General News
Agri-Impact CEO Warns: Agriculture Budget Too Small to Drive Ghana’s Economic Transformation
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Agri-Impact Group, Daniel Acquaye, has criticized the government’s allocation to the agriculture sector in the 2025 budget, describing it as inadequate to drive the country’s economic transformation.
Speaking at the PwC post-budget digest in Accra, Mr. Acquaye said only GH¢1.5 billion (about $100 million), representing 0.54 percent of the GH¢279 billion national budget, was set aside for agriculture. He stressed that this amount was insufficient, noting that achieving rice self-sufficiency alone would require over $100 million—equivalent to the entire agricultural allocation.
He warned that the underfunding contradicted government’s stated objective of making agriculture the backbone of economic growth.
Mr. Acquaye urged government to establish an Agriculture Fund, similar to the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund), to guarantee sustainable financing for the sector. According to him, while education produces skilled labour, there is little investment in industries such as agriculture that can employ those graduates. Proper funding, he argued, would tackle youth unemployment, boost food security, and stimulate rural economies.
“A billion dollars from agriculture creates more jobs and opportunities than the same amount from oil or mining,” Mr. Acquaye emphasized.
The call aligns with the Malabo Declaration under the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme (CAADP), where African Union members—including Ghana—committed to allocating at least 10 percent of national budgets to agriculture and achieving six percent annual growth in the sector.
Meanwhile, PwC Ghana’s Senior Country Partner, Vish Ashiagbor, noted that although the agriculture allocation looked small, complementary projects such as the GH¢10 billion “Big Push” for infrastructure and planned agri-zones could indirectly support the sector. He described the 2025 budget as a “good start,” but cautioned that effective implementation would be key to realizing its intentions.
On the increase in the Growth and Sustainability Levy to three percent, Mr. Ashiagbor expressed concern that sudden tax hikes could destabilize mining companies’ long-term planning, though he acknowledged government’s pressing need to raise revenue in a tight fiscal space.
Both speakers agreed that while the budget signaled intent, a stronger focus on execution and sustainable sector-specific funding was crucial to unlocking agriculture’s full potential in Ghana’s economy.
General News
TikToker Camilla Alhassan Jailed One Year for Spreading False Claims About President Mahama
TikToker Camilla Alhassan has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Accra Circuit Court after pleading guilty to charges of offensive conduct and publishing false news.
The sentence was handed down on Thursday, July 16, after Alhassan admitted to sharing videos on social media in which she falsely claimed, without any evidence, that President John Dramani Mahama buried 32 cows as part of rituals to secure victory in the 2024 general election.
Speaking after the ruling, her lawyer, Kwadwo Gyamfi Bonsu, disclosed that the court dismissed the charge of electronic abuse, explaining that it lacked the legal jurisdiction to determine that particular offence.
Despite dropping the electronic abuse charge, the court convicted Alhassan on the count of offensive conduct and imposed a one-year custodial sentence.
According to her lawyer, the defence pleaded for a more lenient sentence, but the judge maintained that the increasing spread of false information and similar offences required a punishment that would serve as a deterrent.
Camilla Alhassan was arrested and prosecuted by the Ghana Police Service after the videos gained widespread attention on social media. Prior to sentencing, the court had also ordered a pregnancy test during an earlier hearing as part of the proceedings.
President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his government’s commitment to equitable national development, declaring that no region of Ghana would be neglected because of its electoral choices.
Speaking during the sod-cutting ceremony for the construction of a 24-Hour Economy Model Market at Juapong in the Volta Region as part of his Resetting Ghana Tour, President Mahama said his administration was determined to ensure that every part of the country benefited from development projects.
He rejected the notion that any region should be taken for granted or left behind because of the way its people voted in elections.
“Our mandate, given to us by the good people of Ghana, is to govern the country for every Ghanaian,” he said. “Our commitment to the Volta Region is founded on fairness, equity and our constitutional responsibility to ensure balanced national development across the whole country.”
The President noted that the Volta Region had made an immeasurable contribution to Ghana’s development and deserved its fair share of national progress.
He said government was deliberately investing in infrastructure and public services across the country, including healthcare, education, roads, transport, agriculture, agro-processing and modern markets to improve livelihoods and create economic opportunities.
President Mahama made the remarks after cutting the sod for the construction of the Juapong 24-Hour Economy Model Market, one of a series of markets to be built nationwide under the government’s flagship 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Prophet Dr. Power Man has predicted that Ghana may witness the loss of some prominent personalities in the coming days, including a well-known lawyer and politician who has served the nation.
Speaking on Kessben 92.9 FM’s Awurade Akasa programme hosted by Prophet Richard Afful, the man of God was asked about what lies ahead for Ghana and its citizens.
According to Prophet Dr. Power Man, the country would move from a period of “tears of joy” into a time of great sorrow, as he claimed he had seen difficult moments ahead for the nation.
“I saw a prominent person in Ghana, a politician who is a lawyer and has served the nation. He is a very prominent person,” he stated.
He added that from July 14, 2026, through December 2027, Ghanaians would hear reports of the passing of some notable personalities.
“From 14th July till 2027 December, we will hear about the death of prominent people, about four or three people in the country,” Prophet Dr. Power Man said.
When asked by the host whether the people involved would be young or old, the prophet responded that some would be elderly while others would be young.
He further explained that when it comes to such situations, sickness may not always be the cause, adding that “death is what is meant to be” and should not always be attributed to witchcraft
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