GustoTrsral Is Building More Than Music—He’s Connecting Africa and the Caribbean Through Sound

In today’s music landscape, artists are often encouraged to fit neatly into a genre or follow whatever sound is dominating the charts. GustoTrsral has taken a completely different approach. Instead of chasing trends, the Haitian-born independent artist is creating a musical identity that reflects his own journey—one shaped by heritage, travel, and a deep appreciation for cultural connection.

Now based in Accra, Ghana, GustoTrsral has found himself at the heart of one of Africa’s most exciting creative hubs. But rather than abandoning his Caribbean roots, he has embraced the opportunity to blend them with the rich musical traditions surrounding him. The result is an artistic vision that feels both deeply personal and refreshingly global.

Rather than limiting himself to familiar genre labels, GustoTrsral introduces listeners to TRILAND—his own sonic world that fuses Trap, Island, and Afro influences. More than a catchy name, TRILAND represents the reality of modern cultural identity, where borders become less important than shared experiences and artistic expression. His music reflects the rhythm of multiple worlds, combining contemporary production with storytelling rooted in both Haiti and Africa.

What makes GustoTrsral particularly compelling is that his ambitions extend far beyond releasing singles. His work is driven by a broader mission of creating meaningful cultural exchange through music and entertainment.

That vision comes to life through C.H.A.L.E. Global, the creative platform he founded to support artists, entrepreneurs, and cultural initiatives across Africa, the Caribbean, and the global diaspora. The platform aims to foster collaboration, amplify diverse voices, and create opportunities that encourage creative communities to grow together rather than compete against one another.

Gustotrsral Press
Gustotrsral Press

As African music continues to reach audiences around the globe, initiatives that strengthen ties between Africa and its diaspora have become increasingly significant. GustoTrsral’s work sits naturally within that conversation, offering a perspective grounded not in commercial strategy but in lived experience. His own journey—from Haiti to Ghana—has shaped a philosophy that sees music as a universal language capable of reconnecting histories, celebrating shared heritage, and inspiring new conversations across continents.

That philosophy is perhaps most clearly expressed in his recent single, AYITI 2 GHANA. The track seamlessly blends the infectious grooves of Afrobeats with the vibrant rhythms of Haitian Kompa, creating a sound that celebrates the historical and cultural bonds linking Haiti and Ghana. More than just a collaboration of musical styles, the song serves as a tribute to shared identity while inviting listeners into the larger creative universe GustoTrsral continues to build.

Yet AYITI 2 GHANA represents only one piece of a much bigger picture. Every release, visual concept, collaboration, and performance contributes to a long-term artistic narrative that prioritizes authenticity over quick success. Instead of simply building a fanbase, GustoTrsral is cultivating a creative movement—one where audiences can witness the evolution of an artist committed to meaningful storytelling and cultural representation.

In an industry where originality can sometimes feel elusive, GustoTrsral stands out because of the clarity of his purpose. His music isn’t designed to fit comfortably into existing categories; it’s designed to create new spaces where cultures, histories, and communities can meet.

As his journey continues from Accra to audiences around the world, one message remains at the heart of everything he creates: Africa and the Caribbean have always shared a connection. Through his music, GustoTrsral isn’t introducing that relationship—he’s giving it a powerful new soundtrack.

Post-flood demolition begins as government releases GHC350 million for mitigation

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A post-flood mitigation task force has begun demolishing unauthorised structures along the banks of the Tesa Dam and Legon Boundary Road to reduce future flood risks in the Greater Accra Region.

The exercise, which started on Friday, July 24, 2026, follows the devastating June 29 floods and is in line with a presidential directive from John Dramani Mahama to clear structures obstructing natural water flow and desilt dredges.

Works, Housing and Water Resources Minister Gilbert Adjei said the recent floods were largely caused by structures on wetlands and unauthorised sites, as well as improper waste disposal.

Residents were served a three-week notice before the demolition, according to Commanding Officer of the 48 Engineer Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Osei Amponsah.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance has released GHC350 million from the Contingency Fund to finance emergency flood relief and mitigation measures, following parliamentary approval under Article 177 of the 1992 Constitution.

Of the total, GHC200 million will go to urgent relief for flood victims, while GHC150 million will fund long-term mitigation measures to reduce the frequency and impact of future flooding.

Talensi: Tension mounts in Gbane over the execution of a Bolga High Court Order

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The enforcement of a Bolgatanga High Court order has generated tension and heightened insecurity in the mining community of Gbane in the Talensi District of the Upper East Region.

In what stakeholders and security watchers have described as a volatile situation, the continuous presence and mining operations of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise, a small-scale mining company in Gbane under the orders of the court, has the potential to fuel a breeding conflict between Gbane and Namoaligo.

On 21st November, 2025, the Bolgatanga High Court presided over by His Lordship Justice Ernest Pascal Gemadzie ordered the Upper East Regional Police Command to provide protection and assistance to a small-scale miner, Zongdaan Boyak Kolog, popularly known as Poloo, who operates under the name and style of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise, to undertake mining operations in the Gbane area though the miner does not hold a valid mining license nor operating permits from both the Minerals Commission and the Environmental Protection Authority.

The order for police protection was granted following an application by lawyers for the small-scale miner who complained of trespass in his concession by youth of the Gbane Community and a large-scale mining company, Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited. In February 2023, Zongdaan Boyak Kolog commenced a legal action against the Chinese large-scale mining company, Minerals Commission, Chief of Gbane and others over the ownership of the 25-acre concession. Though the Chinese large-scale mining company obtained its mining lease in April 2019 covering an area of 16.02 square kilometers for 14 years, a mining license of 25 acres reportedly within the already leased-out area was issued to the small-scale miner in May 2020 for 5 years.

Following the grant of an application for police protection by the Bolgatanga High Court, lawyers for Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited filed an application to the court to vacate or set aside the police protection order, arguing that the order was given on the back of an expired mining license of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise. Records and evidence available to the court show that the mining license of the plaintiff expired on 14th May, 2025 and same has not been renewed by the Minerals Commission.

Lawyers for the Chinese large-scale mining company further argued that the grant of the order for Nanlamtaaba Enterprise to carry out mining operations within the concession of the company without a valid or subsisting mining license and required permits under the Minerals and Mining Act 2006, Act 703 and same from the Environmental Protection Authority amounts to an order for protection to an illegal miner to operate.

Though lawyers for the small-scale miner disclosed that an application for renewal has been submitted to the Minerals Commission who are defendants in the matter, counsel for the Minerals Commission argued that the Commission has no record of application for renewal from Nanlamtaaba Enterprise as they stressed that the application process employed by the applicant for the renewal of his mining license over the disputed area was wrong and did not meet the stipulated guidelines for application for renewals in L.I. 2176 which mandates applicants to submit applications to the district office of the Commission and not by courier service to the Chief Executive Officer of the Minerals Commission.

They further noted that Nanlamtaaba Enterprise has no mining permit and argued that mining may be undertaken in the licensed area only after a mining permit has been obtained from the Chief Inspector of Mines and shall therefore cease on the withdrawal or suspension of the permit.

However, Justice Pascal Ernest Gemadzie in his ruling on an application to set aside the order for police protection said though the mining license of Nanlamtaaba has expired, it still owns the mining license and the concession until the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources terminates same in accordance with Section 87 of Act 703. He therefore dismissed the application to set aside the order.

APPLICATION TO STAY ORDER FOR POLICE PROTECTION

Dissatisfied with the ruling of the Bolgatanga High Court, an application to stay the order pending an appeal at the Court of Appeal by Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited was filed. This application was again dismissed by the court.

Justice Ernest Pascal Gemadzie in his ruling on the stay of execution noted that the decision to grant police protection to the plaintiff to go onto the concession with or without a mining license is grounded and there is no exceptional circumstance to stay the order.

At the time of filing this report, sources have confirmed that a repeat application for the stay of execution has been filed at the Court of Appeal.

THE EXECUTION OF THE ORDER AND HEIGHTENED TENSION

Weeks after the application for stay of order for police protection was dismissed, the Upper East Regional Police Command demonstrated a massive entry into the busy mining community with heavily armed police officers in large numbers in a long fleet of armored vehicles that could be equated to a presidential security convoy.

In an obvious show of force in the execution of the court order, Zongdaan Boyak Kolog popularly known as Poloo was spotted by frightened residents and onlookers in the area delightfully inspecting the concession and demonstrating his readiness to resume his mining operations.

In what appears to be a simple execution of a court order, some youth of the Gbane area have expressed their strong disapproval of the return of Nanlamtaaba Enterprise in the area as they accuse the proprietor of disrespecting their Chief and Elders by dragging them to court and further preventing them from accessing their own lands by securing a court injunction.

They further accused Poloo of attempting to fuel conflict in the area by recruiting and deploying youth from a rival community to work in the concession.

“You have taken our Chief to court and even said he should not come here on the land because you have an injunction against him.

You again go and bring people from Namoaligo to work here when you know what is happening between, we and them. What are you trying to tell us? We are peace-loving boys of this community but we will not accept this.

We respect our fathers and their advice, that is why we are still keeping quiet,” a resident who identified himself as Yambezina said.

 UNDERGROUND CLASHES

The execution of the court order has sparked a new wave of security and safety concerns as there have been reports of clashes in the deep underground mining area of Earl International Group Ghana Gold Limited as the small-scale miners are reportedly invading the underground mining drives to claim ownership.

Public Relations Officer of Earl Group, Albert Azongo, said the company is heavily challenged following the orders of the court.

“We are exploring all the legal remedies available including an appeal of the order at the Court of Appeal. Presently, we have recorded instances of disturbances underground because the small-scale miners do not know the boundaries underground.

They just assume every place underground is for them because there is a court order.

The court order is limited to the small area of 25 acres and not the whole of our Shaft 2 and Shaft 4 as they are attempting to claim. So, these are serious issues of boundaries that have come up and would need to be addressed to bring sanity,” he said in a written response.

Gideon Boako warns improved fiscal figures may be driven by spending cuts rather than structural reforms

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The Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr Gideon Boako, has cautioned that Ghana’s improving fiscal indicators should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of sustainable economic transformation.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, July 25, Dr Boako said the more important issue is the quality of the fiscal adjustment rather than the size of the reported fiscal gains in the 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review.

According to the Tano North MP, policymakers must determine whether the government’s fiscal performance reflects genuine structural improvements in revenue mobilisation and expenditure efficiency or whether it has largely been achieved through expenditure compression, delayed projects and favourable external conditions.

“The question is no longer simply whether the macroeconomic indicators have improved.

The question is whether this improvement represents a durable transformation of the economy, or whether part of the fiscal success is being achieved through expenditure compression, favourable external conditions and delayed implementation rather than stronger revenue mobilisation, productive investment and job creation,” he stated.

Dr Boako argued that if expenditure on roads, infrastructure, contractor payments, social intervention programmes and productive capital investment is merely postponed, the country’s fiscal deficit may appear healthier in the short term while underlying liabilities accumulate for the future.

He maintained that fiscal consolidation achieved through efficiency gains is fundamentally different from consolidation resulting from under-execution of approved expenditure.

Maison Yusif launches unisex scent, targets global market

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The Ghanaian fragrance house says the new release, “The Beast,” is handcrafted in Accra and meant to expand the brand beyond Africa.

Ghanaian fragrance house Maison Yusif launched a new unisex perfume called “The Beast” at a ceremony in Accra on Saturday, with the company saying it plans to expand the brand across Africa and internationally.

The launch took place at the Pelican Hotel, where guests were asked to wear traditional dress, a choice founder Yusif Meizongo Jnr said was meant to tie the brand to African identity rather than Western fragrance trends.

“I want the entire world to embrace Africa, the African culture, our traditions,” Meizongo told reporters after the event. “I’m tired of replicating everything the Western world does.”

Meizongo, who said he previously worked as an Uber driver before founding the company, described the launch as a personal milestone. “Coming from being an Uber driver to this height, I can only thank God,” he said. “I’m not exceptional, I’m not lucky; I’m just part of a bigger picture.”

According to Meizongo, the perfume was developed with his creative team around a scent profile meant to convey a “dominant” character, which led to the name. He said the fragrance is unisex but leans masculine in its notes.

The company describes “The Beast” as combining top notes of bergamot, cardamom, oregano and black pepper with a middle layer of incense, amber, oud, sandalwood and vetiver, settling into a base of oud, leather, patchouli, vanilla and tonka bean. Maison Yusif says the perfume is produced as an extrait de parfum and claims a longevity of up to 24 hours on skin and 72 hours on fabric; these figures have not been independently verified.

Meizongo said Maison Yusif does not see itself as competing with established fragrance houses. “We are in our own race,” he said. “In the next five to ten years, we look to conquer Africa and the world with our royal fragrances.”

The company says every bottle is produced by hand in Accra. Meizongo said the brand’s next focus is expansion into other African markets before pursuing international distribution.

Manly-Spain Rejects Gh¢79,651,132.62 Judgement Debt Payment Awarded To His Company…As He Calls For Probe

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The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Servistar Minwax (WA) Limited and former Vice President of Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA), Mr Henry Ekow Manly-Spain, has rejected an amount of Ghc 79, 651,132.62 judgement debt payment granted to his company against the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA).

According to Mr Manly-Spain, the amount he expects from the judgement debt payment against GRA is in the region of Gh¢ 8,951,543 and not Gh¢ 79, 651,132.62 granted his company.

“The money the court awarded to my company to be paid by Bank of Ghana is far bigger than what we filed at court against GRA. So I’m confused about the amount awarded to my company,” Manly-Spain queried.

Mr Henry Ekow Manly-Spain made the above disclosure in an exclusive interview over the weekend after a Court ordered GRA to pay Gh¢ 79,651,132.62 to his company.

He added that he can’t sit unconcerned to enjoy the money he clearly doesn’t deserve to benefit from the state in the name of judgement debt payment.

“The state needs money for development projects. Hospitals are crying for equipment, including dialysis machines. I cannot enjoy this money. It’s far more than what we filed.” He pointed out.

He stated that he would be happy to receive his actual money filed rather than to take what he didn’t deserve.

To this end, Manly-Spain has called on the government to institute an enquiry into the circumstances that led to the increment of the judgement debt payment.

Background

On 22nd July, 2026, the High Court of Justice (Commercial Division 3), Accra presided over by Mrs Doris Awuah Dabanka-Bekoe, Justice of the High Court ordered that the Garnishee Bank (Bank of Ghana – BoG) is not to release the amount in the refund account that is Ghc 627,104,657.5 belonging to defendant/Judgement/Debtor to the Judgement Debtor but the amount of Ghc 79, 651, 132.62 be taken from the above and same be released to the Plaintiff/Judgement/Creditor in satisfaction of the judgement debt and paid into the account of Logan and Associate-Clients Account or by direct transfer to: LOGAN & ASSOCIATE – CLIENTS ACCOUNT with account number: 014-1038362 and bank information: ABSA BANK GHANA LIMITED- RING ROAD BRANCH, ACCRA.

The case involves Servistar Minwax (WA) Limited as Plaintiff/Creditor and Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) as Defendant /Debtor.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is also set to appeal to the judgement against them.

Stay tuned as we bring you more updates.

Lisa Quama Kicks off U.S. Tour with Sold-Out New York Dance Class

Ghanaian dancer and digital creator Lisa Quama has successfully kicked off her United States tour, with a dance class in New York attracting a sold-out audience and marking another milestone in her growing international career.

The session which happened at the Ripley Grier Studios in collaboration with DWP Academy USA brought together both experienced and amateur dancers, creators like Liya Dances, and Afrobeats enthusiasts for an immersive experience centred on movement, culture and community. Participants learned choreography from Lisa while engaging with the energy and creativity that have helped her build a global audience of more than seven million followers across social media.

This comes right after engagements with FIFA and Coca-Cola surrounding the just-ended Football World Cup. The sold-out class reflects the increasing global demand for African dance culture and Lisa’s influence as one of the continent’s leading dance creators. Known for her powerful choreography and engaging digital content, she has built a reputation for connecting audiences worldwide through dance and storytelling.

“This class was incredibly special for me,” said Lisa Quama. “To see that many people come together to celebrate dance and African culture in a new city is something I’ll always be grateful for. This is only the beginning.”

The New York class forms part of Lisa’s expanding international engagements as she continues to champion African creativity on the global stage through performances, collaborations and educational experiences. With momentum continuing to build, Lisa is hosting other dance classes in Philadelphia, Florida and the DMV area, as well as community events in key cities, creating opportunities for dancers and fans around the world to experience African dance culture firsthand.

Tyla Talks Identity, Growth, and Breaking Boundaries on The Ebro Show

This week, Tyla joined The Ebro Show on Apple Music Radio to discuss her new album A*POP and the evolution of her journey from South African bedroom singer to global superstar. She reflects on navigating fame, public perceptions, and conversations around identity and heritage while explaining her vision for expanding what an African pop star can look and sound like. Tyla also shares candid stories about sibling rivalries, secret lockdown parties, life at 24, and how a strong sense of self have helped her embrace both the challenges and opportunities of her meteoric rise.

Tyla on how her songwriting has matured

Tyla: Well, for this specific album I worked with a lot of writers and creatives who were good friends of mine that just know me and understand me because I just don’t like making music with people that I don’t like and that I don’t like vibe with.

Tyla on her expectations vs.the reality of her journey to fame

Tyla: Honestly, I could have never predicted any of this. Like everything from the good times to the bad times, like it was really a story. Like I feel like I could write a movie about this journey, honestly. Um, so much has happened. Like I remember just being in South Africa, simple life, you know, no drama, nothing. Like just me, my siblings, my family and just making videos and singing and my life completely changing to now being in front of the world, opinions, like um, I just had to learn a lot, honestly.

And now I feel like I love the fact that I experienced what I did because I really feel like a strong woman, you know, internally. Just yeah, just ready, really just ready. When I came in I feel like I was very green and you know, I had a very innocent idea of the world and the industry. I thought it’s all like rainbows and “Yay, I get to sing!” and it is that, but it’s also um, you have to be strong-minded, you know, in order to stay yourself in all of this. So yeah, right now I’m as the most confident I’ve ever been, I’m strong, I’m excited, I’m at peace, you know. So yeah.

Tyla on navigating her identity on a global stage

Tyla: I mean initially it was very difficult because prior to the Breakfast Club I did answer that question and already I started getting backlash and I was like “Whoa, I don’t know what else to say about it, you know?” because I never had to explain myself. You know, I was just always myself and living, you know, 24 years of my life. All I knew was that I’m colored and that’s what I was told, it’s what like I had to tick on boxes back home.

And when I was able to travel the world and learn more about the world, I then learned just how big the world is, you know? And how different each country is, how different context is. So when I learned about what it means here, I was like “Whoa, like this is gonna be a difficult conversation to have.” Because in South Africa we also have a derogatory term, so I would like… I feel like if someone were to come to our country and say they were that, I get why it would be, you know, very triggering.

So I think it was a very important thing for me to go through and learn and for the conversations to just open up, you know? And I just hope whoever sees this can make their videos on TikTok and like maybe we can come to some sort of understanding, but it’s just such a huge conversation to have, you know?

Tyla on the inspiration for her new album A*POP

Tyla: A*POP, African Pop. You know, A*POP is literally me trying to extend the idea of what an African pop star looks like, what an African pop star sounds like, you know. I think that um, sometimes, sometimes you like when you’re from somewhere you’re expected to look a way or sound a way in order to be like I’ve seen things where they’re like, “Oh, Tyla’s not African enough,” and I’m like, what is African enough? You know? Like, I think it’s a very frozen… like, it just feels like we’ve frozen in time with that type of ideology. But I really feel like now that I’m on my second album, I’m really excited to show how just diverse I am and how I grew up around so many different influences and I really want to show that and share that. And with A*POP, it’s really just that, like, I bring the A to pop.

Tyla on the accusations that she is a “mean girl”

Tyla: Hmm, maybe I am. No, I’m joking, I’m joking, I’m joking. I mean, I don’t know, you know? I don’t know if I’m mean. I like to think that I’m kind, you know? I really am opinionated and blunt. Like, where I’m from, like the way we are, we just talk. Like, things aren’t that serious. We don’t know how to now watch your words, like, “This is not the time, this is not the place.” Like, we’re not that dramatic. We’re human, guys, relax. Like, we can all talk. You know, so I feel like I’m just… I try to be honest about how I feel about things, you know? Um, yeah, but it’s hard, you know? As a pop star you got to be good girl. You know?

Ebro: Right. Is that annoying to always kind of have to like worry about people’s perception? Or have you…

Tyla: I mean, I don’t. But my managers, they always… they always try to like shackle me. They’re like, “Tyla, put your phone down. Stop making videos, stop talking.” And I should probably listen to them because I get into a lot of… But I don’t know, like, I just think it’s more interesting, you know? I’m still… I still want to be a 24-year-old girl, you know? I don’t want being a pop star to stop my life and make me feel like now I’m in jail and I have to let like things slide and all those things.

Green cryptocurrencies spread risk more than green bonds

Researchers find Cardano and Stellar act as volatility transmitters, while green bonds and ESG funds mostly absorb market shocks.

Green cryptocurrencies such as Cardano and Stellar function as major sources of market volatility rather than safe hedges, according to a study published in the journal Financial Innovation on June 9.

The paper, authored by Walid Mensi, Rim El Khoury, Abdullah AlGhazali and Sang Hoon Kang of Pusan National University in South Korea, examined seven green cryptocurrencies alongside three benchmarks: the S&P Green Bond Index, the S&P Global Clean Energy Index and the S&P ESG Leaders Index. The researchers used daily data from November 2017 to July 2024, a period spanning the COVID-19 pandemic.

The team applied a quantile vector autoregression model, a statistical method that tracks how markets interact during downturns, calm periods and rallies rather than relying on average relationships alone. The analysis found connectedness between green assets followed a U-shaped pattern: moderate during stable periods, then rising sharply during both sharp downturns and strong rallies, when diversification benefits weakened.

Cardano and Stellar emerged as the most consistent transmitters of volatility across the assets studied. Green bonds, clean energy indices and ESG investments, by contrast, mostly absorbed shocks generated elsewhere rather than generating them, a pattern that held throughout the COVID-19 period and subsequent geopolitical disruptions, including the Russia-Ukraine war.

“As green cryptocurrencies are getting more integrated into sustainable investment portfolios, we wanted to understand their hedging capability,” said Kang, a professor at Pusan National University’s Department of Business Administration who studies financial connectedness and risk management.

The findings run counter to the common assumption that green-labeled assets are inherently safer or better diversifiers because of their sustainability focus. The study suggests that green bonds and ESG funds, often marketed as defensive holdings, can still be exposed to shocks that originate in cryptocurrency markets, particularly during periods of stress.

The paper does not establish that green cryptocurrencies are riskier than conventional cryptocurrencies, and its dataset ends in July 2024, before more recent swings in crypto markets. Kang said the results point to a need for more dynamic portfolio strategies and suggested regulators consider closer monitoring of systemic risk tied to emerging green digital assets.

Dr John Kingsley Krugu: Gov’t Must Fast-Track Act 1124 Reforms as Mid-Year Review Shows Gaps in Environmental Governance

“Environmental governance is not a luxury to be pursued after economic recovery”

Ghana’s landmark Environmental Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1124) is in danger of becoming “law on paper” unless the NDC administration urgently moves to operationalize its core institutions, according to Dr. John Kingsley Krugu, former CEO of the Environmental Protection Authority and Spokesperson for the NPP Environment and Natural Resources Sector Policy Committee for election 2028.

In a new assessment paper reviewing the 2026 Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review, Dr. Krugu says while the government deserves credit for macroeconomic stabilization and renewed enforcement against illegal mining, there is “comparatively limited evidence” that the broader institutional reforms envisaged under Act 1124 are being implemented.

“Legislation, however ambitious, does not transform institutions on its own. Its success depends on sustained political commitment, adequate financing, institutional capacity, effective regulations and consistent administrative leadership,” Dr. Krugu stated.

Act 1124: From Regulation to National Development Pillar
Assented to on 6 January 2025 by then President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Act 1124 was framed as the most comprehensive reform of Ghana’s environmental governance since Act 490 in 1994.

Dr. Krugu, who led the EPA during the final stages of the Act’s development, said Parliament designed it to move beyond pollution control and permitting. The law created four pillars:

1. A Stronger Institutional Framework – replacing the EPA with an expanded Environmental Protection Authority to coordinate environmental governance across government.
2. Climate Governance as National Policy – embedding climate action through the Ghana Carbon Registry, Carbon Market Committee and Mitigation Fund.
3. Sustainable Environmental Financing – establishing the National Environment Fund and Mitigation Fund to provide predictable resources.
4. Accountability and Evidence-Based Governance – improving monitoring, audits, and public reporting.

“Parliament’s vision for Act 1124 extended well beyond enforcement. The Act envisaged a comprehensive governance framework that would strengthen institutions, mobilise sustainable financing, mainstream climate considerations across government, improve environmental accountability and position Ghana as a regional leader in environmental governance and green economic transformation,” he said.

What the 2026 Mid-Year Review Shows — and What It Misses
Dr. Krugu notes the Mid-Year Fiscal Policy Review highlights important wins: fiscal consolidation, arrests and equipment seizures related to illegal mining, and the registration of small-scale miners.

“Efforts to restore macroeconomic stability and strengthen enforcement against environmental crime deserve recognition,” he said.

However, he argues the Review provides little detail on the operationalization of Act 1124’s transformative parts. There is limited mention of the Environmental Protection Authority’s new mandate, the National Environment Fund, the Ghana Carbon Registry, the Carbon Market Committee, or integrated environmental information systems.

“This observation should not be interpreted as a dismissal of the progress reported by Government… The distinction is significant. Effective enforcement addresses immediate environmental harm, while effective governance builds the institutions needed to prevent future harm, attract investment, manage environmental risks and support sustainable development,” Dr. Krugu explained.

He added that with international carbon markets evolving under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, delays in setting up the Registry and Committee could cost Ghana investment and climate finance opportunities.

“The Environmental Sector Operated Without Dedicated Ministerial Leadership”
A key concern raised in the paper is leadership. Dr. Krugu pointed out that for much of the current administration’s first year, the environmental sector operated without a dedicated minister.

“Whether intentional or circumstantial, such an extended leadership gap may have contributed to the slow pace of implementation and diminished policy attention to one of Ghana’s most important governance reforms. Environmental institutions require sustained political direction if ambitious legislative reforms are to translate into measurable outcomes,” he said.

Call to Action: Strategy, Budget, and Leadership
Dr. Krugu is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to take three immediate steps:

1. Publish a comprehensive implementation strategy for Act 1124 with clear timelines.
2. Make dedicated budgetary allocations and capitalize the National Environment Fund and Mitigation Fund.
3. Appoint a dedicated Minister for Environment to provide oversight and political direction.

He also urged development partners to support institutional strengthening for the Environmental Protection Authority.

“This is not a criticism for its own sake nor is it a partisan argument. Environmental degradation does not distinguish between political parties. Climate change does not recognise electoral cycles. Polluted rivers do not discriminate between governments. The Environmental Protection Act, 2025 belongs to Ghana, not to any political administration. Its successful implementation should therefore become a shared national project,” Dr. Krugu stressed.

Conclusion: Implementation is the Test
Dr. Krugu concluded that Ghana has completed the hard part of passing the law. The harder part is making it work.

“The enduring success of Act 1124 will not be judged by its enactment, but by the strength of the institutions it builds, the environmental outcomes it delivers and the confidence it inspires among citizens, investors and development partners,” he said.

“Environmental governance is not a luxury to be pursued after economic recovery. Above all, it requires Government to treat environmental governance as a national development priority rather than a peripheral administrative function.”

With Ghana facing intensifying pressures from illegal mining, flooding, drought, and the global shift to green investment, Dr. Krugu argues that how Act 1124 is implemented in the next 12 months will determine whether Ghana leads or lags in Africa’s green transition.

About the Author

Dr. John Kingsley Krugu is former Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Ghana, and Spokesperson for the NPP Environment and Natural Resources Sector Policy Committee for election 2028.