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Sweeping Constitutional Reforms Proposed -- The Mahama administration has accepted recommendations to extend presidential terms to five years and cap the number of ministers at 60, signaling a landmark shift in Ghana's governance structure.
Free Speech Crackdown Sparks Political Tension -- Legal experts and political allies have cautioned President Mahama over a surge in arrests for offensive political speech, which critics claim has surpassed the record of the previous administration in just 18 months.
Former TOR Boss Convicted in U.S. Bribery Scheme -- A New York jury found Asante Berko guilty of facilitating $1 million in bribes to Ghanaian officials for a power plant contract, highlighting persistent transparency gaps in the energy sector.
Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine announced that the government has accepted several major recommendations from the Constitutional Review Committee. The proposed reforms include extending presidential and parliamentary terms from four to five years, imposing a strict cap of 60 ministers and 300 MPs, and allowing for the direct election of MMDCEs. The changes also include the abolition of the death penalty and allowing dual citizens to contest parliamentary seats.
These reforms represent the most significant attempt to modernize the 1992 Constitution to date. Extending terms to five years is intended to reduce the cost and frequency of elections, while ministerial caps address long-standing public outcries over the size and cost of government.
Ghana has operated under a four-year electoral cycle since the return to multi-party democracy in 1993. Shifting to a five-year term would require a national referendum for entrenched clauses.
Prominent lawyer Martin Kpebu and Majority Chief Whip Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor have expressed alarm over the increasing number of citizens detained for insulting public officials. Kpebu claims that since President Mahama's inauguration on January 7, 2025, more people have been arrested for offensive speech than during the entire eight-year tenure of former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
The trend risks eroding the democratic goodwill of the Mahama administration. Critics argue that using police intervention for political insults suppresses dissent and distracts the government from its developmental mandate.
In a major administrative shift, President Mahama has appointed Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings as Minister of Environment, Science and Technology and James Agalga as the new Majority Leader of Parliament. Mahama Ayariga has been moved from the Majority Leadership to head the Ministry of Local Government. These appointments come exactly one year after a tragic helicopter crash claimed several high-ranking officials in the previous administration.
James Agalga's leadership in Parliament will be tested as he attempts to navigate a divided house through the upcoming constitutional reform debates.
Asante Kwaku Berko, former Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), was convicted by a federal jury in Brooklyn for orchestrating over $1 million in bribes to Ghanaian officials between 2014 and 2017. The bribes were paid to secure a power plant contract for a Turkish energy firm. Berko, a dual citizen, faces up to 30 years in prison.
This case exposes the vulnerability of Ghana's energy sector to high-level corruption and underscores the role of international jurisdictions in enforcing accountability when domestic systems fail.
This verdict signals heightened U.S. scrutiny of financial dealings in Ghana. Investors should ensure rigorous FCPA compliance when engaging in state-led infrastructure projects.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) is rolling out Fiscal Electronic Devices (EFDs) to automate VAT collection at points of sale. The GRA reports it has mobilized GHc80 million ($6.81 million USD) in the first half of the year, with a target of GHc170 million ($14.48 million USD) by year-end.
Improved tax automation may eventually lead to more stable public financing for infrastructure, but expect higher compliance costs for any family businesses operating retail outlets in Ghana.
Public policy group CUTS International has petitioned Parliament to suspend DVLA delinquency fees, which range from GHc204.25 ($17.40 USD) to GHc404.25 ($34.43 USD). The group argues the fees lack a clear legal basis and constitute "double punishment" for motorists.
NADMO has issued an emergency alert following notice that the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso will begin spillage on August 11, 2026. Residents along the White Volta are urged to relocate to higher ground immediately.
The Bagre Dam spillage is an annual event that frequently causes devastating floods in northern Ghana, often destroying thousands of acres of farmland and displacing entire communities.
ECG has announced scheduled maintenance from August 10 to August 13 in parts of Accra East, including Oyarifa, Adenta, and Labone. Power will be interrupted daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Police have arrested Adams Adder Almeida and Bala Bilyon for the murder of car dealer Mohammed Rahman and the shooting of his wife in Tuba. Almeida reportedly confessed, citing derogatory remarks made by the victim.
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, is leading a global fundraising drive for the Otumfuo Osei Tutu II Comprehensive Cancer Center of Excellence. A gala is scheduled for September 4 in Maryland, USA, to engage the diaspora.
This project offers a major philanthropic opportunity for Ghanaians abroad to contribute to a sustainable, world-class medical facility in the Ashanti Region.
Ghana’s Black Queens face Malawi in the WAFCON quarter-finals today. A victory would secure an automatic spot in the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, ending a 20-year absence from the global stage.
Black Stars context: While the men's national team is in transition, the Black Queens have become the standard-bearers for Ghanaian football excellence on the continent.
Ghanaian star Antoine Semenyo provided two assists in Manchester City's pre-season win over Atletico Madrid in Seoul. His performance strengthens his bid for a starting role in the upcoming Premier League season.
Today we covered the proposed overhaul of Ghana's constitution, the high-stakes conviction of a former oil refinery boss in New York, and the urgent flood warnings for the North East. Thank you for reading the Ghana News AI Daily Brief!
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