General News
Ghana to Ratify AU Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, Mahama Announces
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana’s Parliament will this year ratify the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, describing the decision as a major step toward safeguarding the rights of women and girls and advancing gender equality in the country.
The convention, adopted in February 2025 during the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union, establishes a comprehensive legal framework aimed at preventing and eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls across the continent.
Speaking at a High-Level Breakfast Meeting on Financing and Reaffirming Africa’s Gender Commitments, held on the sidelines of the 39th AU Summit in Addis Ababa on Friday, February 13, 2026, President Mahama expressed concern about the slow pace of ratification among member states.
He noted that although the convention marked a historic milestone when adopted last year, progress toward domestic ratification has been limited. Ghana, he said, has already signed the instrument and initiated the necessary processes for parliamentary approval.
“This session of our Parliament will ratify the Convention,” President Mahama stated, urging all AU member states to sign and ratify the agreement before the end of 2026.
The President emphasized that further delays would carry serious consequences, pointing to the significant economic and social toll of gender-based violence across Africa.
“Violence against women and girls is not only a moral outrage, it is an economic catastrophe,” he said, highlighting the billions of dollars lost annually through health care costs, reduced productivity, and justice-related expenditures, as well as the broader impact on families and communities.
President Mahama, who serves as the AU Champion on Gender and Development Issues, stressed that ratifying the convention would signal a firm commitment by Ghana and other African nations to eradicate violence against women. He underscored that AU gender instruments are not symbolic declarations but central components of the continent’s human rights and development framework.
“Frameworks matter, but political will matters more,” he said.
He also called on the nine AU member states yet to ratify the Maputo Protocol to do so without delay. The protocol, adopted in 2003, guarantees broad protections and rights for women across Africa and has so far been ratified by 46 member states.
The United States Embassy in Accra has announced the release of more than 2,000 additional visa interview appointments over the next two weeks for applicants seeking B1 and B2 visas.
According to the Embassy, the newly opened slots are intended to support individuals planning temporary travel to the United States for business, tourism, family visits, and participation in major international events. Among the anticipated events is the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place across North America.
In an official statement, the Embassy encouraged prospective applicants to secure interview dates as soon as possible due to sustained demand for B1 and B2 visas. These visa categories cover short-term travel for business purposes under B1 and tourism or family visits under B2.
Applicants who already have appointments scheduled later in the year are also advised to log into the visa scheduling system to check for earlier availability and, where suitable, reschedule their interviews.
The Embassy indicated that the additional appointment slots are expected to help reduce existing backlogs and provide greater flexibility for travelers with time-sensitive plans.
Further details on application procedures, requirements, and appointment scheduling are available on the Embassy’s official visa information page at: https://gh.usembassy.gov/visas/
Ghana’s telecommunications sector may soon witness increased competition in the 5G space following a move by the National Communications Authority to amend the licence of Next-Gen Infraco.
In a press release dated March 4, 2026, the regulator announced it had issued a Notice of Proposed Licence Amendment to NGIC, seeking to remove the exclusivity clause that grants the company sole rights to operate in Ghana’s 5G segment. The Authority said the action was taken pursuant to Section 14 of the Electronic Communications Act, 2008 (Act 775).
If approved, the amendment would open the 5G market to other operators, allowing them to deploy the technology independently.
According to the NCA, the proposed amendment is in the public interest and intended to promote competition and innovation, enhance consumer choice and service quality, accelerate nationwide digital transformation, and ensure efficient use of spectrum as a national resource.
Under the law, the amendment will take effect 90 days from the date of the notice unless, after reviewing any representations submitted by NGIC within the statutory period, the Authority determines otherwise. The NCA emphasized that the process complies with due procedure and aligns with its mandate to regulate communications services in the national interest.
NGIC’s Commercial Rollout
The proposed regulatory change comes shortly after NGIC announced it had received clearance from the NCA to commence full commercial operations as Ghana’s wholesale 4G and 5G infrastructure provider. The company said the approval followed technical inspections confirming compliance with its Wholesale Electronic Communications Infrastructure Licence.
NGIC has deployed 49 operational 5G sites across the country. Of these, 43 are located in Greater Accra, with the remaining sites spread across the Ashanti, Western, Northern, Bono and Central regions. The network is currently live in selected parts of Accra, Kumasi and Tamale under a wholesale-first model, where NGIC builds and manages shared radio and core infrastructure, while mobile network operators provide retail services to customers.
Chief Executive Officer Tenu Awoonor described the rollout as a transition from planning to execution, stating that the shared backbone is now commercially active and positioned for expansion. He noted that the model is designed to coordinate infrastructure investment nationally while preserving competition at the retail level.
Chief Operating Officer Nenyi George Andah said the company’s immediate focus is on scaling coverage in a coordinated and sustainable manner. He maintained that the wholesale model supports faster national reach and more efficient capital deployment.
Technology partner Nokia also reaffirmed its role in the deployment. Mustapha Salah, Head of Central West and East Africa, Mobile Networks at Nokia, said the partnership would support the rollout of Ghana’s first neutral-host 4G and 5G network, enabling operators to deliver high-speed data services and new enterprise solutions.
Licence Fee Default
In a related disclosure, the NCA indicated that NGIC is in default of an installment payment under its agreed licence fee schedule. The regulator said it is addressing the matter in accordance with applicable statutory provisions.
The combination of a potential policy shift on 5G exclusivity and concerns over fee compliance marks a significant moment for Ghana’s telecoms industry. While NGIC’s wholesale model remains central to national broadband expansion plans, the regulator’s proposed amendment signals a possible recalibration aimed at deepening competition and optimizing spectrum management.
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