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President John Dramani Mahama officially launched the FPHC initiative on April 15 in Dodowa, committing GHc1.2 billion (~$109 million USD) annually to the project. The program initially targets 150 districts, providing essential health services at no cost to citizens using their National Identification Card. Health Minister Kwabena Mintah Akandoh noted that the strategy focuses on combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like hypertension and diabetes, which now account for 45% of deaths in Ghana. To support this rollout, 315 newly trained Physician Assistants have been inducted into the workforce.
This represents a major shift toward preventive healthcare, potentially reducing the massive out-of-pocket expenses that currently bar one-third of the population from accessing the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
President Mahama, who was inaugurated on January 7, 2025, has made universal healthcare a cornerstone of his administration, often contrasting his FPHC model with the previous administration's 'Agenda 111' hospital construction project.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has proposed the Community Service Bill to address chronic prison overcrowding. The bill would allow minor offenders to serve up to six months in community labor rather than facing incarceration in facilities currently operating at 35% above capacity. Former President Mahama has voiced support for this "Think Prison, Think 360 Agenda," advocating for reformative over punitive justice.
Effective alternative sentencing could save the state millions in inmate upkeep while addressing human rights concerns in congested prisons.
Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson announced a record trade surplus of $4.2 billion (~GHc46.2 billion) for the final quarter of 2025, driven by gold exports constituting 70% of total export value. Real GDP growth reached 6% in 2025, while inflation plummeted to 3.2% by March 2026. Debt-to-GDP has also fallen from 61.8% to 45.3%, outperforming IMF recovery targets. However, the Ghana Statistical Service warned that export earnings are heavily concentrated in the UAE, India, and Switzerland.
The stabilization of the cedi and the primary balance surplus indicate that the post-2022 economic crisis is subsiding, providing a more predictable environment for business.
The Ghana Stock Exchange market capitalization has breached GHc252 billion (~$22.9 billion USD), with the Composite Index up 51% year-to-date. This signals a return of confidence in the banking and telecom sectors.
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) reports that the Publican AI valuation system is generating $3 million USD in daily revenue gains. However, the Ghana Union of Traders' Associations (GUTA) and freight forwarders have declared a strike, citing a lack of consultation and "exorbitant" valuations. While GRA claims the AI has reduced clearance times from two hours to five minutes, business leaders call it "daylight robbery."
Be aware that the ongoing strike and new AI valuations may cause delays and increased clearing costs for personal or commercial shipments at Tema and Takoradi ports.
A shootout in Tema Community 5 resulted in the death of two suspected armed robbers who attacked a Mobile Money outlet, stealing GHc11,390 (~$1,035 USD). Separately, in Bono East, police killed Amadu Mammaa, a suspect linked to the murder of Hawa Yakubu. In the Ashanti Region, the Bekwai Circuit Court sentenced two 19-year-olds to a combined 95 years in prison for a GHc2.29 million (~$208,181 USD) gold robbery.
The Ghana Police Service is increasingly using CCTV and intelligence-led operations, signalling a more aggressive posture against high-value mineral and cash thefts.
Police in Bawku arrested 27-year-old Abdul Basit with an AK-47 and 31 rounds of ammunition following reports of gunshots. In Accra, the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) has warned against the use of modified Toyota Voxy vehicles for commercial transport, citing structural risks after right-hand to left-hand drive conversions.
The Bawku conflict is a long-standing ethnic and chieftaincy dispute between the Kusasi and Mamprusi groups. Recent arrests suggest the region remains under high surveillance by military and police patrols.
The GFA has appointed veteran Portuguese manager Carlos Queiroz to lead Ghana toward the 2026 World Cup. Queiroz, a former assistant to Sir Alex Ferguson and manager of Real Madrid, brings five decades of experience. However, fans remain split due to his defensive style and recent group-stage exit with Iran in 2022.
Black Stars context: Queiroz must quickly harmonize a squad facing external pressures, including midfielder Thomas Partey's ongoing legal case in the UK, where he recently pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges.
Dominic Frimpong, 20, was fatally shot when armed robbers attacked the Berekum Chelsea team bus on the Bibiani-Goaso road. The winger was on loan from Aduana Stars. FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe have issued condolences to the family and the GFA.
Okyeame Kwame has announced that he redirected funds saved for a Mercedes-Benz S-Class to build a Paediatric Centre at Manhyia Hospital in Kumasi. Meanwhile, Stonebwoy and his wife, Dr. Louisa Satekla, visited Nsawam Prison to donate food and supplies, with the artist promising an annual concert to boost inmate morale.
These acts signal a shift among Ghanaian A-listers toward sustainable community impact over material displays of wealth.
Today we covered Ghana's remarkable $4.2 billion trade surplus, the launch of the ambitious Free Primary Healthcare Programme, and the appointment of Carlos Queiroz as the new Black Stars head coach. Thank you for reading the Ghana News AI Daily Brief!
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