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President John Dramani Mahama concluded a three-day state visit to Zambia on February 5, 2026, where he highlighted the successes of his administration's 'Resetting Ghana' agenda. He cited a reduction in government size to 58 ministers and a dramatic decline in inflation from 23.4% in 2024 to 3.8% in early 2026. However, MP Francis Asenso-Boakye (Bantama) challenged these statistics, stating that market prices for essential goods remain high, creating a disconnect between data and the reality of the Ghanaian consumer.
The administration is using its first year in office to project a narrative of rapid stabilization to international partners, which is vital for future investment and bilateral trade agreements like the new Ghana-Zambia visa-free travel pact.
President Mahama, who took office in January 2025, campaigned on a 'Reset' platform aimed at reversing the economic challenges experienced during the previous NPP administration's final years under the IMF program.
The Mahama administration's flagship '24-hour economy' policy is facing stiff opposition in Parliament. Minority members, led by Samuel Abu Jinapor, have labeled the initiative a 'deception,' arguing that a new '24-Hour Economy Authority' is unnecessary and would only increase the wage bill for political appointees. Proponents argue that a legally backed institution is essential to coordinate the complex, multi-sectoral shift toward a three-shift work system.
The 24-hour economy was the central campaign promise of the NDC in the 2024 elections, designed to maximize productivity and create jobs for the youth through tax incentives and improved security for late-night business operations.
Former MASLOC CEO Sedina Tamakloe-Attionu was arrested on January 6, 2026, by US Marshals in Nevada and is being held at the Henderson Detention Center. Simultaneously, Attorney-General Dr. Dominic Ayine announced that 16 dockets are under review as part of 'Operation Recover All Loots' (ORAL), aiming to reclaim billions of cedis in embezzled state funds. In the courts, the 15-year sentence of Evangelist Patricia Asiedua (Nana Agradaa) for money-doubling was reduced to 12 months on appeal.
The extradition process for Tamakloe-Attionu will be a test of Ghana-US legal cooperation and a signal of the Mahama administration's resolve to follow through on anti-corruption promises.
Mark Badu-Aboagye, CEO of the GNCCI, has called the fact that Ghana has sought 17 IMF bailouts a 'national embarrassment.' He is demanding a radical shift from exporting raw cocoa and gold to local processing and value addition. He also criticized the banking sector for its reliance on short-term loans (3-12 months), which he argues are insufficient for building factories or sustainable industrial projects.
This growing sentiment for an 'IMF Exit' strategy signals a push for tighter fiscal discipline from the private sector, potentially leading to a more stable but less subsidied market environment.
COCOBOD has initiated the disbursement of over GHc 6 billion (~$559.18 million USD) to Licensed Buying Companies (LBCs) to settle long-standing debts owed to cocoa farmers. This comes as the Minority in Parliament alleged that the total debt to LBCs has exceeded GHc 10 billion (~$931.97 million USD). The Board is reportedly using alternative funding from international buyers to bridge the cash flow gap.
Sustained payment delays drive farmers toward 'galamsey' (illegal mining) or smuggling cocoa to neighboring countries, threatening Ghana's primary source of foreign exchange.
If your family back home depends on cocoa farming revenue, these disbursements should provide immediate relief to households that have been waiting for payments since November.
As part of the National AI Strategy, MTN Ghana has donated $2 million (~GHc 21.46 million) to the Ministry of Communications to equip youth with digital skills. This is part of a broader $25 million (~$23.3 million USD) investment in a new ICT Hub aimed at making Ghana a regional tech leader.
Police in Berekum have taken a 70-year-old man into protective custody after he was found mysteriously trapped inside a locked car in the early hours of Thursday. The car owner, Mr. Bismarck Malik, found the man behind the wheel with no signs of forced entry. This triggered allegations of wizardry and a near-lynching by a mob before youth intervened to bring the man to the station.
The police are assessing the man's mental health. This incident highlights the recurring danger of mob justice in rural Ghana based on supernatural suspicions.
Police arrested three suspects—Francis Amo, Anthony Boateng, and Musah Ibrahim—following an armed robbery in Kwabenya on January 18. The suspects allegedly stole GHc 14,000 (~$1,304.75 USD) and $300 USD, along with iPhones and jewelry. A stolen iPhone 17 Pro Max was recovered from one of the suspects' homes.
Ghanaian forward Antoine Semenyo is adjusting to life at Manchester City under Pep Guardiola. Following a 2-2 draw with Tottenham, Semenyo expressed optimism about the title race, noting that he is demanding more from himself to adapt to City's tactical system.
Black Stars context: Semenyo's high-level experience in a title-contending Premier League side is a significant asset for Ghana as the 2026 World Cup qualifiers intensify.
In a blow to the Black Stars' defense, AS Monaco has removed Mohammed Salisu from their Champions League squad. The defender has suffered a season-ending ACL injury, which likely rules him out of Ghana's international fixtures for the remainder of 2026.
Ghana's senior women's team will travel to the UAE for a four-nation tournament from February 28 to March 6, facing Russia, Hong Kong, and Tanzania as they prepare for WAFCON 2026.
Highlife legend Kojo Antwi shared a story from his memoir, Mr. Music Man: The Journey, detailing how he was nearly arrested 50 years ago for secretly dating the daughter of a senior police officer. The encounter highlighted the social stigma previously attached to the music profession in Ghana.
It serves as a cultural benchmark of how far the creative arts have come—from a 'suspicious' profession to a multibillion-cedi pillar of Ghana's global brand.
Today we covered President Mahama's international economic messaging in Zambia, the Bank of Ghana's significant move to tighten credit reporting, and the major breakthrough in the MASLOC embezzlement case. Thank you for reading the Ghana News AI Daily Brief!
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