Ghana’s GoldBod Praised for Bolstering Cedi, Boosting Reserves, and Setting Benchmark for Africa
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has attributed the nation’s impressive conservation of foreign exchange and the surge in gold-backed inflows to the efficient operations of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod). Speaking on the agency’s growing influence, Dr. Forson highlighted that GoldBod—established to regulate and promote Ghana’s gold sector—has become a game-changer for the country’s economy, playing a crucial role in the Cedi’s strong performance this year. In April, Ghana’s currency was ranked the world’s best-performing, appreciating by 16.7% against the U.S. dollar and gaining both domestic and international recognition. The Finance Minister explained that GoldBod’s centralized procurement and export strategy has helped plug foreign exchange leakages and contributed significantly to stabilizing the Cedi. These efforts have also supported the Bank of Ghana’s drive to rebuild the country’s foreign reserves, which now stand at the equivalent of four and a half months of import cover—a dramatic turnaround from the lows of the 2022 economic crisis. As of September 2025, Ghana’s gold reserves had risen to 37.06 tonnes, thanks mainly to GoldBod’s domestic purchasing framework. Governor Johnson Asiamah told Reuters that GoldBod’s operations have strengthened investor confidence by boosting foreign reserves and enhancing the country’s fiscal credibility. Dr. Forson added that the resulting improvements in Ghana’s FX buffer have attracted renewed capital inflows and bolstered the nation’s economic resilience. Ghana’s GoldBod model is now gaining continental recognition. In October, finance ministers from Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Sudan, and Ghana, along with AfDB President Dr. Sidi Ould Tah, praised the initiative during a high-level meeting in Washington, D.C., on the sidelines of the 2025 IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings. The meeting commended Ghana’s approach to natural resource governance, singling out GoldBod’s positive impact on gold trading and certification. Since its establishment in March, GoldBod has delivered around $8 billion in inflows by centralizing gold purchases and exports, ensuring that foreign currency earnings from the sector benefit Ghana directly. The GoldBod model continues to attract interest from other African nations eager to emulate Ghana’s success in gold resource management and institutional reform. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Government Delegation Consoles Families of El-Wak Stadium Stampede Victims
The Deputy Minister for Defence, Mr. Ernest Brogya Genfi, on Thursday led a high-level government delegation to visit and console the families of those who lost their lives in the tragic El-Wak Stadium stampede. Mr. Brogya Genfi was joined on the visit by the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo; the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey; and several other senior government officials. The visit formed part of the government’s ongoing efforts to commiserate with the bereaved families and provide much-needed emotional and logistical support during this difficult time. Speaking on behalf of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, Mr. Brogya Genfi described the stampede as a “deeply unfortunate tragedy” that has left the entire nation in mourning. He reaffirmed the government’s strong commitment to stand by the affected families and assured them that they would not be left to bear their painful loss alone. “The government stands with you in these trying moments,” Mr. Brogya Genfi stated, adding that further arrangements and support measures would be communicated to the families in due course. The government has indicated that additional announcements will be made as investigations continue and support interventions are finalised. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
President Mahama Commissions Expanded Tema Port, Hailing It as a Game-Changer for West African Trade
President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, November 13, 2025, officially commissioned the newly expanded Tema Port, describing the multibillion-dollar development as “one of the most ambitious infrastructure projects in Africa’s maritime sector” and a major milestone in cementing Ghana’s role as the gateway to West Africa. The ceremony celebrated the completion of phases one and two of the landmark public–private partnership between Meridian Port Services (MPS), APM Terminals, and other international partners. President Mahama highlighted the innovative financing model behind the project, which required no government funding and demonstrated Ghana’s capacity to attract private capital for national development. Addressing key stakeholders, President Mahama emphasized that the expanded facility signified more than just improved infrastructure. “This project is more than a Ghanaian achievement. It is an African statement,” he declared, underscoring the port’s strategic role in enhancing regional trade, particularly under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose secretariat is based in Accra. With enhanced capacity, deeper berths, and advanced operational systems, the new Tema Port is now the preferred first-call terminal for major shipping lines entering the Gulf of Guinea. Mother vessels can offload containers in Tema, which are then redistributed to ports in Monrovia, Freetown, Dakar, Douala, and other West African destinations. The upgrade also reinforces Ghana’s position as the primary transit hub for landlocked neighbours Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.+ The expansion has generated thousands of jobs during both construction and ongoing operations, boosting a wide range of supporting industries including logistics, transportation, warehousing, engineering, hospitality, and maintenance. President Mahama noted the project’s ripple effects, stating it had spurred “enterprise and innovation” and contributed to Ghana’s industrial diversification and long-term growth. A significant milestone for local technology, President Mahama revealed that the artificial intelligence (AI) algorithm powering the port’s operational systems was developed by young Ghanaian engineers. He also announced that additional equipment is expected to arrive by early 2027, promising to further elevate efficiency and help Tema Port achieve its goal of becoming “the fastest-turnaround port in Africa.” Looking ahead, President Mahama called for sustained investment in next-generation technologies and digital systems to ensure the port remains competitive in the evolving global trade landscape. Reflecting on the project’s legacy, he remarked, “A hundred years from now, I wonder how many of us will be alive, but our children and grandchildren will be here operating these ports.” Reaffirming the government’s commitment to large-scale private-sector investment, President Mahama officially declared phases one and two of the expansion commissioned. He described the facility as a symbol of what visionary policy, private investment, and national ambition can achieve. The expanded Tema Port now stands as a regional maritime powerhouse and a blueprint for Africa’s future infrastructure transformation. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
IEAG Boss Hails 2026 Budget as ‘Ahotɔ Budget,’ Citing Relief for Trade Sector
The Executive Secretary of the Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG), Samson Asaki Awingobit, has described the 2026 National Budget as an “Ahotɔ Budget,” indicating that the government’s policy proposals offer a measure of relief to players in the trading sector. Speaking during a media engagement, Mr. Awingobit noted that the budget, as presented by the Finance Minister, addresses several persistent concerns within the import and export community, especially those related to port charges, trade facilitation, and the cost of doing business. While the Association is still analysing the full document, Mr. Awingobit observed that the initial outlook appears promising for businesses that have struggled with high taxes, port delays, and broader economic pressures in recent years. “We, the importers and exporters, see the 2026 Budget as an ‘Ahotɔ Budget’, to wit, relief. We believe some of the measures outlined can bring some relief if the government follows through with proper implementation,” he stated. He welcomed any policy direction that reduces bottlenecks at the ports, lowers operational costs, and boosts Ghana’s competitiveness in regional and global trade. At the same time, he cautioned the government against introducing hidden taxes or administrative hurdles that could undermine the anticipated relief. Mr. Awingobit also called for ongoing stakeholder engagement as the budget enters the implementation phase, emphasising that collaboration with industry players is vital for the government to achieve its revenue and trade objectives. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Madina District Court Jails Two Foreign Nationals for Attempting to Fraudulently Acquire Ghanacard
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced that the Madina District Court II has convicted and sentenced two foreign nationals for attempting to fraudulently obtain the Ghanacard, Ghana’s national identification card. The judgment, delivered on Friday, 7th November 2025 by Her Worship Susana Nyakotev, followed the case: The Republic v. Ike Isaac alias Alex Kwesi Brown Appiah, and Emmanuel Innocent Egbe alias Innocent Emmanuel Kodom. The two individuals faced charges of Providing False Information to National Identification Registration Officials under Section 40(1)(a) of the National Identity Register Act, 2008 (Act 750), and Possessing Forged Documents in violation of Section 166 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29). After a full trial, the court found both accused persons guilty of the offences. For their crimes, Isaac Ike alias Alex Kwesi Brown Appiah, aged 20, received 12 months’ imprisonment for Providing False Information and 13 months’ imprisonment for Possessing Forged Documents, with both sentences to run concurrently. Emmanuel Innocent Egbe alias Innocent Emmanuel Kodom, aged 24, was handed identical sentences: 12 months’ imprisonment for Providing False Information and 13 months for Possessing Forged Documents, also to run concurrently. In addition to their jail terms, the court ordered that both convicts be deported to Nigeria after completing their sentences. The two have already been transferred to Nsawam Prisons to begin serving their time. The NIA commended the collaborative efforts of the Ghana Police Service, the CID Unit attached to the NIA, the Office of the Attorney-General, and other partner agencies whose support ensured a successful prosecution. The Authority emphasized that the conviction underscores its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the integrity of the Ghanacard registration system, which serves as the single trusted source of identification for all lawful residents of Ghana. The NIA also cautioned the public that providing false information, impersonation, and using forged documents during registration are serious criminal offences that will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted. The statement was signed by Williams Ampomah E. Darlas, Head of the Corporate Affairs Directorate of the NIA. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
President Mahama Appoints Kwasi Kyei Darkwah as Special Envoy to the Caribbean
President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has appointed Mr. Kwasi Kyei Darkwah (popularly known as KKD), the former Chief Executive Officer of Class Media Group (CMG), as Ghana’s Special Envoy to the Caribbean Region. The timing of this appointment is particularly significant as Ghana ramps up its efforts to strengthen cultural, economic, and diplomatic relations with Caribbean nations. The government is keen to boost cooperation and investment across the Atlantic, and Mr. Darkwah’s new role is seen as a strategic step toward achieving these goals. Mr. Darkwah is celebrated for his remarkable career in media, public communications, brand development, and cultural advocacy. His extensive experience and stellar reputation make him a standout choice for the role of Special Envoy. Over the years, he has played a pivotal role in investment promotion, public affairs, and cultural diplomacy, including previous service at the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre. Known for his eloquence, refined diplomatic skills, and talent for building cross-cultural bridges, Mr. Darkwah is expected to bring immense value to this new position. As Special Envoy, he will be responsible for fostering goodwill for Ghana, strengthening partnerships with various stakeholders in the Caribbean, advancing cultural exchanges, and encouraging foreign direct investment. The government has extended its warmest wishes to Mr. Darkwah as he embarks on this important national assignment, confident that his expertise will advance Ghana’s interests and visibility on the global stage. Source: Apexnewsgh.com