Kofi Ahovi

  The Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Dr. Johnson Asiama, has called for the development of a clear and practical framework to guide commercial banks seeking to list on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE), as part of efforts to strengthen transparency, corporate governance and capital mobilisation in the financial sector. Speaking at the inaugural meeting of the Steering and Technical Committees of the Commercial Bank Listing Project, Dr. Asiama said the initiative is central to building a more resilient and transparent banking system that can better support Ghana’s economic growth. My task for you is to develop a practical framework and credible system that will support Ghana’s banking and financial sector,” he told committee members. The Steering Committee is mandated to provide strategic direction and policy oversight for the project, ensuring effective coordination among key regulatory institutions, including the Bank of Ghana, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and t...

 Asante Kotoko’s hopes of retaining the MTN FA Cup title came to a crashing halt yesterday after they were edged out by Aduana FC, while Nations FC, Medeama SC and Attram De Visser also secured places in the quarterfinals following an eventful round of matches across the country. The headline fixture at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, Kumasi, lived up to its billing as Kotoko and Aduana FC battled fiercely but failed to break the deadlock in regulation time. Both sides created chances in open play, yet clear-cut opportunities were scarce in a tightly contested encounter. Kotoko’s best chance came early when captain Samba O’Neil stepped up to take a penalty in front of the home crowd, but his effort was saved in what proved a turning point. Aduana FC later had strong appeals for a penalty waved off, much to the displeasure of their technical bench. With scores locked at 0-0 after 90 minutes, the game was decided on penalties, where Aduana FC showed greater composure, converting four s...

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Hon. Emmanuel Armah Buah (MP) has held a strategic meeting with Denys Denya, Senior Vice President of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), to discuss collaboration on developing Ghana’s minerals sector. The strategic bilateral discussions took place on the opening day of the 2026 edition of the Invest in Africa Mining Indaba. They focused on advancing priority projects in gold, bauxite, and iron ore, with emphasis on mobilising long-term financing, supporting value addition, and strengthening regional minerals supply chains. Hon. Buah briefed Afreximbank on the Responsible Cooperative Mining and Skills Development Programme (rCOMSDEP), Ghana’s flagship cooperative mining and processing initiative. The programme aims to formalise artisanal and small-scale mining, improve traceability, and support responsible gold production through shared infrastructure and access to finance. Hon. Buah also invited Afreximbank to support a ministeri...

 Ghana’s banking sector is entering a more intense phase of competition, with customer experience increasingly overtaking balance sheet strength as the key differentiator among banks. This is the key finding of the 2025 KPMG West Africa Banking Industry Customer Experience Survey , which reveals a closely contested market across retail, SME and corporate banking segments, even as customer expectations continue to rise. In the retail banking segment, Standard Chartered Bank retained its position at the top with a Customer Experience (CX) score of 82.9, underpinned by strong digital reliability and transaction security. Zenith Bank followed closely with a score of 82.2, while Stanbic Bank placed third at 81.8. Prudential Bank ranked fourth with a CX score of 80.4, and Absa Bank completed the top five at 80.2, highlighting the narrowing performance gap among leading retail banks. The SME banking segment reflected both notable gains and persistent challenges. Access Bank emerged as the...

  Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) has launched a revamped version of its SpeedApp, strengthening its digital banking offering with improved speed, enhanced security, and a more intuitive user experience, nearly a decade after the app’s original introduction. The launch reflects UMB’s continued investment in digital platforms that support customers’ growing reliance on mobile banking, while reinforcing the Bank’s brand promise to help customers Bank with Confidence. Unveiled at the head office of UMB, SSNIT Emporium Accra, the upgraded SpeedApp introduces improved system performance, greater stability, and a simplified interface designed to make everyday banking faster and easier. Customers can seamlessly access key services, including account management, transfers, bill payments, and balance enquiries. Stronger Security at the Core The revamped SpeedApp also incorporates enhanced security features, including reinforced authentication protocols and strengthened transaction safeguards,...

  Food insecurity in Ghana has intensified, with more than a third of the population now facing hunger-related risks, according to the latest Quarterly Food Insecurity Report released by the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). Covering the period from the first quarter of 2024 to the third quarter of 2025, the report shows that national food insecurity prevalence rose from 35.3 per cent in early 2024 to 38.1 per cent by the third quarter of 2025. The situation peaked at 41.1 per cent in the second quarter of 2025 before easing marginally in the most recent quarter, pointing to a volatile but generally upward trend. Speaking at the launch of the report, Government Statistician Dr. Alhassan Iddrisu cautioned against viewing food insecurity solely as a social issue, stressing its far-reaching economic and developmental consequences. Food insecurity is not just a social issue. It affects household welfare, child health, labour productivity, business confidence and ultimately national dev...