Kofi Ahovi

  Financial irregularities recorded across five categories of public institutions in Ghana fell by 62.9 per cent, from approximately GH¢20.72 billion in 2024 to GH¢7.69 billion in 2025, Deputy Minister for Finance Thomas Nyarko Ampem has disclosed. The reduction represents a decline of about GH¢13.03 billion and exceeds the government’s target of reducing financial irregularities by 50 per cent in 2025. The figures are contained in the 2025 Auditor-General’s reports covering ministries, departments and agencies; metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies; the District Assemblies Common Fund; public boards and state-owned enterprises; as well as public universities and colleges of education. Nyarko Ampem disclosed the figures at an engagement on the 2025 Auditor-General’s Reports with chief directors, chief executive officers and heads of institutions covered by the audits. I am pleased to report that, taken together, financial irregularities across these five sectors declined ...

  The government has extended its GH¢2 per litre reduction in the regulatory margin on diesel into the first pricing window of September, in a move aimed at cushioning consumers from rising fuel prices. The intervention, which was initially introduced as a temporary measure covering two pricing windows, was due to expire at the end of August. However, the government has decided to maintain the reduction for at least one additional pricing window, preventing the full regulatory margin from being restored to the price of diesel. The decision follows concerns over a possible increase in diesel prices at the pumps in the latest pricing window, amid elevated international crude oil prices. Diesel is currently selling at around GH¢17 per litre at most Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). The extension is expected to provide some relief to motorists, commercial transport operators and businesses that depend heavily on diesel, particularly those facing rising operating and transportation costs....

  Argentina great Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, saying it was a decision that "hurt" him but "the time has come". The 39-year-old, who captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, making him the country's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. In a statement, Messi said he has given everything to the national side but now has "nothing left to give". He added: "Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. "I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team. "I've given it my all, I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some really great young players coming through behind me who deserve their chance." Earlier in August, Messi said he was considering his future in football after the death of his father, Jorge, who died aged 68 following a a long illness....

  Government has rejected Accra Brewery PLC’s warning that changes to Ghana’s beer excise duty regime could put up to 2,000 jobs at risk, arguing that the company has failed to substantiate its claims while the existing tax concession has cost the state about GH¢1.75 billion in foregone revenue over the past three years. Accra Brewery recently warned that the revised excise regime could increase the tax burden on locally produced beer, undermine investment and create an unintended advantage for imported beer. The company estimates the potential impact on its budget at $7.5 million and has called for the existing sliding-scale rates to be maintained for FY26 and FY27. But in a detailed rejoinder, the Ministry of Finance on Monday, August 31, 2026, said the central issue was not whether the brewing industry contributes to Ghana’s economy, but whether the tax concession is achieving the purpose for which it was introduced. The ministry said data from the Ghana Revenue Authority show t...

  Maison Yusif Fragrance has reached another significant international milestone by becoming the first fragrance house from Ghana to participate in Glamcation, a fragrance festival held in Torrance/Palos Verdes, Los Angeles. The historic appearance introduced the artistry, craftsmanship and distinctive identity of Ghanaian perfumery to a diverse audience of fragrance lovers, industry professionals, entrepreneurs and luxury consumers in California. Throughout the event, visitors had the opportunity to explore Maison Yusif’s collection, experience its signature fragrances and discover the African stories and creative vision behind the brand. The response was overwhelmingly positive, with guests visiting the Maison Yusif stand, sampling the fragrances, making purchases and expressing admiration for the quality, originality and performance of the creations. For Maison Yusif, participating in Glamcation was more than a commercial exhibition. It represented another important step in the ...

 The MTN Ghana, in partnership with the Ghana Wildlife Society (GWS), has organised a bird and butterfly walk at the Legon Botanical Gardens in Accra for media personnel and CSOs to promote environmental sustainability and deepen appreciation for Ghana’s biodiversity. The exercise, held on Saturday, August 29, 2026, brought together media practitioners and environmental enthusiasts for an educational and interactive experience aimed at highlighting the importance of conserving the country’s natural environment. The walk was led by the Executive Director of the Ghana Wildlife Society, Dr. Sandra Owusu-Gyamfi, who used the occasion to encourage Ghanaians to reduce their dependence on plastics and adopt more environmentally friendly alternatives in their homes, workplaces and public spaces. She warned that plastic pollution, particularly microplastics, posed a growing threat to marine life and ecosystems, stressing that individuals, businesses and institutions had a shared responsibil...

  MobileMoney Fintech LaTD (MMFL) will open MoMoFest 2026 in Berekum on September 4, using music, culture and community engagement to help customers ‘Do more with MoMo’ — from everyday payments and transfers to savings, insurance, credit and safer digital transactions. The two-day Revival Concert, scheduled for September 4 and 5 at Golden City Park, will feature Kweku Smoke and friends and launch a three-week activation focused on MoMo App onboarding, cashless payments, merchant engagement and fraud education. The Berekum activation will combine pre-festival sign-up drives, festival-week customer experiences and post-festival follow-up to move customers from awareness to confident use of the MoMo App and other digital financial services. MoMoFest has grown into a nationwide platform for digital inclusion, taking MoMo to customers through concerts, traditional festivals, tertiary activations, merchant engagements and community touchpoints that make digital finance practical, visible...

  Ghana is set to welcome two international airlines as part of efforts to expand air connectivity and provide passengers with more travel options. Stream History Documentaries Air Uganda is expected to commence operations to Ghana in October 2026, while Etihad Airways is scheduled to begin operations in March 2027. Managing Director of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), Yvonne Afriyie Opare, disclosed this at the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a Multi-Tiered, Multi-Purpose Car Park and Airport Hotels Complex at the Accra International Airport. According to her, the entry of the two airlines will strengthen Ghana’s connectivity with key destinations and contribute to the steady growth of operations at the airport. In October this year [2026] , we’ll be welcoming Air Uganda and in March of next year [2027] , we’ll be welcoming Etihad Airways. This speaks to the steady growth of operations at the Accra International Airport,” she said. Opare said the planned exp...

 Zoomlion Ghana Limited has intensified its seven-day disinfection and disinfestation exercise across the Oti Region as part of efforts to prevent disease outbreaks and improve environmental sanitation following recent flooding in parts of the country. The exercise, which commenced simultaneously in the Krachi East and West Municipalities, is expected to cover all nine Municipal and District Assemblies (MDAs) in the region. It is being undertaken in collaboration with the respective Assemblies, which have identified priority areas requiring the intervention. The exercise targets markets, shops and sheds, public toilets, drains and gutters, refuse container sites, waste-dumping areas, flood-prone communities and other public spaces considered potential breeding grounds for disease vectors and harmful pathogens. Speaking to the media during the exercise, the Oti Regional Manager of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, Joseph Buabeng, said the intervention formed part of the company’s Corporate So...

  King Harald V of Norway, Europe’s oldest monarch, has died at the age of 89, after 35 years on the throne. He died on Friday just after 6:35 am, the Royal House of Norway announced on its website. His son Haakon succeeds him as monarch. He leaves his wife of 57 years, Queen Sonja, two children, and five grandchildren. His granddaughter Ingrid Alexandra now becomes heir to the Norwegian throne. Harald’s death comes at a challenging time for Norway’s royal clan. Haakon’s wife, now Queen Consort Mette-Marit, has suffered health problems in recent years and was thrust into the global spotlight this year when her past contact with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein came to light. Not long afterwards, her son from a previous relationship was convicted of rape and domestic violence and sentenced to four years in prison. Harald was 53 years old when he ascended the throne in 1991. At their own request, Harald and Sonja held a consecration ceremony, including traditions dating back to ...

  Ghanaian students studying on government scholarships at the University of Memphis in the United States say they risk being dismissed from the institution over the government’s failure to settle their tuition and accommodation fees. The affected students say the university has issued notices demanding payment of their outstanding fees after attempts to resolve the matter with the Scholarship Secretariat yielded no results. According to the students, the situation has already resulted in restrictions on their access to the university’s online portal, leaving them unable to access essential academic services. One of the affected students told Citi   News that they have less than a week to resolve the issue before facing further sanctions. Subscribing To Digital Newspaper Outlets The student expressed concern that failure to resolve the outstanding payments within the stipulated period could have serious consequences for the scholarship beneficiaries. We have barely a wee...

  The Member of Parliament for Builsa North, James Agalga, has officially assumed office as the new Majority Leader in Parliament. His appointment follows a communication from the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, notifying him of changes to the leadership of the NDC Parliamentary Caucus. The changes became necessary following the nomination of the former Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, as Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. Speaking after assuming the position, James Agalga pledged to adopt a consensus-driven approach in leading the Majority Caucus and working with the Minority in Parliament. He assured Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and the entire Minority Caucus that he would prioritise consultation and compromise where necessary to ensure Parliament effectively discharges its responsibilities. We can make compromises as and when necessary. And I assure you, I’ll give it to you. I would reach ou...

Kate Agamah, Head, Transaction Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, Stanbic Bank Ghana. Every exporter or importer who has waited for days for a payment to clear or watched a shipment's margin erode to a currency conversion, understands the truth that policy documents rarely capture: trade doesn't fail at the border. It fails in the payment. Goods can move freely across a continent, but if the money behind them takes a week and three intermediaries to arrive, that freedom means little. This is the quiet problem Ghana's next phase of trade growth depends on solving, and it's why two systems with unglamorous acronyms, CIPS and PAPSS, deserve more attention in boardrooms than they currently get. The Cost of Doing Business Across Borders For years, Ghanaian businesses trading internationally have leaned on correspondent banking networks, chains of intermediary banks that route a payment from one currency system to another, usually settling in US dollars regardless of...

 We are living through a fascinating financial era shaped by inflation, volatile markets, and rapid technological change. But beneath these macro shifts lies something more personal: a quiet revolution driven by young Ghanaians reshaping what it means to earn, save, and build wealth. For many of us, financial freedom is no longer about climbing a corporate ladder for decades. It’s about flexibility. Multiple income streams, smart investing now, and crafting lifestyles that balance comfort, convenience, and independence. Melissa and her money habits Picture Melissa, 24, working in Accra. She has a regular job, but she doesn’t rely on that alone. She runs a weekend meal-prep side hustle that takes mobile money payments. She keeps an emergency buffer. Each month, she allocates part of her income into a local Money Market Fund and part into a Fixed Income Fund. When she receives bonuses or gifts, she splits them, some into business reinvestment, some into long-term savings, and some in...

 In today's rapidly evolving financial ecosystem, financial inclusion can no longer be measured simply by the number of people who own bank accounts. Across the world, and particularly in emerging economies such as Ghana, the conversation has shifted towards ensuring that individuals and businesses have meaningful access to financial services that improve their lives, support their ambitions, and enable them to participate fully in economic growth. This reality calls for a strategic, innovation-driven approach to financial inclusion – one that responds to the complexities of modern life and addresses the unique challenges faced by underserved communities. The new face of financial inclusion Ghana has made remarkable progress in expanding access to financial services over the past decade. The growth of mobile money, digital payments, and fintech solutions has transformed how millions of people save, transfer money, and conduct business. Yet, despite these gains, a significant portio...

  Veteran Ghanaian actress Grace Nortey has reportedly died at the age of 89. Nortey is said to have passed away at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, 2026. Reports of her death were published on Wednesday, with Pulse Ghana attributing the information to Gossips24 TV. However, as of publication, there had not been an independent confirmation from her family, the Ghana Actors Guild or the University of Ghana Medical Centre. Born on February 1, 1937, Grace Nortey was one of the most recognisable figures of Ghana's theatre, television and film industry, with a career spanning more than five decades. A career spanning generations Nortey began her involvement in the performing arts in the 1970s and first established herself through theatre and drama before becoming a familiar face on Ghanaian television. Biographical accounts indicate that she was particularly active during the 1980s and 1990s, a period widely regarded as a golden e...

Zoomlion Ghana Limited, in collaboration with the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in the Ahafo Region, has intensified its ongoing disinfection and disinfestation exercise aimed at improving environmental sanitation and safeguarding public health. The exercise is targeting public facilities and areas identified by the Assemblies, including markets, schools, public places of convenience, refuse container sites, dumpsites and other public spaces. Speaking during the exercise, the Ahafo Regional Manager of Zoomlion, Noble Nude, said the intervention had made significant progress, with teams successfully covering several designated locations across the region. The exercise has been very successful, and the cooperation has been encouraging. We have visited the identified areas and are already seeing the impact of the activities undertaken so far,” he said. At Hwediem in the Asutifi South District, the District Environmental Health Officer, Yaw Adusei, welcomed the in...

 MTN Ghana has highlighted the opportunities available to businesses in the digital economy through the third edition of its MTN Masterclass Series, bringing together experts and entrepreneurs to discuss how digital tools, artificial intelligence (AI) and strategic partnerships can drive growth and competitiveness. Held in Accra under the theme, "Thriving in the Digital Economy: Unlocking Opportunities in a Digital-First World," the programme brought together more than 120 entrepreneurs and business customers physically, with additional participants joining through MTN Ghana's digital platforms. Welcoming participants, Eric Puplampu, Senior Manager, Products, User Experience and Design at MTN Ghana, said the Masterclass was designed to equip businesses with practical insights, digital skills and strategies to help them succeed in an increasingly digital economy. He said, "The objective is not simply to keep up with change. It is to understand the opportunities that c...

 MTN Ghana, in partnership with the Rainforest Alliance and with support from the Forestry Commission, has planted 833 trees at the Chipa Forest Reserve in the Tema-Ada Forest Division as part of efforts to restore degraded forest areas and promote environmental sustainability. The exercise formed part of MTN Ghana’s Sustainability Month activities and its 30th anniversary celebrations, while also contributing to the government’s Tree for Life initiative aimed at restoring Ghana’s degraded forest landscapes. Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, said the Chipa Forest Reserve, which was gazetted in the 1960s, had suffered degradation over the years largely due to illegal harvesting of firewood and logging. Over the years, we have had a lot of interventions by the government aimed at restoring degraded portions of Chipa Forest Reserve. So, we are glad that MTN, as part of its sustainability drive and its 30th anniversary celebration, has par...

The Government of Ghana has declined a GH¢20 million support package offered by MTN Ghana to assist Ghanaian nationals affected by renewed xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a press statement issued on Wednesday, August 26, said the government had already made adequate financial provisions for the ongoing evacuation and reintegration of Ghanaians returning from South Africa. The Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer, however, we respectfully decline,” the Ministry stated. According to the Ministry, the government’s decision had already been communicated to MTN’s Board Chairman, Dr Ishmael Yamson, and Chief Executive Officer when they met the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on August 14, 2026. The Ministry said the Mahama administration remained fully committed to providing humanitarian and financial support to Ghanaians evacuated from South Africa. It added that the government would publish a comprehensive account of ...

  Africa's largest telecoms operator, MTN Group, is exploring banking licences in select markets as the company looks to expand lending ​from its own balance sheet, CEO Ralph Mupita said on Tuesday. MTN ‌is stepping up its push into fintech services to drive growth beyond traditional telecommunications revenue, with lending emerging as one of the fastest-growing segments within its mobile money business. We're ​seeing good growth on advanced services, which are our future-proof services," ​Mupita told journalists, referring to offerings such as payments, e-commerce and ⁠lending. "The big growth now, which will be the growth of the future, ​is actually lending." MTN currently provides loans through partnerships with banks. We're beginning to explore, ​where it makes sense and where there are large customer bases (and) significant floats in wallets, whether it may make sense to have some sort of banking licence that enables ​us to take deposits," Mupita sa...

  The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana is mounting pressure on government to urgently roll out an emergency support package for rice farmers who have lost their produce after failing to secure buyers. The Association says some farmers have seen their rice rot due to inadequate storage, while others have lost crops on the field after being unable to harvest because of weak market demand. Executive Director of the Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana, Bismark Nortey, says government must act immediately to cushion farmers whose investments have already been wiped out. Government should, as a matter of urgency, announce some immediate emergency support or emergency relief to farmers who are unable to sell their produce.” He says the losses go beyond unsold stocks, with some farmers losing entire investments through spoilage, bushfires and failure to harvest. Some of them also who couldn’t get market and couldn’t harvest, they’ve lost them on the field. Others who had, they have be...

  Government is targeting 2027 for the full operationalisation of its Virtual Asset Service Providers Act, 2025 (Act 1154), as the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) work to develop the regulatory framework for the rapidly evolving sector. Exploring African Diaspora Media Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr Johnson Asiama, said the two institutions are developing operational guidelines and implementing policy sandboxes to support the effective implementation of the law. Speaking at the inauguration of the Virtual Assets Coordinating Committee (VACC), Dr Asiama said the legislation was a critical step in bringing Ghana’s growing virtual asset sector under a formal regulatory framework. The operational guidelines are being developed by the designated regulatory authorities, i.e., the Bank of Ghana and the Securities and Exchange Commission, alongside the implementation of policy sandboxes by both institutions towards fully operationalizing the Act by 2...

  The administration of US President Donald Trump has temporarily paused some visa appointments at US embassies and consulates worldwide as part of a new training programme for consular officers. The move could affect Ghanaian applicants with scheduled visa interviews at the US Embassy in Accra, particularly those applying for immigrant visas. A US State Department spokesperson said on Tuesday that the department had launched a global training initiative for consular staff and that visa appointments would be adjusted to accommodate the exercise. The State Department did not provide a specific timeline for the training or indicate how long the adjustments would last. What this means for Ghanaian applicants For Ghanaians who have already scheduled US visa interviews, the development could mean that some appointments may be rescheduled. Applicants whose interviews are affected are expected to receive communication from the US Embassy with information on new appointment dates. Those wh...