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Former Vice President of Ghana, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, paid a courtesy visit to the Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, at his residence to wish him a speedy recovery following a recent accident. Dr. Bawumia expressed concern about the Ga Mantse’s health and conveyed his well wishes on behalf of the government and the people of Ghana. He also prayed for the King’s full and swift recovery so he can continue his leadership and traditional duties for the Ga State. The visit, which took place at the Ga Mantse’s residence in Accra, highlighted the strong relationship between government leadership and traditional authorities. It also demonstrated respect for the Ga Traditional Council and its important role in national unity and cultural preservation. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to health professionals across the country to accept postings to deprived and underserved communities as part of a national effort to strengthen equitable healthcare delivery. Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on the floor of Parliament on Friday, President Mahama called on what he described as Ghana’s “gallant health workers” to respond positively to postings outside major urban centres. “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to our gallant health workers to accept postings to our underserved areas, seeing as it is a national call to duty, while we work to ensure that they have an enabling environment to do their work,” the President stated. Strengthening Health Infrastructure The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment not to abandon ongoing and unfinished health projects. He said government would continue retooling facilities, strengthening emergency and disease surveillance systems, and aligning infrastructure expansion with staffing, equipment and financing. In the 2026 Budget, provision will be made to commence the construction of regional hospitals in the Oti, Savannah and Western North Regions to expand access to quality healthcare. He also announced that government would implement Phase Two of the Regional Hospital Project to increase bed capacity at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital, while continuing work on the Police Hospital and the La General Hospital. In the Ashanti Region, projects to be completed include the maternity and children’s block of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. President Mahama disclosed plans to scale up specialist and advanced nursing training to strengthen Ghana’s healthcare workforce. He further revealed that access to advanced cardiac care — including cardiac catheterization services — would be expanded at: Tamale Teaching Hospital, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital The move, he said, would reduce overseas referrals and position Ghana as a centre for specialized care within the sub-region, in line with medical tourism objectives. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith and Hawa Abubakar

President John Dramani Mahama has declared that the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) alone cannot support Ghana’s ambition to become West Africa’s leading hub for creative arts, entertainment, and international conferences. Delivering his State of the Nation Address (SONA) before Parliament on Friday, President Mahama said while the AICC has served the country with distinction over the years, it is no longer sufficient for a nation seeking to significantly expand its creative economy and attract large-scale global events. “AICC is not enough for a country seeking to develop its creative sector and become West Africa’s destination for meetings, conferences, musical concerts and entertainment,” the President told lawmakers. President Mahama announced that renovation and refurbishment works on the AICC will commence in the coming weeks. He disclosed that a structural integrity assessment was conducted at the request of the Office of the Chief of Staff by the original contractors of the facility in collaboration with a Ghanaian firm. The assessment, he said, made detailed recommendations for restoring the Centre to its iconic status as Ghana’s premier national and international conference venue. The planned works are expected to address structural upgrades, modernization of conference technology, refurbishment of auditoriums and meeting spaces, enhancement of safety and accessibility standards and improved hospitality and auxiliary facilities The President emphasized that restoring the AICC is part of a broader national strategy to strengthen Ghana’s meetings and events infrastructure. Beyond the AICC rehabilitation, President Mahama revealed that government will, in partnership with the private sector, commence work this year on a new state-of-the-art convention and creative events centre. The proposed facility is intended to: Position Ghana as West Africa’s leading MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions) destination Host large-scale musical concerts and entertainment productions Attract international conventions and trade expos Support film, theatre, fashion and digital creative industries Generate employment and foreign exchange According to the President, the expansion of events infrastructure is central to unlocking the economic potential of Ghana’s creative arts sector, which continues to gain international recognition. In addition, President Mahama announced that renovation of the State Banquet Hall — which has been closed for several years — will begin in 2026. The move is aimed at restoring its capacity to host high-profile state functions and international gatherings. He noted that upgrading national event facilities would enhance Ghana’s global image and strengthen its ability to compete for major continental and global events. President Mahama framed the infrastructure drive within a broader tourism and national branding agenda. He stressed that major international events — including global sporting tournaments and high-level conferences — present opportunities to promote Ghana’s image, culture, and investment potential. He underscored that a thriving creative sector can boost GDP growth, expand job opportunities for youth, increase tourism receipts, strengthen Ghana’s cultural diplomacy and enhance national brand equity. The President said Ghana must deliberately invest in infrastructure that matches its ambitions. “We must build the facilities that reflect our aspirations,” he stated, adding that creative industries are no longer peripheral but central to economic transformation. In concluding this segment of his address, President Mahama called for unity of purpose in advancing Ghana’s development agenda. He urged citizens to channel the same collective resolve often demonstrated during moments of national pride toward sustained economic and institutional progress. He reaffirmed his personal commitment to accountability, stating: “The buck stops with the President. I live by that statement every day.” However, he emphasized that nation-building requires the collective effort of all Ghanaians — from policymakers to entrepreneurs, workers, creatives and civil servants. The President concluded on an optimistic note, invoking an African proverb: 'However long the night is, the dawn will break'. He said the 'dawn is breaking for Ghana' but stressed that renewal must be built deliberately through institutional reform, economic discipline, and national cohesion. The Accra International Conference Centre, commissioned in 1991, has historically hosted major national and international events. However, increasing demand for larger and more technologically advanced venues has intensified calls for modernization and expansion of Ghana’s conference infrastructure. President Mahama’s 2026 SONA signals a renewed push to leverage the creative economy and events tourism as key pillars of Ghana’s development strategy. Story by: Hawa Abubakar

President John Dramani Mahama revealed that approximately 350,000 Ghanaians are currently living with HIV and AIDS. He made these remarks during his 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament on Friday. He noted that although Ghana’s national HIV prevalence rate is relatively low at 1.6%, certain regions and population groups experience significantly higher rates. President Mahama emphasized that the government is taking decisive steps to strengthen the healthcare system’s response to the epidemic. He hinted that the Ghana AIDS Commission has been tasked with ensuring nationwide availability of HIV testing services and antiretroviral treatments. Mr. Mahama also revealed that his government is fully rolling out a free primary healthcare program, removing cost barriers at the primary care level, which is where early detection and prevention are most critical. He further outlined measures to enhance the overall health system, including the expansion of advanced cardiac care, scaling up disease surveillance, and boosting local pharmaceutical and vaccine production. The President stressed that no patient must be turned away from health facilities, underscoring the government’s commitment to universal access to quality healthcare. “The government remains committed to building a stronger, more resilient, and self-reliant health system for all Ghanaians,” President Mahama said, adding that strategic investments in healthcare infrastructure, personnel, and preventive programs will continue to safeguard the nation’s wellbeing. This disclosure forms part of a broader set of reforms under the Mahama Care initiative, which includes measures such as uncapping the National Health Insurance Levy, increasing provider tariffs, regularizing nursing trainee allowances, and recruiting thousands of health workers to underserved regions. President Mahama’s address highlighted the government’s multi-pronged approach to tackling both communicable and non-communicable diseases while improving healthcare access, infrastructure, and workforce capacity nationwide. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

President John Dramani Mahama has pledged to eliminate the “no-bed syndrome” in Ghana’s health facilities, emphasizing that patients seeking emergency care must receive attention even under makeshift conditions. He made the statement during the 2026 State of the Nation Address delivered on the floor of Parliament on Friday. Addressing Parliament, President Mahama highlighted the government’s comprehensive health agenda under the Mahama Care initiative, Ghana’s first nationwide financing mechanism for chronic and non-communicable diseases. The program has already increased NHIA enrollment from 57% to 66% and doubled public sector health employment to approximately 200,000 workers, while workforce density rose from 16.6 to nearly 42 per 10,000 people. To strengthen service delivery, the government has absorbed over 13,500 nurses and midwives, hundreds of doctors and pharmacists, regularized nursing trainee allowances, and extended the low-fee stress initiative. Future plans include expanding recruitment, correcting workforce maldistribution with incentives for underserved areas, and scaling up specialist nursing training in cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, oncology, emergency, and critical care. On infrastructure, President Mahama confirmed budget provisions for new regional hospitals in Oti, Savannah, and Western North regions, alongside expansions at Ridge Hospital, Greater Accra Regional Hospital, the police hospital, La General Hospital, and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital maternity and children’s block. The President also outlined strategic investments in local pharmaceutical and vaccine production, including $15 million in seed funding for the National Vaccine Institute and local production of snake venom antiserum. Ghana will also produce tetanus-diphtheria vaccines this year through a partnership with an Indonesian firm, while the government has strengthened immunization financing, fully funding vaccines for children and pregnant women and introducing the HPV vaccine. “These interventions are part of our commitment to build a stronger, more resilient, and self-reliant health system for all Ghanaians,” President Mahama stated, underlining that no patient should ever be turned away due to lack of a bed. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

President John Dramani Mahama has announced an ambitious nationwide infrastructure program, pledging to transform the country’s transport network and boost economic growth. He made the statement during the 2026 State of the Nation Address delivered in Parliament on Friday. The President revealed that his government inherited substantial arrears owed to road contractors, with GH¢5.43 billion lodged with the Ghana Road Fund Secretariat still awaiting payment, excluding accruing interest. In addition, more than GH¢104 billion in signed road contracts were inherited, many without secured funding for timely completion. By the end of 2025, nearly GH¢10 billion in arrears had been cleared, and efforts continue to reduce outstanding debts in the sector. At the heart of this initiative is the Big Push infrastructure program, designed to restore critical national infrastructure, open economic corridors, create jobs, and lower the cost of doing business. Work has commenced on 15 major road projects covering 1,144 kilometers at an estimated cost of GH¢50 billion, while 23 previously awarded projects spanning 573 kilometers and costing GH¢15 billion are also being completed. In total, approximately 2,000 kilometers of roads are undergoing rehabilitation across the country. A total of 73 projects are advancing across all 16 regions, including key arteries such as the Kumasi Bypass Road, Suami Interchange, Sunyani Outer Ring Road, dualization of Accra-Aflao, and Cape Coast-Takoradi, among others. Numerous feeder roads, including Afosu-Godjakiti-Kudupe, Kodingkope-Yenyam Junction, and Sedom-Afeghi-Sompakadan, are also under development. President Mahama emphasized, “the whole of Ghana is going to become a construction site,” noting that Ghanaians are already witnessing major road works across the country. Among flagship projects, the Accra-Tama Expressway is set to become a 198.7-kilometer, six-lane corridor, further enhancing connectivity and supporting the government’s vision for economic expansion. This historic investment marks the largest single commitment to Ghana’s road sector in the nation’s history, signaling a bold push to modernize infrastructure and accelerate national development. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

President John Dramani Mahama has described December 19, 2022, as “one of the darkest days in Ghana’s economic history,” recalling the moment the country declared a debt default and suspended repayments on both domestic and external obligations. Speaking during the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament, President Mahama reflected on the economic turmoil that followed the announcement, noting that the debt crisis had become a major obstacle to national progress. “On that day, Ghana declared its inability to honor its debt obligations,” he told lawmakers, adding that the country subsequently entered a complex debt restructuring process that weighed heavily on households and businesses. President Mahama said his administration confronted the crisis “with action, not rhetoric,” establishing sinking funds, renegotiating obligations, and pursuing bilateral agreements to stabilize the economy. According to him, public debt has fallen by GH¢82.1 billion, reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio from 61.8% to 35.3% — one of the sharpest reductions in the country’s history. He also disclosed that Ghana settled a US$709 million Eurobond ahead of schedule in early January, completing a total US$1.4 billion debt service obligation originally slated for 2025. The President noted that international rating agencies — Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investors Service, and Standard & Poor's — have since upgraded Ghana’s credit outlook, describing it as a rare “triple upgrade.” President Mahama further highlighted what he characterized as strong economic recovery indicators. Ghana’s GDP is projected to reach $113 billion in 2025, up from $83 billion at the end of 2024, with average growth of 6.1% recorded over the first three quarters of the year. He said inflation, which peaked at 54.1% in late 2022, declined to 23.6% by the end of 2024 and further dropped to 3.8% by January 2026 following monetary tightening and currency stabilization measures. Food inflation and prices of locally produced goods, he added, have also seen significant reductions, easing pressure on household budgets. President Mahama also pointed to falling petrol prices — from GH¢15.2 to GH¢10.7 per litre, with recent dips below GH¢10 — as evidence of improved macroeconomic stability and exchange rate management. The President framed the economic turnaround as part of his administration’s broader reset agenda, declaring that Ghana’s credibility on the global stage has been restored. “Ghana is rising,” he told Parliament, stressing that the painful lessons of December 2022 have informed a renewed commitment to fiscal discipline, economic resilience, and long-term stability. Story by: Hawa Abubakar

President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted a series of transformative initiatives under the Feed Ghana Program, aimed at boosting food security, modernizing agriculture, and creating jobs for youth across the country. He made these remarks during the 2026 State of the Nation Address delivered in Parliament on Friday. A central feature of the program is the Home Gardening Initiative, encouraging families nationwide to cultivate vegetables at home and in their communities to reduce food costs, improve nutrition, and increase local food availability. The government is also transitioning agriculture from rain-fed dependence to irrigation-based farming to ensure year-round production and strengthen climate resilience. Key infrastructure interventions underway include the construction of two new mega dams, rehabilitation of eight existing irrigation dams, and development of two 50-store platform wells and boreholes for farming communities and schools in the northern belt and Brong-Ahafo regions. Major irrigation schemes — including Ghia, Weta, Tamoso, Gong, Ashaiman, and Avehime — are undergoing rehabilitation, and a new inland valley covering over 1,300 hectares is being developed to expand rice production. Through the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program, a $20 million agro-input distribution project is supporting 50,000 farming households — including 30,000 women and youth — across 12 districts in six regions. The project promotes staple production, year-round vegetable cultivation through solar-powered micro-irrigation, backyard and commercial poultry production, and distribution of fertilizer and certified seeds. The government is also modernizing agricultural services, with procurement processes underway for 660 tractors, 400 combine harvesters, and other equipment. Construction of 11 farmers’ service centers will begin this year, providing smallholder farmers access to mechanization, storage, inputs, extension services, and equipment leasing. The first center will be launched in the Apram Plain in the coming weeks. To strengthen extension services, 540 motorbikes have been procured to improve coverage, with 100 already distributed. Additionally, 400 district coordinators and 10,000 young Ghanaians enrolled in a four-year national service Agripreneur program are supporting frontline service delivery, with 3,000 youths already absorbed into permanent employment. The program also prioritizes farmer cooperatives, with 70,000 commodity-focused cooperatives established nationwide as of October 2025. These cooperatives serve as platforms for accessing inputs, mechanization, climate advisories, aggregation, and fair market negotiations. President Mahama further highlighted agro-industrial initiatives, including the $154 million Ghana-Italy Irrigated Commercial Farming Project, a 10,000-hectare model farm producing rice, maize, soy, and tomatoes for local markets. Other interventions include rice processing facilities in the Upper East and Upper West regions, poultry feed plants in Ashanti, cashew and onion processing facilities in Bono East, and a 40-ton-per-day soy processing plant in northern Ghana. The shea industry is also being revived with secure export contracts to support soybean farmers and reduce feed costs. “These interventions are strategic,” the President stated, “designed to fast-track progress towards food security, create jobs, stabilize prices, and reduce Ghana’s dependence on food imports.” Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

President John Dramani Mahama has described the newly established 24-Hour Economy Authority as the boldest economic transformation initiative in Ghana’s recent history, following its passage by Parliament on February 6, 2026, and his subsequent assent into law . Delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address in Parliament on Friday, the President said the flagship 24-hour economy and Retail Export Development Programme, launched in 2025, is designed to unlock round-the-clock economic activity, deepen value chains, boost productivity, drive export growth, and create quality jobs across agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, and services. He noted that an allocation of GH¢110 million in this year’s budget will support the operationalization of the Authority. The initiative will be implemented in partnership with the Development Bank Ghana and the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, aimed at attracting investment and expanding business operations beyond traditional working hours. President Mahama stressed that the policy is intended to restore hope and build prosperity, particularly for young people, while ensuring Ghana avoids a return to past economic instability caused by fiscal indiscipline and excessive borrowing. On the cocoa sector, he acknowledged the recent revision of the producer price, describing it as a painful but necessary decision to address liquidity challenges and prevent the accumulation of further debt. He assured farmers that ongoing reforms would guarantee fair and transparent pricing while transforming the sector sustainably. The President also announced upcoming legislation to ban sole-source procurement except in exceptional cases and to require prior parliamentary approval before the sale or lease of state assets. Additionally, he disclosed that the Value for Money Office Bill has been laid before Parliament to curb waste, inflated contracts, abandoned projects, and chronic cost overruns. Turning to the energy sector, President Mahama revealed that his administration inherited an industry burdened with GH¢80 billion in debt and severe liquidity challenges. He announced that government has fully repaid and restored the $500 million World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee, originally secured during his first term, thereby reaffirming Ghana’s credibility. He further disclosed that all outstanding gas invoices owed to Eni and Vitol under the Sankofa partnership have been settled, and government is now current on its gas payment obligations. Constructive engagements have also been held with Tullow Oil and Jubilee Field partners to ensure reliable gas supply for sustained electricity generation and industrial growth. President Mahama concluded that these coordinated reforms across finance, cocoa, procurement, and energy are aimed at strengthening macroeconomic stability, restoring investor confidence, and accelerating Ghana’s long-term transformation. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

President John Dramani Mahama has provided detailed justification for the sharp reduction in petrol prices, announcing on the floor of Parliament that fuel costs have fallen from GH¢15.2 to GH¢10.7 per litre, with recent prices dipping further to GH¢9.97 per litre. Delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Mahama linked the fuel price decline to broader macroeconomic stabilization measures implemented under his administration’s Reset agenda. The President explained that high inflation and exchange rate volatility were previously the primary drivers of rising fuel costs. Inflation, which peaked at 54.1% in December 2022, declined to 23.6% by the end of 2024, and further dropped to 3.8% over 10 consecutive months by January 2026, following what he described as disciplined monetary policy and currency stabilization efforts. He emphasized that food inflation fell significantly, easing pressure on household budgets, while inflation for locally produced goods also recorded substantial reductions. President Mahama attributed renewed economic confidence to strict fiscal management. According to him: Ghana’s GDP reached $113 billion in 2025, up from $83 billion in 2024. Average GDP growth for the first three quarters of 2025 stood at 6.1%. The primary surplus reached 2.6% of GDP, surpassing the 1.5% target. The fiscal deficit closed at 3.1%, below the projected 3.8%. Public debt declined by GH¢82.1 billion, reducing the debt-to-GDP ratio from 61.8% to 35.3%. He also disclosed that Ghana settled a US$709 million Eurobond ahead of schedule on January 2, completing a total US$1.4 billion debt service obligation for 2025. The President noted that international credit rating agencies — including Fitch Ratings, Moody's Investors Service, and Standard & Poor's — responded with upgrades, describing it as Ghana’s first “triple upgrade” in years. President Mahama stressed that the fuel price drop is not merely statistical but translates into practical relief for citizens. He said the reduction benefits an estimated 3.7 million vehicle owners and millions more who depend on public transportation. Lower fuel prices, he argued, reduce transport costs, ease pressure on food prices, and improve operational conditions for businesses, thereby stimulating economic activity and job creation. “Ghana’s credibility is restored. Ghana is rising,” the President declared, framing the development as part of a broader recovery following the December 19, 2022 debt default and subsequent restructuring process. Story by: Hawa Abubakar

President John Dramani Mahama has declared that “Ghana is back and working again,” expressing renewed confidence in the country’s economic recovery while delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament on Friday. Addressing the House, the President said his administration inherited an economy in deep crisis — weighed down by unsustainable debt, high inflation, a rapidly depreciating currency and a soaring cost of living. He noted that although the path to reform required tough and prudent decisions, the measures undertaken are beginning to yield results. According to him, key economic fundamentals are improving, stability is being restored, and Ghana is regaining credibility both at home and on the international stage. President Mahama stressed that his government remains committed to protecting national sovereignty, building resilience, and designing policies that place the Ghanaian people first. He reaffirmed that while Ghana will continue to engage the global community, it will do so on terms that reflect its national interest. The President’s remarks formed part of a broader address that highlighted Africa’s need for collective self-reliance, stronger regional collaboration, and economic transformation driven by domestic capacity and unity. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith

President John Dramani Mahama has outlined an ambitious twin-agenda framework — “Resetting Ghana” and the “Accra Reset” — as the guiding pillars of his administration’s policy direction for 2026 and beyond. Delivering the 2026 State of the Nation Address (SONA 2026) on the floor of Parliament, President Mahama said the country’s upcoming 59th Independence Anniversary on March 6 would be commemorated under the theme “Building Prosperity, Restoring Hope.” He emphasized that the theme was not ceremonial, but a practical blueprint shaping government action. According to the President, the “Resetting Ghana” agenda represents a national commitment to restoring economic stability, rebuilding public trust in democratic institutions, strengthening governance systems, and improving the lives of ordinary citizens. He described it as a decisive break from what he termed years of mismanagement, anchored instead on fiscal discipline, transparency, and sustainable development. Mr. Mahama further introduced the “Accra Reset” as Ghana’s continental commitment — a call for African nations to shift from dependence to self-reliance, from fragmentation to integration, and from reactive diplomacy to strategic leadership. He argued that Ghana’s prosperity is inseparable from Africa’s broader progress. “The two agendas are deeply interlinked,” the President told lawmakers, noting that Ghana cannot achieve lasting domestic prosperity without contributing to continental stability and growth. Likewise, he said, the country cannot effectively lead on the African stage if it fails to maintain sound governance at home. Reflecting on what he described as a “moment of national renewal,” President Mahama said his administration — now in the third year of his return to the presidency — is building on foundations laid in 2025 with clarity of purpose and unity of action. He also situated Ghana’s policy direction within what he characterized as a rapidly shifting global order. The President argued that the so-called rule-based international system often holds firm only when it protects the interests of dominant powers, but weakens when emerging and middle nations seek to rebalance influence within it. “Ghana, like many nations, has learned this hard truth,” he said, adding that the country must respond to global uncertainty not with hesitation or fragmentation, but with resilience, strategic positioning, and reduced dependence. President Mahama concluded this section of his address by stressing that resilience and prosperity are historically earned through discipline and national purpose, signaling his administration’s intention to pursue reforms both domestically and within Africa’s broader integration agenda. The 2026 State of the Nation Address sets the tone for policy priorities as Ghana approaches its 59th year of independence. Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith