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The Upper East Regional Minister, Donatus Akamugri Atanga, has dismissed growing calls for a state of emergency to be declared in Bawku, following a recent resurgence of violence in the area.

His remarks come after a violent confrontation on Thursday, April 10, between security personnel and some youth in Bawku, which reportedly resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries. The situation further escalated when the private residence of the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, was allegedly set ablaze.

In response to the renewed tensions, some stakeholders and residents have urged the government to declare a state of emergency as a means to restore calm.

However, Minister Akamugri disagrees, arguing that the current conditions do not justify such an intervention.

“It has been referred to an eminent chief to handle,” he stated.

Providing further context, he explained: “It is not like sporadic where every day they are fighting each other. It is an instance that sparks up issues and it is brought under control. It is not an all-war situation. So, why will [we] declare a state of emergency?” he questioned.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Christian Tetteh Yohuno, and the Police Management Board (POMAB) welcomed the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Major General William Agyapong, to the National Police Headquarters on Monday, April 14, 2025.

This was Major General Agyapong’s first visit to the headquarters as CDS.

The visit included a Guard of Honour parade held in his honour.

During a subsequent meeting, the IGP and CDS reaffirmed their commitment to improving collaboration between security agencies to address national security challenges, including the situation in Bawku.

The Minority Caucus in Parliament has called on the government to expedite efforts to reconstruct the Adum Market, which was recently gutted by fire.

According to the Minority, the incident has severely affected the livelihoods of the traders, necessitating urgent government intervention.

The fire, which broke out in the early hours of Friday, March 21, destroyed several shops and goods worth millions of Ghana cedis, leaving many traders devastated.

The caucus, led by Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin, visited the affected traders on Monday, April 14, and donated 200,000 GHS to support them. They also appealed to the government to release funds from the Contingency Fund to aid the victims.

While empathizing with the traders, Afenyo-Markin assured that the Minority would raise the matter on the floor of Parliament and push for the necessary support to help the traders rebuild their lives.

“I take this opportunity to make a humble plea to the government of Ghana, that looking at the situation we find here, obviously the traders are suffering. We know the commitment the government made in some other areas.

“We urge the government to take funds from the contingency funds and immediately and without delay come to the rescue of the suffering traders of Adum. I believe that within a year, if the government is committed to constructing the market, the government will be able to do it,” he assured.

The Achimota Circuit Court has granted bail to Mohammed Zakou, a New Patriotic Party (NPP) activist, who was arrested for allegedly spreading false information about the Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.

Zakou was arrested on Saturday, April 12, after making a Facebook post that read, “Rest Well Her Excellency”, accompanied by crying emojis. The post was interpreted by authorities as a false announcement of the Vice President’s death. Government communication had earlier confirmed that she had been unwell.

As a result, Zakou was charged with communicating false news. According to a prosecutor from the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), the accused admitted to making the post but explained that it was intended as a gesture of goodwill towards the Vice President.

Appearing before the court on Monday, April 14, Zakou’s legal team, led by Gary Nimako Marfo, requested bail for their client.

The state did not oppose the request but asked that bail conditions be set to ensure Zakou’s availability for trial.

The judge granted bail in the sum of GHC 100,000 with two sureties. Zakou is also required to report to the investigator once every week.

The case has been adjourned to May 12, 2025, for a case management conference.

The Government of Ghana has officially commenced a comprehensive review of its Value Added Tax (VAT) regime, aiming to simplify the system and improve the business environment across the country.

This development was confirmed during a high-level meeting between Ghanaian officials and Wencai Zhang, Managing Director and Chief Administrative Officer of the World Bank Group.

During the engagement, Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, outlined the country’s commitment to reforming the VAT system in close collaboration with international partners.

Dr. Forson noted that a Technical Assistance Mission from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is currently in Ghana, working alongside local authorities to support the review process.

He acknowledged that the current effective VAT rate of 21.9%, one of the highest in Africa, has contributed to compliance difficulties and inefficiencies for businesses.

“We are fully aware of the challenges posed by the existing VAT structure,” Dr. Forson said. “That is why we are undertaking a complete overhaul of the system. I can assure our partners and the Ghanaian public that this reform process will be concluded before the main budget is presented in November.”

The initiative is seen as a crucial step in improving tax compliance, enhancing revenue mobilization, and making the tax system more business-friendly.

The World Bank expressed support for Ghana’s reform efforts and reiterated its commitment to working closely with the government to achieve a more efficient and equitable tax regime.

A total of 453 personnel under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources’ Blue Water Initiative have completed four weeks of intensive training at the Ghana Navy Forward Base at Ezilibo, in the Jomoro District of the Western Region.

The trainees, referred to as Blue Water Guards, underwent a comprehensive three-phase training regimen comprising theoretical, physical, and practical components.

They are scheduled to be deployed within one week to support the Ghana Navy in safeguarding the country’s major rivers from the activities of illegal miners, commonly referred to as galamseyers.

The initial batch of 453 officers formed part of a larger deployment target of 2,000 guards. These personnel will be strategically stationed along key river bodies, including the Ankobra, Pra, Fia, Tano, and Bonsa Rivers.

Their operations will be managed by five Naval Operational Bases set up across the river systems to ensure effective surveillance and response.

Launched on Monday, March 17, the Blue Water Guard Initiative aims to establish round-the-clock monitoring of Ghana’s water bodies. It is a strategic intervention to tackle illegal mining activities, protect the environment, and restore the country’s increasingly polluted water resources.

The Government of Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to bolstering the business sector, aiming to establish over 600 new enterprises by the end of President John Dramani Mahama’s current term.

This initiative is closely tied to the upcoming Kwahu Business Forum, scheduled for Saturday, April 19, 2025, which seeks to facilitate engagement between financial institutions and the private sector to explore investment opportunities and policy support.​

Addressing journalists on Monday, April 14, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah emphasized the forum’s potential to inject capital into the economy and generate sustainable employment. He noted that the establishment of new businesses would stimulate local economies, create jobs, and enhance tax revenues, thereby contributing to national economic growth.​

Julius Debrah highlighted that each participating bank at the forum is expected to support at least five viable projects this year, with plans to continue this support annually.

This approach is projected to result in the creation of over 600 enterprises by the end of the four-year term, aligning with President Mahama’s vision of fostering a robust and inclusive business environment.​

The Kwahu Business Forum is designed to serve as a strategic platform for dialogue between financial institutions and private sector players, fostering collaboration to enhance Ghana’s business environment.

It aims to bring together stakeholders to discuss innovative financing models and strategies to strengthen the country’s business climate.

“A lot of funds are going come into the economy. Because once a business starts, it stimulates the local economy where the company will be cited, and people get employed. They get money, and they pay their taxes, they buy other products from other people, and then our economy is stimulating and growing. And so I think what he intends to achieve is that he wants to grow businesses.

“He wants to be remembered for one thing that during his tenure, at least if for nothing at all, he brought up the conversation, invited business people, and asked them to start something, not just starting but encouraging banks to give them the necessary support so that we will develop our nation.

He added, “At least each of the banks that will show up are going to pick five projects, five bankable projects for this year. And they expect that next year, when we return to Kwahu, they will invite those five people that they helped or assisted to come and testify.

“So if this continues for the next five years, each bank taking a minimum of five people, five enterprises to support. The following year doing same. I’m sure by the end of his four-year tenure, we’ll have over 600 enterprises that we can pinpoint and see that these are things that President Mahama started.”

The Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) has raised serious concerns about the government’s fumigation contract with the Jospong Group of Companies, operators of Zoomlion Ghana Limited, alleging a lack of consultation and transparency.

According to the AMA, many of the contracts were signed without the involvement of key actors within the assemblies, making it difficult to verify the accuracy of reports submitted for fumigation exercises.

The AMA’s Director of Public Health, Florence Kuukyi, made these remarks during an engagement with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Sanitation and Water Resources on Monday, April 14. She called for an immediate review of the fumigation contract to ensure transparency and accountability.

“Just as the coordinating director rightly said, all these contracts are always signed at the blind side of the implementers. So most of the time, even, you are just there, and they’ll bring you a report. We’ve done this. We’ve done that,” she said.

“They don’t involve you in whatever they do. They only bring you a report to sign as a witness. You can decide to sign.”

She continued, “You can decide not to sign. But whatever it is, they will be paid. So that is why we are hammering much on the review and the repackaging of the SIP contract so that we, the implementers, actors, will also have a say in it.

“Whatever they are doing, our faces are following them. If they are doing it right, we will know. If they are not doing it right, we will know. It is there. But I have never witnessed one fumigation. That is the issue. But always they bring reports of fumigation that they’ve done.”