Minority in Parliament Demands Full Disclosure on Narcotics Seizures and Prosecutions After Major Cocaine Bust
The Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate publication of comprehensive and verifiable data on narcotics seizures, arrests, and prosecutions in Ghana since January 2025. The demand comes on the heels of a major international incident: the seizure of nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine at France’s Port of Dunkirk from a container reportedly shipped from Ghana. Speaking ahead of Parliament’s emergency sitting on Tuesday, September 29, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, representing the Minority, urged the executive branch to release real-time, primary-sourced information on all narcotics-related law enforcement activities. “We no longer want to learn about the state of our borders from foreign customs officers,” Rev. Fordjour stated. He emphasized that Parliament’s role must include scrutinizing institutional and systemic weaknesses, as well as investigating any possible complicity of state agencies. “Parliament is not a spectator in this matter,” he said. “The Constitution gives it the power to appoint committees, to summon and to demand answers.” Rev. Fordjour noted that any parliamentary committee formed would be empowered to compel witnesses, request documents, and conduct public proceedings unless national security dictated otherwise. The Minority stressed that the fight against narcotics should transcend party politics. “The trafficker does not check party cards. The young person destroyed by addiction does not ask which side of the House his member sits on,” Rev. Fordjour remarked, urging bipartisan cooperation. He called on the government to make all relevant data publicly accessible, arguing that transparency would provide Ghanaians with a clearer understanding of the country’s enforcement efforts and challenges surrounding narcotics control. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
GES Appeals to Striking Teachers to End Industrial Action and Safeguard Academic Stability
The Ghana Education Service (GES) has issued a heartfelt appeal to pre-tertiary teacher unions, urging them to call off their ongoing strike as government agencies work to resolve their concerns. Director-General Professor Ernest Kofi Davis, addressing the press on Tuesday, September 29, warned that the strike could jeopardize the hard-won stability of the academic calendar. He emphasized that, for the first time in six years, students at all levels had resumed classes within September, marking the return to a predictable and synchronized school year. “This did not happen by accident. It was achieved through hard work,” Professor Davis remarked, highlighting the progress made in restoring stability to Ghana’s education system after years of disruptions. The ongoing strike, declared by GNAT, NAGRAT, and PRETAG, centers on unresolved issues such as unpaid promotion arrears, delays in negotiating a new Collective Agreement, and the non-implementation of the Deprived Area Allowance. The unions launched the industrial action on September 25 after repeated appeals for their demands went unmet. Professor Davis assured teachers that the government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labour, Controller and Accountant-General’s Department, and other stakeholders, is actively working to address their grievances. He cited recent efforts to mechanize teacher promotions as evidence of GES’s commitment to improving conditions for educators. Urging the unions to reconsider their stance, Professor Davis stressed the importance of protecting the academic calendar and called on all stakeholders to support efforts to keep the school year on track. “We wish to associate ourselves with the Ministry of Education’s appeal to teachers to rescind their decision as we work hard to address their issues,” he said. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
COPEC Warns of Steep Fuel Price Hikes, Urges Swift Action to Protect Consumers
Ghanaian motorists should brace for a sharp rise in fuel prices, the Chamber of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has warned. In a statement released today, COPEC projected that petrol prices could climb from GH¢16.90 to GH¢17.78 per litre, while diesel may see an even steeper jump from GH¢18.24 to GH¢22.42 per litre in the next pricing window. COPEC attributed the expected increases to rising international Free-on-Board (FOB) prices and a recent 1.2% depreciation of the cedi. Petrol’s FOB price rose by 4.26%, and diesel’s by a significant 8.51%, pushing pump prices higher. According to COPEC, petrol is expected to retail between GH¢16.89 and GH¢18.67 per litre, while diesel could range from GH¢19.40 to GH¢21.44 per litre, within a ±5% margin of their projections. To help cushion consumers from the impact, COPEC called on the government to fast-track expansion works at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), aiming to boost refining capacity from 45,000 to 100,000 barrels per day. The chamber believes this move would reduce Ghana’s reliance on imported petroleum products and help stabilize prices in the long run. COPEC also appealed to Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) to consider reducing their profit margins temporarily, so as not to overburden consumers amid the looming price hikes. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Ghana Faces Uphill Battle to Control HIV Epidemic by 2030, Says Health Official
At the expanded Upper East Regional Committee of the Ghana AIDS Commission (ReCCOM) meeting held on September 29, 2026, Sulemana Majeed, Regional TB/HIV Coordinator for the Ghana Health Service/NACP, painted a sobering but hopeful picture of Ghana’s ongoing struggle with HIV. Majeed explained that since Ghana stopped conducting the HIV Prevalence Survey in 2014/2015 due to funding cuts, national HIV data has relied heavily on statistical modeling and estimates rather than direct surveys. Using the NAOMI model, the country now estimates that about 337,435 people are living with HIV, with 10% of infections among children. “Most of our HIV cases are in adults, but the risk of mother-to-child transmission remains a concern,” Majeed noted. He revealed a worrying trend: new infections are concentrated among people aged 20–44, Ghana’s most productive age group. In 2025 alone, the country recorded nearly 13,951 new HIV infections and 12,000 AIDS-related deaths. “New infections among young adults threaten our future workforce and demand urgent intervention,” he said. Majeed also highlighted gender disparities: while more women live with HIV, men are more likely to die from AIDS-related complications, often because they seek care late, when the disease is advanced. Ghana has not yet achieved the global 95-95-95 targets (95% of people living with HIV diagnosed, 95% of those on treatment, 95% virally suppressed) for epidemic control. As of 2025, only 70% knew their status, 81% were on treatment, and 92% of those on treatment had achieved viral suppression. Projections suggest that without significant improvements, Ghana will fall short of the 2030 goal to control the epidemic. By then, the country hopes to reduce new infections to around 6,500 annually and AIDS-related deaths to about 4,000–5,000. But to get there, ART (antiretroviral therapy) coverage must rise from the current 58% of adults to 95%. According to him, regionally, Upper East is among those with lower prevalence, but some districts have seen unexpected spikes in new cases, often linked to migratory labor patterns and mining activities. Majeed warned that 12 out of the region’s 15 districts need close monitoring. He also identified ongoing challenges with data quality, double reporting, and incomplete records, but reported ongoing efforts to improve data accuracy and support staff. However, he believe Ghana must ramp up efforts to find, treat, and retain people living with HIV, especially in the most affected age groups, to avert thousands of preventable deaths. “If we want to achieve epidemic control by 2030 and save lives, our response must be faster, stronger, and more focused than ever,” he concluded. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
President Mahama Rejects US Health Compact, Citing Humiliating Terms
President John Dramani Mahama has stood by Ghana’s decision to turn down a proposed health compact from the United States, describing the conditions attached as demeaning and unacceptable. The compact, intended to replace funding previously provided through USAID, was put before Ghana’s Cabinet after a thorough review by the Ministry of Health. Addressing the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, President Mahama explained that the Ministry had flagged numerous problematic provisions in a Cabinet Information Paper. Chief among the concerns was a clause requiring Ghana to hand over its pathogen profile and national medical records to the United States. “It states that we shall give the United States our pathogen profile. It also says we should give our medical records. I mean, who takes another country’s medical records?” Mahama questioned, highlighting the sensitive nature of the request. In addition, the compact called for Ghana to provide counterpart funding and exempt imported medicines and medical products from inspection by the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA). These conditions, Mahama said, were not only impractical but also compromised Ghana’s sovereignty over its public health system. “It was humiliating. And so it was the compact that was thrown out in record time in our Cabinet. I’ve never seen anything thrown out as fast as that,” Mahama recalled. While the deal offered $100 million in funding to African countries hit by U.S. aid cuts, Ghana’s leadership felt the price was simply too high, a stand President Mahama says was necessary to protect the nation’s dignity and autonomy. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
BoG Governor Appoints Second Deputy to Represent Him on Ghana Gold Board
Dr. Johnson P. Asiama, Governor of the Bank of Ghana, has designated Second Deputy Governor Matilda Asante-Asiedu as his official representative on the Board of Directors of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod). The appointment was made official in a letter dated May 11, 2026, addressed to the Chairman of GoldBod’s Board of Directors. In the correspondence, Dr. Asiama announced that Mrs. Asante-Asiedu would attend and participate in all GoldBod Board meetings on his behalf, effective immediately. “Mrs. Matilda Asante-Asiedu, Second Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, is my authorised representative to attend and fully participate in all GoldBod Board Meetings on my behalf,” Dr. Asiama wrote. He further emphasized that Mrs. Asante-Asiedu is empowered to represent his interests, contribute to board deliberations, and exercise all the rights and responsibilities that come with his seat on the Board. Dr. Asiama also called on the GoldBod Board to provide Mrs. Asante-Asiedu with the necessary support and courtesies to help her fulfil her new duties. He concluded the letter by expressing confidence in the Board’s cooperation as the new appointment takes effect. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Striking Teachers Hold Firm After Talks with Education Minister, Demand Concrete Action
Teachers across Ghana have refused to end their nationwide strike following a meeting with Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu in Accra, insisting that verbal assurances are not enough to address their grievances. The striking teachers, represented by the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT) and the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), have been demanding payment of promotion arrears and progress in stalled negotiations over their conditions of service. Despite the government’s call for patience, union leaders remain unconvinced. During the meeting, Minister Iddrisu and his deputy, Clement Apaak, assured the unions of President John Mahama’s commitment to improving teachers’ welfare. They announced that the Fair Wages and Salaries Commission would meet with the unions the following Tuesday to continue talks on their collective agreement and conditions of service. A validation committee, chaired by the Minister of Employment and Labour, has also been established to verify data on the promised 20 percent rural deprived allowance, scheduled for rollout in January 2027. “We have relayed to them to call off the strike while negotiations continue,” Minister Iddrisu said, emphasizing the government’s intent to implement the rural allowance pending validation and a clear roadmap. However, GNAT President Prosper Tachie, Esq. expressed skepticism after the talks. “What is on paper to show that they will start paying the deprived area allowance by 2027?” he questioned, highlighting the absence of documented commitments. He also lamented the lack of progress in negotiations, noting that expired collective agreements and unpaid allowances remained unresolved, with no clear timeline for settlement. Tachie stated that the unions would only consider ending the strike once a concrete, documented agreement is reached. “If we accept [the timeline], so be it… but it is not just by word of mouth. It is something that we have to see, something concrete.” As negotiations are set to continue next week, the teachers’ unions stand firm in their demand for tangible action before they return to the classroom. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
NPP Challenges Government’s Cocoa Price Decision, Cites Broken Promises to Farmers
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) has taken aim at the government’s newly announced producer price for cocoa, claiming it falls short of both legal requirements and campaign promises made to Ghana’s farmers. In a press statement dated September 27, the NPP criticized the decision to set the price for the 2026/27 cocoa season at GH¢2,650 per 64-kilogramme bag. The party described the increase, just GH¢63, or 2.4 percent above last season’s price, as inadequate, and alleged that it does not meet the minimum set by law. Citing the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 (Act 1182), the NPP argued that the law requires the producer price to be at least 70 percent of the Gross Free-on-Board (FOB) price realized by COCOBOD. While the government claims the new price stands at 71.18 percent of this benchmark, the NPP disputes the calculation and called for greater transparency in how the figures were determined. The party’s criticism comes on the heels of the government’s announcement of the new price on September 25. The NPP also accused the administration of failing to live up to promises made on the campaign trail in 2024, when prominent National Democratic Congress (NDC) figures, including President John Dramani Mahama and several ministers, pledged a producer price of GH¢6,000 per bag to farmers. At the time, opposition leaders had labelled the then-current price of GH¢3,100 per bag as exploitative and asserted that farmers deserved at least 70 percent of the world market price. The NPP maintains that the government’s recent pricing decisions have fallen far short of these pledges, leaving many cocoa farmers disappointed and frustrated as the new season approaches. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Finance Minister Unveils “New Economy” Vision to Spur Local Production and Jobs
Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has outlined an ambitious vision to transform the nation’s economy by boosting local production, cutting back on imports, and generating jobs. Meeting with leaders from the Association of Ghana Industries and top business figures, Dr Forson declared, “Our mission is to produce more of what we consume and create more jobs here at home.” He challenged the country to see every imported product as a call to action: “Every import is an opportunity to ask: why can’t we make it in Ghana?” This shift in thinking is at the heart of the government’s New Economy programme, which aims to channel investment into productive sectors and build a more self-reliant, prosperous nation. “That is the promise of the New Economy: Ghana producing. Ghanaians working. Prosperity growing!” Dr Forson emphasized. The programme, set to launch with the 2027 Budget, will deploy around US$1.6 billion, about one percent of Ghana’s GDP, into key sectors. The focus will be on commercial agriculture, adding value to mining, and expanding energy and transport infrastructure. These areas are seen as engines for sustainable growth and job creation, with investments designed to strengthen the economy and generate returns for future development. In particular, Dr Forson highlighted plans for the energy sector, such as gas-to-power and gas-to-fertilizer projects, aimed at bolstering energy security and supporting industry. The transport sector is also in the spotlight, with the Western Railway Line and other strategic projects poised for potential support. While details are still being finalized, Dr Forson assured that the New Economy blueprint would be unveiled alongside the 2027 Budget, promising more opportunities for the private sector and a new era of growth for Ghana. Source: Apexnewsgh.com
Teachers’ Unions Poised for Crucial Talks with Government Amid Nationwide Strike
Leaders of Ghana’s pre-tertiary teacher unions are preparing for a pivotal meeting with government officials, hoping to resolve the issues that sparked their nationwide strike. Jacob Anaba, President of the National Association of Graduate Teachers (NAGRAT), assured that the unions are ready to engage in good faith. “Our reason for raising the issues is to resolve them, so if there is an avenue for us to resolve them, we will avail ourselves and make sure that we resolve the issues,” Anaba emphasized in an interview with Citi News. Anaba recounted receiving calls from both the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Employment, Jobs and Labour Relations, inviting the unions to Monday’s meeting. “We will definitely be at the meeting to try and resolve our issues,” he stated, underscoring the unions’ commitment to dialogue. The talks come on the heels of a major strike declared by NAGRAT, the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), and the Pre-Tertiary Teachers Association of Ghana (PRETAG). The unions are pressing for payment of promotion arrears and a swift conclusion to protracted negotiations over their conditions of service. Monday’s meeting is expected to center on these core demands and explore possible solutions. The outcome could determine whether teachers continue their industrial action or consider suspending the strike should meaningful progress be achieved at the negotiation table. Source: Apexnewsgh.com