General News
Mahama: Mining Must Leave Communities Better Than It Found Them
President John Dramani Mahama has declared that Ghana’s mining sector must prioritize community welfare and long-term sustainability, insisting that extractive activities should leave a positive and lasting impact on host communities.
Speaking at the maiden Mining Local Content Summit in Takoradi, President Mahama stressed that responsible mining must go hand in hand with economic growth.
“Mining must leave our communities better than it found them,” the President stated firmly, drawing applause from stakeholders gathered at the summit.
Ghana, Africa’s leading gold producer and one of the top six globally, generated nearly $6.6 billion in export revenues from the extractive sector in 2023. However, President Mahama noted that the benefits of mining have not always translated into meaningful development for mining communities.
“We have been prolific producers, but we have yet to become full participants in the extracted value chain,” he said. “This summit is about closing that gap.”
Responsible and Community-Centered Mining
The President emphasized that local content cannot be separated from responsible environmental and social practices.
“Local content cannot be separated from responsible and community-centered mining,” he said. “Traditional authorities and MMDAs will continue to play a decisive role in monitoring compliance and safeguarding community interests.”
President Mahama revealed that government is strengthening development agreements and community engagement frameworks under revised mining regulations to ensure transparency and accountability.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to tackling illegal mining and environmental degradation.
“We will continue the fight against illegal mining and work to formalize the artisanal and small-scale mining sector,” he said. “We will intensify efforts to clean our water bodies and reclaim degraded lands.”
Beyond Raw Exports
Beyond environmental responsibility, President Mahama called for structural reforms to ensure Ghana benefits more from its mineral wealth.
“It is no longer acceptable for Ghana to continue exporting raw gold and importing finished products,” he declared. “Our mineral wealth must power Ghana’s industrialization—not merely sustain export dependence.”
He outlined a five-pillar strategy aimed at boosting local participation, promoting value addition, strengthening skills development, advancing technology and innovation, and expanding indigenous ownership in the sector.
“What will be the legacy of our mineral wealth 100 years from now?” the President asked. “Will it be recorded only in export statistics and royalty payments, or will it be remembered as the foundation upon which we built world-class industries and thriving Ghanaian enterprises?”
Call for Shared Responsibility
President Mahama stressed that government alone cannot transform the mining sector.
“Government cannot achieve this transformation alone,” he said. “To Ghanaian entrepreneurs, the bar for quality and innovation is high, but the opportunity is unprecedented. Prepare yourselves. Build partnerships. Compete boldly.”
He also assured international investors of Ghana’s stability while calling for genuine collaboration.
“Ghana offers you stability, policy clarity and long-term partnership, but we expect genuine collaboration that embeds capacity within our economy,” he stated.
Concluding his address, President Mahama expressed optimism that the Mining Local Content Summit would mark a turning point for the industry.
“If we get this right, our greatest export will not be raw gold or lithium,” he said. “Our greatest export will be Ghanaian talent, Ghanaian technology, Ghanaian enterprise, and a resilient and competitive mining economy.”
The summit is expected to produce policy recommendations aimed at deepening local participation and ensuring that Ghana’s mineral wealth translates into sustainable and inclusive national development.
General News
Government Receives First Batch of 100 Buses to Ease Public Transport Strain
The government has taken delivery of 100 new buses as part of efforts to address growing pressure on Ghana’s public transport system following recent commuter disruptions across the country.
Minister for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, announced the development in a Facebook post on Sunday, April 5, 2026. He indicated that the buses form part of a broader nationwide initiative to expand transport capacity and improve mobility.
According to the Minister, the newly arrived 29-seater buses are the first tranche of a 300-vehicle procurement programme. “In the meantime, 100 29-seater buses have arrived in the country to ease recent road transport challenges. They form part of 300 procured for the purpose. Another batch of 100 will arrive in August, with the final batch expected in November,” he stated.
The intervention follows recent shortages of commercial vehicles in several parts of the country, which left commuters stranded at bus stops and transport terminals, particularly during peak hours.
Government officials have acknowledged the disruptions and assured the public of ongoing measures to stabilise the sector. Vice-President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has previously indicated that steps are being taken to improve transport services and ease the burden on daily commuters.
The phased delivery of the buses is expected to gradually improve conditions, especially in urban centres where overcrowding, long waiting times and limited vehicle availability have become persistent challenges.
Authorities say the initiative will provide much-needed relief for workers, students and other commuters who rely heavily on public transport, as efforts continue to restore efficiency and stability within the sector.
General News
GHS 1.5 Million Health Boost: Joana Gyan Cudjoe Delivers Lifeline Equipment to Amenfi Central
A major upgrade in healthcare delivery is underway in Amenfi Central after Member of Parliament Joana Gyan Cudjoe donated medical equipment worth GHS 1.5 million to the district’s health directorate.
The donation, presented at Agona Amenfi, was received by District Health Director Abdul Ganiyu Nuhu and his team, marking a significant intervention aimed at strengthening medical services across the constituency.
The consignment includes a wide array of essential equipment such as baby incubators, an anesthetic machine, heart monitors, oxygen concentrators, centrifuge, sterilizers, wheelchairs, delivery beds, and diagnostic tools. Health officials say the supplies will help address critical gaps in service delivery and improve patient care.
According to authorities, the equipment will be distributed across all 39 health facilities in the district to ensure equitable access and maximum impact.
The initiative forms part of the MP’s broader healthcare agenda, which includes plans to upgrade an existing health centre into a full-fledged hospital. Several Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) compounds are also set to be elevated to health centre status, with the Juabo facility among the first expected to benefit.
The items were presented on behalf of the MP by a delegation led by District Chief Executive Peter Amponsah, alongside constituency executives and local government representatives.
Receiving the donation, Mr. Nuhu described the intervention as “timely and transformative,” noting that it would significantly enhance the capacity of health workers to deliver quality care. He assured stakeholders that the equipment would be properly maintained and used responsibly for long-term benefit.
The donation is widely seen as a critical step toward improving healthcare infrastructure in Amenfi Central, reinforcing public confidence and advancing efforts to build a more resilient local health system.
General News
Ghana, Zimbabwe sign 10 MoUs to strengthen bilateral ties
Ghana and Zimbabwe have signed 10 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors, following the inaugural session of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC).
The agreements, signed during high-level bilateral engagements, span critical areas including political consultations, health, energy, tourism, sports development, and institutional collaboration.
Key among the agreements is the adoption of the agreed minutes of the inaugural PJCC session, which sets the framework for structured and sustained engagement between the two countries.
The two nations also signed an MoU on Political and Diplomatic Consultations to enhance regular dialogue and cooperation on regional and international issues. In addition, both sides committed to strengthening capacity building through an MoU on Research, Training and Documentation between their respective Foreign Service Institutes.
Cooperation in social sectors featured prominently, with agreements covering Health, Sports and Recreation Development, and Tourism, reflecting a shared commitment to improving people-to-people engagement and national development outcomes.
Further MoUs were signed in the fields of Energy and Archives, highlighting efforts to promote sustainable development and preserve historical records and heritage.
Trade and economic collaboration also received a boost with an agreement between ZimTrade and the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA), aimed at enhancing trade promotion and facilitating business partnerships between the two countries.
In the cultural and historical space, an MoU was signed between the Institute of African Knowledge and the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board to collaborate on an African liberation project.
While 10 agreements were signed at the government level, an additional MoU was concluded between private sector entities—Zoomlion Ghana Limited and Geo Pomona Waste Management (Pvt) Ltd—focusing on waste management collaboration.
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