Kofi Ahovi

 The MTN Ghana Foundation has committed GHS1.2 million to support smallholder women farmers and unemployed youth through a modern farming initiative aimed at enhancing agricultural productivity and skills development. As part of activities to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day under the theme “Give to Gain,” the Foundation pledged to establish a model farm at Pantang Hospital in the La Nkwantanang Municipality. The project is designed to equip an initial group of 60 smallholder women farmers with advanced agricultural techniques to improve both yield and efficiency. The model farm initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the La Nkwantanang Municipal Agriculture Department and Defarmercist. Together, these partners provide specialized expertise in agronomic support and capacity building to empower women farmers across the municipality. The initiative also forms part of the Foundation’s broader efforts to celebrate and support women in agriculture, recognizin...

  Corporate payments are the lifeblood of modern commerce. From supplier settlements and payroll to cross-border transactions and collections, the efficiency of payment systems directly influences how businesses operate, scale, and compete. In Ghana, as in many emerging markets, digital transformation is rapidly reshaping the way businesses interact with banks and manage financial flows. What was once a largely manual and fragmented process is evolving into a more integrated, real-time, and data-driven ecosystem. Yet the transformation is driven by the need to address persistent challenges within the traditional payment systems and to ensure that the fast‑evolving needs of modern corporates are effectively addressed. Historically, many corporate payment processes in Ghana have relied on manual workflow and legacy infrastructure. Paper-based instructions, cheques, and batch uploads remain common across organizations, often leading to delays, reconciliation challenges, and operationa...

  Auditor-General has revealed that GH¢20 million was paid as mobilisation funds for the construction of a Parliamentary Service Hospital, despite no work being done on the project. The payment was made on December 31, 2024, under the administration of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, according to findings presented to Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee. The contract for the project was signed by former Minister of Health Bernard Okoe Boye. Appearing before the committee on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund, Michael Yamson, said the project has stalled due to a change in location from the parliamentary precincts to the National Security premises. Between the Government, specifically, the Ministry of Health, and Sienna Services, for the construction of a specialised hospital for Parliament, an agreement was reached to pay 15% mobilisation of GH¢108 million, out of which GH¢20 million was paid,” he said. “We have writt...

 Ghana is hosting a three-day strategy meeting of the African Group of Negotiators (AGN), with climate experts and national focal points working to consolidate a unified African position ahead of COP31 in Turkey and COP32 in Ethiopia. The meeting, running from March 30 to April 1, is the first in-person strategic session under Ghana’s chairmanship of the AGN—a milestone marked by the assumption of leadership by Nana Dr Antwi-Boasiako Amoah, the first Ghanaian to chair the group since the country signed the UN climate convention in 1992. Welcoming participants, the Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority, Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, said Africa’s influence in global climate talks depends on its ability to stay united. “Africa’s strength in global climate negotiations has always been its unity,” she said, describing the meeting as timely and essential in shaping Africa’s priorities ahead of the next two COPs. Prof. Klutse noted that although Africa contrib...

  Utility consumers across Ghana will begin enjoying lower electricity and water bills from today, April 1, following a downward tariff adjustment by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC). The Commission announced a 4.81% reduction in electricity tariffs and a 3.06% decrease in water charges for the second quarter of 2026. The new rates take immediate effect as part of PURC’s routine quarterly tariff review mechanism. In a statement, the regulator explained that the adjustments reflect recent changes in key economic indicators, including the exchange rate between the Ghana cedi and the US dollar, inflation trends, the electricity generation mix, and the cost of fuel—particularly natural gas used in thermal power production. PURC noted that the tariff review process is designed to ensure utility pricing remains aligned with prevailing economic conditions while balancing the interests of consumers and service providers. In addition to the reductions, the Commission introd...

  Global renewable energy capacity recorded a sharp increase in 2025, rising by 692 gigawatts (GW) to reach a total of 5,149 GW, according to the latest report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report, Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026 , shows that renewables accounted for 85.6% of all new power capacity added worldwide, underlining their growing dominance in the global energy mix. This represents a 15.5% annual increase and highlights the accelerating shift away from fossil fuels. The surge comes amid renewed geopolitical tensions, particularly in the Middle East, which have heightened concerns over energy security, supply disruptions, and volatile fossil fuel prices. IRENA noted that renewable energy—being locally available, cost-effective, and rapidly deployable—offers countries a more stable and resilient alternative. Director-General of IRENA, Francesco La Camera, said the sector continues to show strong momentum despite global uncertainty. “In the mid...