The Deputy Minister for Defence, Mr. Ernest Brogya Genfi, took centre stage as Guest of Honour at the opening ceremony of the Challenges Annual Forum 2025, held at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC) in Accra. The prestigious three-day event, running from Tuesday, October 14 to Thursday, October 16, 2025, is themed “Adapt and Advance: Renewing the Impact of Peace Operations.” This year’s forum has assembled leading peacekeeping practitioners, policy experts, and academics from around the world for high-level discussions on the latest trends and emerging challenges in international peace operations. The gathering serves as a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange and collaboration, focused on exploring new strategies to enhance the effectiveness and relevance of peace missions in today’s increasingly complex global security environment. Organisers anticipate that the insights and recommendations from the forum will help shape future policy directions and foster greater international cooperation in peacekeeping and conflict resolution. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

The Minority in Parliament has called for an immediate suspension of the ongoing restructuring process involving AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana, raising concerns that the move could undermine national interests if it proceeds without thorough parliamentary oversight. At a press briefing in Accra on Wednesday, October 15, Matthew Nyindam, Ranking Member on the Communications Committee, emphasized that the proposed transaction is about much more than business. “This is not merely about the sale of a company,” Nyindam stated. “It is about protecting national institutions that have served Ghana diligently, nurtured some of the finest talents in the industry, and proved their strategic importance in moments of national crisis.” Nyindam urged government officials, policymakers, industry experts, and the public to take decisive action to keep AT Ghana in Ghanaian ownership, stressing its significance to the country’s digital and economic future. “We must act decisively to ensure that AT remains in the hands of Ghanaians and continues to serve customers of our digital and economic future,” he added. The Minority is demanding: An immediate halt to the restructuring or consolidation process A comprehensive parliamentary inquiry into the transaction Full disclosure of all agreements, correspondence, and reports Release of all transactional advice, including recommendations from AFROTEX/Rektron A thorough financial assessment of AT Ghana to resolve the underlying issues Nyindam insisted that Parliament must not be bypassed in such a consequential decision. “Any decision regarding the future of AT must be subject to full parliamentary scrutiny,” he said. Meanwhile, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, has clarified that the restructuring is not a merger or acquisition but a response to a force majeure condition, and has assured stakeholders that jobs and customer interests will be protected. Despite these assurances, the Minority maintains that transparency and accountability must drive the process, insisting that all actions regarding AT Ghana’s future must withstand the highest level of legislative examination. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has announced a nationwide suspension of all fines issued by its Compliance Team on Ghana’s roads, effective Wednesday, October 15, 2025. The suspension is set to last until further notice. This decision follows weeks of intensified enforcement operations by the DVLA aimed at ensuring strict adherence to legal and regulatory requirements by drivers and vehicles. However, after receiving public feedback and conducting internal consultations, the Authority has opted to temporarily halt the exercise in order to facilitate broader engagement with stakeholders. In a statement released on October 14, the DVLA reaffirmed its commitment to road safety but acknowledged the need for more comprehensive public education on the responsibilities and consequences of non-compliance. “This suspension relates specifically to the fees that were being enforced by the Compliance Team,” the statement clarified. “It does not suspend the legal requirements for drivers and vehicles to operate on Ghana’s roads.” The Authority assured the public that the pause is intended to foster further dialogue before the compliance initiative is reintroduced. Meanwhile, all drivers and vehicle owners are reminded to continue observing road safety laws and regulations. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

Ghana’s total revenue and grants for the first half of 2025 reached GH¢116.2 billion, marking a robust 22.9 percent year-on-year increase. However, this figure fell 5.5 percent short of the government’s ambitious GH¢122.9 billion target, according to the Bank of Ghana’s September 2025 Monetary Policy Report. The report attributed the shortfall to underperformance across several key tax lines, even as some sectors outperformed expectations. Non-oil tax revenue missed its target by 0.2 percent, while Pay-As-You-Earn (PAYE) collections fell 3.5 percent below target, largely due to reduced payments from the mining sector following the appreciation of the cedi. On the positive side, corporate tax collections exceeded expectations by 2.8 percent, buoyed by improved performance in the mining and financial sectors. Domestic VAT, the GETFund Levy, and the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL) also surpassed their respective targets, reflecting stronger consumer spending amid easing prices. In contrast, taxes related to imports suffered notable setbacks. The strengthened cedi reduced import values, causing import duties to fall short by GH¢1.9 billion, a 13 percent decline. The import components of VAT, GETFund, and NHIL also failed to meet targets, missing by 3.8 percent, 4.6 percent, and 5.2 percent, respectively. One of the standout performers was the Communications Service Tax, which exceeded its target by 66.3 percent (GH¢400 million), driven by increased gross revenues and stronger collections from prepaid credit sales by a major telecom operator. Despite the overall strong performance, crude oil receipts underperformed by 42.7 percent, falling GH¢4.4 billion short of target due to delayed corporate income tax payments and exchange rate effects. Grants also missed projections by GH¢553 million, primarily because of non-disbursed project grants from development partners. While the data highlights resilience and improved buoyancy in Ghana’s revenue performance, the report emphasizes that sustained efforts in tax compliance, revenue diversification, and collection efficiency remain essential to meeting fiscal targets and maintaining macroeconomic stability. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

The Ghana Police Service, through the Cybercrime Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), has dismantled a network of fraudsters operating fake online food delivery platforms, leading to the arrest of ten individuals suspected of defrauding customers nationwide. The first six suspects, Wonder Sakpiti, Sedinam Amaglo, Godsway Dunyo, Angela Agblemekpe, Mathew Aheto, and Fafali Amoah, were apprehended on 1st October 2025 during a targeted operation in Sogakope following weeks of surveillance. Police investigations revealed the group’s involvement in creating counterfeit websites and social media pages impersonating popular food brands such as Papaye, Pizzaman, KFC, and Mawarko. Unsuspecting customers who placed orders through these fake platforms were asked to make advance payments via mobile money but never received their food. Further investigations uncovered that some victims lost additional funds after the suspects gained unauthorized access to their mobile money and bank accounts, all under the pretense of assisting with payment issues. Digital devices believed to have been used in the fraudulent scheme were seized and are undergoing forensic analysis. A follow-up operation on 12th October 2025 led to the arrest of the alleged ringleader, Elijah Sotama Etse, alias Pop Smoke, along with three accomplices, Elliot Sotama Atsu, Jethro Atsu, and Obed Selasi Agboli, at their hideout in Haatso, Accra. Police also retrieved twelve mobile phones for further evidence. All ten suspects are in custody and expected to be arraigned before court today, Monday, 13th October 2025. The Ghana Police Service is urging anyone who may have fallen victim to these scams to report to the nearest police station to aid ongoing investigations. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

In a standout moment for impactful storytelling in Ghana’s Upper East Region, Halidu Dasmani of ADOM TV has been named the Best Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Journalist at the 4th Upper East Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards 2025. The award recognizes Dasmani’s dedication to shedding light on critical issues affecting communities across the region. The GJA Awards, a platform for celebrating journalistic excellence, highlighted Dasmani’s work in SRHR journalism as a beacon of informative and impactful reporting. His win underscores the growing importance of covering topics that touch on the health and rights of individuals, particularly in regions where access to information can drive meaningful change. Dasmani’s award-winning work was recognized among a pool of talented journalists in the Upper East Region. The award ceremony, supported by the SHARE Project—a collaborative effort by organizations like Right to Play, thi360, and WaterAid—emphasized the role of journalism in promoting health and rights awareness. “Covering SRHR topics isn’t just about reporting news, it’s about giving voice to the vulnerable and informing communities about rights that can transform lives,” Dasmani said in a statement following the win. Halidu Dasmani’s recognition at the 4th Upper East GJA Awards adds to ADOM TV’s reputation for producing impactful journalism. As SRHR continues to be a vital area of focus for communities and media alike, Dasmani’s win signals the importance of dedicated reporting in these spaces. Source: Apexnewsgh.com