President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Cabinet has approved the National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Action Plan (2026–2030) for onward submission to Parliament, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and good governance.

Speaking at the 4th Ghana Civil Society Forum (GCSF) 2026 in Accra, President Mahama described the approval as a significant milestone in Ghana’s efforts to strengthen integrity in public service and intensify the fight against corruption.

“Accountability and the fight against corruption are essential to democratic consolidation, and I wish to use this platform to restate my commitment to transparent and accountable governance,” the President said.

He noted that the new action plan builds on the foundation of the 10-year National Anti-Corruption Action Plan (NACAP) launched during his previous administration in 2015.

“I’m pleased to report to you that just yesterday, Cabinet approved the new National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2026 to 2030 for onward transmission to Parliament,” he announced.

President Mahama said the plan forms part of broader reforms aimed at promoting ethical leadership, strengthening public sector accountability, and improving transparency in the management of public resources.

The President also revealed that Cabinet had directed the Attorney General to draft a State Assets Protection Bill, which will establish clear legal guidelines for the disposal of state assets, including lands, buildings, factories, industries, and other public properties.

According to him, the proposed legislation is intended to prevent the arbitrary disposal of public assets by any government and ensure they are managed in the national interest.

President Mahama made the announcements while addressing participants at the 2026 Ghana Civil Society Forum, which brought together government officials, civil society organisations, development partners, and governance experts to discuss partnerships for democratic consolidation and inclusive national development.

As global anticipation builds toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup, stakeholders in Ghana’s creative and tourism sectors are raising concerns over what they describe as the slow rollout of the country’s flagship cultural tourism initiative, the Black Star Experience.

The initiative, launched on May 1, 2025 at the Black Star Square by President John Dramani Mahama, was positioned as a transformative national programme to project Ghana’s culture, boost tourism and strengthen Brand Ghana. However, 14 months after its unveiling, industry voices say its impact remains largely invisible.

With many countries already leveraging the global football tournament to position their culture and tourism industries, some creative sector players argue that Ghana is yet to fully activate its own strategy to benefit from the global attention.

Communications expert and tourism consultant, Francis Doku, believes the Secretariat should have taken a leading role in coordinating tourism, arts, culture and national branding efforts ahead of the tournament. He notes that such coordination is not yet evident in the public space.

Arts and culture journalist Kwame Dadzie also expressed concern over the perceived lack of progress, questioning the visibility of the initiative’s key pillars.

“Fourteen months after the launch, Ghana is yet to experience the Black Star. The initiative was built around seven pillars, cinema, music, cuisine, aesthetics, fashion, literature and heritage. Where are they? Which of these pillars has been activated in a way the public can see and appreciate?” he asked.

He further argued that the World Cup presented a major opportunity for Ghana to promote its culture globally, adding that other countries are already advancing similar strategies.

“The silence around the initiative is becoming too loud. We have not capitalised on this moment to push the Experience Ghana agenda as expected,” he said.

Popular disc jockey and entertainment entrepreneur DJ Ashmen also warned that the initiative risks losing public confidence if tangible results continue to lag behind expectations.

He described the concept as one of the most promising cultural policy ideas in recent years, but stressed that visibility and public engagement are critical to its success.

“If it is meant to be a 365-day celebration of Ghanaian culture, then people must see and experience it. Without that, it becomes just another good idea that never fully materialised,” he said.

Responding to concerns, Black Star Experience Coordinator Rex Omar attributed the initial slow pace to funding challenges. In earlier comments on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z, he explained that the Secretariat was set up after the 2025 national budget had already been approved, leaving no initial budgetary allocation for its operations.

“Most of our planned projects could not be executed because there was no dedicated budget allocation for the Secretariat,” he said, adding that all activities required administrative clearance as an office under the Presidency, which also affected implementation speed.

He noted that the Secretariat focused the period on groundwork, including partnerships, memoranda of understanding and pilot initiatives such as Creative Connect Afrika and Taste the Culture.

According to him, a budget proposal for 2026 has been submitted and defended, with expectations that improved funding will allow full implementation of the programme’s vision.

“We have done the preparatory work. Once funding becomes available, Ghanaians will begin to see the full vision unfold,” he said.

Despite these assurances, stakeholders say the situation raises broader questions about planning, timing and execution of one of Ghana’s most ambitious cultural branding initiatives.

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has arrested the suspected principal shipper linked to an attempted export of about 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine from Ghana to Australia, following a months-long intelligence-led operation in Accra.

The suspect was picked up after three months of coordinated surveillance involving NACOC and other security agencies, culminating in a targeted operation that ran over three nights.

Speaking to journalists in Accra on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the Director-General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, confirmed the arrest.

“Through the efforts of NACOC, in collaboration with the Bureau of National Investigation and other security agencies, I’m happy to announce that we have picked up the lead shipper,” he said.

He added that officers endured sustained field operations during the surveillance period. “My officers slept out of their homes for three months and successfully picked up the person who led that enterprise.”

Further arrests expected

Brigadier General Mantey indicated that the arrest marks only the beginning of a wider operation aimed at dismantling the full network behind the attempted shipment. He said additional arrests are expected as investigations progress.

“This afternoon, we’ll be picking more,” he stated, warning that all individuals implicated would be pursued and prosecuted.

“Whoever is involved, like I always say, it is only God and the courts that can free you. We’ll get to the bottom of this enterprise and make sure that Ghana will not be declared as a narcotic state,” he added.

He further stressed that no suspect would be protected based on status or affiliation. “Whether you are a member of the security agency or wherever you come from, if your name is mentioned or you are suspected based on our intelligence assessment, we will pick you up. Nobody will be spared.”

Australian-linked drug interception

The case is tied to a major seizure in Australia involving two shipping containers that originated from Ghana and were intercepted at Port Botany.

According to the Australian Border Force and the Australian Federal Police, officers detected irregularities during X-ray screening of the containers in April 2026. The shipment, which was declared as bags of charcoal, was later found to contain a white crystalline substance that tested positive for methamphetamine.

Forensic analysis confirmed the total quantity at about 320 kilogrammes, with an estimated street value of around A$296 million.

Australian authorities have so far charged three individuals in connection with the shipment, including Emaa Hussen, who is known for appearances in an EastEnders spin-off and a film alongside actor Jason Statham.

She has been charged with attempting to import a commercial quantity of methamphetamine into Australia and was denied bail. Under Australian law, the offence carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.