Ghana Central Bank Links Financial Inclusion to Cybersecurity Resilience

News Ghana
-
0
Ghana Central Bank Links Financial Inclusion to Cybersecurity Resilience

First Deputy Governor of the Bank of Ghana, Dr. Zakari Mumuni, has declared cybersecurity integral to Africa’s financial inclusion progress.

Addressing the 14th AFI Leaders’ Roundtable, he warned that digital finance cannot thrive without robust threat prevention, stressing: “Financial inclusion without system integrity is unsustainable.”

Dr. Mumuni outlined Ghana’s proactive measures, including its pioneering 2018 Cyber and Information Security Directives mandating risk frameworks and incident protocols. He highlighted the Financial Industry Security Operations Centre (FINSOC), which now monitors 40+ institutions for real-time threats. Annual assessments using international standards revealed critical vulnerabilities in over 40% of Ghanaian financial entities, particularly in access controls and crisis response.

“Cybersecurity is no longer an IT issue but a strategic governance imperative,” Mumuni asserted, linking public trust and systemic stability to cyber resilience. The Bank of Ghana is implementing targeted interventions to address identified gaps amid accelerating digital adoption.

Nketiah Accused Suspended Chief Justice of “Dramatising” Removal Process

News Ghana
-
0
Nketiah Accused Suspended Chief Justice of “Dramatising” Removal Process

NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has intensified his criticism of suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, accusing her of leveraging emotional appeals to deflect from legal proceedings.

Speaking on Joy News, Nketiah dismissed Torkornoo’s claims of intimidation during her removal process as “symbolism” and “dramatisation” designed to elicit public sympathy.

“She’s dramatising to win sympathy instead of addressing the case legally. If threatened, report with evidence—don’t make claims without proof,” Nketiah asserted. He questioned her suggestion that the judiciary she once led now intimidates her: “The building itself can’t intimidate you.”

Nketiah urged Torkornoo to engage the legal system she formerly presided over, rather than public appeals. His remarks escalate tensions amid her suspension under constitutional procedures initiated by Parliament, spotlighting ongoing judicial independence debates under the Mahama administration.

NPP Launches Patriotic Institute to Train Next Generation of Leaders

News Ghana
-
0
NPP Launches Patriotic Institute to Train Next Generation of Leaders

Ghana’s opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) has established the Patriotic Institute, a leadership academy designed to institutionalize the party’s ideological foundations and prepare future leaders.

Launched on June 25, 2025, at the party’s Accra headquarters, the initiative responds to what NPP General Secretary Justin Frimpong Kodua calls an urgent need for “structured political education and ideological clarity.”

Kodua declared the institute the NPP’s official ideological training arm, marking “a new era of deliberate political education.” It will deepen understanding of the party’s history, liberal democratic values, and governance philosophy through a tiered curriculum. A mandatory foundational program will train all elected and appointed officers—from polling station coordinators to national executives—with completion certificates required for future leadership roles. Specialized courses will target specific party levels.

“Competent, disciplined, and visionary leaders won’t emerge by accident,” Kodua stated, emphasizing that the NPP can no longer assume values “automatically pass to the next generation.” Training will combine workshops, online platforms, mentorship, and regional centres, facilitated by former ministers, academics, and international experts. An appointed Director and Management Committee will oversee operations.

The General Secretary also urged unity ahead of internal elections, cautioning against public discord: “We remain sons and daughters of the same tradition—the elephant family.” The institute builds on groundwork by former leaders including ex-General Secretary John Boadu and academic Prof. Kwamena Essilfie.

Ghana AG Rejects Disclosure Demand in Businessman’s Fraud Case

News Ghana
-
0
Ghana AG Rejects Disclosure Demand in Businessman’s Fraud Case

Ghana’s Attorney General has opposed a defence motion seeking full evidence disclosure in the criminal case against businessman Kwabena Adu Boahene.

During Thursday’s Case Management Conference, Deputy AG Justice Srem Sai dismissed requests for additional bank records and National Security account transactions as “immaterial” to the charges.

Defence lawyer Samuel Atta Akyea accused prosecutors of “cherry-picking” evidence, claiming incomplete bank statements withheld potentially exonerating material. He specifically demanded transaction records from the National Security Operational Account since 1992, arguing they could establish patterns relevant to Boahene’s defence. “The prosecution must disclose all investigative material—not just what supports their case,” Akyea asserted.

Srem Sai countered that Boahene could independently access his bank records without court intervention, calling the national security request “overly broad and irrelevant.” The High Court adjourned until July 3, 2025, pending a ruling on the disclosure motion. Boahene faces financial misconduct charges and maintains his innocence.

Ghana Advances Non-Profit Bill to Strengthen Civil Society Framework

News Ghana
-
0
Ghana Advances Non-Profit Bill to Strengthen Civil Society Framework

Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has announced accelerated government efforts to pass Ghana’s landmark Non-Profit Bill, targeting enhanced regulation and support for civil society organizations (CSOs).

Speaking at the 2025 Ghana Civil Society Forum in Accra, she emphasized the bill’s role in closing critical legislative gaps for CSOs, which currently operate without dedicated legal frameworks.

“The absence of specific laws stifles CSO development,” stated Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, outlining parallel reforms including tax incentives and streamlined NGO registration. These measures aim to boost domestic philanthropy and reduce foreign aid dependency amid Ghana’s constrained fiscal space, rising debt, and shrinking concessional funding.

STAR-Ghana Foundation Executive Director Alhaji Ibrahim-Tanko Amidu echoed urgency, warning that dwindling international aid threatens CSO survival. He called for “reimagined civic engagement” leveraging youth innovation and diverse voices. The United Nations, represented by UNESCO’s Edmond Moukala, reaffirmed support for Ghana’s inclusive development partnerships.

The forum—themed “Reimagining Development Financing and Civil Action”—gathered CSOs, government officials, and development partners, signalling cross-sector alignment on the bill’s progress under the Mahama administration.

NDC Chair Intensifies Judiciary Critique Citing Suspended Chief Justice

News Ghana
-
0
NDC Chair Intensifies Judiciary Critique Citing Suspended Chief Justice

NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah has amplified his party’s calls for judicial reform, pointing to suspended Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo’s recent criticism of the judiciary as validation.

Speaking on Joy News, Nketiah argued Torkornoo’s public discontent—despite formerly leading the institution—exposes systemic flaws requiring urgent correction.

“If she now deems the judiciary flawed after heading it, this justifies our push to reset the system and eliminate alleged political manipulation,” Nketiah stated. He clarified the NDC seeks constitutional accountability mechanisms, not executive interference: “The judiciary must correct itself using existing frameworks.”

Nketiah dismissed Torkornoo’s reported expressions of fear during her removal process as “symbolism and dramatization,” urging formal evidence submission to police. He also warned of eroding trust in judicial and electoral bodies continentally, stressing Ghana must act preemptively.

The remarks escalate tensions amid the Chief Justice’s suspension proceedings, spotlighting judicial independence debates under the Mahama administration.

Ghana Parliament to Question Regulators Over Electricity Tariff Hike

News Ghana
-
0
Ghana Parliament to Question Regulators Over Electricity Tariff Hike

Ghana’s Parliament will summon officials from the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) following public outcry over a 2.45% electricity tariff increase set for July 1, 2025.

George Kwame Aboagye, Ranking Member on Parliament’s Energy Committee, criticized the adjustment as lacking transparency and justification.

“We urge PURC to explain to Ghanaians. I will request the Committee Chairman to summon them immediately,” Aboagye stated on June 26. He emphasized Parliament’s rejection of unilateral tariff adjustments without clear rationale.

The PURC defended the hike in a June 25 statement, citing its Quarterly Tariff Review Mechanism designed to balance utility providers’ financial viability with consumer protection. The Commission attributed the increase to economic indicators including exchange rate volatility (averaging GHS10.3052/USD), rising fuel costs, and a projected 20.67% inflation rate for Q3 2025.

The move comes amid heightened public sensitivity to living costs under the Mahama administration. Parliament’s intervention signals intensified scrutiny of regulatory decisions affecting household expenses.

Corporate Governance Vital for Ghana’s Business Longevity – UBA Chairman

News Ghana
-
0
Corporate Governance Vital for Ghana’s Business Longevity – UBA Chairman

UBA Ghana Chairman Kweku Awotwi has declared robust corporate governance essential for the survival of Ghanaian businesses across generations.

Speaking at The Business Executive’s high-level seminar The Board Room 2025 in Accra, Awotwi warned that institutions neglecting governance fundamentals risk decline, especially when tied solely to founder personalities.

Awotwi outlined six non-negotiable pillars for resilient organizations: regulatory compliance, financial responsibility, risk mitigation, ethical operations, strategic planning, and capable leadership. “These form the bedrock of companies built to thrive for decades,” he stated, addressing Ghana’s top business and public-sector leaders. He emphasized that governance transcends compliance, directly enabling sustainable growth and investor trust.

Noting resource constraints faced by SMEs, Awotwi urged starting with low-cost advisory boards. “Trusted professionals can offer strategic guidance early on,” he said, adding that such structures evolve into formal governance as businesses scale, helping navigate risks and succession planning—a critical gap in Ghana’s founder-driven enterprises. “Companies reflecting only an owner’s character rarely outlive them,” he observed.

Awotwi commended the seminar for mentoring emerging leaders on ethical leadership. His remarks reinforced governance as the cornerstone of resilience amid Ghana’s evolving economic landscape.

Ghana Urged to Embrace AI for Global Business Edge

News Ghana
-
0
Ghana Urged to Embrace AI for Global Business Edge

Former Agriculture Minister Dr. Bryan Acheampong has challenged Ghanaian businesses to adopt artificial intelligence or risk exclusion from global markets.

Speaking at UniMAC’s public lecture on June 27, 2025, he warned that AI disruptions demand urgent operational modernization across all sectors.

Acheampong stressed that AI’s impact extends beyond tech firms, urging manufacturing, agriculture, retail, and logistics industries to deploy tools like predictive analytics, automated workflows, and machine learning for supply chain optimization. “Efficiency now defines competitiveness,” he stated, noting that AI integration enables demand forecasting, cost reduction, and personalized services critical for international relevance.

Highlighting agribusiness applications, he cited AI’s potential to transform post-harvest management, provide real-time market data, and minimize waste. With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) expanding market access, he argued AI adoption could position Ghanaian firms—particularly in fintech and logistics—as value-chain innovators rather than raw-material suppliers.

Acheampong called on industry bodies like the Association of Ghana Industries to partner with government and universities on AI education. He proposed tax incentives for AI investors and state-backed startup support, acknowledging that SMEs face hurdles including digital infrastructure gaps and limited capital. “Businesses must invest in talent and think long-term,” he emphasized, linking youth AI literacy to future employment resilience.

Ghana Auto Workshop Builds Family Bonds Through Car Skills

News Ghana
-
0
Ghana Auto Workshop Builds Family Bonds Through Car Skills

Shecanic Academy hosted its second “Daddy Taught Me” Beginner’s Auto Workshop on Saturday, June 14th, 2025.

The event, held at CFAO Mobility Ghana’s Accra premises, aimed to facilitate bonding between children and their fathers while teaching essential vehicle maintenance. It formed part of activities marking this year’s Father’s Day celebration.

Over 80 participants, including fathers, mothers, and children, engaged in hands-on learning. Attendees practiced critical skills such as changing car tyres, jump-starting batteries, and conducting routine vehicle checks. The CFAO Mobility Ghana facility provided the venue and extensive logistical and technical support for the interactive sessions.

Nana Afua Serwaa Adusei, Founder and Lead of Shecanic Academy, emphasised the urgent need for practical life skills beyond academics. “Skills like basic automotive knowledge are essential tools for independence and safety—regardless of gender,” she stated. Adusei noted that understanding cars, once exclusive, is now a vital survival skill best taught by parents to create lasting empowerment.

Corporate partners actively supported the initiative. CFAO Mobility Ghana provided technical experts and branded souvenirs. Star Oil distributed fuel vouchers, Electroland Ghana Ltd. gifted NASCO appliances to lucky participants, and First Bank Ghana opened Kiddie Accounts for all attending children. Jude Attrams, CFAO’s Tyres Sales Supervisor, offered tips on tyre selection and called for broader institutional support for similar road safety and technical career initiatives.

Kwabena Busia of Klick Auto Engineering Ltd. urged parents to combine academic and technical education for their children. He warned specifically against using plain water in radiators, advocating for engine coolant to prevent rust and ensure performance. Shecanic Academy continues its broader mission to empower women and youth in underrepresented STEM and TVET fields.

1...2,8022,8032,804...49,635Page 2,803 of 49,635