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Ghanaians Must Rethink Agricultural Policy: A Former Tomato Farmer’s Lament and a Nation’s Missed Opportunity

  By Francis Atayure Abirigo When Memory Feels Like Evidence There was a time in Ghana when the idea of tomato scarcity in March would have sounded almost absurd. For those of us who grew up in the Kassena-Nankana areas in the 1980s and 1990s, tomatoes were not just a crop. They were an economy, a culture, and in many ways, a future for the youth. I do not speak from hearsay. I was part of that system. I farmed. I dug wells with my own hands. I drew water with buckets and ropes to water my beds of tomatoes. I watched seasons rise with promise and fall with loss. Today, those same lands tell a different story. And if we are honest with ourselves, this is not an accident. It is a policy failure. The Golden Era of Dry-Season Farming In the Upper East Region, particularly within Kassena-Nankana communities such as Doba, Kandiga, Mirigu, Manyoro, Nayagegnia, Nyangua, Navio, Nakolo and Pungu (not exhaustive), dry season farming was once the backbone of local livelihoods. Tomatoes dominat...
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MTN Ghana and HMD Global Launch Ultra‑Affordable 4G Smartphone To Fast‑Track Digital Inclusion

  MTN Ghana, in partnership with HMD Global, has launched the HMD Arc, an affordable 4G-enabled smartphone designed to help millions of Ghanaians transition from basic 2G feature phones to devices that unlock the full benefits of the digital world. Across Ghana, a significant number of mobile users still rely on 2G-only handsets, limiting their ability to access essential digital services including mobile banking, online learning, e-health information, and internet-based communication. MTN Ghana, driven by its ambition to expand digital access nationwide, continues to prioritise the migration of customers to faster and more reliable 4G technology. Access to affordable smartphones remains one of the biggest barriers to participation in the digital economy, especially for low-income earners and rural communities. With entry-level smartphones often priced beyond the reach of many households, the introduction of the HMD ARC at a price point of GHS 899 represents a meaningful step in cl...

Photos: VIP bus, cargo truck collide at Konongo; two injured

 A head-on collision between a VIP Jeoun bus and a cargo truck has left two people injured along the Accra-Kumasi highway. The crash occurred on Wednesday, March 25, near Yawkwei. Reports indicate that the VIP bus, travelling from Accra to Kumasi, collided with a cargo truck carrying carrots from Kumasi to Accra. Emergency personnel, including officers from the Ghana Police Service’s Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD), were promptly dispatched to the scene. The injured, the cargo truck driver and the bus mate were rushed to Konongo Government Hospital for medical attention. Authorities are investigating the cause of the accident.

Gov’t releases 2026 salary payment schedule for public sector workers

 The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department has announced the official schedule for salary payments to civil servants, employees of the Ghana Education Service (GES), and all other public sector workers paid through the government payroll for the year 2026. According to the notice issued by the Department, banks will begin crediting employees’ accounts on specified dates each month, providing a clear timetable for salary disbursement throughout the year. Under the 2026 payment calendar, January salaries will be paid on January 23, followed by February 26 and March 26. April payments are scheduled for April 27, while May and June salaries will both be paid on May 26 and June 26 respectively. In the second half of the year, salaries are set to be paid on July 27 and August 27. September payments will be made on September 25, with October and November salaries scheduled for October 26 and November 26 respectively. The final salary payment of the year is expected on December 21...

Ghana’s Power Grid Under Strain as IES Warns of Rising Risk of Supply Shortfalls

 Ghana’s power sector is entering a “higher-risk zone” as surging electricity demand continues to outpace critical investments in transmission infrastructure, according to the Institute for Energy Security (IES). In its latest analysis, the think tank noted that while increasing peak demand reflects growing economic activity and higher consumption by households and industry, the transmission network has not kept pace with this expansion—creating structural weaknesses within the system. The IES warned that the grid is becoming increasingly burdened by congested transmission corridors, rising technical losses, over-loaded systems, and ageing equipment. These challenges, it said, pose a direct threat to grid stability, reliability, and efficient power delivery. With electricity demand now exceeding 4,280 megawatts, the report cautioned that Ghana faces a heightened risk of supply shortfalls, particularly during peak periods, if urgent investments in capacity expansion and grid moderni...

Business, Consumer Confidence Strengthens as Inflation Eases

  Business and consumer confidence in Ghana are on a steady upward trajectory, buoyed by easing inflation and improving macroeconomic conditions. The latest data from the Bank of Ghana show that the Business Confidence Index rose to 110.1 in February 2026, up from 107.5 in December 2025. Similarly, the Consumer Confidence Index edged up to 117.7 from 116.4 over the same period. The upward movement in both indicators reflects growing optimism about income stability and the broader economic outlook. Businesses are reporting stronger demand conditions and improved short-term prospects, signaling a gradual recovery in economic activity. The improvement in business sentiment is largely driven by signs of macroeconomic stability, including declining inflation, easing interest rates, and a relatively stable currency environment. These factors are helping firms plan with greater certainty and confidence. On the consumer side, households are also regaining confidence as purchasing power imp...

EV Charging Stations to Require Energy Commission Approval Amid Rising Power Demand – Jinapor

  Electric charging station for electric vehicles in a mall parking lot The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, has announced new regulatory measures requiring all electric vehicle (EV) charging stations in Ghana to obtain approval from the Energy Commission before connecting to the national grid. The directive comes in the wake of the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission approving a dedicated electricity tariff of GH¢2.016 per kilowatt-hour for public EV charging, effective April 1, 2026. The move is seen as a significant step toward formalising Ghana’s emerging electric mobility sector. Addressing Parliament’s Assurance Committee on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, Jinapor clarified the division of responsibilities between sectors, noting that while transport policy falls under the Ministry of Transport, electricity supply and grid stability remain the mandate of the Energy Ministry. He expressed concern about the growing electricity demand driven by EV adoption, pa...