Kofi Ahovi

 Laws designed to ensure equal economic opportunities for women are only half-enforced on average across the world, indicating that the barriers that keep women from contributing fully to growth and prosperity are far steeper than previously thought, according to a new report from the World Bank Group. Even if the laws were fully enforced, women would still enjoy barely two-thirds of the legal rights of men. For the first time, the latest  Women, Business and the Law  report assesses not only the degree of equality in laws on the books, but also the extent to which those laws are enforced. Legal experts surveyed estimated that laws that encourage full economic participation by women are only half-enforced, indicating that governments have a long way to go. Even as they make progress in establishing new equal-opportunity laws, economies on average have in place fewer than half of the policies and services needed for enforcement. Only 4% of women ac...

The government has announced plans to intensify dredging works at the Tema Port in a bid to resolve operational challenges that have left several clinker shipments stranded at the harbour and disrupted supply chains for cement manufacturers. The move comes after industry players raised concerns over persistent congestion at the port, which has lasted for more than two weeks and slowed the discharge of essential raw materials used in cement production. Manufacturers warn that the delays risk affecting production schedules, increasing operational costs, and potentially pushing up prices within Ghana’s construction sector if the situation is not resolved quickly. Speaking to journalists after a stakeholder engagement, the Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, assured industry players that the government has already begun taking concrete steps to improve access to the port and restore smooth vessel movement. There is not any assurance on paper. It is already work ongoing. We started...

  Ghana’s local currency, the cedi, has opened the week relatively stable on the interbank market, but a widening spread between official and retail foreign exchange rates is raising fresh concerns about underlying demand pressures. Data from the  Bank of Ghana shows the interbank rate for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at a buying price of ₵10.89 and a selling price of ₵10.90 to the US dollar, compared to Monday’s opening level of ₵10.96. However, conditions in the retail forex market tell a different story. At forex bureaus, the dollar is trading at an average of ₵11.80, significantly above the official interbank rate. Commercial banks are quoting around ₵11.55, positioning themselves between the central bank’s rate and bureau prices which is a clear indication of tiered access to foreign exchange liquidity. The divergence is not limited to the dollar. The British pound is trading at ₵14.70 on the interbank market but averages ₵16.10 at forex bureaus. Similarly, the euro is pr...

  Cocoa farmer associations have called for negotiations between Ghana and Ivory Coast to establish proper regulations on cocoa supply to the world market in a bid to secure better prices for producers. The farmers believe coordinated action between the two leading cocoa-producing countries would help stabilise supply and strengthen their bargaining power on the international market. Speaking to Citi News on Monday, February 23, 2026, the President of the Mankrong Cocoa Cooperative Farmers Association, Francis Teinor, said reliable data must guide decisions on pricing and supply. Currently, when you have to make any argument, it has to be based on fact and data. But the data as we have now is not favourable, so how do we push for more?” he questioned. He stressed that the government has the authority to help regulate supply levels in collaboration with its Ivorian counterparts. The government, in this case, also has the power to control the supply. So, they should look at all other...

  Gold Fields expects gold prices to remain elevated in the near to medium term, supported by geopolitical uncertainty, sustained central bank buying and strong investor appetite for safe-haven assets. Speaking on the company’s performance for the year and outlook on Channel One   TV ’s  The Point of View   on Monday, February 23, Group CEO Mike Fraser said while current market conditions remain favourable for gold producers, the company is cautious about anchoring its strategy on short-term price movements and  overreliance on short-term price spikes. Gold Fields, he explained, bases its long-term planning and investment decisions on consensus forecasts rather than prevailing spot prices. Gold prices have surged in recent months amid global economic uncertainty, currency volatility and shifting monetary policy expectations. Also, current long-term consensus estimates place gold around $3,300 per ounce, and he stressed that all major capital allocation and ...

  Standard Chartered Bank Ghana Plc hosted a Business roundtable in Accra to examine the evolution of Ghana’s capital markets, with discussions focusing on how digital assets are transitioning from retail-driven activity toward structured, bank-led infrastructure. The meeting brought together regulators, infrastructure providers, pension fund trustees, real estate investment trusts managers and asset managers to assess how policy direction can translate into credible market development. The session was also attended by Standard Chartered executives including Global Head of Financing and Securities Services, Margaret Harwood-Jones and the Africa Head of Financing and Securities Services Michelle Swanepoel. At the center of the discussion moderated by Jojo Bannerman, Head of Markets, Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC, was the view that digital assets are gradually moving into mainstream financial systems rather than operating on the margins. Across Africa, digital asset growth has la...