Senegal has named 60-year-old economist Ahmadou Alhaminou Mohamed Lo as its new Prime Minister.
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Minority demands Finance Minister’s appearance in parliament over suspended 0.75% MoMo charge
The Minority has demanded the urgent appearance of the Finance Minister before Parliament on Thursday, May…
Quicken farm inputs distribution under Feed Ghana initiative – SEND Ghana urges govt
A civil society organisation with interest in social justice, SEND Ghana, and its partners have appealed…
Quicken farm inputs distribution under Feed Ghana initiative – SEND Ghana urges govt
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A civil society organisation with interest in social justice, SEND Ghana, and its partners have appealed to the government to expedite the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers under its flagship Feed Ghana Programme, as the planting season begins across the country.
The organisation said delays in the release of seeds, fertilisers and other essential farm inputs could negatively affect this year’s farming season and undermine efforts to improve food security.
In a statement issued in Accra on Monday, May 25, SEND Ghana said its interactions with farmers in the Northern, Oti, Volta and Bono East regions indicated that many farmers were yet to receive farming inputs despite the onset of the rains.
It added that checks conducted with the Department of Agriculture also revealed that most Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) had not received the inputs for onward distribution to farmers.
Feed Ghana Programme
The initiative was launched by President John Dramani Mahama in April last year to boost local food production, create jobs and reduce the country’s reliance on imported food.
Popularly referred to as ‘Yeridua’, to wit, “we are planting”, the programme is centred on practical farming approaches that involve households, schools, communities and institutions.
It also involves sub-projects on vegetables, grains, poultry, oil palm, tubers and other import substitutes to reduce the country’s reliance on imports, return to a culture of self-reliance and build a stronger food system that works for everyone, from farmers in rural areas to families living in cities.
However, SEND Ghana indicated that the delay in agricultural input distribution could derail the government’s ambitions for the programme if urgent action was not taken.
The civil society organisation, which advocates for vulnerable groups, particularly in health and agriculture, added that some farmers were already reluctant to venture into large-scale farming this year because of the losses they incurred during the previous farming season.
SEND Ghana, therefore, appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) to speed up the release and distribution of the inputs to ensure that farmers took advantage of the current rains for planting.
“SEND Ghana also calls on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to ensure that the youth, especially young women, are prioritised in line with the Feed Ghana Programme implementation modalities to address youth unemployment.
“Government should also make information on the programme increasingly available to the public by providing regular updates on the modalities for accessing progress of the implementation,” the civil society organisation said.
It is the view of the organisation and its partners that creating opportunities for young people in agriculture would not only improve livelihoods but also contribute to the long-term sustainability of the country’s agricultural sector.
Potential
The organisation also said the programme had the potential to improve food security, reduce food inflation, create jobs for young people and women, and promote agro-industrial development and exports.
However, it stressed that the success of the initiative would depend largely on effective agricultural governance at the local level and the timely implementation of interventions.
“Without these, the government risks missing set targets and wasting public resources,” it stressed.
Meteo
The Ghana Meteorological Agency forecasts that the rainfall season in Northern Ghana is expected to begin at a normal to late period in most areas, although places such as Bole and Salaga may experience an early onset.
Rainfall during the May–September period is generally forecasted to be below normal to near normal across much of northern Ghana and parts of the middle belt, while some southern coastal areas may record normal to above-normal rainfall.
The northern sector is expected to receive between 450mm and 700mm of rainfall during the peak season, with dry spells ranging from about 10 to 18 days in some areas, particularly across the Upper East, Upper West and Transition zones.
Rainfall cessation is expected to be early to normal in most northern areas.
GMet has, therefore, advised stakeholders and the public to prepare for possible impacts such as prolonged dry spells through early preparedness and risk management.
Earlier, it advised that the onset of the rainy season was expected to be normal to slightly early across most coastal and transition zones.
However, farmers in Sunyani, Dunkwa, Sefwi Bekwai, Abetifi, Akim Oda, Akuse, Asamankese, Ho, Kpando, Axim and Saltpond should anticipate a late onset and wait for sustained rainfall before planting or committing to major seasonal investments.
Below-normal rainfall is expected in Dormaa, Sunyani, Mim, Goaso, Cape Coast, Accra, and Tema during March to May, increasing the risk of early-season moisture stress.
Two significant dry spell periods are expected in March to April (6 to 15 days) and the second in May to June (9 to 19 days), which may disrupt crop performance and strain water sources, especially in forest zone farming communities.
GMet has, therefore, called for the adoption of early maturing and drought-tolerant crop varieties suited to this season’s conditions.
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NDC is a government of propaganda – Minority
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has strongly criticised government, accusing it of failing to deliver on key…
NDC is a government of propaganda – Minority
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Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has strongly criticised government, accusing it of failing to deliver on key promises and describing the administration as a “government of propaganda.”
According to the Minority caucus, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) has been inconsistent in its messaging and unable to implement the commitments it made to Ghanaians.
“We are simply saying NDC is a government of propaganda. They don’t believe in what they say,” the MP stated.
He alleged that the government has failed to deliver on its flagship job creation promise.
“They promised one job, three shifts. As we speak, they have failed on that one job, three shifts,” he said.
The MP also questioned government’s handling of agricultural policies, particularly cocoa pricing.
“They promised cocoa farmers that a bag of cocoa will sell at GH¢7,000. They came and have rather reduced it. At least they should have maintained the GH¢3,100 that Akufo-Addo left,” he added.
He further claimed that rice farmers have not benefited from the promised off-take system, arguing that imported rice is now cheaper than locally produced rice.
“They promised rice farmers that they were going to have an off-take system. As we speak, it is even cheaper to buy imported rice than locally produced rice,” he said.
The Minority also said maize and yam farmers are expressing frustration over what they describe as worsening conditions in the agricultural sector.
“Maize farmers are complaining. Yam farmers are complaining. Cocoa farmers are complaining,” he noted.
The Minority maintains that within a short period in office, the government has failed to translate its campaign promises into tangible results, particularly in agriculture and job creation.
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Ghana moves from unsustainable debt to moderate risk for first time since 2013 – Ato Forson
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Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that Ghana has moved from an unsustainable debt position to a moderate risk of debt distress for the first time since 2013.
Dr. Forson announced on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, May 26, while presenting some statutory reports to the House.
The reports included the Annual Report on the Management of the Energy Sector Levies, the Petroleum Holding Fund, the Annual Public Debt Report, and the Public-Private Partnership Report.
Addressing Parliament during the presentation of the Public Debt Report, the Finance Minister said the latest assessment reflected a major improvement in Ghana’s public debt situation.
“Mr. Speaker, I’m proud to inform the House that Ghana, for the first time since 2013, has achieved a moderate risk of debt distress, moving from unsustainable debt to high risk of debt distress and now to a moderate risk of debt distress,” Dr. Forson stated.
He added that the details were contained in the report and would subsequently be discussed by the committee.
The Finance Minister also presented the reconciliation report on the Petroleum Holding Fund for the 2025 financial year, noting that the submission was in fulfillment of requirements under the Petroleum Revenue Management Act.
“Right Honourable Speaker, this happens to be an obligation imposed on us as part of the Petroleum Revenue Management Act that the Minister responsible for Finance must submit a report of the previous year to Parliament detailing what accrued to the state in terms of the petroleum funds and how this amount was used,” he said.
Dr. Forson added that the report provided a detailed account of the petroleum revenues received by the state and how the resources were utilised.
“And so, Mr. Speaker, I’m only presenting a report detailing what was accrued to the state and how we actually utilised the resources,” he added.
The improvement in the country’s debt distress rating is expected to strengthen confidence in Ghana’s economic outlook as the government continues to implement fiscal reforms aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability.
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A-G orders former Sports Minister and others to refund GH¢15m paid to Otto Addo, Chris Houghton, Fatawu and Paintsil
A forensic audit conducted by the Ghana Audit Service into the financial management of the 13th…
Audit report flags GH¢15m ‘unrelated payments’ in 2023 African Games expenditure
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A forensic audit conducted by the Ghana Audit Service into the financial management of the 13th African Games has uncovered payments amounting to more than GH¢15 million for activities deemed unrelated to the organisation and hosting of the continental sporting event.
The findings, contained in the Auditor-General’s report released on February 26, 2026, raised fresh concerns about the use of funds managed by the Local Organising Committee (LOC) during the Games hosted by Ghana in 2023.
According to the report, a review of bank statements linked to the LOC revealed several transactions and expenditures that could not be directly connected to the mandate of organising the African Games.
Under the heading “Unrelated LOC Payments – GH¢15,093,666.00”, the report stated that bank accounts had been created specifically to facilitate financial transactions connected to the operations of the Games.
However, auditors indicated that some payments identified during the review appeared to have been made for purposes outside the scope of the LOC’s responsibilities.
“Our review of bank statements revealed payments for activities that could not be directly linked to the LOC’s mandate, for which further clarification is needed,” the report stated.
The audit disclosed that payments totalling US$487,000 — approximately GH¢5.84 million — together with an additional GH¢9.25 million were made from the LOC’s dollar and cedi accounts respectively.
The report said the payments were made to individuals and for expenditures related to the national football team, the Black Stars, as well as other sporting activities unrelated to the African Games.
According to the findings, the combined payments amounted to GH¢15,093,666.
Among the transactions captured in the report were outward swift payments and internal bank transfers involving salary advances and other payments to named beneficiaries.
One transaction dated May 7, 2024, showed a US$240,000 outward swift payment reportedly described as advance salary payment for one year.
Another payment of US$75,000 on the same date was labelled as payment of a three-month salary advance.
The report also identified internal transfer debits amounting to US$30,000 and US$9,000 respectively, while another outward swift payment of US$60,000 was recorded on June 11, 2024.
Auditors questioned why such expenditures were processed through LOC accounts established specifically for the organisation of the Games.
The revelations form part of a broader forensic review into the management of funds allocated for the hosting of the African Games, which represented one of Ghana’s biggest sporting investments in recent years.
Although the Auditor-General did not make criminal findings against officials involved in the organisation of the Games, the report recommended sanctions against former Minister for Youth and Sports Mustapha Ussif, former Chief Director William Kartey, and former Chairman of the Local Organising Committee, Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare.
The report also recommended the recovery and refund of some monies cited as financial irregularities.
The 13th African Games, hosted in Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast in March 2024, involved massive government expenditure on sports infrastructure, logistics, accommodation and operational activities.
While the tournament was largely hailed for its successful organisation and upgraded sporting facilities, concerns over costs and procurement processes dominated public discourse both before and after the event.
The latest audit findings are expected to intensify demands for greater accountability and transparency in the management of public funds allocated to major national events and infrastructure projects.
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‘We shall join the strike’ — GNAT signals nationwide action over alleged military assault on teachers Tarkwa Nsuaem
Speaking exclusively to Labour Affairs Correspondent Daniel Opoku in Accra on May 26, Mr. Tanko Musah…