The Traders Advocacy Group Ghana (TAGG) has called on the government and relevant port authorities to urgently review what it describes as excessive and unjustifiable charges imposed on Ghanaian traders and importers at the country’s ports.

In a press statement dated September 1, 2026, TAGG said Ghanaian traders and importers have spent nearly two years engaging relevant authorities, attending meetings and following due processes in an effort to address concerns over rising port-related charges.

The group, however, said despite these engagements and repeated promises of relief, the burden on businesses continues to increase.

“Enough is enough,” TAGG declared, calling for immediate intervention by the government, the Ministry of Transport, the Ghana Shippers Authority, shipping lines and other institutions responsible for port regulation.

According to the traders’ group, the Ghana Shippers Authority previously engaged stakeholders over administrative charges imposed by shipping lines.

TAGG said it understood that GH¢550 had been agreed upon as the applicable amount following those engagements. However, the group expressed concern that the figure was subsequently increased to GH¢720.

The group is demanding answers over who authorized the increase, why it was considered necessary and whose interests the decision serves.

TAGG stressed that it is not opposed to legitimate import duties or lawful taxes owed to the state. Its concern, it said, is with charges it considers excessive, unfair and inconsistent with efforts to reduce the cost of doing business in Ghana.

The group also criticised the Minister for Transport, arguing that the Ministry has a responsibility to ensure institutions under its supervision protect the national interest and enforce Ghana’s laws and regulations.

TAGG said government cannot simultaneously promise to reduce the cost of doing business while allowing additional financial burdens to be imposed on traders and importers.

The group warned that traders cannot absorb unlimited additional costs and that if the charges remain, they will eventually be reflected in the prices of imported goods.

It questioned:

• What charges are being imposed at the ports?
• What administrative fees are being collected?
• What shipping-related levies are being applied?
• Why are businesses being required to absorb costs considered excessive?
• Why should ordinary Ghanaians ultimately pay for decisions made in offices and boardrooms?

TAGG also rejected what it described as attempts to justify excessive charges through the possibility of job losses at shipping companies.

While acknowledging the importance of protecting Ghanaian workers, the group said the threat of job losses should not become a means of imposing what it considers unjustified costs on traders, importers and consumers.

TAGG called on the President and government to intervene immediately and ensure that excessive port charges are reviewed.

It also asked the Ministry of Transport to enforce the law and demonstrate decisive leadership in protecting Ghanaian businesses and urged the Ghana Shippers Authority to stand firmly by its mandate and protect the interests of Ghanaian shippers.

Shipping lines, according to TAGG, must also respect Ghana’s laws, regulations and lawful directives.

The group said it was “tired of endless meetings,” promises and being told to wait, insisting that what is now required is action.

Beyond port charges, TAGG also raised concerns about what it described as a broader transportation crisis affecting traders, workers and ordinary Ghanaians.

The group said thousands of people are stranded at markets and transport terminals every day, particularly between 4:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., as they struggle to find vehicles to return home after work.

TAGG said it had previously submitted a proposal to the Presidency, which was recognised and forwarded to the Ministry of Transport.

Among its proposals was a 50% reduction in import duties on commercial vehicles for a specified period, aimed at encouraging private-sector investment and increasing the number of commercial vehicles.

The group said meaningful action on the transport crisis remains outstanding.

TAGG further argued that public officials must deliver results rather than excuses.

The group maintained that if government-appointed officials are unable to effectively address persistent problems directly affecting the livelihoods of Ghanaians, their competence and performance should be reviewed.

It specifically defended its description of the transport minister as incompetent, saying the assessment was based on what it considers the Minister’s continued failure to adequately address serious and persistent challenges affecting Ghanaian traders and workers

TAGG said its position is straightforward: traders and importers want action rather than excuses.

It warned that if nothing is done, Ghanaian consumers will ultimately bear the cost through higher prices of goods, adding that responsibility for preventing such an outcome rest with the government and authorities responsible for regulating the sector.

The group concluded by stating that the people of Ghana deserve fairness, traders deserve relief, importers deserve justice and consumers deserve protection.

The statement was signed by TAGG President David Kwadwo Amoateng, General Secretary Nana Pokua, Vice President Mr. Samuel Asare Addo, Deputy Secretary Juliet Kusi, Treasurer Mrs. Irene Victoria Odoom, Protocol Officer Abraham Yao Fianu, and National Organizer Daniel Fosu.

press release docs 1

TrustGH, a scam verification and reporting platform, has identified more than 6,000 telephone numbers linked to suspected fraudulent activity, following community reports and open-source intelligence (OSINT) investigations conducted by its team of certified cybersecurity professionals.

The findings point to an evolving digital fraud landscape in Ghana, with scammers increasingly using social media platforms, messaging applications, online business directories, telecommunications channels and fraudulent websites to target individuals and businesses.

According to TrustGH, TikTok accounts for approximately 50 per cent of the reported scam numbers in its database, making it the largest identified source of reported scam activity.

SMS and WhatsApp also feature prominently among the reported cases, while other scam indicators have been traced to Facebook, Google Business Profiles, conventional telephone calls and fake websites.

TrustGH said its investigations show that many of the schemes depend more on social engineering than sophisticated technical attacks.

Scammers often impersonate trusted individuals, institutions or professionals to establish credibility before manipulating victims into transferring money or providing sensitive information.

Common impersonation targets include bank officials, government representatives, company executives, police officers, financial agents, recruitment officers and legitimate business owners.

After establishing trust, fraudsters may pressure victims to make payments, disclose one-time passwords (OTPs), provide Mobile Money credentials or share other sensitive information.

TrustGH noted that such tactics can result in financial losses or the compromise of victims’ accounts without scammers necessarily obtaining direct technical access to their devices.

Mobile Money remains the main target

More than 90 per cent of the scam cases analysed by TrustGH involved attempts to obtain Mobile Money payments or gain unauthorised access to victims’ Mobile Money accounts.

The platform identified several recurring categories of fraud, including Mobile Money scams, financial impersonation, fake online sellers, fraudulent Google Business Profiles, fake recruitment schemes, prize and lottery scams, social media fraud, suspicious callers and phishing-related account takeover attempts.

In phishing and account-takeover schemes, fraudsters seek to obtain authentication credentials, OTPs, passwords and other information that could give them unauthorised access to victims’ accounts.

TrustGH described the high proportion of Mobile Money-related incidents as a significant cybersecurity concern, particularly because of the widespread use of mobile financial services in Ghana.

The platform also reported a growing trend involving the abuse of legitimate business identities.

According to TrustGH, scammers create fraudulent social media accounts, advertisements and Google Business Profiles that closely imitate genuine companies.

These fake profiles may use legitimate business names, logos, locations and other publicly available information to create an appearance of authenticity and convince potential victims that they are dealing with a genuine business.

TikTok emerges as a major fraud channel

TrustGH’s finding that approximately half of the reported scam numbers are associated with TikTok highlights the increasing role of social media in the country’s fraud ecosystem.

Scammers can use platforms such as TikTok to create fraudulent identities, advertise fake products and services, and reach large numbers of potential victims.

Communication can then shift to WhatsApp, SMS or telephone calls, where fraudsters employ social-engineering tactics to complete the scam.

This creates a multi-channel attack chain, with different digital platforms being used at different stages of the same fraudulent operation.

TrustGH working with authorities

TrustGH said it is a licensed platform and works with the Cybersecurity Authority and the Cyber Crime Unit of the Ghana Police Service to combat scam activity and support investigations involving reported telephone numbers.

The platform is encouraging members of the public to verify suspicious numbers before engaging with callers or making payments and to report numbers suspected of being associated with fraudulent activity.

Members of the public can verify and report suspicious numbers through TrustGH.com.

The statement was issued by: TrustGH
Public Scam Verification & Reporting Platform

TrustGH press release new 2

The Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod) has set a target to generate US$1.4 billion in foreign exchange (FX) in September 2026, as part of measures to support stability in Ghana’s foreign exchange market and boost the country’s international reserves.

The target follows GoldBod’s generation of US$1.315 billion in FX in August 2026 under a new financing model supporting its gold-purchasing operations in the artisanal and small-scale mining sector.

Of the projected US$1.4 billion for September, US$700 million is expected to be made available to commercial banks through spot sales and funded forward arrangements.

The move is intended to improve FX liquidity and help maintain stability in the foreign exchange market.

A further up to US$700 million will be provided to the Bank of Ghana (BoG) for reserve accumulation under the Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Policy (GANRAP).

GoldBod said it generated US$1.315 billion in FX in August following the implementation of the new financing model on August 3.

The August proceeds were distributed as follows:

US$668.21 million was sold to commercial banks through spot sales and funded forward arrangements.

US$646.59 million made available to the Bank of Ghana for reserve accumulation under GANRAP.

The August performance pushed GoldBod’s monthly FX generation beyond the US$1.3 billion mark, with the proceeds broadly divided between supporting domestic FX liquidity and strengthening Ghana’s reserves.

The financing arrangement followed Cabinet and Parliament’s approval of the Ghana Accelerated National Reserve Accumulation Policy.

GoldBod subsequently engaged the Ministry of Finance, Bank of Ghana, commercial banks and other key stakeholders before introducing the new model.

The arrangement is focused on financing and supporting GoldBod’s operations involving gold purchased from Ghana’s artisanal and small-scale mining sector.

The International Monetary Fund has also noted GoldBod’s expanded role in domestic gold purchasing, a function previously associated with the Bank of Ghana. The shift is intended, among other objectives, to reduce quasi-fiscal risks to the central bank while strengthening GoldBod’s role in gold purchases, trade and exports.

GoldBod’s September target of US$1.4 billion represents an increase of US$85 million, or approximately 6.5%, over the US$1.315 billion generated in August.

If achieved, GoldBod’s combined FX generation for August and September will reach approximately US$2.715 billion.

Across the two months, commercial banks could receive up to approximately US$1.368 billion, while the Bank of Ghana could receive about US$1.347 billion for reserve accumulation, based on the reported allocations.

GoldBod’s Finance and Trading Directorate announced on August 31, 2026, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to generating foreign exchange for Ghana and working transparently with stakeholders.

GoldBod September FX target at a glance

The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested six persons suspected to be members or associates of an organised armed robbery syndicate believed to be operating in parts of the Ashanti Region.

The arrests were made in August 2026 by the Anti-Armed Robbery Unit in Kumasi as part of intelligence-led operations aimed at disrupting armed robbery and other violent crimes in the region.

According to the Police, preliminary investigations have linked the suspects to several reported street robbery incidents in different parts of the Ashanti Region.

The six suspects have been identified as:

Philip Nyarko, alias “Kawawa”

Hadi Samed, alias “Toronto”

Issahaku Musah, alias “Isak”

Suraj Mohammed, alias “Baba Nde”, also known as “Trouble”

Hadi Abdul Majeed, alias “Panie”

Foster Owusu Afriyie, alias “Joe Fraizer”

Police sources indicate that the suspects are aged 23, 20, 23, 27, 23 and 45, respectively.

The Ashanti Regional Police Command said the suspects are being investigated over their alleged involvement in street robbery incidents reported at Kaase, Ahinsan Estate, Santasi New Site, Bronikrom, Kwadaso Estate and other locations within the region.

The intelligence-led operation has also led to the recovery of several items believed to be connected to the alleged criminal activities.

The exhibits recovered include: Two motorcycles, two machetes, Knives, one iPhone 13, five keypad mobile phones, one laptop,33 assorted mobile phones, and other items suspected to be linked to the activities under investigation

As part of searches conducted at the residences of the suspects, Police reportedly recovered a Kawasaki motorcycle with a 600cc engine from the residence of Philip Nyarko.

Investigators suspect that the motorcycle may have been used in some of the activities under investigation.

Further searches at the residences of other suspects also resulted in the recovery of knives and machetes.

Further investigations resulted in the arrest of Augustine Agyemang Duah, who Police suspect assisted members of the alleged syndicate in unlocking mobile phones believed to have been stolen.

A laptop suspected to have been used in unlocking the phones was recovered from his residence and retained by the Police as an exhibit.

The Police also suspect that Foster Owusu Afriyie, alias “Joe Fraizer”, purchased stolen mobile phones from members of the alleged syndicate.

A search of his residence reportedly resulted in the recovery of 33 mobile phones believed to have been taken from robbery victims.

Investigators are currently working to identify the rightful owners of the phones and determine how they came into Foster Owusu Afriyie’s possession.

The Ashanti Regional Police Command further disclosed that Philip Nyarko, Hadi Samed and Abdul Shattar had previously been arrested on December 6, 2025, in connection with allegations involving conspiracy to commit crime, including robbery and attempted robbery.

The three were subsequently arraigned before Asokwa Circuit Court 1 and granted bail.

The case remains pending before the court.

According to the Police, investigations conducted after their release indicated that some of the suspects allegedly returned to criminal activities.

Abdul Shattar, who was previously arrested with some of the suspects, is currently at large, according to the Police.

The Command has intensified efforts to locate and apprehend him, as well as other persons suspected of having links to the alleged syndicate.

The persons being sought have been identified as: Andy, Umaru, Dauda, Malik, Abdul Farouk

The Police have appealed to anyone with credible information about the whereabouts of the wanted persons to contact the Police.

Members of the public have, however, been cautioned not to confront or attempt to apprehend the suspects themselves.

The Ashanti Regional Police Command said investigations are continuing to establish the full extent of the suspects’ alleged involvement in the reported robbery cases.

Investigators are also working to identify other persons who may be connected to the alleged syndicate and recover additional stolen property.

The arrested suspects are expected to be processed for arraignment before the appropriate court in accordance with Ghanaian law.

The Police stressed that being arrested or suspected of an offence does not in itself establish guilt, and that the guilt or otherwise of the accused persons will ultimately be determined through the judicial process.

The Command has also appealed to residents who may have lost mobile phones or other property during robbery incidents to contact the Police and assist investigators in identifying the recovered exhibits.

The Ashanti Regional Police Command has assured residents, particularly those within the Kumasi Metropolis, of its continued commitment to protecting lives and property through intelligence-led and targeted operations.

The Command also expressed appreciation to the Inspector-General of Police’s Special Operations Team (SOT) for its operational and investigative support in detecting crime, apprehending suspects and disrupting organised criminal activities in the region.

The Ghana Police Service’s Anti-Armed Robbery Unit is a specialised unit responsible for investigating armed robbery and related cases.

The Police have again encouraged anyone who believes their property may be among the recovered exhibits to come forward and assist investigators with identification.

Statement issued by the Ashanti Regional Police Command’s Public Affairs Unit on August 31, 2026, and signed by Superintendent of Police Godwin Ahianyo, Head of the Public Affairs Unit, Ashanti Region.

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The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has recorded approximately 30 mining-related deaths in various mining communities across Ghana’s Eastern Region since January 2026.

Deputy Regional NADMO Director in charge of Technical and Disaster Risk Reduction, Emmanuel Konja Tullah, disclosed the figure following the latest galamsey-related tragedy at Asaman Tiamfoe in the Atewa East District.

The incident occurred on the night of Saturday, August 29, 2026, when a mining pit reportedly collapsed, trapping 11 illegal miners underground.

Rescue teams subsequently recovered the bodies of seven of the victims, while four others remained missing as search and recovery operations continued in the following days.

Personnel from the Anyinam District Police Command, Ghana National Ambulance Service, NADMO and local volunteers took part in the rescue and recovery exercise.

Speaking about the recurring incidents, Tullah called for the strict enforcement of regulations requiring mining pits to be properly covered after use.

In a video shared on X on August 31, 2026, by Citi FM, he stressed that stronger enforcement and oversight were necessary to prevent further loss of life associated with abandoned or unregulated mining pits.

“They should strengthen their oversight activities, ensuring that the necessary coordination and security measures are put in place so that these incidents are not recorded,” he said.

The latest tragedy at Asaman Tiamfoe has renewed concerns over the dangers posed by abandoned and improperly secured mining pits, particularly in communities where illegal mining activities remain prevalent.