President John Dramani Mahama has announced further changes to his government, reassigning three officials to new roles with immediate effect.

Under the latest changes, the Minister for Labour, Employment and Job Creation, Hon. Abdul-Rashid Pelpuo, has been reassigned as Minister of State for Special Initiatives.

He will be replaced at the Labour Ministry by Hon. Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, who will now serve as Minister for Labour, Employment and Job Creation.

The President has also reassigned the Deputy Minister for Defence, Hon. Ernest Brogya Genfi, to serve as Presidential Advisor on National Resilience and Emergency Preparedness.

The latest changes form part of President Mahama’s efforts to realign responsibilities within his administration and strengthen the delivery of government’s priorities.

The reassignments take immediate effect.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications.

President John Dramani Mahama has assented to 10 Bills passed by Parliament during the Second Meeting of the Second Session of the Ninth Parliament, formally turning them into law.

The legislation covers key areas including taxation, revenue mobilisation, justice administration, national defence, maritime regulation and the cocoa sector.

The 10 Bills were among 12 pieces of legislation approved by Parliament during the meeting, which ended on July 31, 2026.

Following the President’s assent, the relevant institutions and agencies can now proceed with the implementation and enforcement of the new laws.

The newly enacted laws are:

Customs Act, 2026

Community Service Act, 2026

Tribunals Act, 2026

Maritime and Related Offences Act, 2026

National Defence University, Ghana Act, 2026

Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026

Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2026

Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026

Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026

Excise Act, 2026

The new laws are expected to shape government revenue mobilisation, taxation, customs administration, trade, justice delivery, national security and the regulation of the cocoa and maritime sectors.

Changes in Taxation and Revenue

The Income Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026, Value Added Tax (Amendment) Act, 2026, Excise Act, 2026, and Energy Sector Levies (Amendment) Act, 2026 introduce changes to Ghana’s tax and revenue framework.

These measures are intended to strengthen revenue collection and provide a revised legal framework for the administration of various taxes and levies.

Customs and Trade

The Customs Act, 2026 provides a new legislative framework for customs administration and is expected to affect the management of imports, exports and related trade procedures.

Justice Administration

The Community Service Act, 2026 establishes a legal framework for community service, while the Tribunals Act, 2026 provides for the operation and administration of tribunals in Ghana.

The measures are expected to contribute to reforms in the justice system and the handling of certain categories of cases.

Maritime Regulation and National Defence

The Maritime and Related Offences Act, 2026 strengthens the legal framework for dealing with offences connected to Ghana’s maritime space.

Meanwhile, the National Defence University, Ghana Act, 2026 provides the legal basis for the establishment and operation of the National Defence University, Ghana.

Cocoa Sector

The Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 2026 introduces a new legislative framework governing the Ghana Cocoa Board and the administration of the country’s cocoa sector.

With presidential assent now granted, the 10 laws have moved from parliamentary approval to the implementation stage, giving the relevant state institutions the legal authority to operationalise the reforms.

The Government of Ghana has declined a reported GH¢20 million donation from MTN Ghana intended to support Ghanaian victims of recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a press statement issued on Wednesday, August 26, said it had become aware of media reports suggesting that MTN Ghana was preparing to donate.

According to the Ministry, the reports attributed the intended donation to an interview granted by MTN Board Chairman, Dr Ishmael Yamson.

While commending MTN for the gesture, the Government said it had decided not to accept the offer because adequate financial provisions had already been made for the ongoing evacuation and reintegration of affected Ghanaians.

“The Government of Ghana commends MTN for the offer; however, we respectfully decline,” the Ministry stated.

The Ministry explained that the Mahama Administration had made sufficient arrangements to finance the evacuation of Ghanaians from South Africa and support their reintegration upon their return.

It further disclosed that the Government’s position had already been communicated directly to MTN’s leadership when the company’s Board Chairman and Chief Executive Officer called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on August 14, 2026.

The Government nevertheless reaffirmed its commitment to providing humanitarian evacuation and reintegration support to every Ghanaian brought home from harm’s way.

The Ministry said the Government would continue to finance the exercise and provide assistance to returnees as part of measures to help them rebuild their lives in Ghana.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also assured the public that it would provide a comprehensive account of the total cost of the evacuation exercise once it has been completed.

It said the disclosure would be made in the interest of transparency and accountability, amid growing public interest in the government’s expenditure on bringing Ghanaians back from South Africa.

The government has previously indicated that the evacuation exercise has been funded by the state and Ghanaian partners. More than 1,600 Ghanaians had been evacuated from South Africa by August 19, with the second phase of the exercise still ongoing.

The Ministry stressed that the welfare and safety of Ghanaians remain the Government’s utmost priority.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry also sought to make clear that its decision to decline MTN’s offer would not affect the Government’s relationship with international businesses operating in Ghana.

It said the Government would continue to create a favourable business environment for all international brands operating in the country, regardless of the country from which their businesses originated.

The Government’s decision comes against the backdrop of renewed xenophobic attacks in parts of South Africa, which have prompted Ghana to undertake evacuation exercises to protect affected nationals. Ghana has also previously called for stronger continental action against xenophobic attacks.

The Ministry concluded by reiterating that the welfare of all Ghanaians remains the Government’s utmost priority.

The National Democratic Congress ( NDC) has appointed the Member of Parliament for Builsa North, Hon. James Agalga, as the new Majority Leader of the Parliament of Ghana.

The appointment was formally communicated to the Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament in a letter dated August 24, 2026, signed by the NDC General Secretary, Hon. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey.

According to the letter, the appointment followed consultations between the leadership of the NDC and the Presidency. It takes immediate effect.

The party said the decision is aimed at providing the necessary leadership and coordination for the NDC Majority Caucus as it continues to carry out its constitutional and parliamentary responsibilities.

Hon. James Agalga, who represents the Builsa North Constituency in Parliament, is expected to lead and coordinate the NDC Majority Caucus while working with the Speaker and other Members of Parliament to advance the business of the House.

In the notification addressed to the Speaker, the NDC expressed confidence in Mr Agalga’s ability to provide the leadership required to strengthen the work of Parliament and promote the interests of the Republic.

The party also appealed for the cooperation of the Rt. Hon. Speaker and all Members of Parliament as the new Majority Leader assumes his responsibilities.

The letter was issued by the NDC National Secretariat under reference number NDC/HQ/73/045.

Hon. Fifi Fiavi Kwetey signed the notification on behalf of the leadership of the NDC and formally conveyed the party’s decision to Parliament.

NOTIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF HON. JAMES AGALGA, MP FOR BUILSA NORTH, AS MAJORITY LEADER

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that its newly established Passport Application Centres (PACs) in seven regions without previous passport application facilities have already issued 13,098 chip-embedded passports.

The development forms part of efforts by the Ministry to decentralise passport services and reduce the burden on citizens who previously had to travel long distances to other regions to apply for or obtain their passports.

The seven new PACs are located in Bolgatanga, Nalerigu, Damongo, Techiman, Dambai, Goaso and Sefwi Wiawso, serving residents across the Upper East, Ahafo, Bono East, North East, Oti, Savannah and Western North Regions.

According to figures released by the Ministry, Techiman recorded the highest number of passports issued, with 4,578, followed by Bolgatanga with 2,784.

Sefwi Wiawso has issued 2,174 passports, while Goaso has recorded 1,931 applications.

The other centres have also contributed to the total, with Dambai issuing 780 passports, Damongo 443 and Nalerigu 408.

The Ministry said the establishment of the seven centres has made a significant difference for residents in the affected regions, who previously had to undertake inconvenient journeys to other parts of the country to access passport services.

The decentralisation is expected to make the passport application process more accessible, particularly for citizens living far from Ghana’s traditional passport application centres.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that without the new PACs, thousands of residents in the seven regions would continue to make long and costly trips to other regions whenever they needed passport services.

The initiative is therefore being presented as part of the Ministry’s broader effort to improve public service delivery and make essential services more accessible to Ghanaians.

The Ministry’s message accompanying the figures was “Resetting & Serving you Better,” signalling its commitment to improving the delivery of passport services nationwide.