Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill Still in Play, Says Minister — Committee Meeting Set for April 23
The Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, popularly known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill, has not stalled, and it has not been shelved. That is the message from the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, who used Monday’s Government Accountability Series to offer the clearest public update yet on where the controversial legislation stands. According to the Minister, the bill is currently before Parliament’s Constitutional and Legal Committee, which is scheduled to meet on Thursday, April 23, to continue deliberations on it. Minister Ibrahim was emphatic on one point that has been at the centre of the public debate: this is not an executive bill. It is a private members’ initiative, introduced and driven by legislators, not the Presidency. He offered a candid account of how the bill was passed in Parliament, revealing that the process was not without its complications. “When it was time for the LGBTQ+ Bill to be passed, we were made up of four NDC MPs and four NPP MPs. But when we got to the venue, three of the NPP MPs ran away, leaving only one. So, we had to bring in an additional three NDC MPs to join us before the bill was passed,” he disclosed. The revelation underscores the cross-party nature of the bill’s passage, and, in the Minister’s view, strips away any basis for partisan point-scoring over it. “So, if a political party is saying that today they will take a political opportunity, that opportunity is gone,” he said pointedly. With some clergy groups reportedly planning demonstrations over what they perceive as delays in the bill receiving presidential assent, Ibrahim moved to redirect the frustration away from President John Dramani Mahama. “Let nobody bring the President in. It was we who introduced the bill,” he said firmly, adding that the President’s public remarks on the matter had been carefully considered and deserved to be heard in full context. “If you listen to his speech carefully, you will appreciate him for that,” the Minister said. Ibrahim made clear that he has been personally engaged at the highest levels to shepherd the bill through the process, meeting with the President, the Speaker of Parliament, and religious leaders who have raised concerns. “Pastors also come to me on the matter, and with that, I also know where we are,” he said, striking a tone of quiet confidence. “When you are in the field, you act, and not talk.” With the Constitutional and Legal Committee set to convene on April 23, the bill enters what could be a decisive phase of its legislative journey. Minister Ibrahim says he knows “every stage and every process”, a statement that suggests the bill’s path forward, while not without obstacles, is being actively managed. For the clergy groups, advocacy organisations, and members of the public watching closely on all sides of the debate, Thursday’s committee meeting will be the next significant moment to watch. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Bank of Ghana Clears the Air: Content Creator Earnings from Digital Platforms Are Legal Foreign Income
Ghanaian content creators monetising their work on platforms like X and other digital channels now have official clarity from the country’s central bank: their earnings are legitimate, they are recognised under Ghana’s foreign exchange framework, and they should be accessible without unnecessary friction. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) issued a statement clarifying that payouts received by Ghanaian creators from digital platforms qualify as service export proceeds, a classification that places them firmly within the bounds of permissible cross-border inflows under existing regulations. According to the central bank, content creators have two options for receiving their earnings. They may have funds paid into Foreign Exchange Accounts held with banks in Ghana, or alternatively, into cedi accounts, provided that all applicable regulatory requirements are met in either case. The clarification is significant. For creators who have long operated in a grey area of uncertainty about how their digital income should be treated, the Bank of Ghana has now drawn a clear line: these are legitimate earnings, and the system is designed to accommodate them. Despite the regulatory clarity, the Bank of Ghana acknowledged what many creators have experienced firsthand, actually accessing their funds has not always been straightforward. Reports of difficulties in receiving payouts have been a recurring frustration within Ghana’s growing creator community. The central bank, however, was careful to note that such challenges should not ordinarily arise when transactions are processed in accordance with established procedures. In other words, the framework exists; the problem, where it occurs, lies in how that framework is being applied on the ground. Rather than leaving creators to navigate the issue alone, the Bank of Ghana says it is actively engaging financial institutions and other relevant stakeholders to identify the root cause of the difficulties and ensure a prompt resolution. “The Bank appreciates the feedback received from affected persons,” the statement read, adding that “BoG is actively reviewing the matter and engaging with relevant institutions to identify the source of the issues and ensure prompt resolution.” The central bank also committed to keeping affected stakeholders informed throughout the process, a pledge that will be closely watched by creators who have been waiting for their earnings to flow freely. For Ghana’s digital creator economy, which has grown steadily alongside the global rise of content monetisation, Monday’s statement from the Bank of Ghana is a welcome development. The recognition of platform earnings as service exports not only legitimises the work of thousands of creators but also signals that the financial system is beginning to catch up with the realities of how income is earned in the digital age. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Court offers Chairman Wontumi Final Chance to File Defence in Illegal Mining Case
Bernard Antwi Bosiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, widely known as Chairman Wontumi, has been handed what amounts to a final opportunity to mount his defence in the Samreboi illegal mining case. But the path to that point on Monday, April 20, was anything but straightforward. Bosiako is standing trial over allegations that he permitted mining activities on his Akonta Mining concession in Samreboi without the required authorisation from the sector minister. After the prosecution closed its case, the court directed him to open his defence, outlining his options: testify in person, call witnesses, or make an unsworn statement. He was first instructed to file his witness statements by March 16, 2026. He did not. Instead, Bosiako filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal, challenging a submission of no case, and applied to the trial court to halt proceedings pending the outcome of that appeal. The application was rejected, and a new deadline of April 14, 2026, was set for the filing of witness statements, with a case management conference to follow. That deadline also passed without compliance. When the case was called at the High Court on Monday for the scheduled case management conference, Bosiako’s legal team had still not filed the witness statements. His lawyers informed the court that a fresh application seeking a stay of proceedings had been filed at the Court of Appeal, a repeat of the earlier move, and requested an adjournment until a ruling was delivered. The prosecution was having none of it. Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem-Sai rose to oppose the request, characterising it as a deliberate delay tactic. He argued that filing a repeat application does not automatically entitle an accused person to a stay of proceedings, and went further, urging the court to proceed to conviction on the grounds that Bosiako had effectively failed to mount any defence. Presiding judge Audrey Kocuvie-Tay declined the request for an adjournment. She ordered Bosiako to file his witness statements by May 5, 2026, ahead of a case management conference scheduled for May 7. She also made clear that proceedings would continue in the meantime, regardless of what happens at the Court of Appeal. It is a firm signal from the bench that the court will not allow the trial to be indefinitely stalled through procedural manoeuvres. For Chairman Wontumi, the May 5 deadline now looms as a critical moment, one that will determine whether he mounts a formal defence or leaves his fate increasingly in the hands of the court. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
From GH¢362 Million to GH¢5 Billion: How DACF Funding to District Assemblies Surged in 2025
The numbers tell a striking story. In 2024, Ghana’s Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) received just GH¢362 million from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF), a figure so low it raised serious questions about the viability of local governance and development across the country. One year later, that figure had ballooned to GH¢5 billion. The Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, laid out the details at the government’s Accountability Series on Monday, April 20, offering a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of how funds flowed to assemblies throughout 2025. The turnaround was not accidental. According to Minister Ibrahim, the 2025 disbursements were structured deliberately, designed to bring consistency and predictability to a funding system that had previously left assemblies starved of resources. The first quarter opened with a release of GH¢790,372,058.40, providing assemblies with a meaningful base to begin the year. The second quarter saw the figure more than double to GH¢1,464,983,309.60, reflecting a significant ramp-up in disbursements. The third quarter recorded GH¢1,188,921,640.80, a slight dip, but still a substantial allocation — before the fourth quarter closed the year on the highest note of all, with GH¢1,592,706,391.20 released to assemblies across the country. Together, the four quarters added up to a total of GH¢5 billion — a more than thirteen-fold increase on what was disbursed the year before. The increased releases, however, did not come without strings. Minister Ibrahim explained that the improved disbursements were tied to specific development obligations that every MMDA was expected to fulfil in return for accessing the funds. Each district was required to construct at least two Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds, three classroom blocks, and ten boreholes. Assemblies were also expected to make progress on completing ongoing legacy projects that had stalled under previous funding constraints. The conditions, in the Minister’s framing, were not punitive, they were purposeful. By linking funding to concrete deliverables, the government sought to ensure that the money translated into visible, tangible improvements in communities across the country. Beyond the standard development benchmarks, the government earmarked 25 percent of the Common Fund for a specific economic initiative: the development of 24-hour economy model markets. The allocation reflects the government’s broader agenda to stimulate economic activity at the local level and create jobs in communities that have long been bypassed by growth concentrated in urban centres. For Minister Ibrahim, the contrast between 2024 and 2025 is more than a set of figures; it is evidence of a deliberate policy shift toward taking local governance seriously. The question now is whether the momentum of 2025 can be sustained, and whether the assemblies that received the funds have delivered on the development commitments that came with them. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Bongo Paramount Chief Urges President to Fast-Track Bongo Solar Farm Amid Persistent Power Crisis in Upper East Region
The Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, has made a passionate appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to accelerate the development of a solar farm in Bongo, as residents of the Upper East Region continue to grapple with persistent and debilitating power fluctuations. The Chief made the call during an exclusive interview with Ngamegbulamm Chidozie Stephen of Apexnewsgh on Wednesday, using the platform to draw urgent attention to an electricity crisis that he says has gone on for far too long. For the people of the Upper East Region, the power situation has become a source of daily anguish. According to Naba Atamale Lemyaarum, residents have endured at least two weeks of erratic power supply, marked by constant fluctuations and outages that have disrupted livelihoods and daily life. The situation reached a troubling low just days before the interview, when the community spent an entire night without electricity. The following morning brought an alarming explanation: a substation had caught fire. “The load on our substation is too much,” the Paramount Chief said plainly, pointing to an overstretched power infrastructure that he believes is at the root of the region’s recurring electricity woes. Rather than simply lamenting the problem, Naba Atamale Lemyaarum offered a concrete solution, one that, in his view, has been sitting idle for over a decade. He called for a greater embrace of solar energy, arguing that the Upper East Region’s abundant sunshine is a resource that is being squandered. In his vision, solar power would serve domestic needs, while hydropower is preserved for more energy-intensive industrial uses such as factories and welding. “Solar energy will augment the hydropower,” he said. “With hydropower, we can use it for factories, welding and all that. But domestically, it will depend on solar power.” Central to the Chief’s appeal is a project that was announced with great fanfare more than a decade ago. In 2014, the Volta River Authority (VRA) acquired land in Bongo for the construction of a solar farm one that was described at the time as potentially the second largest solar farm in the whole of West Africa. Yet, years on, the project remains unfinished. While the Paramount Chief acknowledged that some work has been done, he expressed frustration at the pace of progress, describing implementation as “very slow.” It is against this backdrop that he directed his appeal to the President — a leader he spoke of with genuine admiration. “He is a man of wisdom and charisma, who is seeking to get the welfare of the people of this country,” Naba Atamale Lemyaarum said. But admiration, he made clear, does not diminish the urgency of the request. He pleaded with the President to direct the VRA to immediately prioritise the completion of the Bongo solar farm, arguing that doing so would provide the critical backup needed to end the cycle of power crises plaguing the region. The stakes of the power crisis extend beyond inconvenience. The Upper East Region is currently experiencing intense heat, and the combination of soaring temperatures and unreliable electricity, which limits access to fans and cooling, has compounded public health concerns, particularly around the risk of meningitis, a disease the region has historically been vulnerable to. For Naba Atamale Lemyaarum, the message to Accra is simple: the people of the Upper East Region cannot afford to wait much longer. The land is there, the sun is there, and the need has never been more pressing. What is required now is the political will to act. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Beware the Fake Job Offer: NACOC Sounds Alarm Over Recruitment Scams
If someone has promised you a job at the Narcotics Control Commission, do not pay a pesewa; it is a scam. That is the stark warning from the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), which has issued a public alert over a surge in fraudulent recruitment schemes falsely carried out in its name. The agency says it has not opened any hiring process, and that anyone claiming otherwise is lying. The scam follows a pattern that has become all too familiar in Ghana, fraudsters exploiting the names of credible state institutions to prey on unemployed youth desperate for work. By attaching themselves to a recognised agency like NACOC, these individuals and groups lend false legitimacy to their schemes, making it easier to deceive unsuspecting victims. In a statement issued on April 16, NACOC moved to cut through the deception. The Commission stated clearly that it had “not commenced any recruitment exercise” and that it had not authorised, contracted, or engaged any person or organisation to recruit on its behalf. At the centre of most of these scams is a familiar demand: money or personal information. NACOC specifically cautioned the public against complying with either. “The public is strongly advised not to pay money or provide personal details to anyone claiming to offer recruitment into the Commission,” the statement read. The agency was equally direct about the consequences for those running these schemes, warning that “persons involved in such fraudulent activities will be arrested and prosecuted.” NACOC’s message is simple: no legitimate recruitment from the Commission is currently underway, and no third party has been given the authority to hire on its behalf. Anyone approaching members of the public with such an offer is acting fraudulently. If you or someone you know has been approached by individuals claiming to offer jobs at NACOC, do not engage, and report it to the appropriate authorities. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
OSP’s Prosecutorial Powers Are Legally Sound — Ace Ankomah
The question of whether the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has the legal authority to prosecute cases has stirred considerable debate in Ghana’s legal and political circles. Now, one of the country’s prominent legal practitioners has entered the conversation, and his position is clear: the OSP’s prosecutorial powers are not only valid, but they are firmly rooted in Ghana’s Constitution and statutory law. Ace Kojo Anan Ankomah, in a detailed commentary, anchored his argument in the text of Ghana’s Constitution itself. He pointed out that the Constitution permits criminal prosecutions to be conducted “at the suit of the Attorney-General”, a phrase he argued carries a broader meaning than it might first appear. To Mr. Ankomah, acting “at the suit of the Attorney-General” does not simply mean the Attorney-General must personally initiate every case. It also encompasses institutions and individuals acting on the Attorney-General’s behalf, a distinction that, in his view, is critical to understanding the OSP’s mandate. While the Attorney-General retains ultimate prosecutorial authority under the Constitution, Mr. Ankomah noted that Parliament has passed laws enabling that authority to be delegated, provided the delegation is carried out in accordance with the law. He argued that this condition has been fully satisfied. The OSP Act, together with supporting legislative instruments including LI 2374, explicitly empowers the OSP to determine whether to prosecute cases following its investigations. In his assessment, these instruments provide all the legal scaffolding the OSP needs to act independently within its defined mandate. Mr. Ankomah also drew attention to the process through which the OSP was established, arguing that it adds further constitutional weight to the office’s authority. The Special Prosecutor is nominated by the Attorney-General, appointed by the President, and approved by Parliament — a three-stage process that, he contended, embeds multiple layers of legal and constitutional legitimacy into the institution from the outset. Given this framework, Mr. Ankomah argued that requiring additional prosecutorial authorisation for the OSP to act would be both unnecessary and redundant. The authority, he maintained, is already well established under existing statutes and regulations. Despite his confidence in the legal foundation of the OSP’s powers, Mr. Ankomah acknowledged that the debate is unlikely to be resolved through commentary alone. He suggested that the matter will, in all probability, find its way to the Supreme Court of Ghana and that it may ultimately be the judiciary that delivers a definitive ruling on the question. Beyond the immediate legal debate, Mr. Ankomah used the opportunity to advocate for a more fundamental structural reform. He proposed a constitutional amendment that would remove prosecutorial powers entirely from the Executive branch and vest them in an independent body, one that would combine the functions of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the OSP. In his view, such a reform would not only resolve the current ambiguity but would also insulate Ghana’s prosecution machinery from political influence, strengthening the rule of law in the long run. For now, however, the debate continues, and with the Supreme Court potentially waiting in the wings, the final chapter of this legal saga is yet to be written. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Government to Sacrifice GH¢200 Million in Revenue to Keep Fuel Prices Down
The government is prepared to walk away from an estimated GH¢200 million in revenue, and it says it has no regrets about it. The sacrifice, officials insist, is the price of putting citizens first in the face of relentless global fuel price pressures. Spokesperson for the Ministry of Energy, Richmond Rockson, disclosed on Wednesday, April 15, while speaking to the media about the government’s decision to reduce fuel prices at the pump. The intervention, he explained, was taken deliberately and with full awareness of its cost to the national purse, at a time when international petroleum prices are already trending sharply upward. Rockson pointed to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East as the primary force driving global crude oil prices higher, noting that the ripple effects have been felt acutely in Ghana, where ex-pump prices have climbed steadily in recent weeks. Against that backdrop, he said, the President and Cabinet made a conscious choice to absorb the pain on behalf of Ghanaians rather than pass it on to consumers. “This will lead to a net loss of about GH¢200 million that could have accrued to the government, but it is a necessary sacrifice to bring relief to the people of Ghana,” Rockson stated plainly. The practical effect of that sacrifice becomes visible at the pump from April 16, 2026, when the government begins absorbing GH¢2.00 per litre on diesel and GH¢0.36 per litre on petrol in the upcoming pricing window. The relief is targeted squarely at households, transport operators, and businesses, groups that have borne the brunt of rising fuel costs in recent months. The measure, approved by Cabinet, is set to run for one month. During that period, authorities will keep a close eye on developments in the global oil market and determine whether the situation warrants further action. A statement issued by the Presidency on Wednesday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to price stability, the protection of livelihoods, and the broader goal of sustaining Ghana’s economic recovery amid persistent external headwinds. It is a significant financial concession, and the government is making clear it views it not as a loss, but as an investment in the welfare of its people. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Government Slashes Fuel Prices by Up to GH¢2 Per Litre in One-Month Relief Measure
Ghanaians will pay less at the pump starting April 16, 2026, after the government announced a temporary reduction in fuel costs aimed at easing the financial strain on households, transport operators, and businesses across the country. In a statement released by the Presidency on Wednesday, April 15, the government revealed it will absorb GH¢2.00 per litre on diesel and GH¢0.36 per litre on petrol, an intervention approved by Cabinet and set to take effect in the next pricing window. The move comes in direct response to rising petroleum prices on the international market, which have steadily pushed up ex-pump prices in Ghana over recent weeks, squeezing consumers and operators already navigating a tough economic environment. The relief measure, however, comes with a clear expiry date. The government has indicated it will remain in place for one month, during which authorities will closely monitor global oil price trends and assess whether further adjustments are necessary. It is a calculated, cautious approach, one that signals a willingness to intervene without making open-ended commitments in an unpredictable global market. Beyond the immediate price cut, the government used the announcement to reaffirm its broader commitment to maintaining price stability, protecting livelihoods and supporting Ghana’s economic recovery in the face of mounting external pressures. For millions of Ghanaians, from commuters and market traders to long-haul truck drivers and small business owners, the reduction offers a moment of respite. Whether it translates into lasting relief will depend, in no small part, on how the next four weeks unfold on the world’s oil markets. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Transport Operators Hold Off on Fare Hikes as Government Steps In to Cushion Fuel Costs
Ghanaian commuters can breathe a temporary sigh of relief. Road transport operators have officially announced a suspension of planned fare increases, following emergency government interventions designed to cushion the impact of soaring petroleum prices on drivers and the travelling public. In a joint press release issued on April 15, 2026, the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and the Ghana Road Transport Coordinating Council (GRTCC) acknowledged the severe operational pressures brought on by rising global crude oil prices, pressures they attributed in large part to the ongoing US–Israel–Iran conflict, which has sent shockwaves through international energy markets. The announcement comes in the wake of an emergency Cabinet meeting held on April 9, 2026, during which the Government of Ghana moved swiftly to contain the fallout. Among the measures agreed upon were the reduction and suspension of specific margins on petroleum products during the upcoming pricing window, as well as collaborative discussions with the Ministry of Transport aimed at stabilising prices for both the general public and transport operators. For the transport unions, the government’s response was enough, for now, to pull back from the brink of a fare increase that would have added yet another burden to ordinary Ghanaians already navigating a difficult economic climate. The GPRTU and GRTCC expressed confidence that the interventions, if sustained, would deliver meaningful relief to drivers struggling with the day-to-day cost of keeping their vehicles on the road. In the meantime, the leadership of both unions has called on all transport operators across the country to hold the line, urging them to refrain from imposing any fare increases while the effectiveness of the government’s measures is carefully monitored. The press release was signed by Mr. Godfred Abulbire, General Secretary of the GPRTU, and Mr. Emmanuel Ohene Yeboah, General Secretary of the GRTCC, both of whom reaffirmed their organisations’ commitment to the welfare of drivers and commuters alike. Looking ahead, the operators made clear that the current calm is contingent on broader conditions improving. They expressed hope for a swift resolution to the international conflicts that continue to destabilise global oil markets, warning that lasting pricing stability in Ghana ultimately depends on the restoration of order in the world’s energy supply chains. For now, the fare freeze holds, but the operators have made it equally clear that they are watching closely, and that their patience is tied directly to the government’s ability to deliver on its promises. Source: Apexnewsgh.com