Pre-Dawn Raid by NAiMOS Taskforce Halts Illegal Mining, Uncovers Dammed Dankai River
In the quiet, early hours of Sunday, May 24, 2026, the silence of Sanfo Adiam in Ashanti Region was shattered by the swift action of the National Anti-Illegal Mining Operations Secretariat (NAiMOS). Working in tandem with the Blue Water Guards, the Manso Adubia task force executed a carefully planned pre-dawn raid, striking at the heart of a notorious galamsey enclave along the Dankai River. The operation, which began under the cloak of darkness between 4:00 and 7:00 a.m., was fueled by credible intelligence of organized illegal mining in the area. As the task force approached, they spotted several miners at work, among them a Ghanaian wielding a pump-action firearm. Sensing the encroaching danger, most of the illegal operators, including the armed individual, vanished into the surrounding thickets. However, two Chinese nationals attempted to flee but were swiftly pursued and apprehended by the operatives. The arrested suspects, identified as Lu Honggeng (53) and Nong Zisun (41), were found at the very center of a sophisticated mining operation. The most alarming discovery was the deliberate engineering of the Dankai River: the illegal miners had blocked and redirected its natural flow into an artificial dam, channeling water to fuel their extraction activities. This manipulation of the river’s course was a stark assault on the environment and a threat to downstream communities that rely on its waters. Upon securing the site and the suspects, the joint team dismantled the illegal damming infrastructure. The two Chinese nationals were escorted to the NAiMOS Secretariat in Accra, pending further investigation and a handover to the Ghana Immigration Service. The presence of the firearm at the site underscored the escalating security risks facing anti-illegal mining operatives and highlighted the importance of continued vigilance. In a statement following the operation, NAiMOS assured the public that the disruption of the river and the illegal mining operation was complete, and pledged to sustain its crackdown in Amansie East and beyond until rivers like the Dankai are fully restored. The Secretariat also issued a stern warning to illegal miners, urging them to cease activities that devastate the nation’s water bodies and forests. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Minority Accuses NDC Government of Betrayal Over Changes to Anti-LGBTQ+ Bill
Tensions ran high in Parliament as the Minority caucus leveled serious accusations against the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, claiming it had broken faith with Ghanaians by significantly altering the Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, 2025, widely known as the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. Speaking passionately at a press conference on Monday, June 1, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, the Member of Parliament for Assin South and a co-sponsor of the bill, voiced the Minority’s frustration. While reaffirming the caucus’s support for the bill’s objectives, he condemned what he described as sweeping amendments that, in his view, had fundamentally changed the legislation that Parliament originally passed in 2024. Rev. Ntim Fordjour accused the ruling NDC of “mutilating” the bill through extensive deletions, redrafting, and new insertions. He charged that the government’s actions contradicted its earlier stance, reminding the public that the NDC had once demanded the bill be signed into law exactly as passed. “Was that the promise?” he asked, referencing the NDC’s campaign assurances. “Was the promise to come and dilute the bill before he signs? That is a breach of trust. That is hypocrisy, and that is deception.” The controversy arose after Parliament passed the revised bill on Friday, May 30, which introduced several key changes. Under the new provisions, legal professionals offering counsel or representation to LGBTQ+ individuals are now exempt from sanctions. Journalists and media houses reporting on LGBTQ+ matters in their professional capacity are also protected. Additionally, medical professionals, including surgeons, psychologists, and counselors, who provide care to LGBTQ+ persons are shielded from prosecution. Despite the amendments, the Minority insists the government has deviated from its original promise, framing the changes as a betrayal of public trust and a dilution of the bill’s intended impact. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana Set to Launch Bold “New Economy” Blueprint in 2027 Budget
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson took to the podium with a vision for Ghana’s economic future. Addressing a diverse audience of investors and business leaders, Dr. Forson unveiled plans for a sweeping “new economy” framework, set to be the centerpiece of the 2027 Budget. This ambitious programme, he explained, is designed to attract investment into sectors with the power to transform Ghana’s economy for generations. “We want to channel resources into productive sectors that can expand the economy and create the capacity to repay investments over time,” Dr. Forson stated, underscoring the government’s commitment to sustainable, long-term growth. Central to this new agenda will be a focus on commercial agriculture, the value addition of minerals, energy, and critical transport infrastructure. The framework will pinpoint priority areas where investment can yield the greatest impact, driving industrial development and job creation. Notably, energy projects, particularly gas-to-power and gas-to-fertiliser initiatives, will play a starring role, strengthening Ghana’s energy security and supporting its industrial ambitions. Infrastructure is also in sharp focus. The Western Railway Line, alongside other strategic transport projects, will receive significant attention, with full details to be revealed at the official launch. While the final blueprint is still being fine-tuned, Dr. Forson assured stakeholders that preparations are well advanced. The formal unveiling will be led by President John Dramani Mahama once all elements are in place. To fuel this vision, the government plans to tap into international financing, ranging from UK export finance to hedge funds and private investors. “We want to attract the kind of UK export finance. We want to attract the kind of hedge funds and businesses that you have so that we can get financing to develop the country,” Dr. Forson affirmed, signaling Ghana’s readiness to welcome global partners in its quest for economic transformation. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
President Mahama Declares War on Public Sector Financial Irregularities
President John Dramani Mahama has sent a clear message: the era of impunity for financial mismanagement in Ghana’s public sector is coming to an end. On Sunday, May 31, during a diaspora town hall meeting, President Mahama voiced his deep concern about the billions of cedis Ghana loses each year to financial irregularities—losses consistently detailed in the Auditor-General’s reports. “Every year, you hear the Auditor General’s report, Ghana loses 12 billion cedis from misappropriations and things,” he lamented, highlighting the persistent drain on the country’s resources and the longstanding weaknesses in public financial management. But this time, the president announced a historic shift. Thanks to the Chief Justice, Ghana now has specialised audit courts designed to handle cases of financial wrongdoing uncovered by the Auditor-General. No longer will those implicated merely appear before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee; they will stand trial in these new courts, facing real consequences. President Mahama was resolute: anyone found culpable in audit reports will be compelled to refund misappropriated funds or face imprisonment. He emphasized that the Attorney-General and the Auditor-General would collaborate closely to prosecute offenders and recover public money. “We’re putting them in front of those special courts to either refund our money or proceed to NSAWAM and go and catch some rest there,” he quipped, referencing Ghana’s most well-known prison. His vow comes at a time of renewed public scrutiny on financial accountability, following recent high-profile cases examined by Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee. Among them was a directive ordering officials of the Ho Municipal Assembly to refund GH¢138,000 within 60 days. With these new audit courts and a presidential commitment to enforcement, Ghana appears poised to turn a new page in its battle against public sector financial irregularities. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana and South Korea Sign Historic Visa Waiver Agreement
Ghana and South Korea took a remarkable step forward. On the sidelines of the Africa-Korea Foreign Ministers Meeting, Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and South Korea’s Foreign Minister, Cho Hyun, met with a shared vision: to strengthen the ties binding their nations. With signatures exchanged and hands shaken, the two countries sealed a historic Visa Waiver Agreement for holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports. For nearly half a century, Ghana and South Korea had maintained formal relations, but never before had such an agreement been reached. Minister Ablakwa, elated by the breakthrough, announced the news on social media, calling it a milestone in diplomatic relations between the two nations. But the story does not end there. As the ink dried on this agreement, discussions were already underway to extend these privileges to holders of Ordinary Passports. Such a move, Ablakwa hinted, would open new doors for travel, trade, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges between Ghana and South Korea. For now, the holders of Diplomatic and Service Passports in both countries can look forward to seamless journeys, free from visa barriers, a development expected to make official engagements more efficient and deepen the bonds of friendship and cooperation. The world watched as Ghana and South Korea turned a new page in their shared story, with the promise of even closer ties on the horizon. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana and UK: A New Chapter of Economic Partnership
At the bustling Ghana-UK Investment Summit 2026, President John Dramani Mahama stood before a room of eager investors and dignitaries, his message clear: the economic partnership between Ghana and the United Kingdom is entering a new era. The President shared a milestone that brought pride to both nations: annual bilateral trade now surpasses £1.5 billion. Yet, he was quick to remind the audience that this achievement was just the beginning. “This only scratches the surface of what is possible,” Mahama asserted, his vision firmly fixed on the future. He painted a picture of a rapidly changing world, where global businesses are reevaluating their supply chains and searching for resilient, promising destinations for investment. In this landscape, Ghana, Mahama argued, stands out. Political stability, a strong democratic tradition, and a strategic location are just some of the qualities making the country an attractive choice for international investors. Ongoing reforms to strengthen macroeconomic fundamentals further sweeten the deal. “In that changing global landscape, Ghana offers something increasingly valuable: political stability, democratic maturity, strategic geographical access, improving macroeconomic fundamentals, and a government committed to creating a transparent and investor-friendly business environment,” the President told the summit. Mahama emphasized that the Ghana-UK partnership has grown far beyond its historical roots. Today, it is a multifaceted relationship spanning trade, innovation, education, and shared democratic values. Looking ahead, he called for collaboration in critical sectors such as manufacturing, technology, infrastructure, agribusiness, renewable energy, financial services, pharmaceuticals, tourism, education, and the digital economy. “This Summit is therefore not simply a networking event. It is a platform for building long-term partnerships capable of delivering jobs, innovation, industrial growth and shared prosperity,” he declared. With these words, President Mahama invited both countries to seize the opportunity and forge an even stronger economic future together. Source: Apexnewsgh.com