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Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has been officially elected as the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), securing 110,645 votes (56.48%) in a primary involving over 211,000 delegates. His victory was anchored by a dominant performance in the Ashanti Region, where he won 45 out of 47 constituencies, comfortably defeating his closest rival, Kennedy Agyapong (23.76%). In the aftermath, the Bawumia camp has launched a reconciliation drive to heal internal divisions, while the opposition NDC claims to be "unfazed" by his selection as they look toward the 2028 race.
This victory ends months of internal speculation and establishes Bawumia as the definitive leader of the NPP. His ability to consolidate the party's Ashanti stronghold is a critical signal of the party's competitive health for the next general election.
Under the current Fourth Republic, the NPP and NDC have traditionally alternated power every eight years. Following the 2024 defeat, the NPP is now repositioning itself to "break the cycle" under Bawumia's leadership.
President John Dramani Mahama has announced the construction of a new airport in Wa, the Upper West regional capital, citing technical limitations at the current site. The project will be funded by the recently approved Airport Infrastructure Levy on domestic and international tickets. Simultaneously, the President launched the SheaPark Resource Hub, a strategic initiative designed to industrialize the shea sector, featuring processing units and training centers.
These projects represent a targeted investment in Northern Ghana's infrastructure and agricultural value chain, aiming to create jobs and improve regional connectivity.
The President is now scheduled for international engagements at the World Governments Summit in Dubai and a State Visit to Zambia to discuss AfCFTA leadership.
The Ghanaian government has initiated the release of GHc41 million (~$3.82 million USD) to settle outstanding book and research allowances for the Colleges of Education Teachers Association of Ghana (CETAG). Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu has urged lecturers to suspend their strike, which began in November 2025, with a goal of resuming academic activities by February 9, 2026.
The resolution of this dispute is critical for stabilizing the teacher training sector and preventing further disruption to the academic calendar.
The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has implemented new minimum price levels for the first half of February 2026. The floor for diesel is now GHc10.95 (~$1.02 USD) per litre, while petrol is pegged at GHc9.99 (~$0.93 USD) per litre. Major distributors like Star Oil and Zen Petroleum have already adjusted pump prices to meet these thresholds, driven by a 0.77% depreciation of the cedi and rising global crude prices (near $70 per barrel).
Increased fuel costs are a primary driver of headline inflation in Ghana, affecting everything from food prices to public transport fares.
At the current exchange rate of GHc10.73 per 1 USD, your family's monthly transport budget in Ghana may need a 5% upward adjustment to maintain current travel habits.
The price floor policy remains controversial, with some OMCs exiting industry chambers in protest. This signals potential regulatory friction in the downstream petroleum sector.
Investor appetite for government short-term debt remains high, with the latest auction attracting GHc17.10 billion (~$1.59 billion USD) in bids, far exceeding the government's target. Despite the Bank of Ghana cutting the policy rate by 250 basis points, the 364-day bill remains the most popular instrument, attracting 38.2% of total bids.
Yields on 91-day bills have dropped to 10.82%. The high oversubscription suggests a liquid banking system but limited attractive alternatives in the private sector for institutional capital.
Ghanaian law enforcement recorded several breakthroughs this week. In the Volta Region, a taxi driver was arrested for attempting to bribe officers with GHc5,000 (~$466 USD) after 37 parcels of marijuana were found in his vehicle. Separately, in Volta North, two suspects were caught with 648 parcels of narcotics and failed in a massive GHc150,000 (~$13,979 USD) bribery attempt. In Kpandai, police are hunting a motorcyclist who abandoned three shotguns and 500 rounds of ammunition.
The Kpandai area in the Northern Region has been a focus for security agencies due to its history of land and chieftaincy disputes, which often fuel the demand for illegal arms.
The CID has declared a suspect known as 'Hoyeefi' wanted for a string of violent robberies in the Ahafo Region. A bounty of GHc50,000 (~$4,660 USD) has been placed on his head following high-profile raids on local institutions in December 2025.
Increased police surveillance in the Ahafo Region as authorities attempt to dismantle the operational backbone of this syndicate.
It was a prolific weekend for Ghanaians abroad. Antoine Semenyo scored for Manchester City in a 2-2 draw with Tottenham, while Ibrahim Sulemana netted his first Serie A goal for Cagliari in a 4-0 win over Verona. In League Two, veteran Albert Adomah scored a brace for Walsall.
Black Stars context: These performances provide a major boost to the technical team as they monitor player form ahead of 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
A total of 3,955 seats have been destroyed at the Baba Yara Stadium following clashes between SHS students during inter-school competitions. Repairs must be completed before the Asante Kotoko vs. Hearts of Oak 'Super Clash' on February 15.
Today we covered Dr. Bawumia's major political victory, the rising cost of fuel due to new price floors, and President Mahama's infrastructure push in the North. Thank you for reading the Ghana News AI Daily Brief!
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