Kofi Ahovi

  State-owned Ghana Gas plans to make a final investment decision by early next year on a long-discussed $500 million pipeline project that would transport gas from its processing plant in the western part of the country to industries in the southeast, CEO Judith Adjobah Blay said on Wednesday. The proposed 278-kilometre (173-mile) West-East onshore pipeline will enable the company to meet ⁠growing industrial sector demand and reduce its reliance on the West African pipeline shared ​by neighbouring countries, Blay told Reuters on the sidelines of the Gastech conference. It's a project ​that we hope to really embark on by the end of the first quarter of 2027," she said, as the company is trying to line up financing. The project has been under discussion for nearly a decade as Ghana seeks cheaper, more reliable gas supplies to power industries in the Tema industrial enclave. Ghana Gas expects to receive more gas from the Eni-operated offshore Sankofa project when its ‌production...

  A Question of Fairness I am a Ghanaian writer passionate about environmental sanitation and the work of private waste management companies, especially the prestigious Zoomlion Ghana Limited. I am concerned when people, including Manasseh Azure Awuni, appear to undermine a company that has created jobs, helped address sanitation challenges and contributed to Ghana becoming the West African regional hub for sanitation, waste management, and circular economy policy support. For more than a decade, Manasseh has unjustifiably criticised Zoomlion and its owner, Dr. Joseph Siaw Agyepong, through articles and commentaries that, in my view, have focused almost exclusively on alleged wrongdoing while rarely acknowledging the company’s achievements or its owner’s ingenuity. That raises a fundamental question: Can journalism be considered fair and balanced when its scrutiny of one company remains overwhelmingly negative over many years? Constructive criticism, we all know, should identify pr...

  Member of Parliament for Builsa South, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has authorised the release of GH¢370,000 from his share of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) to support the fixing, reshaping and maintenance of badly deteriorated sections of roads and related infrastructure in the constituency. The intervention covers seven road projects, including the Doninga–Kanjarga, Doninga–Siniensi, Uwasi–Fumbisi, Kanjarga–Fumbisi, Nyambisa, and Wiesi–Fumbisi roads. According to the Office of the MP, the intervention is intended to provide immediate relief to communities while efforts continue to secure more comprehensive government-funded road projects for the constituency. The largest allocation of GH¢100,000 has been assigned to the Kanjarga–Fumbisi Road, while GH¢50,000 each has been allocated to the Doninga–Kanjarga, Doninga–Siniensi and Wiesi–Fumbisi roads. The Uwasi–Fumbisi Road has been allocated a further GH¢40,000, while GH¢30,000 has been earmarked for the Nyambisa Road and ...

  The Managing Director of the Accra-Kumasi Expressway Limited, Engineer Francis Ahlidza, has announced that the 175.6-kilometre Accra-Kumasi Expressway is expected to be completed by December 2028. Engineer Ahlidza said the   project is being structured around a two-year construction period, with physical works expected to commence in January 2027 following the completion of the procurement and contractor selection processes. Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, September 15, Engineer Ahlidza disclosed that the procurement process for the contractors has already commenced, with firms being invited to express their interest in undertaking the major road project. He explained that the selection process will be conducted in two stages and will involve international competitive procurement to ensure that qualified firms are selected for the project. We are working with a two-year construction period starting at the end of this year. We have started the procuremen...

 A tiny rural village in central England has voted to secede from the United Kingdom in protest over plans to house more than 1,000 migrants at a former military site nearby. The referendum took place on Tuesday in Piddington, Oxfordshire, with an overwhelming majority of voters backing the symbolic plan to pursue self-determination as a principality, Susannah Parden, vice chair of the parish council, announced on Wednesday. We had 312 votes counted, which is nearly 92% of the ballot papers issued,” she said, revealing that there had been 285 votes in favor, 26 against and one spoiled ballot. The referendum was held in response to government plans to house up to 1,250 adult male migrants at the Bicester Garrison, a former military site near the village. Piddington is home to 358 people, according to 2021 data from the Diocese of Oxford, a church and a village hall – there is no local store, post office or pub. The result of the vote holds no legal weight, but it is the latest sig...

  Producer price inflation rose to 4.4% in August 2026, up from 4.0% in July, as higher prices in the mining and quarrying sector pushed up the cost pressures facing producers. The latest data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) also shows that producer prices increased by 2.5% month-on-month, compared with 2.0% in July. The figures measure changes in the prices received by domestic producers for their goods and services and are provisional. Mining and quarrying emerged as the biggest driver, recording annual producer inflation of 4.9%, up from 3.5% in July. The sector, which carries the largest weight in the PPI at 43.7%, contributed 2.1 percentage points to the overall 4.4% inflation rate. The increase was largely linked to crude oil and natural gas, where producer inflation reached 12.9% in August. Mining support services recorded 5.7%, while mining of metal ores recorded a smaller decline of 0.4%. The industrial sector is also facing firmer cost pressures. Producer inflati...

  The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered the immediate shutdown of Empire Cement Ghana Limited at Weija in the Greater Accra Region over alleged breaches of its environmental permit and air pollution control requirements. The directive, dated September 14, 2026, followed investigations triggered by several complaints from members of the public about alleged air pollution and nuisance associated with the company’s operations. The EPA subsequently moved to enforce the shutdown at the company’s premises on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. According to the Authority, its investigations found that the factory was releasing sustained visible particulate matter and gaseous emissions into the surrounding environment. The EPA said the emissions had potential negative implications for the environment, adjoining land uses and public health. The enforcement action was taken under Section 35 of the Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124), which provides the EPA with powers...

Ghana is stepping up efforts to transform its cashew industry from one largely focused on the export of raw cashew nuts into a more value-added and commercially sustainable sector, the Tree Crops Development Authority (TCDA) has said. Dr. Rich Kofi Kofituo, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the TCDA in charge of Operations, said the Authority was implementing measures to strengthen regulation, improve farmer incomes, promote local processing and ensure greater value was retained within Ghana. He was speaking to the media after the opening of the three-day 2026 African Cashew Alliance (ACA) Annual Conference and expo in Accra, being held under the theme “ Sustainable Cashew Supply through Policy, Investment and Partnership.” According to Dr. Kofituo, the TCDA was established under the Tree Crops Development Authority Act, 2019 (Act 1010), to regulate and sustainably develop six major tree crops—cashew, coconut, oil palm, rubber, mango and shea. He said although the Authority had existed...

  Ghanaian dancehall artiste Charles Nii Armah Mensah, popularly known as Shatta Wale, has called on the Ga-Dangme people to unite and protect their traditional lands and institutions from what he described as growing interference from politicians and outsiders. Speaking at the launch of the RNAQ Ga-Dangme Youth Scholarship Fund in Accra, Shatta Wale said he was prepared to publicly defend the authority of the Ga Mantse and other Ga-Dangme traditional rulers against what he described as disrespect and attempts to undermine their authority. I am ready to defend the Ga Mantse everywhere because enough is enough of the disrespect from strangers,” he said. The artiste said the Ga-Dangme community needed to take a stronger position on matters concerning its lands, arguing that political interests should not be allowed to determine the future of traditional communities. We need to stand up and prevent politicians from taking over our lands in Ga-Dangme,” Shatta Wale said. He made the rem...

  Okoe Bampoe Addo, twin brother of the late Dr, Isaac Bampoe Addo, the former Executive Secretary of the Civil and Local Government Staff Association of Ghana (CLOGSAG), has died. Mr Okoe Bampoe Addo was 59. He died on Monday, September 14, 2026, just weeks after the death of his twin brother. The two were biological brothers of Deputy Chief of Staff Nana Oye Bampoe Addo. On August 28, family, friends and public officials gathered at Winners Chapel International in the North Industrial Area in Accra for a remembrance service for Dr Isaac Bampoe Addo. The service was held to honour the former CLOGSAG executive and celebrate his life and legacy.

 Ghana’s next phase of financial inclusion must move beyond sending and receiving money to help more people save, invest, access credit, obtain insurance and build stronger financial futures, according to Abdul-Razak Issaka Ali, Chief Commercial Operations Officer of MobileMoney Fintech LTD. Speaking at the launch of MTN Ghana’s 2026 DigiFest at MTN House in Accra on September 7, 2026, Razak said the next frontier of digital finance is to translate widespread access into everyday financial value and improved financial health. MoMo was created to meet a customer need: to make it easier to move money and extend financial inclusion to every Ghanaian. The opportunity now is to help customers do much more with that access,” he said. He noted that many customers still use their wallets mainly for transfers and storing funds, leaving significant scope to deepen access to savings, credit, investments, insurance, pensions and other services. Financial inclusion should not end with being abl...

 MTN Ghana has successfully concluded its month-long Sustainability Month celebration, reaffirming its commitment to a more sustainable future through employee engagement, environmental stewardship, responsible business practices and community partnerships. Held under the theme “Small Actions, Big Impact,” the month-long celebration brought together employees, media, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), SMEs and other stakeholders to deepen understanding of sustainability and demonstrate how individual and collective actions can contribute to meaningful societal change. The celebration officially commenced on August 4, 2026, with the launch of Sustainability Month, setting the tone for a series of activities designed to make sustainability practical, relatable and actionable.   The Team watching birds during the Bird Walk at the  Legon Botanical Garden A key highlight was the Lunch and Learn- ESG in Your Zone, which provided employees with insights into Environmental, Soci...

 Ghana's growth story remains one of undeniable resilience. With the economy expanding by 5.8% in 2025 and projected to maintain steady growth through 2027, the macroeconomic picture is brightening. Inflation is easing, the policy rate is lowering, and stability is steadily returning. Yet, beneath these encouraging indicators lies a structural vulnerability that threatens to artificially cap the country's long-term potential: an aging, chronically underfunded infrastructure base. The 2026 Infrastructure Report Card, developed by the Ghana Institution of Engineering, delivered a sobering D3 grade (57%) for the nation’s infrastructure. This reflects a story of stagnation rather than outright collapse. Despite years of public spending, inadequate maintenance, weak asset management, and chronic underfunding have taken their toll, leaving roads, health facilities, and rail networks in particularly poor condition. The scale of the shortfall is formidable. According to the World Bank...

 Rising savings, increasing cross-border payment activity and growing participation in formal financial systems are emerging as some of the clearest indicators yet of substantial pent-up demand for economic activity across the continent. The latest numbers from Standard Bank, the parent company of Stanbic Bank Ghana, show a buildup of deposits by 12% to R2.5 trillion, while the value of domestic electronic payments grew by 11% and cross-border payment values increased by 7%. Serving 19.5 million active clients across 21 African countries, the bank says these trends point to a continent where households are saving more, businesses are transacting more and trade corridors are becoming increasingly active. As the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gathers momentum and digital connectivity continues to expand, payment flows and savings behaviour are increasingly reflecting the emergence of deeper and more integrated African economies. Lungisa Fuzile, Standard Bank Chief Execu...

 In a move to promote environmental sustainability and responsible waste management, Stanbic Investment Management Services (SIMS) has partnered with the Prempeh College 1982 Year Group to support the installation of 60 waste bins across the school's campus. The initiative is aimed at fostering a cleaner learning environment while encouraging students to develop responsible waste disposal habits and a stronger sense of environmental stewardship. Presenting a donation of GHS30,000 to the group, Managing Director of SIMS, Kwabena Boamah, said the support reflects the company's commitment to creating value beyond investment management by investing in communities and initiatives that deliver lasting social impact.   Kwabena Boamah, MD, Stanbic investment Management Services with Joseph Osei, President of the 1982 Year Group (Center) with members of their teams. He noted that SIMS believes true investment goes beyond financial returns and extends to people, communities and the envi...

 By John-Mark Bekui, Esq. (Legal, Compliance, Ethics and Governance) Disclosure: The author is a former student of Dr. Abdul-Baasit Aziz-Bamba and subsequently served with him on the University of Ghana Council. Introduction The appointment of Dr. Abdul-Baasit Aziz-Bamba as Acting Director-General of the Value for Money Office, and therefore the inaugural head of the institution, presents an opportunity to focus not merely on an individual appointment, but on the broader governance challenge the new Office was created to address. For years, Ghanaians have debated the prudence, affordability and implementation of major public projects. Public discussions surrounding Agenda 111, the National Cathedral, the Afari Military Hospital and several infrastructure projects across the country have often raised concerns about delays, cost overruns, project modifications and incomplete execution. Regardless of one's political perspective, these concerns point to a central governance question: h...

 Businesses trading between Ghana and China stand to benefit from faster, more convenient and potentially cheaper payments following the introduction of the Cross-Border Interbank Payment System (CIPS) in Ghana, the Chief Executive of Stanbic Bank Ghana, Kwamina Asomaning, has said. With CIPS, businesses can access a more direct payment route to Chinese counterparties, reducing the need for US correspondent or intermediary banks,” Asomaning said at the Ghana-China Day in Accra on Wednesday. CIPS, he explained, gives businesses a more direct route to settle eligible transactions in Chinese yuan (RMB), cutting their reliance on correspondent and intermediary banks. CIPS is a wholesale payment system authorised by the People’s Bank of China that facilitates payments in RMB, providing an alternative channel for businesses engaged in Ghana-China trade. According to Asomaning, payments between the two countries had traditionally passed through intermediary banks, including US corresponde...