News Guide Africa

Category: Technology

  • Ghana assumes new gold trade licensing regime to curb illegal gold trade

    The Ghana Gold Board has officially commenced the full implementation of the new gold trading licensing regime, introducing sweeping reforms aimed at eliminating illegal gold trading and smuggling across the country.

    The enforcement of the Ghana Gold Board Act, 2025 (Act 1140) marks a major milestone in the government’s broader effort to restructure and formalise the gold trading industry to maximise revenue for the state.

    At a press conference in Accra, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, emphasised that only individuals and entities duly licensed under the new framework are permitted to trade gold in Ghana.

    “The new gold board licensing regime has taken full effect,” he said.

    “Only Ghanaians who have gone through the approved process and obtained a valid license from the Ghana Gold Board can legally engage in gold trading.”

    Mr. Gyamfi clarified that the new law overrides all previous licenses issued by the defunct Precious Minerals Marketing Company (PMMC) and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, rendering them null and void.

    “Operating under old licenses is no longer permitted. Those days are over,” he stressed.

    Quoting Section 63 of Act 1140, Mr. Gyamfi warned that unlicensed trading constitutes a criminal offence punishable by fines and jail terms.

    “Anyone found trading gold without a Gold Board license commits an offence and is liable, upon summary conviction, to a fine of not less than 50,000 and not more than 200,000 penalty units, or imprisonment for a term between five and ten years—or both,” he said.

    To reinforce compliance and crack down on illegal operations, President John Dramani Mahama will, on July 8, 2025, inaugurate the Gold Board Task Force at the National Security Secretariat (Blue Gate), Accra.

    The task force will possess police-level powers and operate in coordination with a nationwide intelligence network to detect and halt illegal gold trade, smuggling, and price manipulation.

    “This specialised unit is a critical part of efforts to protect Ghana’s mineral wealth and ensure fair pricing and accountability in the sector,” Mr. Gyamfi said.

    The CEO disclosed that by the application deadline of June 21, 2025, the Gold Board had received:

    Over 300 applications for Tier 1 Buyer Licenses

    About 200 applications for Tier 2 Buyer Licenses

    30 applications for Self-Financing Aggregator Licenses

    15 applications for Aggregator Licenses

    To date, more than 240 licenses have been approved after meeting eligibility requirements. Mr. Gyamfi confirmed that the application process remains open on a rolling basis, but unlicensed individuals and firms are barred from operating in the interim.

    In line with promoting transparency and efficiency, the licensing process has been fully digitised.

    Applicants are notified via email and online accounts, and payments are processed through the Ghana.gov portal.

    Mr. Gyamfi concluded by urging all stakeholders to comply with the new licensing regime and support efforts to build a responsible, transparent, and economically beneficial gold trading system in Ghana.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • MiDA rallies MCC successful strategies to champion Grow24 initiative

    The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) under the leadership of Alexander Kofi-Mensah Mould, is poised to play a central role in Ghana’s agricultural transformation under the government’s new Grow24 initiative.

    The Authority envisage to apply the successful strategies from the US$547 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact.

    Grow24, recently launched by President John Dramani Mahama, is a bold agricultural policy under the broader “24hr+” development agenda. At its heart is the Volta Economic Corridor project, which aims to irrigate over two million hectares of land for intensive, commercially viable farming.

    MiDA, originally established to implement the U.S.-funded MCC Compact, will now take on an expanded role as a national delivery agency for agricultural transformation efforts. MiDA’s broad experience in infrastructure, energy, and agro-industrial development makes it ideally suited to drive large-scale agricultural initiatives across the country.

    “Through the MCC Compact, we developed proven, high-impact models ready for nationwide implementation,” he stated. “We’re now building on that foundation to support food security, economic diversification, and rural industrialization under Grow24”, MiDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mould disclosed in an interview.

    One of the key successes of the MCC Compact was its $189 million Agriculture Project, which included the Land Tenure Facilitation (LTF) Activity. This pilot program enhanced land tenure security, encouraged investment in agriculture, and boosted productivity.

    Mr. Mould explained that core components from the Compact—such as land preparation, irrigation engineering, and integrated agronomic systems—will be adapted and scaled to meet Grow24’s ambitious targets.

    He described ongoing efforts to clear and level land using precision methods, alongside the design of advanced irrigation systems tailored to various landscapes. These efforts combine agricultural science, economics, and engineering to build sustainable, large-scale farming enterprises.

    The Volta Economic Corridor, seen as a flagship of the Grow24 policy, is expected to become a key food production hub, improve export capacity, and create thousands of jobs in rural communities.

    MiDA’s role, Mr. Mould said, will be to provide the technical and managerial backbone necessary for the long-term success of the initiative.

    “Grow24 represents a bold new vision for agricultural development in Ghana, and MiDA is fully prepared to deliver on that promise,” he concluded.

    As Ghana embarks on this new chapter of agricultural growth, MiDA’s renewed mandate under Grow24 could transform the landscape of farming and agribusiness across the nation.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Education Minister wants teachers, invigilators be banned from mobile phone during exams

    The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has called for the extension of the ban on mobile phone use in examination halls to include teachers and invigilators.

    Speaking at the swearing-in ceremony of the new National Education Inspectorate Board, the Minister stressed the need to strengthen examination integrity and curb cheating in schools.

    “The idea of a student having access to phones in the examination room is a no-no. Probably, we have to even review this concept to include the usage of phones by examiners and supervisors,” he said.

    According to Mr. Iddrisu, there have been instances where some invigilators may have aided students in cheating during examinations, and as such, stricter controls are necessary.

    “In some instances of cheating, it may be some of them who are aiding the cheating; therefore, we have to limit who can carry a phone into an exam room,” he stated.

    While acknowledging that some examiners may require phones for official communication, such as calling for exam papers or filing reports, he insisted that any allowance must be met with strict enforcement.

    “I would have pronounced a complete ban on phone usage, but we have cases when examiners will have to call for exam papers or send a report. But we expect strict compliance and enforceability of this,” he added.

    Mr. Iddrisu emphasised that any invigilators found to be complicit in examination malpractice must be held accountable.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • MiDA rallies MCC successful strategies to champion Grow24 initiative 

    Alexander Kofi-Mensah Mould, CEO of MiDA

     

    The Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) under the leadership of Alexander Kofi-Mensah Mould, is poised to play a central role in Ghana’s agricultural transformation under the government’s new Grow24 initiative.

     

    The Authority envisage to apply the successful strategies from the US$547 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact.

     

    Grow24, recently launched by President John Dramani Mahama, is a bold agricultural policy under the broader “24hr+” development agenda. At its heart is the Volta Economic Corridor project, which aims to irrigate over two million hectares of land for intensive, commercially viable farming.

     

    MiDA, originally established to implement the U.S.-funded MCC Compact, will now take on an expanded role as a national delivery agency for agricultural transformation efforts. MiDA’s broad experience in infrastructure, energy, and agro-industrial development makes it ideally suited to drive large-scale agricultural initiatives across the country.

     

    “Through the MCC Compact, we developed proven, high-impact models ready for nationwide implementation,” he stated. “We’re now building on that foundation to support food security, economic diversification, and rural industrialization under Grow24”, MiDA’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Mould disclosed in an interview.

     

    One of the key successes of the MCC Compact was its $189 million Agriculture Project, which included the Land Tenure Facilitation (LTF) Activity. This pilot program enhanced land tenure security, encouraged investment in agriculture, and boosted productivity.

     

    Mr. Mould explained that core components from the Compact—such as land preparation, irrigation engineering, and integrated agronomic systems—will be adapted and scaled to meet Grow24’s ambitious targets.

     

    He described ongoing efforts to clear and level land using precision methods, alongside the design of advanced irrigation systems tailored to various landscapes. These efforts combine agricultural science, economics, and engineering to build sustainable, large-scale farming enterprises.

     

    The Volta Economic Corridor, seen as a flagship of the Grow24 policy, is expected to become a key food production hub, improve export capacity, and create thousands of jobs in rural communities.

     

    MiDA’s role, Mr. Mould said, will be to provide the technical and managerial backbone necessary for the long-term success of the initiative.

     

    “Grow24 represents a bold new vision for agricultural development in Ghana, and MiDA is fully prepared to deliver on that promise,” he concluded.

     

    As Ghana embarks on this new chapter of agricultural growth, MiDA’s renewed mandate under Grow24 could transform the landscape of farming and agribusiness across the nation.

  • From Classroom to Banking Hall: The Journey of Joseph M Abakah

    Joseph Mensah Abakah, Coordinator in Charge of MSMEs Banking at Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC

     

     

     

    By Adnan Adams Mohammed

     

    As he assumes a new role at Agricultural Development Bank (adb) as Coordinator (Head of Operations) in Charge of MSMEs Banking, Joseph Mensah Abakah’s story is a testament to the power of education and determination.

     

    From his early days as classroom teacher in Junior Secondary School to his current role in the banking industry, Mr Abakah has demonstrated a commitment to learning and professional growth.

     

    Early Education

     

    Abakah’s educational journey began at University Junior Secondary School from 1992 to 1994. He then proceeded to Adisadel College for his secondary education, where he developed a strong foundation in business accounting from 1995 to 1997.

     

    Tertiary Education

     

    Abakah pursued higher education at the University of Cape Coast, College of Distance Education (CODE) where he earned a Diploma in Basic Education from 2013 to 2015 and later obtained a Post-Diploma (Bachelor’s Degree) in Psychological Foundation of Education from 2015 to 2017.

     

    Professional Career Opportunities

     

    After completing his education, Abakah worked as a professional teacher from 2005 to 2011. He then transitioned to the Youth Employment Agency, where he served as the Municipal Director for the Awutu Senya East Municipal Assembly.

     

    Current Role

     

    Abakah’s current role as the Coordinator in Charge of MSMEs Banking at Agricultural Development Bank (ADB) PLC allows him to leverage his skills and experience in business accounting and human resources management to support micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

     

    Future Plans

     

    Abakah is set to start his MA in Human Resources Management at the University of Cape Coast in the 2025/2026 sandwich session. This further demonstrates his commitment to continuous learning and professional development.

     

    Joseph Mensah Abakah’s journey from the classroom to the banking hall is an inspiring example of how education and determination can lead to success. His story highlights the importance of lifelong learning and the value of applying theoretical knowledge to real-world problems. As he continues to grow in his career, Abakah’s experiences and insights will undoubtedly benefit the MSMEs and the banking industry as a whole.

     

     

     

     

  • GOIL reports strong growth at 56th AGM, projects positive outlook for 2025

    GOIL Plc has announced impressive financial growth for the 2024 financial year, driven by sound financial management, strategic marketing, and operational efficiency, despite navigating a challenging economic environment.

    Addressing shareholders at the company’s 56th Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Accra, Board Chairman Nana Philip Archer disclosed that total consolidated assets grew by 20.1% to GH₵4.8 billion, while current assets recorded a strong 34% growth, largely attributed to increased trade receivables.

    Though operating costs rose by 11.2% and finance costs increased by 20.25%, the company’s disciplined approach to asset management and strong revenue performance helped sustain profitability.

    GOIL’s earnings per share jumped significantly by 54.3%, from GH₵0.140 to GH₵0.216. Over a five-year span, profit before tax surged to GH₵136.839 million in 2024, up from GH₵87.272 million in 2023.

    In recognition of this performance, the Board proposed a dividend payout of GH₵0.056 per share, amounting to GH₵21,944,335 for the year under review—a proposal which was unanimously accepted by shareholders. Nana Archer emphasised that the decision strikes a balance between delivering shareholder value and ensuring long-term financial sustainability.

    Looking ahead to 2025, he expressed optimism that a stable macroeconomic environment and smooth political transition would create a favourable climate for growth. Key strategic initiatives include the expansion of LPG bottling plants in Tema and Kumasi, with a combined capacity of 1,200 metric tons, to support the national Cylinder Recirculation Model.

    GOIL also plans to strengthen its presence in the aviation, mining, and auto gas sectors.

    According to Nana Archer, the company’s focus for 2025 will be on embedding innovation, leveraging technology, and enhancing risk governance to secure long-term growth.

    Group CEO and Managing Director, Mr. Edward Abambire Bawa echoed these sentiments, noting that GOIL is aligning its operations with the global green transition. He said management is committed to adapting to innovations and improving competitiveness in the downstream petroleum sector.

    Mr. Bawa further revealed that a new target-based performance review system is being implemented to drive operational efficiency and help meet key business objectives.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ARDA executives visit Ghana to learn from NPA’s regulatory model

    Executive members of the African Refiners & Distributors Association (ARDA) have come to Ghana on a study visit to understudy the regulatory and operational framework of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA).

    The delegation, led by ARDA Executive Secretary Mr. Anibor Ohole Kragha, aims to adopt best practices from the NPA to enhance the regulatory regimes of downstream petroleum operations in ARDA member countries.

    Welcoming the delegation in Accra, the Chief Executive of the NPA, Mr. Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, expressed the Authority’s readiness to share knowledge and insights through the peer-to-peer engagement.

    Mr. Tameklo, who attended the recent ARDA Week celebration in Cape Town, South Africa, described the forum as a vital platform for collaboration and peer review within Africa’s petroleum sector.

    Mr. Kragha, on his part, commended the NPA for its longstanding support to the ARDA executive committee and praised Ghana’s regulatory framework.

    He said the study tour would provide a deeper understanding of how to enhance operations in petroleum refining and distribution across the continent.

    During the visit, officials from key NPA directorates—including the Unified Petroleum Pricing Fund (UPPF), Planning and Economic Regulation, Legal, and Gas—took turns to brief the ARDA team on their operational mandates and systems.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Bar corporate bodies involved in unethical business behaviours to curb corruption – Prof Nakyea

    Prof Abdallah Ali-Nakyea

     

     

    News Desk

    Professor Abdallah Ali-Nakyea, Associate Professor at the University of Ghana School of Law, has called on the government to adopt a zero-tolerance approach toward unethical corporate behaviour by barring offending companies from future contracts.

     

    Emphasising that, since the government is the biggest buyer, biggest supplier, and biggest employer. All the private sector jobs are coming from the government. It can therefore use such influence to sanitise the business community of corruption which can easily transcend to the public sector.

     

    The ardent advocate against Corruption in all forms, Prof Ali-Nakyea, while speaking at a high-level forum on corruption organised by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) last week, stressed that integrity in private business is just as essential as accountability in public office.

     

    “Government should make it so that if you are caught with any unethical practices, you are blacklisted. You should not get any government contract,” he insisted.

     

    “The private sector should adopt ethical practices and principles.

     

    “Many companies benefit directly from state contracts yet operate without regard for transparency or integrity”, he noted.

     

    He therefore called for urgent ethical reforms within Ghana’s private sector, warning that businesses are major enablers of public sector corruption and must be held accountable.

     

    Prof Ali-Nakyea also decried the limited financial oversight and overreliance on external institutions, arguing instead for building robust local systems to fight corruption and illicit financial flows.

     

    “The banking system needs checks and monitoring,” he stated. “And then the international organisations – I keep saying at such fora, we do not need loans, we do not need handouts. Help us strengthen. You see how we could’ve saved 5 billion from corruption, 2 billion from illicit flows from mining. Do we need to borrow?”

     

    On legal reform, he urged amendments to Ghana’s anti-corruption laws to ensure that ill-gotten wealth is fully recovered and offenders face both legal and reputational penalties.

     

    “Let’s amend anti-corruption laws to close the loopholes identified. We should have provisions for the recovery of funds. If you name, recover and punish, the result is shame. But if you name, punish and don’t recover, then nothing has been done. They will continue, hoping they will not be caught.”

     

    He further called for tougher sanctions and improved whistleblower protection to encourage more citizens to report corruption.

     

    “We need stricter penalties for offenders. We need stronger whistleblower protection, and these are some recommendations,” he concluded.

     

    The MFWA forum, themed “Hidden Riches, Hollow Laws: Dissecting the Loopholes That Fuel Corruption and Illicit Financial Flows”, brought together stakeholders from academia, civil society, and the legal fraternity to discuss sustainable reforms in Ghana’s anti-corruption efforts.

     

  • Electricity tariff hike: CSOs, businesses clash over impact on consumers

    Adnan Adams Mohammed

    In an unusual situation, the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI) has down played fears of a potential impact of the recently announced increase in electricity tariffs on prices of goods and services.

    Their seeming support for the tariff hike follows criticism from some Civil Society Organisations against the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for the 2.45 percent tariff hike effective July 1, 2025, citing a lack of transparency, inadequate stakeholder engagement, and a disregard for economic indicators that should have warranted a reduction.

    The adjustment follows the Commission’s routine quarterly review. Meanwhile, water tariffs will remain unchanged for the third quarter of the year.

    In a joint statement issued last week, CUTS International Accra and the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) accused PURC of violating Section 3(c) of Act 538 of 1997, which mandates fair utility pricing for the mutual benefit of the government, producers, and end-users. However, the GNCCI CEO downplayed the potential impact of the increment, describing it as minimal.

    “What we are looking at is that if there is a further improvement in the key variables, we expect the tariffs for businesses to eventually be reduced,” Mark Badu-Aboagye said in an interview last week.

    He added: “Electricity costs per kilowatt hour in Ghana are already quite high, so an additional 2.45% increase will certainly raise production costs. However, I don’t believe this will result in a significant rise in prices.”

    Meanwhile, the CSOs argue that the proposed tariff increase is unjustified given recent improvements in Ghana’s macroeconomic conditions.

    The civil society groups cited the appreciation of the Ghanaian cedi against the US dollar and declining inflation rates both key variables in the tariff-setting formula.

    In a statement signed by the West African Regional Director of CUTS International, Appiah Kusi Adomako and the Executive Director for CEMSE, Benjamin Nsiah criticised PURC for failing to align its tariff review with current economic realities. They insist that consumers had expected a downward revision, not an increase.

    They pointed to the over 30% appreciation of the Ghanaian Cedi between the first and second quarters of 2025—from GH¢15.70 to GH¢10.31 per US dollar—which they say generated a GH¢1 billion windfall for government and utility providers. This surplus, they argued, could have been used to clear arrears or reduce consumer costs, rendering the tariff hike unjustifiable.

    The CSOs also criticised the PURC for relying on an outdated inflation rate of 20.67%, rather than the current 18.4%, noting that falling inflation lowers operational costs and should benefit consumers.

    Additionally, they described the increase in the Weighted Average Cost of Gas (WACOG) by only $0.08 (1%) as too insignificant to warrant a tariff hike. They cited a previous instance in 2024 when a 25% rise in gas costs led to only a 3.5% increase in tariffs, making the current adjustment appear economically indefensible.

    The statement further questioned the PURC’s justification of GH¢488 million in arrears, pointing out the Commission’s failure to explain how the cedi appreciation windfall was utilised. They also accused PURC of excluding stakeholders from the decision-making process, particularly in introducing fuel costs and reserve margins into the tariff without public disclosure or consultation. The CSOs noted the lack of transparency regarding the 27% fuel cost component, for which no data, simulations, or procurement details were shared.

    Warning of long-term consequences, the CSOs said continued upward tariff adjustments could entrench inefficiencies in Ghana’s power sector and unjustly burden consumers.

    “If care is not taken, PURC’s frequent upward tariff adjustments could succeed in the creation of an energy sector that is not efficient,” the statement read.

    They called on the President of Ghana to immediately halt the 2.45% tariff increase and demanded full disclosure of the tariff adjustment methodology and the assumptions that informed the Commission’s decision.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire to begin joint 330KV power line project

    Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire are set to commence the construction of a 330-kilovolt (kV) double-circuit transmission line as part of the West Africa Power Pool (WAPP) initiative.

    The 243-kilometre cross-border project is designed to boost electricity exchange between the two countries and enhance grid stability across the wider West African region.

    Feasibility studies have confirmed the project’s technical and financial viability within Ghana. The total estimated cost of the project is €154.4 million, covering environmental and social impact mitigation, construction supervision, and project management.

    Speaking at a ministerial committee meeting on Wednesday June 25, 2025, Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Grid Company Limited (GRIDCo), Engineer Mark Baah, stressed the project’s role in deepening regional energy integration.

    “The project involves the construction of a 330kV double-circuit transmission line, stretching approximately 243 kilometres—about 122 kilometres on each side of the border,” he explained.

    “It will connect the existing Biahoué (Bijave) substation in Côte d’Ivoire to the upcoming Dunkwa 2 substation in Ghana. While there is currently a Dunkwa 1 substation, it operates at 161kV. This new facility in Dunkwa will operate at 330kV.”

    “Beyond enhancing bilateral energy trade, this project is expected to contribute to grid reliability across West Africa. It has been deemed both technically sound and environmentally manageable.”

    The initiative is a key step in the broader effort to integrate energy systems across the ECOWAS sub-region under the WAPP framework.