Kofi Ahovi

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US court: Ghanaian faces 20 years after $10m online romance scam plea

A Ghanaian national has pleaded guilty in the United States to his role in an international fraud ring that used online romance scams and business email compromises to steal millions of dollars from victims. Derrick Van Yeboah, also known as “Van”, admitted before a United States District Court in New York that he participated in a scheme that targeted vulnerable individuals, many of them elderly, through fraudulent online relationships. The United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Jay Clayton, announced the guilty plea in a statement on Thursday, March 5, 2026. “Derrick Van Yeboah pled guilty today to a massive criminal scheme targeting elderly men and women in online romance scams,” Mr Clayton said. He added that many victims had turned to online platforms in search of companionship but were instead defrauded. “Many New Yorkers search for companionship online, and no one deserves to have their vulnerability met with fraud and theft. Van Yeboah cruelly explo...

Credit to public sector contracted by 25% in 2025 to GH¢4.8bn – BoG

Credit to the public sector contracted by 25.5% to GH¢4.8 billion at the end of December 2025. This indicates a slowdown in government activities in the year under review. According to the January 2026 Monetary Policy Report by the Bank of Ghana, private sector credit (comprising credit to private enterprises and households) grew by 19.2% to GH¢106.2 billion in December 2025 compared to a growth of 26.3% in the previous year. However, in real terms, credit to the private sector slumped in 2025 compared to 2024. Also, the stock of gross loans and advances increased by 16.2% in December 2025 to GH¢111.0 billion compared to a growth of 24.1% in December 2024. Distribution of Credit by Sectors In terms of the distribution of credit by sectors, the services sector remained the largest recipient of the industry’s credit, accounting for a share of 37.1% at the end of December 2025. This was from 31.7% in December 2024. It was followed by the commerce and finance sector with a share of 2...

MTN Ghana Foundation Breaks Ground for Modern Farm to Support Women Smallholder Farmers

The MTN Ghana Foundation has held a sod-cutting ceremony to begin the construction of a modern farm aimed at supporting women smallholder farmers in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality . The ceremony, held at the premises of Pantang Hospital in Accra , forms part of activities marking this year’s International Women's Day . The initiative seeks to empower women in agriculture by providing access to modern farming technologies, training and resources to improve productivity and livelihoods. Speaking at the ceremony, the Chief Corporate Services and Sustainability Officer of MTN Ghana , Adwoa Wiafe , said the project reflects the Foundation’s commitment to sustainable development and women’s economic empowerment. “This project forms part of our commitment to support sustainable development and create economic opportunities for women, particularly those engaged in agriculture,” she said. According to her, the farm will serve as a centre for innovation and capacity building...

Middle East conflict could soon hit Ghana’s factories, says AGI president

Global conflicts and supply chain disruptions could soon affect Ghana’s manufacturing sector if tensions persist, President of the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Seth Twum Akwaboah, has warned. Speaking on Joy News’ PM Express on Wednesday, he said factories in Ghana may not immediately feel the effects of global disruptions because of the typical production cycle used by most manufacturers. “Normally, companies talk, and for typical manufacturing, there’s a cycle of at least three months to a six-month cycle.” He explained that companies usually secure inputs and process goods over several months before they reach the market. Because of this cycle, the impact of disruptions is not immediately visible, he said. “During that period, if there are major disruptions, it may not affect you much, because we have bought the goods at a particular price.” “We have stopped them at a particular cost and processing them at a particular so you wouldn’t see the disruptions ...

Sahara Group commissions 40,000cbm Asharami Ghana LPG vessel to advance clean energy access in Ghana

Leading global energy and infrastructure conglomerate, Sahara Group, has commissioned MT Asharami Ghana, a 40,000 cubic metre Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) carrier in Ulsan, South Korea, strengthening Ghana’s clean energy supply chain while advancing the country’s clean cooking and energy access agenda. The newly commissioned dual fuel vessel improves LPG supply reliability, reduces logistics constraints, and strengthens coordination across Ghana’s LPG distribution system, delivering greater efficiency and lower emissions across the value chain. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony in Ulsan, South Korea, President John Dramani Mahama described the vessel as “a significant milestone in strengthening the infrastructure that underpins the global LPG supply chain,” noting that expanded shipping capacity enhances supply security, reliability, and market efficiency. He commended Sahara Group the owners, Hyundai the builders and all partners involved for their “leadership, technical e...

‘Sukudai’ cocktail may pose serious kidney and liver risks after lab tests kill rats within 24 hours

National Security has launched a special operation to rid the streets of Kumasi of a popular toxic cocktail sold as a ‘heart cleanser.' It comes as preliminary investigations by the Department of Pharmacology at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) revealed the herbal concoction, known in Hausa as ‘Madara Sukudai’, contained substances harmful to human health. Madara Sukudai, until now, has endeared itself to many Ghanaians, especially the youth. It is believed to contain heart-cleansing potency by patrons of the drink. The concoction is commonly sold in Zongos and auto mechanic shops. It is often sold by some Nigerien nationals and, sometimes, Ghanaians. However, an acute toxicity test conducted by the Department of Pharmacology at the KNUST revealed the drink is toxic, as it was found to contain acetone, zinc chloride, and ethanol. All laboratory rats administered low, medium, and high doses of the chemical used to prepare the concoction died within 24 ...