The end of the era of the Electronic Transaction Levy, commonly called E-Levy, kicked in fully on Thursday as the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) sanctioned its reversal upon the President’s assent of the Bill that abolished the levy.

The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has since reaffirmed that the E-Levy has been officially abolished as of April 2, 2025, and that any deductions made beyond that date would be fully refunded to affected individuals.

It emphasised that from 00:00 hours on April 2, 2025, no-one should be charged the levy, as it had been completely removed from the country’s tax laws.

“We do recognise that there are practical implications in removing the system. However, any person who suffered E-Levy deduction from April 2 onwards will have their money refunded in line with the President’s directive and the law,” the Commissioner General of the GRA, Anthony Kwasi Sarpong,  said yesterday on the sidelines of a two-day GRA management retreat in Akosombo.

Two of the charging entities have since informed their customers of the cesation of the E-Levy charge.

A message from AT Money to customers said E-Levy had been scrapped from April 2, 2025.

“Accordingly, all E-Levy charged from April 2, 2025 onwards will be refunded within 72 hours,” the message said.

For its part, MTN Mobile Money said the one per cent E-Levy had been abolished and no longer applies to “your momo transactions”.

Refund

Mr Sarpong said the GRA had engaged charging entities such as banks and mobile money operators ahead of the levy’s removal to ensure a smooth transition.

He, however, admitted that some systems were still in the process of being updated.

“We had agreed with them that by the morning of April 3, all charging systems should be taken off, but if for any reason someone has suffered the levy within this period, we will reconcile with the charging entities and ensure all affected customers are duly refunded,” he said. 

Notice

A notice to all charging entities from the GRA late last Wednesday said the GRA Electronic Transfer Levy Management and Assurance System would automatically return a “no charge” on all transactions posted to it by entities from midnight.

It directed all charging entities to cease applying the one per cent E-Levy from midnight on all channels.

“Charging entities must immediately process refunds for any E-Levy amounts deducted from customers effective today, April 2, 2025. Entities are to establish an expedited refund process to handle such cases promptly and maintain proper documentation of all refunds processed.

Reports of such refunds must be submitted to GRA,” the notice said.

“Charging entities are to take the necessary steps to file and pay all outstanding E-Levy charged and collected on all transactions that occurred before April 2, 2025,” it added.

Betting tax

Meanwhile, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has directed lottery operators to stop deducting the 10 per cent withholding tax on winnings from lottery, effective April 2, 2025.

It said players who were charged withholding tax on their winnings on or after April 2, 2025 were entitled to a refund from the lottery operator.

Patrons, it said, were advised to keep receipts or electronic records of their transactions to facilitate any necessary refund process.

“The Commissioner-General of the Ghana Revenue Authority wishes to inform the general public that the 10 per cent withholding tax on winnings from lottery (including gaming, betting, lotto, and any games of chance) has been abolished effective April 2, 2025,” a notice on withholding tax on winnings from lottery said.

Negative impact

Reacting to the scrapping of the E-Levy, the Chief Executive Director (CEO) of the Ghana Chamber of Telecommunications, Dr Kenneth Ashigbey, said the repeal of the levy was a step in the right direction.

As a public policy watcher, he said the levy was not a well thought-through policy, and was inimical to the previous government’s digital and financial inclusion strategy.

The E-levy, Dr Ashigbey said, resulted even in some job losses, with some mobile money agents having to close some of their shops, and that it resulted in loss of investment for some of the financial technology institutions (fintechs) as well.

“When it happened, it slowed down the rate of growth of mobile money and we have not been able to recover from that.

Though when the reduction was down from 1.5 per cent to one per cent, we saw some recovery. But not back to the rate at which we were going before then. 

“So, the expectation is that now that the E-Levy has been revoked, we should be able to get back to the point of growth, where anybody sending mobile money would not be thinking about the E-Levy anymore,” he said, adding that “the discrimination that existed between mobile money and the banks and all other transactions would have been cured.”

“So when people want to take a decision, they would look at which one is more convenient for them.

If the banks are convenient, they would do the banks.

If the mobile money is convenient, they would do the mobile money,” he said.

That, Dr Ashigbey said, would also mean that customers would have a lot more money in their pockets since the percentage charged on money sent could be used to pay for goods or services.

Moreover, he said, vendors would also get a lot more turnover because “this money that they have to spend would not come to the vendors. Additionally, there would be a lot more transactions.

So the mobile money agents would also get a lot more transactions”.

At the end of the year, he said, the agents could even file their corporate income taxes and pay some taxes to the government, adding that the same way the electronic money issuers (EMIs) increased in volume and value, it would result in more revenues for them, which would result in more profits and that would mean more taxes to the government. 

Refund guidelines

Regarding the refunds that should be done from April 2, 2025 per the directive from the GRA, Dr Ashigbey said the chamber was awaiting specific instructions from the GRA on how that should be done.

“If you have seen the directive from the GRA, there is some refund that should be done from April 2, 2025, the day on which the assent and the gazette was done.

“So, for that one, we are waiting for GRA to issue guidelines on how the April 2, 2025 refunds are going to be done,” he said, adding that in the event of any inadvertent wrongful charge that would have happened after the midnight of April 3, 2025, “the EMIs would do the refund themselves.

I’m sure within a week, they would do that refund when it happens.”

Dr Ashigbey said all the five electronic money issuers went live on Wednesday night following the directive from the GRA, and any one that had engaged in transaction on Thursday morning would realise that E-Levy or the tax was zero for the majority of the channels.

He, however, said mobile money used various channels to do those transactions and that there were some third-party channels or partners, as well as some offline partners, and that as a result of the “shortness of the time between when the gazette was received and when GRA issued the written instructions and midnight, a few of them might fall within the cracks”.

Asked whether he had received any complaint of wrongful deduction, he responded in the negative, saying that if anyone had any complaint, they would have channellel it to the EMI that would have wrongfully deducted them. 

Traders react

Traders at Adabraka, a suburb of Accra, have expressed relief and optimism following the government’s repeal of the E-Levy.

Some traders, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, said they were already witnessing the benefits, as mobile money transactions now came without the additional charges that previously cut their earnings.

One such trader, TsoTsoe Tagoe, described the scrapping of the E-Levy as a welcome relief, particularly for small-scale businesses like hers, which handle transactions ranging from as little as GH¢1 to larger sums.

She shared how she recently transferred GH¢202 without any deductions, confirming the change first-hand.

According to her, the levy had made it difficult to accumulate small earnings, but with its removal, she said she could now save and reinvest in her business without losing money to transaction charges.

She urged the government to uphold policies that would drive economic growth and alleviate poverty.

Another shop owner, Regina Darko, also commended the government for scrapping the levy, stating that it had been a financial burden, especially for business owners who conducted multiple transactions on a daily basis.

“I’m someone who sends a lot of money and does a lot of transactions, and each time, something is deducted.

So if, God-willing, they have scrapped it, those little charges will now be mine,” she said. 

Ms Darko expressed confidence that the government would not reintroduce the tax, at least under the current administration.

However, another trader, Samuel Teye, despite echoing similar sentiments, cautioned against the levy’s possible return in the future.

While he acknowledged the relief that had come with its removal, he hoped the decision would not be reversed.

He urged the government to ensure that the repeal remained permanent, saying businesses needed long-term certainty to operate effectively.

The trade war initiated by the United States was a logical consequence for the EU countries, resulting from the weakening of their econo­mies due to the Russophobic policies they pursued, says Sergey Mironov, leader of the “A Just Russia – Patriots – For Truth” party and faction in the State Duma.

“Even at the height of the Cold War, European leaders concluded agreements with the Soviet Union, including agree­ments on the supply of critical energy resources,” recalls the chairman of the SRZP.

“However, nowadays Euro­pean politicians, affected by the disease of Russophobia, have forgotten the importance of co­operation with Russia and began biting the hand that fed them. And they do not merely bite, but dream of destroying Russia and seizing its resources. This is naive and suicidal.”

The Russian MP noted that the course toward the econom­ic suppression of the EU was launched by the United States long before Trump returned to power. One of the most striking episodes of the undeclared trade war was the bombing of the Nord Stream gas pipelines under Joe Biden, Mironov reminded.

“The Europeans were left without cheap Russian gas but remained silent, thereby signing the verdict on their economy. Now Trump is just continuing what was started and intensifying the pressure, taking advantage of the weakness of the European Union.

This is payback for Russopho­bia, due to which Europe has deprived itself of vital trade re­lations with Russia,” the Socialist leader stated.

“Now the EU has only one chance to survive in the trade war with the United States—to lift anti-Russian sanctions, resume cooperation with Russia, and stop its rampant and ruinous support for the Kiev regime.

But the Europeans must un­derstand that business will not be conducted as usual.

Russia will scrupulously determine whether, and to what extent, it needs to resume cooperation with any particular EU country,” concluded Sergey Mironov.

The Eastern South Regional Police Command in the Eastern Region has apprehended eleven suspects in connection with illicit activities in the Akyem Fichser community near Bunsu.

The operation followed a tip-off highlighting the destructive impact of the miners on local tree plantations.

The arrested individuals include nine Ghanaian nationals: Kwaku Owusu (42), Philip Tetteh (52), Abdul Raham (27), Philip Duvor (40), Joseph Asare (32), Charles Manu (35), Joseph Araboga (32), Daniel Bangah (20), and Amoako Isaac (25).

Two Burkinabe citizens, Jey Done (40) and Adoma Aboubakar (25), were also among those taken into custody.

Authorities report that the illegal mining activities have resulted in the destruction of a significant acreage of tree plantations in the Fichser area.

In addition to the arrests, police seized an excavator from the scene, which is now being held as evidence.

The eleven suspects are currently detained and are in the process of being prepared for court.

Speaking to the media in Kyebi, the Eastern South Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Ohene Boadi Bossman, addressed the issue.

He reaffirmed the police service’s dedication to fighting crime and maintaining law and order within the region.

DCOP Ohene Boadi Bossman assured the public, especially those residing within the Eastern South Regional Police Command’s area of responsibility, that the police are resolute in their efforts to tackle illegal activities and ensure the safety and security of communities.

This arrest underscores the ongoing efforts by Ghanaian authorities to clamp down on illegal mining, which continues to pose a threat to the environment and local communities across the country.

The police have signalled their intent to pursue such cases vigorously to deter further illicit activities.

DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced that Ghana and Japan have committed to three priority initiatives.

The areas are reviving the Volivo to Dorfor Adidome bridge project, which will connect the Greater Accra, Volta and Eastern Regions; an interchange in the Ashanti Region to ease congestion; and Technical support to boost rice production in Ghana.

Mr Ablakwa said that after having a bilateral engagement with Her Excellency Suzuki Momoko, Chief Representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Ghana.

He indicated that Ghana shall also be fully represented at TICAD 9 “where we will explore more partnerships including scaling up our chocolate exports to Japan considering the ever increasing popular Japanese demand for Ghana Chocolate.”

President Mahama’s government will continue to deepen Ghana-Japan cooperation as we honour the memory of Noguchi and many others, he wrote on his X page on Thursday April 3.

Naomi Wolali Kwetey, Acting Managing Director of CBG

Dr Naomi Wolali Kwetey, wife of the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, has been appointed as the Acting Managing Director of the Consolidated Bank Ghana Limited (CBG).

The appointment, according to a graphiconline.com report, was made by President John Dramani Mahama, and officially communicated through a letter dated March 26, 2025.

The letter, signed by the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, was addressed to the Board Chairman of CBG and copied to the Company Secretary.

According to the report, in the same announcement, Shiela Azuntaba was nominated as the Acting Deputy Managing Director.

Both appointments take effect from March 26, 2025.

The Finance Ministry has directed the CBG Board to regularize the appointments in accordance with the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992) and the bank’s constitution.

AM/KA

Meanwhile, watch GhanaWeb’s tour of Fort Victoria and the Cape Coast Lighthouse below:

The Ranking Member of the Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, Rev John Ntim Fordjour has said that Ghana cannot be allowed to be suddenly turned into a hub for cocaine and money laundering.

The Member of Parliament for Assin South accused the Mahama government of failing to provide responses to the status of the 12 containers filled with gold and currencies confiscated by the National Security on February 9.

Also, he said, the government has failed to provide responses on the status of investigations made into the high-profile cocaine busts totaling some $500 million ($350m and $150m).

Ntim Fordjour said these while denying a cliam by the President’s Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu that he failed to honour an invitation by officials of a security agency.

“Kwakye Ofosu lied when he claimed I’ve been invited by security agencies and failed to attend upon their invitation. No security or intelligence agency has ever invited me to assist them with any information. I dare Kwakye Ofosu to produce a copy of such invitation. I’m still waiting on them to collaborate with me in Parliament to undertake President Mahama’s directive, if the directive was not mere rhetorics,” he posted on X in response to a post by the Minister of State in Charge of Government Communications.

Read Also: No security agency has invited me for any information- Ntim Fordjour replies Kwakye Ofosu

Mr Kwakye Ofosu said upon President John Mahama’s directive that the security agencies should engage Rev Fordjour for more information, the latter has varied his assertion.

“I can report to you that because he knew he was peddling total falsehoods and lies, he now claims after being invited to assist with investigations that he was speaking on behalf of the committee that he was part of. And that the views he expressed were not his personal views. So, because of that he says he is unable to cooperate with the security agencies,” the President’s spokesperson said.

In reaction, the Assin South MP said, “When I wrote to call for Joint Security briefing which would have afforded the security and intelligence agencies the opportunity to collaborate with me and to share further information with them and receive their updates on investigations conducted into the specific cases, NDC Parliamentary Caucus and the government BLOCKED the briefing and shielded the security and intelligence agencies from accountability and denied them the opportunity to collaborate with me. What are they hiding?”

“Whereas Kwakye Ofosu confirmed my claims of the entry and departure of the two suspicious flights as true, the reasons provided by Kwakye Ofosu in respect of their purpose of entry are incoherent, questionable and cannot be taken seriously.  The government has since failed to provide responses to the status of the 12 containers filled with gold and currencies confiscated by the National Security on February 9,” he stressed on April 3.

Rev Fordjour alleged that “The government has also failed to provide responses on the status of investigations made into the high-profile cocaine busts totaling some $500 million ($350m and $150m).”

“In view of the above, and the disingenuous response from Government Spokesperson, they are bent on hiding information and evading accountability. Our country cannot be allowed to be suddenly turned into a hub for cocaine and money laundering. They must come again,” he signed off the post.

As soon as he sat by me, with a mischievous look on his face, he pointed at my wrist and asked, “When will you replace your watch?” His 1968 Year-Group schoolmates of Achimota School (OAA 1968), and indeed friends, generally call him Oshimpan or “Oshie” for short. 

In the military, he is officially Colonel John Armah Okai (Rtd). In previous articles, I called him “Abednego/Abed!” 

So, why did Oshie ask me to prematurely retire my beloved old-faithful wristwatch which has served me so loyally? I shall return to that.

Event

The venue that Sunday, March 23, 2025, was the Victory Presbyterian Church, Frafraha, where we had assembled for the launch of two books by lawyer/banker/management consultant/author, Mr Kofi Otutu Adu Labi. 

The launch attracted a large number of dignitaries and was chaired by Colonel (Rev) David Adoteye-Asare (Rtd), former Chaplain General of the Ghana Armed Forces, with Mrs Matilda Amissah-Arthur as guest of honour. 

Some of the VIPs were former Justice of the Supreme Court Professor Date-Bah and his wife, Justice of the Supreme Court Professor Henrietta Mensa Bonsu; Law Professor EVO Dankwa and Mrs Efua Ghartey, President of the Ghana Bar Association. 

Also present were Dr Akwasi Hanson, my senior at school, and my classmates Professor Henry Baddoo, with his wife Rachel, and Dr Kwabena Smart-Yeboah.

The MC was Dr Stella Agyeman-Duah of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Kwabenya. The Reviewer was Brig. Gen. Dan Frimpong (Rtd).

Books

The two books launched that day were Gems from the Hilltop and Become an Investor! Not a Taker: Hilltop Secrets. 
Gems from the Hilltop is a 12-chapter 122-page book. 

In Chapter 1, titled “When Dreams Come True”, I found it intriguing that, of all life’s wishes, the author’s dream should be that of going to the beach to pull nets with fishermen. 

Such was his desire that when his first attempt to join fishermen at Teshie got scuttled because of bad weather, he was disappointed. 

However, he consoled himself with the lesson he learnt from the skill of the Chief Fisherman who, notwithstanding having had no formal education, perhaps knew more about meteorology and the sea than the classroom offered. 

He cancelled the expedition at the last minute because he considered the weather inclement for fishing. The author stated: “I saw it as a call to everyone to appreciate that we do not know everything. Every skill is important to make the world what it is, and a contribution to humanity.”

When eventually the author got the opportunity to pull the net at Prampram Beach with fishermen, he was absolutely joyous, as he titled it,

“At last, a dream come true!” 

A lesson he learnt from the fishermen at Prampram was that in spite of their simple lives, they did not complain or blame anyone for their circumstances. Indeed, they showed contentment with life.

Truth/integrity

The author’s discussion of Truth/Integrity reminded me of the saying, “You can fool some of the people all the time, all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.”

To support this, he has an interesting quote on page 56: “The certainty of misery is better than the misery of uncertainty.” It is better to speak the truth and be damned once than to lie and live in constant fear of being found out.

He buttressed his point on Integrity, saying:

“I was astounded to hear the story on BBC Radio in August 2022 of a primary school football match in England replayed 50 years after the original game. Reason? Graeme Jones, 60, who was one of the primary school footballers, had apparently shoved the goalkeeper on the opposite side with the ball over the goal line in the dying seconds of the match. The referee did not see the shoving and this resulted in Graeme’s team earning a dubious equaliser to the match in a 1-1 draw.”

Graeme went on to become a naval officer. However, unable to assuage the conscience of his cheating, which deprived the opponents of a victory, Graeme, 50 years later, assembled all 22 players, including one from Costa Rica, now an average of 60 years old, to play a return match. 

This time, Graeme’s team was comprehensively beaten by 6-2. This was Graeme’s therapy for the guilt he had carried for 50 years.

The author asked readers to eschew negative thinking and talking and be positive about what they think and say! In concluding Gems from the Hilltop, he states in Chapter 5: “The search for meaning in life has engaged the time and energies of sages and ordinary people over the years. Some have sought to amass wealth at the peril of their relationship with God. Others have sought political power, only to get embroiled in endless conflicts.

We should never forget that God brought us into being for a purpose. There can be no fulfilment in life outside the will of God. It is in him that we find peace, joy and victory!”

In a recent UK publication on March 27, 2025, titled, “UK publishes details of unclaimed estates belonging to 58 dead Nigerians,” it states:

“The estates have been classified under ‘Bona Vacantia’, a legal term indicating that no valid claim has been made for the assets, thereby rendering them property of the Crown.”

To Ghanaians who have converted public monies stolen with impunity into “box/square-buildings” in Ghana, and buildings in the UK /US, remember the Greek goddess of divine retribution and vengeance, Nemesis! Indeed, the Bible says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19).

Book 2

The second book reviewed was “Become an Investor! Not a Taker <\a> Hilltop Secrets. This is a 13-chapter book with 159 pages. The author states:

“According to the late Dr John Edmund Haggai of Haggai International fame, there are two kinds of people in the world, ‘Investors’ and ‘Takers.’

What I have learned from him is that you must be willing to invest time, energy, labour and seed if you want to be an investor. Investing in any venture, relationship or undertaking requires sacrifice, patience and pain.

Takers, on the other hand, tend to reap where they have not sown. They have a sense of entitlement and are not prepared to pay the price for investment. They have a fast-food mentality!”

Adu Labi states that such people “are obsessed with power and being at the receiving end of attention. They feel the world revolves around them. They have a sense of self-importance, which demands respect.” 

Indeed, self-aggrandisement is their way of life and every project, though undertaken with public funds, must be named after them. What they forget about the reality of life is that respect is earned and not demanded. Sooner than later, they become a nuisance to society and get rejected for their selfishness, when they lose power/authority.

‘Hall-of-Famers’

Chapter 3 is titled “Hall of Fame of the Greatest Living Ghanaians.” Here, he has a select group of eight “Investors” whose lives he believes are worthy of emulation by Ghanaians. 

They are Dr Felix Konotey-Ahulu, a renowned medical doctor; former Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood; Mrs Mary Chinery-Hesse, Chancellor of the University of Ghana; Mr Cameron Duodu, a renowned Journalist; Dr Victor Lawrence, an International Scientist; Professor William Abraham, a Philosopher; Justice (Prof.) Samuel Kofi Date-Bah, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, and Prof. Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng, a renowned Heart-surgeon and Politician.

Chapter 7 is titled “Bees, Investors of the most unusual kind.” The author writes about his chance encounter at a 70th birthday party with Prof. Peter Kwapong, an Entomologist at the University of Cape Coast. 

From him, he learnt about bees, as the unsung heroes of human existence. Until the meeting, all the author knew about bees was what most of us know. They make honey and they sting. 

However, he learnt that bees pollinate plants, contributing to, perhaps, the most important part of food production in the agriculture value chain.

Discussion

In summary, the two books are heavily spiced with Biblical quotations that espouse morality as the compass humans must use. The author discusses leadership, vision, humility, knowledge and integrity, among others, as a necessary condition for any society to develop. 

Unfortunately, these qualities are in short supply in Ghana. Hence, galamsey destroying our environment, intemperate language/disrespect, road traffic indiscipline/deaths, blatant stealing and corruption. 

For those who misuse the power/authority vested in them, remember Martin Luther King’s statement, “The arc of the moral universe might be long, but it bends towards justice”. Evil never pays!

Wrist-watch

I started the review by reading out the author’s WhatsApp invitation message to me. It read: “General, may I ask you to do a 12-minute review of my two new books at the launch?” 

I chuckled as I asked myself, “12 minutes to review two books?”

That Sunday, knowing I had done well over twice the 12 minutes given me, I concluded by saying, “By my watch, I have done only 11 minutes so far. So, I will use the remaining one minute to sum up!”

It was during the uproarious laughter my innocent statement triggered that Oshie heard someone remark, “This General’s watch is spoilt. 

He needs a new one”. Hence, his question: “When will you replace your watch?” 

Leadership, lead by example! Fellow Ghanaians, wake up! 

The writer is a former CEO, African Peace Support Trainers Association, Nairobi, Kenya/Council Chairman, Family Health University, Accra.

E-mail: [email protected]

The Chief Commercial Manager at the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness, and Industry, Kofi Addo, has emphasised the government’s commitment to agricultural transformation through private sector collaboration.

According to Adams, the government is committed to collaborating with the private sector to enhance value addition and expand Ghana’s agricultural industry.

“In partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, we will work with private sector players to scale up commercial farming. Instead of smallholder farmers managing just two hectares, we need large-scale operators managing at least 5,000 hectares and beyond. The government is committed to providing key inputs to facilitate mechanized and commercial farming,” he stated.

This pledge comes on the heels of concerns raised at the Accra Workshop of the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce’s (UKGCC) Grand Challenge programme, where industry players highlighted key challenges local farmers face. The Grand Challenge programme is designed to identify, support, and scale innovative Ghanaian solutions in the agriculture and energy sectors.

For his part, William Hunt, Country Director of Demeter Ghana and Chair of the UKGCC’s Agribusiness Sector Committee, called on the government to invest in modern farming techniques to maximise income generation and improve productivity.

Hunt noted that “despite current challenges, Ghana’s agriculture sector holds immense potential. With the right tools, policies, and partnerships, we can close the yield gap and build a more resilient, expert-driven, and productive system. We must also invest in a new generation of commercially viable farm funds that support mechanisation, irrigation, and reliable supply chains for processing and export markets.”

The UKGCC Grand Challenge programme is a structured competition where innovators develop and propose technological, social, or financial solutions to address key challenges in Agriculture and Energy.

Speaking at the workshop, the Executive Director of the UKGCC, Adjoba Kyiamah, indicated that the programme seeks to encourage and support innovation that addresses pressing national and sectoral challenges, and foster collaboration between researchers, entrepreneurs, government agencies, and the private sector.

She added that the programme further seeks to provide capacity-building and funding opportunities to innovators to refine and scale their solutions, as well as create a sustainable pipeline of investable, commercially viable, and impactful projects.

During the workshop, held at the Mix Design Hub in Accra, applicants exchanged ideas, refined their concepts, and took advantage of the expertise, resources, and masterclasses available to develop strong, competitive proposals.

The panel of industry experts comprised Saqib Nazir, Founder of Mojo Payments; Alhassan Baba Muniru, Co-founder of RUG; Dr. Markus Perkmann, Professor of Innovation & Entrepreneurship and Vice-Dean (Research & Faculty) at Imperial College Business School; Mr. Franklin Eshun from Ghana TVET Service; Dr. Roland Asare, Senior Research Officer at Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Ghana; Ben Mumby-Croft, Director of Entrepreneurship at Imperial College London; Divine Elikem Ackah, Technical Supervisor at IT Consortium; Julian Owusu at BUILD The Company; seasoned sales coach, Mawuli Ocloo; and Nuna Attipoe, Associate at Koranteng & Koranteng Legal Advisors.

According to Kyiamah, “in addition to the mentorship and guidance received from industry leaders at the workshop, shortlisted applicants will also receive the opportunity to pitch for spots in a United Kingdom roadshow—offering international exposure and investment opportunities.”

The Grand Challenge workshop continues in Kumasi, where the programme will engage relevant stakeholders and equip innovators with the necessary tools to participate effectively.

The UKGCC Grand Challenge falls under the Sankore Programme, a United Kingdom Government-backed initiative under the West Africa Research and Innovation Hub (WARIH). Sankore focuses on strengthening West African innovation systems and scaling impactful solutions in West Africa and beyond.

 President John Dramani Maha­ma has ordered the restoration of a ramsar site and a water retention basin at Mallam Junction in Accra.

The site which lies beneath the Mallam Junction Interchange has virtually been filled with gravel and turned into a plane field in readiness for habitation by the private firm, Caitec Motors.

“Remove all (the gravels you have deposited here). Take it back to where you brought it from at your own cost,” Presi­dent Mahama ordered on Wednesday.

The President’s order followed a briefing given him by the Chairman of Govern­ment’s Anti-flooding Task Force and Deputy Chief of Staff, Stan Xoese Dogbe, when he embarked on a working tour of some flood-prone areas in the capital.

The tour was in anticipation of the wet season and comes on the back of an aerial recce by the task force about a fortnight ago.

The tour took the President and his entourage to other flood-prone areas including Achimota, Kaneshie First Light, and Odawna at Circle.

Mr Dogbe explained that as a result of the encroachment on the water course, houses downstream at Sakaman and adjoining communities get flooded at the least downpour.

“Mr President, we can do all the clearing upstream but if this siltation stays, (the flooding around this area will continue and probably worsen),” Stan Dogbe reported to the President.

To this end, President Mahama said the siltation of the water retention area posed a danger not only to properties but human lives.

He said it was not because the Gov­ernment does not have sympathies for businesses but the environmental by-laws needed to be enforced without fear or favour.

He took a dig at the Ga South Municipal Assembly for looking on for a restricted area to be filled with gravel.

“Can you imagine the volume of water this place alone can hold when it rains? If you fill it up and say there should be a drain passing through, the drain cannot contain the amount of water,” he noted.

At the Kaneshie First Light, President Mahama urged contractors to speed up drainage works ahead of the rainy season.

He called on dredging contractors at the Odaw River to accelerate their work to mitigate flooding the enclave sees during downpours.

President Mahama’s field visit comes two days after he warned at the Eid prayers on Monday that buildings in water ways and other unauthorised places would be pulled down.

 BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI

Daniel Forrester, 47, from Chelmsford and his partner Caroline Sarpong were together for nearly two years and engaged for 11 months before she died on November 11 last year.

Ms Sarpong, who was previously married before meeting Mr Forrester, lived with colorectal cancer, which spread to her liver, lymph nodes and lungs, and was later diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumour.

Mr Forrester will honour his fiancee by walking with her ashes from Saint Francis Hospice in Havering-atte-Bower in Romford, where she received end-of-life care, to her home town of Kumasi in Ghana, the area she lived between the ages of four and 19 before returning to London, where she was born.

He is expected to complete his walk in six to 12 months, which will start on September 20 – the day the couple planned to get married, all while raising money for the hospice.

“I wanted to do something for Caroline. I wanted her memory to live on,” he told the PA news agency.

“I just wanted to show to everyone, even after her passing, what a beautiful, wonderful woman she was.”

In 2021, Ms Sarpong went to the hospital after complaining of stomach pains but was forced to have emergency surgery on her bowel after it ruptured and, at the time, doctors gave her six months to live.

She underwent chemotherapy before going into remission in January 2022, and a year later, she met Mr Forrester.

He described his late fiancee as his “angel” who “completed” him.

“She was just so selfless and caring. She literally put everyone first,” he said.

“I can’t do her justice by telling you what she was like. It’s so hard to describe her, but for me, she’s my angel.

“I’ve never met anybody in my life who’s been more influential in me becoming a better person.”

Mr Forrester will walk from Romford to Canterbury, and in between take a boat from Barking Riverside to Woolwich – a route the couple would take often for date nights – before heading to Dover to take a ferry to Calais and walk south to Lourdes in France.

Afterwards, he will trek through Spain to Gibraltar before taking a ferry to Morocco, where he will walk across the Western Sahara, to Mauritania, Senegal, Guinea and the Ivory Coast before reaching Kumasi in Ghana.

He said he expects to take 72 days to walk from Romford to Gibraltar and hopes to arrive there on December 2 to mark the one-year anniversary of Ms Sarpong’s funeral, and said taking on this challenge helped him to grieve for her.

“After her funeral, I was at rock bottom. I couldn’t think of anything to motivate me to even open the curtains,” he said.

“I ordered a book online about someone who walked from London to Rome… within 10 pages, I decided to go for a walk.”

His first walk after Ms Sarpong’s funeral was the day before Christmas Eve last year, from his home in Chelmsford to her home in Barking, where he dropped off presents for her family and collected her ashes to bring home.

Mr Forrester said he did not want to set a fundraising target on his GoFundMe page, but selected an arbitrary goal of £1 billion in a bid to raise “as much money as possible” for the hospice, which provided “exemplary” care for Ms Sarpong.

“The level of care for Caroline was really out of this world, nothing was too much trouble for them as they attempted to make Caroline’s final days as comfortable and as dignified as they possibly could,” he said.

“I myself will never forget that, and I take great comfort in knowing Caroline went peacefully and comfortably, whilst under their care at Saint Francis.”

To support Mr Forrester’s fundraiser, you can visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/london-to-ghana-5k-mile-walk.

Former Manchester United defender Brandon Williams says it “hurts watching football” after being without a club since last summer.

Williams was released by boyhood team Manchester United at the end of the 2023-24 season after his contract expired and has spent this campaign watching the game from the outside.

The 24-year-old’s last appearance came in December 2023 during a loan spell with Ipswich.

In March, Williams admitted to a charge of dangerous driving – he had been caught in August 2023 doing almost 100mph before crashing his car in Cheshire.

“I go into this mode where I just don’t care,” Williams said on Ben Foster’s Fozcast podcast, external.

“I have this switch where I don’t care what happens. They [family and friends] wanted me to get back to football but they could see I’d fallen out of love with.

“It hurts me watching football now because I just want to be there, I just want to play. I miss being in a team, on the coach, travelling to games, having meals together and just doing things.”

Williams came through Manchester United’s academy to make his senior debut under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2019.

The left-back made 51 appearances, including two in the Champions League, but struggled to tie down a regular spot and spent time on loan at Norwich and Ipswich.

He featured under Kieran McKenna at Ipswich but the former Manchester United coach sent Williams back to his parent club after seeing that “something wasn’t right”.

“I had a few problems going on off the pitch at the end of the year,” Williams said.

“He [McKenna] said ‘get yourself sorted and come back as Brandon’.

“When I did come back to Manchester, things increased off the pitch with family problems and friend problems.”

Williams will be sentenced for his dangerous driving charge on 9 May at Chester Crown Court.

He was caught driving in an erratic manner and at up to 99mph in a 70mph zone. In March, the court heard he was seen with a balloon at his mouth.

The CPS said a female passenger was seen filming them at one point on her phone, adding that it was clear to witnesses that Williams’ Audi was out of control before colliding with another car.

Williams was breathalysed but the test was negative.

Williams raring to go after ‘reset’

Williams is seeking a route back into the game but admitted that he found it difficult to deal with being in the spotlight since breaking into the first team at Old Trafford.

He met with Mick Farrell, a psychologist at Manchester United, but feared opening up completely on his struggles in case word spread around the club and he received an unsympathetic response.

Williams said he was going through some “dark” times and Farrell would come to visit in the morning to try to get him to leave his apartment.

The England under-21 international believes his time away from the game has afforded him the opportunity to “reset” and feels he is ready to get back playing again next season.

“I want to have that feeling again of winning and being around the changing room environment,” Williams said.

“I’ve had loads of teams trying to get me out – America, Europe and England – but I haven’t been ready. I want to go somewhere 100% focused and kick on.

“I would like to experience that different culture. I’m only 24 so I could do three or four years abroad. Definitely Europe at a good club or an upcoming club.”

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Bawumia (L) Bryan (M) and Kennedy Agyapong

Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer candidate Kennedy Agyapong and the party’s presidential candidate for the 2024 election, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, met in Kwahu during the NPP’s meetings.

The NPP top hierarchy had gathered at the Rock City Hotel to deliberate on the upcoming elections. During the event, Kennedy Agyapong and Dr. Bawumia were seen engaging warmly.

In videos from the event, Kennedy Agyapong is seen shaking hands with Dr. Bawumia, with both of them smiling broadly.

Bryan Acheampong, the Member of Parliament for Abetifi constituency, was also spotted stepping in to shake hands with them.

The two leaders shared a lighthearted moment, laughing and exchanging pleasantries.

Kennedy Agyapong lost his bid to lead the NPP into the 2024 elections to Dr Mahamudu Bawumia. However, Bawumia also failed to secure victory in the 2024 presidential elections.

Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, former MP for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong, and former Agric Minister Hon. Bryan Acheampong link up at one of Africa’s biggest hotels, the Rock City Hotel in Kwahu. pic.twitter.com/6JQUhkyD4L

— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) April 3, 2025

AM/KA

Meanwhile, watch GhanaWeb’s tour of Fort Victoria and the Cape Coast Lighthouse below:

…Absa Bank’s She Business to close gender financing gap

In a move to address the gender financing gap, Absa Bank Ghana LTD has launched She Business, an update to its women’s banking proposition that offers collateral-free loans of up to GH¢2 million at 10percent per annum to eligible female entrepreneurs.

The initiative forms part of the bank’s broader effort to help close Ghana’s estimated US$6.1 billion MSME credit gap.

“Today’s launch is not just about updating our proposition. It is a statement of our intent to help women entrepreneurs take advantage of real business opportunities,” said Dr. Edward Nartey Botchway, Managing Director of Absa Bank Ghana LTD. “For us, it is a compelling opportunity to implement a system that helps MSMEs thrive.”

She Business has been developed on the successes chalked by EMERGE, Absa’s programme tailored for women-led enterprises, which disbursed over GH¢800 million in funding.

The refreshed offering combines financial access with advisory services, business insurance, market access opportunities, networking platforms, international trade trips, and more.

In addition, Absa also offers collateralised loans of up to US$1 million for established SMEs customers, including women-owned businesses, looking to scale further.

Audrey Abakah, Director of SME Banking and Partnerships at Absa Bank Ghana, outlined the strategic evolution of the updated proposition.

“Our approach is based on what women told us they value most: practical support, affordable credit, and a bank that sees their potential and stands with them at every stage of growth. She Business is designed to deliver on all those needs.”

Gottfried Odamtten-Sowah, Head of Entrepreneurship Development at Mastercard Foundation Ghana, added: “It is an honour for the Mastercard Foundation to stand with Absa Ghana in this endeavour. We are committed to forging strategic partnerships that address the barriers women entrepreneurs face, and to creating sustainable pathways for young women and their businesses to flourish.”

The launch event brought together women business owners, corporate leaders, and policymakers, with representation from the Mastercard Foundation, Hollard Ghana, Telecel Ghana, DHL Group, Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), and Development Bank Ghana (DBG). As part of the launch, Grace Amey-Obeng, Founder and CEO of FC Group of Companies; Abigail Amma Afriyie Abora, CEO of Aide Chemists Ltd; and Freda Sarkodie Donkor, CEO of FH Depot, were unveiled as official Champions of Absa She Business.

In a revelation that has reverberated across Ghana, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has found itself at the center of a procurement crisis that has raised concerns, as usual about the integrity of public institutions.

The disappearance of over 1,300 containers, valued at a staggering GH¢6 billion, has laid bare a systemic pattern of negligence, mismanagement, and potential corruption that not only jeopardizes the integrity of public procurement but also raises grave concerns about accountability within state-owned enterprises.

The recent disclosures, as reported by John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, have sparked a nationwide outcry and a renewed call for comprehensive reforms. The avoidable costs exceeding GH¢909 million, resulting from the mishandling of these vital supplies, have become a stark reminder of the consequences of ignoring the principles of transparency and accountability.

At the heart of the crisis is the admission by the Director in charge of procurement that the majority of the containers stuck at the port were acquired during his tenure. This revelation has exposed a deeply ingrained culture of negligence and poor planning within the organization.

The Director’s troubling statement that the over-purchasing was due to “pressure from above” has raised serious questions about the role of senior management and the extent to which political influence has permeated the procurement decision-making process.

The situation has also shed light on the alarming manner in which contracts have been awarded at ECG. The former Managing Director, Samuel Dubik Mahama, is accused of handpicking suppliers without allowing for fair competition, a clear violation of the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663), as amended. This practice not only wastes taxpayers money but also fosters an environment of corruption and favouritism, undermining the principles of good governance.

The scale of the problem is further exacerbated by the discovery that some containers may have been deliberately left at the port to facilitate lucrative clearing contracts worth GH¢159 million, awarded to private companies despite ECG having its own capable clearing unit. This raises significant ethical concerns and questions about the motivations behind such decisions.

Procurement expert Mr. Michael Kofi Quashie has emphasized the grave legal implications of these procurement breaches. He underscores that compliance with the Public Procurement Act is paramount, and the High Court of Ghana has previously prosecuted individuals for violating these laws, as evidenced in the case of The Republic v Eugene Baffoe Bonnie and others [Suit No. CR/904/2017(unreported).

In response to the crisis, Mr. Quashie believes the government must take decisive action to address the issues and hold those responsible accountable. He suggests that the deployment of forensic auditors to scrutinize the procurement processes, financial records, and the roles of various officials within ECG is a critical first step. Conducting interviews with key personnel and undertaking a comprehensive review of contracts will be essential in identifying any irregularities or signs of corruption.

Moreover, Mr. Quashie advocates for the strengthening of the legal frameworks governing public procurement. This includes mandating strict compliance with procurement laws and regulations, implementing independent audits and oversight, and creating platforms for public access to procurement information. He emphasizes that these reforms are necessary to restore public trust and prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Whistleblower protections are also highlighted by Mr. Quashie as a crucial component in fostering a culture of transparency and accountability. By empowering individuals who come forward with information about corruption or mismanagement, the government can create an environment where the public can be confident that their concerns will be addressed.

The ECG procurement crisis has not only exposed systemic failures but has also sparked a nationwide conversation about the urgent need for reform in Ghana’s public institutions. As the investigations continue, the public eagerly awaits the outcome and the consequences for those found responsible.

In conclusion, the revelations surrounding ECG’s procurement practices have become a sobering wake-up call for the nation. The staggering financial losses, the alleged misuse of public funds, and the blatant disregard for procurement laws have shaken the foundations of public trust. However, this crisis also presents an opportunity for transformative change, where the principles of transparency, accountability, and ethical decision-making are firmly embedded within the fabric of Ghana’s public institutions.

By addressing the systemic issues that have enabled such egregious breaches, the government can pave the way for a future where the public can have confidence in the stewardship of their resources and the integrity of their state-owned enterprises. The ECG procurement scandal is a testament to the urgent need for a fundamental shift in the way public institutions operate, and the government must seize this moment to usher in a new era of accountability and good governance.

By Innocent Samuel Appiah