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The Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), in collaboration with other stakeholders, has intercepted a container of opioid drugs worth approximately GH₵20 million at the Tema Port.

The seized shipment included:

• Rahol Tapentadol 250 mg – 26 cartons
• Tafradol Tapentadol 120 mg – 160 cartons
• Timaking Tapentadol 120 mg – 40 cartons
• Loperamide 2 mg – 190 cartons
• Chlorpheniramine Maleate – 320 cartons

Authorities revealed that the consignment was intended for Niger as its final destination.

Government Vows to Prevent Opioid Trafficking

Speaking at a press briefing at Tema Port, Minister of Health Kwabena Mintah Akandoh assured that the government is committed to preventing Ghana from being used as a transit point for opioid trafficking.

“Inasmuch as we are interested in facilitating trade in this country, we will not allow Ghana to be a safe haven for opiods. And let me tell you that the president is personally interested in this matter. On my way here, he called me twice, and it tells you how important and critical this particular issue is.”

Authorities have pledged to tighten regulations and enhance monitoring to curb illicit drug shipments through Ghana’s ports.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has launched the government’s flagship Blue Water Initiative, aimed at restoring polluted water resources.

As part of the initiative, he announced the commencement of a four-day training program for the first batch of 460 Blue Water Guards, who will provide 24-hour monitoring and protection of the nation’s water bodies. The minister emphasised that the Blue Water Guards will serve as vigilant stewards, safeguarding water resources from the devastating effects of illegal mining. He also revealed plans to train and deploy 2,000 guards nationwide in the coming months.

“The call for urgent action has never been more pressing. People often do not want us to say it, but this is a crisis of our lifetime. At the heart of why we are here is the Blue Water Initiative, and at the heart of this initiative is the heart of the Blue Water Guard. This aims to train 2,000 individuals across the country to protect our valuable water bodies.”

“They will serve as the frontline defenders of our water bodies and ensure that our water bodies remain a source of life, and livelihood for generations to come.  The responsibility of the Blue Water Guards is paramount in the fight against illegal mining,” he stated. The Deputy CEO of the Minerals Commission, Emmanuel Anyimah noted that “We will provide the necessary regulatory support, technical guidance, and oversight to ensure that the River Guards are well-equipped to execute their mandate effectively.

“This initiative aligns with our core values—professionalism, integrity, teamwork, and service excellence—values that will undoubtedly guide our collective efforts in the days ahead.”

A Rocha Ghana has called for the abolishment of river guard operations as a strategy to combat illegal mining around water bodies and forest reserves, arguing that it has proven ineffective and is a waste of resources.

The Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, announced the launch of the ‘Blue Water Initiative’ and the training of the first batch of ‘River Guards’ to curb the environmental impact of illegal mining in the Western Region.

The initiative is part of President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to restoring Ghana’s environment while rehabilitating polluted water bodies.

Speaking to Citi News on Monday, March 17, Deputy National Director of A Rocha Ghana, Daryl Bosu, questioned the effectiveness of the initiative, given that its implementation over the years has yielded no results.

“We don’t see the strategy as going to be effective; we wish that it was scrapped entirely. What exactly are they going to do? Are they going to do anything different from what past administrations have done?

“We need resources to rehabilitate degraded land and to clean the rivers. We don’t need to be spending those resources on things like river guards,” he emphasized.

He further urged the government to redirect resources into empowering residents in mining communities to report miners encroaching on these sites.

“When communities realize illegal mining activities, nobody responds to them. The community members are the frontline vanguards because they see the activities on their way to their farms, markets, and so on. They should be given priority when they report these acts to the compliance agencies, “He stated.

Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene has revealed that he is under intense pressure from residents in the region following the recent instability in power supply, with the worst incident occurring over the weekend.

For weeks, residents of the Ashanti Region have raised persistent concerns over the unstable power supply, which continues to disrupt both commercial and domestic activities.

Dr. Amoakohene lamented that he has been inundated with calls from residents urging him to intervene and help resolve the power crisis.

“For some few months now, we have been having power outages. Others have blamed it on sabotage, and others have blamed it on a lot of reasons.

“Sunday, March 16, was epic, it  [dumsor] was almost all over the districts and municipalities, so, I have had a lot of complaints from most of the communities. We believe that you are in to solve problems in the energy sector,” he stated.

The growing complaints over the unstable power situation have compelled the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, to visit the region and engage key stakeholders in the power sector to find solutions to the challenge.

As part of efforts to address the shortfalls, the Minister is expected to inspect ongoing power infrastructure projects in the Ashanti Region. Mr. Jinapor attributed the situation to what he described as a weak power sector inherited by the current administration.

He, however, outlined several measures aimed at addressing the challenge and improving power supply in the region.

“Ashanti region peculiarly has a major problem with power supply, it’s not just the supply of the power into the grid, but also evacuating the power and distributing it. GRIDCo is injecting some major transformers to stabilise the power supply.

“ECG is also doing some major works, and we expect that the power supply situation in Kumasi and its environs and Ashanti Region in general should see significant improvements,” he stated.

The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has called for a review of Ghana’s Free Senior High School (SHS) policy, suggesting that families who can afford it should contribute, allowing government resources to support students in genuine need.

Speaking during a courtesy call by the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, Otumfuo proposed a mixed-support system, similar to past practices where bursaries were awarded to needy but deserving students, while those who could afford it paid their way.

“Those who can afford to pay, let’s have a second look at the policy. If someone can afford it, let’s allow them to pay.

“In the old times, when you passed, the bursary would look for good but needy students and award them scholarships, and those who could afford to pay did so.”

While acknowledging the benefits of Free SHS, Otumfuo stressed the need for a national dialogue to address the program’s challenges and ensure its sustainability.

“This Free SHS we are talking about, although we have implemented it, if we have a dialogue and find out that it will result in students coming home every now and then because there is no food, then it is not fit for purpose.”

He also raised concerns about infrastructure and logistical challenges affecting senior high schools, including overcrowded dormitories, lack of science and ICT laboratories, food shortages, and inadequate school buses.

“Our dormitories are overcrowded and lack science and ICT labs. Sometimes PTA makes contributions to support. The lack of school buses and the shortage of food should all be looked at. Let us implement it well so that students will stay in school and have enough to eat.”

The Free SHS policy, introduced in 2017, aimed to remove financial barriers to secondary education. While it has increased enrollment, concerns remain about funding sustainability and educational quality.