On a brisk Wednesday morning in Accra, the city’s commuters were once again left stranded, facing long queues and rising fares along the busiest routes. The cause? A suspected artificial scarcity of commercial vehicles, orchestrated by some transport operators intent on driving up prices. The tension reached the corridors of power when Joseph Bukari Nikpe, Ghana’s Minister of Transport, took decisive action. Summoning leaders of the Ghana Private Roads and Transport Union (GPRTU) and other commercial transport unions, he demanded answers about the troubling trends that had gripped the sector. The meeting, scheduled for the following day, was set to address mounting complaints about operators limiting vehicle availability in order to profit from desperate commuters, even as fuel prices and import duties on spare parts had recently dropped. At the Government Accountability Series, Deputy Minister Mr. Kwakye Ofosu voiced the frustrations of many Ghanaians. He revealed that some drivers were deliberately avoiding designated stations, choosing instead to roam the city in hopes of exploiting shortages and extracting higher fares. “They are creating scarcity to drive up prices so that they can engage in rent-seeking behaviour. It is an unlawful activity, and it must be looked into,” he declared. The situation has worsened since the 2025 yuletide, with commuters in places like Madina, Amasaman, Kasoa, and the famous Kwame Nkrumah Circle struggling to find rides during peak hours. Despite a 15% reduction in official transport fares due to lower fuel costs, many operators have continued to manipulate supply, leaving Accra’s residents facing inflated fares and long waits. Mr. Ofosu assured the public that the government, acknowledging the private-sector-led nature of transportation, was taking concrete steps to hold offenders accountable. “After the persistent reduction in fuel prices, some operators have decided to engage in undue practices by creating artificial shortages,” he explained. “It is an unlawful activity, and the government is looking at it to ensure those involved are dealt with.” As the capital’s rush hour challenges persist, the eyes of the nation will be on the outcomes of the minister’s meeting, a test of the government’s resolve to protect commuters and restore order to Ghana’s urban transport system. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

It began as a routine morning at the bustling Takoradi Port, but sharp-eyed customs officers were about to uncover one of Ghana’s largest drug interceptions in recent memory. The story unfolded at the Atlantic Terminal Services Limited, where frontline officials noticed something odd, two shipping containers, declared as ceiling fan consignments, exhibited unusual packaging patterns. Trusting their instincts, the officers promptly reported their suspicions to customs management. Takoradi Sector Commander, Walter Blankson, quickly took action, placing the containers under discreet surveillance. Once the all-clear was given, he ordered a full unstuffing of both 40-foot containers. What they discovered was staggering: hidden among stacks of ceiling fans and thousands of undeclared electrical appliances were an estimated 25 million tablets of suspected illicit drugs, believed to be Tapentadol and Timaking. The operation, powered by intelligence and executed with the support of the Narcotics Control Commission, National Security, National Intelligence Bureau, and the Food and Drugs Authority, had paid off. With the contraband seized, samples were sent to the Customs Chemist for laboratory analysis. The rest of the goods are now secured in the State Warehouse in Takoradi, as investigations intensify. Meanwhile, Maxwell Boateng, the declarant for the consignment, was detained and is assisting the Narcotics Control Commission in tracing those behind the containers. Authorities were quick to point out that the success of the operation underscored the critical role played by vigilant customs officers and the importance of strong interagency collaboration in protecting Ghana’s borders and safeguarding public health from the threat of illicit pharmaceutical trafficking. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

The year 2024 had ended with a heavy, familiar weight on the shoulders of Ghanaians. Prices seemed to climb an endless ladder, with the inflation rate perched at a daunting 23.8%. In marketplaces and homes, the conversation was the same: the relentless squeeze of shrunken purchasing power. But a quiet, determined battle was being waged. At the Bank of Ghana, Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama and his team held firm to a course of monetary discipline, a tight rein on policy that many hoped would steer the nation toward calmer waters. Month by month, throughout 2025, a fragile hope began to bloom. The numbers started to tell a new story. Each passing month saw the inflation rate dip, a slow but steady retreat from the peaks of pressure. By November, it had fallen to 6.3%, and as the year drew to a close, all eyes turned to the Ghana Statistical Service for the final tally of December. The data, when it came, was not just good news—it was historic. The annual inflation rate for December 2025 had plummeted to 5.4%, marking the twelfth consecutive month of decline. On a month-to-month basis, prices had barely crept up by 0.9%. The most significant relief came from the food basket, where inflation softened dramatically to 4.9%, a testament to improved harvests and smoother supply chains. The contrast was staggering. From 23.8% to 5.4% in just one year. The beast of inflation had been tamed, not by chance, but by design. During a courtesy call by the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Governor Asiama stood before the gathering, his voice carrying the weight of vindication and deliberate effort. “This trend reflected the broad-based disinflation process across both food and non-food,” he explained. “Certainly, this has not happened by accident but is the result of sustained monetary discipline we brought on board, improved food supply, and others.” He painted a clear picture: the central bank’s firm hand on monetary policy, working in concert with better conditions for farmers and traders, had systematically eased the pressures that had burdened the economy. It was a victory of strategy over circumstance. As the announcement spread, a palpable sense of relief began to replace anxiety. Households, long navigating a landscape of elevated prices, could finally foresee a period of stability. The sustained decline promised a stronger foundation for the national economy and a restoration of consumer confidence as Ghana stepped into 2026. The Bank of Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to guard this hard-won stability, knowing it was the cornerstone for sustainable growth. The twelve-month miracle was complete, a testament to the power of policy and perseverance, offering a powerful new chapter for Ghana’s economic story. Source: Apexnewsgh.com

When President John Dramani Mahama took office in January 2025, Ghana’s energy sector teetered on the edge of disaster. Years of unpaid bills for gas supplied from the Offshore Cape Three Points (OCTP) field had brought the sector to its knees, and the crucial $500 million World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG), once a bulwark for investor confidence, had been completely depleted. The stakes were high. The PRG, established back in 2015, had been the foundation for nearly $8 billion in private investment, guaranteeing partners like ENI and Vitol that they would be paid even if Ghana defaulted. Without it, faith in Ghana’s energy landscape was crumbling, and the threat of blackouts and business closures loomed large. But 2025 would prove to be a turning point. In a statement released on January 12, the Ministry of Finance revealed how the Mahama administration, acting with urgency and resolve, set out to rescue the sector. By the close of the year, the government had repaid a staggering $1.47 billion to reset the industry’s fortunes. First, the government moved swiftly to restore Ghana’s credibility on the global stage: it repaid $597.15 million (including interest) drawn from the World Bank guarantee, fully replenishing the facility and signalling to international partners that Ghana meant business. Next, it addressed the mountain of unpaid bills to key gas suppliers. By December 2025, all outstanding invoices to ENI and Vitol—amounting to roughly $480 million—had been settled in full. The government also tackled legacy debts to Independent Power Producers (IPPs), disbursing about $393 million after renegotiating contracts for better value. Among the IPPs paid were: * Karpowership Ghana: $120 million * Cenpower Generation: $59.4 million * Sunon Asogli: $54 million * Early Power: $42 million * Twin City Energy (Amandi): $38 million * AKSA Energy: $30 million * Cenit Energy: $30 million * BXC Company: $10.56 million * Meinergy Technology: $8.82 million No stone was left unturned. The government also opened discussions with upstream partners like Tullow Oil and Jubilee Field partners, agreeing on a roadmap to ensure prompt payment for gas supplies and secure a stable electricity supply to power Ghana’s industries. Already, these efforts have begun to bear fruit. Increased gas production is reducing the country’s dependence on costly liquid fuels, and the Ministry announced that the dark days of runaway energy sector debt are gone for good. With robust budgetary provisions in place, Ghana’s energy sector now stands on a foundation of timely payments, restored confidence, and renewed hope for the future. Source: Apexnewsgh.com