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Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been officially declared the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following a primary held on January 31, 2026. Securing 110,643 votes (56.48%), Bawumia defeated rivals Kennedy Agyapong (23.76%) and Dr. Bryan Acheampong (18.53%). The primary, which involved over 211,000 delegates, saw immediate concessions from all defeated candidates, marking a unified pivot toward what party elders call an "Economic Reset."
This victory consolidates the NPP’s leadership early in the new term of President John Mahama (NDC). It establishes Bawumia as the primary challenger for 2028, focusing his platform on digitalization and economic innovation to counter the current administration's policies.
Under the Fourth Republic, leadership transitions within the NPP have historically been competitive. This win marks the first time a former Vice President has secured the slot immediately after a general election loss, signaling the party’s continued faith in his "digitalization" agenda despite the 2024 results.
The Controller and Accountant-General’s Department (CAGD) has suspended the January 2026 salaries of 2,563 public sector workers following a 2025 headcount exercise. The move, recommended by the Auditor-General, aims to eliminate "ghost names" and ensure payroll integrity. Affected workers must now undergo verification with the Ghana Audit Service to restore their pay.
Payroll fraud remains a significant drain on Ghana's national budget. This action signals the new administration's commitment to fiscal discipline and the IMF-backed requirements for public sector transparency.
Hon. Peter Laanchen Toobu has launched a dry-season farming initiative at the Siiru Dam, distributing 35 pumping machines to women’s cooperatives and individual farmers. The project is designed to facilitate year-round cultivation and reduce reliance on seasonal rainfall in the Upper West Region.
The success of this constituency-level project could provide a blueprint for the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to scale up irrigation support in the northern belt.
The University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) has conferred an honorary Doctor of Science degree upon Ibrahim Mahama, founder of Engineers & Planners. The recognition highlights his achievement in making E&P the largest indigenous mining firm in West Africa and his role in the Black Volta Gold Project, the first large-scale gold mine to be 100% Ghanaian-owned.
Local ownership of extractive assets is a key pillar for economic sovereignty. Mahama’s success provides a model for other Ghanaian entrepreneurs to move from service provision to asset ownership in the mining sector.
The establishment of the new Ibrahim Mahama Institute for Precious and Green Ghana at UMaT signals a shift toward sustainable mining research, creating potential opportunities for green-tech partnerships in the extractive industry.
Australian High Commissioner Berenice Owen-Jones revealed that Australian companies have invested over A$60 billion (~$39.5 billion USD) in Africa over 50 years. In Ghana, flagship projects like the Edikan Perseus Mine and Atlantic Lithium represent the core of this partnership, focusing on job creation and sustainable resource management.
The continued interest of Australian firms in Ghana’s lithium sector underscores the country's strategic importance in the global EV supply chain.
Research from the University of St Andrews indicates that Ghana's closed fishing season is causing severe socio-economic strain on coastal communities, particularly affecting women. The study advocates for shifting the closure to June and integrating traditional knowledge to better align with local environmental cycles.
Families in coastal regions like the Volta and Central Regions may face increased financial pressure during these periods. At the current exchange rate of GHc10.73 per 1 USD, even small remittance increases during the closed season can significantly mitigate local household stress.
The Tema High Court has granted bail of GHc500,000 (~$46,598 USD) to Prince Edwin Brem, a staff member of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA). Brem is accused of using forgery and false pretenses to steal a tugboat valued at $500,000. The vessel was eventually tracked to Guinea-Bissau.
GPHA is Ghana’s primary port regulator. This case has raised serious questions about the security protocols governing high-value maritime assets and internal collusion risks within state agencies.
Torential rains caused a coltan mine in Rubaya, Eastern DRC, to collapse, killing more than 200 people. The area is currently under M23 rebel control, complicating rescue and state oversight.
As a fellow major mineral producer, Ghana monitors regional mining safety closely. Disasters in rebel-held areas often lead to increased international scrutiny of "conflict minerals," affecting global supply chains that include West African neighbors.
Veteran midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has expressed realism regarding Ghana’s 2026 World Cup prospects. Placed in Group L with England, Croatia, and Panama, the Black Stars face a difficult path. The campaign begins June 17 in Toronto against Panama.
Black Stars context: Following group-stage exits in 2014 and 2022, the GFA is under immense pressure to ensure tactical cohesion during the upcoming March friendlies against Austria and Germany.
Leicester City suffered a 2-0 defeat to Charlton Athletic, compounded by Jordan Ayew missing his first-ever professional penalty. Meanwhile, in the Premier League, Hugo Ekitike starred for Liverpool in a 4-1 win over Newcastle, while Nana Boateng has returned to the Romanian Superliga with FC Petrolul Ploiești.
Former President John Mahama commented on the viral visit of American YouTuber IShowSpeed, noting that the content creator’s trip to the Shea Butter Museum in Accra has sparked a surge in international interest among younger audiences. The Foreign Ministry reportedly approved a Ghanaian passport for the streamer based on ancestral ties.
This represents a successful, albeit informal, execution of the "Beyond the Return" initiative, leveraging digital-native influencers to market Ghanaian cultural heritage.
Today we covered Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's decisive NPP primary victory, Ibrahim Mahama’s honorary recognition for industrial leadership, and the ongoing GHc500,000 (~$46,598 USD) bail case involving GPHA. Thank you for reading the Ghana News AI Daily Brief!
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