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President John Dramani Mahama is set to meet with Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and other key government entities on March 13, 2025.

The engagement, organized by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), will take place at the Kempinski Hotel in Accra.

It aims to realign SOEs for greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability.

A key highlight of the event will be the launch of a comprehensive study on 16 major SOEs that control a significant portion of state assets. Conducted by SIGA, the study is expected to provide insights into their financial and operational performance while recommending reforms to improve governance and sustainability.

Prof. Michael Kpessa-Whyte, Director-General of SIGA, emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring SOEs operate effectively.

“We are excited to facilitate this important engagement between the President and CEOs of SOEs,” he stated. “This meeting marks a significant step toward promoting good corporate governance, transparency, and accountability in managing state-owned enterprises.”

The meeting will bring together senior government officials, ministers of state, and representatives from the World Bank in Ghana. Discussions are expected to center on enhancing SOE efficiency, profitability, and alignment with national development goals while strengthening corporate governance structures.

SIGA has encouraged Ghanaians to take an interest in the initiative, as its outcomes will have a lasting impact on the country’s economic trajectory.

The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, says Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson laid bare all there is to know about the national economy in his presentation of the 2025 Budget statement, suggesting that he hid nothing—much like a woman in labour.

Appearing on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on March 12 to discuss the 2025 Budget, Mr. Iddrisu shared his thoughts on a variety of issues, including education, energy, agriculture, and health.

Mr. Iddrisu described the budget as a sobering reflection of the current state of Ghana’s economy, explaining that Dr. Forson’s budget painted a concerning picture of an economy burdened by overwhelming debt.

“What we witnessed was an economy burdened by debt, an economy in crisis, one that is on the verge of failing,” Mr. Iddrisu remarked.

While acknowledging modest growth figures, Mr. Iddrisu made it clear that growth alone cannot be seen as a true improvement in the living standards of Ghanaians.

“Growth alone,” he said, “is not enough. It does not reflect the deep challenges that Ghanaians continue to face in their daily lives.”

A significant concern for Mr. Iddrisu was the state of the cocoa sector, which has long been a cornerstone of Ghana’s economy.

He posed a critical question: “How is it that the Cocoa Board, once the backbone of our economy, is now struggling?”

He emphasised that the cocoa sector has been a major source of employment, foreign exchange, and income for many farmers and workers.

However, Mr. Iddrisu pointed out, “Today, the Cocoa Board is mired in debt,” underscoring the ongoing struggles facing this vital sector.

Furthermore, Mr. Iddrisu highlighted the staggering national debt, which has now surpassed GH₵750 billion.

He also pointed to the debts within key sectors such as cocoa, energy, and roads.

“We have a national public debt, a cocoa sector debt, an energy sector debt, and a road sector debt,” he stressed.

He warned that Ghana is facing a complex economic crisis on multiple fronts.

“The situation is far more complex than what the budget may suggest,” Mr. Iddrisu added.

Despite these challenges, he cautioned Ghanaians not to expect the first budget of President Mahama’s first term to provide instant solutions to all the nation’s problems.

“The expectations of Ghanaians should be realistic,” he stated, further explaining that the budget is merely a starting point for the government to address the pressing issues facing the country.

“This is why the Finance Minister called on the public to join him in building the Ghana we want,” Mr. Iddrisu added.

He emphasised the need for unity and collective effort to address the economic challenges the country faces.

“What we need now is to correct the ills caused by the mismanagement of the economy,” he urged, stressing that only through collaboration and shared responsibility can Ghana overcome its current struggles and move toward a better future.

Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has reiterated that economic growth alone is not a sufficient measure of development, stressing that true progress must reflect an improvement in the living conditions of Ghanaians, not just figures of growth.

Speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show on Wednesday, March 12, Mr. Iddrisu acknowledged that while the government has recorded some modest economic gains, the current reality paints a different picture.

“The Finance Minister, in the 2025 Budget Statement, shared the state of the economy—an economy hard-hit by debt, in crisis, and on the verge of collapse,” he noted.

Mr. Iddrisu emphasized that economic theories have long established that growth figures alone do not equate to improved living standards. He pointed to the decline of the cocoa sector as a key example.

“The Ghana Cocoa Board, which was once the backbone of the economy, providing employment, foreign exchange, and stable income for farmers, is now heavily indebted,” he stated.

He further highlighted that the 2025 Budget Statement exposed multiple layers of national debt, including over GH₵750 billion in public debt, as well as significant liabilities in the cocoa, energy, and road sectors.

According to him, Ghanaians should not expect the President’s first budget to be a silver bullet in resolving all economic challenges.

“That is why the Finance Minister called on Ghanaians to join him in building the Ghana we want,” he explained.

Mr. Iddrisu added that the country must correct the mistakes of past economic mismanagement.

“The NPP government under Nana Akufo-Addo and Dr. Bawumia often claimed they were superior managers of the economy. Where was that superior sense when they only led the country into unsustainable debt?” he questioned.

He also noted that Ghana faces a heavy financial responsibility in the coming years. “Between now and 2026/2027, the burden is heavy. We have no excuse—we must service our debt,” he stressed.

Victims and displaced residents of Amakye Bare, a community in the Atwima Nwabiagya North Municipality of the Ashanti Region, continue to appeal to the government for support following a devastating storm that tore through the area, destroying over 60 houses and four schools. Many affected residents describe their current living conditions as unbearable and distressing.

Among the institutions severely impacted are Barekuma R/C Primary, Barekuma D/A Junior High School, and two private schools.

The storm, which struck around 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, left at least 16 people injured, while several buildings collapsed, rendering hundreds homeless. According to the Assembly Member for the area, Stephen Kwadwo Ampofo, the only assistance received so far has come from the Kyidomhene of the area, Nana Osei-Tutu, and his brothers, who have provided roofing sheets and carpenters to help restore some of the damaged structures.

However, he revealed that recent assessments show that 152 houses were affected, displacing approximately 1,000 people.

“For now, we are yet to receive support from the district assembly, government, and other stakeholders. It was only yesterday that Kyidomhene and his brother provided some roofing sheets along with a carpenter. We assessed those in dire need, and though we all need help, some cases are more urgent.

“The current situation is unbearable, and without support, we are struggling to cope. We are calling on individuals, the government, and other stakeholders to intervene,” he stated. Meanwhile, academic activities have resumed for final-year students of Barekuma D/A Junior High School, who are preparing for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

However, students in forms one and two, as well as those in primary school, remain at home as authorities have yet to arrange an alternative learning space.

Member of Parliament for Akuapem North and former Director General of the National Lottery Authority (NLA), Sammi Awuku, has refuted the government’s claim of abolishing the 10% withholding tax on lottery winnings, stating that the tax was never implemented in the first place.

His reaction follows Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson’s announcement during the 2025 Budget Statement presentation that the government would scrap the tax as part of its efforts to ease financial burdens.

However, Awuku dismissed the claim as misleading and politically motivated, arguing that it was merely a strategic move to gain political points.

In a Facebook post, he clarified the distinction between the lottery and betting sectors, noting that while the NLA operates under the Ministry of Finance, betting falls under the jurisdiction of the Gaming Commission, regulated by the Ministry of the Interior.

Awuku further explained that under the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration, extensive consultations with stakeholders, former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) led to a decision not to implement the tax due to concerns over its potential harm to the lottery industry.

“So, let’s call it what it is. This isn’t an ‘abolition’ but rather a convenient attempt to score political points. The truth is, the NPP government had already made the decision not to burden Ghanaians with this lottery tax because we understood its impact.

“Hon. Amin Adam won’t be wrong to say the Betting tax was never collected anyway since the Finance Minister Hon. Ato Forson also referred to the 10% on Lottery wins as ‘Betting Tax.’ So, if that’s what the finance minister refers to as Betting Tax, then it was never implemented even though passed in 2023. Ghanaians deserve honesty, not spin. Policies should be about real impact, not just headlines. Let’s focus on the issues that truly affect livelihoods,” he stated.

The government has announced plans to reintroduce road tolls in 2025 to generate revenue for road construction and maintenance.

Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, presenting the 2025 Budget Statement in Parliament on March 11, said the decision follows the realization that suspending road tolls in 2022 negatively impacted infrastructure financing.

He noted that while past road toll collections were not substantial, the zero-rate policy further limited the country’s ability to fund critical road projects.

“To address this, the government will work with stakeholders, including the private sector, to roll out a technology-driven solution for the reintroduction of road tolls under the Big Push Programme,” Dr. Forson announced.

He assured that the new system would be efficient and designed to enhance revenue collection without causing unnecessary inconvenience to road users.

A 42-year-old police sergeant, Nyiko Nyathi, has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and brutal murder of her husband and his female friend in Mpumalanga, South Africa.

According to the provincial police spokesperson, the officer handed herself over to authorities.

“In February 2024, Lawrence Alba Mashego, 44, was reportedly attacked by a group of armed men at his house in Boikhutsong Trust in Bushbuckridge. The assailants robbed him of his Toyota Quantum and Ford Escort before kidnapping him,” the police said.

“The two vehicles were then used by the armed suspects to reach a house in Zoeknog, where they found Victoria Lebyane, 44, a female friend of Mashego, in possession of his bank cards.”

Lebyane was robbed of about R4,000 in cash, as well as additional bank cards belonging to Mashego. Both Mashego and Lebyane were later murdered by the assailants.

A police investigation led to the arrest of four suspects. One of them pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 77 years in prison.

As investigations intensified, police found evidence implicating Sergeant Nyathi in the murder of her husband and Lebyane.

Following her court appearance on Monday, the case was postponed to Wednesday for a formal bail application.

Meanwhile, the acting provincial police commissioner has welcomed Nyathi’s arrest, emphasizing that the law will take its course regardless of a suspect’s social status or position.