Kofi Ahovi

 By Kofi Ahovi For a journalist covering Ghana’s emerging nuclear power programme, a complicated technical report can arrive just hours before deadline. It may contain unfamiliar terms, technical measurements, regulatory language and hundreds of pages of data. At the same time, an interview recording may need to be transcribed, an expert may need to be researched and a social media claim about radiation may already be spreading. Artificial Intelligence (AI) can make much of this work faster. AI tool can summarise the report within seconds, explain difficult terms in simpler language and even suggest questions for an interview. For a busy journalist, the attraction is obvious. But there is a catch. The information may sound convincing and still be wrong. That is particularly important in nuclear reporting, where a misplaced decimal, an incorrect unit or a misunderstood technical term can change the meaning of a story and potentially affect how members of the public respond to a situ...

  The three teacher unions in Ghana have given the government until midday on Thursday, September 24, 2026, to resolve outstanding issues concerning the payment of promotion salaries and arrears owed affected teachers. The unions — the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Coalition of Concerned Teachers, Ghana (CCT-Ghana) — issued the warning in an urgent notice to teachers dated Tuesday, September 22, 2026. According to the unions, the 2025 promotion placements, together with the payment of arrears, have not been fully effected. They said this amounts to a violation of an agreement reached with the government to automatically place all affected teachers by the end of September 2026. The unions said the situation had caused frustration and anger among teachers across the country, particularly because of delays in resolving what they described as outstanding concerns. Among the other issues cited are the renewal of...

  The Cyber Security Authority (CSA) has announced the successful attainment of a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree by its Director-General, Dr. Divine Selase Agbeti. In an official congratulatory announcement, the CSA celebrated its leader for reaching this significant academic milestone. According to the announcement, Dr. Agbeti earned his doctorate from the prestigious University of Glasgow in the United Kingdom. The CSA shared a commemorative portrait of the newly minted PhD holder, extending its warmest congratulations to him on the successful completion of his doctoral studies. Dr. Agbeti’s achievement is being hailed not only as a personal academic triumph but also as a significant boost to Ghana’s cybersecurity ecosystem. As the head of the CSA, his deepened expertise comes at a critical time when the nation is actively bolstering its digital resilience, combating cybercrime, and implementing robust data protection frameworks. The University of Glasgow, founded in 1451, is ...

  The Black Stars of Ghana face a daunting opening assignment in the race for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations when they travel to Bouaké on Thursday to confront Côte d’Ivoire in a heavyweight West African encounter that could immediately set the tone for their qualifying campaign. The match at the Stade de la Paix brings together two former African champions, but Ghana will enter the contest under circumstances that have changed significantly since Carlos Queiroz announced his original squad. The Black Stars have been hit by a series of player unavailabilities, with two of their most prominent attacking names, Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo, now confirmed to be unavailable for the encounter. Kudus, who had initially been named in the squad after returning from a lengthy injury absence, subsequently opted out to concentrate on completing his recovery and regaining full fitness. Semenyo's late withdrawal adds another major blow to Ghana's attacking options, leaving Queiroz to ...

 By Phalonzy Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has made a clarion call for reinforced regional cooperation among ECOWAS member states to confront the intertwined and multifaceted challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, population displacement, and escalating insecurity across West Africa. She emphasized that the magnitude and scale of these challenges necessitate coordinated, collective regional action that addresses both their immediate humanitarian ramifications and their fundamental root causes. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang made the call when she formally opened the Second Extraordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament and the Second Parliamentary Seminar in Accra, held under the theme: “Climate Change as a Driver of Environmental Degradation, Population Displacement and Rising Insecurity in the ECOWAS Region.” Representing President John Mahama, the Vice President warmly welcomed the Speaker and members of the ECOWAS Parliament to Ghana and noted that the ...

  MobileMoney Fintech LTD (MMFL) has received over 990 entries from innovators across Ghana for the 2026 MoMo Fintech Lab, signalling strong interest in developing practical solutions for the country’s digital financial services sector. Applications remain open until September 30. The nationwide innovation programme identifies, mentors and supports innovators to turn technology-driven ideas into practical, commercially viable solutions that address everyday challenges, expand financial access and strengthen Ghana’s digital economy. Of the over 990 entries received, 56 per cent fall under Everyday Payments and Financial Access, the largest of the four innovation tracks. Business and Merchant Growth Tools accounts for 17 per cent, followed by Trust, Security and Digital Identity at 15 per cent, and Future of Finance and Connected Ecosystems at 12 per cent. The entries span different stages of development: 374 submissions (37.8 per cent) are at the concept stage, 341 (34.4 per cent) a...

  For decades, the wooden chop box has been a symbol of every Ghanaian boarding school experience. Crafted by the local carpenter, painted with the student's name and sealed with a small padlock, it was more than just a box - it was a piece of home. Today, that tradition is under threat. Across our Senior High Schools, dormitories are increasingly dominated by imported Chinese plastic chop boxes, which now sell for GHC 600 to GHC 800, while the durable, locally-made wooden chop box costs only GHC 250 to GHC 400. We are literally paying twice the price to destroy our own economy. The Wooden Chop Box: A Ghanaian Value Chain The wooden chop box is not just wood and nails. It represents a complete local economic ecosystem. Its production sustains the timber seller at Sokoban Wood Village, the master carpenter at Suame Magazine or Anloga, the painter who inscribes the student's details, the welder who reinforces the locks, and most importantly, the young apprentice - often a JHS gra...

  Euro Spa CEO Jessica Hartog and three others have been remanded by an Accra High Court over alleged links to a cocaine shipment worth more than €225 million that was intercepted in Dunkirk, France. Hartog was charged on September 16, 2026, and remanded until October 13, 2026, when she is expected to appear before the court again. She pleaded not guilty to the charges. The shipment, reportedly traced to Ghana, was intercepted by French authorities in Dunkirk as investigations continue into the alleged trafficking network behind the consignment. The consignment, reportedly worth more than €225 million, is alleged to have originated from Ghana and was intercepted by French authorities at the port city of Dunkirk. Hartog and the three other accused persons were charged in connection with the alleged cocaine trafficking operation and have all pleaded not guilty. Following their arraignment, the court remanded the four accused persons and adjourned the case to October 13, 2026. The ca...

 The Krachi East Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Hon. Safo Nketiah, has commended Zoomlion Ghana Limited for its numerous interventions in the area, stressing that the company's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities were complementing the assembly's development efforts. Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources engagement with Metropolitan Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) in Ho, Volta Region on Saturday, September 19, 2026, Hon. Nketiah outlined a series of interventions undertaken by the assembly with support from Zoomlion, which he said deserved recognition and spotlight. He noted that the company had been a reliable partner, particularly in ensuring that the municipality was always clean. According to him, Zoomlion’s collaboration with the Krachi East Municipal Assembly has been effective, which has seen the company offer various free waste management services. We are collaborati...

 The Parliamentary Select Committee on Water and Sanitation has described the Volta Region as the cleanest region it has visited so far, as part of its ongoing monitoring of sanitation and waste management activities across the country. The commendation was made on Friday, 18th September, 2026, when the Committee visited the Ho Integrated Recycling and Compost Plant (IRECOP) at Akrofu-Agorve, as part of the first day of its two-day monitoring tour of sanitation and waste management facilities in the Volta and Oti regions. The Committee, led by its Chairman and Member of Parliament for Nkwanta North, John Oti Bless, was taken through a presentation on the operations of the facility, including waste collection, processing, recycling, and the conversion of organic waste into compost. Speaking to the media after the inspection, Oti Bless said the visit formed part of the Committee's oversight responsibility to assess the state of waste management infrastructure and engage operators and...

  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...