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During his "Resetting Ghana" tour in the Upper West Region, President John Mahama reaffirmed his commitment to phasing out the double-track system in Senior High Schools (SHS) by the end of 2027. To address the infrastructure gap, the government has secured a $300 million facility from the World Bank and is constructing 16 new SHS facilities. Additionally, a new 20% basic salary incentive was announced for health and education professionals who accept postings in deprived districts, aimed at correcting the uneven distribution of essential services across the country. The President also clarified that there are no approved policies to make Arabic or Chinese compulsory in public schools, emphasizing a focus on academic integrity and merit-based grading.
Eliminating the double-track system and incentivizing rural postings are core pillars of the Mahama administration's social contract. These moves aim to stabilize the education sector and improve healthcare access for the millions of Ghanaians living outside major urban hubs.
The double-track system was introduced under the previous Akufo-Addo administration as a temporary measure to manage the surge in enrollment following the Free SHS policy. While it increased access, critics often cited reduced contact hours and student fatigue as significant drawbacks.
Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has met with Greater Accra Queenmothers to secure a commitment to peace during the upcoming Homowo festival. Following violence that led to six deaths during the 2024 celebrations, the Ministry is advocating for mediation over conflict. Queenmothers at the forum requested greater formal empowerment within local governance to proactively resolve communal tensions.
Traditional authorities remain the primary mediators in local disputes; ensuring a peaceful Homowo is critical for social stability in the capital and protecting the tourism revenue associated with the festival.
Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has unveiled a strategic roadmap to transform Ghana's horticulture sector into a global export leader. Key initiatives include a dedicated cut-flower production corridor from Daboya to the Tamale Air Cargo Hub, supported by the 24-hour economy model. Non-traditional exports reached over $5 billion in 2025, and the government aims to double this figure by 2030 through greenhouse technology and cold chain logistics. Simultaneously, the Ghana Tomato Self-Sufficiency Initiative (GHATSI) is working to boost annual production to 400,000 tonnes to save $400 million in import costs.
Shifting from raw material exports to high-value horticultural products like cut flowers and processed tomatoes is essential for currency stability and creating skilled jobs for the youth.
The growth in the agricultural value chain offers opportunities for diaspora investment in cold storage, logistics, and greenhouse management, leveraging the current exchange rate of GHc11.42 per USD for local setup costs.
The expansion of the Tamale Air Cargo Hub signals a commitment to making Ghana a logistics gateway for perishable goods destined for Europe and the Gulf.
The Ministers of Trade and Transport have secured an additional berth at Tema Port specifically for clinker vessels. This move aims to clear a massive backlog of raw materials that threatened to force a price hike in the construction sector. Meanwhile, business groups like the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders warn that cargo transport times have tripled due to congestion, driving up operational costs.
Construction is a major driver of the Ghanaian economy. Any spike in cement prices would ripple through housing and infrastructure projects, affecting both private developers and state initiatives.
While the Bank of Ghana (BoG) reports that systemic vulnerabilities are subdued and capitalization is strong, the Second Deputy Governor, Matilda Asante-Asiedu, has warned that Ghana must tighten anti-money laundering frameworks to avoid the FATF grey list. This warning comes as the Accra Circuit Court remanded two individuals in connection with a GHc127 million (~$11.12 million USD) cyber theft. Despite these risks, private funds like InvestCorp reported assets under management growth to GHc40.4 million (~$3.54 million USD) in 2025.
Watch for increased regulatory scrutiny on digital transactions as the BoG seeks to curb a 98% surge in financial fraud seen between 2022 and 2025.
The West Africa Centre for Counter-Extremism (WACCE) has issued its most urgent warning yet, stating Ghana is closer to a terrorism threat than ever before. Executive Director Mutaru Mumuni Muqthar noted that the Sahel is now the global epicenter of extremist activity, and the southward spread into Burkina Faso has brought violence to Ghana's borders. Internal issues like youth unemployment and ethnic tensions are cited as potential entry points for radicalization.
Security deployments in northern border districts and community-led resilience programs aimed at at-risk youth.
General Corporal Robert Koranteng has been interdicted following the death of 23-year-old law student Ivan Baidoo on the Tema Motorway. The officer reportedly pursued a motorcycle on which Baidoo was a passenger, leading to the fatal crash. The family of the deceased has petitioned for a transparent probe, and the case has been taken over by the CID Homicide Unit.
This incident has reignited public debate about police motor pursuit protocols and the use of viral digital evidence to hold state security personnel accountable.
Police successfully rescued 30-year-old Bismark Amoh after a 48-hour ordeal in the Central Region. The kidnappers had demanded GHc50,000 (~$4,379 USD), and the family had already paid GHc19,500 (~$1,708 USD) before the rescue. Amoh is currently receiving medical attention as police pursue the captors.
Health experts at Korle Bu have warned that cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) now account for 43-50% of deaths in Ghana. Many of these deaths are attributed to "silent" conditions like hypertension, which often go undiagnosed until a crisis occurs.
The shift from infectious to non-communicable diseases as the leading cause of death requires a fundamental change in the national healthcare strategy, focusing on regular screenings and lifestyle modifications.
In a move to combat maternal mortality, the Ashanti Regional Health Directorate and UNICEF will launch a virtual system connecting local clinics to specialists in real-time during complex deliveries. The region reported high maternal death ratios in 2025, and this digital safety net is intended to guide midwives through emergencies remotely.
The Ghanaian music community is mourning the loss of veteran singer Bernice Offei, known for the iconic hit "Life Is So Short." Offei, who was also a professional banker and scholar, passed away on September 12 following a brief disappearance and illness. Her legacy of faith-centered, motivational music leaves a profound void in the industry.
Offei was a rare example of a successful dual-career professional in Ghana, blending high-level banking with a multi-award-winning music ministry that inspired a generation.
Today we covered the massive cocaine seizure in France linked to Ghana, President Mahama's multi-million dollar push for agricultural self-sufficiency, and the tragic loss of gospel icon Bernice Offei. Thank you for reading the Anansi News Daily Brief!
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