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A sharp political divide has emerged in Ghana's Parliament following the release of the Bank of Ghana's (BoG) 2025 audited financial statements. The Minority Caucus, led by Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has accused the central bank of 'policy insolvency,' alleging that true losses could be as high as GHc44 billion ($4 billion USD) if 'misleading' accounting practices regarding gold sales were removed. The Minority further criticized the BoG for a negative equity position that has widened to approximately GHc93.8 billion ($8.53 billion USD). Conversely, the Majority Caucus and Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson have defended the bank, asserting the GHc15.6 billion (~$1.42 billion USD) loss is an accurate reflection of global trends where central banks prioritize price stability over profit.
The credibility of the central bank is critical for Ghana's post-IMF recovery. If the 'policy insolvency' narrative gains traction, it could undermine investor confidence and the cedi's relative stability.
Ghana entered a $3 billion IMF program in 2023 following a severe economic crisis. The Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) mentioned in the audit was a key requirement for that bailout but severely impacted the balance sheets of the BoG and local commercial banks.
The Ghanaian legal landscape is being tested by a controversial legislative proposal to mandate compulsory paternity testing for all children born in healthcare facilities. The bill seeks to criminalize 'paternity fraud,' but critics argue it conflates biological mismatches with fraudulent intent while ignoring potential institutional errors. Separately, the Korle Bu Doctors Association (KODA) suspended a strike within 18 hours following a dispute over laboratory management, highlighting ongoing friction between medical doctors and laboratory scientists regarding professional boundaries.
The paternity bill could fundamentally alter family law in Ghana, potentially placing heavy economic and psychological burdens on families while undermining the legal principle of the 'best interest of the child.'
For Ghanaians abroad with children born in Ghana, these legal shifts regarding parental identity and biological verification could have significant implications for citizenship and inheritance claims.
The government has escalated its anti-corruption efforts, arresting four individuals linked to the defunct Power Distribution Services (PDS) over unauthorized transfers of ECG funds. Simultaneously, Maxwell Kofi Jumah, the former CEO of GIHOC Distilleries, remains in the ICU at Korle Bu while facing a GHc55 million to GHc65 million (~$5 million to $5.9 million USD) bail requirement for alleged financial mismanagement. Internationally, Ghana is preparing to defend against a $1 billion USD damages claim at the Permanent Court of Arbitration filed by Future Global Resources over the termination of the Bogoso-Prestea gold mine lease.
The outcome of the Bogoso-Prestea arbitration is a major fiscal risk. A $1 billion USD judgment against the state would be a significant blow to the national budget and credit standing.
Ghana's economy shows a dual reality: inflation has plummeted from 54% in 2022 to 3.2% in March 2026, and international reserves hit a record $14.5 billion USD in February. However, this stability has cost the Bank of Ghana dearly. The bank reported a net loss of GHc15.63 billion ($1.42 billion USD) for 2025, largely due to the high cost of monetary operations. Amidst this, the Ghana Gold Board (GOLDBOD) reported a GHc5.4 billion ($491 million USD) surplus, successfully formalizing artisanal gold exports.
The sharp drop in inflation to 3.2% makes Ghana's real interest rates highly attractive, though the central bank's negative equity suggests that fiscal discipline must remain tight to avoid future monetization of deficits.
With inflation significantly lower than in previous years, the 'cost of living' pressure on family members in Ghana should be easing, potentially allowing your remittances to go further toward investment rather than just basic consumption.
Beverage giant Kasapreko PLC has announced an Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the Ghana Stock Exchange to raise GHc700 million ($63.6 million USD). The funds are earmarked for a new production facility for bottled water and soft drinks. In the mining sector, Heath Goldfields has cleared GHc139 million ($12.6 million USD) in salary arrears at the Bogoso-Prestea mine, signaling a slow recovery for the troubled site.
The Kasapreko IPO represents one of the largest domestic capital raises in recent years. Given the brand's 55% profit spike in Q1 2026, this offers a significant opportunity in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector.
Roads Minister Kwame Agbodza has issued a final warning to contractors under the 'Big Push' program, threatening contract termination for underperformance. In Kumasi, the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has scheduled a major transformer upgrade at the Ridge Substation from May 6-9, 2026. This will result in phased six-hour daily power interruptions but is expected to significantly improve voltage stability for the region.
Residents in the Kumasi Ridge enclave should prepare for outages between May 6 and May 9. Businesses relying on stable power for manufacturing or cold chain storage should activate backup systems.
The 27th Telecel Ghana Music Awards (TGMA) has been forced to move to the Palms Convention Centre due to renovations at the Grand Arena, highlighting a critical shortage of large-scale event venues in Accra. Despite these infrastructure hurdles, the industry is booming with new releases, including KiDi's 'Signature' and Josh Blakk's 'HighLife Sunday Service.' In a historic endorsement, Reggie Rockstone has backed Wendy Shay for the TGMA Artiste of the Year title.
The 'venue crisis' is a billion-cedi blind spot for the tourism and creative arts sector. Without adequate infrastructure, Ghana risks losing its status as a regional hub for major entertainment events and 'Year of Return' activities.
Today we covered the intense political battle over the Bank of Ghana's financial health, the surge in anti-corruption arrests under 'Operation Recover All Loot,' and the controversial legislative moves surrounding paternity testing. Thank you for reading the Ghana News AI Daily Brief!
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