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#SONA2025: Ghana Women’s Development Bank to be Established in 120 days – Mahama Assures Ghanaians

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President John Mahama has announced that the Ghana Women’s Development Bank (GWDB) will be established within the next 120 days to provide financial support to women entrepreneurs and small business owners across the country.

Delivering the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA) in Parliament on Thursday, February 27, 2028, he said the bank will serve as a specialized financial institution to bridge the credit gap for women-led businesses in agriculture, trade, manufacturing, and technology.

Mr Mahama noted that women play a major role in Ghana’s economy but continue to face difficulties in accessing credit and financial services.

He stated that many female entrepreneurs struggle to secure funding due to high interest rates, stringent collateral requirements, and a lack of tailored financial products.

According to him, the Ghana Women’s Development Bank will address these challenges by providing affordable loans with flexible repayment terms, making it easier for women to grow and sustain their businesses.

He added that the bank will not only offer financial services but also support women-led enterprises with business advisory programmes, financial literacy training, and mentorship opportunities.

These, he explained, will equip women with the skills needed to manage their businesses effectively and improve their long-term success.

The bank will also prioritize digital banking solutions to ensure rural women, who often have limited access to traditional banking services, can easily conduct financial transactions and access funding remotely.

The Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, working in partnership with the Bank of Ghana, will oversee the establishment of the bank to ensure it becomes fully operational by mid-2025.

The government, Mr. Mahama stated, is working with international development agencies and women-focused non-governmental organizations to mobilize resources for the initiative.

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No Intimidation in Ablekuma North Rerun – NDC’s Joshua Alabi Assures Amid NPP Boycott

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The Greater Accra Regional Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joshua Alabi, has assured the public that the parliamentary rerun in the Ablekuma North Constituency will be conducted without intimidation, interference, or manipulation.

 

His assurance follows allegations by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that the Electoral Commission (EC) is showing bias in favour of the NDC ahead of the rerun scheduled for Friday, July 11, across 19 polling stations.

 

The NPP has labelled the EC’s decision to hold the rerun as “unjust” and has officially withdrawn from the process. However, its parliamentary candidate, Nana Akua Afriyie, has chosen to defy the party’s directive and will participate in the election. Attempts by the NPP to halt the rerun through legal and administrative actions have not succeeded.

 

In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Thursday, July 10, Joshua Alabi rejected claims that the state might misuse its power to influence the outcome.

 

“In the past, when state institutions acted corruptly, their powers were taken away. Those days are behind us,” he stated.

 

Alabi emphasized that the NDC would not adopt questionable tactics, saying, “It’s part of the reason the NPP is in the situation they are now. We won’t repeat their mistakes.”

 

He also disclosed that the NDC had met with the National Security task force, which assured them that the election would proceed peacefully and transparently.

 

The rerun was necessitated by disputes over the results in specific polling stations during the December 2024 general election. The Electoral Commission opted for a fresh vote in the affected areas to preserve electoral integrity.

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EC Assures Fair and Credible Rerun of Ablekuma North Parliamentary Election on July 11

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The Electoral Commission (EC) has assured the public of a fair, transparent, and credible parliamentary election rerun in the Ablekuma North constituency scheduled for Friday, July 11, 2025.

 

At a press briefing on Thursday, July 10, the Deputy Chairperson of the EC, Dr. Bossman Asare, announced that all necessary preparations had been completed to ensure a smooth electoral process. He emphasized the Commission’s commitment to reflecting the true will of the constituents through a credible election.

 

“On our part as the electoral management body, we are desirous of bringing the election in the Ablekuma North constituency to a conclusion and to ensure that the constituents have a representative in Parliament,” Dr. Asare stated.

 

The rerun is taking place in 19 polling stations, following the suspension of the collation process during the December 2024 parliamentary elections due to security concerns.

 

The election will see a renewed contest between the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) candidate, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, and the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) Ewurabena Aubynn.

 

According to the EC, a clear legal and procedural path has been outlined to complete the collation process.

 

“We have thus provided a path to complete the collation process while ensuring that the residents of Ablekuma North have a representative in Parliament,” Dr. Asare explained.

 

Reaffirming the Commission’s dedication to electoral integrity, he added, “We assure the public and the political parties that, as always, we will live by our motto and ensure that the rerun is fair, transparent and credible.”

 

The EC also extended its best wishes to both candidates ahead of the polls.

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Bawumia Donates GH₵410,000 to Ablekuma North Candidate Despite NPP Boycott

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Former Vice President and immediate past flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has donated GH₵410,000 to the party’s parliamentary candidate for Ablekuma North, Nana Akua Owusu Afriyie, to support her campaign in the upcoming election re-run across 19 polling stations.

 

This donation comes despite the NPP National Executive Committee’s (NEC) decision to boycott the re-run. Ms. Owusu Afriyie, however, has chosen to defy the party’s directive and contest the election, stating that she believes she legitimately won the 2024 general elections and is determined to prove it at the polls.

 

Sources close to Dr. Bawumia confirmed the donation, explaining that he considers it part of his ongoing responsibility to support the party’s electoral efforts, regardless of the NEC’s position.

 

The donation is expected to bolster Ms. Afriyie’s campaign as she aims to retain the parliamentary seat for the NPP.

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