The Volta region has commenced the vetting process for 287 Municipal, and District Chief Executive (MDCE) aspirants, a diverse group consisting of 33 females and 254 males.

The exercise, which started on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, is expected to run until January 27, 2025.

The Vice Chairman of the Volta Regional NDC, who also chairs the vetting committee, Egypt Kobla Kudoto, addressed aspirants before the process began.

He emphasised that the program is a crucial component of the party’s “Reset Ghana” agenda, spearheaded by His Excellency.

“This program is part of our resetting project that His Excellency has promised to reset Ghana. The process starts from the assemblies, especially when we have assemblies that are in a comma. For the last 8 years, we all know what has been happening. Assemblies that cannot afford their A4 sheets, assemblies that have to depend on borrowing fuel to run their vehicles.

“That tells you there is a workload for those of you sitting here who will be occupying the office as MDCEs. So, what it simply means is that we will go for competence, we will go for those hungry for results, and we will go for those who will breathe new life into our assemblies to ensure our Reset Ghana agenda is realized,” Mr. Egypt stated passionately.

Aspirants expressed confidence in the vetting process, commending its transparency and professionalism.

Abdul Wahab Mohammed, vying for the position of Hohoe Municipal Chief Executive, praised the committee’s approach and shared his vision for the municipality.

“If chosen, I will prioritise fixing Hohoe’s roads, introduce initiatives to create jobs for the youth, and focus on completing the Satellite UHAS campus in Hohoe. This agenda will undoubtedly give Hohoe a facelift,” he told the media.

Another aspirant, Madame Bridget Yaa Simpi, revealed that her inspiration to contest stemmed from Vice President Prof. Jane Nana Opoku Agyemang.

She outlined her vision to develop agriculture and tourism in the Hohoe Municipality.

The vetting committee, chaired by Mr Egypt Kobla Kudoto, includes other notable members such as former Regional Minister Joseph Amenɔwode, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedzra, Francis Ganyaglo, and other party executives.

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play videoFormer president Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo

Kwame Agbodza, the Roads and Highways Minister-designate, has revealed that some road contractors in Ghana are owed as little as GH¢5,000 by the previous government, highlighting concerns over the management of road toll funds.

During his vetting by the Appointments Committee on Monday, January 20, Agbodza discussed the controversial cancellation of road tolls by the Akufo-Addo administration.

He expressed his surprise at the decision, stating that instead of cancelling the tolls, the government should have worked to improve the system by addressing the leakages and enhancing its effectiveness.

Agbodza criticised the move as an act of illegality, pointing out that such a decision could not be made unilaterally.

He noted that road tolling was an Act promulgated by Parliament

He suggested that there was some negligence in how the cancellation was handled, particularly as the government had claimed the road toll was generating only paltry ¢80 million.

The minister-designate emphasised that road tolls would be reintroduced, albeit in a modern form.

He stated that the future system would involve technology, allowing for fairer and more efficient collection without the need for physical road obstructions or manual toll collection, ensuring a smoother experience for drivers.

“We decided to caution the government not to cancel road toll but rather find a way to make it better.

This means that we should find a way to block the leakages and enhance it.

So it was surprising that it was cancelled or they claimed they zeroed it.

For me, it was an act of illegality but it had an act and was a law so they couldn’t unilaterally do that. I believe there was some level of negligence in the way it was done.”

“They claimed road toll was accruing just GH¢80 million but today road contractors are working in Ghana which are owed GH¢5,000.

So the road toll is coming back but not in the form of building obstructions on the road for drivers to stop and somebody taking money from them but this coming in a form of technological and fair that will make it easy to collect,” he stated.

Watch as Agbodza gives details of actual kilometres of road constructed by the Akufo-Addo government

Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson is the Majority Leader of Parliament

The Majority Leader in Parliament, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has expressed deep regret over the recent violent clashes at Obuasi, that lead to the deaths of 9 persons believed to be small-scale miners.

Others have been left severely and critically-injured.

Addressing a press conference in Parliament on Tuesday, Ato Forson, who is also the Minister of Finance, described the incident as a significant blot on the nation’s quest for peaceful resolution of conflicts.

“The recent confrontations between small-scale miners and military personnel in Obuasi, which led to the death of nine miners and left several others in critical condition after sustaining various degrees of injuries, is most regrettable,” he remarked.

He also extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured speedy recovery.

The Majority Leader further emphasised the need for dialogues and effective engagements to address the underlying issues surrounding mining activities in the region.

He called for a thorough investigation into the incident to ensure accountability and prevent future occurrences.

“This incident underscores the urgent need for sustainable solutions to the challenges in the mining sector. Violence must never be an option,” he stated.

The Majority also urged all stakeholders, including the government, local authorities, and mining communities, to collaborate in creating a peaceful and regulated environment for small-scale mining.

Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson also entreated the security agencies to exercise restraint and professionalism when dealing with conflicts, reiterating that the safety and dignity of all citizens must remain a priority.

Meanwhile, watch as Eric Opoku speaks about the poultry crisis in Ghana demanding urgent action:

AE

President John Dramani Mahama has made 10 more key appointments to the Office of the President.

The appointment, which was announced on Tuesday, January 21, 2024, included Ghanaians with vast experiences in various fields, including communication, diplomacy, governance and security.

Below is a profile of the new presidential staffers:

Joyce Bawah Mogtari – Presidential Adviser and Special Aide to the President

Joyce Bawah Mogtari, before her appointment, was Special Aide to John Dramani Mahama.

The presidential adviser was a spokesperson for the campaign team of President Mahama for the 2024 election.

She was also a Deputy Minister of Transport during Mahama’s first term as president.

She is an experienced mediator and has done this on several occasions both locally and internationally. She has also previously served as the head of the Ghana Shippers’ Authority, after being the Director of Legal Services of the authority.

Mogtari, a lawyer by profession, was formally called to the bar in 2000 and she started her career with the firm Sey & Co. Later, she became a consultant for KPMG and the Venture Capital Trust Fund.

She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) degree from Holborn College, University of London (1997). She also holds a master’s degree in Maritime Law (LL.M) from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) International Maritime Law Institute (IMLI), Malta, where she was the recipient of the IMO Legal Committee Chairman’s Award for Best Overall Performance in International Transport Law. She also holds a master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and Mediation from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre, Ghana.

Stanislav Xoese Dogbe – Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations)

Stanislav Xoese Dogbe, widely known as Stan Dogbe, has, since 2012 worked with President John Dramani Mahama as his Special Assistant and Director of Communications.

He was a presidential aide to the late former President Prof John Evans Atta Mills and Mahama when he was vice president.

He also served as a technical adviser to the newly appointed Minister and Deputy Ministers of Information between 2009 and 2010. During Mahama’s previous presidency, he managed the president’s communication strategy.

Stan Dogbe was also responsible for all backend communications and campaign operations of the John Mahama 2020 and 2024 Campaigns.

The Deputy Chief of Staff, who is a journalist, was the Head of Talk Programmes at Joy FM and senior editor in the newsroom of the media house.

Nana Oye Bampoe Addo – Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration)

Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, formerly known as Nana Oye Lithur, was the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection during Mahama’s first term in office.

She holds a Bachelor of Law (BL) from the School of Law, Accra (1992) and a Master’s in Law, Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (LLM) from the University of Pretoria, South Africa (2001).

She previously worked as the Chief Executive Director of the Human Rights Advocacy Centre and for years was also the Regional Coordinator (Africa Office) for the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI).

She is an advisory member of the International Consortium on Realising Reproductive Rights and a member of the steering committee of the International Consortium on Medical Abortion. The Human Rights Advocate is an executive member of the International Freedom of Information Advocates Network, the Africa Freedom Of Information Centre, and the Convener of the Right to Information Coalition of Ghana.

She has been involved with the Coordinated African Regional Survey on Access to Information for Ghana, as well as running an access to justice programme and a human rights clinic.

Seth Emmanuel Terkper – Presidential Adviser on the Economy

Seth Terkper was Mahama’s Minister of Finance during his first term. Before assuming the Minister of Finance role, he was a Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) from March 2009 to January 2013.

Between July 1999 and February 2009, Seth Terkper held various positions (last as Senior Economist) in the Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Before joining the IMF, Terkper worked in staff and management positions — including National VAT Coordinator and Deputy Commissioner — in the National Revenue Secretariat (MOFEP) and revenue agencies in Ghana.

The presidential adviser holds a first degree in Bachelor of Commerce (B.Comm.) from the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree from the Kennedy School, Harvard University. He is also a chartered accountant.

Professor Francis Dodoo – Presidential Adviser, National Anti-Corruption Programme

Professor Francis Dodoo is a former Pro-Vice Chancellor for Research, Innovation and Development at the University of Ghana.

He is a demographer with a PhD from the University of Pennsylvania. He has chaired the boards of the Export Development and Agricultural Investment Fund (EDAIF), Ghana’s Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), and the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS). Professor Dodoo is a 4-time Olympian and was voted Ghana’s Sportsman of the Year in 1987.

Professor Dodoo served as President of both Ghana Athletics (GAA) and the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and was awarded the Grand Medal of the Republic of Ghana in 2006 for his contributions to the country.

He has also served as Chair of the African Institute for Development Policy (AFIDEP) board, Chair of the Governance Commission of World Athletics (WA), and as a member of the Governance and Integrity Committee of the Commonwealth Games Foundation (CGF).

Larry Gbevlo-Lartey – Special Envoy to the Alliance of Sahelian States

Larry Gbevlo-Lartey is a retired Lieutenant Colonel of the Ghana Armed Forces and a former National Security Coordinator of Ghana, with extensive experience in security and diplomacy.

Gbevlo-Lartey, who is also a private legal practitioner, has previously served as the African Union Chairperson’s Special Representative in Charge of Counter-Terrorism Cooperation and the African Center for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT).

He served as the National Security Coordinator of Ghana from 2009 to 2014. The special envoy also has some experience in academia.

He established the Human Security Research Center in Accra and is a visiting lecturer at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.

Nana Yaa Jantuah – Presidential Staffer

Nana Yaa Jantuah is a former General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP).

Yaa Jantuah was the Director of Public Affairs at the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission.

She has practised public relations for about 25 years, starting as a Public Relations Officer at the Ghana Investment Promotion Council, and then to the Ghana Free Zones Board; and rising to become the Director of Public Affairs of the PURC.

Beatrice Annangfio – Presidential Staffer

Beatrice Annangfio, widely known as Beatrice Annan, is a member of the communication team of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and was a spokesperson of the campaign team of John Mahama for the 2024 election.

She is a private legal practitioner, with a speciality in commercial law and practice. She also is a policy analyst and a Fellow at the Institute of Energy Security with experience in the areas of energy and natural resource law.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from KNUST, an LLB from the University of Ghana, and an M.A. in Economic Policy Management from the University of Ghana.

She is an Associate of Morrison, Twumasi & Partners, and a fellow of the President Obama Young Leaders Initiative.

Shamima Muslim – Deputy Presidential Spokesperson

Shamima Muslim was a member of the campaign team of President Mahama for the 2024 Election.

Muslim is a broadcaster, gender advocate, and development communicator. Shamima Muslim brings a wealth of experience in communications.

She is the Founder and Convener of the Alliance for Women in Media Africa (AWMA), a Non-Governmental Organisation dedicated to improving the visibility and impact of women in the media.

Muslim’s career spans several achievements, including her role as one of the moderators of Ghana’s 2012 Vice-Presidential Debate and her selection as a pioneer representative of Ghana at President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative in 2010.

Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo – Cabinet Secretary

Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo was the Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Manifesto Committee for the 2020 and 2024 elections.

He previously served as Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland from 2009 to 2014. He has also served as Ghana’s Ambassador to Cuba with concurrent accreditation to Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua, and Panama. He also served as the Minister of Health from January 2000 to February 2001.

Prof. Danso-Boafo was an Associate Professor, Deputy Director, and Coordinator of the International Health Track in the Master of Public Health Program, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

He also taught at Atlanta University, later Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia.

BAI/AE

Watch the latest compilation of Twi news below:

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The UK- Ghana Chamber of Commerce (UKGCC), a member-based trade association that promotes trade between the UK and Ghana, has released the 6^th edition of its annual Ghana Business Environment and Competitive Survey (BECS) Report for the year 2024.

725 businesses across Ghana comprising UKGCC member and non-member companies from 22 industries and ranging from small to large companies, participated in the survey.  Business components assessed included availability of telecom, power, labour, water, and logistics partners, taxation policy, cost of telecoms, government bureaucracy, regulatory framework, and government support of exports.

The Report reveals a mixed picture for Ghana’s business environment.  While businesses express cautious optimism about future growth, particularly in technology adoption and market expansion, significant challenges remain.

Key Survey Findings

The survey identifies taxation policy, cost of telecoms, government bureaucracy, and the regulatory framework as the top concerns for businesses in 2024.  For the first time, cost of telecoms and the regulatory framework appeared on the list of poorly rated business components, emphasising areas that require immediate government attention to enhance Ghana’s business environment.

Despite challenges, businesses rated the availability of telecom facilities as the best-performing business component, though this rating declined from 36% in 2023 to 20% in 2024.  Other positively rated components include the availability of power, labour, water, and logistics partners.

Corruption remains a persistent issue, consistently appearing among the top five most declined components over the past four years.  Tax policy and the cost of power also remain key concerns, highlighting the need for government engagement to develop sustainable solutions.  Respondents identified advanced technology and telecom services as the most improved components since 2021.  For the first time, the availability of quality infrastructure was included in the list of improvements, reflecting incremental progress.

In terms of cost of doing business in Ghana, tax policy and macroeconomic challenges, including the weakening of the Ghana Cedi, were highlighted as key drivers of high operational costs, thereby increasing cost of doing business.  Persistent exchange rate volatility continues to influence the pricing of domestic factors of production.

Respondents identified domestic marketing, certifications, quality control, and labour as the most affordable business components over the past four years.  However, rising inflation in 2024 has impacted the affordability of labour.

Key Priorities for Action

The report advocates for government-business collaboration to proactively reduce tax burdens, combat corruption and enhance a transparency, streamline and simplify regulations to create a predictable regulatory environment that boosts investor confidence, and improve access to flexible and affordable financing mechanisms and provide growth incentives to support SMEs, which are critical to Ghana’s economic resilience and growth.

Government-business collaboration is also needed to enact policies to ensure the safety of investments and create a stable business climate that attracts both local and international investors.

Leveraging the immense opportunities in key sectors such as manufacturing, technology and services through targeted support, including capacity building and infrastructure investment; and addressing gaps in energy, telecom, and water infrastructure to enable sustainable business operations are also identified as further areas for government-business collaboration.

The collective voices of over 725 respondents in this year’s survey reflect the aspirations, challenges, and contributions of Ghana’s business leaders.  These insights serve as a foundation for creating actionable strategies and fostering collaboration between the government, private sector, and international partners to unlock Ghana’s full potential and create a more enabling business environment for sustainable economic growth.

Anthony Pile MBE, UKGCC Executive Council Chairman, remarked that “Creating a safe and secure environment is paramount for fostering business confidence.  Strategic investments in community policing, enhanced street lighting, and an increased presence of security personnel can significantly reduce crime and ensure businesses thrive in a stable setting”.

Adjoba Kyiamah, Executive Director of UKGCC, added that “The 2024 BECS report highlights the critical challenges facing Ghana’s manufacturing sector, including high production costs, limited access to financing, and energy inefficiencies”.

According to Ms. Kyiamah, “comprehensive reforms aimed at reducing these operational costs, improving access to affordable financing, and incentivising energy-efficient technologies are essential”.

Such measures, she said, “will not only revitalise the manufacturing sector but also position it as a cornerstone for Ghana’s industrialisation and job creation efforts.”

Commenting on the report, Vish Ashiagbor, Country Senior Partner of PwC, a UKGCC Platinum member company and consultants/advisors for the report, noted that “The report emphasises the urgent need for pragmatic interventions, including clearer and consistent policies, a predictable taxation regime, and sustained collaboration between the government and the private sector to unlock Ghana’s growth potential”.

He was of the view that “a pro-business Government should review the approach for optimising its revenue mobilisation potential and avoid further burdening the business community.”

About the Survey

The UKGCC’s annual Business Climate and Competitiveness Survey was first launched in 2019 and has been conducted every year since then.  The main purpose of the survey is to increase the understanding of opportunities and challenges that the Ghanaian market presents for UKGCC members and businesses generally, whether large or small, new or old, and across all sectors.

The survey provides a platform for businesses to provide key feedback on the health, confidence, intentions, and issues of businesses in Ghana and therefore, serves as the foundation for the UKGCC’s advocacy work.

The 2024 edition provides a comprehensive analysis of several important indications of the current business climate, as perceived by businesses, offering a data-driven look at the trends shaping the business landscape.

The report was prepared by PwC Ghana for the UK – Ghana Chamber of Commerce, with support for data collection received from the Palladium Group, through the UK government funded Jobs and Economic Transformation (JET) Programme.

Minister of Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson

Parliament has officially approved the nomination of Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson as Ghana’s Minister of Finance.

The approval, which took place on Tuesday January 21, 2025, follows a thorough vetting process by the Appointments Committee.

Dr. Ato Forson, who is a seasoned economist and Member of Parliament for Ajumako-Enyan-Esiam constituency, is expected to bring his extensive experience in public finance and economic management to bear on the country’s fiscal policies.

With his appointment, the government aims to address key economic challenges, including stabilising the cedi, managing public debt, and fostering sustainable economic growth.

The new Minister of Finance has pledged to adopt prudent financial measures and work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure transparency and efficiency in the management of the nation’s resources.

MA

By Iddi Yire  

Accra, Jan. 21, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday, January 21, appointed Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, as Minister of Foreign Affairs. 

Mr Ablakwa is a four term Ghanaian legislator representing the good people of North Tongu in the Volta Region.  

He has had an illustrious public service career spanning some two decades, with a reputation for being a strong advocate for ethical, transparent and transformational leadership.  

For nearly eight years, between 2017 and 2024, Mr Ablakwa served as a Ranking Member of the Select Committee on Foreign Affairs.  

He rose to become the first Chairman of the reformed Assurances Committee. 

Mr Ablakwa is currently the Chairman of President John Mahama’s flagship anti-corruption drive, Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL).  

In 2009, he was appointed Deputy Minister for Information by the late President John Evans Atta Mills of blessed memory.  

By that appointment, he made history as the youngest Deputy Minister of Ghana’s Fourth Republic.  

President John Dramani Mahama also appointed him as a Deputy Minister for Education in charge of Tertiary Education in 2013.  

His academic credentials include reading Political Science, Philosophy and Economics for his first degree at the University of Ghana, an LLB from the University of London, MSc in Defense and International Politics from the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, an MA in Communications and Public Relations from the University of Leicester and an Executive Certificate in Leadership from the Harvard Kennedy School of Governance.  

Before he was called into national politics, he was the MD of Sawvi Solutions and before then a University of Ghana Branch Manager of Carrera Computers.  

Mr Ablakwa is the recipient of numerous awards including an honorary doctorate degree from the AMET University in India, being adjudged the Most Impactful Member of Parliament in 2024, medal of honour from the Ghana Medical Association, special award from the Ghana Registered Nurses and Midwives Association, citation from the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation and making it to the list of the 2025 Most Influential 100 Africans.  

He is a prolific author, former President of NUGS, member of the Parliamentarians for Global Action, accredited member of the Institute for Public Relations (APR), member of the African Leadership Network, Fellow, African Youth Governance Convergence, member of the American Council for Young Political Leaders and Chairman of the Ghana-Cuba Parliamentary Friendship Association.  

He is married to Lawyer Nuhela Seidu, a senior partner at Sory@Law.  

They are blessed with two children.  

GNA