Adongo Commends Alagumgube for Championing Upper East Airport Project
The Member of Parliament for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, has lauded the advocacy group Alagumgube for its unwavering commitment to development in the Upper East Region, particularly its efforts in pushing for the demarcation of land for the proposed Upper East Airport. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Dreamz FM, a local radio station in the regional capital, Mr. Adongo praised the group’s dedication and influence in championing critical development issues that affect the people of the region. He acknowledged that Alagumgube’s persistent advocacy has played a significant role in advancing discussions and galvanizing action toward securing land for the long-awaited airport project, an initiative expected to drive economic growth and improve connectivity across the Upper East Region. Beyond the airport campaign, the group, led by Mr. Gabriel Agambila, has made tangible contributions to the region through its own resources, most notably facilitating the establishment of a Passport Application Office for the people of the Upper East Region. The feat stands as a testament to what community-driven advocacy can achieve when pursued with focus and determination. Mr. Adongo underscored the broader importance of such grassroots initiatives, noting that community-led efforts are critical in accelerating development and ensuring that key projects receive the necessary attention from relevant authorities. He called on other groups and stakeholders across the region to take a cue from Alagumgube’s proactive and results-oriented approach, urging them to champion development projects with the same level of vigor and commitment. As the push for the Upper East Airport continues, the MP’s public endorsement of Alagumgube signals growing momentum behind the project and highlights the vital role that civil society organizations play in driving regional development agendas. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Judge Warns Prosecution Over Witness Influence as Cross-Examination Intensifies in Adu-Boahene Trial
The ongoing trial of Republic v Kwabena Adu-Boahene and Others took a notable procedural turn on Thursday, April 2, 2026, when the presiding judge issued a pointed caution to the prosecution over conduct that risked compromising the integrity of witness testimony, while cross-examination of a key prosecution witness continued to yield significant revelations about multi-million cedi transactions linked to national security accounts. Justice Francis Apangabuno Achibonga, presiding at Criminal Court 3 of the Accra High Court, directed his caution at Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai during the cross-examination of the second prosecution witness, Edith Ruby Opokua Adumuah, by counsel for the accused, Samuel Atta Akyea. Measured but firm in tone, the judge reminded the Deputy Attorney General that while objections are permissible during cross-examination, they must not be used to suggest answers or steer the direction of a witness’s testimony. The court made clear that any attempt to influence a witness’s response is improper and undermines the fairness of cross-examination, a cornerstone tool for testing the credibility and consistency of evidence. The court also asserted its authority to intervene where necessary to protect the independence of witness testimony. The caution was not the only procedural irregularity noted on the day. The Deputy Attorney General arrived late for proceedings and addressed the presiding judge without the required legal gown and wig, conduct that, while not illegal, is considered improper and contrary to established courtroom practice. At one point, the judge appeared to subtly signal his displeasure, repeatedly instructing the Deputy AG to “resume your seat, resume your seat, resume your seat” as he attempted to interject with an objection. The legal framework underpinning the judge’s position is well established. Article 19(1) and (2)(g) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution guarantees every accused person the right to a fair hearing, including the right to cross-examine witnesses on the same conditions as the prosecution. Rule 52(1)(d) of the Criminal Procedure Rules, 2021, empowers the court to control examination and cross-examination to ensure proper conduct, while Sections 51 and 52 of the Evidence Act allow the court to admit or exclude evidence in the interests of justice. Lawyers are additionally bound by the Ghana Bar Association Rules of Professional Conduct to act honestly and fairly, and to avoid suggesting answers or directing witness testimony. At the centre of Thursday’s proceedings was a methodical cross-examination by Atta Akyea, designed to probe the witness’s knowledge of, and involvement in, a series of large financial transactions routed through accounts linked to national security operations. Adumuah, who served as Head of Finance at the Bureau of National Communications (BNC) at the relevant time, confirmed that she had personal knowledge of the National Security Coordinator’s Special Operations Account with Fidelity Bank, as it had been brought to her attention. She also acknowledged that prior to her interaction with the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), she had believed that a BNC Operations Account at Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) was itself a Special Operations Account. Through a careful presentation of documentary evidence, Atta Akyea established that Adumuah had personally deposited two cheques, one for GHC 1 million and another for GHC 21 million, into UMB Bank account number 0241424233018, using paying-in slips dated March 18, 2020 and March 30, 2020 respectively. Both documents were admitted into evidence by the court as Exhibit 9 and Exhibit 10. Critically, Adumuah confirmed that she knew the account number into which the cheques were being deposited. She further acknowledged that she had made multiple withdrawals from the same UMB account on several dates, including June 24, June 29, July 8, August 18, and December 18, 2020, as well as February 19, 2021. She explained that these transactions were conducted on behalf of her boss, the first accused, Kwabena Adu-Boahene, with the assistance of a UMB Bank Relations Officer. When pressed on whether the withdrawals were made for National Security Special Operations expenditure, Adumuah stated that she did not know. She also said she could not recall engaging in WhatsApp communications with Adu-Boahene concerning National Security expenditure, a line of questioning that suggests further documentary evidence may be introduced as the cross-examination continues. A separate cheque of GHC 27,100,000 also featured in the proceedings. Adumuah confirmed she had written the cheque but said she did not know who had deposited it. She also confirmed that in preparing three cheques totalling GHC 49.1 million for the National Security Coordinator’s signature, she had raised no concerns, and that UMB Bank had similarly raised no objections or suspicions when the deposits were made. The case has been adjourned to April 16, 2026 at 12:00 pm, April 20, 2026 at 10:00 am, and April 21, 2026 at 12:00 pm for the continuation of cross-examination. With the defence yet to conclude its questioning of the second prosecution witness, and the prospect of further documentary evidence on the horizon, the trial shows no signs of losing momentum. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Cut Fuel Taxes Now, Windfall Oil Revenue Can Absorb the Cost — Former Finance Minister
A former Finance Minister and Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, has called on the government to reduce taxes on petroleum products, arguing that a windfall in oil revenues provides more than enough cushion to absorb the fiscal impact of such a move. The Karaga Member of Parliament made the remarks in a Facebook post on Friday, April 3, in direct response to rising fuel prices and mounting public pressure on the government to intervene. Dr Amin Adam was unequivocal: cutting petroleum levies would not derail the 2026 Budget, and the numbers, he argued, back that up. At the heart of his case is a significant gap between what the government projected and what it is actually earning from crude oil. The 2026 Budget was built on a benchmark crude oil price of $76.22 per barrel and an output projection of 37.95 million barrels. But actual prices have remained well above $100 per barrel for much of March, a divergence that has generated a substantial revenue upside for the country. “This means government is gaining additional windfall revenue of more than GH¢8 billion this year,” Dr Amin Adam stated, insisting that these extra inflows should be deployed to cushion Ghanaians against the rising cost of fuel rather than absorbed quietly into the national accounts. The former Finance Minister maintained that reducing petroleum levies is both necessary and fiscally sustainable under current market conditions. He urged the government to act promptly, emphasising that the additional oil revenue can fully compensate for any shortfall in fuel tax collections — effectively making the relief cost-neutral to the budget. With fuel prices having risen sharply following new National Petroleum Authority pricing guidelines, and with transport operators already threatening fare hikes, the pressure on the government to respond is intensifying. Dr Amin Adam’s intervention adds a pointed political dimension to the debate, framing tax relief not as a fiscal risk, but as a missed opportunity to translate Ghana’s oil fortunes into direct relief for ordinary citizens. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy Authority and NPA Sign MoU to Drive Round-the-Clock Petroleum Operations
Ghana has taken a significant step toward operationalising its 24-hour economy agenda, with the 24-Hour Economy Authority and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to expand round-the-clock operations across the country’s downstream petroleum sector. The agreement was signed in Accra on March 31, 2026, establishing a formal framework for operational readiness, security coordination, and institutional collaboration, all in service of the government’s broader economic transformation agenda. Under the terms of the MoU, the NPA will take the lead in developing and enforcing operational standards for 24-hour activities across the petroleum value chain. These standards will span a wide range of areas, including lighting, security, staffing, digital fuel monitoring, and fire safety at fuel stations, refineries, storage depots, and tanker operations. The 24-Hour Economy Authority, for its part, will coordinate broader support systems, overseeing the deployment of security agencies and driving cross-government collaboration to assist operators who receive certification under the new framework. Officials say the partnership is critical to ensuring a reliable and uninterrupted fuel supply as Ghana pushes forward with its 24-hour economy programme, which is anchored in expanding agro-processing, manufacturing, and logistics infrastructure nationwide. Presidential Adviser on the initiative, Augustus Goosie Tanoh, underscored that the programme is about more than simply keeping the lights on longer. It is designed, he said, to build industrial capacity and stimulate demand across key economic sectors, a structural shift, not just an extension of business hours. Implementation will begin with a nationwide pilot targeting approximately 10 percent of the downstream petroleum sector, with an immediate focus on security deployment. The initiative brings together a broad coalition of stakeholders, including petroleum industry groups, transport unions, and key state agencies such as the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Revenue Authority. Chief Executive of the NPA, Godwin Kudzo Tameklo, said the agreement squarely aligns the Authority’s regulatory mandate with the national development agenda. He stressed that clear and enforceable standards would be put in place to ensure safety, protect consumers, and safeguard critical infrastructure. The 24-hour economy programme, he added, forms part of a wider national strategy to boost productivity, promote value addition, and accelerate inclusive economic growth across Ghana. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
GPRTU Warns of Fare Hikes as Fuel Prices Surge, Government Urged to Act
Transport operators in Ghana are running out of patience, and options. Samuel Amoah, Deputy Industrial and Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), has issued a stern warning to authorities: act now or face the consequences of higher transport fares. Speaking to the media, Amoah acknowledged the government’s position that current economic pressures are beyond its immediate control, but made clear that transport operators cannot afford to absorb the rising costs indefinitely. “What the government and the president is saying is, it is something they can’t control right now, but the transport operators may be forced to,” he stated. The union has already moved beyond words. Amoah revealed that GPRTU issued a formal release giving the government a two-day window to respond with concrete action. “We came up with this release and gave the government two days to do something about it. If they fail to do [that]…then we have no option but to organise ourselves to request an increment of transport fares for our members,” he warned. The ultimatum comes against the backdrop of a sharp jump in fuel prices following new pricing guidelines issued by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA). For the April 1 to April 15 pricing window, the NPA has set minimum ex-pump prices at GHS 13.30 per litre for petrol and GHS 17.10 per litre for diesel. The figures represent a steep climb from the previous pricing window, which ended March 31, when petrol was pegged at GHS 11.57 per litre and diesel at GHS 14.35 per litre, increases of roughly 14.9% and 19.2%, respectively, within a single pricing cycle. The fuel price surge has been largely attributed to escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, which continue to rattle global oil markets and push crude prices higher. For transport operators already navigating tight margins, the latest price adjustments have pushed the sector to a breaking point. With the government yet to respond to the union’s demands, the clock is ticking. If no relief measures are forthcoming, Ghanaian commuters may soon find themselves digging deeper into their pockets at the bus stop. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana Declares Good Friday and Easter Monday as Public Holidays
The Ministry of the Interior has officially declared Friday, April 3, and Monday, April 6, 2026, as statutory public holidays, giving Ghanaians across the country the opportunity to fully observe the Easter season. The announcement was contained in a press release issued on March 30, in which the Ministry confirmed that the two dates mark the observance of Good Friday and Easter Monday, respectively. The Ministry called on the general public to recognize both days as public holidays throughout Ghana, in accordance with the country’s official holiday calendar. The declaration was signed by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, lending official weight to what is one of the most significant periods in the Christian calendar. Good Friday and Easter Monday hold deep religious meaning for Christians around the world. Good Friday commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, while Easter Monday celebrates his resurrection, together forming the cornerstone of the Christian faith. In Ghana, the holidays are widely marked with church services, religious processions, family gatherings, and vibrant community events that bring people together across the country. By making the declaration official, the Ministry ensures that citizens are not only free to rest from work, but are also able to fully participate in the spiritual and cultural observances that define the Easter period. With the holidays just days away, Ghanaians are being encouraged to make the most of the season. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Former Defence Procurement Chief Referred for Prosecution Over GH¢4.8M Vehicle Deal
The Public Accounts Committee has referred Frank Oliver Kpodo, former Director of Procurement at the Ministry of Defence, to the Attorney-General for prosecution in connection with the alleged purchase of six vehicles worth GH¢4.8 million. The matter came to a head following mounting pressure from Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, who called for Mr Kpodo’s immediate interdiction. At the heart of the controversy were allegations that falsified documents had been used in an attempt to procure the vehicles, intended for monitoring the 2024 general elections, raising serious red flags about the integrity of the transaction. The case had already attracted scrutiny from the Auditor-General, who disallowed store receipt vouchers valued at GH¢4.8 million during a special audit of government commitments and payables. The audit found that the vehicles in question were never supplied, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the procurement process. When Mr Kpodo, now serving as a procurement officer at the Ministry of Lands, appeared before the Committee on Tuesday, March 31, he offered an explanation that did little to ease tensions. He claimed the vehicles had initially been delivered but were subsequently removed amid concerns that payment might not be made. He added that he had later advised management to extend the contract agreement. His account, however, failed to satisfy Committee members. Mr Dafeamekpor was particularly scathing in his response, challenging Mr Kpodo on the whereabouts of the vehicles and the specifics of the deal. “You personalize the transactions, so they became your personal burden,” he said. “How many vehicles were involved? If you can’t tell us where the vehicles are, at least tell us how many there were. So for me, my demand is that the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources should interdict this man. He should be interdicted.” With the Committee unconvinced by Mr Kpodo’s explanation, the Ranking Member, Samuel Atta-Mills, moved swiftly, referring Mr Kpodo to the Attorney-General for prosecution, bringing the matter one step closer to a formal legal reckoning. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Best Year, Worst Year: The Story of How Ghana’s Anti-Corruption Office Fought to Stay Alive in 2025
The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) delivered some of its strongest operational results in 2025. And in the very same year, it came closer than ever to being wiped off the map. Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng laid this uncomfortable paradox bare at the National Dialogue on the Office of the Special Prosecutor on Tuesday, March 31, describing 2025 as a year the institution would not soon forget, for all the wrong reasons, and all the right ones. “2025 was our best year of performance; at the same time, it was our worst year of existential troubles,” he told the gathering. “Why should Kissi and a few officers of the Office of the Special Prosecutor always fight existential battles just to keep this office running?” It is a question that cuts to the heart of a deeper problem. An institution designed to pursue corruption at the highest levels of government found itself, in 2025, spending precious energy not on investigations, but on its own survival. The threat was real, and it came from within Parliament itself. In December 2025, Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga and Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor drafted a Private Member’s Bill seeking the outright repeal of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959). The bill’s memorandum argued that eight years of OSP operations had exposed deep structural and constitutional flaws, chief among them, a duplication of prosecutorial functions between the Special Prosecutor and the Attorney-General, which the drafters said had created institutional friction, overlapping mandates, and delays in criminal proceedings. In plain terms, some of Ghana’s most powerful lawmakers wanted the OSP gone. The bill did not advance. President John Dramani Mahama stepped in and requested that it be suspended, a move that, for now, kept the office breathing. But the episode left a mark. It demonstrated, with startling clarity, that the OSP’s existence is not guaranteed, and that its most persistent threats do not come from the corrupt, but from those with the power to change the law. Agyebeng, speaking from that experience, turned to civil society with both an appeal and a challenge. The OSP, he argued, cannot survive on the goodwill of presidents alone. It needs champions beyond the corridors of power, voices in communities, in boardrooms, and in the media, willing to defend it when politicians come calling with repeal bills and memorandums. “When I become the former Special Prosecutor, I want to look back and say: civil society forged this office and civil society preserved it,” he said. “It is your handiwork. Do not let it die.” The words carried the urgency of someone who has seen how quickly things can unravel. Ghana built the OSP to be a guardian of public accountability. In 2025, it needed to guard itself. The dialogue on Tuesday was, in many ways, a call to action, a reminder that anti-corruption institutions are only as strong as the public will that stands behind them. Whether that will prove strong enough remains, for now, an open question. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana’s Special Prosecutor Warns of Political Threats to His Office
He has spent years chasing corruption. Now, he says, the politicians are chasing him back. In a striking address that laid bare the fragile reality of Ghana’s anti-corruption architecture, Special Prosecutor Kissi Agyebeng stood before the National Dialogue on the Focus of the Special Prosecutor on Tuesday, March 31, and delivered a candid warning: the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) is under siege, not from criminals, but from the political class it was created to hold accountable. Speaking with unusual candour, Mr. Agyebeng revealed that the OSP’s continued existence owes much to the goodwill of President John Dramani Mahama, at a time when a bill reportedly drafted by the Majority in Parliament seeks to scrap the institution entirely. Without that presidential support, he suggested, the office might already be gone. “Politicians consider the OSP as bad news for their interests,” he said plainly, framing the institution not as a bureaucratic body but as a threat, one that powerful people have consistently sought to neutralise. It is a sobering picture. An office established to pursue corruption, now spending its energy defending its own right to exist. But Agyebeng’s message was not one of defeat. It was a rallying cry. He called on civil society and the broader Ghanaian public to become active defenders of the OSP, arguing that an anti-corruption institution cannot survive on the goodwill of any single president. Today’s ally, he implied, could be tomorrow’s adversary. The office needs something stronger and more durable than political favour; it needs constitutional protection. The Special Prosecutor made clear that what is at stake is not just the fate of one institution, but the integrity of Ghana’s long-term fight against corruption. An OSP that must constantly battle for its survival cannot fully focus on its mandate. And a mandate left unfulfilled means impunity left unchecked. “We must build this office for the ages,” he said, “so that future Special Prosecutors do not spend most of their time fighting for survival instead of executing their mandate.” The words landed with the weight of lived experience, a prosecutor who knows, perhaps better than anyone, how easily the tools of accountability can be dismantled by those with the most to lose from them. Ghana built the OSP to go after corruption. The question Agyebeng posed on Tuesday is whether Ghana has the will to protect it long enough to let it do just that. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana Eyes GH₵15.23 Billion From Home: Government Lays Out Ambitious Domestic Borrowing Plan
The government is not looking abroad for this one. In a structured and deliberate push to fund its 2026 budget and keep its debt obligations in check, Ghana is turning to its own domestic market, and it is going in big. Between March and June 2026, the government plans to raise GH₵15.23 billion from the domestic market, according to an issuance calendar published by the Bank of Ghana. The plan is detailed, purposeful, and sends a clear message: the government intends to finance its ambitions from within, while simultaneously bringing order and predictability to a market that has weathered significant turbulence in recent years. The funds, once raised, will serve a dual purpose, refinancing existing debt that is coming due and providing the financial fuel needed to keep the 2026 budget running. The targets are anchored in the Net Domestic Financing framework outlined in the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, giving the exercise both structure and accountability. For everyday investors and market participants, the mechanics are familiar. The government will continue its weekly issuance of 91-day, 182-day, and 364-day treasury bills through the primary auction market, short-term instruments that have long been a staple of Ghana’s domestic borrowing toolkit. But this time, authorities are signalling a deliberate shift in strategy. Consistent with its broader debt management goals, the government is actively seeking to wean itself off short-term borrowing. In its place, medium- to long-term bonds will be scaled up, a move designed to reduce rollover risk, extend the maturity profile of Ghana’s debt, and build a more stable foundation for public finance. Bond issuances, however, will not begin immediately. The Bank of Ghana noted that it will commence only after restrictions tied to the Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) expire, with settlement expected within two working days of each transaction. The DDEP, which reshaped Ghana’s domestic debt landscape, continues to cast a long shadow, but the government appears intent on moving forward carefully and within agreed boundaries. To further strengthen the market, the government also plans to reopen existing instruments. The strategy is aimed at boosting liquidity in the secondary market and helping to build out benchmark yield curves, technical tools that give investors a clearer picture of interest rate expectations across different time horizons. Taken together, the issuance calendar is more than a borrowing schedule. It is a statement of intent. The government has reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and predictability in the domestic debt market, signalling to investors that they can plan ahead with greater confidence. For a country that has spent recent years navigating one of the most difficult debt restructuring episodes in its history, the structured calendar represents a step toward stability, a sign that Ghana is not just borrowing, but borrowing with a plan. Source: Apexnewsgh.com