The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has attributed the recent deterioration in transportation services in Accra to unlawful practices by some private transport operators.

According to him, certain drivers deliberately create artificial shortages within the urban transport system, particularly during peak hours, in order to increase fares and maximise profits.

Transportation in the capital has worsened in recent days, leaving commuters stranded in long queues and forced to pay inflated fares, especially during morning and evening rush hours. The situation became more pronounced during the 2025 yuletide and continues to affect residents in areas such as Madina, Amasaman, and Kasoa, despite assurances from the Minister of Transport that steps are being taken to address the problem.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu acknowledged that commuting within Accra has become increasingly difficult in recent times. He, however, assured the public that the government is prepared to take action against drivers who engage in illegal activities.

He explained that Ghana’s transport sector is largely driven by private operators, organised under unions such as the Ghana Private Road Transport Union and other transport associations responsible for managing public transport services.

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu noted that following successive reductions in fuel prices, which resulted in a 15 percent cut in transport fares, some operators resorted to unfair practices to offset the reduced charges.

“After the persistent reduction in fuel prices, some operators have decided to engage in undue practices by creating artificial shortages,” he said.

He cited instances where drivers deliberately avoid designated loading stations in areas such as the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, choosing instead to roam in search of commuters who are willing to pay higher fares out of desperation.

“What some of these drivers do is that they refuse to go to the stations. They move around, and by creating a shortage, they compel passengers to pay more than the approved fares. They are deliberately creating scarcity to increase profits,” he explained.

Describing the practice as unlawful, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu assured commuters that the government is working to ensure that operators who engage in such conduct are identified and sanctioned accordingly.

The United States has announced an indefinite suspension of immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Somalia, Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Brazil and Thailand.

According to a report by Fox News, the pause will take effect from January 21, 2026, as the US State Department undertakes a broad reassessment of its screening and vetting procedures. The move is aimed at tightening enforcement of immigration laws related to applicants considered likely to become a public charge on the US welfare system.

A State Department memo, first cited by Fox News Digital, directs consular officers to refuse visas under existing legal provisions while the review is ongoing. The suspension applies to immigrant visa applications and will remain in force indefinitely until the reassessment is completed.

The affected countries span Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. Ghana is among the African nations listed, alongside Nigeria, Somalia, Egypt, Ethiopia and others.

Somalia has reportedly attracted increased scrutiny following a major fraud investigation in Minnesota, where US prosecutors uncovered large scale abuse of taxpayer funded benefit programmes. Authorities said many of those implicated were Somali nationals or Somali Americans.

In November 2025, the State Department issued a global directive instructing consular officers to apply stricter standards under the public charge provision of US immigration law. The guidance allows officers to deny visas based on factors such as an applicant’s age, health status, financial resources, English proficiency and potential need for long term medical care. Past reliance on government cash assistance or institutional care may also be considered.

State Department spokesperson Tommy Piggott said the US would use its long standing authority to block the entry of immigrants deemed likely to rely on public benefits.

“Immigration from these 75 countries will be paused while the State Department reassesses immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals who would exploit welfare and public benefit systems,” he said.

While the public charge rule has existed for decades, its enforcement has varied across administrations. The Trump administration previously expanded its scope in 2019 to include a wider range of public benefits, a move that faced legal challenges and was later reversed under the Biden administration in 2022.

Officials say exceptions to the current suspension will be very limited and only considered after applicants have cleared public charge assessments.

The full list of affected countries includes Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Antigua and Barbuda, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus, Belize, Bhutan, Bosnia, Brazil, Burma, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Colombia, Cote d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dominica, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gambia, Georgia, Ghana, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Haiti, Iran, Iraq, Jamaica, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Liberia, Libya, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Republic of the Congo, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Uruguay, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

An Accra court has granted bail in the sum of GH¢10 million to Kwadwo Owusu Bempah, Operations Manager of Akonta Mining, with three sureties, one of whom must be justified.

Mr. Owusu Bempah is the fifth accused person in an ongoing trial involving Akonta Mining and three others, including the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi. The case centres on alleged illegal mining activities in the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve.

Although earlier reports suggested that Mr. Owusu Bempah was on the run, his lawyer, Andrew Vortia, told the media that his client voluntarily presented himself to the police about three weeks ago. He was subsequently granted police enquiry bail but was re-arrested on Monday, January 12, 2026, for failing to report as required.

Appearing before the court on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, Mr. Owusu Bempah pleaded not guilty to charges of engaging in mining operations without a licence, abetting the unauthorised felling of trees, and abetting the unauthorised construction of structures within the forest reserve.

The prosecution maintains that Akonta Mining holds valid mining concessions at Samreboi and Abekoase in the Western Region, both located outside the Tano Nimiri Forest Reserve. However, an application by the company to mine within the reserve was rejected. Prosecutors allege that despite this refusal, Chairman Wontumi unlawfully entered the reserve, felled trees, and put up structures without authorisation.

According to the charge sheet, Chairman Wontumi, described as a shareholder representing Akonta Mining, and Edward Akuoko, the company’s General Manager, were arrested and arraigned before the court. Kwame Antwi, another shareholder, and Mr. Owusu Bempah were initially declared at large. While Mr. Owusu Bempah has since been arrested, Kwame Antwi remains at large.

Meanwhile, in November 2025, the state informed the court of its decision to withdraw charges against Edward Akuoko and to use him as a prosecution witness. The prosecution has also indicated plans to amend the charge sheet to formally remove Mr. Akuoko as an accused person.