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Ghana's Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Agnes Lartey, presented the nation's progress at a global forum in Geneva. Key initiatives highlighted include mobile birth registration services and decentralized support to combat teenage drug abuse. Member of Parliament Zuwera Mohammed Ibrahimah emphasized the government's commitment to strengthening the oversight of children's shelters and achieving gender parity in education.
These reforms improve Ghana's standing with international donors and human rights organizations, potentially unlocking further social development grants and technical assistance.
The mobile birth registration initiative is a response to long-standing challenges where children in rural areas lacked legal documentation, preventing them from accessing health insurance and school enrollment.
The Ghana Police Service's Special Cyber Vetting Team arrested Christford Affadu Danful, known as "Ekow Black," following a viral video showing him assaulting a woman. Preliminary investigations by the CID suggest the incident stemmed from a history of disputes. Danful is currently in custody awaiting formal charges.
This case serves as a high-profile test of the police's new Cyber Vetting Team and their ability to prosecute gender-based violence captured on social media.
The Minerals Commission has announced a major policy shift targeting the mining sector, specifically major players like Newmont and AngloGold Ashanti. The government intends to scrap long-term investment stability agreements and raise gold royalty rates from the current 3-5% range to a starting rate of 9%. If gold prices exceed $4,500 per ounce, the rate could climb to 12%. The new legislation is expected to reach Parliament by March 2026.
As Africa's largest gold producer, Ghana is moving to ensure it captures a higher percentage of mineral wealth during periods of record-high global commodity prices.
This marks a significant change in the regulatory risk landscape. The non-renewal of stability agreements suggests a more assertive fiscal stance by the Mahama administration compared to the previous government's approach.
State-linked fuel retailer GOIL PLC has slashed prices at 150 outlets. Petrol is now GHc9.99 (~$0.93 USD) per litre, while diesel is GHc11.21 (~$1.04 USD) per litre. The reduction is strategically targeted at major transport corridors to lower the cost of moving goods and passengers.
Lower fuel prices act as a direct stimulus to the economy by reducing transport-driven inflation, which has been a primary concern for Ghanaian households.
At the current exchange rate, these price drops mean the cost of supporting family transport needs in Ghana has decreased significantly. GHc100 now buys 10 litres of petrol, providing better value for remittance-funded budgets.
IMF Resident Representative Dr. Adrian Alter confirmed that Ghana has successfully completed its fifth review under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). Total support has reached approximately $2.8 billion USD. The IMF praised the country's fiscal discipline and noted that inflation is declining faster than anticipated, despite the program nearing its scheduled conclusion.
Ghana entered this IMF program in 2023 following a severe economic crisis characterized by 50% inflation and a debt default. The current stability is a result of painful debt restructuring and strict spending controls.
The IMF's pledge to maintain oversight even after the formal program ends provides a level of "policy signaling" that may help keep interest rates stable and support the cedi's value.
The Ghana cedi closed the third week of January at GHc10.80 per 1 USD in the interbank market. However, retail rates at forex bureaus remain higher, with the dollar selling for as much as GHc12.10, indicating continued high demand for foreign currency by importers.
A public dispute has erupted over claims that the Ghana Publishing Company increased its asset base by 3,000% in 2023. While the asset value rose from GHc16 million (~$1.49 million USD) to GHc104.4 million (~$9.73 million USD), current management clarified that GHc85.4 million (~$7.96 million USD) of that increase was due to a one-time revaluation of land and buildings, not operational growth.
Police rescued 46 victims of human trafficking, including a three-year-old child, during a raid in the Gomoa East District. The victims, primarily from Francophone West African countries, were lured to Ghana with false promises of work and kept in squalid conditions. One suspect is currently in custody.
The investigation is expanding to identify the cross-border network that facilitated the movement of these individuals into the Central Region.
Communites in Asafo are protesting the "death trap" state of the Asafo market junction. Potholes have plagued the road since 2021, leading to numerous accidents. Residents have resorted to using bamboo sticks as warning signs and are calling for the Ashanti Regional Department of Urban Roads to intervene.
GFA President Kurt Okraku has called for balanced expectations as the Black Queens prepare for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Ghana is in a difficult Group D with Cameroon, Mali, and Cape Verde. A top finish is required to secure a spot in the FIFA Women's World Cup, which Ghana has not reached since 2007.
Ghanaian referee Daniel Laryea addressed the backlash following his officiating of the Morocco vs. Nigeria semi-final. Amid allegations of bias, Laryea simply stated, "it's football," suggesting that controversy is part of the game. The match saw Morocco advance to the final.
In a surprise move, striker Albert Amoah has returned to Asante Kotoko on loan from Libyan side Al Ahly Benghazi. Amoah, who scored 15 goals last season, returns to a Kotoko side currently struggling in 4th place. He is ineligible for the January 17 match against GoldStars due to registration delays.
Esther Smith has issued a strong rebuttal against social media claims that Pastor Elvis Agyemang, leader of Grace Mountain Ministry, extorts money for prayers. Smith described her personal interactions with the pastor as professional and filled with integrity, urging the public to ignore "misleading" rumors.
Pastor Agyemang's Alpha Hour sessions have massive diaspora following; these allegations and their defense have a direct impact on the trust within the religious community abroad.
Reggae artist Blakk Rasta has criticized the lack of support for Ghanaian music, noting that Nigerian artists receive more protection and promotion within their own country. He urged Ghana to implement radio quotas to ensure local talent is not overshadowed by regional competitors.
Today we covered the historic reduction in fuel prices at GOIL stations, the government's aggressive plan to double mining royalties, and the IMF's optimistic assessment of Ghana's economic recovery. Thank you for reading the Ghana News AI Daily Brief!
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