a charitable reading. That does not make Afenyo-Markin’s conduct defensible.

    The Ghana Bar Association’s verdict on 19th May was the response of a professional body that has seen what happens when senior lawyers normalise public attacks on sitting judges. “Disappointed,” it said. “Unprofessional. Unethical.” The GBA did not dispute that the bail decision may have been wrong. It said that the correct response to a bad ruling is a legal appeal, not a political press conference. That is a distinction that Afenyo-Markin, as a lawyer of considerable experience, understands better than most. His choice to hold the press conference anyway tells us something important: he calculated that the political benefit of being seen to fight for Abronye outweighed the professional cost of attacking the judiciary. That calculation may be correct in the short term. It contributes, in the long term, to a culture in which political figures treat courts not as independent arbiters but as opponents to be defeated in public.

    “The emerging pattern of intimidation, arbitrary arrests, selective prosecutions, and suppression of free expression bears disturbing resemblance to the dark and painful periods of Ghana’s political history commonly remembered as the ‘culture of silence.’”

    NPP petition to the Diplomatic Corps, 19 May 2026

    THE DIPLOMATIC PETITION: A DEMOCRATIC IMPULSE WITH UNDEMOCRATIC LOGIC

    The decision to petition the diplomatic corps is the most consequential of the NPP’s recent moves, and deserves to be assessed on its merits rather than dismissed as simply partisan. Ghana’s 1992 Constitution was itself, in part, the product of international pressure. Civil society organisations petition embassies and high commissions on human rights issues regularly, and the practice is not inherently illegitimate. But there is a meaningful difference between a civil society group raising concerns about systemic abuse and a major opposition party asking foreign missions to intervene in a domestic legal matter involving one of its own members who has been charged with insulting a judge. The NPP’s petition describes the situation as resembling “the culture of silence” the phrase associated with Ghana’s darkest military period. The comparison is not only premature. It is an insult to those who lived through it.

    The petition’s deeper problem is structural. A party that has spent years contributing to the degradation of institutional trust through the normalisation of insults in political discourse and the failure to discipline members like Abronye DC whose style of communication has been rewarded rather than rebuked, and through its own use of state institutions for partisan purposes during its time in government, now asks foreign diplomats to defend it from a government using state institutions for partisan purposes. The irony is not subtle. An NDC MP called it a “diversionary tactic.” That is partisan, but it is also partially correct. Ghana’s accountability crisis predates this administration. Inviting foreigners to adjudicate it does not resolve it. It signals that the NPP has either exhausted its domestic remedies or does not trust them. Given that the NPP’s own conduct has helped make those remedies less trustworthy, that is an uncomfortable position to occupy.

    WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY ACTUALLY REQUIRES

    The OSP’s April 15th ruling stripping it of independent prosecutorial power, the Attorney-General’s collapse of the NAFCO prosecution within six months of a fanfare filing, and the parliamentary majority’s vote to block the GoldBod inquiry are all legitimate accountability failures that belong to the government. They are serious. They deserve serious opposition. Serious opposition, in this context, means filing constitutional petitions at the Supreme Court, demanding transparency in Parliament, supporting civil society organisations doing accountability work, and above all, demonstrating by its own conduct that it believes in the institutions it claims the government is destroying. Afenyo-Markin attacking a judge in public is not serious opposition. It is participation in the same institutional vandalism he is denouncing, performed from the other side of the aisle.

    The Ghana Bar Association’s intervention matters because it comes from outside the partisan frame. The GBA has no interest in defending the NDC’s conduct or in undermining the NPP’s political position. It has a direct professional interest in maintaining a culture in which judicial decisions, including wrong one, are challenged through legal processes rather than through political rallies. When it tells the Minority Leader that he has acted unprofessionally and unethically, it is telling him something he already knows. The question Ghana must ask is why he chose to do it anyway and what that choice reveals about whether any of its major political parties genuinely believes in the institutions they each accuse the other of undermining.

    “We are disappointed. You acted unprofessional and unethical.”

    Ghana Bar Association, responding to Afenyo-Markin’s attack on the Circuit Court judge, May 2026

    Kwame Nkrumah’s constitution was undermined from within. Jerry Rawlings’s PNDC governed by decree. The Third Republic lasted 27 months. Ghana has learned, at considerable cost, that democratic institutions do not protect themselves. They are protected by political actors who choose to use them correctly even when it is politically inconvenient. What the events of May 2026 reveal is that both major parties currently in Ghana’s political arena make that choice selectively, when it suits them, and abandon it when it does not. That is not a crisis of institutions. It is a crisis of character. No diplomatic petition has ever fixed one of those.

    Abronye DC is due to reappear before the Accra Circuit Court on 27th May 2026. The Supreme Court’s ruling on the constitutionality of the OSP remains pending. Both cases will test whether Ghana’s legal system is capable of resolving institutional disputes on the merits. The NPP’s diplomatic petition will not affect either outcome. The Bar Association’s rebuke, if heeded, might.

    KEY SOURCES: Adomonline — NPP diplomatic petition (19 May 2026) · Adomonline — GBA slams Afenyo-Markin (19 May 2026) · Adomonline — Afenyo-Markin replies GBA (19 May 2026) · Graphic Online — Abronye remanded BNI (13 May 2026) · Diplomatic Times Online — NPP petition to corps (19 May 2026) · Sikaman Times — NPP petition text (20 May 2026) · GBC — OSP High Court ruling (15 Apr 2026)

    TOPICS: Afenyo-Markin · NPP · Judicial Independence · Abronye DC · Diplomatic Corps · Ghana Bar Association · OSP · Rule of Law · Accountability

    Ghana Development Watch is a 10-part analytical series by The Kasoa Economist. Article 07 of 10.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • A Lesson from Adam Smith the IMF Should Heed An Open Letter to Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund

    A Lesson from Adam Smith the IMF Should Heed An Open Letter to Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director, International Monetary Fund

    By Aboubakr Kaira Barry, CFA

    Managing Director, Results Associates, Bethesda, Maryland • 8 May 2026

    “When I endeavor to examine my own conduct… I divide myself, as it were, into two persons… The first is the spectator… The second is the agent, the person whom I properly call myself.”

    Adam Smith, The Theory of Moral Sentiments, 1759

    Dear Madam Managing Director,

    In 1759, Adam Smith set out the idea of the impartial spectator the disciplined act of stepping outside oneself to judge one’s own conduct with honesty and without self-deception. More than two and a half centuries later, this wisdom remains entirely valid.

    I write this letter in that spirit: not as an adversary, but as someone deeply convinced that the IMF possesses the knowledge, the leverage, and the convening power that combined with willing and committed governments can meaningfully improve lives across our continent.

    I. What the Data Say: A Record That Demands Honest Examination

    The IMF’s engagement in Africa is not modest. Since the institution’s founding, 33 African countries have each been through 10 or more IMF programs. Eight of those have been through 20 or more. Figure 1 shows every country above that threshold.

    An impartial spectator looking at this frequency of intervention would naturally raise questions about effectiveness. At the recent Spring Meetings, Abebe Aemro Selassie then-Director of the African Department was asked what could be done to break the cycle of recurring programs. He answered that this was a matter for governments and civil society. He is right but the IMF carries its own agency in designing programs that succeed in light of realities on the ground, and in holding itself to the standards an impartial spectator would demand.

    II. Four Proposals for More Effective Results

    The following four proposals seek to close the gap between the institution’s considerable capabilities and the outcomes the evidence shows.

    Proposal 1: A Modern Debt Standstill Framework for Unforeseen External Crises

    “If a man owes a loan and a storm destroys the grain, the harvest fails, or the grain does not grow for lack of water, then in that year he does not have to deliver grain to the creditor.” Article 48, Code of Hammurabi, King of Babylon, c. 1750 BC

    Hammurabi understood that a debtor cannot be held to the same terms when circumstances beyond his control have destroyed his capacity to pay.

    During COVID-19, African governments requested exactly this: a temporary standstill on debt service for crises not of their making. The response was emergency loans and Special Drawing Rights (SDR) allocations additional debt instruments. Countries with limited fiscal space were not relieved of their burden; they were given new instruments to manage it.

    I propose that the IMF develop and champion within the G20 and Paris Club a rules-based framework for automatic debt service standstills triggered by qualifying external shocks: pandemics meeting World Health Organization (WHO) emergency classification, commodity price collapses exceeding defined thresholds, or climate disasters above a measurable damage-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio. The criteria should be objective, pre-agreed, and independent of case-by-case negotiation. Standstills, not additional loans, should be the first instrument of relief when the storm is not the borrower’s making.

    Proposal 2: Transition from Debt-to-GDP to Debt Sustainability Assessed on Net Worth

    The debt-to-GDP ratio tells you what a country owes relative to what it earns in a year. It says nothing about what the country owns. As Paul Sheard, former vice chairman of S&P Global, writes in The Power of Money, “this is a very misleading statistic… it divides stock, something measured in dollars, by a flow, something measured by dollars per year.”

    African governments carry substantial sovereign assets this ratio systematically ignores: mineral and hydrocarbon reserves, urban land, public real estate, infrastructure, and state enterprises. Excluding them produces a distorted picture of net creditworthiness and inflates perceived debt distress.

    New Zealand understood this. It measures debt sustainability on debt to net worth the difference between its assets and debts. New Zealand pioneered this approach hardly a far-fetched model, given that the same country gave the world central bank independence through the Reserve Bank of New Zealand Act of 1989, a reform the IMF subsequently adopted as the global standard. The IMF should now lead a similar transition for debt sustainability assessment. It is simply a fairer measure, and fairness to the countries the Fund serves should be reason enough.

    This proposal, however, depends on Proposal 3: a country cannot produce a credible sovereign balance sheet without first having a functioning fiscal transparency infrastructure.

    Proposal 3: Elevate Financial Management Infrastructure as a Non-Negotiable Program Condition

    A root cause of recurring programs is the absence of basic fiscal visibility. The Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) framework co-sponsored by the IMF measures that visibility across seven pillars. The pattern across 32 African countries is shown in Figure 2.

    Below Basic scores dominate the chart. The worst performance clusters in the pillars that matter most for program integrity: Assets & Liabilities, where governments cannot track or value public investment; Accounting & Reporting, where financial data integrity cannot be certified; and External Scrutiny, where audit institutions lack the independence to carry out impartial audit of government performance. Transparency and Execution Control are only marginally better. Budget Reliability the most foundational pillar is the least weak, yet still fails the majority.

    Countries with the deepest IMF program histories Liberia (25 programs), Madagascar and Senegal (21 each) continue to score Below Basic across most pillars. The programs have not built the systems their own conditionality presupposes.

    I propose that the IMF establish for new programs only a minimum standard of Basic (grade C) across all seven PEFA pillars as a binding program condition, supported by: migration to the Government Finance Statistics Manual (GFSM) 2014, enabling a full government balance sheet; deployment of an Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) anchored to International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS); and a country-owned PEFA improvement plan with pillar-specific milestones.

    Countries would be given seven years to meet the standard. No successive program would be approved until the job is done excepting emergencies of global scope, where a time-limited waiver applies. Progress would be reported annually in IMF flagship publications. Top-performing countries would be acknowledged by the Managing Director at her annual meeting with African finance ministers — a public recognition that gives ministers a lever they can use at home to overcome institutional resistance to reform.

    Basic is not an ambitious standard. It is the floor below which fiscal management cannot function and the platform on which the sovereign balance sheet that Proposal 2 requires depends. The IMF has the leverage. What remains is the will to use it.

    Proposal 4: Subject IMF Programs to the Accountability Standards the IMF Demands of Borrowers

    The IMF’s program conditionality rests on a foundational principle: that accountability and transparency are prerequisites for sustainable fiscal management. It is a principle worth applying to the institution itself.

    For every IMF program, the Fund should publish in plain language and in the primary language of the borrowing country a results framework that specifies: the conditions attached and the rationale for each; the concrete, measurable outcomes expected; and the baseline data against which progress will be assessed. At program completion, an independent evaluation by a firm with no IMF affiliation should assess performance against that framework, with results published simultaneously to the IMF Board and the general public.

    This is not a radical proposal. It is what the IMF asks of its borrowers. The effect would be constructive: it would create incentives within country teams to focus on outcomes rather than process compliance, and create the conditions for an honest, evidence-based dialogue between the Fund and the citizens it seeks to assist.

    Adam Smith’s impartial spectator asks not for perfection but for honesty. An institution willing to examine its own conduct through the lens of that spectator can only emerge a stronger one.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Data Is the New Gold — But Most Nations Are Still Digging With Shovels

    Data Is the New Gold — But Most Nations Are Still Digging With Shovels

    By: Kwesi Amoafo-Yeboah

    Chairman: iZone Limited

    Chairman: Dodo Technologies Limited

    There was a time when nations measured power by the amount of gold buried beneath their soil.

    Today, the most valuable resource on earth is often invisible.

    It is not oil.

    It is not lithium.

    It is not even money.

    It is data.

    Not because data itself is magical, but because of what happens when data is refined into intelligence.

    Gold sitting in the ground has little value until someone mines, refines, transports, secures, and trades it. Data behaves the same way.

    Raw data is merely digital ore.

    The real value comes from refining it into insight, prediction, coordination, automation, and ultimately, power.

    And this is where the future battle for economic dominance will be fought.

    The Countries Winning Today Understand This

    The largest companies in the world are no longer simply manufacturers or industrial giants.

    They are intelligence companies.

    Every search, payment, click, movement, message, purchase, location ping, and interaction generates data. Over time, this creates patterns. Patterns become predictions. Predictions become influence. Influence becomes economic power.

    The companies leading the AI revolution are not necessarily the companies with the best algorithms. They are the companies with the richest data ecosystems, because AI without data is like a refinery without crude oil.

    Africa’s Hidden Gold Mine

    Africa may be behind in many traditional industrial indicators, but in one critical area, it still has an opportunity to leapfrog:

    Digital intelligence infrastructure.

    For decades, Africa suffered from poor physical infrastructure.

    In Ghana, before the mobile revolution, communication itself was difficult. We even had a Ministry of Transport and Communication almost suggesting that to communicate effectively, people physically had to move.

    Then mobile phones changed everything, and suddenly, millions of Africans who never owned landlines became connected almost overnight.

    What looked like a communications revolution was actually the creation of a massive real-time data network. Every call, airtime purchase, mobile money transaction, text message, and location update became part of a growing intelligence ecosystem.

    The telcos were not merely building telecom companies….They were unknowingly building some of the largest data engines in Africa.

    Today, AI represents the next phase of that transformation.

    Why 500 New MTN Sites Matter More Than Most People Think

    When a company like MTN Ghana announces plans to build 500 new network sites, many people understandably see it as a telecommunications investment.

    Better coverage.

    Faster internet.

    Fewer dropped calls.

    But in this AI era, it represents something much larger…Every new network site is effectively a new gateway into the digital economy.

    Each new tower expands the reach of:

    • communication,

    • commerce,

    • digital identity,

    • financial services,

    • education,

    • healthcare,

    • entertainment,

    • and increasingly, artificial intelligence itself.

    In many parts of Africa, connectivity is no longer merely about making phone calls…It is about participation in the intelligence economy.

    A farmer connected to mobile internet becomes part of a data ecosystem.

    A student accessing AI tools becomes part of a learning intelligence network.

    A small business using digital payments begins generating commercial intelligence.

    A rural clinic connected to digital health platforms becomes part of a national healthcare intelligence system.

    This is why infrastructure investments by companies like MTN Ghana carry strategic national significance beyond telecommunications revenue. They are laying the digital railways upon which AI systems, financial inclusion, enterprise intelligence, and future innovation will travel.

    The first mobile revolution connected voices. This next phase connects intelligence. And perhaps most importantly, every additional site increases the volume, diversity, and richness of the data ecosystem from which future AI systems will learn.

    In many ways, these towers are not merely communication assets. They are future intelligence assets.

    The Real Question Is Not Who Has Data

    The real question is:

    Who owns the intelligence layer? And, this distinction matters enormously.

    Many African institutions generate enormous amounts of data every day:

    • Banks

    • Telcos

    • Hospitals

    • Governments

    • Schools

    • Retailers

    • Logistics companies

    • Churches

    • Insurance firms

    • Social platforms

    But much of that data remains trapped in silos…Disconnected…Unused…Unrefined…Like gold buried underground.

    The countries and companies that will dominate the next decade are not necessarily those generating the most data. They are the ones best able to connect it, interpret it, and act on it in real time.

    So, let’s think about this:

    Data Without Context Is Noise

    One mobile money transaction means little by itself.

    But billions of transactions over time can reveal:

    • consumer confidence,

    • migration patterns,

    • inflation pressure,

    • regional economic activity,

    • fraud trends,

    • business health,

    • creditworthiness,

    • and even public sentiment.

    One hospital visit is a medical event.

    Millions of health interactions become a national intelligence system capable of predicting disease outbreaks, medicine shortages, or healthcare demand before crises occur.

    One classroom result is a grade.

    National education data can reveal future workforce gaps, regional skill shortages, and economic vulnerabilities years in advance.

    This is why data is the new gold. Because intelligence is the new currency.

    The Danger of Exporting Raw Digital Resources

    Africa has historically exported raw commodities while importing finished products at higher value. There is now a risk that we repeat the same mistake digitally.

    If Africa exports raw data while importing foreign AI intelligence systems, we may once again sit on enormous natural wealth while others capture most of the value.

    This is why digital sovereignty matters….Not in a protectionist sense, but in a strategic sense.

    Countries that fail to build their own intelligence capabilities may eventually depend on external systems to understand their own economies, citizens, markets, and institutions.

    That dependency could become as significant as dependence on imported fuel or food.

    The Future Winners Will Build Intelligence Infrastructure

    The next generation of infrastructure will not only be roads, ports, and power plants.

    It will be:

    • AI infrastructure,

    • cloud infrastructure,

    • identity systems,

    • digital payment rails,

    • secure communication systems,

    • national data exchanges,

    • and enterprise intelligence platforms.

    This is where Africa has an opportunity. Because unlike heavy industrial revolutions that required centuries of accumulated capital, AI infrastructure can scale exponentially once digital foundations exist.

    The mobile revolution proved Africa could leapfrog. AI may prove Africa can lead.

    Why This Matters for Businesses

    Most companies still think they are in the business they started in.

    Banks think they are in banking.

    Telcos think they are in connectivity.

    Hospitals think they are in healthcare.

    Retailers think they are in commerce.

    But increasingly, they are all becoming intelligence companies. The winners will not simply provide services…They will understand behavior.

    The future competitive advantage may not come from who owns the largest physical infrastructure, but from who understands customers, operations, markets, and risks the fastest and most accurately.

    That is why communication platforms, enterprise systems, payment systems, customer interactions, and operational workflows are becoming strategically valuable.

    Every interaction creates intelligence; Every organization is quietly building a data mine; Most simply do not realize it yet.

    This emerging intelligence economy is also beginning to reshape enterprise software itself.

    Platforms such as Dodo Technologies are being designed not merely as communication tools, but as intelligence layers capable of transforming everyday business interactions into institutional knowledge and decision-making insight.

    In the past, companies primarily used software to store records and improve efficiency. Increasingly, they will use software to understand themselves.

    To identify patterns.

    To surface hidden risks.

    To predict customer behavior.

    To preserve institutional memory.

    And eventually, to assist leadership in making faster and more informed decisions.

    In the future, the most valuable enterprise platforms may not simply be the ones that store information, but the ones capable of understanding the relationships, patterns, opportunities, and intelligence hidden within it.

    That shift may ultimately redefine what enterprise technology means in Africa and beyond.

    The Gold Rush Has Already Started

    The AI race is often discussed as a technological race. In reality, it is also a data race. A sovereignty race. An infrastructure race. And perhaps most importantly, an intelligence race.

    The nations and companies that recognize this early will build extraordinary advantages over the next decade.

    The ones that do not may eventually discover that while they owned the gold, someone else built the refinery…And in the intelligence economy, the refinery is where the real wealth is created.

    In the decades ahead, historians may look back and realize that Africa’s digital transformation was not built only in data centers or boardrooms, but tower by tower, connection by connection, as the continent quietly constructed its AI nervous system.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • The cost of survival: Navigating Ghana’s complex business landscape

    The cost of survival: Navigating Ghana’s complex business landscape

    By Adnan Adams Mohammed; Finance and Economic Journalist

    In the boardrooms of Accra and the bustling markets of Kumasi, a singular conversation dominates: the survival of the Ghanaian enterprise.

    In the wake of official macroeconomic indicators pointing toward a burgeoning recovery, the ground-level reality for many businesses remains a grueling tug-of-war between stabilizing data and stifling operational costs.

    From the exodus of local manufacturers to the struggle for capital among women entrepreneurs, Ghana’s business environment is at a critical crossroads.

    The “exodus” of local production

    The Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA) has sounded one of the loudest alarms. According to Joseph Paddy, Vice President of GUTA, the high cost of doing business is no longer just a balance sheet issue; it is a threat to national sovereignty in production.

    “Ghana remains one of the most expensive operating environments in the sub-region,” Paddy noted during a recent Joy Business Roundtable. The disparity is startling: while production costs in Ghana can consume 30% to 35% of revenue, neighboring Ivory Coast sees figures as low as 3% to 7%.

    The result is a worrying trend of “de-industrialization.” Paddy warned, “Traders often find it cheaper to import goods than to source them locally, even after paying duties.” He cited instances of local manufacturers shutting down machines to become importers simply to stay afloat, a move that inevitably leads to job losses.

    Structural bottlenecks vs. macro gains

    The disconnect between “headline” success and “street” reality is perhaps best explained by Mark Badu-Aboagye, CEO of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI). While the government celebrates falling inflation recorded recently at 3.2% Badu-Aboagye argues that structural bottlenecks are blunting these gains.

    “The transmission mechanism takes some time, moving from the macro to the micro,” he explained. “Now you’ve done the macro, it is about time you do the micro.”

    A major point of contention is the “mismatch” between inflation and interest rates. With inflation at 3.2% but the reference rate hovering around 10%, businesses are still paying a premium for credit. “I see a mismatch in there… I want to see a very closer relationship between the inflation and the lending rate,” Badu-Aboagye stated, emphasizing that high production costs fueled by energy and transport keep prices elevated for consumers despite the central bank’s tight monetary policy.

    The capital gap: Women in business

    In Kumasi, the conversation shifts to equity and access. At the 3rd Women in Business Dialogue, stakeholders highlighted that while women represent 46% of Ghana’s entrepreneurial workforce, they remain the most underserved by formal financial structures.

    Dr. Gordon Acquaye, CEO of Business and Financial Times (B&FT), argued that funding alone isn’t the silver bullet. “Women need to be given that tool and structure from the onset… we are able to help them with bookkeeping, then the next level will be to scale up,” he noted. The upcoming Women’s Development Bank is seen as a beacon of hope, but as Regina Ofori of Ecobank emphasized, formalization remains the key: “Women can do a lot to support their businesses like registering their companies.”

    A glimmer of hope: Tax reforms and stability

    Despite the hurdles, there are signs of a policy pivot. Mary Kwarteng Darko, an Associate Director at PwC Ghana, suggests the tax regime is shifting from “aggressive” to “business-friendly.” The abolition of the Emissions Levy, E-Levy, and the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy has provided immediate psychological and financial relief.

    “Overall sentiment is that the country is taking a more balanced approach to taxation,” Darko observed. However, she cautioned that the extension of the Growth and Sustainability Levy to 2028 creates “mixed sentiments” for long-term planning.

    From the government’s perspective, the recovery is well underway. Frederick Amissah, Technical Advisor to the Finance Minister, maintains that stability is breeding confidence. “Businesses are becoming a lot more confident. This shows the macro stability we have now is working,” he asserted.

    The path forward

    The consensus among industry players is clear: stability is a prerequisite, but it is not a destination. For the “Ghanaian Dream” of a self-reliant, industrial economy to survive, the government must move beyond managing the currency to managing the cost of a kilowatt of power and the interest on a small business loan.

    As Joseph Paddy aptly put it: “Every business grows on policy. One good policy can help a business grow.” The question remains whether those policies will arrive fast enough to keep the lights on in Ghana’s remaining factories.