Category: Local News

African trade ministers from across the continent are scheduled to meet on April 14 to assess the implications of President Donald Trump’s imposition of a sweeping new tariff policy that will see a 10 percent tax levied on all goods imported into the United States from more than 100 countries.

The meeting will bring together key policymakers, economists, trade experts, and representatives from regional economic communities to explore how the African continent can best position itself in the face of growing global protectionism.

Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, addressed the media from Washington, D.C., calling the U.S. tariff a wake-up call for Africa.

Wamkele Mene emphasised that the decision by President Trump underscores the urgent need for African nations to fast-track the implementation of policies that promote intra-African trade and reduce overreliance on global powers.

“President of the United States has given us a wake-up call. And the wake-up call is that we must accelerate our own economic self-sufficiency. The ministers of trade will meet on April 14 to deliberate on this matter and exactly how our continent should respond.”

Mene’s remarks reflect a growing sentiment among African leaders and trade officials that global shifts toward economic nationalism and unilateral trade decisions by major economies demand a proactive, unified African approach.

The new tariff threatens to increase the cost of African exports to the U.S., potentially diminishing their competitiveness in the American market.

Many African economies rely on exports such as textiles, agricultural produce, raw materials, and manufactured goods, much of which are currently traded under preferential access agreements such as the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe has assured Ghanaians that transport fares will remain unchanged for now, despite recent reductions in fuel prices.

His assurance comes amid growing public calls for a decrease in fares, particularly after previous threats by transport unions to raise prices during fuel hikes.

Speaking on the matter, Mr. Nikpe said the Ministry is in continuous engagement with transport unions and operators, noting that any fare adjustment is guided by a well-established formula.

“I am in constant touch with the unions and transport operators. We have a formula in which we use to either increase or reduce prices, and we have not gotten there yet,” he said.

The Minister emphasised the importance of collaboration with stakeholders to maintain stability in the sector, reassuring commuters that prices will hold steady for now.

“We are in good touch. We are working together, and Ghanaians should be rest assured that prices will be kept for some time before any of the adjustments will be made,” Mr. Nikpe added.

The Ministry’s stance aims to balance commuter relief with the operational sustainability of transport operators, as discussions on possible fare reviews continue.

The Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Major (Rtd) Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, has clarified the mandate and operations of the Anti-Flood Taskforce recently established by President John Dramani Mahama.

According to Major Kuyon, the primary purpose of the task force was not to directly implement flood mitigation measures but to conduct a rapid assessment and identify areas in the capital most vulnerable to flooding.

Speaking on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday, April 8, Major Kuyon explained that the task force’s role was observational and advisory. It was tasked with providing the President with firsthand information on flood-prone areas, particularly in preparation for the upcoming rainy season—a time traditionally associated with destruction, displacement, and loss of life in Ghana’s urban centers.

“The taskforce formed by the President was only to go around and confirm the risk reality of some areas. They finished their work and briefed him, and then he [the President] went round to assess the situation himself.

“The rest of the job is the responsibility of NADMO,” Major Kuyon stated. “And NADMO does not work alone. It collaborates with the Meteorological Service, the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana National Fire Service, and any other state agency involved in disaster risk management.”

The Anti-Flood Taskforce was formed on March 12 as part of a renewed national effort to improve disaster preparedness and flood mitigation.

Chaired by Stanislav Xoese Dogbe, the taskforce’s focus was on tackling and minimizing the ongoing problem of urban flooding, particularly in Accra and other low-lying areas that are regularly affected by heavy rains.

The Feed Ghana Programme (FGP) is set to be officially launched by President John Dramani Mahama on Saturday, April 12, 2025.

Initially planned for April 11, the launch date was rescheduled to accommodate other critical government activities.

The event will take place at the Methodist School Park in Techiman, Bono East Region.

Deputy Minister for Food and Agriculture, John Setor Dumelo, shared the announcement on social media on Tuesday April 8, emphasising the significance of this flagship initiative.

The Feed Ghana Programme aims to revolutionise the agricultural sector, addressing food security challenges and enhancing productivity across the nation.

The launch is expected to draw key stakeholders, including policymakers, farmers, and development partners, as the government reiterates its commitment to transforming Ghana’s agricultural landscape. The programme is poised to provide vital support to farmers, improve food systems, and contribute to the nation’s economic growth.

Minister for Transport, Joseph Bukari Nikpe, has revealed that the government is actively seeking partnerships to establish a national airline, acknowledging that Ghana’s current economic challenges make it difficult to undertake the project independently.

Speaking to staff of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Joseph Bukari Nikpe shared that a shortlist of potential partners will soon be revealed as part of efforts to bring the national airline to life.

“You are aware that we inherited an economy that is challenged, and for now, we cannot establish a national airline. So we are looking for a partnership. You know, when it comes to partnership, it will take time. We have to know who they are to partner with you to bring in a national carrier that will fly for a very long time,” he said.

Ghana has been without a national carrier for nearly two decades since the suspension of operations due to a U.S. ban linked to operational debts.

The country’s original national airline, Ghana Airways, operated from 1958 until it ceased operations in 2004. It was succeeded by Ghana International Airlines, which served as the national carrier from 2005 to 2010 before also becoming defunct.

Efforts to revive a national airline gained momentum in September 2022 when Ashanti Airlines was selected to partner with the government.

This moves reignited hopes for the launch of a rebranded ‘Ghana Airlines’ after receiving interest and bids from multiple stakeholders.

The Central North Regional Police Command has launched an investigation into the alleged murder of a woman at Kokoase, a suburb of Twifo Praso in the Central Region.

According to a police statement issued on Saturday, the victim, identified as Tahiru Zenabu, was found dead in her room with a cloth tied around her neck and blood stains on her hands.

Items retrieved from the scene included a container of super glue, a torn condom package, and an apple.

The body has been deposited at the Twifo Praso Hospital mortuary for preservation and autopsy.

“Investigation is ongoing to identify and arrest the perpetrators of this heinous crime to face justice,” the police said in the statement.

The Tema High Court has fined 18 shipping lines a total of GH¢54,000 for failing to file their defence on time in a case brought against them by Johnny Mantey, the Tema District Chair of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders.

The lawsuit, filed on January 21, 2025, by Mantey through his lawyer, Noah Adamtey, accuses the shipping lines of breaching the Shipping Authority Act 1122. The Act mandates that all service charges by shipping lines be submitted to the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority for approval.

The defendants entered a conditional appearance on January 31, 2025, but failed to file a motion to strike out the writ within the legally required 14-day period. Their appearance subsequently became unconditional, yet they did not file their defence within the next 14 days, as required by law.

Consequently, the plaintiff filed a motion on March 14, 2025, seeking judgment in default of defence. The hearing was scheduled for March 27, 2025.

At the hearing, however, the plaintiff’s legal team chose to withdraw the motion, and the court granted the request.

Presiding Judge Justice Cynthia Wiredu awarded a cost of GH¢54,000 against the 18 defendants for their delayed defence filing.

Lawyer Adamtey indicated that the plaintiff will now file a response to the defence, after which the case will move forward.

The National Identification Authority (NIA) will begin issuing printed backlog cards and conducting new registrations in the Greater Accra Region from today, April 7, 2025.

In a statement, the NIA announced that all District Offices in the region will start issuing cards to Ghanaians who applied between June 2023 and now but have not yet received them.

Applicants in this category are advised to return to the specific District Office where they initially registered to collect their cards.

Additionally, all Ghanaians aged 15 years and above who have not yet registered for the Ghana Card are encouraged to visit any NIA District Office in the Greater Accra Region to complete their registration.

The NIA emphasized that registration and card issuance are free of charge and warned that no fees should be paid for these services.

The Authority also urged the public to report any staff members who demand money for these services.

“However, replacement cards and updates to personal records will still attract a fee, as previously stipulated.”

Achimota Circuit Court has sentenced Nicky Isabella, a 22-year-old hairdresser, to five years in prison for trafficking two Nigerian women into prostitution.

Isabella, who lured the victims under the guise of offering jobs in Ghana, forced them into prostitution upon their arrival.

The victims, aged 22 and 23, were promised supermarket jobs in Adjiringanor, Accra, but upon arrival, Isabella seized their earnings and coerced them into swearing an oath on a Bible, threatening them with rituals using pieces of their pubic hair if they disobeyed her orders.

The prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Isaac Babayi, emphasized the premeditated nature of Isabella’s crime and urged the court to impose a stringent sentence.

Isabella’s accomplice, Nelly, remains at large and is being sought by the police.

Despite Isabella’s young age and status as a first-time offender, the judge noted her lack of remorse and the severity of her crime.

Isabella broke down in tears when the sentence was read, while the victims have been rescued and are receiving psychosocial support.

The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Ghana Police Service is continuing investigations to apprehend Nelly. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) William Ayariga, Director of the Unit, reaffirmed the commitment to pursuing traffickers, stating, “Ghana is not a safe haven for human traffickers, and justice will prevail.”

Court documents revealed that Isabella admitted to exploiting the victims, collecting their earnings, and using intimidation tactics, including a notebook with records of proceeds and human hair.

The Coalition of Actors for Public Health Advocacy (CAPHA) has commended the Government of Ghana for prioritising maternal and child nutrition in its newly announced 2025 Nutrition for Growth (N4G) Commitments, which were presented at the recently concluded N4G Summit in Paris.

CAPHA noted that the government’s pledges align closely with its December 2024 public appeal, urging action on critical issues such as stunting, anaemia, low birth weight, and poor dietary diversity among vulnerable groups.

The coalition welcomed the ambitious targets outlined in Commitment 1, including halving stunting in children under five, reducing anaemia in women of reproductive age by 50%, lowering low birth weight by 30%, and increasing exclusive breastfeeding to 70%.

CAPHA described these targets as bold steps in line with the World Health Assembly Nutrition Goals, marking significant progress in Ghana’s fight against long-standing nutrition challenges.

In addition, CAPHA praised the government’s Commitment 7 to implement evidence-based strategies to tackle micronutrient deficiencies, notably making multiple micronutrient supplements (MMS) a standard part of antenatal care.

The organisation highlighted the potential of this intervention to greatly improve maternal and fetal health outcomes.

Another key highlight is Commitment 5, which seeks to extend maternity leave from 12 to at least 18 weeks across all sectors. CAPHA called this a “progressive shift” that supports exclusive breastfeeding, enhances maternal recovery, and ensures better early childhood care.

Commitment 2 was also acknowledged for its focus on fully implementing Ghana’s National Food-Based Dietary Guidelines, which include public education campaigns, professional training, eliminating industrial trans fats, and adopting nutrition labelling systems to improve food environments, particularly for pregnant women and children.

However, CAPHA emphasised the importance of swift and sustained implementation to achieve tangible results.

The coalition urged the government to ensure adequate funding, as outlined in Commitment 9, which promises at least USD 6 million annually for nutrition commodities.

“We call on the government to move beyond declarations and walk the talk. Strong intersectoral coordination and accountability systems will be crucial,” CAPHA stated. The organization reaffirmed its support for the government and its resolve to advocate for maternal and child nutrition as a national development priority.