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The Builsa North Municipal office of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIS), in collaboration with the regional NHIS Office, staged a vibrant outreach campaign at the Sandema market to raise awareness about digital access to health insurance services.

Dubbed the *“STORM Campaign,”* the initiative aimed to educate residents, traders, and market-goers on the benefits and usage of the *MyNHIS App* and the NHIS short code services.

Municipal NHIS Manager Sunday Akpitipola emphasized that the campaign was designed to bridge the digital gap and empower residents to manage their health insurance conveniently.

“With the MyNHIS App and the *929# short code, residents can renew their membership, check validity, and access services without visiting our offices,” he said.

As the Storm Campaign continues, the manager encourages all residents to participate and take advantage of the digital tools available to them.

The Storm Campaign is a vital step in ensuring that our community understands the benefits of the NHIS and how to leverage technology for better health outcomes. We are committed to making health insurance accessible to everyone in the Builsa North Municipality,” said the Municipal Director of NHIS.

The campaign also addressed common misconceptions about digital services and emphasized data privacy, assuring users that personal health information is securely protected.

This “Storm Campaign” is part of a nationwide push by the NHIS to digitize service delivery and bridge the urban-rural technology gap. The Builsa North office plans to replicate the model in smaller communities and schools across the municipality in the coming weeks.

Source: Apexnewsgh.com

A heated debate has erupted in Parliament following calls by Gomoa Central MP, Kwame Obeng-Asare (A-Plus), for the removal of Abena Osei Asare as Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

A-Plus petitioned Speaker Alban Bagbin, arguing that Ms. Osei Asare, having previously served as Deputy Minister of Finance, should not preside over inquiries into matters that occurred during her own tenure. He described the situation as “an insult to the intelligence of the Ghanaian people” and asserted that, “We must not allow those who presided over financial irregularities to sit in judgment over them.”

However, Mpraeso MP Davis Opoku has publicly challenged A-Plus’s assertions, calling them “deeply misguided, both in law and in principle.” In a detailed Facebook rebuttal, Opoku maintained that the integrity of the Public Accounts Committee remains intact under Osei Asare’s leadership. He clarified that her appointment followed the due parliamentary process, with the Committee of Selection and approval by the full House.

Opoku cited Article 93(2) of the 1992 Constitution and relevant Standing Orders, explaining that Parliament has full oversight authority and that committee chairpersons are appointed transparently. He further noted that the PAC’s role is to examine Auditor-General’s reports and ensure accountability, with current officials representing state institutions, not necessarily being responsible for past irregularities.

To ensure impartiality, Opoku pointed out that the Standing Orders allow the Ranking Member to preside when the Chairperson’s party is in government. “Accountability in Parliament is not personal; it is institutional. Our democracy depends on protecting that principle,” he concluded.

The debate underscores the ongoing tension within Parliament over issues of accountability, oversight, and the mechanisms for ensuring transparent governance.

See his formal petition below:

Source: Apexnewsgh.com

President John Dramani Mahama has taken a decisive step towards ensuring accountability in the management of the 13th All-Africa Games by directing the Auditor-General to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit of all financial and operational aspects surrounding the event.

The order follows the submission of a report by the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) on the organization and management of the Games. According to the President, the audit should cover several key areas, including procurement and contracting processes, financial management and expenditure control, infrastructure and project delivery, asset management and post-Games utilization, as well as institutional oversight and coordination.

Specifically, the review will scrutinize how contractors and suppliers were selected, compliance with the Public Procurement Act (Act 663), all funding sources and expenditures, the delivery and value-for-money of facilities developed, and the current status of assets acquired for the Games. The effectiveness of the various oversight agencies and committees involved will also be evaluated.

President Mahama has instructed the Auditor-General to submit the audit report by the second week of December 2025. This directive, he emphasized, is part of his government’s ongoing commitment to accountability, transparency, and ensuring that public resources are managed prudently for the benefit of all Ghanaians.

Source: Apexnewsgh.com

Ghana’s pensions sector is set for a new era of stability following a breakthrough in the long-standing financial standoff between the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and the National Pensions Regulatory Authority (NPRA).

Deputy Minister for Finance, Mr. Thomas Nyarko Ampem, announced the development on his Facebook page, sharing that SSNIT has begun meeting its full financial obligations to the NPRA after years of delayed or deferred payments. This progress comes after intensive negotiations between the two institutions, culminating in SSNIT’s agreement to a quarterly payment schedule that will ensure regular and predictable transfers to the pensions regulator.

“I am happy to report that this situation has been successfully resolved. SSNIT has already made two complete quarterly payments this year, demonstrating its renewed commitment to compliance and to the stability of Ghana’s pensions regulatory framework,” Mr. Ampem stated.

The resolution is being hailed as a significant step toward strengthening Ghana’s pensions administration system, promoting greater transparency, accountability, and financial discipline. The Deputy Minister commended both SSNIT and NPRA for their cooperation, emphasizing that the government remains dedicated to fostering institutional harmony in the pensions sector to safeguard the retirement benefits of workers nationwide.

Mr. Ampem added that the Ministry of Finance will continue to monitor compliance to maintain the progress achieved and ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the nation’s pensions ecosystem.

Source: Apexnewsgh.com

The fight against illegal mining, locally known as galamsey, has taken a troubling turn, leaving many Ghanaians worried about the government’s ability to restore order.

On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Alfred Thompson, a member of the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) Communications Team, voiced his deep frustration during a Breakfast Daily interview.

He described the ongoing struggle against galamsey as a national security threat that seems to be slipping beyond the government’s grasp.

“It’s sad that day upon day, year upon year, we come back, we sit here all the time, we talk about galamsey and government upon government, we can’t fight it. It is really becoming sad, and to me, it is a national security issue. It is a national security issue and the people who will fight it are been fighting. We are in trouble,” Thompson lamented.

His remarks followed a violent incident on Saturday, November 1, 2025, in Hwidiem. The Director of Operations of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAIMOS) and his team were attacked after they arrested two men for illegal mining and seized vehicles and equipment from a mining site near the town. The arrests sparked outrage, leading residents to besiege the local police station and demand the release of the suspects and impounded property.

Allegations have surfaced that Ebenezer Kwaku Addo, the Member of Parliament for Asutifi North, incited the mob and obstructed the NAIMOS task force during the confrontation. In response, the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has invited Mr. Addo to assist with ongoing investigations.

The incident has reignited debate over the effectiveness of the government’s anti-galamsey efforts, with many calling for stronger measures to protect those enforcing the law.

Source: Apexnewsgh.com

As the world marked the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Albert Kwabena Dwumfuor, stepped before reporters with a message of urgent concern.

Clutching a well-worn folder containing the latest draft of the Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, Mr. Dwumfuor’s voice resonated with the weight of his responsibility: to protect the constitutional rights of journalists and citizens alike.

“We support Ghana’s efforts to bolster its cybersecurity framework,” he began, “but the amendments must strike a fair balance between national security and the freedoms we hold dear.” His caution was clear, certain provisions in the bill, if left unchanged, could pose a serious threat to press freedom and free expression.

Mr. Dwumfuor called for broad engagement, public consultation, and education so that every sector affected by the bill could contribute to its refinement. “If what the amendment seeks to cure will worsen the cyber ecosystem, then we must tread cautiously,” he warned, urging lawmakers not to rush the process without adequate stakeholder involvement.

He reminded his audience that the media is an indispensable pillar of Ghana’s democracy. Any attempt to limit its freedom, even under the noble cause of cybersecurity reform, he argued, would undermine the nation’s commitment to transparency and accountability.

Reaffirming the GJA’s unwavering commitment, Mr. Dwumfuor declared, “The GJA and the media will always seek to protect these guaranteed rights and ensure that they are not taken from us.”

He called on Parliament to engage journalists, digital rights advocates, civil society organisations, and technology experts in shaping the final legislation, so that it promotes responsible digital behaviour without compromising fundamental freedoms.

The Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aims to address emerging online threats, enhance regulatory oversight, and align Ghana with global best practices. Yet, concerns remain: sections of the media, the minority in parliament, and civil society have all raised red flags about the risk of government overreach and the potential misuse of the law against journalists and dissenting citizens.

As the debate continues, Mr. Dwumfuor’s message echoes: only through inclusive dialogue can Ghana secure both its digital future and its cherished freedoms

Source: Apexnewsgh.com

With the 2026 national budget just weeks away, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has sounded a note of caution to Ghana’s government: resist the temptation to return too soon to international capital markets, or risk derailing the country’s fragile economic recovery.

Speaking in an interview with Channel One TV, Dr. Adrian Alter, the IMF’s Resident Representative in Ghana, urged the government to be extremely prudent in its financing decisions. He emphasized the importance of seeking concessional loans from global partners such as the World Bank, African Development Bank, and the IMF itself, rather than risking expensive borrowing on the international markets.

Dr. Alter explained that despite a slight improvement in global financial conditions, Ghana would still face interest rates exceeding 10 percent due to its current credit rating. “We have advised the government to be extremely prudent, not to go back to the same mistakes with excessive borrowing in the past,” he said. “When you have available concessional financing from multilateral agencies like the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and the IMF itself, you shouldn’t go to international markets where interest rates are currently extremely pricey.”

The IMF’s advice comes as borrowing costs remain prohibitive for emerging economies like Ghana, making a return to the Eurobond market particularly risky. Dr. Alter pointed out that Ghana, under its IMF-supported program, is subject to strict limits on new external borrowing to maintain debt sustainability. The country is expected to keep a financing mix of about 70 percent domestic and 30 percent external borrowing, following IMF agreements and debt sustainability frameworks.

Efforts are also underway to strengthen Ghana’s domestic market. “On the domestic market, we’ve worked closely with the government to start lengthening the maturity of its bonds beyond one year. We hope that at the start of next year, conditions will be in place for the domestic bond market to reopen,” Dr. Alter noted.

Ghana has been unable to access international capital markets since its 2022 debt default, when the government suspended payments on most external debt to stabilize the economy. This move hurt investor confidence and cut off the country from new borrowing opportunities.

Currently, Ghana is implementing a $3 billion IMF-supported program aimed at restoring macroeconomic stability. After years of growing deficits, rising debt, and soaring inflation, the country was forced to restructure its debt in 2023. The IMF program is designed to bring public debt to sustainable levels, rebuild foreign reserves, and promote inclusive growth.

Source: Apexnewsgh.com

The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has intensified its investigation into the controversial Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA)–Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML) revenue assurance contract, summoning three of the GRA’s most senior officials to appear before investigators.

The Commissioner-General of the GRA, Anthony Sarpong, Assistant Commissioner for Finance, Celestine Annan, and Technical Assistant to the Commissioner-General, Kenneth Agyei-Duah, have all been directed to present themselves to the OSP as part of the ongoing probe. The summons follows the recent arrest of Freeman Sarbah, the Acting Head of Legal Affairs at the GRA, who was detained on Monday, November 3, 2025, over allegations of corruption and obstruction of justice linked to the same contract.

According to OSP sources, the three senior officials were summoned after revelations that they allegedly instructed Mr. Sarbah to issue a letter to SML’s lawyers at the company’s request in mid-October. Investigators believe the correspondence may have significant implications for the inquiry. This is reportedly the second time both the Commissioner-General and the Assistant Commissioner for Finance have been invited, as their earlier statements appear to contradict the contents of the letter in question.

Both Anthony Sarpong and Kenneth Agyei-Duah previously worked with KPMG, the auditing firm that was tasked with reviewing SML Ghana’s operations at the direction of former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The GRA–SML contract, which engaged SML Ghana to provide revenue assurance services in the downstream petroleum sector and other areas, has attracted intense scrutiny amid allegations of inflated costs, procurement irregularities, and questionable contractual terms. Following public outcry, the OSP opened an investigation to determine whether the contract involved conflicts of interest, abuse of office, or violations of procurement laws.

The probe has since expanded to include several top officials at both the GRA and the Ministry of Finance. The Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng, has signaled that the office is preparing to prosecute several high-profile individuals implicated in the scandal by the end of November 2025. Those expected to face charges include former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, former GRA Commissioner-Generals Dr. Ammishaddai Owusu-Amoah and Emmanuel Kofi Nti, and other senior officials and advisers linked to the Finance Ministry.

Preliminary findings from the OSP’s investigation reportedly point to corruption, abuse of office, and serious procurement breaches in the award and execution of the SML contracts, originally intended to enhance government revenue mobilisation.

The OSP has reiterated its commitment to ensuring accountability and safeguarding public resources, warning that any individuals found culpable will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. As the investigation deepens, the nation awaits further revelations and the possible prosecution of some of Ghana’s most senior public officials.

Source: Apexnewsgh.com