The Member of Parliament for Cape Coast North Constituency in the Central Region, Hon. Dr Kwamena Minta Nyarku, has raised concerns about what he considers excessively high hotel rates in Cape Coast, warning that the situation could discourage tourists from visiting and staying in the city.

According to the MP, the rising cost of accommodation is becoming a major factor for visitors when deciding whether to explore Cape Coast and its numerous historical, cultural and natural attractions.

Dr Nyarku made the remarks at the second edition of the Cape Coast development forum and fundraising ceremony, held to support the city’s eight-year development plan.

He challenged the widely held view that Cape Coast has already reached its full potential as a tourism destination, stressing the need for the metropolis to diversify its tourism attractions beyond the Cape Coast Castle.

The MP noted that for Cape Coast to become a competitive tourism hub, authorities and stakeholders must ensure that visitors have access to affordable accommodation, quality entertainment, reliable transportation, adequate security and other essential services.

He explained that tourism is not sustained by attractions alone, but by the overall experience visitors receive from the moment they arrive until they leave.

Cape Coast remains one of Ghana’s major tourism destinations, attracting both local and international visitors to its historic landmarks, cultural sites and coastal attractions. The tourism sector also supports hotels, restaurants, tour operators, transport businesses and numerous small enterprises in the city.

However, Dr Nyarku warned that expensive accommodation could threaten these economic benefits if tourists begin to view Cape Coast as an overly costly destination.

He therefore called for greater attention to the pricing of tourism-related services and the development of new attractions that can encourage visitors to spend more time in the city.

The MP believes that improving affordability, infrastructure and the overall tourism experience will be crucial to unlocking Cape Coast’s full potential and ensuring that tourism continues to contribute significantly to the city’s economic development.

Tanker drivers in Kumasi have accused the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) of making more than GH¢10 million from charges arising from alleged inaccurate readings by an automated flow-meter system at its Terminal 3 depot.

The allegation forms part of a broader dispute that has led tanker drivers in Kumasi to begin a three-day sit-down strike over persistent product shortages recorded during the discharge of petroleum products.

According to a statement issued by the affected stakeholders, the shortage problem has existed since 2022 and has created serious financial and operational difficulties for tanker owners and drivers.

The stakeholders insist that the reported shortages are not the result of theft or actual loss of petroleum products but are allegedly caused by inaccuracies in the automated flow-meter system used at the BOST depot.

They claim the machine records shortages of between 200 and 400 litres per tanker discharge, with tanker owners subsequently being billed for the differences.

The stakeholders allege that the current BOST management is aware of the problem but continues to pass the cost of the alleged artificial shortages on to tanker owners.

They claim that the resulting deductions have generated more than GH¢10 million for BOST.

The allegation has not been independently verified, and BOST has not, in the information provided, publicly confirmed the claimed amount or the basis of the charges.

The stakeholders say the problem began after a previous BOST management replaced the traditional manual T-bar measurement system with an automated flow meter.

They allege that the automated technology has consistently produced inaccurate readings and is therefore unsuitable for accurately measuring petroleum products discharged into storage facilities.

According to them, previous management acknowledged the alleged inaccuracies and decided not to transfer the cost of the discrepancies to tanker owners.

They contend that the current policy represents a departure from that approach.

Tanker owners face financial losses

The stakeholders argue that tanker owners are being forced to absorb losses arising from the alleged meter inaccuracies.

They say the deductions are particularly burdensome because owners already incur high costs to secure petroleum-product loads.

They allege that tanker owners can pay as much as GH¢10,000 to secure BOST loads from the Accra Plane Depot before transporting the products to Kumasi.

When deductions are subsequently made at the Kumasi depot because of shortages recorded by the meter, the owners’ earnings are allegedly reduced further.

Drivers complain about unpaid salaries

The financial pressure on tanker owners is also said to be affecting drivers.

The stakeholders claim that some owners are struggling to pay drivers’ salaries because of the accumulated deductions.

They say the situation has caused psychological distress among some drivers.

One driver has reportedly argued that the stress associated with unpaid salaries could be contributing to recent tanker accidents on Ghanaian roads.

That claim has not been independently established, and the causes of specific road crashes would require investigation by the appropriate authorities.

Strike threatens fuel distribution

The dispute has now resulted in a three-day sit-down strike by tanker drivers in Kumasi.

The drivers say some operators are also refusing to transport petroleum products to the depot because of the recurring shortage deductions.

They warn that if the situation persists, fuel distribution in Kumasi and other parts of the Ashanti Region could be severely affected.

A prolonged disruption could put pressure on the downstream petroleum supply chain because tanker operators are responsible for transporting fuel from storage facilities to various destinations and filling stations.

Parking problems add to grievances

The drivers are also demanding improved parking arrangements at the Kumasi depot.

They say inadequate parking space forces tanker operators to park their vehicles along roadsides while waiting to load or discharge petroleum products.

According to the drivers, the situation creates safety risks and inconvenience for other road users, particularly on busy routes.

They are therefore calling for a suitable, secure and designated parking facility for tanker operators.

The stakeholders say the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) has intervened several times in an attempt to resolve the shortage dispute.

However, they allege that the shortages continue to recur after NPA officials leave the depot.

They are consequently calling for a permanent technical solution rather than temporary interventions.

The statement further alleges that BOST has asked two senior staff members, identified as Josiah and Sam Yalley, to step aside.

However, the stakeholders say the action has failed to resolve the alleged underlying technical problem, as shortage incidents reportedly continue.

They are therefore demanding an investigation into the flow-meter system, its calibration and the procedures used to determine shortages.

Calls for government intervention

The stakeholders are calling on the government to intervene urgently and have proposed three key measures.

They want authorities to:

Immediately replace or recalibrate the disputed flow meters.

Order an independent audit of all shortage billings dating back to 2022

Compel BOST to return to the previous policy of not passing alleged artificial shortage costs on to tanker owners.

The stakeholders warn that failure to resolve the dispute could lead to a wider breakdown of fuel logistics in the Ashanti Region.

The tanker drivers say they are ready to return to work once concrete measures are taken to address the metering concerns, review the disputed deductions and provide adequate parking facilities.

For now, the three-day sit-down strike remains in force as the drivers push for what they describe as a fair and lasting resolution.

Kumasi Bost Issues (1)

KFC Ghana is facing growing questions over its legal responsibility and customer-safety obligations following chaotic scenes recorded at some of its branches during a heavily advertised GH¢15 anniversary promotion on August 15, 2026.

The promotion was organised to mark KFC Ghana’s 15th anniversary, with customers offered a meal package for GH¢15 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at branches across the country. The offer, which was promoted extensively ahead of the event, attracted large crowds, with some customers reportedly arriving as early as dawn to take advantage of the deal.

At some locations, the situation reportedly escalated, with large crowds struggling to gain access to the restaurants. Videos circulating on social media showed scenes of disorder at some branches, including reports of a glass entrance door being damaged at Ashaiman.

There were also allegations of physical confrontations between security personnel and customers, while police intervention was reportedly required at some locations.

One video also purportedly showed staff at the Sunyani branch spraying water towards customers amid the disorder.

Despite the widespread circulation of videos and public discussion surrounding the incidents, KFC Ghana had, at the time of the commentary, not issued a comprehensive public statement addressing the safety concerns. The company continued posting on social media about the anniversary campaign and its apparent success.

Foreseeable Crowd Risk

The central legal question is whether KFC Ghana took reasonable steps to anticipate and manage the risks created by the promotion.

The argument is that a nationwide GH¢15 food promotion, heavily advertised for a single day and running simultaneously across numerous branches, created a foreseeable risk of unusually large crowds.

Under common-law principles applicable in Ghana, foreseeability is an important consideration in determining whether a duty of care has been breached. Businesses that invite members of the public onto their premises are expected to take reasonable precautions against reasonably foreseeable risks of harm.

The issue, therefore, is not simply whether customers behaved appropriately. It is whether KFC, having designed and promoted an offer likely to attract exceptionally large crowds, adequately prepared for the resulting risks.

Questions could include whether sufficient security personnel were deployed, whether crowd-control barriers were installed, whether entry was staggered, whether queues were properly managed, whether branches had emergency plans and whether the number of customers expected was properly assessed.

Occupiers’ Liability and Duty of Care

KFC, as an occupier of commercial premises, owes duties to people who enter its establishments.

Common-law principles associated with cases such as Donoghue v Stevenson and Indermaur v Dames underpin the broader development of duties of care and occupiers’ responsibilities.

The general principle is that an occupier must take reasonable steps to ensure that people invited onto the premises are reasonably safe for the purposes for which they are there.

If a business creates or should reasonably anticipate a significant crowd and fails to take adequate precautions, the question of negligence can arise where someone suffers injury as a result.

This could potentially expose KFC to claims from customers who can establish that they suffered injury or loss because of an unsafe condition, inadequate crowd management or other negligent conduct connected to the promotion.

Factories, Offices and Shops Act

The legal questions could also extend to Ghana’s Factories, Offices and Shops Act, 1970 (Act 328), which contains provisions concerning safety at workplaces and responsibilities associated with commercial premises.

The legislation places safety obligations on occupiers and contains provisions concerning the responsibility of employers and occupiers for acts or defaults committed by employees or agents in the course of their duties.

This becomes particularly relevant if security personnel working at KFC branches are found to have used excessive or unlawful force against customers.

The fact that security personnel may have been attempting to control crowds would not automatically make every action lawful. The circumstances, degree of force used and whether that force was reasonably necessary would all be relevant.

Potential Battery Claims

Another potential area of legal exposure is the tort of battery.

Battery generally involves the intentional and unlawful application of physical force to another person without lawful justification or consent.

Consequently, if evidence establishes that a customer was intentionally assaulted by a security officer without lawful justification, the individual could potentially pursue a civil claim.

Whether KFC itself would be legally responsible for such conduct would depend on the relationship between the security personnel and KFC, including whether they were employees, agents or personnel supplied by an independent security company.

The circumstances in which the force was used would also be critical in determining liability.

Vicarious Liability

The doctrine of vicarious liability could become important if employees or agents of KFC are found to have committed wrongful acts while performing their assigned duties.

An employer can, in appropriate circumstances, be held responsible for wrongful conduct by an employee occurring in the course of employment.

However, liability is not automatic simply because an individual is wearing a company’s uniform or working at its premises. The precise employment relationship, the nature of the conduct and whether the conduct was sufficiently connected with the employee’s duties would have to be established.

If security personnel were deployed specifically to manage the crowds created by the promotion, their conduct during that assignment could become particularly relevant to any assessment of KFC’s potential liability.

Consumer Safety Concerns

The promotion also raises broader questions concerning consumer protection and safety.

Ghana’s consumer-protection framework imposes obligations relating to the safety of consumers in connection with goods and services. Regulatory bodies, including the Ghana Standards Authority and the Food and Drugs Authority, also have statutory responsibilities within their respective areas.

The key question would be whether the circumstances surrounding the promotion amounted to an unsafe manner of providing services and whether any applicable regulatory requirements were breached.

That assessment would ultimately depend on the evidence gathered from the affected branches and customers.

Could MMDAs Take Action?

The Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies responsible for areas where affected branches operate may also have regulatory responsibilities concerning commercial premises and public safety.

Depending on the specific circumstances and applicable local regulations, authorities could investigate whether the premises complied with relevant safety, planning or operating requirements.

Such investigations could determine whether corrective measures, additional safety requirements or other regulatory action are necessary.

The Customer-Blaming Debate

The incidents have also triggered debate over whether customers themselves should bear responsibility for the disorder.

The economic circumstances surrounding the promotion cannot be ignored. A GH¢15 meal represents an unusually low price in today’s economic environment, and the decision to offer the deal nationwide was always likely to attract significant public interest.

However, economic hardship does not automatically remove a company’s responsibility to manage foreseeable risks.

Customers may have obligations to obey reasonable instructions and behave lawfully, but businesses also have responsibilities when they deliberately create an environment capable of attracting unusually large crowds.

The crucial question is therefore whether reasonable measures were put in place before the promotion began.

Ghana’s Broader Accountability Problem

The controversy has also reopened wider concerns about accountability for crowd-related incidents in Ghana.

One recent example was the military recruitment exercise at El-Wak Stadium in Accra, where six young people died, and 22 others were injured in a stampede.

The incident generated widespread public concern and international attention, raising questions about crowd management, institutional responsibility and accountability.

Against that background, critics argue that businesses should not assume that serious safety failures will simply disappear from public attention.

The KFC incident may therefore become another test of whether Ghana’s legal and regulatory institutions are prepared to respond when commercial activities create foreseeable public-safety risks.

What Could Happen Next?

Any legal action arising from the August 15 incidents would ultimately depend on evidence.

Potentially affected customers would need to establish matters such as the nature of their injury or loss, what caused it, the conduct of the relevant personnel and whether the business failed to take reasonable precautions.

Evidence could include videos, photographs, medical records, eyewitness accounts, receipts, security footage and statements from people who were present.

The identities and employment status of security personnel involved in any alleged assault would also be important.

Calls for Investigation and Compensation

Against the backdrop of the incidents, there are calls for KFC Ghana to publicly address what happened and explain what measures were taken before and during the promotion to protect customers.

One proposed response is for the company to issue a full public apology to customers who may have been injured or mistreated and establish an appropriate mechanism for receiving and resolving complaints.

There have also been calls for relevant MMDAs to conduct safety assessments of KFC branches and examine whether crowd-control and emergency measures were adequate.

Parliament could also choose to scrutinise the matter through the appropriate committee if lawmakers determine that the incident raises broader consumer-protection or public-safety concerns.

For now, however, any definitive conclusion about KFC Ghana’s civil or regulatory liability would require a proper investigation and consideration of the specific facts at each affected branch.

The August 15 promotion has nevertheless highlighted a fundamental legal principle: when a business creates a foreseeable risk, it cannot simply ignore that risk and expect customers to bear the consequences when something goes wrong.

The question now is whether the events of August 15 will result in meaningful investigation and accountability—or whether the controversy will fade without any substantive action.

Source: Gh Extractives

Hundreds of residents from Dome-Kwabenya, Comet, Berekuso, Agyementi and Kitase have staged a peaceful demonstration to demand the immediate rehabilitation and completion of the Dome-Kwabenya–Berekuso–Kitase Road.

The protest, organised by the Dome-Kwabenya–Kitase Road Stakeholders Committee, was aimed at drawing attention to the worsening condition of the road and the challenges it poses to residents, commuters, transport operators and businesses in the affected communities.

Speaking to Citi News on Monday, August 17, the demonstrators said they had repeatedly engaged the relevant authorities over the years but had seen little meaningful progress.

One of the protesters described the road as a major challenge, saying its poor condition had made movement within the area difficult and disruptive.

“This is a peaceful demonstration for our roads to be fixed. The road has not been fixed in 20 years. We need our roads to be fixed,” another demonstrator said.

Residents also expressed concern about the health effects of the deteriorating road, particularly the dust generated by vehicles using the route.

They said the poor road conditions were not only affecting transportation but were also disrupting businesses and making daily activities increasingly difficult.

The protesters are therefore calling on the government and relevant authorities to prioritise the rehabilitation and completion of the road to improve transportation, protect public health and enhance living and business conditions in the affected communities.

The residents say they will continue to press for action until concrete steps are taken to address the long-standing road problem.

Source: Citi News

Financial literacy in schools is becoming an increasingly important topic as young people face a world where understanding money is essential for everyday life. From budgeting and saving to managing debt and making responsible financial decisions, students need practical knowledge that can help them navigate adulthood.

While schools traditionally focus on subjects such as mathematics, science, languages, and social studies, there is growing debate over whether financial education should also become a compulsory part of the school curriculum.

What Is Financial Literacy?

Financial literacy refers to the ability to understand and manage money effectively. It includes knowledge of budgeting, saving, spending, banking, borrowing, investing, insurance, and financial planning.

For students, financial literacy can provide practical knowledge that goes beyond what they learn in traditional academic subjects.

Why Financial Literacy Matters for Students

Young people eventually have to make financial decisions, whether they are managing pocket money, paying for education, starting a business, earning a salary, or planning for the future.

Teaching financial literacy in schools can help students understand the difference between needs and wants and encourage them to develop responsible spending habits.

Students can also learn why saving money is important and how small financial decisions can affect their future.

Teaching Students How to Budget

Budgeting is one of the most important financial skills students can learn.

A simple budgeting lesson can teach students how to track income and expenses, set financial priorities, and avoid unnecessary spending.

For example, students could be given a hypothetical monthly income and asked to plan how to allocate it among food, transportation, savings, education, entertainment, and emergencies.

Practical exercises like this can make financial education easier to understand.

The Importance of Saving

Financial literacy in schools can also encourage students to develop saving habits at an early age.

Students can learn why it is useful to save money for emergencies, education, business opportunities, or long-term goals.

Learning about saving can help young people understand that financial security often requires planning and discipline rather than simply earning more money.

Understanding Loans and Debt

Another important area of financial education is borrowing.

Students should understand that loans must generally be repaid and may include interest and other charges. Learning about responsible borrowing can help young people make informed decisions when they eventually use credit facilities.

Basic lessons about debt can also help students recognise the risks of borrowing more money than they can reasonably repay.

Digital Money and Online Financial Services

As digital payments and mobile financial services become increasingly common, students also need to understand how to use financial technology responsibly.

Schools can teach students about protecting PINs and passwords, recognising suspicious messages, avoiding financial scams, and keeping personal financial information private.

These lessons can help young people become more careful users of digital financial services.

Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurship

Financial education can also support entrepreneurship.

Students interested in starting businesses can learn about basic accounting, pricing, profit, expenses, budgeting, and financial planning.

Understanding how money moves through a business can help young entrepreneurs make better decisions and avoid common financial mistakes.

Should Financial Education Be Compulsory?

Supporters of compulsory financial literacy in schools argue that every student will eventually have to manage money, regardless of the career they choose.

They believe financial education should not depend on whether a student’s family has the knowledge or resources to teach these skills at home.

However, some people argue that school curricula are already crowded and that financial education should be integrated into existing subjects rather than introduced as another compulsory subject.

A possible solution could be to teach financial literacy through mathematics, business studies, social studies, entrepreneurship, and practical school projects.

The Role of Parents

Schools cannot be expected to provide all financial education. Parents and guardians also have an important role to play.

Simple activities such as teaching children how to save part of their allowance, compare prices, plan spending, or set financial goals can reinforce lessons taught at school.

When schools and families work together, young people may have more opportunities to develop responsible financial habits.

Preparing Students for Adult Life

Education is not only about passing examinations. It should also prepare young people for real-life responsibilities.

Understanding money is one of those responsibilities. Students who develop financial knowledge early may be better prepared to make informed decisions about education, employment, business, saving, and spending as they grow older.

Conclusion

Financial literacy in schools could give students practical skills that they can use throughout their lives. Teaching young people about budgeting, saving, responsible borrowing, digital financial safety, and financial planning could help them make better decisions as adults.

Whether financial literacy should become a compulsory subject remains open to debate, but there is growing recognition that understanding money is an important part of preparing students for life beyond the classroom.